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The media is still mostly failing to convey the urgency of the climate crisis | Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope
We asked the world’s press to commit to treating climate change as the emergency that scientists say it is. Their response was dispiriting
The TV newsman Bill Moyers likes to tell the story of how Edward R Murrow, the pre-eminent US broadcast journalist of his time, insisted on covering what became Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939. Murrow’s bosses at CBS News had other priorities; they ordered Murrow’s reporters to cover dance competitions in Hamburg, Paris and London, explaining that Americans needed some happy news. Murrow wouldn’t do it. “It’ll probably get us fired,” he told his colleagues, but he sent his correspondents to the German-Polish border; they arrived just in time to witness Hitler’s tanks and troops roar into Poland. Suddenly, Europe was at war. And Americans heard about it because journalists at one of the nation’s most influential news outlets defied convention and did their jobs.
Related: ‘This is it. If we don’t amp up, we’re goners’: the last chance to confront the climate crisis?
Continue reading...The Everglades are dying. An alliance between Biden and Republicans could save them
Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a $3.4bn deal to restore the freshwater preserve and Biden has earmarked funds to help
For years environmental groups warned the Florida Everglades, a vast 1.5m acre (607,000 hectare) subtropical preserve, may be doomed to extinction. Agricultural pollution, saltwater intrusion, and rampant real estate development had turned the waterways toxic and the state’s iconic environmental landmark was left to slowly choke to death. Perhaps until now.
A sweeping Everglades restoration effort decades in the making is finally seeing renewed optimism thanks to a cast of unlikely champions: Florida state Republicans. In April, Ron DeSantis, the governor, signed an agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers to build a massive $3.4bn reservoir west of Palm Beach, which would help restore the flow of freshwater to the Everglades. Other state-funded projects to revitalize the region’s delicate ecosystem are already months ahead of schedule, DeSantis said.
Continue reading...World must rewild on massive scale to heal nature and climate, says UN
The ‘decade on ecosystem restoration’ launches with a call for ‘imagination’ and action on never-before-seen scale
The world must rewild and restore an area the size of China to meet commitments on nature and the climate, says the UN, and the revival of ecosystems must be met with all the ambition of the space race.
Existing conservation efforts are insufficient to prevent widespread biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, the global body has warned at the launch of the decade on ecosystem restoration, an urgent call for the large-scale revival of nature in farmlands, forests and other ecosystems.
Continue reading...‘You can see the tails’: bloated cod regurgitate mice amid Australian mouse plague
Discovery of ‘up to 10’ mice inside Murray fish highlights concerns about government’s bid to use bromadiolone poison to tackle plague
After years of drought, Aaron Graham was ecstatic to see the Macquarie River coming to life again. The water is higher, the river is clearer and the Murray cod that live there are fatter than ever.
However, the source of this abundant fish food supply comes from a rather unsavoury place.
Continue reading...Lightsource BP lands finance for two new solar projects in Australia
Ligtsource BP lands $330 million in finance to give go-ahead to two new solar projects in NSW and Queensland.
The post Lightsource BP lands finance for two new solar projects in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.
UK urges Australia to scale up climate ambition before G7 summit
British high commissioner’s warning on carbon tariffs follows Scott Morrison’s declaration: ‘We’re going to do it our way’
The top British envoy in Canberra has confirmed that the UK is encouraging Australia to increase its emission reduction target for the 2030s, indicating it is not enough for nations to commit to net zero by 2050.
Before the G7 meeting in Cornwall late next week, where climate is set to be a key focus, the British high commissioner, Vicki Treadell, said the UK was asking all countries to lift their interim emission targets to align with the Paris goal of seeking to limit heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Continue reading...Worms sent into space for muscle loss research mission
Video: IEA creates big problem for Australia’ government
The recent IEA report destroys the Government’s justifications for fossil fuel expansion.
The post Video: IEA creates big problem for Australia’ government appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Climate crisis: rich countries falling short on vow to help poorer ones
US and UK are only G7 nations proposing to increase climate finance despite failure to meet $100bn-a-year aid pledge
Rich countries are falling behind on their pledges to help the poor world tackle the climate crisis, new research has shown, on the eve of a meeting of the finance ministers of the G7 industrialised economies.
The UK and the US are the only two G7 countries to have set out proposals to increase climate finance in recent months, according to a report by Care Denmark, a member of the international NGO network. Climate finance is used by poor countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, for instance through investment in clean energy generation, and to adapt to the impacts of extreme weather such as floods and droughts.
Continue reading...Greens are right: Exploded Callide turbine should be replaced by a big battery
The Queensland Greens say the destroyed Callide coal unit should be replaced by a big battery, not a new turbine. Why do the big parties not understand that?
The post Greens are right: Exploded Callide turbine should be replaced by a big battery appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Nasa to launch baby squid to International Space Station
South Australia’s key lessons in prioritising a renewables grid over fossil fuels
South Australia's transition to a renewables-dominated grid delivers important lessons to other governments planning the same.
The post South Australia’s key lessons in prioritising a renewables grid over fossil fuels appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Woodside’s planned Scarborough gas field equivalent to 15 new coal plants, report says
Scarborough Gas Field being developed by Woodside and BHP would result in an additional pollution equal to 15 new coal-fired power plants.
The post Woodside’s planned Scarborough gas field equivalent to 15 new coal plants, report says appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Curious Kids: if trees are cut down in the city, where will possums live?
AEMO welcomes two new independent directors
The Australian Energy Market Operator is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Julieanne Alroe and Mr Kee Wong to the AEMO Board as independent directors, effective 1 June 2021.
The post AEMO welcomes two new independent directors appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Queensland coal generators tripped off like dominoes after Callide explosion
An initial report from AEMO into the Callide explosion indicates that multiple coal and gas generators tripped off. Energy experts are not sure why.
The post Queensland coal generators tripped off like dominoes after Callide explosion appeared first on RenewEconomy.
CP Daily: Wednesday June 2, 2021
Energy Insiders Podcast: Shell Australia’s big power play
Shell Australia CEO Tony Nunan talks about new NSW contract, big batteries, electric vehicles, hydrogen, LNG and carbon capture.
The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Shell Australia’s big power play appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Queensland leads the world in Australia’s coal mining blitz
Coal-fields of Queensland have more coal under development than any state or province in the world.
The post Queensland leads the world in Australia’s coal mining blitz appeared first on RenewEconomy.
NSW calls for 8,000MW of wind, solar and storage proposals for New England
NSW puts out call for 8,000MW of wind, solar and storage in biggest ever program of its type in Australia.
The post NSW calls for 8,000MW of wind, solar and storage proposals for New England appeared first on RenewEconomy.