Feed aggregator

It's not all bad news for renewables, but it's all good news for gas, as the Country Liberal Party wins government in the Northern Territory.

The post Labor tossed out of government in Top End as CLP claims Beetaloo gas is “cleaner than fossil fuels” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The gas shortage that never was is over almost as soon as it began, while the government promises to find better ways to measure its real climate impact.

The post Gas shortage that never was is over as government agrees to find out how polluting it really is appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The price of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) has inched upwards in recent weeks thanks to steady demand from Safeguard Mechanism entities, however one report expects prices to continue to remain rangebound in the short term.

Today marks a historic day for how Australia measures the methane emissions spewing out of its biggest coal and gas mines. But the government response is too slow.

The post Australia wakes up to the methane fire alarm, but its response is too slow appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW government announces planning approval for huge solar farm that will be combined with one of the state's new eight hour battery projects.

The post Huge solar farm and eight hour battery project approved for upper Hunter appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The researchers found most emissions reduction relied on a mix of policies, rather than a single solution. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Giant North Sea offshore wind project to host floating seaweed farm.

The post Massive offshore wind project to play host to floating seaweed farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.

iodiversity markets will have a hard time establishing and attracting financing on a large scale unless insurers step in for nature, experts have told Carbon Pulse.

With no land mammals to eat and disperse them, New Zealand’s truffle-like fungi mimic fallen fruit to attract birds. But with so many of those birds now extinct, can ecosystems adapt? Jamie Wood, Senior Lecturer in Ecology and Evolution, University of Adelaide Amy Martin, Post-Doctoral Researcher in Evolutionary Ecology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Anne Gaskett, Associate Professor of Biology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Australian government has appointed the country’s chief scientist to lead an expert panel to advise on greenhouse gas measurement approaches that could potentially improve its fossil methane estimations, it announced Monday.

Solar tracker manufacturer PVH has announced a landmark collaboration with developerGPG Australia

The post PVH announces collaboration with GPG Australia to deliver Glenellen and Bundaberg solar projects appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Between them, the Queensland and ACT trials of almost free and free public transport could change how fares are set in Australia. David Levinson, Professor of Transport, University of Sydney Andres Fielbaum, Lecturer in Transport, University of Sydney Emily Moylan, Senior Lecturer in Transport, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Record-breaking winter warmth has been felt across large parts of Australia, with more to come in coming days. A climate scientist explains what’s going on. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Greenpeace among 150 groups expressing outrage after preemptive arrests led to cancellation of protest camp

Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have accused police of acting as “private security” for the UK’s biggest carbon emitter after dozens of preemptive arrests forced the cancellation of a climate protest camp near Drax power station.

In a statement signed by almost 150 groups, they called the operation against activists who had spent months planning the camp near the wood-burning power station “an unreasonable restriction of free speech”.

Continue reading...

Dion George says avoiding extinction of African penguin is his objective, and settling case aimed at stopping fishing around major colonies will help

South Africa’s new environment minister has said he wants to stop African penguins from going extinct by taking measures including settling a case brought by two environmental charities to stop fishing around the birds’ major colonies.

BirdLife South Africa and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCOB) said they want an extension of no-fishing zones around six beaches and islands where the penguins breed, after failing to reach an agreement with fishing industry groups demanded by the previous minister.

Continue reading...

Countries hope big emitters will take more financial responsibility for emergency relief and damage claims

The outcome of an international court case on climate change obligations could strengthen the legal position of Caribbean islands claiming damages from developed countries after natural disasters, lawyers say.

Brought to the international court of justice (ICJ) by the UN general assembly, the case seeks clarification on what states can be held liable for in relation to climate change.

Continue reading...

Team at University of Edinburgh using microbes to recycle lithium, cobalt and other expensive minerals

Scientists have formed an unusual new alliance in their fight against climate change. They are using bacteria to help them extract rare metals vital in the development of green technology. Without the help of these microbes, we could run out of raw materials to build turbines, electric cars and solar panels, they say.

The work is being spearheaded by scientists at the University of Edinburgh and aims to use bacteria that can extract lithium, cobalt, manganese and other minerals from old batteries and discarded electronic equipment. These scarce and expensive metals are vital for making electric cars and other devices upon which green technology devices depend, a point stressed by Professor Louise Horsfall, chair of sustainable biotechnology at Edinburgh.

Continue reading...

Australia must urgently halt new fossil fuel projects and scale up investment in renewable energies such as solar and wind

My first visit to the Pacific Islands was in 1981 and, for two decades, I spent several months each year carrying out biodiversity surveys and conservation work there. Even in the 1980s, Pacific communities were acutely aware of climate change, experiencing it first-hand through rising seas and intensifying storms. Over time, their understanding of the role that climate pollution plays in worsening these impacts has deepened, leading to a highly organised movement to limit pollution from big coal and gas exporters such as Australia.

As the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) approaches, Australia must urgently align with the position of its Pacific neighbours and take decisive action to reduce climate pollution further and faster.

Continue reading...

The Chips and Science Act has led to a production boom but experts say it could generate huge amounts of toxic waste

Producers of PFAS chemicals and semiconductors, a key part of most electronics, have formed a group that develops industry-friendly science aimed at heading off regulation as the facilities release high levels of toxic waste, documents seen by the Guardian show.

The group, called the PFAS Consortium, was formed during a boom in domestic semiconductor production spurred by the Chips and Science Act that has led to $825bn in investment aimed at shoring up the industry.

Continue reading...

Freshwater Habitats Trust is asking citizen scientists to help find ponds that support declining species

More than one in five ponds in the UK could be designated as “priority habitats” but only about 2% have been identified so far, experts say.

Priority ponds are recognised as being the highest-quality water spaces for freshwater wildlife, often providing a last refuge for plants and animals that have been lost from surrounding areas. The designation can help preserve ponds threatened by proposed construction and other landscape changes.

Continue reading...