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Climate change 'will create world's biggest refugee crisis'

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-02 16:01

Experts warn refugees could number tens of millions in the next decade, and call for a new legal framework to protect the most vulnerable

Tens of millions of people will be forced from their homes by climate change in the next decade, creating the biggest refugee crisis the world has ever seen, according to a new report.

Senior US military and security experts have told the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) study that the number of climate refugees will dwarf those that have fled the Syrian conflict, bringing huge challenges to Europe.

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Country diary: mighty oaks and many, many, doomed acorns

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-02 15:30

Hollingside wood, Durham city Acorns’ chances of survival make lottery odds look attractive as most will be eaten by insects, birds and small mammals

This wood was last clear-felled in 1799, then replanted with beech and oak. Silver birch, horse chestnut, sycamore and holly have since found their own way in. On the southern slopes the oldest trees, straight-trunked with lofty crowns, tower above the understorey like the pillars and vaulted roof of a cathedral, inspiring a sense of reverence.

The raised voice of a distant dog-walker seemed almost like sacrilege, breaking the stillness of a tranquil afternoon. I sat on a fallen branch under an oak, to listen to the sounds of the woodland.

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Huge private sector investment puts Paris climate target in reach, says report

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-02 15:30

Global investment could hold the key to fighting climate change, with one trillion dollars already invested in solutions such as renewables and energy efficiency, says International Finance Corporation


At least one trillion dollars are being invested globally in ways to reduce the threat of climate change, including renewable power, energy efficiency, and public transport around the world.

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ESB to use inflated costs for wind and solar to justify NEG

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 14:17
Energy Security Board to use vastly inflated costs of wind and solar to justify its National Energy Guarantee. By using prices around 30-40 per cent above actual costs, will support its argument for little new wind and solar to be built in the coming decade.
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Let’s be honest: Australia is well behind on renewables

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 14:04
Australia’s fossil fuel share of electricity generation is higher than that of our peers. This chart is ugly for Australians who care about doing our bit in the 21st century.
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RES drops 758MW wind farm proposal, amid Victoria boom

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 14:02
Anti-wind resistance appears to win the day as RES Australia confirms Penshurst Wind Farm no longer an ongoing development opportunity.
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NEG: A rushed job that takes us backwards, not forwards

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 12:15
National Energy Guarantee appears to be a plan to get through the Coalition Party Room, and then a plan to have a plan. Unfortunately, that means many more months of uncertainty.
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Musk says Tesla big battery now more than 80% complete

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 11:59
Elon Musk says Tesla big battery in South Australia now more than 80% complete, but even bigger storage installations likely to follow.
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Tesla falls behind on Model 3 production, burns cash at record rate

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 11:57
Production line "bottlenecks" at Tesla's Nevada Gigafactory push Model 3 delivery target out 3 months. Musk says, "we've got it covered."
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Pregnant sharks and rays likely to abort their young if captured

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-02 11:57

New research has found a quarter of pregnant sharks and rays lose their pups when caught, threatening some species

Australian researchers have found a quarter of pregnant sharks and rays abort their pups when captured, revealing a little-known risk to the survival of the slow-growing animals.

An analysis of recorded instances of sharks and rays either aborting their pups or undergoing a premature birth once captured found 24% of pregnant females across 88 species lost their young. In some species, such as the pelagic stingray, the rate of abortion on capture was 85%.

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Explainer: hydrofluorocarbons saved the ozone layer, so why are we banning them?

The Conversation - Thu, 2017-11-02 11:31
Australia has ratified an agreement to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, a manmade compound once hailed as the saviour of the ozone layer. What went wrong? Jenny Fisher, Senior Lecturer in Atmospheric Chemistry, University of Wollongong Stephen Wilson, Associate Professor, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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China contractors and finance may help Adani’s mega coal mine

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 11:15
The potential involvement of China state-owned contractors and financiers may help Adani in its push for the mega coal mine in Queensland.
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Rejected teenagers: the trend of closing young coal plants

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 11:11
It's not just old coal power plants that are being closed down. In Italy, the US, and the Netherlands, coal plants that are barely teenagers are being targeted for closure.
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Energy technologies and business model innovator Justine Jarvinen takes up role as Wattwatchers Chair

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 10:13
Energy technology pacesetter Wattwatchers is delighted to announce the appointment of Justine Jarvinen as non-executive Chair. Ms Jarvinen is currently Chief Operating Officer of the Energy Institute at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and her prior corporate roles include Head of Emerging Technologies at AGL Energy. Ms Jarvinen will lead the Wattwatchers Board […]
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Rooftop solar pushes WA grid demand to 8-year low

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-02 09:57
Rooftop solar has helped push grid demand in Western Australia to its lowest levels in more than eight years.
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Extreme weather leads to public health crises – so health and climate experts must work together

The Conversation - Thu, 2017-11-02 04:55
Extreme weather events are inevitably followed by disease outbreaks. So why not team health professionals with climate experts? Aparna Lal, Research Fellow, Australian National University Rebecca Colvin, Knowledge Exchange Specialist, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Fracking protest injunction based on 'flimsy evidence'

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-02 02:09

Ineos exaggerated the threat posed by protesters to justify its temporary legal action, court hears

A multinational firm has been accused of using “flimsy and exaggerated” evidence when it obtained an “astonishingly broad” injunction against all anti-fracking protesters, a court has heard.

Petrochemicals giant Ineos is seeking to enforce a sweeping injunction to prevent any protester from obstructing its fracking operations. Campaigners face being jailed, fined or having their assets seized if they break the injunction.

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Wildlife on your doorstep: share your November photos

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-02 01:00

There will be further autumnal signs in the northern hemisphere in November, while the southern hemisphere can finally begin to enjoy springtime. We’d like to see your photos of this month’s wildlife near you

What sort of wildlife will we all discover on our doorsteps this month? We’d like to see your photos of the November wildlife near you, whether you’re a novice spotter or have been out and about searching for wildlife for years.

Related: Your best pictures of insects around the world

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Categories: Around The Web

Stranded elephant rescued from well in Sri Lanka

BBC - Wed, 2017-11-01 20:02
Wildlife officials rushed to help when the elephant was found trapped.
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Trump statements on North Korea 'dangerous': former US Def. Secretary

ABC Environment - Wed, 2017-11-01 18:06
The former US Secretary of Defence, William J. Perry says Donald Trump's statements may embolden North Korea to use nuclear weapons against the US.
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