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Language in Senate defense bill is probably first step to shield widely used toxic F-gases from regulation

US lawmakers and the military are pushing for a new definition of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” that would exclude a subclass of toxic compounds increasingly used across the economy and considered to be potent greenhouse gases.

Language included in the defense bill by the Senate armed services committee asks the military to detail how it uses fluorinated gases, or F-gases, stating that the committee is “interested in learning more about how the [department of defense] may or may not be impacted by the definition” of PFAS.

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A Singapore-headquartered biochar company and a Japanese developer specialising in methane reduction projects have been awarded a grant to reduce emissions from rice fields in the Philippines, they said in a joint statement.

A bill to certify renewable electricity and the carbon footprint of the emerging hydrogen industry has been referred for a Senate inquiry.

The post Guarantee of Origin: Move to prove credentials of green goods, set up REGO for renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The application of carbon pricing in the power sector will be crucial to meeting climate goals set under the Paris Agreement, however, approaches must be altered to the needs of low- and middle-income countries and the challenges they face, said World Bank’s latest report launched Thursday.

Demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Europe fell 20% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, after gas consumption dropped to a 10-year low last year, analysts said this week, suggesting the continent’s thirst for the fuel may have already peaked.

Nearly 40% of the Amazon rainforest areas considered crucial for addressing the climate crisis still lack proper legal protection, with approximately 10.9 million hectares at potential risk, said a report released Thursday.

A group of Korean researchers has introduced a low-carbon catalyst technology for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) amid growing domestic interest in the development of the eco-friendly fuel. 

An Edinburgh-based company has closed a £1 million pre-seed funding round for its ultra-high temperature thermal energy storage system aimed at decarbonising industrial heat, it announced on Thursday.

Australian airline Qantas sees both opportunities and risks in its ongoing reliance on carbon credits as it looks to scale up its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) intake, according to its 2024 sustainability report published Thursday.

A top oil refiner in South Korea is set to start commercial operations of the country's first production line for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) next month, in response to the increasing demand for the eco-friendly fuel.

Grand schemes, many backed by government, masquerade as taking action on the environment. They should be disowned

Let’s talk about perceptionware. Perceptionware is technology whose main purpose is to create an impression of action. Whether it will ever work at scale is less important, in some cases entirely beside the point. If it reassures the public and persuades government not to regulate damaging industries, that’s mission accomplished.

Managing perceptions is an expensive business. Real money, especially public money, is spent on fake solutions. Take carbon capture and storage: catching and burying carbon dioxide emissions from power stations, oil and gas fields, and steel and cement plants. For 20 years, it has spectacularly failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, its only clear successes involve enhanced oil recovery: carbon dioxide is used to drive oil out of geological formations that are otherwise difficult to exploit. With astonishing chutzpah, some oil companies have claimed the small amount of carbon that remains trapped in the rocks as a climate benefit. Though it is greatly outweighed by the extra oil extracted, they have, as a result, received billions in government subsidies.

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Fortescue has started construction on its $150 million PEM50 green hydrogen project in Gladstone, Queensland.

The post Fortescue breaks ground on Gladstone PEM50 green hydrogen facility appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The offshore wind industry in the Asia Pacific is displaying significant growth in a patchwork fashion, but missing regulatory frameworks and significant supply chain bottlenecks down the track will require careful planning, according to experts. 

Matt Kean on being a private citizen, duelling with Barnaby, rent-seeking on Eraring and pathways to net zero.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Rent-seeking and net zero appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The number of cases filed each year against fossil fuel companies including BP, Shell, and Chevron has nearly tripled since the Paris Agreement, with cases linked to climate damages, misleading advertising, and emissions reduction growing significantly over the period, according to a new report.

The Earth Commission says hope lies in sustainable lifestyles, a radical transformation of global politics and fair distribution of resources

All of humanity could share a prosperous, equitable future but the space for development is rapidly shrinking under pressure from a wealthy minority of ultra-consumers, a groundbreaking study has shown.

Growing environmental degradation and climate instability have pushed the Earth beyond a series of safe planetary boundaries, say the authors from the Earth Commission, but it still remains possible to carve out a “safe and just space” that would enable everyone to thrive.

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Japan-owned retailer signs PPA with Neoen for part of the output from its under construction 440MW Culcairn solar farm in NSW.

The post Neoen inks PPA to sell half the output of its biggest solar farm in NSW appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Federal and ACT governments ink deal to collaborate on range of pilot projects and "practical actions" to bolster the territory's nation-leading electrification and energy efficiency efforts.

The post Bowen signs deal to help the ACT electrify everything, share lessons with rest of Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

California regulator ARB reduced its compliance-eligible offset issuances over the latest two-week period, reversing course from the trend of growing distributions seen in past periods.

Campaigners call for national parks to be given new powers to buy private land and protect habitats.