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Farmers can’t use chlorpyrifos on food because it damages children’s brains but an EPA official questions restrictions under global treaty

• This article is co-published with ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power

On his first day in office, President Joe Biden announced that his administration planned to scrutinize a Trump-era decision to allow the continued use of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide that can damage children’s brains. And with great fanfare, the Environmental Protection Agency went on to ban the use of the chemical on food.

“Ending the use of chlorpyrifos on food will help to ensure children, farmworkers, and all people are protected from the potentially dangerous consequences of this pesticide,” the head of the EPA, Michael Regan, said in his announcement of the decision in August 2021. “EPA will follow the science and put health and safety first.”

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Calls grow for legislation requiring developers to include hollow bricks for endangered nesting species

Conservative MPs are joining calls for a new law to guarantee swift bricks in every new home to help the rapidly declining bird and other endangered roof-nesting species.

Pressure is growing to amend the levelling up bill so that developers are required to include a hollow brick for nesting birds in all new housing, with MPs to debate the issue in parliament on 10 July.

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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are receiving increasing attention in Cambodia to safeguard marine biodiversity, according to a new World Bank report, however wider governance, corruption, and capacity building issues must be addressed to begin adequately protect the country’s blue economy.

Carbon standard Verra on Wednesday issued a call for projects to pilot its long-awaited SD VISta Nature Framework and biodiversity methodology ahead of a public consultation process expected to launch in September.

Proposal to improve soil health throughout continent by 2050 criticised for lack of legally binding targets

The European Commission has proposed the continent’s first soil law, intended to undo some of the damage done by intensive farming and mitigate global heating.

Amid intense opposition to proposed laws on nature restoration and curbs on pesticides, the European Commission put forward proposals in Brussels on Wednesday to revive degraded soils. Research indicates that this could help absorb carbon from the atmosphere and ensure sustainable food production.

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The massive injection of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) into the market in recent weeks has caused the price to slip to its lowest levels year-to-date, according to analysts.

The much awaited rules will allow rooftop PV to become a valuable part of the grid, and not just a side hustle.

The post Flexible export limits: The next phase for rooftop solar kicks off in an Australia-first appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Indonesia's plan to become a global electric vehicle and battery manufacturing hub could be a great opportunity for Australia.

The post Why Indonesia wants Australia’s help to supply world with EVs and batteries appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A Singaporean asset manager has secured a $300 million green loan that also includes carbon credits from Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) that will assist a shopping mall become carbon neutral, the company announced Thursday.

Controversial brown coal-to-hydrogen project in Victoria is likely an economic dud, and lousy for the environment, says new study.

The post “Clean” brown coal to hydrogen project likely an economic dud, says new report appeared first on RenewEconomy.

From the hottest global average day, to the highest average sea surface temperature and the lowest Antarctic sea ice extent - here’s why so many climate records are breaking, all at once. Kimberley Reid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some were quick to point the finger at climate change when floods hit eastern Australia in February and March 2022, in the lead up to the federal election. But it’s not that simple, scientists say. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Kate R Saunders, Lecturer, Monash University Kimberley Reid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More than 1000 companies disclosed forest-related risks through a voluntary platform last year in a sign of increasing corporate awareness, but analysis suggests that firms are not mitigating them effectively and could suffer losses of nearly $80 billion as a result.

Scientists from Australia and China say say they’ve designed an early prototype aqueous aluminium radical battery that could be safe, efficient and non-toxic.

The post Could this aluminium battery be safe, efficient and non-toxic? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Land temperatures jump to new daily record - the second in two days - and sub-sea temperatures have been high for months.

The post Planet breaks temperature record for second day in a row, experts warn of worse to come appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The study, which builds on previous research, could show the way forward for drought-prone Australia.

The post Study says solar can reduce moisture loss and has minimal impact on grasslands appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Europe launched its last Ariane-5 rocket from French Guiana on Wednesday, carrying two military communications satellites.

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BBC News understands a deal has been negotiated over UK association with the Horizon programme.

The Indonesian president’s visit to Australia could lead to closer co-operation on the energy transition, with Australia supplying lithium for Indonesia’s electric vehicle and battery production. Arianto Patunru, Fellow, The Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.