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Two forthcoming major climate talks offer governments an opportunity to respond to this year’s extreme weather with decisive action

The warning signals of climate change that have hit people around the world in the last few months must be heeded by national governments at key meetings later this year, political leaders and policy experts are urging, as the disruption from record-breaking weather continues in many regions.

Extreme weather events have struck around the world – from the drought and record temperatures in northern Europe, to forest fires in the US, to heatwaves and drought in China, to an unusually strong monsoon that has devastated large areas of southern India.

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Western US has long been characterized by balmy weather and fresh starts, but some are weary of the unhealthy air and worry about a water shortage

Maricela Ruelas is a manager at a vineyard in Medford, Oregon. She trims, harvests – whatever needs doing. This year, she has done much of that work in a face mask.

Wildfire smoke has plagued her and her fellow workers nearly continuously for “a couple of months,” she said through a translator, leading to pounding headaches. “It was horrible, horrible this year.”

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Shale gas giant to restart controversial drilling after years of delays and protests

The UK shale industry’s long-delayed fracking drive will begin again next week, after the leading company Cuadrilla confirmed it will start working on a well in Lancashire within days.

The well at Preston New Road, between Blackpool and Preston, will be the first to be fracked in the UK since 2011, after years of hold-ups due to a moratorium, regulatory changes and planning battles.

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Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator doled out 297,582 carbon credits this week as big issuances to some forest projects pushed volumes up above average levels.

In Kivukoni fish market, the port city of Dar es Salaam boasts a thriving economic enterprise. But diminishing catches means demand outstrips supply

All photographs by Peter Caton for the Observer

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An eco-friendly person is seen as ‘more feminine’ by both sexes, leading men to shun behaviors beneficial to the environment

Several years ago while Christmas shopping, I came across a shop selling a reusable cloth grocery bag. On the front of the bag written in bold capital letters was the message: “I use this bag because my wife cares about the environment.”

The implication was clear: men don’t care about making eco-friendly choices, but with appropriate wifely pressure it might be possible to browbeat them into doing so.

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Black wattle is part of Australia's iconic acacia family, but it's largely regarded as a pest overseas. But this fast-growing plant is a boon to gardeners, improving soil and sheltering other plants. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Organisers said the flood of votes traced back to Australia was ‘potentially someone’s idea of a joke’

New Zealand’s annual Bird of the Year competition has been hit by foreign interference after 300 fraudulent votes, traced to Australia, were all cast in favour of the shag.

The humorously-named seabird – also known as the kawau in New Zealand and as the black cormorant in Australia – received a flood of votes on Wednesday night that organisers said was “potentially someone’s idea of a joke”.

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New global policies such as carbon pricing are needed if we are to avoid an apocalyptic increase in temperature

We are following a path that will ultimately take us to a 4C-warmer world. A hot state where it is unlikely that we can generate food, water and shelter for all citizens, where sea level rise will ultimately exceed 10 metres, and where social insecurity and widespread disease will very likely be universal.

Along the way we will reach several critical tipping points. One such is at 2C – a scenario that may prompt the Earth system to shift from self-cooling by means of buffering emissions to self-warming, thereby putting us on a path to a “hothouse Earth”. At 3C we reach a point where extreme floods and droughts will force people to leave their homes; more powerful hurricanes will destroy urban infrastructure.

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Elon Musk's crusade to rid the world of fossil fuels and lead the transition to clean energy took a small but significant step forward this week, with a decision by Australian's Energy Market Operator.

The post Tesla big battery claims its first major fossil fuel victim appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia’s “father of PV,” UNSW Scientia Professor Martin Green handed 2018 Global Energy Prize at a ceremony in Moscow.

The post Australia’s “father of PV”, Martin Green, collects Global Energy Prize appeared first on RenewEconomy.

In a recent survey commissioned by the Energy Efficiency Council, a remarkable 83 percent of people stated that they were concerned or very concerned about their electricity bill.

The post Metricon homes incentivises home solar & battery technology appeared first on RenewEconomy.

WA asks Carnegie to clarify finance position for its flagship Albany Wave Energy Project, after federal government tax changes raises questions about financing ability.

The post Carnegie told to get finances in order for Albany Wave Energy Project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Outdated rules, and the slow pace of regulatory change, are hampering the roll out of large-scale battery storage solutions on Australia’s grid.

The post Batteries hold key to grid’s thorniest problems, but regulations block the way appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New customers of Tesla Powerwall 2 battery storage system face significant price hike, due to equipment upgrade and focus on Model 3 electric vehicle deliveries.

The post Tesla Powerwall 2 battery prices jump, as production focuses on Model 3 EV appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Nissan unveiled their new Australian-version Leaf this morning with a bigger 40kWh battery giving a fully charged range of what the company calls ‘real world’ 270kms.

The post Nissan turns new Leaf in Australia with boosted range appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The government says it has a clear plan, but many in the nuclear sector are concerned for the future.

Using technologies to keep global temperature rise below 1.5C is "crazy" but may be the only way.

The industry is blamed for damaging the environment, fuelling climate change and polluting water.

Rooftop solar pushes mid-day prices into negative territory in Western Australia on four occasions in single week.

The post Rooftop solar, low demand, sends W.A prices negative four times in a week appeared first on RenewEconomy.