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Dramatic changes in energy industry and EVs reducing fossil fuel use, but shipping, aviation and industry a long way from net zero

Humanity has made some uneven progress in reducing our addiction to fossil fuels – but there remain three areas of our lives in which we are notably not on track to kick the habit over the next 30 years, according to a new analysis.

Record levels of investment in clean energy (solar has been called the cheapest source of electricity in history by the International Energy Agency) and a decline in coal-powered generation means less and less of the world’s power will come from fossil fuels between now and 2050, the analysis from Rhodium shows.

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Sustainable food and agriculture investment firm Cibus Capital is preparing to launch a natural capital strategy to restore degraded land led by an ex-Blackrock Alternatives executive.

A steelmaking venture is working to reduce its CO2 emissions via a novel carbon capture and utilisation tech, and plans a huge ramp-up in scale of its pilot after receiving fresh government funding.

A large French advertising firm has pledged to spend €20 million for the delivery of voluntary carbon credits over fifteen years to offset its "unavoidable" emissions, in annual results this week.

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

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First study to tally asthma exacerbations with air pollution during pandemic finds numbers admitted to A&E fell 41% in 2020

A new study in Oxford has found that emergency hospital admissions for asthma dropped by 41% in 2020 as air pollution from traffic fell due to Covid restrictions.

Dr Suzanne Bartington from the University of Birmingham, who led the Oxford study, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic led to a unique opportunity where we could study the impacts of rapid changes in human activities on air quality.”

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A climate consultancy has warned the New Zealand government is falling behind its neighbours on developing a plan to purchase internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs) to meet its 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). 

Energy Security Board final report calls for coordinated leadership and action – particularly from DNSPs – on the integration of consumer energy resources.

The post Network companies called out for “lack of accountability” on rooftop solar integration, in final report from ESB appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A wind turbine has been destroyed at the Clements Gap wind farm after it caught on fire on Wednesday.

The post Fire destroys wind turbine at Pacific Blue’s Clements Gap appeared first on RenewEconomy.

AER is suing the operator of Callide C, one of the youngest coal plants on the NEM, over a 2021 incident that left huge parts of Queensland without power.

The post Coal generator to face court over blackouts caused by “catastrophic” explosion appeared first on RenewEconomy.

BHP, Rio Tinto and BlueScope are scoping locations in Australia for a pilot plant to make low-carbon steel using cleaner technology.

The post Iron ore giants join forces on electric smelter for green steel appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The proposed amendments to California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) fail to consider Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC) recommendations to mitigate environmental risks to communities caused by the policy, and stakeholders should be given more time to provide feedback, EJAC members told state regulator ARB officials at a meeting Thursday.

Australia could begin work on a new, low emissions iron smelter by 2027 if an agreement announced Friday between the nation’s two largest iron ore miners and steelmaker is successful.

Announcing a "refined" investment strategy and new talent, Grok Ventures says it will exclusively invest in opportunities “right across the climate capital stack.”

The post Cannon-Brookes taps new investment talent as Grok zeroes in on decarbonisation appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Energy guru and former AMEO CEO Audrey Zibelman joins Pollination board, to help put a rocket under the business of global decarbonisation.

The post Zibelman joins Pollination board to target “critical, urgent work” of funding decarbonisation appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Changing climate will batter New York state throughout the 21st century with heat waves, heavy rain, flooding, stronger winds, and storm surges predicted to become increasingly frequent, technical chapters of a multi-year study released Thursday predict.

Washington Carbon Allowances (WCA) prices slowed their recent rate of decline with a sudden uptick to end the reference period, while California Carbon Allowances (CCA) picked up in volumes transacted heading into next week's first auction of 2024.

As BOM marks down 2023 as Australia's eight warmest year, a Climate Council report says the summer has delivered clear signs the planet is overheating.

The post “Climate whiplash:” Reports warn to brace for more impacts of a fast-warming planet appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Green groups question further delay to environmental approvals for a Queensland wind farm, as industry and governments struggle to balance the urgent need to decarbonise with protecting nature and keeping communities on side.

The post Queensland wind farm delay raises red flags with green groups, as lines blur over environment appeared first on RenewEconomy.