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Country diary: on the trail of elusive wood anemones

The Guardian - Fri, 2018-04-27 14:30

Abbeydale, South Yorkshire: Years ago, I stumbled across a large patch of the bone-white flowers. Could I find it again?

When our children were young, we’d take them on voyages of exploration to an extensive patch near our home of what is sometimes called the unofficial countryside, and by unofficial I mean of course forbidden. Trespassing wasn’t mentioned, but children know when parents are being shifty. The subterfuge only added to their excitement, and having to ford a river to reach this lost Eden was very heaven. One April we stumbled across a large patch of wood anemones that hardly anyone would ever see, treasure that could never be moved. So when this past winter suddenly gave way to blazing sunshine, I wondered: could I find it again?

Despite the sun, the moors were still heavy with rain, so the water flowed deep and fast. I threw my boots to the far bank and teetered across, immediately rewarded with a thick spread of ramsons, still fresh with dew. This is a plant almost designed to please children. It stinks and you can make up stories about the bears that grub for the bulbs, wild garlic’s Latin name being Allium ursinum. I stepped carefully, bathing in pungent draughts of scent, toes pushing into the warm earth.

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South Australia solar farm connects to the grid

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 14:01
A 4.9MW solar farm has been connected to the grid in South Australia, signalling shift from large scale wind to large scale solar.
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Sustainable shopping: where to find a puffer jacket that doesn't warm the Earth

The Conversation - Fri, 2018-04-27 13:49
The puffer jacket has become an iconic staple of many people's winter wardrobe. Here are some ways to shop for yours in the most eco-friendly and ethical way. Alice Payne, Senior lecturer in Fashion, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Lousy power quality? Blame the grid, not rooftop PV

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 13:34
High voltage on local networks is frying appliances, and costing consumers billions of dollars. The media and the networks have sought to blame the issue on rooftop PV, but a new study suggests the networks are to blame.
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Australia’s first lithium battery recycling plant launched

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 13:26
Australia’s first lithium battery recycling plant officially anointed in Victoria, seeking to address Australia's appalling record on dealing with old batteries, and alleviating some concerns about impact of household storage.
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Future transport will be cheap, personalised, and on demand

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 12:57
Australia’s transport industry on cusp of “radical change,” says report – but could be a trillion-dollar train wreck if business, government don't get on board.
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IKEA France offers EVs for hire, in car share deal with Renault

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 12:56
IKEA customers in France can now hire an electric vehicle from the store’s car park, to transport all of the Swedish furnishings, in car share deal with Renault.
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Australia becoming the global centre for renewables for mines

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 12:49
Driven by favourable economics and additional benefits including carbon reductions and social license, major and mid-tier Australian mines are adopting renewables.
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As United States looks to coal, China invests in renewable energy

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 12:46
At least one country is rising to the occasion.
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Jobs boom in renewable energy, but action needed to avoid bust

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 12:33
Data released by ABS today shows a boom in renewable energy construction to meet the 2020 Renewable Energy Target is driving jobs growth and creating new employment opportunities, said business and energy experts.  
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Renault ZOE named Best Green Car at FirstCar Awards 2018

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 12:13
All-electric Renault ZOE judged ‘Best Green Car’ at the inaugural FirstCar Awards 2018 in London.
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Latrobe Valley dairy farms to share energy via blockchain micro-grid

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2018-04-27 10:43
First blockchain virtual micro-grid in Australia will use solar and storage to allow 200 dairy farms, 100 households and 20 businesses to share energy.
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EU member states to vote on near-total neonicotinoids ban

BBC - Fri, 2018-04-27 10:09
Member states will vote on an almost complete ban on the use of chemicals linked to harming bees.
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Fracking may have caused South Korean earthquake – study

The Guardian - Fri, 2018-04-27 09:01

Researchers analysed data from November quake and found main shock occurred near fracking site

One of South Korea’s largest earthquakes on record may have been caused by hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – according to a study published on Friday in the journal Science.

A magnitude-5.5 earthquake hit the south-eastern city of Pohang on 15 November, injuring at least 70 people, temporarily displacing hundreds, and causing millions of dollars of damage. In the aftermath, residents and researchers have questioned whether the quake could be connected to a geothermal plant – the country’s first – less than 2km (about 1 mile) away.

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CP Daily: Thursday April 26, 2018

Carbon Pulse - Fri, 2018-04-27 08:32
A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.
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NA Markets: WCI prices tread water near auction floor, though pre-sale selling notably absent

Carbon Pulse - Fri, 2018-04-27 08:25
North American carbon prices stabilised over the last week as both the east and west coast markets began to focus on the spring auctions.
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Best laid plans: The Murray-Darling Basin in crisis

ABC Environment - Fri, 2018-04-27 08:23
Australia is halfway into the most expensive environmental program ever mounted-the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
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Mexican senate approves bill to bolster emissions trading plans

Carbon Pulse - Fri, 2018-04-27 08:14
Mexico’s Senate passed a bill late Wednesday that gives a clearer mandate to the country’s planned carbon market and to align national emission reduction goals with Paris Agreement targets.
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Recycling crisis: federal government to push states for solution

The Guardian - Fri, 2018-04-27 08:00

Josh Frydenberg will seek agreement at meeting of environment ministers for a national stocktake of recycling

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The Turnbull government will ask the states to work towards a national fix on recycling in the wake of an import ban imposed by China on recycled waste, which has triggered a crisis in Australia.

Environment ministers will meet on Friday to discuss practical responses to the Chinese ban, with the commonwealth seeking agreement from state counterparts for a national stocktake as the precursor to boosting domestic capacity to recycle.

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California’s ARB says supply glut will not hamper 2030 emissions goals

Carbon Pulse - Fri, 2018-04-27 07:53
California regulator ARB does not expect tens of millions of unsold allowances in its cap-and-trade programme to jeopardise the state’s 2030 GHG target, according to the agency’s estimates.
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