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Germany’s Uniper maintains hedging freeze, aims to ‘catch upside’
Former Quebec environment minister joins climate practice of Canadian law firm
Japan’s industry unmoved despite carbon pricing calls growing louder
Analysts see potential upside for Korean CO2 price as emissions rise
Heatwaves can 'wipe out' male insect fertility
Study of beetles could explain global decline – and also be a warning to humankind
Heatwaves severely damage the fertility of male beetles and consecutive hot spells leave them virtually sterilised, according to research.
Global warming is making heatwaves more common and wildlife is being annihilated, and the study may reveal a way in which these two trends are linked. The scientists behind the findings said there could also be some relevance for humans: the sperm counts of western men have halved in the last 40 years.
Continue reading...UTS to source half its elecricity needs from new Walgett solar farm
University of Technology Sydney inks deal with Epuron to buy the output of its 32MW Walgett Solar Farm in northern New South Wales.
The post UTS to source half its elecricity needs from new Walgett solar farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Victoria Labor promises to extend rooftop solar rebate to renters
Victoria Labor says it will extend its rooftop solar rebate to the state’s tens of thousands of renters, if re-elected in the state poll two weeks from now.
The post Victoria Labor promises to extend rooftop solar rebate to renters appeared first on RenewEconomy.
How this electric airplane could reshape regional air travel
An all-electric passenger airplane called Alice could reshape regional air travel in Australia.
The post How this electric airplane could reshape regional air travel appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Coalition should get “head out of sand” on electric vehicles, say states
Queensland and ACT push federal government to embrace a national policy for electric vehicles.
The post Coalition should get “head out of sand” on electric vehicles, say states appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Flushable wet wipes 'causing sewer blockages'
The plastic backlash: what's behind our sudden rage – and will it make a difference?
Decades after it became part of the fabric of our lives, a worldwide revolt against plastic is underway. By Stephen Buranyi
Plastic is everywhere, and suddenly we have decided that is a very bad thing. Until recently, plastic enjoyed a sort of anonymity in ubiquity: we were so thoroughly surrounded that we hardly noticed it. You might be surprised to learn, for instance, that today’s cars and planes are, by volume, about 50% plastic. More clothing is made out of polyester and nylon, both plastics, than cotton or wool. Plastic is also used in minute quantities as an adhesive to seal the vast majority of the 60bn teabags used in Britain each year.
Add this to the more obvious expanse of toys, household bric-a-brac and consumer packaging, and the extent of plastic’s empire becomes clear. It is the colourful yet banal background material of modern life. Each year, the world produces around 340m tonnes of the stuff, enough to fill every skyscraper in New York City. Humankind has produced unfathomable quantities of plastic for decades, first passing the 100m tonne mark in the early 1990s. But for some reason it is only very recently that people have really begun to care.
Continue reading...Eco Energy gets financing for two “merchant” solar farms in Queensland
Two new solar farms in Queensland to be developed on merchant basis, rather than through contracts.
The post Eco Energy gets financing for two “merchant” solar farms in Queensland appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Is the Australian Energy Council in a parallel universe on network regulation?
The Australian Energy Council, which represents electricity generators and retailers, seems to be in a state of blissful ignorance on how Australian networks are actually regulated.
The post Is the Australian Energy Council in a parallel universe on network regulation? appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Snowy 2.0 – Is the reward worth the risk?
Snowy Hydro's returns from the proposed Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro scheme would be a fraction of the heroic estimations of its market benefits.
The post Snowy 2.0 – Is the reward worth the risk? appeared first on RenewEconomy.
South Australian Lakes and Coorong Fishery - agency application 2018
South Australian Lakes and Coorong Fishery - agency application 2018
Kiwis to be reintroduced to New Zealand capital for first time in a century
Ancient, flightless, nocturnal birds have been absent from Wellington for more than a century
Wellington could soon have kiwis nesting beside Parliament House thanks to an ambitious conservation project that aims to reintroduce the country’s iconic national bird to the capital city within the next decade.
There are 68,000 kiwi left in New Zealand but the number of birds are declining at a rate of 2% per year. A century ago, there were millions but attacks by by dogs, cats, possums, stoats and rats have led to huge population decline.
Continue reading...Badger culling has 'modest' effect in cutting cattle TB
Coal dumped as IEA turns to wind and solar to solve climate challenge
IEA abandons thermal coal industry, saying world must turn to wind and solar if it has any hope of getting anywhere near required climate targets.
The post Coal dumped as IEA turns to wind and solar to solve climate challenge appeared first on RenewEconomy.