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Australia signed optional contracts to buy 7.9 million Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) at last week’s Emission Reduction Fund auction, the Clean Energy Regulator announced Thursday, saying it expects private offset demand to increase.

Building offshore wind farms is complex and expensive. But with plenty of wind coming in from the sea, New Zealand could harness the renewable resource as it aims to decarbonise the energy sector. Craig Stevens, Professor in Ocean Physics, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The large, iconic leaves of monstera can now be found everywhere in popular culture – from fabric prints and earrings to tattoos and mugs. What makes monstera special and how do you keep one healthy? Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s revised Safeguard Mechanism could trigger a round of investment in CCS projects as gas producers scramble to comply with a requirement that new gas fields supplying LNG facilities must be zero emission developments, analysis released on Thursday has said.

When we co-exist with predators, it’s inevitable to have dangerous encounters, especially when they’re habituated to people. Bill Bateman, Associate professor, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

REDD forest protection project developers should rapidly overhaul their activities regardless of the pace of reform by certifiers, according to an analysis published on Thursday that draws on in-depth assessments representing 94% of REDD credits on the market and flags extensive over-crediting. 

While almost all countries and regions are gearing up for the transition away from existing and new coal, China's renewed coal power boom in 2022 offsets the shift away from new capacity in the rest of the world, a report has found.

Rewiring Australia's Saul Griffith tells government putting hydrogen at the centre of Australia's energy future makes no economic or thermodynamic sense.

The post Australia’s hydrogen “superpower” dream could be massive waste of money, says Griffith appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australian manufacturer begins using recycled rubber from tyres, conveyer belts and safety boots as feedstock for the production of lower carbon steel.

The post Greener steelmaking cuts carbon using thousands of old car tyres appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Once-extinct, bitterns make booming ‘foghorn’ noise to attract mates with 228 calling males counted in last breeding period

The UK’s loudest bird has had a bumper breeding year after previously being driven to extinction in the country.

Bitterns became locally extinct in the 1870s due to persecution and draining of their wetland habitat for agriculture. Now the RSPB has revealed that thanks to conservation work, the bird, which has a distinctive “booming” call, has had one of its most successful breeding seasons.

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Campaigners aiming to clean up waterways lodge complaint after government rejects FoI requests for details why applications failed

Local communities fighting to clean up their rivers by creating protected bathing areas have been refused access to the reasons their applications were rejected by the government.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) turned down a series of freedom of information (FoI) requests submitted by campaigners in Kent, Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, Cornwall, Suffolk and Lancashire to obtain more information on why the applications were unsuccessful. The campaigners have lodged a complaint against the refusals.

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After the European Commission released partial verified data this week that showed emissions falling by 1.4% in 2022, stakeholders are left wondering whether the increase in coal-fired power generation last year was as significant as had been anticipated, and data from early 2023 suggests that fossil generation may be on the wane, raising the prospect of reduced demand for EUAs.

Lithium silicon sulfur battery pioneer Gelion urges federal government to focus on Australian tech as it develops national battery strategy.

The post Gelion calls for national battery strategy to focus on Australian tech appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia’s plan to create the world’s first nature repair market is a bold move, but it could be a big part of a zero extinction Australia. So there’s every reason to give biodiversity markets a go. Hugh Possingham, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Energy Efficiency Council's Rob Murray-Leach on landmark report on new ways of thinking about the grid. Meanwhile, new NSW energy minister worries about lights going out.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Smarter grid means a cleaner grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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A San Francisco-based startup focused on carbon removals through collectible non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has raised $3.5 million in funding.

Paris plans to use 2024 Olympics as a showcase for urban climate adaptation, including proposals to deal with 4°C of warming.

The post Rethinking Paris: France braces for 4°C warming in “turning point” strategy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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There is a signal beneath the noise, and it is bigger than just the safeguard mechanism

Climate scientists sometimes talk about moments when the “signal emerges from the noise” – when the human influence on heatwaves and downpours becomes greater than what could have been caused by natural changes alone.

The same might be said for Australia’s reborn attempts to formulate a climate policy. Sometimes the noise that surrounds the debate is so great that it can make the underlying signal about where we’re going hard to find. But the signal is there.

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