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With their glorious blue plumage, these common urban birds have been a comfort while we’ve been at home during the pandemic

• Australian bird of the year: how they finished
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The Guardian/BirdLife Australia 2021 bird of the year poll ended with the superb fairywren coming out on top.

While at first the victory had me crying “beauty contest!”, it speaks to our desire for small moments of joy in our daily life, as we’re restricted to the confines of our own homes.

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The Coalition has spent years warning of the costs of action. Now the Liberals are presenting net zero as an opportunity

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Keith Pitt, the resources minister, made headlines this week when he opened the boondoggle bidding on net zero. Pitt told Phil Coorey at the Australian Financial Review if Scott Morrison wanted agreement from the Nationals on a net zero target ahead of the Glasgow climate conference, he should put $250bn on the table.

Yes, that’s “b” for billion.

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Restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante represents victory for advocates after protections were slashed

Joe Biden restored environmental protections on Friday to three national monuments and their vast expanse of vital ecosystems and sacred Indigenous spaces, reversing cuts made by Donald Trump.

“These protections provide a bridge to our past, but they also build a bridge to a safer and more sustainable future,” said Biden. “One where we strengthen our economy and pass on a healthy planet to our children and our grandchildren.”

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The Sustainability and Climate Change (S&CC) advisory team, part of Risk & Financial Advisory, is growing and requires outstanding, innovative, and engaging professionals to join our team.

A former journalist has joined offset ratings service BeZero as its head of carbon markets research.

The EU’s heavy industry could face considerably different carbon costs through 2050 as proposed changes under the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package leads to variations between both sectors and locations, a conference heard this week.

The David Rockefeller Studies Program at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is seeking to hire a fellow or senior fellow for climate change. The successful candidate will be expected to conduct original research and writing on what should be done to prevent and mitigate the consequences of climate change and to navigate the global green transition underway.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) on Thursday ordered state agencies to work on ways of decarbonising transportation fuels as part of a low-carbon fuel standard, after legislators this year failed to pass a related bill.

EUAs edged lower early on Friday as participants wound down after a week of significant volatility, amid news that one large member state will start handing out free EUAs to its industrial plants next week.

UK firm says windfarm project that could help power British homes could be completed by 2030

The prospect of an energy island in the North Sea surrounded by windfarms with the ability to power British homes has taken a step closer after National Grid, the UK energy company, revealed that it is in talks about helping to build the project – and claimed it could be done before 2030.

“We are in tripartite discussions over an energy island that the UK would likely connect to,” Nicola Medalova, the company’s managing director of interconnectors, told New Scientist. She declined to name the two other parties in the talks.

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The best of this week’s wildlife pictures, including a rescued sloth, a hidden alligator and a jellyfish swarm

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Hong Kong on Friday committed to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions 50% below 2005 levels by 2035 and to phase out the use of coal for power generation by the same year.

Poland will begin distributing free allowances to industrial installations for their 2021 output next week, its emissions trading authority confirmed Friday, while other member states are reported also to have begun issuing EUAs nearly eight months later than scheduled.

Climate activists superglue themselves to roads as part of 12th disruptive action in four weeks

Members of the environmental protest group Insulate Britain have blocked the M25 motorway and a busy central London roundabout, in the group’s 12th disruptive action in four weeks.

According to the climate activist group, about 40 supporters blocked junction 25 of the M25 just before 8.30am on Friday, in defiance of an injunction obtained by National Highways, as well as the A501 at the Old Street roundabout in Islington.

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SSY Singapore is assisting in the development of a Carbon / Emissions Brokerage Desk, Covering Asia / European Markets.

The Carbon Market Institute (CMI) is looking for a Manager, Policy and Advocacy to lead the organisation’s carbon market research portfolio.

Australia has extended the period for which coal mine waste gas projects can earn carbon credits, as spot ACCUs linger at record high levels amid limited available supply.

Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. (Japex) has secured its first  carbon neutral LNG cargo, the oil and gas company announced on Friday, adding to the fast-growing stream of offset-backed fossil fuel deals in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Green Climate Fund board this week approved $1.2 billion in funding for 13 projects, including a major investment in the Amazon Bioeconomy Fund, which is expected to cut carbon emissions by over 123 MtCO2e.

Wirsol says it has secured land rights to develop up to 85MW of solar and a "battery opportunity" in Barnawartha in Victoria's north.

The post Wirsol reveals plans for 85MW solar farm and big battery in Victoria appeared first on RenewEconomy.