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Activities such as mining, dredging and bottom trawling in most MPAs mean conservation targets will be missed, say researchers

Most of Europe’s marine protected areas, set up to safeguard species and habitats, will not meet conservation targets as they provide only “marginal” protection against industrial activities such as dredging, mining and bottom trawling, a study has revealed.

Low levels of protection in 86% of marine protected areas (MPAs) have left the EU far from reaching its 2030 biodiversity targets, which are designed to reduce the risk of species’ extinction, researchers said in a paper published in the One Earth journal. The EU aims to protect 30% of its seas by 2030, with 10% “strictly” protected from damaging activities.

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In announcing the strategy, climate minister Chris Bowen also took a swipe at the ‘climate inactivism’ of critics of the nascent industry

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The Albanese government has set annual targets of at least 15m tonnes of “renewable hydrogen” by 2050 and dismissed critics who had “gloated” about setbacks to the nascent industry.

The energy minister, Chris Bowen, said on Friday that Australia’s green hydrogen pipeline of projects was “alive and healthy” as he released the government’s new hydrogen production strategy, which updates the 2019 plan he inherited from the Coalition.

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California’s power sector emissions rose above 2023 levels in June and July with a rise in natural gas power generation and a concurrent decline in the share of renewables as the state sweltered under record temperatures. 

Victoria's biggest electricity network has published its draft five-year plan for the 2026-31 regulatory period. And there's a lot going on.

The post Lots of EVs, even more rooftop solar, a gas exodus – and no sun tax: Network sets out 5-year plan appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Legal challenges against the project were submitted by environmental campaigners.

Tesla seeks buyer for South Australia virtual power plant, one of the first of its types in the world that has helped plot future of renewable grids.

The post Tesla seeks buyer for Australian virtual power plant, as long as it can supply the batteries and software appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A solar and battery project proposed for a site surrounded by huge coal mines in the Hunter Valley seeks planning approval.

The post Bon dieu! Hunter Valley solar and battery project seeks approval for site surrounded by coal mines appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A hydrogen investment pact with Germany will support new commercial supply and access to the European market for the emerging industry.

The post Australia inks $660 million hydrogen pact with Germany appeared first on RenewEconomy.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) prices lacked direction as volatility eased through the week with markets awaiting programme updates from ARB, while Washington’s third quarterly auction cleared in the middle of market expectations.

Federal Labor has set out a new plan for Australia to produce at least 15 millions tonnes of renewable hydrogen a year by 2050.

The post Labor sets out greener hydrogen strategy, with big new targets and no room for coal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia and Germany have signed a A$660 million (€400 mln) agreement to deepen their cooperation on green hydrogen supply chains and guarantee European buyers for Australian hydrogen producers, the two countries announced Friday.

Two Italian men were arrested at a Sri Lankan wildlife park after they were found with hundreds of protected insects.

British Columbia Premier David Eby on Thursday announced that his government would end the province’s carbon tax if the Canadian federal government removes its legal requirement for provinces and territories to maintain one.

New Zealand’s Minister for Climate Change Simon Watts said it wouldn’t be “realistic” for his country to simply pay for the overseas carbon credits it will need to meet its 2030 international climate target.

August 2024 becomes the first time fossil fuels (98.5% gas and 1.5% coal) fell to third place in the British electricity mix over an entire month.

The post Wind powers a record summer for renewable energy in Britain, record low for fossil fuels appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Amid the mouth-frothing nonsense from the gas industry and Murdoch press, the Allen government is pressing ahead with its gas substitution policy.

The post Victoria’s gas cooktop concession is hardly laudable, but it’s not a tectonic shift in policy, either appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Peruvian legislation passed shortly after the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has deliberately misconstrued the latter’s due diligence requirements to expand agricultural land titling, thereby encroaching on the Amazon, according to the author of a report on Peruvian land concessions.

The the world’s largest coal port has completed the installation of its first major rooftop solar system, delivering around $9,000 a year in electricity savings.

The post World’s largest coal port installs solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The national development of Brazil announced Thursday the launch a R$1 billion ($180 million) credit programme aimed investments in forestry activities that promote native vegetation and capture CO2 from the atmosphere.

1PointFive, a subsidiary of oil firm Occidental, has secured up to $500 million in funding from the US Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) to support the development of its South Texas Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub.