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Free carbon allowance handouts in the EU should be based on the products rather than the process of making them as is currently the case, a think-tank has recommended, as Brussels prepares to make amendments to rules governing its free allocation of EUAs.

Report highlights environmental and economic impacts of algae threatened by climate crisis, overfishing and pollution

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Almost a third of the globe’s coastal environments rely on kelp to reduce local pollution and sustain fisheries that provide billions of dollars in benefits, according to a new study.

But the climate crisis, overfishing, invasions of voracious sea urchins and pollution are putting at risk the world’s kelp forests, threatening the economic benefits they provide and the huge array of species they support.

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Biodiversity credits are one of the key vehicles for financial institutions to channel capital into nature protection and restoration, according to a UNEP report published this month that noted how investors represent a vital source of funding to meet the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

London-listed Serabi Gold extracting gold without approval of Brazilian land registry and Indigenous communities

A London-listed company has been mining gold in the Amazon rainforest without approval from the Brazilian land agency or the consent of nearby Indigenous communities, according to an investigation by the Guardian and partners.

Serabi Gold has been blasting 4.5 metre-wide tunnels and trucking ore from the Coringa project site in Pará state. But interviews with land agency officials and documents seen by the Guardian, Unearthed and Sumaúma indicate that ownership of the area is disputed and the land was allegedly occupied by illegal land-grabbers.

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Officials announce 45-day ban on harvesting elvers in provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

Canada has temporarily shut down its baby eel fishery following a string of attacks on harvesters, as well as mounting concerns over widespread poaching of the threatened fish.

Officials from the department of fisheries and oceans on Saturday announced a 45-day ban on harvesting the young eels, called elvers, in the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, shuttering the lucrative C$50m (£30m) market.

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A new technology resembling a waterborne drone aims to independently collect environmental DNA (eDNA) from the world’s oceans, providing scientists and other stakeholders with the data they need to track and manage local biodiversity at scale.

Researchers have developed an innovative method to remove CO2 from the atmosphere while mining critical metals for renewable energy infrastructure.

Diving to 600m, researchers find reefs full of octopus, lobster and fish, raising hopes for corals’ survival amid rising sea temperatures

Scientists operating a submersible have discovered deep-sea coral reefs in pristine condition in a previously unexplored part of the Galápagos marine reserve.

Diving to depths of 600 metres (1,970ft), to the summit of a previously unmapped seamount in the central part of the archipelago, the scientists witnessed a breathtaking mix of deep marine life. This has raised hopes that healthy reefs can still thrive at a time when coral is in crisis due to record sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification. It also showed the effectiveness of conservation actions and effective management, they said.

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European carbon prices posted robust gains on Tuesday amid largely technically-driven trading, while lawmakers in the European Parliament approved a raft of changes to the market under the Fit for 55 programme.

European lawmakers on Tuesday gave their approval to a series of provisional deals aiming to put shipping, buildings and road transport under carbon pricing, impose a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), and launch a Social Climate Fund. 

Trading activity in the Australian market has slowed down while companies with new compliance obligations under the strengthened Safeguard Mechanism are being given a crash course in the reformed Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) market ahead of the July start date, a broker told Carbon Pulse.

Growth in China’s thermal power generation accelerated in March, outpacing the growth of total power output amid continued coal expansion and better-than-expected economic sentiment, government data showed Tuesday.

Smoothing the transition to clean energy for fossil fuel workers and their communities requires local leadership and the support of a new federal authority Fergus Green, Lecturer in Political Theory and Public Policy, UCL Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Brisbane-based Redflow gains access to generous government rebates to technologies supporting energy “self-generation” in US.

The post Redflow’s non-lithium batteries gain access to key California rebate scheme appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW says it is focused on more renewables and storage as it waves goodbye to Liddell, and AGL juggles the closure dates of the next units.

The post AGL juggles closure times as NSW waves goodbye to Australia’s oldest coal plant appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hampton Court flower show to feature gardens using creative methods to mitigate against heatwaves

Wilting flowers, dried-up soil and sweltering tents have become the norm at flower shows in England as the country faces more frequent heatwaves and droughts in summer.

Now, “desert gardens” featuring cacti and other succulents are being used at top shows as horticulturalists struggle with a changing climate.

The pretty, pink palm-like shrub Cordyline australis brings some colour while being tolerant to heat.

Juniperus conifers are drought-tolerant and many varieties have an attractive gold hue.

The Judas tree, Cercis siliquastrum, has heart-shaped leaves and does not need too much water.

Jasmine plants provide pretty little flowers and a heady scent, and are also able to grow in warm climes.

The Abelia × grandiflora is recommended by the RHS as it provides dainty, well-scented flowers over a long period in summer, and tolerates heat well.

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Betting on a sinking ship: Nine banks provide key backing for massive and controversial offshore gas reservoir in Timor Sea – despite most pledging net zero targets.

The post Banks committed to net zero fund “Australia’s dirtiest” offshore gas project, report finds appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Algae specialists firm Brilliant Planet has announced a partnership with consultancy Mott MacDonald to develop a carbon dioxide removal facility in Morocco.

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The 180MW Dulacca wind farm, featuring some of the tallest wind turbines ever installed in Australia, has officially sent its first power to the grid.

The post Australia’s tallest wind turbines send first power to the grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.