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What is causing the multiple February wildfires and is this the new normal?

John Watson, who has died aged 93, was a first-generation dairy farmer near Dartington, south Devon, driven by the writings of the environmental movement (particularly Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and the Club of Rome Limits to Growth report) to resist chemical fertilisers, which he could see were depleting the soil, and become an early convert to organic farming.

He combined a life of the mind with a relentless will to action, believing that examples inspired others far more than words. In 1974 his farm, Riverford, was possibly the first in the country to open for tours, which demystified farming for visitors. Riverford later became a beacon for the organic dairy, meat and vegetable movement, selling direct to customers, as his children developed various sustainable businesses on the farm.

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The board of the Green Climate Fund on Wednesday awarded $96.5 million to a Brazilian REDD+ project, the first time a scheme designed to cut emissions by halting deforestation has won financial backing from the flagship UN-backed climate finance initiative.

Sydney-based Gelion has its eye on the $70bn global battery market with the launch of its zinc bromine gel battery technology that it says will soon undercut lithium-ion on production cost.

The post Gelion launches zinc bromine gel battery to take on lithium mainstays appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Every year Pakistan produces around 20m tonnes of rubbish, with around half of it is burned or thrown into rivers, causing pollution, disease and flooding. But a recycling hub in Islamabad is getting to grips with the problem

Photographs by Hazel Thompson/Tearfund

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Now in it’s fourth year, the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition attracts thousands of entries from scores of countries. Here are a selection of the 2019 winners

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London, Leeds, Doncaster and Maidstone are among the worst affected

Almost 2,000 locations across the UK have levels of air pollution that exceed safety limits, according to a pollution map released by campaigners.

In 2017, the worst location for nitrogen dioxide pollution was Kensington and Chelsea, followed by Leeds and Doncaster.

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An Australian-first trial using 100 per cent renewable diesel to fuel a Scania test engine is up and running thanks to the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund.

The post Trial revs up on Australian-first 100 per cent renewable diesel appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Coalition says it will give Tasmania government owned utility underwriting contract for a project with no name, no location, no customer, and no pricing.

The post Coalition picks early winner in underwriting new generation scheme appeared first on RenewEconomy.

As Scott Morrison throws money at pumped hydro schemes that the owners either didn't want or don't know what to do with, new modelling shows they will likely favour coal over renewables.

The post Morrison pumps up Tasmania hydro as black coal emerges as likely biggest winner appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New paper says hydrogen produced using renewable electricity “already cost competitive” in niche applications, adding it's likely to match industrial-scale alternatives in about a decade.

The post Renewable hydrogen “already cost competitive,” study claims appeared first on RenewEconomy.

TAI report says renewables – and particularly solar – performed “the best of all energy sources” over the latest record breaking summer of heatwaves.

The post How solar saved the day, and coal wilted, in Australia’s record heatwaves appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Climate Council calls out "risky business" of NSW's complete lack of renewable energy and climate policies, while also being home to Australia’s largest and oldest coal fleet.

The post New South Wales energy sector is “ageing and unprepared” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Cumulative global wind capacity reaches 591GW after 46.8GW of new onshore wind and 4.49GW of new offshore wind was installed around the world in 2018.

The post New wind farms added 51GW of capacity around world in 2018 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Windlab locks in $10m investment from Japan-based Eurus Energy, to tip into its Africa development pipeline of around 1,650MW.

The post WindLab secures $10m investment for East African development pipeline appeared first on RenewEconomy.

US hedge fund manager Magnetar, which invested in Australian solar and battery storage company Lyon Group to great fanfare in 2017, is now seeking to wind up one of its units.

The post Hedge fund Magnetar seeks to wind up Lyon Group solar and storage unit appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A London-based start-up's multi-billion-pound plan would make the web available everywhere on Earth.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

A pair of "off-the-shelf" servers sent up to the International Space Station in an experiment still have not returned to Earth.

Scientists say some marine animals with high levels of pollutants are failing to calve

Plastics are an increasing cause of concern due to potential sources of chemicals that disrupt hormones and affect the growth and reproductive success of a wide variety of wildlife, according to a new report.

Wildlife in the oceans and on land are subject to cocktails of pollutants known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), but little is still known about how these common substances interact in the environment despite years of research. The increasing problem of plastic waste breaking down in fragile ecosystems is now one of the key areas of research for scientists.

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