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In the developing world most people are not factory farming and livestock is essential to preventing poverty and malnutrition

The pandemic has pushed poverty and malnutrition to rates not seen in more than a decade, wiping out years of progress. In 2020, the number of people in extreme poverty rose by 97 million and the number of malnourished people by between 118 million and 161 million.

Recent data from the World Bank and the UN shows how poverty is heavily concentrated in rural communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America where people are surviving by smallholder farming. This autumn there will be two key events that could rally support for them.

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The best of this week’s wildlife pictures, including a coloured photo of Tasmanian tiger, humpback whale and friendly donkey

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Fixating on ‘net zero’ means betting the future of life on Earth that someone will invent some kind of whiz-bang tech to draw down CO2

The world has by and large adopted “net zero by 2050” as its de facto climate goal, but two fatal flaws hide in plain sight within those 16 characters. One is “net zero.” The other is “by 2050”.

These two flaws provide cover for big oil and politicians who wish to preserve the status quo. Together they comprise a deadly prescription for inaction and catastrophically high levels of irreversible climate and ecological breakdown.

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Allowance prices in China’s national emissions trading scheme fell another 6% over the Sep. 3-9 period, with volumes dropping to near zero as frustrated market participants were left waiting for financials to be brought in.

Chevron has agreed on a framework to acquire an equity stake in the Advanced Clean Energy Storage (ACES) project, the US major has announced.

Australian carbon credits rose to all-time highs in a flurry of trades on Friday afternoon, as steady demand from Safeguard Mechanism entities and voluntary buyers soaked up supply.

The new NSW waste-to-energy plan shifts incineration projects out of Sydney and into the regions. Can it win support?

The post Controversial incineration projects shifted out of Sydney in waste-to-energy plan appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Greg Hannan, the head strategy at three Victoria network owners, on why batteries will be hanging from poles, and the need for more storage.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Pole Position – Networks want more battery storage appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The phenomenon is called heliotropism, and sunflowers are most famous for it. But why do they track the sun? And how? Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

University of Sydney spin off Gelion secures a deal to have its long-life and fire resistant battery technology manufactured in Australia.

The post Gelion strikes Sydney manufacturing deal for “safe and durable” zinc-bromide battery appeared first on RenewEconomy.

ASX-listed Infratil to make a may pivot to the Asian renewables market, after exiting Australia with the sale of Tilt Renewables.

The post Infratil pivots to Asian renewables market, after $2 billion exit from Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW energy minister says "we absolutely can" end coal generation by 2030, and says he won't appeal a recent court case.

The post Matt Kean: We absolutely can cut out coal generation by 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

South Australia to introduce flexible exports for new and upgraded systems as it seeks to manage the growing dominance of rooftop solar.

The post Flexible PV: South Australia trials new solar export rules as it heads to 100 pct solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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

President Joe Biden (D) nominated a Washington DC utility regulator to the vacant position on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Thursday, whose confirmation would give Democrats a majority in the federal agency that could help to advance climate change initiatives.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) rose week-on-week after seeing another volatile stretch, while RGGI allowances (RGAs) increased ahead of the Q3 auction that participants anticipate will settle at or above secondary market levels.

A new fintech company has introduced a feature on its 'green' investment app that allows users to offset the carbon emissions of their holdings.

Soundscapes impact the well-being of human and non-human urban inhabitants. Here’s how noise can change animal behaviour, both in and out of lockdown. Kurt Iveson, Associate Professor of Urban Geography and Research Lead, Sydney Policy Lab, University of Sydney Dieter Hochuli, Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New carbon capture technology should be welcomed. But weaning the world off coal, oil and gas is what matters most

The switching on of the world’s largest carbon capture and storage plant, in Iceland, is a glimmer of hope in a bleak climate landscape. The amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by this new machine will be tiny: 4,000 tonnes a year, which is equivalent to that produced by 870 cars. Still, the project brings a step closer the possibility that significant amounts of carbon dioxide could, one day, be removed from the atmosphere.

The significant risks that such technological developments carry must be addressed head-on. The danger is that they are a displacement activity from the massive and necessary task of reducing and then eliminating emissions (with any residual emissions offset or, if carbon capture technologies are scaled up, removed). This distraction need not be deliberate, although fossil fuel producers have consistently undermined climate action by promoting the idea that technological solutions will eventually make calls to decarbonise obsolete.

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EU carbon nudged higher on Thursday along with the wider energy complex, with near-term power and gas prices extending their record highs.