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With service industries and foreign tourism decimated, the potential fall in ore prices and demand shows just how much the country relies on mining exports

It seems not all that long ago all the talk was about how gloriously the economy was going and how the Covid recession was in the past. But now the two states encompassing 55% of the nation’s economy are in lockdown and the second half of this year looks to be tough for the economy – especially as our iron ore exports might be about to take a hit.

One of weird things about the pandemic is that our major exports of iron ore and coal have seen an absolute prices boom:

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Analysis finds focus on stress tests and modelling impact of most extreme scenarios leaves sector blind to real risks

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The financial world is making the same mistakes regarding climate change as it did with the housing market in the lead-up to the 2008 global financial crisis, a new report warns.

Degrees of Risk – co-authored by Ian Dunlop, a former head of the Australian Coal Association – found that while regulators and the financial sector had begun to grapple with the risks posed by the climate crisis, they were not moving fast enough.

Instead, they were relying on modelling scenarios of 3C and 4C of global heating without properly factoring in how catastrophic they would be.

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Germany is forecast to record its biggest rise in GHG emissions since 1990 this year as the economy rebounds from the pandemic-related downturn, according to a report published on Monday.

EUAs rose sharply early on Monday, clawing back last week's losses as dip buyers entered the market and European gas prices surged.

As the climate changes, census data shows that Americans are shifting from safer areas of the US to the regions most at risk of heating and flooding

Science has provided America with a decent idea of which areas of our country will be most devastated by climate change, and which areas will be most insulated from the worst effects. Unfortunately, it seems that US population flows are going in the wrong direction – new census data shows a nation moving out of the safer areas and into some of the most dangerous places of all.

To quote Planes, Trains and Automobiles: we’re going the wrong way.

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Campaigners say Chichester harbour at risk of environmental ruin from dumping of raw sewage

Discharges of raw sewage by Southern Water into a protected natural harbour risk causing an environmental catastrophe, say campaigners.

Chichester harbour in West Sussex is one of the most highly protected marine environments in the country. But the latest analysis from Natural England shows that 80% of the protected waters are in an unfavourable or declining condition.

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Bluescope sets net zero target and says renewables and green hydrogen the key, not gas.

The post Steel giant snubs gas on road to net zero, focus on renewables and green hydrogen appeared first on RenewEconomy.

China’s thermal power generation rose 12.7% last month compared to July 2020, the highest year-on-year growth rate since March, according to government data, but analysts say emissions output might slow in the second half as economic growth is projected to soften.

A breakthrough in the development of organic solar cells could deliver a much-needed boost in efficiency and get them further along the road to commercialisation.

The post Bendy, lightweight organic solar cells could be fast-tracked by new research appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Blue hydrogen is often touted as a low-carbon fuel, but new report by Cornell and Stanford researchers shows it is likely much worse for the climate.

The post Study finds blue hydrogen worse for climate than burning coal or gas appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Energy storage hopeful files two patent applications for battery recycling processes, saying products could no longer go to landfill.

The post Australia storage start-up applies for li-ion battery recycling patents appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Lord Deben says he is ‘pressing very hard’ to get details of strategy published as Cop26 approaches

Boris Johnson’s delay in publishing the net zero emissions strategy has left a space for climate sceptics to “complain, attack and undermine” on cost grounds, and other countries could do with seeing more “proper leadership” from the UK before Cop26, the government’s independent climate adviser has said.

Lord Deben, the Conservative peer and chair of the climate change committee, said critics of the net zero policy had been vocal in the public debate because “it hasn’t been put into context by the government”.

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University student makes pitch for AGL board seat, as Matt Canavan disgraces himself by wondering if Taliban will support net zero.

The post Melbourne uni student takes tilt at AGL board, to cut emissions at the source appeared first on RenewEconomy.

How urgent is the need to prepare Australia's grids to accommodate 100 per cent renewables? Ask Victoria.

The post The day wind and solar nearly met 100 per cent of demand in Victoria appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau on Sunday called an election for next month, sending voters to the polls for the second time in two years amid ongoing concerns over the pandemic and climate change.

After a mammoth journey across the country the pack of pachyderms are finally heading home.

Fifty sustainable sewage treatment plants have been built that work in similar way to a cow's stomach.

New research found girls particularly liked to see wildflowers, hear nature sounds and touch animals and plants. Ryan Keith, PhD Candidate, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Dieter Hochuli, Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney John Martin, Research Scientist, Taronga Conservation Society Australia & Adjunct lecturer, University of Sydney Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Science, Centre for Design Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ashjayeen Sharif wants Australia’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter to be 100% renewable by 2030

An 18-year-old student and climate change campaigner is bidding for a seat on the board of energy company AGL, Australia’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter.

Ashjayeen Sharif, from Melbourne, wants the company to phase out its “dirty coal-burning power stations” by 2030 and replace them with 100% renewable energy.

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Greens says government’s support for fossil fuel expansion is ‘bonkers’ and no one will visit the tourist site ‘if it’s surrounded by gas drilling rigs’

The Victorian government has given consent for a gas company to produce gas extracted from beneath a national park in the state’s south-west, near the celebrated tourist site the Twelve Apostles.

Documents tabled in Victorian parliament earlier this month show Lily D’Ambrosio, the state energy and climate change minister, gave consent for an existing exploration gas well underneath the Port Campbell national park to be developed into a production well.

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