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"I think there is some political vested interest in indicating things are looking much better than they are on the ground."

Trend in US regions where once-brutal winters are now mild raises new concerns over climate change

Warmer winters are linked to increased crime rates in parts of the United States, a new study has found.

Researchers found that violent crime is almost always more prevalent when temperatures are warmer in the winter months. The trend was especially strong when winters were mild in regions that usually have fierce winters, like the north-east and midwest.

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EPA to start writing rule requiring new trucks produce less nitrogen oxide, one of its first moves to regulate industry

Donald Trump’s administration plans to cut air pollution from heavy-duty trucks, marking one of its first moves to regulate US industry rather than roll back environmental standards.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will start writing a rule to require new trucks produce less nitrogen oxide, which contributes to smog and particulate matter pollution that causes breathing problems, asthma attacks and early deaths.

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Commonwealth Bank becomes first Australian owned company to join RE100 and commit to 100% renewables, signs contract with Sapphire wind and solar projects.

The post CommBank first to pledge 100% renewables, signs Sapphire wind and solar farms appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The president blamed ‘poor forest management’ for the state’s crisis. But much of the area burning isn’t forest

You cannot possibly understand what it means to live with the risk of wildfire until you have to do so.

I’m a fire scientist and have spent most of my adult life in the flammable south-west. At the start of the fire season, you pack up the things in your house you cannot replace and stage them so they are ready to be thrown into the car. You make a plan for your family and your pets. You identify escape routes and put together a bag with clothing and you spend the summer alert to smoke, radio reports and evacuation notices.

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The California fires are just the most recent in a series of major wildfires. Together, they suggest we need to look at alternative ways of living with fire. David Bowman, Professor, Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The farming system, lauded as a solution to drought, involves slowing water flow in streams using 'leaky weirs'. Ian Rutherfurd, Associate Professor in Geography, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We talk to newly appointed Momentum Energy CEO Amy Childs, and look at the Coalition’s ham-fisted intervention in energy markets, and some good news on solar and batteries.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Momentum Energy CEO Amy Childs appeared first on RenewEconomy.

How the World Solar Challenge led to a solar-powered trip around the world and the development of light-weight solar taxis that will save lives in Africa.

The post The Driven Podcast: Saving lives with solar taxis appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The California-Quebec November auction will likely settle within a few cents of the secondary market, most traders predict, but there did not appear to be consensus view as to whether it would be at a discount or premium.

The world cannot afford to build any more fossil fuel-based infrastructure without increasing warming by more than 2C, the global energy watchdog IEA warned Tuesday in its annual World Energy Outlook.

Ambitious scheme also aims to fully decarbonise country’s economy shortly after

Spain has launched an ambitious plan to switch its electricity system entirely to renewable sources by 2050 and completely decarbonise its economy soon after.

By mid-century greenhouse gas emissions would be slashed by 90% from 1990 levels under Spain’s draft climate change and energy transition law.

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A study of beetles could explain global decline in insects - and how heat can damage male fertility.

German utility Uniper continued to hold back on its EUA hedging in Q3, but said it intends to catch up to its normal rates when margins are fatter.

Quebec’s former environment minister and a key architect of the province’s cap-and-trade scheme is joining the energy and climate practice of a major Canadian law firm.

Japan’s biggest business lobby group on Tuesday reiterated that it wants to stick to its voluntary approach to cutting emissions despite growing calls for the government to put a price on carbon to help meet its Paris target at lower cost.

South Korean carbon prices are at their highest since July, but could go even higher as rising emissions in some of the biggest ETS sectors are set to further deplete available supply in the market, according to analysts.

Study of beetles could explain global decline – and also be a warning to humankind

Heatwaves severely damage the fertility of male beetles and consecutive hot spells leave them virtually sterilised, according to research.

Global warming is making heatwaves more common and wildlife is being annihilated, and the study may reveal a way in which these two trends are linked. The scientists behind the findings said there could also be some relevance for humans: the sperm counts of western men have halved in the last 40 years.

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University of Technology Sydney inks deal with Epuron to buy the output of its 32MW Walgett Solar Farm in northern New South Wales.

The post UTS to source half its elecricity needs from new Walgett solar farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Victoria Labor says it will extend its rooftop solar rebate to the state’s tens of thousands of renters, if re-elected in the state poll two weeks from now.

The post Victoria Labor promises to extend rooftop solar rebate to renters appeared first on RenewEconomy.