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Trump administration sued by wildlife groups over offshore drilling tests
- Seismic air guns could harm dolphins and whales
- ‘This action is unlawful and we’re going to stop it’
Environmental groups have sued the Trump administration over offshore drilling tests, which could harm hundreds of thousands of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales.
The lawsuit filed in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, claims the National Marine Fisheries Service violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act when it issued five permits for the use of seismic air guns.
Continue reading...Fracking paused in Blackpool after biggest tremor to date
Minor quake near Cuadrilla site is on par with one in 2011 that led to moratorium
Residents of Blackpool have reported feeling tremors from a minor earthquake from nearby fracking operations that restarted two months ago.
The 1.5-magnitude earthquake occurred 1km underground at around 11.20am on Tuesday, after shale gas company Cuadrilla resumed fracking after a month-long hiatus. The site is about one mile south-east of Blackpool.
Continue reading...COP24: South Korea plans ETS changes to boost liquidity
'Window is narrowing': scientists urge action at UN climate talks
Gilet jaunes protests cast shadow as concerns raised over backlash against rapid change
Scientists have laid down the gauntlet for political leaders as the UN climate summit in Katowice, Poland, wrestles with the challenge of cutting emissions without sparking social tensions like those seen recently in France.
The UN climate talks – known as COP24 and the most important since the Paris agreement was signed in 2015 – aim to set a new rulebook for governments to reduce greenhouse gases and to raise ambitions, after warnings of dire consequences if global warming rises more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Continue reading...Oil thieves cause spill in Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay
Climate change: Protecting the poor from green taxes
Cornwall cliff collapse caught on camera – video
A woman walking near the coast on Lynstone Road in Bude, Cornwall, captures the moment part of a cliff collapses on to the beach
Continue reading...Gene study unravels redheads mystery
COP24: Roundup for Tuesday, Dec. 11
Use of fish discard exemptions by EU trawlers soars before ban
WWF says exemptions undermine landing obligation taking full effect next month
The use of exemptions to EU restrictions on fish discards by EU trawlers has risen by 300% in the last year, according to research released three weeks before a ban is due to take full effect.
The dispensation allowing fishing fleets to discard up to 7% of their catches will continue after January 1 2019, undermining the “landing obligation” on boats to retain and bring to port all seafood catches, according to a report by WWF Europe.
Continue reading...Analyst, Climate Policy or Transportation and Urban Solutions, Pembina Institute – Toronto
“Australia first” rooftop solar trading trial kicks off in WA
Western Australia energy minister launches world-leading active, billed, peer-to-peer trading trial allowing 40 households to buy and sell rooftop solar, across the grid.
The post “Australia first” rooftop solar trading trial kicks off in WA appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Sydney councils charge up electric vehicle infrastructure
Three councils in Sydney's eastern suburbs – Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick – join forces to install kerbside EV charging stations.
The post Sydney councils charge up electric vehicle infrastructure appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Musk welcomes General Motors to EV race – but may also buy its factories
Tesla CEO Elon Musk happy to be outsold by General Motors, but would also consider buying one of its closed auto factories.
The post Musk welcomes General Motors to EV race – but may also buy its factories appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Poland hosts UN climate change talks
'We could smell the boat approaching': the grim truth on animal exports
Broken bones and other injuries are common for sheep and cattle held on ships for weeks in cramped pens. Photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur tracked the 22,000 arrivals on one boat in Israel’s Haifa port
Hundreds of thousands of live animals are transported each year on ships from Australia and Europe to the Middle East. The route from Australia to Israel is particularly long – the journey is three weeks at sea, where cattle and sheep are often kept in cramped pens for the duration.
It’s estimated this year Israel will import 114,040 animals (cattle and sheep) from Australia, and 409,123 sheep and 169,991 cattle from Europe. Though these figures are lower than the previous year, in general live imports have been on the rise. Israel is expected to import 700,000 live animals this year – up from 200,000 in 2012.
Continue reading...Adani met with environment department 40 times in six months
Coalition ‘holding Adani’s hand’ through mine approvals, Greens senator says
The federal environment department had 40 meetings in six months with Adani representatives to discuss the Carmichael coalmine project, according to responses to a Senate estimates committee.
The department met Adani executives in person at the company’s Brisbane offices, as well as conducting teleconferences, on matters including Adani’s groundwater management plans, the mine’s progress and proposals for the management of the threatened black-throated finch.
Continue reading...NZ Market: NZUs jump to record highs ahead of govt ETS announcement
Big on batteries: government finally seizes on lithium-ion potential
Investment minister touts ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ but until now government criticised for lack of engagement
The federal government wants to seize a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to position Australia as a world leader in the rapidly developing lithium-ion battery manufacturing sector.
Releasing a new strategy document from Austrade on Tuesday, the investment minister, Simon Birmingham, said the time was right to capitalise on growing global demand.
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