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Vast releases of gas, along with future ‘methane bombs’, represent huge threat – but curbing emissions would rapidly reduce global heating

• ‘We don’t feel safe’: US community in shock after record methane leak

More than 1,000 “super-emitter” sites gushed the potent greenhouse gas methane into the global atmosphere in 2022, the Guardian can reveal, mostly from oil and gas facilities. The worst single leak spewed the pollution at a rate equivalent to 67m running cars.

Separate data also reveals 55 “methane bombs” around the world – fossil fuel extraction sites where gas leaks alone from future production would release levels of methane equivalent to 30 years of all US greenhouse gas emissions.

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As XR shifts away from radical action and the UK government restricts the right to protest, the climate movement is asking tough questions

On a bright, chilly morning in January, seven women – some young, some older, all condemned as guilty by the state – gathered at Southwark crown court.

The group had already been convicted of criminal damage following an Extinction Rebellion (XR) action in April 2021 that involved breaking windows at the headquarters of Barclays Bank: a financial institution responsible for more than £4bn of fossil fuel financing during that year alone. “In case of climate emergency break glass”, read stickers they stuck to the shattered panes. Now they were being sentenced. After a long preamble, the judge eventually handed down suspended terms, sparing the defendants jail for the time being. But he used his closing remarks to condemn their protest as a “stunt” that wouldn’t help to solve the climate crisis. “You risk alienating those who you look to for support,” he warned.

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EUA prices consolidated on Monday after four successive daily declines last week had driven the market down by as much as 9.2%, as traders began to look ahead to the expiry of March futures and options contracts while energy prices wilted for a sixth day as renewables output was forecast to increase.

Calls for ministers to help industry cut emissions from items including washing-up liquid and laundry tablets

Chemicals used in everyday household items from washing-up liquid to laundry tablets are a huge hidden source of carbon emissions, according to a report.

The thinktank Green Alliance is calling on UK ministers to lead a green revolution in chemical manufacturing to cut the carbon footprint of everyday consumer products.

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Investigation finds cases of the wellness product, hailed for its anti-ageing benefits, being derived from cattle raised on farms damaging tropical forest

• What is collagen and why is it so popular in the beauty industry?

Tens of thousands of cattle raised on farms that are damaging tropical forests in Brazil are being used to produce collagen – the active ingredient in health supplements at the centre of a global wellness craze.

The links between beef and soya and deforestation in Brazil are well known, but little attention has been given to the booming collagen industry, worth an estimated $4bn (£3.32bn).

This story was produced with support from the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforests Investigations Network

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NSW Labor threatens to take state's energy industry back to the dark ages by suggesting it may buy the country's biggest coal generator in order to keep it open.

The post NSW Labor may buy Australia’s biggest coal generator to keep it open appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hemsby residents say sea defences are crucial as beach is closed after high tides washed away large amount of sand

On the road into Hemsby, a quintessential British seaside resort on the east coast, flags proclaiming an abundance of new holiday homes for sale flap in the wind.

But the beach that has drawn generations of holidaymakers to the village has been closed by the local lifeboat team, after strong winds and high tides in recent weeks caused significant erosion.

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Japan signed a pact with ten Asia-Pacific countries at a regional summit of ministers held in Tokyo over the weekend to pursue “practical pathways” to achieve decarbonisation of their economies, embracing a broad-brush approach that will leave a role for abated fossil fuels in their energy transition strategies.

Since 2019, Giulia Piermartiri and Edoardo Delille have travelled to places vulnerable to climate breakdown: California, the Maldives, Mozambique and the Mont Blanc massif. Using a slide projector, they impose images of possible future scenarios on to existing landscapes. ‘Photography usually depicts the present,’ they explain. ‘Our idea was to show the future in relation to the world we live in today.’ The Atlas of the New World project has four chapters covering four continents

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A report on the Australian government’s strengthened Safeguard Mechanism has recommended building more frequent emissions reporting into the scheme, which it argues would allow it to respond to unexpected increases in emissions in the coming years. 

With entries from 45 countries, the World Nature Photography awards 2022 have left no corner of the Earth unexplored in the quest to capture nature with a fresh perspective. The grand prize winner was the German photographer Jens Cullman who captured a crocodile lurking in the mud in Zimbabwe

• Wildlife Photographer of the Year – people’s choice award
• Wildlife photographer of the year 2022 – highly commended pictures
• Wildlife photographer of the year 2021 winners – in pictures

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The company aims to help connect solar and wind farms to the grid, contributing to Australia's growing renewable energy sector.

The post Tierra Consulting Group announces strategic focus on providing land access services to the renewable energy industry appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Dr Nicola Fox, originally from Hertfordshire, is the first woman to become Nasa's head of science.

China's state planner underlined the critical role of coal in the country's pathway towards energy transition while applying weak language on the development of carbon markets in its annual work plan released over the weekend, that has left observers bewildered.

Will the Greens hate this policy and can we blame them for everything? Yes good tick

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Australia’s remaining coal power fleet suffered thousands of hours of forced outages in 2022, leaving the grid nearly 25 per cent short of forecast coal generation capacity.

The post Coal plant reliability hits a new low as unplanned unit outages hit a new high appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Queensland government proposes $250,000 pilot for industry-led solar recycling scheme as it considers banning panels from being dumped in landfill.

The post Queensland wants to ban solar panels from landfill as waste problem grows appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Large-scale solar generation chalked up its third highest month on record in February, with a big contribution from New South Wales generating assets.

The post Coal feels the squeeze as big solar shines in New South Wales appeared first on RenewEconomy.

South Australia sources more than 80 per cent of its power needs from wind and solar over summer. Soon, the country's main grid will be doing the same.

The post South Australia enjoys 80.1 pct wind and solar share in blackout-free summer appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Victoria’s critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum is just hanging on, despite new plans and reserves aimed at protection. Plans to log some of its remaining habitat will not help David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Chris Taylor, Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.