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European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday joined his climate and energy chief in calling for the EU to deepen its 2030 emission cut goal.

Gove’s agriculture bill prioritises environmental issues over food production, says head of NFU

Food production in the UK will be put at risk without government commitments to safeguard farmers after Brexit, and food scares could be the result, the head of the UK’s biggest farming organisation has warned as ministers announced the biggest shake-up to farming in decades.

The agriculture bill was hailed by Michael Gove, environment minister, as a “historic moment” heralding a “brighter future”, but swiftly came under attack from farming leaders for prioritising environmental issues over food production.

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The US can come within touching distance of its Paris Agreement emissions target even without any new policies from the federal government, according to California Governor Jerry Brown and former New York city mayor Michael Bloomberg, who launched a report on Wednesday outlining 10 policy initiatives for cities, states and companies including carbon pricing.

World’s carbon sinks are at risk because the law will count energy from burning trees as carbon neutral, say climate scientists

Senior climate scientists say that the world’s carbon sinks could be facing a grave threat from a wholly unexpected source: the EU’s renewable energy directive.

The climate law could suck in as much imported wood as Europe harvests each year because it will count energy created from the burning of whole trees as “carbon neutral”, according to several academics including a former vice-chair of the UN IPCC.

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New Zealand carbon allowances fell slightly on Wednesday, slipping for a second consecutive day even though market participants expect the spot contract to hold above NZ$25.

Given the many exciting changes that have been happening, and are about to happen in the Australian market, it seems an ideal time to update our list of what's available in EVs in Australia.

The post The guide to buying an electric vehicle in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Supporters of the new sanctuary say it would have addressed conservation issues beyond whaling, such as ship strikes

A proposal to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic was defeated at a meeting in Brazil of the International Whaling Commission, amid a clash between countries that think whales can be hunted sustainably and others that want more conservation measures.

Pro-whaling nations, including Japan, Korea, Norway and Russia, argued the science didn’t support the case for a sanctuary and said that it wasn’t necessary because there isn’t any commercial whaling occurring in the South Atlantic.

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Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator on Wednesday introduced a new offset method aimed at driving deeper emission cuts at industrial facilities whose involvement in the scheme has been minimal so far.

The European Commission is “happy” to see EU carbon allowances at their current elevated levels and is not at the moment considering supply-side intervention to dampen the recent price spike.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

European carbon prices could reach €30-50 by 2021 as companies hoard units, but prices may fall sharply once those firms start selling, analysts said.

Adani says bores at planned mine site were within its permits and were for monitoring

The Australian government will investigate allegations Adani has drilled illegal groundwater bores at its Carmichael mine site.

Environment group Coast and Country has said it obtained aerial footage showing dewatering bores that were sunk without approval.

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The Woodland Trust is asking people to make their voices heard over rail company’s plans to cut down thousands of trees

The Woodland Trust is calling on the public to raise its voice over the management of the trees along Network Rail lines to stop thousands being cut down without good reason.

Dr Nick Atkinson, senior conservation advisor for the trust, says the rail company must be held to account for the way it manages the millions of trees along its routes and that concerns had been raised by the public about how many were being felled.

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AGL exits residential solar installation business, 5 months after closure of new energy business, and three weeks after sudden departure of CEO Andy Vesey.

The post AGL to exit residential solar installation business appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Could pumped-hydro storage underpin a nationwide green-energy economy?

The post The role of pumped-hydro storage in a 100% renewable world appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Canavan dismisses Queensland government report on climate impacts as "imaginary threats of a climate induced drug outbreak."

The post Canavan ridicules climate health report, days after climate health expert wins Liberal safe seat appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Tree-planting, restoring wetlands and use of chemicals to remove CO2 from air needed, as well as cutting new emissions, say scientists

Tree-planting, restoring wetlands and using chemicals to take carbon dioxide from the air will all be needed to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gases in line with government plans, scientists have said.

If these measures are taken urgently, they could make enough of a contribution to make the UK “net zero” in terms of carbon emissions by 2050. However, a major programme to bring them into effect would be needed as a matter of urgency.

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Leaders of US states, cities and businesses will convene in San Francisco to fight environment crisis, and rebuke Trump’s stance

Senior figures representing US states, cities and businesses rebelling against Donald Trump’s denial of climate change are swarming San Francisco this week to proclaim their own efforts to meet US commitments to cut greenhouse gases.

The two-day Global Climate Action Summit beginning Thursday will also feature diplomats and mayors from around the world. As well, chief executives of Fortune 500 companies and celebrities ranging from actor Harrison Ford to primatologist Jane Goodall all plan to be there.

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New law commits state of California to 100 per cent carbon-free power by 2045.

The post California locked in to carbon-free power by 2045 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Rainfall forecasts also suggest ‘limited’ prospects for summer crops

Crippling drought conditions in eastern Australia are expected to wipe millions of tonnes off winter crop production this year and rainfall forecasts suggest “limited” prospects for summer crops, a new report has warned.

On Tuesday a report from the federal agricultural department revealed the winter crop production in New South Wales would be almost cut in half on the year before.

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