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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.

G7 finance ministers and central banks met in Italy over the weekend, but with focus on issues like artificial intelligence and Ukraine there was little room for earnest talks on climate issues.

The first offshore wind farm was a crisis-response, not a hippie-gone-bonkers gimmick. Now, in Australia, it will be crucial to usher out coal.

The post Offshore wind was born in the 70s oil crisis. It comes to Australia in the climate crisis appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Female pair are third litter born at Blair Drummond under endangered species breeding programme

A Scottish safari park has announced the birth of two female lemur pups native to Madagascar.

Nova and Evie, who are living at Blair Drummond safari and adventure park, near Stirling, were born on 14 April, and the park has now publicly announced their birth.

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French energy giant offers big discount on energy bills to communities close to proposed wind and solar projects.

The post Engie offers $1000 energy bill rebates to neighbours of wind and solar projects appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Pilbara iron ore mines have created immense wealth. Now they are about to embark on a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewables.

The post Mining giants look to dump gas and diesel in Australia’s most fossil dependent grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Whether we can recycle plastic or not depends on what it’s made of (because there are many different types of plastic), if it’s sufficiently clean and if enough people will buy recycled products. Sukhbir Sandhu, Associate Professor in Sustainability, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A New Zealand electricity company has announced it will close its gas and trading platform later this year after consulting with staff and being unable to find an interested party to acquire them.

The chair of New Zealand’s Climate Change Commission (CCC), Rod Carr, has confirmed he will retire from his role at the end of his term later this year, the government has announced.

CSIRO says solar is easily the cheapest form of power generation, but ARENA says it could be much, much cheaper by the end of the decade.

The post Australia’s ultra cost solar goal could change everything about the grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) last week revealed the entities chosen to spearhead its BRL 450-million ($87.5-mln) Amazon forest restoration programme.

Exclusive: Independent testing of recycled soil fill for sale finds two of four samples would not meet legislated thresholds, and one contained asbestos

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Asbestos has been found in recycled soil fill for sale in New South Wales landscape and garden stores, more than a decade after investigators first raised concerns about contamination.

Guardian Australia bought four products at Sydney landscape supply shops and had samples analysed by accredited private laboratories.

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Persistent cloud cover poses a substantial challenge for remote sensing technologies that require clear skies to accurately map land covers and measure forest biomass, according to a climate data analytics firm.

Chris Bowen accuses Opposition leader Peter Dutton of avoiding some of the electorates flagged as possible sites for nuclear power plants.

The post Bowen accuses Dutton of dodging proposed nuclear sites appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Cut free from the constraints of reporting, a story can take its own shape, can lead you down rabbit holes you’d never expected

During my nearly 40 years as a journalist, the climate crisis has been a constant, creeping refrain – from the first greenhouse conference in the late 1980s and the first IPCC report in the early 90s. There was the Hawke governments’ plan to cut emissions by 20% below 1988 levels by 2005, and the subsequent walking back of that plan.

Then on through the decades of bitter political division and debate and policy failures; the proposal for an Emissions Trading Scheme under John Howard; Kevin Rudd’s “great moral challenge of our generation”; the ill-fated Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, the Gillard ETS, the relentless campaign against it by Tony Abbott and the wasted decade of what’s become known as the “Climate Wars” that followed.

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As demand for sustainable housing grows, architects go back to basics to future-proof homes for a changing climate

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“Energy efficient”, “carbon neutral” and “net zero” are buzzwords we hear more and more as we face the impact of climate change. But do we think about them enough in building?

Globally, a move towards sustainable housing is growing. In Europe, efforts to move to greener homes hope to combat rising energy costs and be better for the planet. But 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions still come from the real estate sector.

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Thousands of children could die after court backs campaign group over GM crop in Philippines, scientists warn

Scientists have warned that a court decision to block the growing of the genetically modified (GM) crop golden rice in the Philippines could have catastrophic consequences. Tens of thousands of children could die in the wake of the ruling, they argue.

The Philippines had become the first country – in 2021 – to approve the commercial cultivation of golden rice, which was developed to combat vitamin-A deficiency, a major cause of disability and death among children in many parts of the world.

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