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State and federal energy ministers agree to develop a national roadmap for customer‑owned energy resources – from rooftop solar to electric vehicles. Is this a win?

The post Ministers put consumer energy on agenda. Is this a turning point or Groundhog Day? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New study finds air pollutants from coal power plants were associated with nearly half a million premature deaths of elderly Americans from 1999 to 2020.

The post Pollution from coal power contributes to far more deaths than scientists realised, study shows appeared first on RenewEconomy.

To protect nearly a third of Australia by decade’s end will mean expanding our national parks, Indigenous Protected Areas and protection across private land. James Fitzsimons, Adjunct Professor in Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Victoria's planning department gives the green light to two new big batteries: One four-hour project and a smaller project proposed for coal country.

The post Two new big batteries approved, including four-hour BESS and another near Hazelwood appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australian human-induced regeneration (HIR) carbon credit projects are once again being scrutinised, with a published scientific article arguing they are “not supported by scientific evidence”.

The 30 most polluting companies in the EU are causing half of the emissions registered under the bloc's ETS, a new report revealed on Monday that compiles carbon market installations by company ownership.

A global pledge made two years ago to reduce methane emissions is not delivering due to lack of funding and shortcomings in its governance framework, and could miss its objectives without action, according to analysis published on Monday.

Only a quarter of the financial institutions who are members of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) or Race to Zero have at least one deforestation policy for a high-risk commodity, according to a report released Monday.

Australia is on track to cut emissions by 42% below 2005 levels by 2030, just shy of its official NDC, however a report has argued that these reductions are dwarfed by the emissions from new fossil fuel projects approved by the Albanese government.

More than 100 nations have established an aspirational 2030 goal to cut the carbon intensity of aviation fuel, although some governments remained wary about the effect on their economies.

One set of ideas runs counter to the mainstream consensus that technology will save us from climate change. Can degrowth ever win enough converts to persuade humanity to change course? Mark Fabian, Assistant professor of public policy, University of Warwick Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Exclusive: Data shows that including CO2 from countries once under colonial rule makes Britain one of world’s biggest historical emitters

The UK is responsible for almost twice as much global heating as previously thought when its colonial history is taken into account, analysis has revealed.

The UK’s domestic emissions account for 3% of total world emissions dating back to 1850. But when responsibility for emissions in countries once under the British empire’s rule is given to the UK, the figure rises to more than 5%.

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A 97-year-old minister is among more than 80 people arrested after a blockade of a major Australian coal port continued beyond an agreed deadline.

The post More than 80 people, including 97yo minister, arrested after coal port blockade appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is incomplete, partially outdated, and has several other limitations suggesting it should not play the critical role it does in determining conservation policy-making and funding for governments, NGOs, and philanthropists, a new study has claimed.

NSW to change storage definitions as it juggles its storage needs to support the wind and solar that will replace its coal fired generators.

The post NSW looks for more flexibility on storage, but has it pulled plug on pumped hydro? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Gulf petrostates must also pay for relief, warns EU commissioner Wopke Hoekstra in the run-up to the Cop28 summit

China and other big developing nations must pay into a fund to rescue poor countries stricken by the climate disaster, the EU’s climate chief has said as world leaders prepare to gather in Dubai for a crucial climate summit.

Wopke Hoekstra, EU commissioner for climate action, said there was no longer any reason to exclude big emerging economies with high greenhouse gas emissions such as China and petrostates in the Gulf from the obligation to provide aid to the poorest and most vulnerable countries.

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Spring heatwave sends demand soaring in WA, smashing seven year old record in the world's biggest standalone grid that is accelerating its switch away from fossil fuels.

The post Spring heatwave smashes seven-year old demand record in W.A.’s main grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Biosecurity officers are working to chemically eradicate three nests found in South Murwillumbah

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Authorities are rushing to contain the spread of fire ants after the invasive species crossed the Queensland border into New South Wales for the first time since the infestation began in 2001.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries confirmed on Saturday that three red imported fire ant nests had been found in South Murwillumbah, 13km from the Queensland border in the state’s north-east.

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Chris Bowen says country ‘reaping the economic opportunities’ of clean energy as emissions projection improves

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The Albanese government will head to a major UN climate summit in Dubai furnishing new evidence that Australia is all but on track to meet its 2030 emissions target, but facing calls that it must do more to limit the country’s fossil fuel exports.

A snapshot of an upcoming emissions projections report released by the climate change minister, Chris Bowen, suggests Australia will likely cut its CO2 pollution to 42% below 2005 levels by 2030 – nearly in line with the government’s 43% reduction target.

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A progressive carbon tax on flying would protect poor people far more than simply abandoning green policies

Is net zero a “luxury belief”? A strange assumption seems to have become knitted into the climate debate: that the burden of cutting carbon emissions will – must, inevitably – fall hardest on the poor.

This is the logic by which climate activists are sometimes deemed snobby, classist virtue-signallers – and the principle on which, earlier this year, Rishi Sunak signalled a tactical retreat on green policies. “It cannot be right for Westminster to impose such significant costs on working people,” the prime minister said. Because, of course, this is the group such policies would hurt the most.

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