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ACT Climate Minister Shane Rattenbury has thrown fresh doubt on the Australian federal government’s ability to pass the proposed National Energy Guarantee (NEG), saying his state won’t sign up to the scheme unless its emission reduction ambition is raised.

Oxford University Museum: For 70 years, researchers have been watching ‘particularly hideous’ young swifts turn into long-winged angels

This glorious structure is a place rich in history. As we walked through the galleries our guide paused to show us the great oak door behind which Bishop Wilberforce confronted “Darwin’s bulldog”, Thomas Huxley, in their famous debate on evolution. We, however, were intent on a more modest fraction of the building’s past. For it was here in 1947 that the ecologists Elizabeth and David Lack noticed how breeding swifts were vanishing into air vents in the roof’s slate-covered tower.

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Australia's transition to low-emissions energy will rely on what we have now (lots of coal) and what we'll build in the future (lots of renewables), according to a new report. Lucy Percival, Associate, Grattan Institute Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

CSIRO says lack of consumer awareness is ‘number one issue’ affecting recycling

Australians have to boost their recycling of lithium-ion batteries, a new CSIRO report has found.

Consumers only recycle 2% of our lithium-ion batteries, and an estimated $813m to $3bn worth of valuable components is in landfill. The commonly-used rechargeable batteries are used in mobile phones, laptops, household appliances and, increasingly, electric vehicles.

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This week marks the annual stocktake of the crown’s swans on the River Thames, known as swan upping. The process of counting the swans on the river and identifying them as belonging to the Queen or one of the two City livery companies that also have rights to them – has been carried out since the 12th century, when the birds were so prized for their meat that all wild swans in England were appropriated as property of the crown. The pomp, finery and techniques of swan upping would be familiar to the villagers who looked on centuries ago

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French professional auto driver sets an all new record for electric cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.

Model predicts population of UK’s tallest bird could double within 50 years after its return to the east of England following a 400-year absence

Common cranes which recolonised eastern England less than 40 years ago after a 400-year absence are now here to stay, research has found.

There could be as many as 275 breeding pairs of the UK’s tallest bird within 50 years, scientists at the University of Exeter, the RSPB and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) predict.

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S&P Dow Jones Indices, today announced the launch of the S&P Carbon Price Risk Adjusted Index Series.

Despite government spin, the electricity market operator’s plan released today shows a future with almost no coal-fired power is coming, Greens climate and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said today.

UPDATED: Regional Queensland network operator rolls out technology to allow more rooftop solar power to be exported to the grid, without disrupting supply.

Renewables become Germany's single largest electricity source ahead of coal. But experts warn the milestone must be taken with a pinch of salt.

Students from Western Sydney University Solar Car Team have won the first stage of the biannual American Solar Challenge race.

ACT energy minister Shane Rattenbury says Territory under "enormous pressure" to agree to NEG, but that won't be happening in the policy's current form.

King coal to rule? Murdoch media should read the AEMO report again - it suggests that even under Coalition and state policies renewables will be around 50% by 2030. And that's without being serious about climate change.

Researchers say the western barred bandicoot was actually five species and those ‘reintroduced’ would never have lived in SA

An endangered Australian bandicoot that was reintroduced to the Australian mainland is now believed to be one of five distinct species, and researchers say it may have been a mistake to introduce it to South Australia.

Scientists working for the Western Australian Museum have published research that concludes that what has been known as the western barred bandicoot is in fact five distinct species – four of which had become extinct by the 1940s as a result of agriculture and introduced predators. The species were closely related but occurred in different parts of Australia.

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Charred crumbs found in a middle-eastern desert show that bread-making dates back 14,000 years.

United Utilities says 7 million customers will be affected by first ban since 2012

Millions of households in the north-west of England will face the first hosepipe ban in the country since 2012 after the UK’s longest heatwave in more than 40 years.

The water company United Utilities said 7 million customers would be affected by the ban, which is due to come into force on 5 August.

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CSIRO report says Australia could lead world in re-use and recycling of lithium-ion batteries, generating potential billion-dollar industry, and helping to push down costs of EVs and battery storage.

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Oregon officials are considering potential revisions to the state's Clean Fuels Programme (OCFP) that would align more closely with potential changes to California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), a meeting heard on Monday.