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Emissions fall 3.5% from 2021 but experts say government not doing enough to reach net zero

Greenhouse gas emissions fell slightly in 2022, new government figures reveal, with homes and transport remaining the highest emitting sectors.

The emissions for the territorial UK were equivalent to 406.2m tonnes of CO2, down 3.5% from 2021 and 50% from 1990.

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The Welsh government is consulting on whether to introduce a duty for ministers to protect biodiversity, through embracing targets such as becoming nature positive.

European carbon allowance prices were firmer at midday after the market reacted sharply to the day's auction, rising to test recent psychological and technical levels as traders anticipated the first gap of the year in the programme of daily EUA sales and weekly Commitment of Traders data.

Carbon Pulse has hired two biodiversity market and policy correspondents to strengthen its coverage ahead of what will be a busy and critical year for this beat, while also adding to the team of reporters covering carbon markets and climate policy in the EMEA region.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council has approved a $916-million spending package on efforts to tackle biodiversity loss, nature degradation, climate change, and pollution, as its meeting in Washington is now set to open discussions on the governance of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.

A producer of components for highly efficient electrolysers says that those able to use renewable energy more effectively will be greatly valued as access to clean energy becomes increasingly constrained.

A European accelerator for innovative carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies has moved eight startups to its next phase, it said Tuesday.

China is planning to conduct research on offset methodologies for projects implemented in the railway sector, as the government aims to reduce transport emissions through market-based mechanisms. 

The price for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) has crept higher after a flurry of spot trades, however the market is expected be awash with credits until the late 2020s according to a bank’s analysis.

Tanzania has received applications for the launch of 35 carbon credit projects and expects to earn some $1 billion from the market, a senior government official has said.

Researchers, managers and Traditional Owners are joining forces to understand and combat climate threats to Australia’s many unique World Heritage sites. Jess Melbourne-Thomas, Transdisciplinary Researcher & Knowledge Broker, CSIRO Brenda Lin, Principal research scientist, CSIRO Lance Syme, Secretariat at the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on World Heritage, Indigenous Knowledge Mandy Hopkins, Adjunct industry fellow, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Utilising biochar production could help China meet its climate targets, though the inclusion of such projects in national carbon markets is needed to unleash the potential of the industry, a study has found.

With almost more speakers than protesters, anti-renewables rally dials up the vitriol and fear mongering, while Joyce calls on "army" to "go home and get more."

The post Rally betrays anti-renewables desperation, as Joyce calls on “army” to go home and recruit appeared first on RenewEconomy.

As the steel sector moves to decarbonise and shifts from coal-fired blast furnaces to cleaner technologies, higher grades of iron ore will be needed, a think tank said Monday.

While the Nationals MP publicly decries wind turbines as "filth," a new wind farm, located half way between Sydney and Joyce's Tamworth electorate, wins approval.

The post As Barnaby rails against “filthy” turbines, NSW approves plans for a 335MW wind farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.

We subsidise the purchase of twin-cab utes and charge GST on bikes and public transport. It’s absurd

Parisians just voted to charge large vehicles three times more to park in the city than small vehicles. In Australia we offer the most convenient parking for free to people driving enormous twin-cab utes (we call them loading zones, even though you don’t have to load up anything more than your groceries). Policy choices matter.

Last year all of Australia’s top 10 selling cars were twin-cab utes or large SUVs. And just as most utes aren’t really shifting cargo around our cities, “sports utility vehicles” are not engaged in sport – and they clearly aren’t utilities. But the names used to describe these expensive, inefficient and dangerous forms of transport are by no means the most absurd thing about Australian car culture.

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AGL's two great hopes in the next five years are the closures of Yallourn and Eraring coal plants. Unfortunately, Origin has created a situation where Eraring can’t be closed on time.

The post AGL’s great hope is the timely exit of coal. Too bad Origin has dropped the ball on Eraring appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Lords Climate Change Committee called on the government to push back against mistruths on range and cost.

The pterosaur soared over the heads of dinosaurs in Scotland 168-166 million years ago.

An Australian carbon project tech company has sourced A$600,000 ($389,000) in pre-seed funding from venture capital firms to go towards its development and expansion plans in the voluntary carbon market.