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G20 communique in Rio contains key lines on climate confirming world set to transition away from fossil fuels

In keeping with previous Cop summits in authoritarian countries, authorities in Azerbaijan appear to have made some limited allowances for civil society interventions during the conference.

Here are some pictures of the activism taking place so far on Tuesday at Cop29.

Brazil has shown leadership during its G20 presidency and this signal could pave the way for unlocking a transformative finance deal at COP29, one that should mobilize at least a trillion dollars per year for climate action. This will be a drop in the ocean compared to what governments are already paying and people are already suffering around the world due to climate catastrophes. However, this funding must come in the form of grants and public money, not private finance. Private finance in its very nature is about making profits, before meeting genuine human needs.

While the joint declaration produced by the G20 on Monday shows some early positive signals–addressing key issues such as the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, a global alliance against hunger and poverty, and discussions on a wealth tax–it remains too broad and lacks specifics. The urgency of the climate crisis demands stronger and more immediate action.

We expect G20 leaders to take the lead on advancing NDCs and mobilising climate finance to send a strong signal to the negotiations taking place here in Baku. Without concrete actions to back these commitments, the gap between ambition and reality will continue to grow, leaving millions of people increasingly vulnerable.

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Albanese government denies media reports it is signing up to collaboration to share advanced nuclear technology

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The UK government has conceded that Australia was mistakenly included on a list of countries that were expected to sign up to a US-UK civil nuclear deal.

The Albanese government flatly denied media reports on Tuesday that it would join the UK and the US in a collaboration to share advanced nuclear technology. The UK and the US announcement said they would speed up work on “cutting-edge nuclear technology”, including small modular reactors, after inking a deal at the Cop29 UN climate summit in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku.

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It is Day 9 at COP29 in Baku - Food Day. As we go deeper into week two, with a matter of days to conclude minister-level talks, a new text is expected on Article 6, and things are turning around on other work streams, including the ambiguous Mitigation Work Programme (MWP). The UK and Brazil have also been tasked with making sure we get over the line in Baku.

Singapore and Zambia Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on carbon credits aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Oil and gas major Santos has set a target to build and operate a commercial carbon storage business that would permanently store around 14 million tonnes of third-party CO2 per year by 2040.

Experts say mix of taxes with development bank and private funding can provide $1tn a year needed by 2030

Raising money needed to tackle the climate crisis need not be a burden on overstretched government budgets, leading economists have said.

The sums needed – approximately $1tn a year by 2030 – are achievable without disruption to the global economy, and would help to generate greener economic growth for the future.

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Despite large poultry units being a key driver of river pollution, their number has soared near the Wye and Severn

• ‘The sores on the fish are nasty’: what’s behind the changes in the Severn river?

More than 51 million chickens are being industrially farmed in the river valleys of the Severn and Wye – the equivalent of 79 chickens for every person in the region, according to new figures.

The exponential rise in large intensive poultry units (IPUs) in the valleys is a key driver of river pollution. Chicken dropping contains more phosphates – which starve fish and river plants of oxygen – than any other animal manure.

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Why can’t you keep a wombat or koala as a pet rather than a cat or dog? There are good reasons why keeping native animals as pets isn’t as easy as it seems Meg Edwards, Lecturer in Wildlife Science, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The world’s largest onshore wind turbine, a 15MW behemoth capable of powering 160,000 households with blades nearly the length of the MCG, has been powered up.

The post World’s largest onshore wind turbine powers up for first time appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Small island states must continue to be protected by special circumstances and need access to sufficient climate-based finance, Palau’s president writes

A week into Cop29 negotiations, we’re not moving fast enough – or anywhere for that matter – on some key issues.

Climate finance, or more specifically the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) to replace the current $100bn a year goal, and the work to operationalise the loss and damage fund, are key expected outcomes here in Baku.

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EnergyCo, the authority charged with the rollout of the NSW government's renewable energy zones and its infrastructure, is seeking a new CEO.

The post EnergyCo seeks new CEO after James Hay decides on shift to government appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Queensland Investment Corporation joins a Big Four bank and federal green bank in latest fundraising round for Australia's largest dedicated climate technology fund.

The post Queensland government joins cornerstone investors in backing of major climate tech fund appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Europe's newest and most powerful nuclear reactor – delivered more than a decade late and nearly four times over budget – is proving a headache for grid operators now it's finally up and running.

The post Big batteries and EVs to the rescue again as faults with new nuclear plant cause chaos on Nordic grids appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New study will gather real life data on how rooftop solar and other consumer energy assets are being integrated into the grid – what's working and what isn't.

The post Do we really need a rooftop solar button – and are households treated fairly with PV, batteries and EVs? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A shipload of wind turbine blades is on its way the site of a remote gold mine in Western Australia to help power it alongside a 528 5B Maverick solar arrays.

The post Shipload of turbine blades arrives at WA port, to help power remote gold mine appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Emissions from transportation fuel and gas supplied rose year-on-year in 2023, even as overall GHG output under the California cap-and-trade programme continued a declining trend led by industry and power sub-sectors, according to data from the regulator.

Washington state’s Department of Ecology (ECY) on Monday highlighted upcoming cap-and-trade changes as a linkage bill takes effect beginning 2025, including an increase in allowance purchase limit at the quarterly auctions, offsets, and electricity imports.

Marine scientists say one area around Cooktown and Lizard Island had lost more than a third of its live hard coral after bleaching event

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Reefs across the north of the Great Barrier Reef have seen “substantial losses” of coral cover after a summer of extreme heat, two cyclones and major flooding, according to the first results of surveys from government marine scientists.

After the most widespread coral bleaching event seen on the world’s biggest reef system, the Australian Institute of Marine Science said one area around Cooktown and Lizard Island had lost more than a third of its live hard coral – the biggest annual drop in 39 years of monitoring.

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China has installed 210GW worth of renewable energy through the first three quarters of 2024, with renewables now taking a 35 per cent share of total grid output.

The post Solar leads as China adds 210GW of new renewable capacity so far in 2024 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

When the heat is on, the onus should be on the Coalition to explain why they don’t support measures to ensure their newly discovered battlers have access to rooftop solar

• Guardian Essential poll: almost half of Australian voters want Aukus reviewed after Donald Trump’s election win
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Australia is facing the extreme risk of dangerous concentrations of high pressure and hot air this summer. There is also a strong likelihood of heatwaves.

The return of the performatively anti-climate Donald Trump will see the world’s biggest per capita carbon polluter pull out of global targets, emboldening energy incumbents and their mouthpieces to amp up their attacks on renewables.

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