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New research puts a dollar value on the health benefits of visits to national parks within reach of the city. It works out to almost $100 worth of savings to the health budget for every visit. Patrick O'Connor, Associate Professor in Natural Resource Economics, University of Adelaide Adam James Loch, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Adelaide John Maclean, Lecturer in Data Science, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ed Miliband argues the UK should race towards becoming a ‘clean energy superpower’, but costs to the consumer shouldn’t be ignored

The government’s plan to decarbonise the UK’s electricity system by 2030 is a vast undertaking. Energy companies will throw £40bn-plus annually at the effort, backed by financing that ultimately affects consumers’ bills. So it is extraordinary that no official body seems able to answer this question: will it cost more to complete the job by 2030 rather than by the old 2035 timetable? Is it more expensive to go faster?

That is not to dispute the necessity of generating electricity from clean domestic sources, an ambition shared widely across the political spectrum for reasons of security of supply and climate emergency. But the pace of decarbonisation can clearly also affect the cost for consumers, a point Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, tends to skip over too breezily when he argues that security, sustainability and affordability are now perfectly aligned.

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Washington’s Department of Ecology (ECY) on Tuesday outlined its additional considerations for changes to the state’s Clean Fuel Standard (WCFS), which included book-and-claim as well as avoided methane crediting measures. 

NSW asks consumers to dial back electricity use in heatwave as major coal units go missing, including at the Eraring facility it has agreed to underwrite to stay open for longer.

The post NSW consumers asked to dial back electricity use as coal and gas plants go missing in heatwave appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Tamworth Regional Council to join legal proceedings to block the Hills of Gold wind farm.

The post Tamworth council backs Greens move to continue fight against contested wind project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Ace Power launches brave proposal for the New England Hillview wind farm - along with a solar and battery proposal - into the NSW planning process.

The post Ace Power hits go on brave new proposal for a New England wind farm, along with solar and battery appeared first on RenewEconomy.

There is still little clarity on China’s emissions pathway, which experts believe could leave open the possibility of emissions increases until 2030 and very slow reductions afterwards, despite recent policy progress, according to a report published Wednesday.

Bowen says renewables and EV policies are bringing Australia close to its 2030 target, but is being urged for a dramatic boost in ambition for 2035.

The post Australia urged to go harder on emissions after wind, solar and EVs put 2030 target back on track appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A coalition of non-profits last week filed a lawsuit against a California county for its approval of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, which they alleged was done without addressing key concerns regarding the initiative’s final environmental impact report.

A British Columbia-headquartered carbon capture company announced Tuesday that a provincial fund had committed C$15 million ($10.7 mln) to accelerate the firm’s domestic and international projects.

More airlines should be investing in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to ensure the industry can scale sufficiently to meet future net-zero demand, an executive from a major European airline told an industry conference this week.

UN-approved international carbon markets are now ready to fully operationalise, following the landmark decision to finalise Article 6 in Baku, but questions over demand, and a robust methodological work programme scheduled for 2025, means it may take years until the planned implementation produces credit transactions at scale.

Installing chargers in existing apartment blocks can be complicated. So how can these challenges be overcome? Thomas Longden, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The environmental harm caused by this shapeshifting, underregulated industry must be tackled

Local pushback against cruise ships in the world’s top tourist destinations is nothing new. More than three years ago, these vast vessels were barred from Venice’s lagoon on grounds of the risk they posed to the city’s historic buildings. This summer, cruise ships in Amsterdam and Barcelona were targeted by protesters, on grounds of chemical pollution but also as part of a wider movement against overtourism (as the negative impacts of huge influxes of visitors have become known). But – as revealed this week in a series of Guardian articles, The real cost of cruises – the environmental and social impact of this fast-growing industry goes way beyond individual cities, and requires action on a global scale.

The carbon emissions of a cruise are roughly double that of the equivalent flights plus a hotel stay. The industry is also responsible for a vast quantity of waste discharged directly into the sea, as well as high levels of toxic air pollution in the ports where ships are docked – usually with their engines running. Once seen as the exclusive pursuit of a minority of wealthy retired people, these holidays are now mainstream, with vast floating resorts designed and marketed for families and young adults. The largest ships have up to 20 floors and room for several thousand people.

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A new study finds attitudes to biodiversity changing down on the farm, but there are still perceived barriers to planting what could be productive land in natives. Elizabeth Elliot Noe, Postdoctoral Fellow in Biodiversity, Lincoln University, New Zealand Anita Wreford, Professor of Applied Economics, Lincoln University, New Zealand Ottilie Stolte, Senior Lecturer in Social Science, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Greens in the European Parliament decided by a slim majority to approve the new team of EU commissioners led by Ursula von der Leyen during a confirmation vote scheduled on Wednesday, paving the way for the new European Commission to take office on Dec. 1 for a five-year mandate.

Most of the greenhouse gas emissions from distribution system operators (DSOs) across Europe come from indirect and preventable sources, according to a study published Tuesday.

Welsh first minister to ask UK government for more money to make coal tips safe after Cwmtillery landslip

More than 500 homes and businesses were flooded across Wales and England during Storm Bert, it has emerged, as forecasters issued another severe weather warning for rain in parts of southern Britain.

In Wales, the first minister, Eluned Morgan, said 400 homes had been damaged as well as businesses and infrastructure, and reviews were being done to find out why some householders appeared not to have received warnings in time.

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Verra has allowed anonymous allegations of human right abuses at two REDD carbon projects in Cambodia to be posted during a public consultation, sparking a furious response and rebuttal from the developer, who says the claims are groundless.

Scheme to fund activities such as hedge-planting paused owing to budget constraints, sources say

Grants promised to farmers in England for planting hedges and cleaning up waterways have been frozen by the government.

The capital grants scheme, which was opened by the government to allow farmers to invest in infrastructure such as slurry storage so animal excrement does not go into rivers, has been abruptly paused. Farmers have said this will make it difficult for them to run their businesses in an environmentally friendly way.

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