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One of the most bullish EU ETS analysts has resigned from a German investment bank to increase his focus on carbon, Carbon Pulse has learned.

Japanese conglomerate Mitsui has teamed up with Gazprom Neft, the oil-producing, refining and retail fuel arm of Gazprom, in an agreement to promote the use of CCS in Russia and other countries where the two companies can collaborate, it was announced on Tuesday.

A report, shared exclusively with the Guardian, provides a snapshot of industry’s involvement in some of the country’s most controversial fossil fuel investments

American private equity tycoons are profiteering from the global climate crisis by investing in fossil fuels which are driving greenhouse gas emissions, a new investigation reveals.

Oil and gas pipelines, coal plants and offshore drilling sites linked to Indigenous land violations, toxic leaks and deadly air pollution are among the dirty energy projects financed by some of the country’s largest private equity firms, according to an investigation by the corporate accountability non-profits LittleSis and the Private Equity Stakeholder Project (Pesp).

The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private equity firms, owns dozens of oil and gas companies including a stake in NGP Energy Capital, which boasts its own major portfolio mostly focused on fracking and drilling in states like Texas, Wyoming and Colorado. Carlyle, which recently announced a target of net zero emissions by 2050, also partners with Hilcorp Energy – a major methane emitter with a track record of offshore spills in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico – on at least $4bn in equity and debt deals. (Methane is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, and accounts for about a quarter of today’s global heating.)

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) has a controlling stake in the Coastal Gaslink pipeline in Canada, a 400-mile multibillion-dollar infrastructure project through unceded Indigenous territories that will transport fracked gas to a Pacific coast port for export to Asia. Police have deployed to evict protests and blockades organised by the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. Co-founder Henry Kravis is a major Republican donor, donating $1m to Trump’s 2017 inauguration fund.

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Three large banks have joined a venture launched by a group of regional financial institutions last year to launch a global voluntary carbon trading platform before the end of the year.

Japanese industrial giant Nippon Steel has signed an agreement to evaluate the feasibility of capturing and transporting up to 5 million tonnes of CO2 per year to an Australian offshore floating CCS project, Japan’s biggest steelmaker announced.

In 2019, Angus Taylor shortlisted a dozen power projects to improve grid reliability and cut electricity costs – three years later, not one has been built.

The post Three years on, Morrison’s electricity underwriting scheme still has nothing to show appeared first on RenewEconomy.

It has finally happened. Australia’s globally famous animal, the koala, is officially listed as endangered – a decision both long expected and completely preventable. It comes after the Morrison government last month announced $50m to help the species. 

While the funding was welcomed by environment groups, Guardian Australia's environment reporter Lisa Cox argues that the funding won't achieve much unless the root causes of the species' decline – habitat loss, disease and climate change – are addressed

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• We know how to save the endangered koala – it starts with protecting habitat
• Koala listed as endangered after Australian governments fail to halt its decline
• ‘A drop in the ocean’: government’s $50m koala pledge won’t tackle root cause of decline

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Federal independents call for Australia to tackle fuel security challenges through switch to locally-made EVs, and renewably powered manufacturing.

The post Crossbenchers urge switch to electric transport to boost Australia’s energy security appeared first on RenewEconomy.

WA becomes Australia's second state where AEMO can remotely switch off residential rooftop solar systems to keep the grid stable. But did it have to be this way?

The post WA switches on rooftop solar switch-off rules, sparks call for faster grid reform appeared first on RenewEconomy.

First towers installed on what will be the longest high voltage transmission line, unlocking billions of dollars of new renewables and storage projects.

The post First poles erected in $2.4bn transmission link to create “renewables superpower” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

California sets an effective renewables target of 73 per cent for 2032 as it mandates new wind, solar and storage in upgraded emissions target.

The post California doubles down renewables and storage in new emissions target appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Paracetamol, nicotine, caffeine and epilepsy and diabetes drugs were widely detected, research finds.

As Basslink's woes escalate, the proposed 1.5GW Marinus Link between Tasmania and the Australian mainland takes important next step in development.

The post Marinus Link launches largest underwater engineering survey of Bass Strait appeared first on RenewEconomy.

American energy giant Duke has committed to reduce generation from coal to 5% by 2030 and make a complete coal exit by 2035.

The post Second biggest US utility to exit coal by 2035, doubles down on renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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

Grattan Institute fact-checks Morrison government claims that Queensland coal and gas ban would risk 53,000 jobs and $A85 billion in investment.

The post “Highly exaggerated:” Experts debunk Coalition coal and gas jobs claims appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Voluntary emissions reduction (VER) prices are likely to continue rising for up to five more years as supply struggles to keep up with increasing demand, analysts said in a report published Monday.

Entities regulated by the power sector RGGI cap-and-trade programme were not holding enough allowances to cover their CO2 obligations after the fourth quarter of 2021, according to a report published Friday.

Pharmaceutical pollution poses ‘global threat to human and environmental health’, major study finds

Humanity’s drugs have polluted rivers across the entire world and pose “a global threat to environmental and human health”, according to the most comprehensive study to date.

Pharmaceuticals and other biologically active compounds used by humans are known to harm wildlife and antibiotics in the environment drive up the risk of resistance to the drugs, one of the greatest threats to humanity.

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Exchange-traded prices for standardised nature-based voluntary emissions reduction (VER) contracts fell for the third consecutive week, while CORSIA-eligible contracts retained greater resilience with talk of a major deal propping up prices.