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The place spacecraft go to die

BBC - Sat, 2017-10-21 09:26
Why one of the Earth's most remote places is the preferred place to dump space junk.
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National energy guarantee is ‘innovative’, says Bloomberg analysis

The Guardian - Sat, 2017-10-21 07:36

Bloomberg New Energy Finance says proposed guarantee could be ‘template for policy makers worldwide’

The Turnbull government’s proposed national energy guarantee has been given enthusiastic support by the renewable energy analysis firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance, which has described the concept as “innovative and elegant” and said it could be “a template for policy makers worldwide”.

Earlier this week Malcolm Turnbull persuaded the Coalition to support an energy policy that includes measures intended to drive down emissions (the “emissions guarantee”) and ensure reliability of the grid (the “reliability guarantee”).

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A Big Country

ABC Environment - Sat, 2017-10-21 05:20
We sharpen up the knives for a home butchering session; country kids become super sleuths at a science camp; and Lyn Wearing hand-rears poddy lambs on Elabe Station.
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Encouraging insects back into arable land | Letters

The Guardian - Sat, 2017-10-21 03:35
In Sussex scientists have found that insecticide use has stabilised over the past two decades with an associated stabilisation of some insect groups, write Dr Julie Ewald and Prof John Holland of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. Plus Judith Wright says we should let verges grow

It is with great interest that we read about the long-term decline in the biomass of flying insects on German protected areas (Scientists tell of alarm at huge fall in flying insects, 19 October).

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) carries out two long-term surveys of insects on farmland in England – the Sussex Study (1970 to present) and at our demonstration farm in Loddington (1992 to present).

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Pollution hot spots around the world

BBC - Sat, 2017-10-21 02:37
What's it like to live somewhere like Beijing, where you can even see pollution with the naked eye?
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Insectageddon, fatal pollution and 2017 Wildlife Photographer winners – green news roundup

The Guardian - Sat, 2017-10-21 01:54

The week’s top environment news stories and green events

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The week in wildlife – in pictures

The Guardian - Sat, 2017-10-21 00:33

Migratory birds, rutting stags and leaping salmon are among this week’s pick of images from the natural world

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UK may consider electric vehicle subsidy to increase cycling

The Guardian - Sat, 2017-10-21 00:28

Roads minister Jesse Norman says government could push councils to do more to fight pollution and inactive living

The UK government could potentially consider providing subsidies for electric bicycles and electric cars as part of a concerted policy effort to get more people cycling, the roads minister, Jesse Norman, has said.

With the UK facing health crises from pollution and inactive living, other plans could include using electric cargo bikes to deliver packages from internet retailers rather than vans, Norman told the Guardian.

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Puppy dog eyes are for human benefit, say scientists

BBC - Fri, 2017-10-20 21:59
Researchers investigate how dogs change their expressions in response to their owners.
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Colombia vets nurse tiny spider monkey back to health

BBC - Fri, 2017-10-20 20:01
Vets in Colombia are nursing a tiny spider monkey back to health.
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Will the National Energy Guarantee hit pause on renewables?

The Conversation - Fri, 2017-10-20 14:59
The National Energy Guarantee proposal seems geared towards locking in the status quo rather than driving the much-needed energy transition. Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Australian National University Salim Mazouz, Research Associate, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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AEMO announces Drew Clarke as new Chair of its Board

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2017-10-20 14:50
Mr Clarke will replace Dr Anthony (Tony) Marxsen, who is retiring from the Board following the 2017 Annual General Meeting in November.
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Country diary: stalking red deer on the fringes of the city

The Guardian - Fri, 2017-10-20 14:30

Big Moor, Derbyshire The stag ignores the passing lorries but isn’t ready for a photographic closeup

Running south from the old Barbrook reservoir, I found myself struggling against the strong south-westerly that had kept temperatures unusually high for several days and delayed wintering thrushes returning to the moors. The arrival of fieldfares and redwings is always sparkling compensation for the gloomy approach of winter but I would have to wait a little longer. At least the sun was out, turning the sprung shoulders of a kestrel to a vibrant caramel as it quartered the brook below me.

Almost as I reached the Baslow road the sunlight picked out a red deer stag standing tall some distance away, antlers raised, breath steaming from its flared nostrils. At the same time I caught sight of another beast advancing towards the stag with an enormous-lensed camera held to his eye.

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Burdekin Hydro plans powering ahead

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2017-10-20 13:46
A hydro-electric power station on the state’s largest dam – Burdekin Falls Dam – to secure energy and support jobs for North Queensland moved a step closer today.
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Turnbull to rely on state schemes he once rubbished as reckless

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2017-10-20 13:45
Anger deepens over politicisation of Energy Security Board and design of National Energy Guarantee that could reinforce dominance of incumbent utilities, stop large scale renewables, maintain status quo and fail emissions targets. But some say it does have potential.
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Kidston pumped hydro storage capacity to be boosted by 25%

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2017-10-20 13:02
Genex Power's Kidston solar and pumped hydro plant could provide 2000MWh of storage, and 8 hours of continuous generation, rather than six.
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Charts of the week: Busting electricity market myths

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2017-10-20 13:01
If you ask mainstream media, renewables are the key driver of Australia's rising power prices; a scourge that's at its worst in South Australia. Yeah, nah.
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BNEF says NEG could deliver 42% renewables by 2030, same as Finkel

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2017-10-20 12:13
BNEF say new Coalition plan could see 42% renewables by 2030, the same as Finkel. But rooftop solar will account for most new installations, and large scale wind and solar could be sidelined by coal extensions. Still, BNEF describe it as innovative and elegant.
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Renewables will give more people access to electricity than coal, says IEA

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2017-10-20 11:49
IEA says coal will be used to provide access to electricity to just 16% of those without electricity now, while renewables will account for at least 60%.
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Video: Jeff Bezos at 300 feet, launches Amazon’s biggest wind farm

RenewEconomy - Fri, 2017-10-20 10:28
Amazon Wind Farm Texas is the company's biggest yet. To celebrate, CEO Jeff Bezos videoed himself christening it, atop one of its 100 turbines.
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