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Scientists reveal one million species at risk of extinction in damning UN report

Human society is in jeopardy from the accelerating decline of the Earth’s natural life-support systems, the world’s leading scientists have warned, as they announced the results of the most thorough planetary health check ever undertaken.

From coral reefs flickering out beneath the oceans to rainforests desiccating into savannahs, nature is being destroyed at a rate tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the past 10m years, according to the UN global assessment report.

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Environmentalists say Australia should be at the forefront of a global deal to save nature

Australia’s major political parties are facing calls to explain what role they will play in securing a global deal to save nature and the human populations reliant on it after a major scientific report warned a million species across the world face extinction.

The first-of-its-kind assessment by an international scientific panel convened by the United Nations, known as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, warns species are declining at a rate unprecedented in human history, with three-quarters of land-based environments and two-thirds of the marine environment significantly altered.

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Residents of the town on the banks of the Mississippi River have watched a family members and neighbors have been lost to cancer. Official figures show the risk of cancer from toxic air is 50 times higher in Reserve than the national average. Feeling neglected by politicians, they are fighting back against the chemical plant has been emitting chloroprene into the air for half a century

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A compelling UN assessment shows the full picture of humanity's devastating impact on biodiversity and nature.

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have seen water levels hit near-decade lows after a hot summer and dry autumn

Sydney, Darwin, Brisbane and Melbourne are all facing the prospect of dams below 50% capacity after low rainfall and high temperatures across the country.

In Sydney, inflows are at their lowest since 1940. Greater Sydney’s 11 dams were at a combined 55% capacity on Sunday – compared to 73% at the same time last year.

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Australia has issued more than 300,000 new carbon offsets over the past two weeks, but also revoked two projects that had failed to generate any credits, according to data from the Clean Energy Regulator.

Photographer Matthew Newton travelled alongside the 5,000-strong protest against Adani’s proposed Carmichael coalmine, which left Hobart on 17 April before making its way to Clermont in central Queensland and on to Canberra, where it ended on 5 May. The former Greens leader Bob Brown lead the charge

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Greta Thunberg is the 16 year old Swede who founded the School Strike for Climate in November 2018. She has subsequently spoken at many events and received numerous awards and prizes and has become a global leader in the climate change movement. But is she being taken advantage of?

Musk puts future focus on shared autonomy, saying it could lift value of Tesla 10-fold, and double the value of cars.

The post Musk’s radical rethink of electric transport, and the value of Tesla and its cars appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Bank Australia signs PPA with Crowlands wind farm and installs rooftop solar to become first Australian bank to meet its 100% renewable energy target.

The post Bank Australia becomes first Australian bank to purchase 100% renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Zali Steggall takes commanding lead over Tony Abbott, with the former PM's lack of interest in climate change cited as major factor.

The post Vote Tony Out: Campaign hits streets as Steggall takes lead over Abbott appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Coal costs are rising; rooftop solar is now 9% of South Australia generation, and the latest odds on the federal election.

