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Anthocyanins in nuts, fruits and vegetables seem to lesson harmful effects of microplastics on reproductive systems

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Antioxidants that give fruits and flowers their vibrant colors seem to counteract some of the most dangerous reproductive system effects of exposure to microplastics, such as decreased fertility, and could ultimately be used in developing treatments, new peer-reviewed research shows.

The paper focused on microplastics’ reproductive toxicity and plant compounds called anthocyanins, which are widely found in nuts, fruits and vegetables. The new review of scientific literature on anthocyanins found that the compounds are probably protective against a range of plastic-induced impacts on hormones, reductions in testosterone and estrogen, decreased sperm counts, lower sperm quality, erectile dysfunction and ovarian damage.

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Brazil's National Biodiversity Commission (Conabio) has issued recommendations on the targets that should underpin the country's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), including halting deforestation, reducing harmful subsidies, and increasing public funding.

The Australian conservative Coalition's flagship energy policy to hold back the renewable energy roll-out and keep coal power online longer while a fleet of nuclear power stations are built would add an additional 2 billion tonnes of cumulative CO2 emissions, according the the country's Climate Change Authority (CCA).

Australia hits a new solar output record in the morning period before rooftop solar takes centre stage on the grid.

The post Australia’s main grid sets new solar output record before rooftop PV takes centre stage appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The European Commission plans to defer the financial obligations for companies under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to 2027, from 2026, and raise the threshold of emissions embedded in goods that are subject to the fee, according to a leaked draft amendment seen by Carbon Pulse on Saturday.

Bhutan will sign an Article 6.2 implementation agreement with Singapore on Feb. 28, becoming the third nation to formalise the agreement with the city state, Carbon Pulse has learned.

Fossil fuel companies in Australia and their industry associations have been swapping notes with their international counterparts to stop phaseout of gas in homes.

The post Fossil fuel lobby shares global “toolbox of tactics” to fight Victoria’s gas phaseout appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Green sector growing at triple the rate of the UK economy, providing high-wage jobs and increasing energy security

The net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy, analysis has found, providing high-wage jobs across the country while cutting climate-heating emissions and increasing energy security.

The net zero economy grew by 10% in 2024 and generated £83bn in gross value added (GVA), a measure of how much value companies add through the goods and services they produce.

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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will provide technical assistance to Pakistan for a methane offsetting project in Punjab province that will help the country earn carbon credits under Article 6.

Many of the nations gathering in Rome for Cop16 have offered no plans to honour their agreement to protect 30% of land and sea for nature

More than half the world’s countries have no plans to protect 30% of land and sea for nature, despite committing to a global agreement to do so less than three years ago, new analysis shows.

In late 2022, nearly every country signed a once-in-a-decade UN deal to halt the destruction of Earth’s ecosystems. It included a headline target to protect nearly a third of the planet for biodiversity by the end of the decade – a goal known as “30 by 30”.

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The Climate Change Authority says a nuclear pathway would add an extra 2 billion tonnes of carbon emissions by 2050.

The post Carbon time bomb: Dutton’s nuclear plan will blow up Paris and emissions targets, CCA says appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The gas market on the east coast has directly contributed to the cost-of-living crisis. It is now clear that increasing gas production will not solve looming supply gap.

The post Energy consumers pick up the bill as gas industry prioritises export windfalls appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Safety regulator closes small Victoria solar farm after inverter fire while it investigates cause and until high grass at the site can be cut back.

The post Victoria solar farm shut down after fire in on-site inverters, must mow grass appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Labor promises $500 million to ensure locally made steel and aluminium are used in wind towers, and also hydrogen electrolysers, big batteries and other tech.

The post Labor targets wind towers, batteries and electrolysers in $500 million local content support appeared first on RenewEconomy.

APA says Pilbara wind, solar and battery plans depend on customers, but its main focus is on gas and predictions that falls in demand will be negligible in coming decades.

The post APA admits slow progress in Pilbara renewables, as gas industry splits over pipelines and imports appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Norway and Indonesia’s governments have extended their memorandum of understanding (MoU) on climate and forestry cooperation to 2030, they announced.

A US-based ag-tech company has secured $4.5 million in funding to expand its biochar production and introduce carbon credit sales, aiming to enhance soil health and carbon sequestration.

Oliver Hill, from Race to 2030, on the new roadmap for turning electric cars into mobile batteries, and who is doing what on V2G.

The post The Driven Podcast: Where are we at with V2G? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Construction begins on a big battery project next to the largest solar farm in Australia.

The post Construction starts on large battery project next to Australia’s biggest solar farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Scientists have developed a low-cost, scalable method to significantly enhance CO2 removal (CDR) from the atmosphere through enhanced weathering (EW), offering a more viable alternative to existing direct air capture (DAC) technologies.