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From Los Angeles to Cairo, the global water crisis is escalating – but Valencia’s Tribunal de les Aigües could inspire a solution

Every Thursday at noon, outside the west door of Valencia’s cathedral, nine black-cloaked figures – one wearing a banded cap and with a ceremonial harpoon by their side – gather for their weekly meeting, as they have done for hundreds of years. This is the Tribunal de les Aigües (Tribunal of Waters) – a water court that may be the oldest institution of justice in Europe.

It may seem like a relic of the past, but in fact, in the midst of a global water crisis, the tribunal is more relevant than ever. We are a civilisation at risk of committing aquacide. Due to droughts caused by climate change, expanding industrial agriculture and growing urbanisation, one in every four people will be affected by water scarcity over coming decades, with cities from Los Angeles and Cairo to Melbourne and São Paulo facing acute shortages. Water conflicts are on the rise, both within and between nations – we are increasingly fighting over water rather than oil and land. Moreover, in countries such as the UK, private water companies are jacking up prices and siphoning off super-profits while dumping sewage in the rivers.

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From an unexpected glimpse of a silky anteater to a tagged terrapin, here is a selection of this year’s winning, runner-up and commended images from the 2024 Mangrove photography awards, run by the Mangrove Action Project

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Australian solar innovator says the plunging price of PV technology puts its home grown technology front and centre in Australia's transition to renewables.

The post Forget nuclear: 5B says plunging price of PV means giga-scale solar farms the future for old coal plants appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The proposition of clean hydrogen derived from carbon capture and storage is misleading and fanciful.

The post Blue hydrogen from CCS is a con with a big carbon footprint appeared first on RenewEconomy.

There is bill shock for many in the rollout of smart meters. Regulators are about to crack down, but it will be too late for many and the damage to trust in the green energy transition is already done.

The post Bill shock: Energy retailers have a nasty surprise with smart meters and time of use tariffs appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Connection found between early exposure and bronchitic symptoms in adults without previous lung problems

Air pollution breathed in during childhood is one of the factors in adult lung health, according to a new study.

The origins of the study date back to 1992 when researchers began investigating the effects of air pollution on groups of children in California. Some of these children are now in their 40s.

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Cyan Renewables plans to spend at least $US1 billion in Australia's offshore wind industry after buying out a local Australian marine services provider.

The post Singapore offshore wind services outfit plans to spend $US1bn in Australian market appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Solar would not happily co-exist in a toxic ‘frenemy” relationship’ with nuclear. Instead, we urgently need a great Aussie marriage of home solar with home batteries.

The post Solar doesn’t need a toxic “friendship” with nuclear power appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The latest intervention from our economic umpire misses the crucial point that green energy statecraft is critical to derisk investment, and catalyse the inflow of domestic and foreign capital.

The post Bizarre and naive: Productivity Commission fails to grasp Australia’s big green industry opportunity appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Neoen says first stage of South Australia's biggest wind project delayed, as $118 million in liquidated damages from other project delays support first half results.

The post Delays flagged for South Australia’s biggest wind project as damages claims prop up Neoen earnings appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Doug Lewin, from the Energy Capital podcast in Texas, explains how a massive storm triggered unprecedented investment in solar and storage in the oil state. Plus: News of the week.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: The extraordinary solar and battery boom in the Texas oil state appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) has published its assessment of scrapping the state’s cap-and-trade programme should ballot initiative 2117 (I-2117) succeed, but failed to discuss several negative impacts it might have on the economy, according to a think-tank.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) prices stabilised on lower volumes this week in the absence of a market catalyst, holding below Washington Carbon Allowances (WCA) that registered a slight uptick in activity in an otherwise subdued market.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards finalised this spring that envision a prominent role for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in reducing power plant emissions have piqued interest in the emerging technology, but hesitancy remains around legal challenges, a conference heard Thursday.

The regulatory framework for Mexico’s long-delayed emissions trading system (ETS) is in the final stages of review, and the private sector is increasingly interested in offsetting strategies, according to a Mexican industry representative speaking on a webinar Thursday.

Tax credits and other incentives towards carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the US are likely to continue under a potential second Trump administration, experts told conference attendees, also providing recommendations for project developers in a post-election landscape. 

Researchers say 650 tonnes on order for Paris Games is a potential stress on local and regional resources

From cold-water swimming to ice baths, deliberately freezing yourself has been hailed as a panacea for everything from menopause symptoms to arthritis, headaches and immunity conditions.

And for sportspeople, ice is widely used to aid recovery after exercise. But now researchers have said the clinical benefits of ice therapy are not evidence-based and its popularity is bad for the environment.

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Denmark has written to the European Commission to express concerns about draft EU aviation emissions reporting rules, saying the text fails to properly take non-CO2 emissions into account, as requested under the EU ETS.

In theory, time-of-use pricing should nudge households to use electricity when it’s cheaper and more plentiful, saving on bills and grid costs. In practice, it isn’t working well for many households. Lee White, Senior Lecturer and Horizon Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mounting evidence shows rainfall is becoming increasingly variable, making the dry times drier and the wet much wetter. New findings confirm research into rainfall variability in Australia. Steven Sherwood, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sydney Anna Ukkola, ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.