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South Africa further delays carbon tax to examine higher penalty rate
NFU urges May to put food production at heart of agriculture bill
Union’s president says bill’s current wording could lead to a lowering of standards
The National Farmers’ Union has told Theresa May she must treat the food industry as being of equal importance as the car sector, with special protections enshrined in new laws covering standards and production.
The NFU president, Minette Batters, said she had raised concerns in a phone call to the prime minister that food production was not at the heart of a new agriculture bill, the first major overhaul of legislation in the sector since the second world war.
Continue reading...Clever crows: birds use tools in same way as great apes and humans – video
New Caledonian crows have been filmed extracting a piece of food from a puzzle box by piecing together two separate rods. The birds were able to display highly flexible abilities to solve a complex problem without prior training. Until now, the ability to assemble different components had only been seen in great apes and humans
Continue reading...Solar Insiders Podcast: Lassoing solar cowboys in Victoria
We talk to Solar Victoria and its pre-emptive strike against solar cowboys who moved in to try and fleece consumers in Victoria’s massive solar program.
The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Lassoing solar cowboys in Victoria appeared first on RenewEconomy.
The Driven Podcast: Australia’s electric vehicle market charges up
Excitement is growing in the Australian electric vehicle market: more charging infrastructure is being funded, governments are stating to move on policies, and new models are about to be made available.
The post The Driven Podcast: Australia’s electric vehicle market charges up appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Blood coal: Ireland’s dirty secret | Noel Healy
Burning coal is the single largest contributor to global climate breakdown. Human rights violations at the sites of fossil fuel extraction are often hidden.
The connections between County Clare, Ireland and La Guajira, Colombia may not be entirely obvious at first glance. Yet the regions are linked through a shared commodity: coal. Extracted in one region and burned in the other.
Coal extraction in La Guajira has a dirty secret, which I’ve witnessed first-hand: it is connected to a system of production entrenched in violence, bloodshed and environmental destruction.
Continue reading...Queensland government announces pilot round for new land carbon fund
Major stakeholder groups urge Australia to factor climate into new energy plan
We have so many ways to pursue a healthy climate – it's insane to wait any longer
Can your actions really save the planet? 'Planetary accounting' has the answer
Introducing the latest carbon neutral certified event
Patients at thousands of hospitals and GP practices 'breathing toxic air'
More than 2,000 GP surgeries and hospitals in UK are in areas that breach WHO air pollution guidelines, study says
Hundreds of thousands of patients who visit more than 2,000 hospitals and GP practices across the UK are breathing poisonous air that breaches World Health Organization guidelines, according to a new report.
The study found that a third of GP surgeries and a quarter of hospitals – including some of the biggest children’s centres – are in areas that breach limits for the most dangerous particulates: PM2.5.
Continue reading...Meet the latest carbon neutral certified organisation
Mum's voice makes better smoke alarm for children
Government extends term of the ACCC Chair
The Coalition Government has extended Mr Rod Sims’ term as Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) until 1 August 2022.
The post Government extends term of the ACCC Chair appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Labor backing of Liberal coal plan outrageous: Bandt
Adam Bandt MP today slammed revelations from Labor that they would allow the construction or refurbishment of coal-fired power stations if the contracts were signed under the Liberals before the election.
The post Labor backing of Liberal coal plan outrageous: Bandt appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Sonnen to start making batteries in Australia next month
Sonnen says residential batteries will start rolling off the production line of its South Australian plant starting next month – November 2018.
The post Sonnen to start making batteries in Australia next month appeared first on RenewEconomy.
SA-Best calls for wind farm ban, as it seeks to rekindle health concerns
Ghost of Xenophon lingers as party calls for moratorium on all new wind projects – and particularly Neoen's Crystal Brook – amid new push for health inquiry.
The post SA-Best calls for wind farm ban, as it seeks to rekindle health concerns appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Tesla says Powerwall 2 production lifted to address back-log
Tesla says it is increasing production of Powerwall 2 battery storage units to unlock backlog created by its focus on Model 3 EVs.
The post Tesla says Powerwall 2 production lifted to address back-log appeared first on RenewEconomy.