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Cumbrian MP questions decision for site as he likens plans to ‘opening of a Betamax factory’

Ministers giving the green light to Britain’s first coalmine in 30 years is “like celebrating the opening of a Betamax factory”, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has said.

Farron, whose constituency borders the one where the new project will be built in Copeland, called the decision “daft” because there was “an evaporation of demand” for the coking coal the new mine will produce.

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Carbon capture technologies can play a key long term role in global efforts to meet net zero emissions ambitions, but this is only likely to be realised if financial and regulatory barriers are overcome and if standards are developed to promote a greater role for carbon markets, industry observers noted at a conference on Thursday.

A large asset management firm has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in a Danish company that provides management and consulting services for natural resource investments, including carbon credits and conservation projects.

There is considerable potential for China, the world's largest rice producer, to reduce emissions in the agricultural sector through the introduction of biochar, though regulatory clarity is needed to further ignite project developers' interest, according to an industry expert.

Australia on Thursday announced it plans far-reaching reforms to its environmental and biodiversity protection laws in response to a recent independent review that concluded the nation’s nature is being destroyed.

Around 200 Indonesian carbon projects are currently in the development pipeline, however developers feel stuck between adhering to the government’s new regulatory requirements and the hold-ups in international project registration and credit issuances in the VCM, according to an industry head who warned that developers are considering ditching international standards all together.

Getting that detail right could mean the difference between a species surviving, or disappearing forever. Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne Martine Maron, Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For more than a decade UK-based photographer Mandy Barker has been travelling the world and creating stark images of marine debris in a black ocean that aim to raise awareness of pollution of our seas. A touring gallery of her work will be on show at Gallery Oldham, Greater Manchester, from 10 December to 11 March 2023

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Extinct & Endangered: Insects in Peril, an exhibition by Levon Biss in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, has been turned into a book. Shining a light upon insect decline and biodiversity, his photographs are created from up to 10,000 individual images using microscope lenses and contain microscopic levels of detail to provide the audience with a unique visual experience.

The book Extinct & Endangered: Insects in Peril (Abrams, £35) is out 8 December.

Photographs by Levon Biss and text by American Museum of Natural History

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Mine could affect Britain’s climate commitments, which some believe could help get decision struck down

The government has given the green light to a new coalmine in Cumbria, the first in the UK for more than 30 years, but already moves have begun to challenge the decision before construction work can start.

Climate campaigners are examining the decision with a view to a legal challenge, based on the UK’s national and international legally binding climate commitments.

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Report from chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty finds air pollution kills up to 36,000 people a year in England

“Ecodesign” wood burning stoves produce 450 times more toxic air pollution than gas central heating, according to new data published in a report from Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England.

Older stoves, now banned from sale, produce 3,700 times more, while electric heating produces none, the report said.

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Climate crisis increases risks for subsistence farmers in Africa who usually work throughout pregnancy

Rising temperatures driven by climate breakdown are causing distress to the foetuses of pregnant farmers, who are among the worst affected by global heating.

A study revealed that the foetuses of women working in fields in the Gambia showed concerning rises in heart rates and reductions in the blood flow to the placenta as conditions became hotter. The women, who do much of the agricultural labour and work throughout pregnancy, told the scientists that temperatures had noticeably increased in the past decade.

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State ministers support Bowen proposal for Capacity Investment Scheme and auctions and underwriting for "new renewable dispatchable" capacity.

The post Energy ministers agree to fast-track big batteries and long duration storage appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Labor promises "no new extinctions" with tight new environment standards and an independent federal Environment Protection Agency. But not everyone's convinced.

The post Net-zero extinctions: New EPA to play “tough cop” on emissions – but not all of them appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia plans to impose stricter controls on greenhouse house gas emissions from large projects, including requirements to disclose plans to manage or offset emissions, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said Thursday.

A heatwave across northern Australia comes as a shock to the system. The impacts of heat are worst in early summer when we’ve had less time to acclimatise, so it’s important to heed health warnings. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Melbourne-based company says it signs "significant" deal to develop electrolyser technologies with Indian energy giant's green hydrogen subsidiary.

The post Adani taps little known Melbourne start-up to help deliver “world’s cheapest” green hydrogen appeared first on RenewEconomy.

RES marks installation of the last of Dulacca wind farm's 43 Vestas turbines, said to be the tallest installed in Australia, to date.

The post Last massive turbine goes up at Queensland wind farm – Australia’s tallest appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Customer relationship management firm Salesforce on Wednesday announced a total $4 million in nature-related grants and accelerator funding for nine companies and organisation.

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