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Smoke from wildfires has enveloped Toronto and New York. We look at the role of a changing climate.

The United Nations Development Programme has launched a new biodiversity finance resource database which aims to close the financing gap for biodiversity conservation by listing worldwide funding opportunities from public and private resources.

A weekly summary of our biodiversity news plus bite-sized updates from around the world. All articles in this edition are free to read (no subscription required).

A clear phase-out for oil and gas production and a halt to new investment needs to be agreed on at the year-end COP28 UN climate summit in the same way that efforts are being made to set a phase-out for coal, analysts said on Thursday.

Storm overflows group has been promoted by ministers as evidence they are taking issue seriously

• UK politics live – latest updates

The storm overflows taskforce set up by the government to tackle raw sewage discharges by water companies in England has only met once in the last year, a freedom of information request has revealed.

The group, which was promoted by ministers as evidence that they were taking the issue of raw sewage discharges by water companies seriously, is supposed to meet fortnightly, according to its mission statement.

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Hundreds of uncontrolled forest fires have spread across Canada, threatening critical infrastructure and forcing evacuations. Wildfires are common in the country's western provinces, but this year flames have rapidly spread towards the east. About 3.8m hectares (9.4m acres) have already burned, according to government ministers. The wildfires have created a blanket of smoke that has spread across several US cities, including New York, forcing residents to stay indoors

• Canada’s wildfires are part of our new climate reality, experts and officials say

• Tens of millions under air quality alerts in US as Canada fire smoke drifts south

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Scientists say world is burning through ‘carbon budget’ that can be emitted while staying below 1.5C

Greenhouse gas emissions have reached an all-time high, threatening to push the world into “unprecedented” levels of global heating, scientists have warned.

The world is rapidly running out of “carbon budget”, the amount of carbon dioxide that can be poured into the atmosphere if we are to stay within the vital threshold of 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures, according to a study published in the journal Earth System Science Data on Thursday.

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Tens of millions of people in the US are under air quality alerts as smoke from the Canadian wildfires drifts south, turning the sky in some of the country's biggest cities a murky brown. In New York City, residents were advised to limit their time outdoors, as public schools cancelled outdoor activities

• Tens of millions under air quality alerts in US as Canada fire smoke drifts south

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The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will establish a finance association to build up a green and transition finance ecosystem, with an initial focus on voluntary carbon markets, it announced Thursday as a carbon market trade body put down roots in the nation.

Australia and New Zealand will look to advantageously align their financial and economic systems to ramp up decarbonisation work in their respective countries and those in the broader region, they announced following a meeting between their energy ministers and treasurers Thursday.

Denmark has become the latest country to release plans for expanding its marine protected areas (MPAs) to ensure more than 30% of its ocean will be protected by the end of the decade.

A UK-based investment business has closed its inaugural fund, which raised $1.5 billion to invest in climate solutions that can reduce or remove emissions, it announced Thursday.

From sustainable fisheries to toxic battery waste, these images were chosen because they tell a compelling story about the state of our planet

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NRMA Energy boss Carly Irving-Dolan on motoring groups plans to start billing for fast charging, reliability, and going off grid with new fast-chargers. Plus: News of the week.

The post The Driven Podcast: NRMA to start charging for its chargers appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Deal with Equinor and Nexsphere aims to help get northern Tasmania declared as an Offshore Renewable Energy Zone by the federal government.

The post Tasmania backs 2GW Bass Strait offshore wind farm proposed by Norway oil giant appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Appea’s assertion that gas is indispensable is ludicrous when it’s renewables that are replacing coal

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Australia’s gas industry has launched a major public relations campaign to convince the public of three things: their product is clean, indispensable to our lives and crucial in getting the country to net zero.

With soft, seductive and reassuring voiceovers, a TV ad shows images of hospitals, farms and city lights with the tagline “Natural gas: keeping the country running.”

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Australian flow battery maker seeks more funds to support growing pipeline of large battery projects.

The post Redflow seeks to raise $19 million to fund more big flow battery projects appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Artists from around the world have been using detritus from beaches and waterways to respond to the plight of the marine environment. We showcase their work on World Oceans Day

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Victorian government hands control of transmission planning to VicGrid in new plan to allay community concerns and pave way for 95pct renewables target.

The post Victoria takes control of transmission planning to ensure it gets to 95 pct renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Works have begun on what stands to be a 500MW wind farm and big battery in Queensland's Western Downs region, half owned by the state government.

The post Queensland breaks ground on massive Wambo wind and battery project appeared first on RenewEconomy.