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A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Three years after the Dieselgate scandal erupted, number of highly polluting diesel vehicles on Europe’s roads has risen to 43 million

The number of dirty diesel vehicles pumping out toxic emissions on Europe’s streets is still rising three years after the Dieselgate scandal began, according to a new report. More than 7m such cars and vans remain on UK roads alone.

There were 29m diesel vehicles whose emissions on the road were significantly higher than official laboratory-based EU limits when the diesel scandal erupted in September 2015. But that has now risen by to 43m, according to analysis by the group Transport & Environment (T&E). France has the most dirty diesels on the road, with 8.7m, followed by Germany’s 8.2m and the UK’s 7.3m.

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EU carbon prices climbed almost 5% on Monday, rising by almost a euro following a strong auction in another choppy session in the wake of last week’s massive swing of almost €8.

You will play a key role in ensuring the smooth and impactful running of ShareAction’s projects in support of (1) scrutinising / challenging corporate lobbying activities, and (2) encouraging the oil & gas and power generation industries to align their business models with the goals of the Paris agreement.

WWF is forming a ground-breaking partnership with a UK retailer to deliver sustainable, healthy and affordable food for all. It will work together to lead long-term action to tackle climate change, both via the impact of our food system, and by cutting emissions from the retailer’s own operations and its supply chain.

You will contribute to and have a leading role in project delivery and business development in the rapidly developing areas of International Climate Action Planning – particularly at sub-national level, and International Climate Action Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV)

Bloomberg NEF (BNEF) is seeking a talented, highly motivated individual to join our London-based analyst team covering low-carbon heat. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing research coverage on the decarbonization of heat in buildings and industry, including building datasets and authoring research reports.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has suggested changing the rules to allow 'environmental' water to be diverted to drought-hit farms. But the idea would be far less straightforward in practice. Erin O'Donnell, Senior Fellow, Centre for Resources, Energy and Environment Law, University of Melbourne Avril Horne, Research fellow, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

State government’s decision has appalled scientists and conservationists, and widens divide between city and country

When the Batemans marine park, not far from my home on the New South Wales south coast, was first created, fishing on a beach next to my property was illegal. Then, under immense pressure from recreational fishers, the zoning throughout the marine park was changed. A few hundred metres offshore stayed a no-take zone but line fishing and spearfishing is now allowed from my local beach. One of my greatest pleasures is to head down to the water with my children and cast into the breakers at dusk, hoping to catch my dinner.

The rezoning along the Batemans coast meant substantial areas remained off limits to recreational anglers like me. But there are still more than enough spots to fish throughout the marine park. The tourists still come and everyone who wants to catch a fish can.

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A crowdfunding campaign to save the endangered owl hit its target so the four-month old dog gets his first mission

Researchers are turning to a canine companion named Zorro to help them save one of Australia’s most elusive birds.

A crowdfunding campaign to save the masked owl has hit its $60,000 target, which means the four-month-old border collie will be enlisted on his first mission – dubbed Operation Owl-Dog – to track down Tasmania’s endangered masked owl.

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Two trains built by the French train maker Alstom are now operating on a 62 mile stretch of line in northern Germany

Germany has rolled out the world’s first hydrogen-powered train, signalling the start of a push to challenge the might of polluting diesel trains with costlier but more eco-friendly technology.

Two bright blue Coradia iLint trains, built by French TGV-maker Alstom, on Monday began running a 62 mile (100km) route between the towns and cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude in northern Germany – a stretch normally plied by diesel trains.

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New Zealand carbon allowances made minor gains further above NZ$25 on Monday as supply has dried up amid expectations of further price hikes.

Australia’s new environment minister Melissa Price on Monday gave the nation’s offset market a boost by saying she was seeking to top up the budget of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), the first government member to say so since the A$2.55 billion fund was established.

Governor Jerry Brown signed an executive order for statewide carbon neutrality by 2045

Last week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed State Senator and US Senate candidate Kevin de León’s SB 100, which mandates that the state obtain all of its electricity from zero-carbon sources by 2045. That in itself was a big deal, but Brown didn’t stop there; he also issued an executive order calling for the entire California economy to become carbon-neutral by 2045. That’s a huge deal.

In order to stay below the Paris climate threshold of 2°C global warming above pre-industrial temperatures, humanity must become carbon-neutral by around 2060 or 2070. If California can meet Brown’s target, it will be providing the rest of the world a blueprint for meeting the Paris target. As the world’s fifth-largest economy, California can provide a powerful roadmap for others to follow.

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Researchers have found that man-made climate change has increased Hurricane Florence's rainfall by 50 per cent.

Coalition’s backdown follows reversals on stadiums, greyhounds, council amalgamations and emergency services levy

The New South Wales government has performed yet another about-face, ditching a proposed ban on fishing at 25 “no take” sanctuary zones in a proposed marine park stretching between Newcastle and Wollongong.

Just weeks after the government announced the plan to create the Sydney region marine park, the primary industries minister, Niall Blair, backed down on Monday after sustained opposition from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party.

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Four British men have been jailed for a combined 32.5 years after being found to have operated a £2.4 million fraud that involved mis-selling carbon credits to 130 victims.

Japanese energy giant reveals plans to halve its ownership of coal power by 2030, and withdraw completely from building new coal fired generators.

The post Japan’s Marubeni deals “body blow” to coal, in pivot to renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Some species are so close to extinction, that every remaining member can fit on a New York subway carriage (if they squeeze).

All estimates come from the IUCN Red List, 2018.

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Higher EU carbon prices will set Germany’s coal power phase-out in motion, but the country risks inducing power price spikes in determining an end-date for the fuel’s use, analysts said on Monday.