Feed aggregator

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has suggested changing the rules to allow 'environmental' water to be diverted to drought-hit farms. But the idea would be far less straightforward in practice. Erin O'Donnell, Senior Fellow, Centre for Resources, Energy and Environment Law, University of Melbourne Avril Horne, Research fellow, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

State government’s decision has appalled scientists and conservationists, and widens divide between city and country

When the Batemans marine park, not far from my home on the New South Wales south coast, was first created, fishing on a beach next to my property was illegal. Then, under immense pressure from recreational fishers, the zoning throughout the marine park was changed. A few hundred metres offshore stayed a no-take zone but line fishing and spearfishing is now allowed from my local beach. One of my greatest pleasures is to head down to the water with my children and cast into the breakers at dusk, hoping to catch my dinner.

The rezoning along the Batemans coast meant substantial areas remained off limits to recreational anglers like me. But there are still more than enough spots to fish throughout the marine park. The tourists still come and everyone who wants to catch a fish can.

Continue reading...

A crowdfunding campaign to save the endangered owl hit its target so the four-month old dog gets his first mission

Researchers are turning to a canine companion named Zorro to help them save one of Australia’s most elusive birds.

A crowdfunding campaign to save the masked owl has hit its $60,000 target, which means the four-month-old border collie will be enlisted on his first mission – dubbed Operation Owl-Dog – to track down Tasmania’s endangered masked owl.

Continue reading...

Two trains built by the French train maker Alstom are now operating on a 62 mile stretch of line in northern Germany

Germany has rolled out the world’s first hydrogen-powered train, signalling the start of a push to challenge the might of polluting diesel trains with costlier but more eco-friendly technology.

Two bright blue Coradia iLint trains, built by French TGV-maker Alstom, on Monday began running a 62 mile (100km) route between the towns and cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude in northern Germany – a stretch normally plied by diesel trains.

Continue reading...

New Zealand carbon allowances made minor gains further above NZ$25 on Monday as supply has dried up amid expectations of further price hikes.

Australia’s new environment minister Melissa Price on Monday gave the nation’s offset market a boost by saying she was seeking to top up the budget of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), the first government member to say so since the A$2.55 billion fund was established.

Governor Jerry Brown signed an executive order for statewide carbon neutrality by 2045

Last week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed State Senator and US Senate candidate Kevin de León’s SB 100, which mandates that the state obtain all of its electricity from zero-carbon sources by 2045. That in itself was a big deal, but Brown didn’t stop there; he also issued an executive order calling for the entire California economy to become carbon-neutral by 2045. That’s a huge deal.

In order to stay below the Paris climate threshold of 2°C global warming above pre-industrial temperatures, humanity must become carbon-neutral by around 2060 or 2070. If California can meet Brown’s target, it will be providing the rest of the world a blueprint for meeting the Paris target. As the world’s fifth-largest economy, California can provide a powerful roadmap for others to follow.

Continue reading...

Researchers have found that man-made climate change has increased Hurricane Florence's rainfall by 50 per cent.

Coalition’s backdown follows reversals on stadiums, greyhounds, council amalgamations and emergency services levy

The New South Wales government has performed yet another about-face, ditching a proposed ban on fishing at 25 “no take” sanctuary zones in a proposed marine park stretching between Newcastle and Wollongong.

Just weeks after the government announced the plan to create the Sydney region marine park, the primary industries minister, Niall Blair, backed down on Monday after sustained opposition from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party.

Continue reading...

Four British men have been jailed for a combined 32.5 years after being found to have operated a £2.4 million fraud that involved mis-selling carbon credits to 130 victims.

Japanese energy giant reveals plans to halve its ownership of coal power by 2030, and withdraw completely from building new coal fired generators.

The post Japan’s Marubeni deals “body blow” to coal, in pivot to renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Some species are so close to extinction, that every remaining member can fit on a New York subway carriage (if they squeeze).

All estimates come from the IUCN Red List, 2018.

Continue reading...

Higher EU carbon prices will set Germany’s coal power phase-out in motion, but the country risks inducing power price spikes in determining an end-date for the fuel’s use, analysts said on Monday.

S&P Global Ratings says government intervention to prop up existing coal power, and underwrite the development of new, would be "credit negative" for the energy sector.

The post Building new coal, and propping up old, not the answer: S&P appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Victorian Greens call for an end to coal fired generation and a transition to 100 per cent renewables by 2030.

The post Greens call to phase out coal in Victoria, 100% renewables by 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

As Coalition ramps up attack on wind and solar, new report finds new renewable generation coming online the “only thing” currently helping lower electricity prices in Australia.

The post New solar and wind the “only thing” pushing down power prices appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Energy minister Angus Taylor says high levels of renewables cause "de-industrialisation" and will wreck the economy.

The post Taylor launches extraordinary and ill-informed attack against wind and solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Interview with Greg Bourne on Climate Council’s report on transport emissions, and Deloitte’s John O’Brien on the overwhelming case for renewables

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: EVs, transport emissions and the overwhelming case for renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Parkes Observatory (ACT) and Yalangbara (NT) have been added to the Finalised Priority Assessment List for the 2018-19 assessment period for the National Heritage List. No new places were added to the Australian Heritage Council’s existing list of...

Parkes Observatory (ACT) and Yalangbara (NT) have been added to the Finalised Priority Assessment List for the 2018-19 assessment period for the National Heritage List. No new places were added to the Australian Heritage Council’s existing list of...