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Grand schemes, many backed by government, masquerade as taking action on the environment. They should be disowned

Let’s talk about perceptionware. Perceptionware is technology whose main purpose is to create an impression of action. Whether it will ever work at scale is less important, in some cases entirely beside the point. If it reassures the public and persuades government not to regulate damaging industries, that’s mission accomplished.

Managing perceptions is an expensive business. Real money, especially public money, is spent on fake solutions. Take carbon capture and storage: catching and burying carbon dioxide emissions from power stations, oil and gas fields, and steel and cement plants. For 20 years, it has spectacularly failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, its only clear successes involve enhanced oil recovery: carbon dioxide is used to drive oil out of geological formations that are otherwise difficult to exploit. With astonishing chutzpah, some oil companies have claimed the small amount of carbon that remains trapped in the rocks as a climate benefit. Though it is greatly outweighed by the extra oil extracted, they have, as a result, received billions in government subsidies.

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Turtles often encounter fences as they wander over land in search of water, or a mate. We tracked 20 turtles to study how they interact with fences. Here’s how to make fences turtle-friendly. Eric Nordberg, Senior Lecturer (Applied Ecology and Landscape Management), University of New England Deborah Bower, Associate Professor in Zoology and Ecology, University of New England James Dowling, PhD Student, Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fortescue has started construction on its $150 million PEM50 green hydrogen project in Gladstone, Queensland.

The post Fortescue breaks ground on Gladstone PEM50 green hydrogen facility appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The offshore wind industry in the Asia Pacific is displaying significant growth in a patchwork fashion, but missing regulatory frameworks and significant supply chain bottlenecks down the track will require careful planning, according to experts. 

Matt Kean on being a private citizen, duelling with Barnaby, rent-seeking on Eraring and pathways to net zero.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Rent-seeking and net zero appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The number of cases filed each year against fossil fuel companies including BP, Shell, and Chevron has nearly tripled since the Paris Agreement, with cases linked to climate damages, misleading advertising, and emissions reduction growing significantly over the period, according to a new report.

The Earth Commission says hope lies in sustainable lifestyles, a radical transformation of global politics and fair distribution of resources

All of humanity could share a prosperous, equitable future but the space for development is rapidly shrinking under pressure from a wealthy minority of ultra-consumers, a groundbreaking study has shown.

Growing environmental degradation and climate instability have pushed the Earth beyond a series of safe planetary boundaries, say the authors from the Earth Commission, but it still remains possible to carve out a “safe and just space” that would enable everyone to thrive.

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Japan-owned retailer signs PPA with Neoen for part of the output from its under construction 440MW Culcairn solar farm in NSW.

The post Neoen inks PPA to sell half the output of its biggest solar farm in NSW appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Federal and ACT governments ink deal to collaborate on range of pilot projects and "practical actions" to bolster the territory's nation-leading electrification and energy efficiency efforts.

The post Bowen signs deal to help the ACT electrify everything, share lessons with rest of Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

California regulator ARB reduced its compliance-eligible offset issuances over the latest two-week period, reversing course from the trend of growing distributions seen in past periods.

Campaigners call for national parks to be given new powers to buy private land and protect habitats.

Climate Change Authority’s report didn’t even contain a recommendations section, let alone a command to eat less red meat

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The notion that “greenies” are coming for the Aussie barbecue and want to rip that eye-fillet from your cold dead hands is a recurring culture war flash point for many conservatives.

Last week came a flood of media stories and furious commentary that claimed the government’s Climate Change Authority (CCA) had recommended people eat less red meat to bring down greenhouse gas emissions.

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NSW Independent Planning Commission gives the all-clear to the Wallaroo solar and battery project, with strict conditions.

The post Contested NSW solar and battery project cleared for construction near ACT border appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A major airline has finalised a deal to purchase CO2 removal (CDR) credits as the hard-to-abate sector ramps up efforts to meet net zero emission targets.

Mexico's Yucatan released guidelines Wednesday detailing best practices for developing voluntary carbon market (VCM) projects within the state, placing a heavy emphasis on ensuring that local communities and ejidos are the primary beneficiaries of nature-based projects.

A direct air capture (DAC) developer on Wednesday announced a $3 million phased commercial agreement with global partners to launch engineering studies and potentially supply CO2 removal (CDR) credits from a Louisiana project.

Alberta is investing C$2.8 million ($2.1 mln) to help design a municipal waste-to-energy facility with a carbon capture addition, the provincial government announced Tuesday.

County supervisors in Iowa on Tuesday condemned the use of eminent domain for a proposed CO2 pipeline, while state Republicans announced plans to challenge the project's approval.

There’s a risk that the belief that electric vehicles are much greener results in owners driving more often or faster, or using cars instead of public transport. Milad Haghani, Senior Lecturer of Urban Mobility & Resilience, UNSW Sydney David A Hensher, Professor and Director, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, University of Sydney Hadi Ghaderi, Professor in Supply Chain and Freight Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s not enough to have parks in city outskirts or urban green belts. Green spaces must be accessible for residents and placed to provide effective flood protection for cities. Paul Blaschke, Honorary Research Associate, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Edward Randal, Research Fellow at the NZ Centre for Sustainable Cities, University of Otago Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Associate Professor in Regenerative Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Meredith Amy Claire Perry, Associate Professor in Physiotherapy and Health Equity, University of Otago Philippa Howden-Chapman, Sesquicentennial Distinguished Professor of Public Health, University of Otago Ralph Brougham Chapman, Associate Professor in Environmental Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.