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The Coalition has no climate policy. But Labor’s positions are undermined by its confused stance on gas and the delay of new environmental laws

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Federal parliament is back for the next fortnight and I have a wishlist. Not for things that will happen – let’s not get ahead of ourselves – but for questions that could be addressed if the country is to treat the climate and extinction crises as seriously as our leaders claim they do.

There is no shortage of discussion about nuclear energy due to the Coalition’s much-hyped but yet-to-appear plan to overturn a national ban and bring it to Australia. The issue won plenty of attention after a CSIRO-led assessment that it would be far, far more expensive than wind and solar backed by energy storage and new transmission lines.

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The summer doldrums has arrived early in the voluntary carbon sector this year after another week of generally thin liquidity and sideway pricing, but pockets of high-priced trades for nature-based credits and early interest in Article 6-eligible units propped up optimism for the future.

The energy transition has massively expanded during the five-year term of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with the share of renewables in the EU's electricity sector jumping to 44% and investments in clean technologies more than tripling, according to fresh data published on Monday.

A Swiss-headquartered non-profit has released a set of recommendations to bolster Africa’s biodiversity credit markets, including setting minimum price floors for units and establishing an independent body tasked with determining project outcomes.

The South Downs has become the first national park in the UK to establish a formal scheme for a voluntary biodiversity credit market, aiming to scale up private investments in nature recovery.

A US-based global environmental asset authenticator, registry, and exchange announced its first Middle Eastern franchise in Iraq in partnership with the Iraqi branch of a Canadian carbon and energy advisory firm.

Declining biodiversity will hit stored carbon stocks given an ecosystem’s ability to keep carbon out of the air is linked to its biological diversity, a paper published last week has found.

European carbon prices rebounded on thin liquidity on Monday with strong German power and TTF gas movements feeding strength into the market, and tight auction supply this week also offering support.

A Malaysian federal agency has launched a non-market instrument under its REDD+ programme to channel private sector funds for supporting forest conservation projects in the country.

Reduce emissions, build resilience, repair ecosystems, remove greenhouse gases: these are the four Rs that can save us

• David King is chair of the global Climate Crisis Advisory Group

In 2008, the late American climate scientist Wally Broecker warned of the global repercussions of polar ice loss. Today, his predictions echo louder than ever as Greenland ice haemorrhages at an alarming rate, threatening rapid sea-level rise. Over the past 15 years, the Arctic Circle region has been heating up at four times the global average; it’s now more than 3C above levels in the 1980s. In 2023, we witnessed a staggering loss of Antarctic Sea ice.

Over the past year, land and ocean temperatures have soared, far beyond what was anticipated for an El Niño year. Global average temperatures have breached the 1.5C mark, indicating that climate transition has been unleashed. From record-breaking wildfires across continents to catastrophic floods threatening to submerge major cities, extreme climate events have become the new norm, causing massive loss of life and economic damage worldwide.

David King is the founder and chair of the global Climate Crisis Advisory Group

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With the current ETS focused on big industrial polluters, the EU has only played the “amateur league” of carbon pricing, and is now entering dangerous waters where climate policies start encroaching on private property and individual freedoms, warned Poland’s climate minister.

Malawi has finalised its carbon trading regulatory framework, according to media sources, and so far registered 11 projects following a goverment review into its market activity last year.

A newly created essential system services market has been suspended until more big batteries can ride to the rescue.

The post New grid services market suspended until battery storage cavalry arrives appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The prime minister of Pakistan has rejected a proposal of imposing carbon tax on fossil fuels, citing concerns that the tax may lead to high inflation affecting general public.

Illegal tin miners take their lives in their hands. The craters they leave behind fill with water – and attract crocs. Brandon Michael Sideleau, PhD student studying human-saltwater crocodile conflict, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

ANU's Bjorn Sturmberg on why we need to use our imagination to deliver energy equity for everyone.

The post SwitchedOn Podcast: Free electricity to cover essential needs appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Studies find red, blue and green plastic decomposes into microplastic particles faster than plainer colours

Retailers are being urged to stop making everyday products such as drinks bottles, outdoor furniture and toys out of brightly coloured plastic after researchers found it degrades into microplastics faster than plainer colours.

Red, blue and green plastic became “very brittle and fragmented”, while black, white and silver samples were “largely unaffected” over a three-year period, according to the findings of the University of Leicester-led project.

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A green hydrogen subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation has signed up Zen Energy to collaborate on renewable hydrogen opportunities.

The post Zen to collaborate with Mitsubishi on green hydrogen opportunities in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The last few days have seen another so-called wind energy "drought" - the second in as many months. What does it all mean?

The post Another wind drought pulls combined renewables output below last year appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Industrial strategy is part and parcel of government policy. New research on past approaches suggest five “non-negotiables” for success.

The post White elephant or game changer? 5 non-negotiables to ensure Made in Australia is a success appeared first on RenewEconomy.