Feed aggregator

An analysis of the voluntary climate commitments made by 51 of the world’s biggest corporations show their emissions would decrease by as little as 30-33% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels — short of the 42-48% reduction needed to keep global warming within 1.5C.

The latest December quarter saw Australia export the most amount of thermal coal it has ever exported in a single quarter.

The post Anthony Albanese is setting himself up as the fossil fuel export king of Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

El Niño can direct more warm water to the base of West Antarctic ice shelves, accelerating melting and increasing global sea level. Maurice Huguenin, Postdoctoral research associate in Physical Oceanography, UNSW Sydney Matthew England, Scientia Professor and Deputy Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS), UNSW Sydney Paul Spence, Associate professor of oceanography, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ocean warming seems the main driver of Antarctica’s sea-ice loss. But as satellites show, the change is not universal and sea ice persists in East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea. Craig Stevens, Professor in Ocean Physics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research suggests if we can’t eradicate cane toads, we can teach wildlife not to eat them. Georgia Ward-Fear, Post doctoral fellow and Conservation Ecologist , Macquarie University Rick Shine, Professor in Evolutionary Biology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Peru’s Ministry of Environment (Minam) is attempting to consolidate the country’s carbon projects under a national jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD+) programme, which critics claim uses out-of-touch methodologies that will reduce incomes and compromise forest protection, according to local media.

Leaders need to persuade others of the need for environmental measures rather than capitulate in the face of political headwinds

Last month, a survey of public opinion in Germany, France and Poland found that a majority in each country would support more ambitious policies to tackle the climate emergency. The same study also found unexpectedly widespread support for pan-European action linking green goals to other priorities such as economic security. Who knew, at a time when warnings of a popular “green backlash” are rife?

Unfortunately, Europe’s politicians are now on a very different page. Rattled by farmers’ protests – which radical-right parties have swiftly co-opted as a new front in their culture wars – Brussels and national governments have been busily sounding a disorderly, panicked retreat on environmental targets. Since the turn of the year, the U-turns and capitulations have come thick and fast.

Continue reading...

One of the key architects of the ‘social cost of carbon’ (SCC) price on climate impacts has released new projections judging that it now sits at $225/tonne CO2 – higher than earlier estimates, including those of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A New York-based carbon removals project developer has completed the second phase of its afforestation project, which it said is the largest Gold Standard-approved initiative of its kind in the US.

Australian limits on acceptable levels of these toxic chemicals in drinking water ‘orders of magnitude’ higher than in US

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

High levels of so-called forever chemicals have been found in surface and groundwater all over the world, with Australia one of several hotspots for toxic PFAS, a University of New South Wales study has found.

Researchers examined groundwater samples from around the world and found 69% had per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at levels above Canada’s safe drinking water criteria and 32% had levels higher than the US proposed drinking water hazard index.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Carbon removals should be kept separate from offsets, NGOs said in a letter urging members of the European Parliament to reject the EU's draft Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) in a plenary vote this week.

ICE's CORSIA Phase 1-eligible (2024-26) voluntary carbon futures extended gains to reach a fresh record last week, on very low volume, with the price strength coming off the back of 'panic' buying given the supply uncertain outlook, according to sources.

A private sector group of European and international supporters of carbon removals (CDR) launched a public consultation on proposed industry commitments Monday.

Countries need to more actively engage on climate change issues within the WTO, as an ever-increasing share of barriers and notifications brought before the international trade body are related to climate policies, the organisation's deputy head told Carbon Pulse in an interview. 

The lack of a common approach to biodiversity reporting among emerging standards for corporate disclosures is poised to hamper comparability of companies' impacts on nature, a paper has said, calling for a global framework that integrates and aligns existing methodologies to be established.

The illegal trade in climate-warming refrigerant gases entering Europe is continuing at a significant level despite the worsening climate emergency, as organised criminals become more sophisticated in evading law enforcement, according to a report by an environmental NGO.

A "first evidence-based" tool developed by a global alliance could enable farmers to better assess their impacts on biodiversity, as the need to address nature protection in the agricultural sector is being increasingly emphasised, according to an international group of researchers.

European carbon allowance prices rose on Monday morning, shrugging off a sharp fall at the opening to move to their highest since the end of February, once again tracking power and natural gas prices.

The record decline in CO2 emissions registered in Europe in 2023 was caused in part by “demand destruction” across a range of energy-intensive industries, which could prove “permanent” due to high gas prices and carbon pricing policies, analysts say.

Carbon standard Gold Standard and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have created a resource hub designed to help rice growers access carbon finance, they announced Monday.