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Soiled seas and huge shareholder dividends: where has the £64bn borrowed by firms since privatisation gone?

So that’s how they do it. I’d been wondering how, when more sewage has been entering our rivers than ever before, some of the water companies have managed to improve the ratio of the sewage they treat v the sewage that pours untreated from their storm overflows into our rivers and the sea. Now we know.

It’s called “flow trimming”. Sounds innocuous, doesn’t it? What it means is that sewage is diverted into rivers and ditches upstream of the water treatment works. By reducing the amount of sewage entering the works, the companies can claim to be dealing responsibly with a higher proportion of it.

George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist. Join him for a Guardian Live online event on Wednesday 8 May at 8pm BST. He will be talking about his new book, The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism. Book tickets here

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Open letter calls for green policies that empower farmers, after months of protests jeopardise future of flagship biodiversity deal

The EU’s nature restoration law will only work if it is enacted in partnership with farmers, a group of leading scientists has said, after months of protests have pushed the proposals to the brink of collapse.

In an open letter, leading biodiversity researchers from across the world said that efforts to restore nature are vital for guaranteeing food supplies – but farmers must be empowered to help make agriculture more environmentally friendly if the measures are to succeed.

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The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

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Symbiosis is so much part of life on Earth that it has shaped the evolution and structure of cells. It’s happening almost everywhere we look, including inside our gut. Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Energy minister Chris Bowen discusses the capacity investment scheme, the Eraring closure, social licence, planning approvals, long duration storage, and why the Coalition’s nuclear plan does not stack up.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Chris Bowen explains the green energy plan appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Bowen says Coalition nuclear plan will put grid reliability at risk because it will stop renewables and storage and force ageing and unreliable coal power plants to stay open.

The post Bowen says Coalition’s nuclear push would put grid reliability at risk due to delays in coal plant closures appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Renewables industry welcomes government funding to fill "critical knowledge gaps" on environmental and wildlife impacts of wind farm development, while also helping to get projects built.

The post Wind farm handbook to help developers avoid brolgas, bats and other project-sinking biodiversity risks appeared first on RenewEconomy.

BHP is making a $60 billion bet on "future-facing commodities" with a bid for rival Anglo American to combine their strengths in energy transition materials.

The post BHP makes $60 billion power play for global electrification appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator on Friday opened the fourth pilot exit arrangement window for companies with fixed delivery contracts to sell carbon credits to the government’s Emissions Reductions Fund (ERF).

A wind farm worker has been killed in a fall that is understood to involve the collapse of a meteorological mast installed at the site.

The post Man dies in met-mast accident at site of massive Queensland wind project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia's largest listed coal miner is proposing to transform an open-cut mine site into a renewable energy hub with solar and pumped hydro.

The post Yancoal proposes solar and 12-hour pumped hydro storage for Hunter mine site appeared first on RenewEconomy.

China has wound back its ambitious nuclear targets and turned instead to the deployment of solar and wind energy at unprecedented rates.

The post China’s quiet energy revolution: The switch from nuclear to renewable energy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Federal incentives to lower carbon intensity (CI) in feedstocks, coupled with advancements in carbon removal and renewable natural gas, could propel the biofuels industry towards net zero in the US, industry members told a webinar Thursday.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) prices traded lower through a volatile week as a highly anticipated rulemaking workshop failed to offer clarity on proposed changes to the cap-and-trade programme, while Washington Carbon Allowance (WCA) values declined amidst ongoing muted activity.

Final turbine installed at what will be - at least for the time being - the biggest wind project in NSW.

The post Final turbine installed at biggest wind project in NSW appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A first-of-its-kind study shows conservation is worth investing in, researchers say.

A first-of-its-kind study shows conservation is worth investing in, researchers say.

Dozens of environmental advocacy groups and over 20 state attorneys general separately filed motions this week to intervene in a lawsuit filed against the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s vehicle emissions standards.

A Canadian CCS firm and an Iceland-based CO2 mineral storage operator on Thursday announced a partnership to explore storage potential in Quebec.

Two of the world’s largest investment firms have raised $1.4 billion for their inaugural late-stage venture capital and growth private equity investment fund that is targeting companies accelerating the low-carbon transition.