The post Know your NEM: Rising cost of coal, rooftop solar makes its mark appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Single-Column Responsive Email Template Melbourne Event / Webinar - 7th May 2019 The Sustainable Hydrogen / Ammonia Economy This event will be live webcast for members in other capitals and regional areas. Webinar option available when registering. Level 31, 600 Bourke Street Melbourne 5.30 pm for 6.00 pm Tuesday 7th May REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT Clean hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier and feedstock that can enable deep decarbonisation across the energy and industrial sectors. Australia has the resources and skills to build an economically sustainable domestic and export Hydrogen/Ammonia industry using electrolysers powered by renewable electricity. Hydrogen can help meet emissions targets by replacing fossil fuels in transport, mining and power generation, and provided energy security. Ammonia produced from Hydrogen can be stored and transported internationally, and converted back to Hydrogen to power trains, heavy transport ,mining machines, ships and industrial processes. The seminar will discuss the current production technologies and costs, and the Engineering profession’s role in influencing Government, Industry, and the community to ensure rapid transition to an economically sustainable domestic and export Hydrogen energy system. Presenters will focus on: The National Hydrogen Roadmap - Pathways to an economically sustainable hydrogen industry in Australia.. Hydrogen for Australia’s future - Brief for COAG Energy Council by Hydrogen Strategy Group and opportunities for Australia for hydrogen exports. Presenters: Dr. Patrick Hartley Research Director, Oil Gas and Fuels, CSIRO. Mr Martin Hablutzel, Head of Strategy, Siemens Ltd. Mr Tim Forcey, Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Patrick Hartley is the research director of the Oil, Gas and Fuels research program within CSIRO's Energy Business Unit. The program comprises 85 research staff and students working on applied research projects which span the energy resources value chain, with a particular emphasis on the sustainable development of Australia’s petroleum resources and on the associated challenges of large scale carbon dioxide storage. In 2018, he established CSIRO’s Hydrogen Energy Systems Future Science Platform. This major initiative focusses on addressing research challenges which underpin the development of hydrogen energy value chains in Australia. During this time, he co-led the formulation of CSIRO’s ‘National Hydrogen Roadmap, and, with the Chief Scientist of Australia, the briefing paper ‘Hydrogen for Australia’s Future’ which was presented to the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) Energy council in August 2018. Martin Hablutzel has worked across all divisions from electricity generation, transmission, distribution and smart grid to the efficient application of electrical energy through automation and digitisation. Martin began his career at the (then) Hydro Electric Commission in Tasmania, joining Siemens in 1997 as a protection and control engineer. Subsequent roles in project engineering, project management, asset management, sales, marketing and executive management have given Martin broad exposure to the deployment of electrification, automation and digitalisation in diverse industries including utilities, resources, infrastructure, transportation and manufacturing. Martin holds a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tasmania and an MBA from Deakin University. Martin will present “Water, the Coal of the future” (Jules Verne 1874) covering the technology and performance of Silyzer Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyser, cost of hydrogen, energy balance, water supply, applications and current projects. He will cover the management and use of hydrogen in power stabilisation, remote power, and heavy transport and the scalability of PEM’s for large export facilities. Tim Forcey is a Chemical Engineer with over 30 years experience in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. He has acted as the Queensland Gas Pipeline commercial manager for Jemena, as Facilities and Operations Advisor for BHP in the Esso Bass Strait joint venture, and as Gas Principal for the Australian Energy Market Operator (known as AEMO).amongst other roles. More recently he has acted as an energy researcher and commentator with the University of Melbourne where he has investigated the climate impacts of, and alternatives, to fossil gas. His presentation Two faces of Hydrogen Blue or Green? will cover the huge opportunity for Australia in production and use of renewable hydrogen, but also warn of the efforts underway by the fossil fuel industry to co-opt the idea of hydrogen to sustain its business as usual… If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter S

People living in South East Queensland will benefit from cleaner and cheaper renewable energy that will help cut pollution and the cost of power bills, with Labor’s plan to establish a Community Power Hub in the region.  

The post Labour will establish South East Queensland community power hub appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Lyon puts unit into voluntary administration after dispute with US hedge fund manager Magnetar, but says it still working towards major solar and storage projects.

The post Battery and storage hopeful Lyon Infrastructure puts unit into administration appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Keating slams Morrison as a "fossil", and while Paul Kelly's music graced official Labor election launch, the man himself was singing at Bob Brown's Stop Adani protest in Canberra.

The post Keating: Morrison “a fossil with a baseball cap” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Tesla says revenue from battery storage in Australia jumps nearly 10 fold in 2018 - thanks to its big batteries - but revenue from electric car sales fell.

The post Big batteries help Tesla lift storage revenue near 10-fold in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hundreds of thousands of different species of animals and plants are thought to be facing extinction.

The world's most comprehensive - and damning - report on the state of nature is to be published in Paris.

Hawaii is looking to phase out fossil fuels altogether, and it will be renewable and storage systems like these that replace it.

The post Hawaii’s prepares sunset for fossil fuels and aims for 100% renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.