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Scientists stunned by unprecedented heat-stress event say they can only hope it ‘motivates and unites people’

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Corals across several countries are bleaching and dying en masse from unprecedented levels of heat stress, prompting fears that an unfolding tragedy in Central America, North America and the Caribbean could become a global event.

US government scientists have confirmed reefs in Panama, Colombia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico and six countries in the Caribbean, including the Bahamas and Cuba, are suffering significant bleaching, alongside corals in Florida that began turning white almost a month ago.

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A mass coral bleaching event has hit reefs in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Scientists in the region have told Guardian Australia's environment reporter Graham Readfearn they have never seen anything like it before. The tragedy is unfolding early in the season and in areas not usually affected by coral bleaching, sparking fears it could become a global event

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From air-purified penthouses and private jets, a wealthy anti-green lobby feigns common cause with ‘ordinary people’. Let’s expose that

In Britain and far beyond, anti-environmentalists have a new favourite argument. No longer able to claim the climate crisis isn’t happening, they have switched from denial to class warfare. They argue that green policies and innovations from electric cars to heat pumps, low emission zones to eco-taxes and levies, are all unaffordable for working-class and many middle-class people, yet are being imposed regardless by an out-of-touch elite of politicians, bureaucrats and wealthy “woke capitalists”.

Most of the people making these arguments in the rightwing media were never previously much troubled by the financial struggles of what they now piously call “ordinary people”. But shamelessly shifting position is a familiar activity for the modern right. Meanwhile the cost of living crisis has given its anti-green message more force.

Andy Beckett is a Guardian columnist

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Vast Solar partners with global design and manufacturing firm to take the next step forward on its VS1 project, the 30MW/288MWh plant in South Australia.

The post Australia’s biggest solar thermal plant takes “big step forward” with digital twin appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Comcare announces department has been charged and may be fined $1.5m for allegedly failing to properly train personnel

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Australia’s Department of Defence could be given a $1.5m fine for failing to properly train its personnel after two of its soldiers were mauled by a crocodile.

The federal government’s workplace watchdog, Comcare, announced on Friday the department had been charged for failing its duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

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Mike Cannon-Brookes describes AGL - in which he is the biggest shareholder - as a toxic company that can be fixed.

The post Cannon-Brookes lashes out at “toxic” AGL, but says it is “fixable” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Two major players in the global pulp and paper industry have partnered to launch a pilot programme to protect biodiversity in the Amazon region.

The Russian mission is racing against India to be the first country to land on the Moon's south pole.

We talk to Peter Leeson about the rise and rise of his Australian made Volt solar tile, which is being installed on rooftops in every state in Australia – and setting records overseas.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Volt from the blue appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hundreds of key environmental science terms added to the British Sign Language dictionary.

How do you sign 'carbon footprint' in BSL?

Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions fell nine per cent in the first half of the year as a weakening economy deflated energy use.

The post German emissions fall 9% in first half of 2023, renewables at 55 pct of grid power appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Rio Tinto to install 55MW solar farm just south of the Arctic Circle to help power the huge Diavik diamond mine which is to close in a few years.

The post Rio to build biggest solar farm in Canada’s north to help power diamond mine appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Chevron has announced investments in two carbon sequestration research projects in Western Australia, it announced Friday.

Mining giants agree to end feudal approach to Pilbara energy systems and work with each other and energy companies to create one of world's biggest renewable hubs.

The post Mining giants agree to end feudal energy grids and create massive renewables hub appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Now that plans for a national radioactive waste management facility near Kimba in South Australia have been abandoned, what next? Let’s learn from our mistakes. Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The global spaghetti bowl of undersea fibre optic cables shows what can be achieved with intergovernmental cooperation. The HVDC sector needs a similar approach – and fast.

The post Subsea high voltage cables are a must to meet net zero – so how can we scale them up? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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

California Carbon Allowances (CCAs) veered higher through another week of volatility as traders attempted to square the market's recent ARB cap-and-trade workshop-inspired rally with the Aug. 16 quarterly auction, while Washington Carbon Allowances (WCAs) remained unchanged even as traders expected reserve sale volumes to sell out at this week's offering.

New York’s continued participation in the power sector RGGI carbon market would aid the development of the state’s economy-wide cap-and-invest system by ensuring programme stability and fostering greater regional climate ambition, though separating from RGGI could yield a larger in-state emissions cap and avoid multiple carbon prices, an expert said Thursday.