Around The Web

Shell joins rush of Big Oil and other energy majors looking to Australia to learn from rapid energy transition and profit from slow-moving local incumbents.

Australian delivery of next generation LEAF electric vehicles pushed out from second half of 2018, to end March 2019.

A row between state and federal ministers has thrown Victoria’s long-term native forest logging agreements into disarray

The future of long-term native forest logging agreements in Victoria is uncertain because of a row with the federal government over the need to carry out fresh scientific assessments.

Three of Victoria’s regional forest agreements (RFAs) – in east Gippsland, the central highlands and the north east regions – were extended on Monday on a short-term basis, to 31 March 2020.

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Painting solar rebates as a "Reverse Robin Hood" mechanism is entirely incorrect. Rather, they empower the solar industry to offer real solutions for those most in need.

City of Greater Shepparton awards tender to install solar across council buildings; awaits state govt decision on 250MW of proposed solar farms.

Vic govt unveils $2.18m plan to partner with land developers and home builders to supply zero net carbon homes – rooftop solar included – around Melbourne.

Regional cemetery business looks to go solar – and all electric – as one of first projects to come out of Victorian government's Community Power Hubs.

Site owner appears to have no employees or premises and its phone is disconnected

Plans to mine a 6.2bn-tonne coal deposit in north Queensland have been quietly revived, despite the failed sale of the project last year and the collapse of an associated company.

Guardian Australia understands that Wilton Coking Coal made two applications to the Queensland government for coal production permits in the Bowen basin in January.

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It's 50 years since the death of Yuri Gagarin, the Russian Cosmonaut who was the first man to travel into space.

The biodegradable shield is made from the same materials found in sea sand and coral skeletons and the world-first technology could be deployed wherever it's needed.

Environmental and health groups have called for the creation of a non-political federal agency with the power to rule on pollution levels - much like the Reserve Bank does for interest rates. David Shearman, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientific problems require evidence-led solutions. A new proposal to create a federal environmental decision-making body would take some of the politics out of climate policy. Peter C. Doherty, Laureate Professor, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Oil firm says gas could account for 10% of global energy consumption by end of century

Planes and trucks powered by hydrogen will be a crucial part of efforts to cut carbon emissions to safe levels, according to oil giant Shell.

For the first time, the Anglo Dutch firm, which is facing calls by activist shareholders to take stronger action on global warming, has mapped out how the world could hit the Paris climate deal’s target of keeping temperature rises below 2C.

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The Cambridge physicist's last broadcast interview covered gravitational waves from neutron star mergers.

The European Space Agency will work with Finland's ICEYE on ways to exploit its novel radar satellites.

More than 3.2bn people are already affected and the problem will worsen without rapid action, driving migration and conflict

Land degradation is undermining the wellbeing of two-fifths of humanity, raising the risks of migration and conflict, according to the most comprehensive global assessment of the problem to date.

The UN-backed report underscores the urgent need for consumers, companies and governments to rein in excessive consumption – particularly of beef – and for farmers to draw back from conversions of forests and wetlands, according to the authors.

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The UK’s pothole problem is getting worse and cyclists risk serious injury if they hit one. Here’s what to do if you find one and how to claim compensation if needed

The UK’s pothole problem is bad and getting worse, with a recent report by Alarm revealing 24,000 miles of road will need essential maintenance in the next year. While hitting one in a car may mean a trip to the garage, if you are cycling the outcome can be far worse.

A BBC 5 Live questionnaire found half of almost 5,000 cyclists had suffered a pothole-related accident, with 1,516 injured as a result, 207 of those seriously. More than 10% of respondents said they missed work because of a pothole crash, and 31% were put off cycling. This survey was backed up by a mass freedom of information report from Cycling UK, which revealed cycling pothole crash compensation claims to councils in England and Wales are 10 times higher than motoring claims because of the higher risk of personal injury.

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Wind, solar, and storage could meet 90–100% of America’s electricity needs

In order to combat climate change, we need to rapidly move from fossil fuel energy to clean, renewable energy. The two energy sources I am most interested in are wind and solar power; however, there are other sources that have great potential.

Some people doubt how much wind and solar can supply to a country’s electricity grid. This is a particularly challenging question to answer in part because both solar power and wind power fluctuate in both space and time. We all know solar panels work well during the day, when the sun shines – they don’t work so well at night. And wind turbines only send electrons when the wind is blowing.

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A new Starbucks provides convenience and caffeine to visitors, but to many it represents a trend of commercialism and 25,000 people petitioned to stop it from opening

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Mayor of London and green groups call for swift action after new research suggests government cuts are putting wildlife protections under threat

Sadiq Khan has accused ministers of stalling over the setting up of a new tough environmental watchdog body post Brexit.

The mayor of London spoke out as research by the country’s leading environmental bodies suggested protections to wildlife, water and air quality are under threat because of budget cuts of more than 55% over the last eight years.

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