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European carbon reached midday on Thursday substantially higher after earlier moving in a comparatively narrow range, as natural gas prices appeared to reassert their influence over the EU ETS amid speculation over whether and how the bloc will source additional supplies next year.

Call for additional precautions as captive species including lions, tigers and cheetahs are killed by virus

Dozens of rare animals including tigers, lions and cheetahs are dying as bird flu infiltrates zoos, with potentially “grave implications” for endangered species, researchers have warned.

As a growing number of zoos report animal deaths, scientists are concerned that infected wild birds landing in enclosures could be spreading it among captive animals. In the US, a cheetah, mountain lion, Indian goose and kookaburra were among the animals that died in Wildlife World Zoo near Phoenix, according to local media reports last week. San Francisco Zoo temporarily closed its aviaries after a wild red-shouldered hawk was found dead on its grounds, and later tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAIV). A rare red-breasted goose died at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, causing aviaries to close and penguin feeding for visitors to be suspended in November. These cases follow the deaths of 47 tigers, three lions, and a panther in zoos across south Vietnam over the summer.

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South Korea announced Wednesday it will phase down subsidies for private and state-owned biomass facilities following widespread criticism over their impact on climate as well as the industry's role in fuelling deforestation.

A new wave of geothermal energy companies are emerging, and they're using shale gas tech to make it cheaper, faster and simpler than a decade earlier.

The post It getting hot down under: Hot rock geothermal energy is making a comeback in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Albanese government approved a batch of four coal mines on Thursday, including a super-emitting mine that could almost crash the Safeguard Mechanism. 

The post Albanese’s four new coal mine extension approvals could crash the Safeguard Mechanism  appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A ratings agency has revised the outlook for India’s largest carbon credit developer EKI Energy to “stable” from “negative”, reflecting improving financials despite continued challenges in the global carbon credit market.

Crediting standard Verra has opened applications for a panel of biodiversity experts that will be tasked with reviewing projects under its Nature Framework, the company announced Thursday.

A Japanese shipping firm has agreed a five-year deal to buy credits from a Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (DACCS) project in the US, using petroleum company ENEOS as a middle man.

A French utility has signed an offtake agreement with the developer of a CO2 battery in Sardinia, Italy, which will provide long-duration energy storage to the Italian grid.

Verra wants to take greater control of carbon methodology development in a shift from third-party led work in the past, the standards body said Wednesday in proposed updates to its crediting programme processes.

The joint committee (JC) regulating the Japan-Philippines Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) has rejected two proposed methodologies amid concerns they might lead to over-crediting, including one for high-efficiency firewood cookstoves.

Tanya Plibersek says projects in NSW and Queensland produce coal for making essential steel as critics say move ‘opposite of climate action’

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The Albanese government has approved the expansion of four coalmines that climate campaigners estimate will release more than 850m tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime – equivalent to almost double Australia’s annual emissions.

The four mines will target mostly coal to be used for steelmaking with some thermal coal for burning in power stations.

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A revised draft of the UN-backed clean cooking methodology has been sent to voluntary carbon standards for review and approval, and includes several key changes based on recent stakeholder feedback.

The New Zealand government is seeking expressions of interest to partner with the private sector to plant native trees on Crown-owned land, without adding extra forestry to the emissions trading scheme.

Landmark compensation claim against coal generation companies has been dismissed, with the court finding that maximising profits is not illegal and everyone is doing it.

The post Coal-fired generators escape claims of unlawful bidding and market manipulation  appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Law around illegal wood burning in smoke-control areas is not being enforced, campaigners say

Only four fines out of 5,600 complaints have been issued for illegal burning of wood in smoke-control areas from September 2023 to August 2024 in England, data has revealed.

The new data, from freedom of information requests submitted by the campaign group Mums for Lungs, shows that the law around illegal wood burning is not being enforced in England, campaigners said.

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A Brazilian state and the country's national development bank announced Wednesday the launch of a public notice of up to R$60 million ($9.5 mln) to support about 30 local ecological restoration projects in the Atlantic Forest biome.

If politicians really want to help households lower their energy bills, there’s better places to go looking than the next big power station. Local networks are a good place to start.

The post Look at the networks, not nuclear, to reduce energy bills appeared first on RenewEconomy.

In our last episode of the year, federal energy and climate minister Chris Bowen joins us to discuss the CIS, climate targets, EVs, the agenda for 2025, and the Coalition's nuclear plan.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Chris Bowen on renewables, emissions, EVs, and nuclear appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Scientists race to discover new species before destruction of natural world drives them to extinction

From a toadstool with teeth to a vine smelling of marzipan and a flower that has cheated its way out of having to photosynthesise, a weird and wonderful host of new plant and fungus species have been discovered in 2024.

Other plants given scientific names for the first time include beautiful new orchids, a ghostly palm and a hairy plant that appears to have stolen a gene from an unrelated family. The species are among the 172 new plants and fungi named by scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and their partners.

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