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Poland's largest utility PGE plans to spin off all its coal capacity by the end of the decade, heavily invest in wind and nuclear, and reach climate neutrality by the 2040, the firm said in a strategy update on Tuesday.

Two Europe-headquartered companies active in the removals space have announced Tuesday a partnership that will enable projects certified by one of the firms access to a large marketplace operated by the other, facilitating the trade of carbon removal credits between buyers and sellers.

A state government in India this year refrained from participating in the federal government’s annual palm oil plantation drive, saying it would hurt the state’s biodiversity while causing rising carbon emissions.

A new carbon offsets standard and registry focused on Asia launched in Singapore on Tuesday, eyeing the potential of urban- and technology-based solutions in the region, local media reported.

Amid the culture war bickering and rightwing campaigns, it’s time to remember why this move is practical, popular and essential

On this day, Ulez day – after all the misrepresentations and smothering of the concept by toxic, opportunistic politicians – there are basic facts that bear repeating. When people are breathing in polluted air, doing nothing about cleaning it up means that people will die prematurely. The connection between dirty air and asthma, strokes, Alzheimer’s, bronchus and lung cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory infections is all proven. If one of your relatives or friends has suffered from any of these serious conditions, then air pollution could have been a contributory factor. And if you are still arguing that you have the right to drive a polluting, life-curtailing vehicle, then ask yourself: is that the person you really want to be?

That doesn’t mean that the capital’s now extended ultra-low emission zone, or Ulez, is the only solution, but it is the most effective one we can put in place today. The Ulez gives us the best and most immediate chance of reducing the number of people dying prematurely, children developing smaller lung capacity and many of us suffering lung and respiratory problems. I agree we should heavily regulate the use of domestic wood burners, have better public transport and dramatically increase the number of electric charging points. I’m happy to listen to anyone who makes the case for additional measures that we should be taking. But having spent 24 years campaigning for clean air, I know that there has never been a shortage of solutions – it is only the political will to implement them that has been lacking.

Jenny Jones is a Green party peer and former deputy mayor of London

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Canada and UK only donor countries to contribute so far, leaving scheme short of $40m to formally launch

Developed countries have been urged to contribute to a new nature fund after it was left undercapitalised by $40m (£32m), receiving money from just two donors.

At the Cop15 biodiversity summit in December, where countries agreed this decade’s biodiversity targets that included aims to protect 30% of Earth, governments agreed to the creation of a fund to help developing countries meet the deal’s aims, which included a target to provide $200bn for nature a year by 2030.

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Sadiq Khan defends expansion of ultra-low emission zone as government continues to criticise it

Clean air is “a right not a privilege”, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said as the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) was expanded to include the outer boroughs of London.

People who drive in the zone in a vehicle that does not meet minimum emissions standards are required to pay a £12.50 daily fee or risk a £180 fine, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.

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New Zealand needs to make a decision on how it intends to make up the 100-million tonne emissions shortfall to meet its 2030 climate, an analyst told a conference Tuesday, describing it as the elephant not in the room.

Vietnam and Singapore have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to operationalise their Article 6 partnership, which would pave the way for activating the trade of correspondingly adjusted carbon credits between the two Southeast Asian nations. 

Look ma, no coal. Transgrid says the race is on to prepare the NSW grid to operate it at times at 100% instantaneous renewables.

The post “High velocity” renewables shift urgently needs bigger and stronger grid, says Transgrid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

South Australia chooses to back its fisheries industries, which are worried about the impact of offshore wind farm construction.

The post South Australia wants out of new offshore wind zone, to protect rock lobsters appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The communities will receive solar systems and batteries, with an expected annual saving of $3 million a year.

The post Queensland spends $28m to get four remote communities off diesel for good appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Malcolm Turnbull warns against fossil fuelled hydrogen proposals - as offshore wind wrestles with rising costs, supply chain issues and permitting.

The post Beware people talking clean hydrogen, they are the ones who brought you clean coal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Introduced species and diseases can drive native species into smaller environmental niches – and that could mean change to how we work to conserve them. Geoffrey Heard, Research fellow, Australian National University and, The University of Queensland Benjamin Scheele, Research Fellow in Ecology, Australian National University Conrad Hoskin, Senior Lecturer, College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University Jarrod Sopniewski, PhD student, The University of Western Australia Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hydrogen offers some genuine opportunities for Australia in the race to decarbonise. We must choose carefully to capitalise on our advantages. 

The post Australia’s national hydrogen strategy needs to separate financial reality from hype appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Swedish teenager Ia Anstoot says group’s ‘unscientific’ opposition to EU nuclear power serves fossil fuel interests

An 18-year-old climate activist has called for Greenpeace to drop its “old-fashioned and unscientific” campaign against nuclear power in the EU.

In April, the environmental campaign group announced it would appeal against the EU Commission’s decision to include nuclear power in its classification system for sustainable finance. This “taxonomy” is designed as a guide for private investors wanting to fund green projects, aiming to boost environmental investment.

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Perth-based researcher who helped pioneer now ubiquitous lithium-ion battery technology is heralding a breakthrough in zinc-air chemistry.

The post Li-ion pioneer makes breakthrough in cheaper, safer “zinc-air” batteries appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Huge solar and battery project near Tamworth is wading through a river of objections, as members of the community and government departments question its environmental impact statement.

The post Tamworth solar and battery project beset by objections from community and government appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A Southeast Asia-focused forestry fund by the world’s second-largest forestry asset manager has received investments from its two main shareholders, the investors announced Tuesday.

Western Australia lands $3 billion from CEFC to fast track grid investment for the tens of gigawatts of wind and solar needed for green energy transition.

The post WA lands $3 billion from CEFC to expand grid and deliver stunning renewable plans appeared first on RenewEconomy.