Feed aggregator

A total of 15 of the 19 countries that have submitted updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement are planning to increase their renewable energy ambition ahead of 2035, according to a report by two non-profit research and campaign groups.

Australia on Tuesday announced A$4.3 billion ($2.7 bln) in new spending to reach net zero emissions, but attracted criticism from environmental groups for lack of new funding to protect nature.

Decarbonising Europe’s ammonia industry hinges on targeted subsidies and carbon pricing, but domestic producers may still lose out to cheaper US imports backed by generous subsidies and looser carbon accounting rules, a report released this week has found.

Landlocked Laos will need to modify its energy system and rely less on hydropower if it is to decarbonise, meet its net zero target of 2050, and its nationally determined contribution (NDC), a regional grouping has warned.

MPs likely to be whipped against move to add protections, as government says it is already taking action on risk of forced labour

Ministers have been accused of turning a “blind eye to slavery” by ordering Labour MPs to remove legal protections to stop money being spent by state-owned Great British Energy on solar panels manufactured by forced labour in China.

The protections were added to the government bill in the House of Lords via an amendment from the cross-bench peer David Alton, which said the new body must not spend money on solar or other materials where supply chains had “credible evidence of modern slavery”.

Continue reading...

The Catalytic Climate Finance Facility (CC Facility) on Tuesday issued a tender looking for high-impact, scalable, and market-ready blended climate finance solutions in developing economies.

A CSIRO study published this week has found it is difficult to predict whether excluding grazing livestock can reliably boost carbon stocks in woody vegetation, raising further questions over Australia’s human-induced regeneration (HIR) carbon credit method.

Vietnam is set to implement its emissions trading system (ETS) targeting high-emitting industries in three phases, with an approach that balances carbon cuts with international market competitiveness, senior government officials were quoted saying in local media reports this week.

Germany’s top business leaders have issued a call for climate action, urging the country’s next government to embed climate neutrality at the heart of its economic strategy.

Protecting 30% of Australian lands sounds good – but what matters much more is whether we’re protecting dwindling habitat for endangered species. James Watson, Professor in Conservation Science, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Regulator finds industry group breached Greenwashing Code with claims electric cooktops are more expensive and more emissions intensive than cooking with gas.

The post Regulator finds fossil fuel group engaged in greenwashing in defence of gas stoves appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Algae blooms can be a problem for marine life and people but it’s not yet clear if warmer oceans and nutrient runoff are causing more of them

Confronting images of dead seadragons, fish and octopuses washed up on South Australian beaches – and disturbing reports of “more than 100” surfers and beachgoers experiencing flu-like symptoms after swimming or merely breathing in sea spray – attracted international concern last week.

Speculation about the likely cause ranged from pollution and algae to unusual bacterial infections or viruses. We can reveal the culprit was a tiny – but harmful – type of planktonic algae called Karenia mikimotoi.

Continue reading...

Snowy Hydro's delayed, costly and not very hydrogen gas generators have finally entered the grid management system.

The post Snowy’s delayed gas plant finally enters grid system, as Forrest closes in on gas import terminal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New research cuts through the noise to find what is really driving up electricity costs over the longer term, and how governments and consumers can turn the trend around.

The post What’s really driving high power bills (hint, it’s not renewables) and how can we reduce them? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Reports in a Murdoch newspaper that another renewable hydrogen project has been scrapped are several years late, the South Australia government says.

The post Murdoch media reports of green hydrogen’s latest failure have been greatly exaggerated, SA govt says appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Energy demand rebounded in 2024, led by renewable energy generation, but that wasn't enough to halt emissions, the IEA says.

The post Climate-related heatwaves pushed up energy sector emissions in 2024, despite record wind and solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Operational emissions at a major dairy producer in New Zealand continued to fall in FY24, while its Scope 3 emissions crept up.

NSW-based battery technology startup secures a US patent for its water-based electrolyte which it says is cheaper and safer than competing technologies.

The post Australian long-duration battery hopeful secures US patent for “game-changing” storage chemistry appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The number of entities registered with active accounts in Washington’s cap-and-trade programme ticked up in an early look at Q1 data, the state's Department of Ecology (ECY) figures showed.

Perth-based wave energy hopeful edges closer to showcasing its ocean power generation technology after signing deals to test out new system designs.

The post Deep ocean wave energy hopeful inches closer to trials in WA waters appeared first on RenewEconomy.