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The Chinese government has outlined an implementation plan it believes would support low-carbon technology innovations, such as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) and nature-based solutions, laying the groundwork for the country to peak its CO2 emissions by 2030.

A Swedish biochar company is eyeing rapid domestic and international expansion of its carbon offsetting activities after being acquired by a local greentech business, it announced Thursday.

A corporate watchdog group has warned of a “feeding frenzy” by vested interests attempting to water down the strength of the Australian government’s Safeguard Mechanism reforms during its consultation period.

EV and battery storage giant increases size of Megapack battery modules by around 50%, indicates a long-awaited switch to lithium iron phosphate.

The post Tesla boosts size and rating of Megapack battery module by 50 per cent appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Newly published figures show for first time how US-style factory farms have spread across British countryside

There are more than 1,000 US-style mega-farms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including some holding as many as a million animals, according to a new investigation.

In the US, mega-farms are defined as those that hold more than 125,000 birds reared for meat, or 82,000 egg-laying hens, 2,500 pigs, 700 dairy cows or 1,000 beef cattle. These are labelled by US officials as a concentrated animal feedlot system (CAFO).

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Main sources of vehicle-specific CO2 emissions data use ‘old and outdated’ test which may not reflect driving in the real world

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Australia is “flying blind” when it comes to emissions from particular vehicles because the federal government relies on industry data, experts have warned amid a push for new fuel and CO2 emission standards.

The main source for vehicle-specific emissions data in Australia is the Green Vehicle Guide, a government site that reports information from carmakers on CO2 emissions for new cars sold since 2004. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), an industry association representing carmakers, publishes information about the average emissions of different car brands.

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AER approves costs for first stage of HumeLink, Transgrid’s multi-billion dollar transmission upgrade proposed to connect Snowy Hydro 2.0 to the grid.

The post Regulator approves spend on stage one of massive HumeLink project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Frontier Energy says it can potentially produce green hydrogen at a cost well below industry estimates due to its proximity to existing infrastructure.

The post Frontier Energy says solar can deliver low cost green hydrogen at WA project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Tenants are rarely allowed to make permanent changes to a house. And many landlords know little about the conditions tenants endure, but most who do retrofit homes do it to improve renters’ comfort. Michaela Lang, Postdoctoral Researcher, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Rob Raven, Professor and Deputy Director (Research), Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Ruth Lane, Associate Professor in Human Geography, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From Churchill to Roosevelt, great leaders have told the public the truth: that in dark times, sacrifices must be made for the greater good

There was never any formal announcement to the effect that modern British politics would no longer call on its citizens to make significant sacrifices. It just turned out that way. Perhaps it was after the 1970s oil crisis that politicians began to suspect such appeals were too great an electoral risk. Perhaps it got another push from the financial crisis of 2008. Either way, the mindset still remains strong of not trusting or relying on the public to stay the course when normality is put on hold.

No modern British politician would now make the speech that Franklin Roosevelt did when he became US president in 1933. “If I read the temper of our people correctly,” Roosevelt said in his first inaugural, “we now realise as we have never realised before our interdependence on each other; that we cannot merely take but we must give as well; that if we are to go forward, we must move as a trained and loyal army willing to sacrifice for the good of a common discipline, because without such discipline no progress is made, no leadership becomes effective.”

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Sperm whales support ecotourism in Kaikōura and blue whales come to feed off the New Zealand coast – but both may become a rare sight as ocean temperatures continue to rise. Frédérik Saltré, Research Fellow in Ecology for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University Karen A Stockin, Professor - Marine Ecology / Rutherford Discovery Fellow, Massey University Katharina J. Peters, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Origin says it is positioning itself for a rapid transition and a 1.5°C target, but is yet to press the green button on key battery and renewable projects.

The post Gas windfall offsets coal failures as Origin plots path to battery and renewables future appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Bees ‘may be in for rough time’ over 21st century as hotter and wetter conditions affect development

Bumblebees have become increasingly stressed by changes in climate over the past century, researchers examining museum specimens have found.

Bees develop asymmetrical wings when they experience stress during development, and by examining a series of preserved specimens and their dates, the scientists found bees showed higher levels of wing asymmetry in hotter and wetter years.

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Right now, the safeguard mechanism meant to reduce emissions is not fit for purpose. Labor is exploring ways to fix it - and create a proper pollution market. Ian A. MacKenzie, Associate Professor in Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Facilities covered under the Australian Labor government’s revamped Safeguard Mechanism will likely have restricted, if any, access to international carbon credits despite tougher baselines, according to a consultation paper released Thursday.

Our produce is likely to be smaller, odd-looking, or even leathery after the hot, dry weather.

A 500 million-year-old microscopic, spiny creature with a mouth but no anus had puzzled scientists.

Early spring brings solar surge and coal crackles as landmark changes made to policy.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Spring clean on the grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The director provides technical support and guidance to country teams to set up robust forest-climate solutions, and coordinates the monitoring and reporting of forest climate solutions with a focus on carbon and biodiversity metrics.

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