Feed aggregator

Protected areas (PAs) contribute to preventing, on average, just 30% of forest loss, with the lowest levels of protection observed in some of the world's most biodiversity-rich countries, a paper has said.

An Australian cattle industry lobby group has released its definition of deforestation, in an attempt to seek exemptions for agricultural lands from upcoming EU rules.

EU carbon permit prices dropped to a seven-month low on Monday morning before rallying briefly after the daily auction cleared at a record premium amid reported demand from options hedging, while gas dropped to a seven-week low and German year-ahead power tumbled to its lowest since April.

Storm Boris has caused several deaths, and thousands have been evacuated from their homes across Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia

• Europe floods – latest updates

Continue reading...

Soaring sea temperatures have made the celebrated gastropod lethargic and infertile, so scientists are helping the threatened species to reproduce

Of the many novel initiatives dreamed up by scientists to protect threatened species from the ravages of record ocean temperatures, Florida’s new “speed dating for shellfish” programme might be about the most extraordinary.

Researchers are acting as matchmakers for the queen conch, a mollusc with iconic status in the Florida Keys, by removing them from the heat of their nearshore habitat and relocating them to deeper, cooler waters where a plethora of potential new partners awaits.

Continue reading...

China has revamped the emissions accounting guidelines for domestic cement and aluminium sectors, as the country is set to include the two industries in its emissions trading scheme this year.

River wildlife is on the up and there’s little evidence that storm overflows are being used more often. But protest is still vital

Public outrage over river pollution has been heartening to see. Over the past few years, stories about sewage contamination in rivers have captured public attention, and prompted campaigns and protests, such as the forthcoming River Action UK march for clean water on 26 October in London. It is important to protect our rivers because they are biodiversity hotspots and essential for human health. However, as a freshwater ecologist, I know there is more nuance to the story than you may have been led to believe. From my perspective, there is some good news when it comes to our rivers. I would even say that some rivers in England are in the best state they have been in for hundreds of years.

Many rivers in England are polluted, but we need to recognise that this is not an emerging issue but a much longer-standing one that has been largely ignored by the media and politicians for decades. Much of the recent furore over pollution has to do with increased awareness, rather than a sudden increase in pollution itself. It’s only by understanding how these ecosystems have changed over time and reflecting on previous successes that we can make real progress.

Michelle Jackson is associate professor of freshwater/marine ecology at the University of Oxford. Prof Jackson previously conducted one study that received funding from a wastewater treatment company, and currently has no industry funding.

Continue reading...

The federal government Monday published an exposure draft for consultation on transparency changes to the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme.

Australia is producing 6x more gas than the regulator's predicted shortfall, says the Australia Institute in response to the latest scare campaign from the fossil fuel lobby.

The post What gas shortage? Fossil lobby warns of blackouts, but Australia has 6x more gas than it needs appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia needs more longer duration energy storage to fix a forecast winter demand peak when renewable supply can be low.

The post Australia must start valuing storage duration to solve winter demand peaks and renewable droughts appeared first on RenewEconomy.

An audit of the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has found weak governance practices regarding internal conflicts of interest (COI) within the organisation, according to documents published Monday, issues that critics continue to say are indicative of much broader problems with Australia's carbon market. 

Is there anything climate change cannot do?!

• Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are published
• Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints

Continue reading...

Albanese slammed by Greens and cross bench after refusing climate trigger at behest of mining lobby.

The post “Bulldozer:” Albanese slammed after bowing to mining lobby and refusing climate trigger appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Brendan Lang is an electrician from Melbourne who swapped his diesel guzzling tradie ute for a Tesla. He calls his business Get off Gas and this week he provides answers to household electrification questions.

The post SwitchedOn Podcast: A Q&A on household electrification with Tesla-driving sparkie appeared first on RenewEconomy.

We must make protected areas more effective, to conserve what’s left of Earth’s plants and animals. Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

NSW's new Consumer Energy Strategy aims for 1 million homes and small businesses kitted out with solar batteries by 2035, crucial for a no coal grid.

The post NSW aims for a million solar battery homes in landmark consumer energy strategy for no coal grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

China saw its domestic thermal power generation expand last month from a year earlier with increased coal output, but hydro and solar power production continued to post stronger annual growth.

Significant milestone claimed as tests validate first use of vanadium electrolyte produced at Perth facility in a functioning battery.

The post Milestone for vanadium flow battery technology after electrolyte tests for Australian project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Rooftop solar continues to reshape the grid, with record levels of large scale curtailment, even as coal plants dialled down to their bare minimum.

The post Record curtailment as rooftop solar reshapes biggest coal grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The US climate movement must support a candidate that celebrates fracking and the growth of a domestic fossil fuel industry, because the alternative is Donald Trump.

The post Why Harris v Trump is the everything-but-climate election appeared first on RenewEconomy.