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It isn’t clear yet if president will follow recommendation, but during his campaign he pledged to restore Utah’s monuments

It was one of Donald Trump’s most provocative environmental decisions. After a year in office, he angered preservationists and Native American tribes and ordered that two treasured national monuments be dramatically reduced in size.

The areas falling outside the diminished monuments, both expanses of rocky outcroppings dense with archaeological artifacts in Utah, lost environmental protections. A few years later, he also ordered that commercial fishing be allowed in a marine preserve off the coast of New England.

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From food standards to fossil fuel exports, Britain’s agreement with Australia could stop us dealing with the climate crisis

Over the weekend, Boris Johnson told the world we need to “create a healthy planet for our children and grandchildren”. Today he launches a trade deal which is not simply as inadequate as the pledges made by Johnson and other leaders at the G7, but is more worryingly moving us rapidly in the wrong direction.

The trade rules contained in the UK-Australia deal will be a disaster for the environment. On the one hand, it will certainly increase carbon emissions if we replace food from Britain, or our near neighbours, with food from a country on the opposite side of the world.

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Australia can become a carbon storage superpower, though realising that potential would require bilateral agreements on carbon credit and accounting arrangements with potential buyer countries such as Japan and South Korea, the head of the nation’s main petroleum industry lobby group said Tuesday.

The sighting of the Egyptian vulture, if confirmed to be wild, would be the first for 153 years.

*PREMIUM LISTING - Carbon Pulse is looking for a Climate and Energy Correspondent to help us bolster and expand our coverage of the EU ETS and other energy and environmental markets, as well as climate and energy policy at a national, EU, and international level.

The ETS Officer will be a key support to the ETS Consultant. The role provides technical and administrative support to the ETS Consultant principally and the wider team on an ad-hoc basis.

Macquarie concludes $140 million debt deal for solar tower and parabolic trough portfolio in Spain.

The post Macquarie invests $140m in Spanish solar tower and parabolic trough projects appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Jiangxi provincial government in China has released rules and regulations for a programme to create forest carbon credits for the voluntary market, specifying that international buyers are eligible to participate.

Production of chemical could help make recycling more attractive and tackle global plastic pollution

Plastic bottles have been converted into vanilla flavouring using genetically engineered bacteria, the first time a valuable chemical has been brewed from waste plastic.

Upcycling plastic bottles into more lucrative materials could make the recycling process far more attractive and effective. Currently plastics lose about 95% of their value as a material after a single use. Encouraging better collection and use of such waste is key to tackling the global plastic pollution problem.

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The Ogmore is an unremarkable river ... or is it? Dan Wood’s photographs capture a place of childhood mischief and intrigue

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Mocean Energy puts its first wave energy conversion prototype, Blue X, to sea at a test site at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.

The post New Scottish wave power technology takes to the seas for initial tests appeared first on RenewEconomy.

ARENA announces new funding for industrial emitters as Labor and Greens seek to halt changes that would direct money towards Coalition's preferred technologies.

The post ARENA to fund industrial emitters as Labor, Greens try to protect renewables mandate appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Solar Choice buys out majority stake in huge 2000MW solar development project in Queensland, now with an eye on the green hydrogen market.

The post Solar Choice buys out majority stake in huge 2000MW Queensland solar project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

“Other people see it as a problem, we see it as an opportunity." WA Labor's Bill Johnston says state's 1.3GW of "mum and dad" rooftop solar investments is one of the state's leading assets.

The post “Amazing” rooftop solar an opportunity, not a problem, says WA energy minister appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A complete switch to biofuels is neither feasible nor desirable, but they could replace some fossil fuels in transport and heating. If biofuels are produced from waste products, that's even better. Troy Baisden, Professor (Environmental Sciences), University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A better understanding of the science behind falling trees – followed by informed action – will help keep us safe and ensure trees continue to provide their many benefits. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

QCC report says many state owned government coal generators may never regain profitability in the face of increased competition from renewables.

The post Queensland’s state owned coal plants may never again be profitable, new analysis finds appeared first on RenewEconomy.

To meet Paris targets, world must phase down existing fossil fuel production. Happily, renewables are more than ready for the challenge.

The post The stunning potential of wind and solar, essential to meet 1.5°C climate target appeared first on RenewEconomy.

To eat an oyster raw is to eat it alive

On the oyster’s edge, under the sea, on a rock, a tree root, a bamboo pole, a pebble, a tile or another shell, the bivalve’s cilia – from the Latin for eyelash – are waving. Together, they move water over the oyster’s gills – its shell is open, its muscles are relaxed. The oyster has lungs. It has a three-chambered heart. An hour passes; the oyster has filtered five litres of water. The oyster has listened to the breaking waves: it opens and closes according to the tides.

One valve is the cupped half of the shell, the other is the flat half. A cargo ship sounds its horn. The oyster shuts in fright.

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Renewables achieved record share of global electricity production in 2020, but fossil fuels still supply 80% of world's energy needs – the same as 10 years ago.

The post “Empty words:” Record renewables fail to shift fossil fuels in global energy mix appeared first on RenewEconomy.