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Covid has made us use even more plastic – but we can reset | Christian Dunn
Lockdown has highlighted the versatility of this everyday material, while creating a mountain of waste
Every time you do a lateral flow coronavirus test, you throw away around 10g of plastic. If every adult and secondary school student in the UK did the recommended two tests a week, it would produce more than 1,000 tonnes of rubbish every seven days. In less than a month this would fill an Olympic-size swimming pool.
Those of us who before the pandemic were involved in campaigns to cut our dependence on plastic, encouraging our communities to become “plastic free”, may feel like criticising such consumption. Should we stop these tests, knowing what we do about the plastic pollution crisis?
Continue reading...Doctors issue official guidance on effects of air pollution and bushfire smoke on pregnant people
Information should serve as ‘wake-up call’ that action on climate change is needed to protect people and their children
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New patient resources warning of the dangers of air pollution and bushfire smoke to pregnant people or those planning to conceive have been issued by the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), in what is thought to be a world-first.
Patients are warned to avoid exposureto air pollution on heavily trafficked roads, bushfire smoke or indoor smoke from things such as cigarettes, unflued fireplaces or incense.
Continue reading...Bulgana big battery switches on, but its biggest customer has collapsed
The third big battery in Victoria starts production, but the project's major corporate customer has collapsed, ending plans for a very green greenhouse.
The post Bulgana big battery switches on, but its biggest customer has collapsed appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Chevron concedes CCS failures at Gorgon, seeks deal with WA regulators
Chevron seeks deal with WA regulators after conceding its Gorgon carbon capture and storage project is falling well short of targets.
The post Chevron concedes CCS failures at Gorgon, seeks deal with WA regulators appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Wind output nears record levels as two big wind farms join the grid
Australia's main grid came close to a new record for wind energy output over the weekend, as two new wind projects began production for the first time.
The post Wind output nears record levels as two big wind farms join the grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Swiss researchers offer salt solution to perovskite solar’s toxic problem
New Swiss study proposes salt solution to pave way for solar's most promising emerging technology: perovskite-based cells.
The post Swiss researchers offer salt solution to perovskite solar’s toxic problem appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Corporate and investor activity driving prices higher in Australian carbon market
Australia's carbon market driven to new highs due to increasing corporate voluntary activity and investor participants.
The post Corporate and investor activity driving prices higher in Australian carbon market appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Olympic flame to use renewable hydrogen as Tokyo makes pitch for ‘carbon free future’
Japan wants the Olympics to be a vision for a 'carbon free future', including by fuelling the Olympic cauldron with renewable hydrogen.
The post Olympic flame to use renewable hydrogen as Tokyo makes pitch for ‘carbon free future’ appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Pedal to the floor: Electric vehicles sales are taking off around the world
Electric vehicles sales are taking off around the world. Can Australia seize the opportunity?
The post Pedal to the floor: Electric vehicles sales are taking off around the world appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Chinese Unesco official defends plan to list Great Barrier Reef as ‘in danger’
Tian Xuejun rejects Australia’s ‘groundless accusations’ that China influenced the finding to score political points
The Chinese host of a United Nations world heritage committee has defended a proposal to label the Great Barrier Reef as “in danger”, and rejected Australian government suspicion that China influenced the finding for political reasons.
It came as the Morrison government sought to use a new report by Australia’s marine science agency to argue there had been widespread coral recovery on the reef.
Continue reading...Enel Green Power Australia joins Monash University to support the next generation of sustainability leaders
Enel Green Power Australia (EGPA) has partnered with Monash University to support the launch of its innovative and award-winning Green Steps program for 2021.
The post Enel Green Power Australia joins Monash University to support the next generation of sustainability leaders appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Climate crisis: 50 photos of extreme weather around the world – in pictures
As temperatures rise and pollution increases, wildfires, floods and extreme winds have battered many parts of the world in the last six months
Continue reading...Using plastic waste to help solve sand shortages
Politicians from across world call for ‘global green deal’ to tackle climate crisis
New alliance urges governments to work together to deliver a just transition to a green economy
People around the world need a “global green deal” that would tackle the climate crisis and restore the natural world as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, a group of politicians from the UK, Europe and developing countries has said.
The Global Alliance for a Green New Deal is inviting politicians from legislatures in all countries to work together on policies that would deliver a just transition to a green economy ahead of Cop26 UN climate talks in Glasgow this November.
Continue reading...Wind farm overlooking closed Hazelwood coal plant seeks public approval
Plans for a 33 turbine wind farm overlooking the site of the former Hazelwood coal-fired power station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley have been put on public exhibition.
The post Wind farm overlooking closed Hazelwood coal plant seeks public approval appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Seven years after carbon price was scrapped, Australia’s policies still baked in denial
This weekend marks the seventh anniversary of when Coalition MPs danced with joy at the repeal of the carbon price. Their policies are still baked in denial and stupidity.
The post Seven years after carbon price was scrapped, Australia’s policies still baked in denial appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Severe floods shut hydro, coal plants across Germany -RWE
Four arrested at McDonald’s factory protest in Lincolnshire
Animal Rebellion activists began blockade of Scunthorpe site on Thursday over fast food chain’s meat products
Four activists have been arrested at a protest that began more than 48 hours ago at a McDonald’s burger factory in Scunthorpe.
About 50 activists from Animal Rebellion have been preventing meat products leaving the factory, urging the fast food chain to move to a meat- and dairy-free menu by 2025.
Continue reading...Regulate business to tackle climate crisis, urges Mark Carney
Former Bank chief says governments must act as free markets will not reduce emissions alone
Governments must step up their regulation of businesses to tackle the climate crisis, the former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has urged, because the financial free markets will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions alone.
Carney, who left the Bank of England last year before the first Covid-19 lockdown, is now one of the most influential figures working on Cop26, the vital UN climate talks to be held in Glasgow in November. He is a UN envoy on climate change and Boris Johnson’s finance adviser on the climate.
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