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I’ve relearned the meaning of seasonality – and how fragile the natural systems that sustain us really are

A few months ago, when I received an email about an available allotment in my area, I struggled to remember when I had signed up for one. It turns out I had done so two years ago, fuelled by my envy for those with gardens during lockdown. Back then, all I wanted was a small bit of outdoor space that felt like my own, to plant flowers, herbs and, at a push, some chillies. A place where I could read and write in the sun, safe from distractions.

Now I was being presented a half plot of available land (125 square metres!) with an established apple tree in the middle – which I mistook for a cherry because of its pink blossom. “You’ll have to have a trial period, to see how you get on,” the woman showing me around said. She meant business. The plot, which was bigger than I could dream of, was beautiful but overgrown – getting it started would require proper graft. I wasn’t sure I had it in me.

Diyora Shadijanova is a journalist and writer

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Four research programmes suggest a likely increase in pine plantations across agricultural land in New Zealand, even with a low or zero carbon price.

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Permits for coal-fired power plants drop by 83% despite leading world in construction as focus turns to renewables

Coal-fired power is still enjoying a construction boom in China, but a marked slowdown in the permitting of future plants has given experts hope that the world’s biggest emitter may be turning a corner.

China led the world in the construction of new coal-fired power plants in the first half of 2024, with work beginning on more than 41GW of new generation capacity, data published on Thursday showed.

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Industry complaints about compliance costs under Oregon’s proposed Climate Protection Program (CPP) rule were eclipsed by environmental advocates’ calls for immediate implementation of a more stringent scheme at Wednesday’s public hearing held by the programme’s regulator.

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Anthony Albanese calls on the Greens to support the government's signature Future Made in Australian plan, as negotiations begin on the proposal's future.

The post PM issues Greens challenge on solar and battery manufacturing plan appeared first on RenewEconomy.

AEMO says world is watching as Australia leads in the penetration of wind and solar in the grid and addresses the engineering challenges.

The post “Purely phenomenal:” AEMO says world is watching as rooftop PV leads surge to 100pct renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Nic Stone talks to Solar Insiders about the myriad innovative off-grid projects that are using PowerPlus Energy's Australian made – and made for Australia – batteries. Plus: Big solar approvals, small solar canned.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Battery boom-time in the land of the diesel-free donga appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New research shows how marine debris from continents across the southern hemisphere threatens Antarctica’s remote coastline and unique marine ecosystems. Foreign organisms might be hitching a ride. Hannah Dawson, Postdoctoral Research Associate in oceanography, University of Tasmania Adele Morrison, Senior Lecturer in Climate and Fluid Physics, Australian National University Ceridwen Fraser, Professor in marine science, University of Otago Matthew England, Scientia Professor and Deputy Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sun Cable is still juggling its technology options as prices for solar, battery storage and wind turbines move around. Its biggest challenge might be converter stations.

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The Texas grid has many similarities to Australia, and this week it dealt with record demand in a searing heatwave with no problems, thanks to solar and battery storage.

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Japan is splashing cash for Australian gas to keep fossil fuels flowing under its net zero plan for South East Asia . But this undercuts Australia’s green export vision Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

China's rapid development of renewable energy has led to a slowdown in coal power project approvals, though the existing pipeline of projects could still pose a potential challenge for the country to meet its climate targets, analysts have said.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $15 million in lab call funding to advance later-stage commercialisation and deployment of industrial decarbonisation technologies.

A bitcoin mining company has sued New York for denying a permit renewal to its natural gas-fired power plant, due to its associated emissions, under the state's flagship climate law.

Woodland Trust’s competition comes as charity campaigns for more robust legal protection for precious trees

An oak tree shaped like an elephant and the oak with the widest girth in the UK have been shortlisted for the annual Tree of the Year competition.

The Woodland Trust runs the annual competition to raise awareness of the UK’s ancient and at-risk trees.

Marton oak, Cheshire
Sessile oak (quercus petraea) / Approximate age: 1,200 years / Girth: 14.02 metres.

Bowthorpe oak, Lincolnshire
English oak (quercus robur) / Estimated age: 1000 years / Girth: 13.38 metres.

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