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A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

The mine was not refused on climate change grounds. So without legal reform, other fossil fuel projects may still go ahead. Justine Bell-James, Associate Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Contact Energy and Lightsource bp have been tapped to build one of Aotearoa's biggest solar farms, to date, next to an international airport.

The post Big solar off and flying in New Zealand with first utility scale asset for Lightsource bp appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A new report has found that legal protection for Sydney’s koalas are woefully inadequate and will fail to halt the decline of the iconic species, urging the New South Wales state government to close environmental loopholes and ensure regulations are applied consistently. 

Climate Action Data Trust is launching a Call for Expression of Interest to join the CAD Trust User Forum. We are looking for a variety of stakeholders across the carbon market value chain, from both the public and private sector. Applicants who meet the necessary criteria are encouraged to submit their interest online.

Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture, the scene of the world’s most recent nuclear disaster in 2011, is weighing up offshore wind for future power generation.

The post Tokyo Gas eyes floating offshore wind for Fukushima appeared first on RenewEconomy.

UN body ICAO on Wednesday said airline passenger demand is expected to completely rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic this year and rise above 2019 levels, which suggests that carriers could accrue some pilot phase compliance obligations under the CORSIA offsetting scheme.

The fallout when the industry fails to act is still smaller than the rewards for pumping out more pollution

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We have an early contender for the least surprising newsflash of the year: fossil fuel companies will not, of their own volition, save us from climate breakdown. The oil and gas multinational BP revealed on Tuesday that it set a record annual profit last year, reaching a staggering US$27.7bn thanks to Vladimir Putin’s murderous ego pushing global fossil fuel prices into the stratosphere. It more than doubled its 2021 profit.

The company that once rebranded itself as “Beyond Petroleum” celebrated this news by announcing it would scale back its climate change plans. It had expected its carbon dioxide emissions would fall by 35% to 40% by 2030 compared with 2019. The chief executive, Bernard Looney, says it has now scaled that back to a 20% to 30% reduction.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Wednesday sparred with three natural gas-fired power generators in their lawsuit against the state’s RGGI-modelled cap-and-trade regulation, with one Commonwealth Court judge appearing to side with the fossil fuel companies’ argument that the power sector scheme will cause emissions leakage.

*PREMIUM LISTING - As the preeminent standard setter for greenhouse gas emission reduction and removal projects, Verra is establishing a new role: Manager, Financial Industry Innovation. This role will lead the development and implementation of financial-industry-related standards for scaling up climate action and sustainable development.

UK Conservatives reintroduce an energy and climate-focused department after a seven-year hiatus – but it doesn't guarantee a better policy approach?

The post UK forms Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – what does it mean for climate? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

California granted the fewest number of compliance offsets since July over the past two weeks, with only a tiny portion of these accruing direct environmental benefits (DEBs) to the state, according to data from regulator ARB published Wednesday.

The first phase of what will become a nearly 1GW renewable energy hub has been contracted to power a nearby coal mine in South Africa.

The post South Africa’s largest wind farm will power a coal mine appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A startup has raised €11 million for its biochar carbon removals venture, the company said on Wednesday, attracting three major French firms to be part of what is claimed as Europe’s largest Series A round in climate tech.

The EU's recently agreed Fit for 55 climate package will expand the scope of the bloc's emissions trading scheme (ETS) in both ambition and across new sectors such as shipping, but will continue to exclude polluting yachts that are estimated to emit over a million tonnes of CO2 a year and rising.

Even as renewables boom like never before, our reliance on fossil fuels remains stubbornly high. One problem? The rebound effect Hao Tan, Associate Professor, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A rating agency has downgraded three Verra-credited hydropower projects in Brazil to a low likelihood of achieving stated carbon avoidance claims, and continued to keep the projects on watch for further review.

South Pole is exploring additional ways to support the Kariba REDD+ project in case it receives low revenue through the carbon market going forward, the company told Carbon Pulse.

England’s chief medical officer and colleagues call for push to understand health impacts of indoor pollutants

Offices, schools, supermarkets and hospitals should be monitored for indoor air pollutants, according to England’s chief medical officer, amid concerns that dirty air in buildings may contribute to nearly as many deaths as outdoor air pollution.

Prof Chris Whitty said monitoring indoor air quality should become standard practice in public spaces and called for urgent investment to help establish records of pollutants that accumulate in homes, offices and public buildings.

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Assessment shows 20% global loss since 1700 – far less than thought – but Europe, US and China bear the brunt

Half the wetlands in Europe, continental US and China have been destroyed in the past 300 years, with some areas – including the UK, Ireland and Germany – losing more than 75%, new research shows. Globally, an area the size of India has disappeared.

Until now, it wasn’t known how many wetlands were left – previous estimates suggested between 28% and 87% had been destroyed since 1700. For the first time, researchers combined global historical records with maps of today’s wetlands to create a more accurate global picture, and found an estimated 20% of all wetlands destroyed. Europe, however, was the worst affected area, with Ireland losing more than 90% of its wetlands, Germany, Lithuania and Hungary more than 80% and the UK, the Netherlands and Italy more than 75%.

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