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Today’s challenges demand radical action. The old orthodoxy of free markets and hands-off government won’t cut it

As western economies emerge from the pandemic, their governments face a choice: do they seek to address the profound problems that Covid exposed, or try to return to “business as usual” as quickly as possible? Their problem is that many of the issues exacerbated by the pandemic, such as wage stagnation, precarious work and rising inequality are not bugs in an otherwise well-functioning system, but inevitable outcomes of the way that western economies are now organised. So a business-as-usual approach simply won’t work. Much more fundamental change is needed.

The US government seems to recognise this. Joe Biden’s economic plans are a radical departure from the era that stretches from Reagan to Obama, when governments sought to keep taxes and public spending low and focused principally on globalised trade and the education and training of the workforce. Unlike his predecessors, Biden is pursuing large-scale public spending and taking advantage of ultra-low interest rates to borrow for infrastructure investment. His stimulus plans target the climate crisis while creating green jobs and expanding health, education and childcare – the “social infrastructure” that is essential to the economy but has often been ignored by mainstream economists.

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Animal Rebellion activists demand that Arla become plant-based by 2025

Vegan environmental activists have blockaded a dairy distribution centre in Buckinghamshire, which they say handles a tenth of the milk supply in the UK, while a dozen other activists have sought to occupy the headquarters of WWF.

About 50 activists from Animal Rebellion, a sister group to Extinction Rebellion, blocked the gates to the Arla distribution centre near Aylesbury, locking on to bamboo structures and concrete barricades to stop lorries from gaining access.

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Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator plans to offer small-scale projects an opportunity to sell their offsets to the government outside the regular ERF auctions, starting with a pilot for environmental plantings programmes.

A firm wins a court order amid claims protesters are conducting a "vicious" intimidation campaign.

Australian solar investor New Energy Solar warns that global factors could see solar project costs rise for the first time in a decade.

The post “Era of record low solar bids may be over”: Solar investor warns market appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Angus Taylor says Australia on track to meet Paris agreement climate commitments but analysts say data largely reflects impact of pandemic

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Australia’s national greenhouse gas emissions increased fractionally in the first quarter of 2021 but dropped about 5% across the previous year as the pandemic dramatically slowed transport and some heavy industry, official data says.

The latest official quarterly greenhouse gas inventory released by federal energy department officials is the first to cover a full year in which Covid-19 was affecting the country.

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The flows of December 2020, January 2021 and the flooding of March 2021 finally broke the driest four years on record in the Gwydir.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg says she does not think Glasgow's COP26 summit will lead to "much results".

CleanCo signs contract for new 180MW wind farm in Queensland, only the second wind farm to reach financial close in last 18 months.

The post CleanCo signs up to new 180MW Queensland wind project as Octopus extends reach appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia's greenhouse gas emissions rose in the first three months of the year, driven higher by carbon capture failures and a recovering economy.

The post Gorgon CCS failures push Australia’s emissions higher, but renewables clean up the grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The push for a new environmental crime has attracted high-profile backers including French President Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg. But we must get the details right. Anthony Burke, Professor of Environmental Politics & International Relations, UNSW Danielle Celermajer, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

MPower’s plans to build, own and operate up to 20 small solar farms of 5MW each is starting to bear fruit, with purchase agreements locked in for two project sites.

The post MPower snaps up two 5MW solar farms, kicking off its big small-scale plans appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Victoria puts call out for another 600MW of new, large-scale renewable energy capacity, with the launch of its second VRET auction.

The post Victoria calls for at least 600MW of new wind and solar in second VRET auction appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New Energy Solar says curtailment issues complicated its exit from Australian market, particularly at Manildra solar farm where output fell 40pct.

The post Value of Australia’s solar projects are being dented by growing curtailment issues appeared first on RenewEconomy.

From electric car design and battery technology, through to computer chips, data processing and neural nets, Tesla has become a leader in each field.

The post Tesla AI Day: What it means for cars, the grid, and for humanity appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Researchers say zinc-ion chemistry promises large scale battery storage that is cheaper, safer, and more environmentally friendly than lithium-ion.

The post Researchers say new zinc-ion battery chemistry could be cheaper and safer appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Sale-based Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation seeks EPC contractors to develop 4.9MW solar project on farmland in Victoria.

The post Aboriginal corporation seeks partners to build community solar farm in Victoria appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The highly polluting fuel has contaminated the atmosphere, water and crops for nearly a century.

The former boss of blood testing company Theranos is accused of fraud and could face years in jail.

A carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) imposed by the EU on its trading partners will only have a minor effect on European imports, a study has found.