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Australia’s record energy emissions, and still no plan to reduce them
Australian wind, solar investment hits record high as NEG threatens to push it off a cliff
Most new cars must be electric by 2030, ministers told
Paris, London
Blockchain: Secret weapon in the fight against climate change
Big solar boom kicks off in SA with completion of 6MW Whyalla project
We need to ‘climate-proof’ our sports stadiums
Dolphin diet study gives conservation clues
Wagamama to mark Earth Day by ditching plastic straws
Asian food chain says it will hand out biodegradable paper alternative on request from 22 April
Wagamama has become the latest restaurant chain to commit to end the use of plastic straws.
From Earth Day on 22 April, the Asian food chain will switch to a biodegradable paper alternative, which will be available on request.
Continue reading...SA Water to install 6MW of solar PV in quest to cut power costs – to zero
Strong investor support drives CleanTech Index to new highs
Mount Mayon: Philippines volcano spews out lava
We need to 'climate proof' our sports stadiums
Natural gas has role in UK energy mix | Letters
Your editorial (Fracking’s day may have passed, 10 January) was keen to downplay the role of onshore gas in the UK’s future energy mix, and was deeply concerning. Natural gas has a role to play for many decades, and this is backed up by the National Grid, the government and other forecasters. 40% of UK primary energy was derived from natural gas in 2016, a 50% increase from 1990. In the UK, a projected annual gas demand of 68bcm in 2030, which is 90% of 2015 economy-wide consumption, is in keeping with the Committee on Climate Change’s fifth carbon budget. Natural gas is the largest energy source for UK homes and businesses, providing us with heat, power and vital feedstocks needed for our industries.
The site at Balcombe is not a site that will use hydraulic fracturing as there is not a need to – that was made clear by the company. You also refer to Ineos wanting to access gas in sensitive areas – this is despite the company confirming they have no plans to access site of special scientific interest (SSSI) areas for the purposes of the survey being carried out in the East Midlands, and this being confirmed by the governing authority, the local council.
Continue reading...Ban heavy fuel use in sensitive waters | Letters
The stricken tanker now sunk offshore of Shanghai should give pause to all with concern for the ocean, especially those who depend on sensitive, remote waters such as the Arctic. The tanker’s cargo of light fuel burned for a week, but response crews have voiced concerns about the heavy fuel oil or bunker fuel that powered the tanker. Heavy fuel is the dirtiest oil and highly persistent if spilled. A large heavy fuel spill into the waters of China’s largest fishery would compound the tragedy of the tanker’s missing crew. High seas, poisonous fumes, explosions, and winds have hampered rescue and response efforts this week. China’s calamity highlights efforts to prevent heavy fuel oil spills in other sensitive, but more challenging waters. International consideration is being given to phase out the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic where communities depend on marine life and spill response is negligible. If spilled, heavy fuel oil would remain for long periods and could spread widely if entrained in moving ice. This dangerous fuel is already banned under international rules for Antarctic waters. The Arctic deserves the same international precautions.
Sue Libenson
Senior Arctic program officer, Pacific Environment, Haines, Alaska
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
Continue reading...European parliament votes to end electric pulse fishing
Campaigners hail movement towards prohibiting the controversial practice but warn other measures will leave European waters in a worse state
The European Union’s parliament has voted to prohibit the controversial practice of electrical pulse fishing within EU waters, to the approval of some groups of small-scale fishermen and green campaigners.
However, a series of other measures designed to prevent overfishing and preserve the marine environment were voted down. Campaigners say the rejection will have a damaging effect on Europe’s fisheries for many years.
Continue reading...BP's Deepwater Horizon bill tops $65bn
Firm’s financial pain offset by rising oil prices as it winds down payouts from 2010 disaster
BP is nearing the end of the $65bn (£47bn) Deepwater Horizon compensation process, it said as it announced an unexpectedly high payout of $1.7bn among the final few hundred outstanding claims.
The British oil firm said on Tuesday it would pay the $1.7bn charge in the last quarter of 2017 for court-ordered payments resulting from the worst oil spill in US history. It means BP will have paed out $3bn in compensation for 2017, compared with the $2bn anticipated.
Continue reading...EU declares war on plastic waste
Brussels targets single-use plastics in an urgent clean-up plan that aims to make all packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030
The EU is waging war against plastic waste as part of an urgent plan to clean up Europe’s act and ensure that every piece of packaging on the continent is reusable or recyclable by 2030.
Following China’s decision to ban imports of foreign recyclable material, Brussels on Tuesday launched a plastics strategy designed to change minds in Europe, potentially tax damaging behaviour, and modernise plastics production and collection by investing €350m (£310m) in research.
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