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Australia’s new climate deal contains wins for the Greens – but the negotiations were bruising Kate Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Policy, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Coalition thought of it, and the Greens, Teals and Labor got rid of most of its warts. But exactly what will the Safeguard Mechanism do?

The post From Coalition fig leaf to Green-teal ALP deal: A closer look at Safeguard Mechanism 3.0 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New figures show that small-scale rooftop solar systems provided the biggest chunk yet of Australia’s electricity needs during the summer months.

The post Rooftop solar’s dominant summer: Homes and businesses outpower brown coal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Financial institutions should push to transform key pesticide companies and their significant contributions to global biodiversity loss, financial market campaigners ShareAction have urged.

The spot price for Australian Carbon Credits Units (ACCU) has risen 5% following the accord struck between the Greens and the government to further strengthen the Safeguard Mechanism, as the market mulls how the reforms will play out.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

A Dutch voluntary carbon offset firm has terminated Nigel Farage's stock options, which were at one point expected to amount to a €20-million windfall for the former UK lawmaker and Brexit campaigner.

Companies pay tiny amounts for recyclable waste in Beirut. Deiri Fayyad dives into bins to find it.

Forget telling Alexa to turn the heater on, the indoor climate control of the future could be as simple as a spray-on film for your windows.

The post Spray on nanodots could be the passive heating and cooling of the future appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Two wins for wind industry sustainability, with recyclable turbine blades entering operation in the North Sea and a new 95% recyclable offering from China.

The post Recyclable wind turbine blades make debut in offshore project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Switzerland's latest carbon allowance auction has cleared at a new record high.

Delays mean private tenants in the 2.4m homes with an EPC rating below C will face years of high bills

Private renters face paying an additional £1bn in gas and electricity bills because of delays in the introduction of new standards forcing landlords to make their properties more energy efficient.

The government has been criticised for dragging its feet on enacting new proposals that would require landlords to improve properties to at least a C rating under the energy performance certificate (EPC) scheme.

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Washington will accept offsets issued from two US-based carbon registries under the state’s WCI-modelled cap-and-trade system, the state’s environmental agency announced Monday, though it is unclear when compliance-eligible credit generation may commence.

RGGI Allowance (RGA) values traded within a narrow range through another volatile week for global markets tossed around amid ongoing banking sector nervousness and interest rate hikes, while participants assessed modelling scenarios ahead of the power sector carbon market's first programme review meeting in 15 months.

Wärtsilä says newly opened Texas batteries are world’s largest fully-merchant and market-facing energy storage facility built to date.

The post World’s biggest merchant battery system opened in Texas appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Last year was great for plant growth and river flows. But Australia is still on the brink of losing a slew of plant and animal species. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Geoff Heard, The University of Queensland Mark Grant, Ecosystem Science Programs Lead, Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, The University of Queensland Shoshana Rapley, Research assistant, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A chance discovery of an albino bush rat in Victoria’s Otway Ranges inspired a search for more fair beauties. Here’s what the survey of Aussie ecologists, museums and newspaper clippings revealed. Darcy Watchorn, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A nature-based project developer has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ghana to develop a reforestation project in the country.

The protesters are right. Felling more than 100 trees at night was disrespectful to both local people and nature

The decision taken by Plymouth’s Tory council leader, Richard Bingley, to chop down more than 100 mature trees under cover of darkness earlier this month was damaging to the city as well as the horse chestnut, silver birch, pear, apple and other specimens that were removed. Armada Way, the pedestrianised boulevard that runs south through the city centre to the sea, is a rare postwar conservation area and ought to be a national showpiece. Instead, ugly images of debris strewn among the modern architecture have upset and angered local people and conservationists. They may also set back efforts to boost the city by attracting tourists.

The upset and anger are more than justified by events. A consultation regarding the proposed regeneration of the city centre showed that a majority of locals do not support it. A campaign group, Save the Trees of Armada Way (Straw), gathered a petition of more than 16,000 names. Yet the council ploughed on until it was served with a court injunction by campaigners. On Monday, Mr Bingley resigned, ahead of a council meeting.

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The European Commission said it plans to begin the sale of EUAs under the REPowerEU initiative in July, the market’s administrator said after the market closed on Monday, confirming earlier reports that the EU was eyeing a summer start to the process.