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More than 40m birds have disappeared from UK’s skies since 1970: a trend that imperils the network that gives us life

Most mornings in spring I listen for a sequence of birdsongs to know that my local area is in good heart, but also to reassure myself that the world is working largely as it should. The default soloist of my dawn in Buxton, Derbyshire, is a mistle thrush that delivers from the ash tree above our house.

As I listen to my soloist there is an added delight in knowing that, from Cape Wrath in northernmost Scotland to Kingsdown in Kent, his voice unites with tens of millions of other dawn birds. The blue and great tits of the inner cities, blackbirds and robins among the English villages, chaffinches and wrens through the remotest Scottish glens: it is a collective performance, free of charge, unfolding across all Britain to all people.

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G7 energy ministers pledged to accelerate efforts to phase out unabated fossil fuels to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and set specific solar and wind power targets, but in a compromise allowed for continued investment in gas to meet shorter term energy security priorities in a communique released by the group after its weekend summit concluded in Sapporo, Japan.

The United Arab Emirates has become the 26th country to agree to a bilateral carbon trading framework with Japan under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).

Krill are in danger and that means the oceans are in danger too

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Installed in a Low Traffic Neighbourhood, it has been repeatedly run over, bent, burned and, finally, stolen.

One of Australia's oldest wind farms, a two-turbine project that has slashed diesel use on a remote Queensland island, is having a makeover.

The post One of Australia’s oldest wind farms gets makeover and a new 15-year lease on life appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Recyclers call for national ban on throwing solar panels in landfill, with potentially millions of PV modules heading for waste each year.

The post Solar panels should be “new kind of mining”: Recycler backs landfill ban appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New video shows Vestas' massive 15MW offshore wind turbine prototype in action in Denmark after it achieved its nominal power rating earlier this month.

The post World’s biggest wind turbine – 15MW – delivers what it says on the label appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia's biggest clean energy investors reveal 1.5°C plan for accelerated coal closures and massive spend in wind, solar, storage and transmission.

The post Investors release “credible” 1.5°C grid plan with rapid exit for coal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Companies like it when your phone breaks and you have to buy another. But we’d all save a lot of money if we could actually repair the things we purchased. Leanne Wiseman, Professor of Law, Griffith University, Griffith University John Gertsakis, Adjunct Professor (Industry), University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

G7 ministers over the weekend committed to increasing their international spending on biodiversity and to implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework, though a communique from the Sapporo summit was light on details.

Australia should introduce carbon removal targets in order to incentivise investment in both natural and technology-based solutions, according to the Climate Change Authority (CCA), which said sequestration is a crucial element to the country meeting its climate targets.

Australia's 15 largest super funds have invested a total of more than $25 billion into new and expanding coal, oil and gas projects, new analysis shows.

The post Australian super funds sink $25 billion into coal, oil and gas appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Promoting small actions, such as reducing plastic use, can be a useful entry point for other actions around climate change. It’s an example of ‘positive spillover behaviour’. Yolanda Lee Waters, PhD Candidate and Research Assistant, The University of Queensland Angela Dean, Lecturer, School of Agriculture and Food Science & Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

G7 agree to a big increase in offshore wind and solar capacity, but fall short of coal and gas phaseouts as Japan holds out for fossil fuels.

The post G7 pushes for an extra terawatt of solar, but falls short on coal phaseout and gas appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Demand for air travel will be hit as decarbonisation drives up ticket prices, says industry.

Researchers focused on a site in the Illawarra region of NSW, which holds a unique record into the past. Alan N Williams, Associate Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, UNSW Sydney Mark Constantine IV, Researcher, UNSW Sydney Scott Mooney, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Society is wedded to a belief that it is OK to control animals for profit. We hoped halting the race would make people stop and think

As a country of people who love animals, it shocks and saddens many of us that watching a horse break their neck on national TV is still considered entertainment. That’s why 300 people from Animal Rising went to Aintree on Saturday to stop the Grand National.

We did not fully succeed, and – like last year – more horses died. Hill Sixteen fell at the first fence and was put down due to the horse’s injuries. Hill Sixteen’s death followed those of two others at Aintree last week. We mourn the loss of these animals.

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Just 20 food producers account for almost a fifth of the biodiversity impact from a group of the 250 biggest nature loss contributors in the world, a study has found.

New study adds to growing body of evidence that the economic benefits of climate action outweigh the costs.

The post Drastic climate action is the best course for economic growth, new study finds appeared first on RenewEconomy.