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Graeme Samuel, who led 2020 review of environmental laws, says ‘I doubt that I’ll be red-faced when we do actually see the laws’

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The head of a review into Australia’s national environmental laws has accused Western Australia’s mining industry and media of spreading “misinformation” about the Albanese government’s nature reforms.

Graeme Samuel told a federal Senate hearing into the extinction crisis that “naysayers” in WA’s mining sector had run a campaign of “negative publicity” against improved environmental protections.

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One of Japan's biggest oil refiners has made its first foray into the forest carbon market, as it continues to seek opportunities in the carbon removal sector as part of its climate strategy, it announced Wednesday.

The Malaysian state of Sabah will soon trade the first tranche of verified carbon units (VCUs) for its forestry project registered under Verra as it has met international standards.

Tell all the maugean skates to hang on until after the next election

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An end to extinctions. An environmental cop on the beat. Labor promised a great deal on the environment. But yesterday, they backed away from the main challenge. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Megan C Evans, Senior Lecturer, Public Sector Management, UNSW Sydney Yung En Chee, Senior Research Fellow, Environmental Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The science is building against hydrogen in homes, with a new study showing a sharp increase in gas leaks from appliances using full or blended hydrogen.

The post Hydrogen in gas networks doubles dangerous leaks from home appliances appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Uncertainty looms over coastal and marine habitat conservation, as the emerging biodiversity credit markets are not yet consistent enough to drive adequate investments in ecosystem protection efforts, a NatureMetrics executive said Tuesday.

MGA Thermal says it has learned a lot from the pilot plant problems last year, and is on track to reach the next milestone to commercialisation.

The post Thermal storage hopeful raises funds to get back on track after “dangerous heat incident” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The first global bleaching event was in 1998 and the fourth is now under way. Until we curb the emissions driving global warming, the pressure on coral reefs will continue to increase. Britta Schaffelke, Manager International Partnerships and Co-ordinator of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), Australian Institute of Marine Science David Wachenfeld, Research Program Director – Reef Ecology and Monitoring, Australian Institute of Marine Science Selina Stead, CEO, Australian Institute of Marine Science, and Professor of Marine Governance and Environmental Science, Newcastle University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Renewable critics declare that the "worst ever" week for wind output over the past seven days is proof that renewables won't work. But modelling shows that is not true.

The post “Worst week for wind:” But is that a reason to panic about transition to renewables? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Annual watchlist raises concern for native chicken, duck, geese and turkey populations as well as rare pig breeds

All of the UK’s native breeds of chicken, duck, geese and turkey are under threat because of bird flu, a report from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has found.

The disease, which has swept the globe after it originated in poultry farms in Asia, has caused devastating declines in bird populations. It has also now jumped to mammals and some cases have been found in humans, though it has not been found to be spreading from human to human.

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Monthly data from Indonesia’s carbon exchange saw March traded volumes rise slightly higher, but the market still remains largely dormant.

Co-authors say ‘no-regrets policy’ would save consumers €2.8bn a year while cutting emissions by 48m tonnes

Healthier ready-to-eat meals could cut EU emissions by 48m tonnes annually and save customers €2.8bn (£2.4bn) each year, as well as reducing disease, a report has found.

Fast food and ready meals provide more than a sixth of the EU’s calories but contain far more salt and meat than doctors recommend, according to an analysis from the consultancy Systemiq commissioned by environmental nonprofit organisations Fern and Madre Brava.

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Common eastern bumblebee queens’ ability while hibernating could help it endure flooding, scientists say

Bumblebees might be at home in town and country but now researchers have found at least one species that is even more adaptable: it can survive underwater.

Scientists have revealed queens of the common eastern bumblebee, a species widespread in eastern North America, can withstand submersion for up to a week when hibernating.

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Many non-EU countries lack resources to produce the biodiversity indicators required under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), a survey by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has shown.

More wind means lower prices, but it is battery storage that will replace expensive generation such as gas.

The post Big batteries will undercut gas, but it’s hydro that might lose market share first appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Floods, cyclones, heat stress and predatory starfish contributing to impacts as fourth planet-wide bleaching event confirmed

The Great Barrier Reef is in the midst of what could be its worst summer on record with a widespread and extreme coral bleaching event coming on top of floods, two cyclones and outbreaks of coral-eating starfish, according to an official Australian government report.

The “summer snapshot” report released by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science said: “Compared [with] previous summers, cumulative impacts have been much higher this summer and a widespread bleaching event is still unfolding.”

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Australia can achieve close to 100% renewables with the technologies of today. The challenge is how to fill the gap.

The post Australia can achieve close to 100 pct renewables with today’s technologies: Are we up for the challenge? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

One of the largest industrial ports in South Korea has teamed up with a California-based environmental organisation to drive down emissions in the international shipping sector.

Singapore and Australia plan a A$20 million ($12.85 mln) spend via the the Australia-Singapore Initiative on Low Emissions Technologies (ASLET) for maritime and port operations, the two said Wednesday.