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Scientists have used a neural network to determine the pattern of earthquake aftershocks

National Trust trial of 13th century method used until 1940s transforms stretch of Gower peninsula coast

A pioneering farming project using field management techniques dating back to the 13th century has transformed a stretch of coast into a haven for endangered animals, birds, insects and wildflowers.

The experimental return to “strip-field farming” close to the spectacular Rhossili Bay on the Gower peninsula in south Wales is being credited with a threefold increase in the number of species of wildflowers and the appearance of rare birds such as the hen harrier and grasshopper warbler.

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A dolphin in the Firth of Clyde may be exchanging messages with porpoises.

This is an opportunity to work at the front line of the EU Emissions Trading System, Europe’s premier emissions reduction tool, at a crucial moment in its history. Reporting to our Head of Sales this is a sales role and will involve communicating with and engaging prospective clients.

My mother, Rosemary Titterington, who has died aged 87, was a pioneer in the herb industry. Starting out in business from her kitchen table, she established the award-winning gardens at Iden Croft Herbs in Staplehurst, Kent.

At Iden Croft, she held the national collections of mentha (mint) and origanum (marjoram), and large collections of salvia and thyme. She was the author of books including Growing Herbs (1987) and served as chair of the standards committee of the British Herb Trade Association.

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California’s Assembly late Tuesday passed a bill to increase the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and eliminate fossil fuels from its power generation mix by 2045.

Nearly a quarter of China’s H1 electricity traded in the recently-established regional power markets, according to data from the China Electricity Council, as the nation took another small step away from the government pre-planned dispatch pattern that observers say would hurt the effectiveness of a carbon price.

A new study finds that weather associated with El Niño events is becoming more severe

As humans put more and more heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, the Earth warms. And the warming is causing changes that might surprise us. Not only is the warming causing long-term trends in heat, sea level rise, ice loss, etc.; it’s also making our weather more variable. It’s making otherwise natural cycles of weather more powerful.

Perhaps the most important natural fluctuation in the Earth’s climate is the El Niño process. El Niño refers to a short-term period of warm ocean surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, basically stretching from South America towards Australia. When an El Niño happens, that region is warmer than usual. If the counterpart La Niña occurs, the region is colder than usual. Often times, neither an El Niño or La Niña is present and the waters are a normal temperature. This would be called a “neutral” state.

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Victoria Labor’s solar rebate proposal is having an impact on the solar market, with customers putting off installations.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: The fallout from Victoria’s solar rebates appeared first on RenewEconomy.

ANU’s Andrew Blakers and GE’s Bill Armstrong on the future of pumped hydro in Australia. Where and when will it be built?

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: The future of pumped hydro appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The new award celebrates wildlife photo stories and their role in raising awareness about and protecting the natural world. The winners will be announced at Bristol’s Wildscreen Festival and showcased in a free exhibition from 12 Oct to 8 Nov

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Fiona Simson says people have been tiptoeing around the subject for too long and it is time for a national strategy

The president of the National Farmers Federation, Fiona Simson, has declared that climate change is making drought worse in Australia and says tiptoeing around the subject does not do regional communities any good.

“It is the effect of climate change we need to be aware of that makes the impacts of a drought even worse,” she told the National Press Club.

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Poll shows Liberal primary vote down 22% in Wentworth, a blue ribbon electorate where a majority of voters support Australia's shift to 100% renewables and commitment to cut emissions.

The post Wentworth voters promise to do what Turnbull didn’t – act on climate appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A fireball - believed to be a meteor - has lit up the sky near Perth in Western Australia.

Internet giant Facebook has vowed to source 100 per cent of its considerable electricity needs from renewable energy by 2020.

The post Facebook vows to be 100% renewable energy by 2020 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Exclusive: On-the-road fuel efficiency is far lower than in lab tests, pushing up costs and CO2 emissions, research shows

Drivers in Europe have paid €150bn more on fuel than they would have if their vehicles had performed as well on-the-road as in official laboratory-based tests, according to a new report.

Car companies have legally gamed official tests of fuel economy for many years by, for example, using very hard tyres during tests or taking out equipment to make cars lighter. The gap between test and actual performance has soared from 9% in 2000 to 42% today.

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Report blames climate change on cosmic ray fluctuations and sunspot activity, drawing derision from climate scientists

A European parliament report that blames climate change on cosmic ray fluctuations, sunspots and planetary gravitational pulls, is so hackneyed and ill-informed it would “make the dinosaurs blush,” climate scientists say.

The non-binding opinion written by Ukip MEP, John Stuart Agnew, has shocked EU lawmakers for its dismissal of climate science – and the support he received to write it from mainstream rightwing and liberal political blocs.

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Sanjeev Kumar of PR consultancy Burson-Marsteller sets out four EU carbon market reforms that should be on Brussels’ agenda to ensure effective operation based on clear market fundamentals.

Does Australia have proper control of its power system? Not according to new analysis of recent high stress events that might turn traditional views of "baseload" and "intermittent" generation on their head.

The post Myths of baseload and intermittent energy: It’s not what you think appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy made a renewable energy policy announcement this morning at Keppel Prince in Portland where hundreds are employed manufacturing wind turbine towers. 

The post Matthew Guy comes to the party on renewable energy jobs, yet commitment to Vic Renewables Target is the real test appeared first on RenewEconomy.