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A Singapore-based green finance platform has teamed up with oil major Chevron to back a fuel oil transaction with carbon credits under a government-backed pilot programme that seeks to improve transparency and trust in sustainable finance.

New rules agreed at meeting of environment ministers welcomed as breakthrough by conservationists

Industry will be forced to do more to cut waste and boost recycling after Australia’s federal and state governments agreed for the first time to impose mandatory packaging rules on manufacturers and retailers.

The agreement, at a meeting of environment ministers in Sydney on Friday, was welcomed by conservationists as a major breakthrough after years of voluntary industry action has failed to reduce waste.

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The best of this week’s wildlife photographs, including a hungry gull, a rare wolverine and a police escort for ducks

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Plumes of smoke move southwards across US east coast. Elsewhere, Japan hit by remnants of Typhoon Mawar

Wildfires in Quebec, Canada, continue to rage, following a spring that was drier and warmer than normal, creating perfect conditions for wildfires to develop. As of 7 June, at least 150 fires remained active across the province, with more than 400 across the country according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Officials warned this could be the country’s worst wildfire season to date, with at least 9.4m acres of land destroyed so far.

Plumes of smoke from the fires have been moving southwards across the US east coast, delaying thousands of flights. The US National Weather Service also issued air quality alerts for many states, with air quality index levels above 400 – a level of 300 is considered “hazardous” – in some states. A fairly static weather pattern this weekend will mean further plumes of smoke moving towards eastern parts of the US.

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The Australian government on Friday published its long-awaited implementation plan to reform the country’s carbon market, while it will launch its A$20 million ($13.3 mln) Carbon Farming Outreach programme next week.

As governments try to encourage households to quit the gas network, gas companies are offering even bigger incentives to burn more fossil fuels.

The post Cash for gas: Networks offer rebates, cash bonuses to keep home fossils burning appeared first on RenewEconomy.

BlueFloat announces "re-launch" of 1.6GW South Pacific Offshore Wind Project in a location off the NSW coast between Shellharbour and Clifton.

The post BlueFloat moves ahead, and further north, on NSW floating offshore wind project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Stephanie Bashir from Nexa Advisory on why setting a firm target of 1.5°C for the electricity grid would help solve regulatory and other blockages to new renewables. Plus: News of the week.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Australia’s grid needs a 1.5°C target appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given the green light to a geothermal power generation project utilising the Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), which will be one of the largest projects registered under the bilateral mechanism so far.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts increased temperatures and heatwaves this year, raising the prospect of blackouts – just as the electricity sector faces several other challenges

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The Bureau of Meteorology this week declared a 70% chance of an El Niño developing this year. It’s bad timing for the electricity sector, and means Australians may face supply disruptions and more volatile energy prices.

El Niño events are associated with increased temperatures and heatwaves. These conditions drive demand for electricity, especially in summer.

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Green hydrogen ventures proposed by Andrew Forrest and Total Eren get land in new Darwin precinct, and may source solar power from Sun Cable. But will Beetaloo LNG gas terminal pose a problem?

The post Beetaloo gas pollutes Darwin “sustainable” precinct, despite green hydrogen and battery mandates appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Wind energy sets first output record of the year in Australia's main grid, with more to come over winter.

The post Wind farms set new output record in Australia’s main grid for first time in 2023 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia has committed A$2.6 million ($1.7 mln) to a partnership with Laos and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to help strengthen its capacity in carbon markets and participation in Article 6 markets.

Saudi awards wind contract for part of its $500 billion green energy project called Neom. But can it be done?

The post Wind contract awarded for “world’s largest” green hydrogen project – to be built on floating city appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Unchecked climate change and ageing coal plants are contributing to reliability challenges in the energy system. So what can be done to get us through?

The post El Niño looms over Australia’s fossil electricity grid – and we must plan for the worst appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Honeybees have the potential to cause damage to the structure of homes. The honey and wax produced by bees can melt under certain circumstances, like when the colony dies or during hot weather. Tanya Latty, Associate professor, University of Sydney Nadine Chapman, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The breakthrough opens the door to an energy source that could “potentially [yield] eight times more power than solar panels at any location on Earth's surface.”

The post “This is a first:” Scientists beam solar power from space to Earth appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Orange smoky skies might be a new phenomenon for those on the east coast, but for the American west, it’s just the average summer

It was a sight all too familiar to Californians: orange skies and thick smoke blanketing the sky, emitting the eerily out-of-place smell of a campfire.

But this time the scenes were in New York City, as smoke from more than 400 wildfires darkened the famous skyline and gave the US its worst day of air pollution in recent history.

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Delegates struggle to fund common ground in preparatory talks ahead of the main COP climate negotiations to be held in fossil exporting giant UAE later this year.

The post “Poison that’s killing us all”: Bonn climate talks try to prevent failure at gas-fired COP appeared first on RenewEconomy.