Feed aggregator

The White House is looking to ramp up timber production levels on federal forests by lifting regulations and speeding forestry projects through endangered species and other environmental protections.

Uncertainty over climate and economy means ‘investment portfolio’ approach needed, researchers say

An “investment portfolio approach” needs to be applied to large-scale tree planting across the world to reduce the risks of the wrong species being planted in the wrong place, economists have said.

Countries have made ambitious pledges to plant billions of trees to remove greenhouse gases and tackle global heating. The UK has committed to plant 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of trees each year by 2025 and maintain the rate until 2050, the European Commission has pledged to plant 3bn trees across member states by 2030, and the US under the previous administration committed to planting 1bn trees by the same date.

Continue reading...

Environmental groups say two-year grace period allowed by Ursula von der Leyen ‘rewards laggard’ manufacturers

European carmakers are to be given two extra years to meet this year’s pollution target, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has said, in a further rollback of her green deal climate policies.

Companies who sell too many dirty vehicles this year will be allowed to compensate by selling more clean vehicles in the two years that follow, under a proposal that would stretch the window of compliance for the 2025 fleet emissions target to 2027.

Continue reading...

Non-EU importers may hold a competitive advantage over European producers under the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) due to market information asymmetries and the ability to sell back emissions certificates, according to an investment bank report.

A group of maritime players have written to the European Union calling for clear regulations and more investment in methane-cutting technologies to be included in the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal.

Another healthy dose of carbon credit retirements last week helped keep the voluntary market in contention for a record year and struck a bullish note, although a lawsuit against Apple and official news of BP backing petroleum in the future dampened enthusiasm.

A natural assets manager has launched a new €200 million fund to invest in sustainable forestry and carbon in Europe, expecting to realise most returns from timber while also seeking to monetise carbon and biodiversity benefits.

The European Commission needs to provide extra funding for EU exports in industries covered by the incoming carbon border fee, to soften the blow of rising EU ETS costs and maintain their international competitiveness, outgoing German ministers said in a letter setting out a number of recommendations. 

A Finnish energy technology company has delivered a 200MW battery energy storage system to a UK-based grid-scale battery operator, with the system now operational in Scotland, it announced on Monday.

The Brazilian government last week made two announcements regarding novel initiatives within its carbon markets, as Cuba outlined plans to use Article 6 to help meet its UN climate targets.

A carbon crediting platform has appointed a new team of senior leaders effective immediately, with a climate finance and project development veteran as president, it announced on Monday.

An association of mostly African countries is mapping out seagrass across four countries, using satellite imagery and field verification to assess the carbon stock in the region, it announced on Monday.

Every year, volunteers brave the icy Tuel Lane lock in West Yorkshire to clear leaves, litter – and pickled onions

It is said that an imitation Rolex watch was once found during the spring clean of the UK’s deepest canal lock. Today the most glamorous discoveries are a Tesco shopping trolley and an empty can of Sprite – but spirits are still high.

“I did once come across a full jar of pickled onions,” said Maureen Readle, a volunteer. “But that was a bit further up. Here it is mostly leaves.”

Continue reading...

A Swedish maritime battery system supplier announced Monday it has secured SEK 220 million (€19.7 million) to expand operations in Sweden and the US, as it aims to decarbonise the shipping sector.

A developer’s plan to generate carbon removals from its waste wood power plants in the UK will be easily met by private sector demand and won’t rely on removals being included in the country’s emissions trading scheme.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has voiced his support for delaying the EU’s new Emissions Trading System for road transport and building fuels (ETS2), aligning with calls from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and other European leaders.

New Modelling torpedoes claim that Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan will be 44% cheaper than Labor’s plan for renewables, finding instead it will inflate electricity bills by up to 41% between now and 2030.

The post Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan could blow out household electricity bills by up to $600 a year by 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A US-based sustainability software provider on Monday opened its first request for proposals (RFP) to carbon removal (CDR) suppliers, seeking 1 million credits to meet demand from its corporate customers.

EU carbon allowance prices jumped sharply at the opening on Monday morning in line with sizeable spikes in natural gas and power, after Friday evening's highly-charged meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy in Washington D.C dimmed the chances of a resumption of Russian gas flows to Europe and raised geopolitical tensions across the bloc.

The Italian government has taken a decisive step towards introducing nuclear energy, approving a law that lays the groundwork for a national strategy on fusion and small reactors (SMRs), while maintaining country's reliance on gas.