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Australian limits on acceptable levels of these toxic chemicals in drinking water ‘orders of magnitude’ higher than in US

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High levels of so-called forever chemicals have been found in surface and groundwater all over the world, with Australia one of several hotspots for toxic PFAS, a University of New South Wales study has found.

Researchers examined groundwater samples from around the world and found 69% had per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at levels above Canada’s safe drinking water criteria and 32% had levels higher than the US proposed drinking water hazard index.

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Carbon removals should be kept separate from offsets, NGOs said in a letter urging members of the European Parliament to reject the EU's draft Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) in a plenary vote this week.

ICE's CORSIA Phase 1-eligible (2024-26) voluntary carbon futures extended gains to reach a fresh record last week, on very low volume, with the price strength coming off the back of 'panic' buying given the supply uncertain outlook, according to sources.

A private sector group of European and international supporters of carbon removals (CDR) launched a public consultation on proposed industry commitments Monday.

Countries need to more actively engage on climate change issues within the WTO, as an ever-increasing share of barriers and notifications brought before the international trade body are related to climate policies, the organisation's deputy head told Carbon Pulse in an interview. 

The lack of a common approach to biodiversity reporting among emerging standards for corporate disclosures is poised to hamper comparability of companies' impacts on nature, a paper has said, calling for a global framework that integrates and aligns existing methodologies to be established.

The illegal trade in climate-warming refrigerant gases entering Europe is continuing at a significant level despite the worsening climate emergency, as organised criminals become more sophisticated in evading law enforcement, according to a report by an environmental NGO.

A "first evidence-based" tool developed by a global alliance could enable farmers to better assess their impacts on biodiversity, as the need to address nature protection in the agricultural sector is being increasingly emphasised, according to an international group of researchers.

European carbon allowance prices rose on Monday morning, shrugging off a sharp fall at the opening to move to their highest since the end of February, once again tracking power and natural gas prices.

The record decline in CO2 emissions registered in Europe in 2023 was caused in part by “demand destruction” across a range of energy-intensive industries, which could prove “permanent” due to high gas prices and carbon pricing policies, analysts say.

Carbon standard Gold Standard and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have created a resource hub designed to help rice growers access carbon finance, they announced Monday.

South Korea could see the results of this week's parliamentary elections determine the trajectory of the country's carbon pricing schemes and energy policy.

Around 1m people, including 13,000 youths, especially vulnerable because they can do little to protect themselves, co-author says

Nearly half of US prisons draw water from sources likely contaminated with toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”, new research finds.

At least around 1m people incarcerated in the US, including 13,000 juveniles, are estimated to be housed in the prisons, and they are especially vulnerable to the dangerous chemicals because there is little they can do to protect themselves, said Nicholas Shapiro, a study co-author at the University of California in Los Angeles.

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Livestock bosses celebrate outcome at online summit, while critics condemn failure to tackle meat and dairy consumption

Lobbyists for the world’s biggest meat companies have lauded a better than expected outcome at Cop28, which they say left them “excited” and “enthusiastic” for their industry’s prospects.

US livestock bosses reflected on the conference’s implication for their sector on a virtual panel, fresh from “sharing US agriculture’s story” at the climate summit in December.

Campaigners and climate scientists had hoped the summit, which was billed as a “Food Cop” because of its focus on farming, would result in governments agreeing to ambitious action to transform food systems in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement.

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Indonesia's state owned oil company is planning to use its significant geothermal resources to create green hydrogen to supply industries already using a less environmentally friendly form of the gas.

New Zealand’s Climate Change Commission launched a consultation on Monday to assess the country’s emissions budgets, saying key circumstances had changed that could mean the target should be bolstered.

Slowing anthropogenic climate change is the ONLY thing that will save the reef

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An Indian renewable energy company has signed an agreement with a major farmers’ cooperative for the production of ammonia through renewable sources and is ready to provide credits to be generated in the international market.

Voluntary nature credit suppliers are exploring strategies to spur companies' appetite for units, including streamlining purchases and organising awareness-raising events, as players in the carbon space do not yet have the confidence to foray into the market.

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) is taking a trading company and its former director to the Federal Court for allowing unauthorised persons access to its emissions registry unit (ANREU) account, it announced Monday.