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US energy firms use Ukraine war to lock in long-term gas contracts
Oil and gas companies seek expansive contracts to tackle short-term problem of tight European gas supply
American oil and gas companies are pushing to solve the short-term problem of a tight European gas supply, driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts, a new report shows.
The US fossil fuel industry has locked in 45 long-term contracts and contract expansions since the start of the war, according to research by Friends of the Earth, Public Citizen and BailoutWatch. That’s a major increase from the 14 such contracts signed in 2021.
Continue reading...Alarming toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in animals’ blood – study
Analysis says hundreds of animals are contaminated with dangerous compounds linked to cancer and other health problems
Hundreds of animal species across the globe from ticks to whales have blood contaminated with toxic PFAS, a new analysis of previous peer-reviewed research shows.
Though the analysis does not aim to reveal how the exposure to PFAS affects wildlife, anecdotal evidence in some of the previous studies show the chemicals are likely sickening animals.
Continue reading...England one dry spell away from return to severe drought, say experts
Warning comes as supermarkets ration sales of produce owing to dry conditions elsewhere in Europe
England is at risk of a severe drought, with experts warning it is one dry spell away from conditions similar to last summer.
Farmers are preparing for a difficult growing year, with some areas having never left drought and others just recovering. This means it will be difficult to grow certain vegetables and yields could be affected. Last year, yields on crops such as cabbage and kale were reduced because of the drought.
Continue reading...Biodiversity will require complete rethink in crediting framework, developers say
South Korea’s SK Securities eyes early-stage offset projects
Carbon pricing regime key to Malaysia’s net zero, nature conservation goals -report
Philippines signs carbon, biodiversity MoU with major infrastructure firm
Indonesia launches long-awaited carbon trading scheme for its coal-fired power sector
Today’s climate activist ‘criminals’ are tomorrow’s heroes: silencing them in court is immoral | George Monbiot
It’s not ‘the whole truth and nothing but the truth’ if campaigners cannot explain their motivations to a jury
To tell “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”: this is the oath defendants in an English court must take. But when David Nixon sought to do so, he was sent to jail.
Nixon, who had taken part in an Insulate Britain protest blocking a junction in the City of London, was on trial for causing a public nuisance, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. He sought to explain his motivation to the jury. But the judge, Silas Reid, had instructed the defendants not to mention their reasons for taking action: namely climate breakdown, fuel poverty and the need for better insulation. When Nixon disregarded this instruction, Reid handed him an eight-week jail sentence for contempt of court.
Continue reading...UK’s £450m boiler upgrade scheme is failing to deliver
Only a third of low-carbon heating scheme’s annual budget has been used since launch in May 2022
A scheme to encourage UK households to upgrade their gas boilers to heat pumps and other low-carbon alternatives is failing to deliver after suffering a “disappointingly low” take-up, a parliamentary report has said.
Members of the House of Lords environment and climate change committee have written to ministers urging them to boost the profile of the £450m boiler upgrade scheme, after discovering just a third of its annual budget had been used since its launch last May.
Continue reading...Australia's energy market operator is worried about the grid's reliability. But should it be?
NSW Ports prepares to turns Port Kembla into an offshore wind energy hub
NSW Ports is planning a futuristic port that can support offshore wind and hydrogen.
The post NSW Ports prepares to turns Port Kembla into an offshore wind energy hub appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Korean giant backs plans for Australia’s first commercial solar hydrogen project
South Korean industrial giant throws its weight behind Infinite Green Energy plans to develop and build Australia’s first commercial-scale green hydrogen project.
The post Korean giant backs plans for Australia’s first commercial solar hydrogen project appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Australia’s methane pollution problem is outsized – and probably underestimated
Australia already produces five times as much methane as our population should warrant – but what if some of the biggest emitters are fudging their numbers?
The post Australia’s methane pollution problem is outsized – and probably underestimated appeared first on RenewEconomy.
“Sun tax” gets closer, but not much clearer, as networks outline solar export tariff plans
Solar export tariffs are set to hit parts of the grid next year. We look at the sometimes baffling network proposals to see what's on the table.
The post “Sun tax” gets closer, but not much clearer, as networks outline solar export tariff plans appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Can an old coal pit be turned into a lake? Hazelwood plans set off “water trigger”
Engie's proposed Hazelwood lake will be scrutinised by the federal government's more muscular environment department for its huge water use.
The post Can an old coal pit be turned into a lake? Hazelwood plans set off “water trigger” appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Huge 400MWh battery takes UK one step closer to 100 per cent renewables
A 200MW/400MWh energy storage system in the UK claims to be a world-first, and will help UK take another step towards a zero carbon grid.
The post Huge 400MWh battery takes UK one step closer to 100 per cent renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Solar exports and siestas: The energy future where consumers have the power, and can share it too
Landmark study looks into Australia's energy future to see how consumers will use electricity, how they won't, and how to avoid a potentially bumpy transition.
The post Solar exports and siestas: The energy future where consumers have the power, and can share it too appeared first on RenewEconomy.