Feed aggregator

Trade can help protect species – and real skins are often more sustainable than synthetic alternatives, say conservationists

Conservation experts have criticised a decision by London fashion week to ban exotic animal skins from its 2025 shows as “ridiculous”, warning that it is ill-informed and could harm the protection of many snakes, crocodiles and reptile species.

Last month, the British Fashion Council’s deputy director for policy and engagement, David Leigh-Pemberton, told parliament that next year’s fashion shows would prohibit the use of skins from alligators, snakes and other animals. In a statement, the council said the ban was part of a wider range of standards to promote sustainable practices in the fashion industry.

Continue reading...

Peak oil has been joined by a plateau in coal, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) three-year outlook for the commodity, which saw a downturn during Covid-19 and a resurgence in use in the past two years, buoyed by high gas prices since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Goldwind says its first 22 ME offshore wind turbine will be a "weapon" on costs, helping reduce them up up to 10 per cent.

The post “A weapon for deep sea wind power:” Goldwind rolls first 22MW offshore turbine appeared first on RenewEconomy.

BoM meteorologist says Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales will be generally dry and ‘fingers crossed it stays like this’

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Christmas Day should be calm and settled across much of Australia – on the weather front, at least – according to the weather bureau’s first look at the festive forecast.

Senior meteorologist Sarah Scully, from the Bureau of Meteorology, said a band of high pressure on Christmas Day would bring generally dry and settled conditions to south-eastern Australia, mild temperatures for west and south-west Western Australia, and typically hot and stormy weather in the north.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email

Sydney – mininum 18C, maximum 28. Cloud clearing. Light winds becoming easterly 15-25km/h during the day.

Melbourne – min 14C, max 28. Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming south to south-easterly 15-20km/h during the day.

Adelaide – min 16C, max 35. Sunny. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h tending north-west to north-easterly 15-25 km/h during the morning.

Hobart – min 13C, max 23. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds westerly 15-20km/h shifting south-easterly during the day.

Canberra – min 9C, max 33. Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming north to north-westerly 15-20km/h during the day.

Darwin – min 26C, max 34. Possible shower or storm.

Brisbane – min 20C, max 29. Light winds becoming east to south-easterly 15-20km/h during the morning.

Perth – min 15C, max 25. Cloud increasing.

Continue reading...

The number of surplus units in New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme is around 22% lower than government figures suggest,though regulators should be cautious about adjusting ETS auction volumes based on this finding, according to consultants EY.

Researchers find winds affecting emissions from incinerators play role, though diet still thought to be largest factor

Toxic chemicals in breast milk have been identified in mothers living near waste incinerators in the UK, a study has found.

The study looked at complex chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins. These are found in the fumes from burning waste and can persist in the environment for a long time. They can also accumulate in the fat in our bodies, with more than 90% coming from food.

Continue reading...

In less than 24 hours Victoria went from having record demand to warnings of having too little. No wonder the likes of Tesla are warning that its grid is no place for nuclear.

The post Solar swing state: From nearly too much grid demand to warnings of not enough in less than a day appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Zen Energy signs memorandum of understanding to develop a smart software based "24/7 Sustainable Energy Strategy" for large consumers in Queensland.

The post Zen inks deal with pumped hydro and hyrogen hopeful to help large energy users kick fossil habit appeared first on RenewEconomy.

From December 19, 2024, Renew Economy will be changing its article comment platform. And for good reason.

The post Renew Economy is changing our reader comments platform appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Financial close has been reached for a long awaited solar and battery project pitched originally for a particularly weak part of the grid.

The post Solar farm and battery emerged from rhombus of regret with bank finance and a construction plan appeared first on RenewEconomy.

One of world's largest privately owned renewable energy developers reaches financial close on 500 MW Queensland wind project, its first in Australia.

The post UK-based Cubico closes deal with banks for 500MW wind project, its first in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

US DOE released a highly anticipated study listing environment and community effects of its LNG exports estimated at increasing global emissions by 0.05% from 2020-50, without an explicit recommendation to extend the temporary pause of pending and future project approvals.

Climate change makes it trickier for Churchill's residents to co-exist with increasingly hungry predators

India tested its first analog space mission in the Himalayan mountains of Ladakh.

Researchers from St Andrews found rise in nitrogen dioxide exposure associated with higher admissions

Exposure to air pollution is linked to an increased risk of hospital admission for mental illness, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind.

The research, involving more than 200,000 people in Scotland, found an increase in exposure to nitrogen dioxide in particular was associated with a higher number of people being admitted to hospital for behaviour disorders and mental illnesses.

Continue reading...

German energy regulator says it will investigate market manipulation as power prices spike in middle of wind drought with fossil fuel generators sitting idle.

The post Market manipulation suspected as prices soar in “dunkelflaute” and fossil generators sit idle appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Poland can use its Council of the EU presidency next year to help the EU become a global clean tech hub, applying lessons learned from its own success story, a think tank said on Wednesday.

We review the past year, look to the interesting arrivals in 2025, contemplate the Tesla conundrum, and talk to EV conversion specialist Nick Cummins from ElectroGusto.

The post The Driven Podcast: EV conversions, and the new models for 2025 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A proposed biochar production facility in northern California has received unanimous approval from local regulators, marking a significant step in the state’s ongoing efforts to address wildfire risks and advance forest biomass utilisation.

Canada’s environment ministry has weakened its clean electricity regulations (CER) in a final version published Tuesday, opting for a less stringent emissions standard for power generators compared to prior drafts.