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One year ago Jessica Hamilton divested from fossil fuels. Here’s what she has learned since

This time last year I changed my banking and superannuation, and I did it out of climate anxiety. Was it a smart financial decision? At the time, I had no idea. But as I sat inside in a city clouded by bushfire smoke, I decided that even if only $1 of my money was invested in coal, oil or gas – the leading drivers of the climate crisis – that was still $1 too much.

That same climate anxiety drove my friend Ash and I to find an answer to the question that plagues so many of us: what the heck can everyday people like us do in the face of the climate crisis that will actually make a difference?

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Hunting and recreation found to have greater impact than urbanisation and logging

Human activity is fundamentally altering the distances the world’s animals need to move to live, hunt and forage, according to a study that examined the impact on more than 160 species across six continents.

All activities changed the behaviour of animals, but the study found destructive activities such as urbanisation and logging affected the movement of animals less than sporadic endeavours such as using aircraft, hunting and recreation.

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Rigs burn off enough unwanted gas to heat 1m homes, UK regulator said last year

The UK’s North Sea oil rigs release as much carbon dioxide as a coal-fired power plant every year by deliberately burning unwanted gas into the atmosphere as giant flares, according to research.

A report has revealed that almost 20m tonnes of CO2 was released into the atmosphere in the five years to the end of 2019 by “flaring and venting” the extra gas released from oil wells.

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Energy watchdog’s Fatih Birol says shift away from coal in key regions needs to be made a global priority

Dependency on coal in key parts of the world is preventing a global green recovery from taking off, and the shift away from coal needs to be made a global priority, the head of the world’s energy watchdog has said

Coal still forms a key part of China’s energy system, and plans are in train for further coal-fired power plants in the country. India is also heavily dependent on coal, and despite increasing its renewable energy generation has shown little sign of reducing its use of the fossil fuel.

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Endangered giants face potentially fatal encounters with the 1,000 daily fishing vessels moving through main feeding area off Chile, scientists warn

The largest mammal ever to live on the Earth, the blue whale, is under threat from boat collisions as one of its main feeding grounds in Chilean Patagonia is overrun with vessels, a new study has revealed.

The endangered whales must contend with up to 1,000 boats moving daily through an important feeding area in the eastern South Pacific, according to research published in the scientific journal Nature.

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For too long we have been failed by every layer of government, from the president, to congressional representation, from our state governor, to our state environment agency

For five years I have fought against the polluters who have poisoned our community in Louisiana’s “cancer alley”, or as we call it now: “death alley”. And for decades our fight has been ignored by the US government.

This makes President Joe Biden’s decision to reference Cancer Alley earlier this week, as he signed new climate and environmental justice orders, a meaningful and great moment. But for me the distance between seeing Mr Biden address our problems directly, and anything actually coming to fruition, is a long gap. And I will have to wait to see some direct results.

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China’s national emissions trading scheme formally entered into force on Monday, creating a sharp divide in outlook between those pilot carbon markets where power plants transition to the federal scheme immediately and those that will keep coal units in the local programmes for another year.

The Biden-Harris administration can restart fundamental environmental policies and programs, and restore the federal commitment to environmental protection

Now that the Trump administration’s four-year assault on environmental protection and conservation has crested, the work of restoration must begin. As professionals in the field of conservation, we watched with dread and dismay as the laws, policies, science, and stewardship of waters, air, wildlife, and public lands were systematically dismantled.

While the damage is profound, the Biden-Harris administration can reverse these harms, restart fundamental environmental policies and programs, and restore the federal commitment to environmental protection and lands and waters stewardship. What is needed is a tactical plan for restoration.

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"It isn't the first... but it has a longer usability," says a scientist making a new Covid vaccine.

River Chess Association say untreated sewage is causing untold harm to infant trout and other habitats

Thames Water has been discharging untreated sewage into a chalk stream in Buckinghamshire, causing what campaigners say is untold harm to infant trout and habitats in the river.

The discharges into the River Chess in Chesham occurred days after the head of the environment agency told MPs that this should never happen, although he later qualified his remarks to allow for some exceptional circumstances.

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A re-study of the prehistoric find from 1910 suggests interbreeding between two human species.

Stardust 1.0 has become the first commercial launch of a rocket powered by bio-derived fuel.

OpenSolar and Plenti today announced an exciting new partnership that will integrate solar finance with powerful sales software.

The post OpenSolar and Plenti launch partnership to help make renewable energy more accessible for Australian homeowners” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Fossil fuel companies again rank amongst the largest political donors, with the gas industry flexing influence over major parties.

The post Gas industry again ranks amongst largest financial contributors to big political parties appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Global logistics giant Atco buys rights to pumped hydro storage project located in what will be the first renewable energy zone in NSW.

The post Global logistics giant buys rights to pumped hydro project in NSW renewable zone appeared first on RenewEconomy.

 WePower formally handed over a version of its innovative retail electricity transaction marketplace – also known as Elemental – to Mojo Power. 

The post WePower delivers its Retail Marketplace Elemental to Mojo Power appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia's Martin Green awarded prestigious Japan Prize for career of world-beating research into high-efficiency solar cells.

The post Australia’s Martin Green awarded prestigious Japan Prize for work as ‘Father of solar PV’ appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The EPA is looking for a Registry Analyst to provide analysis, business and administrative support to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Register.

This role will oversee the gas and green trading team, responsible for managing the supply of gas, gas transport and gas storage while also managing the company’s exposure to the existing and future renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon markets.

Genesis is looking for a motivated and engaged leader to provide strong leadership across its Derivatives team, helping drive behavioural and cultural change and supporting traders in trading electricity derivatives and emission products to maximise trading gross margin.