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Three scientists explain the unprecedented danger facing the western US and call for new solutions to a growing threat

California is no stranger to fire. The temperate winters and reliably dry summers that make the Golden state such an attractive place to live are the same conditions that make this region among the most flammable places on Earth.

But even for a region accustomed to fire, the continuing wildfire siege has proven unprecedented. Although it is only early August, numerous very large, fast-moving, and exceptionally intense fires have already burned vast swaths of land throughout the state – consuming hundreds of thousands of acres and thousands of homes and claiming at least nine lives, including four firefighters. State and national firefighting resources are stretched to their limits; choking smoke inundated the state capital of Sacramento; and much of Yosemite national park is closed indefinitely.

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Given the tremendous benefits of the Obama-era clean car rules, justifying Trump's rollback requires contortions that would qualify the administration for Cirque du Soleil. Here are just a few of them...

CSIRO developed breakthrough method to transport hydrogen in form of ammonia hailed as watershed moment for energy, and big new opportunity for Australia.

The investment certainty business craves will be non-existent until climate action is accepted as the absolute priority in determining energy policy. But achieving this will require political leadership.

The National Energy Guarantee can provide a mechanism for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, so long as a more ambitious target is adopted.

Shell's latest move into electric vehicles is to lead $31m investment in EV charging startup Ample in bid to provide ‘Electric Cars for Everyone’.

The remarkable predictions of the Energy Security Board - death to wind, solar and big batteries. Plus, fear and loathing at CEC Summit and an interview with Vestas CEO Peter Cowling.

Origin Energy inks deal with South Korean consortium to install 4MWh battery at its 414MW Mt Stuart open cycle gas power plant, to use for emergency starts and to support the growing amount of renewables in Queensland's north.

A total of 77% of the state is either in drought or drought affected, while 23% is experiencing intense drought

The entire state of NSW is now impacted by drought, official figures show.

A drier-than-expected June and July has left many farmers with failing crops, a short supply of water and diminishing livestock feed.

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Global solar tracker pioneer expands business to high-growth markets with impressive results.

Protean Energy Ltd (ASX:POW), an energy company focused on the commercialisation of vanadium battery energy storage systems, today provided an update on the leading edge V-KOR vanadium battery technology

Richard Di Natale joins Labor in calling for money to be handed back

The awarding of $444m in taxpayers’ money by the prime minister to the small Great Barrier Reef Foundation without consultation “stinks” and the money should be handed back, the Greens have demanded.

The party leader, Richard Di Natale, joined Labor in demanding the return of the huge sum given to the private foundation – which had just six full-time staff – and called for the whole process to be put to tender.

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A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Musk says he has had enough of short sellers and "short term thinking" and wants to take Tesla private. The stock surges, short sellers gasp.

Two animals died and 14 people were injured after hailstones reported to be the size of baseballs hit a zoo in Colorado.

California state regulator ARB issued a proposal on Tuesday designed to prevent potential Trump administration rollbacks in federal vehicle efficiency standards from negatively impacting the state’s climate goals.

The Ontario government’s proposed legislation to rescind the law underlying the province’s ETS and GHG reduction targets could have serious legal, economic, and environmental ramifications, lawmakers from the opposition NDP party said on Tuesday.

The bird was one of five heron species that day, including the normally shy bittern

Looking like a snake with wings, the purple heron (Ardea purpurea) was surprisingly well hidden, perched in the dense foliage near the top of a tree. I was watching this scarce visitor to southern Britain from the hide at Noah’s Lake, on the Avalon Marshes, Somerset.

For me, this serpentine bird was a very welcome sight, as it was only the second I had ever seen in the UK, and the first in Somerset – having been on a fruitless wild goose chase after one a decade ago.

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Australia's distinctive native plants give our honey a distinctive stamp. Welcome to melissopalynology: the study of pollen. Kale Sniderman, Senior Research Fellow, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne Kia Matley, PhD student, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The last month has seen deadly wildfires, monsoon rains and droughts hit several countries.