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Beyond this ferocious, partisan row lies a vital principle: politicians must place facts and judgment over the biases of the public square

Here is a question that is nowhere as parochial as it might sound: does it matter if Sadiq Khan is re-elected as London mayor next year? Not really, you might say in Newcastle; we’re more engaged in the drama over Labour’s dumping of popular metro mayor Jamie Driscoll. Yada yada, you might say in Manchester; we’ve got our own show, as Andy Burnham jousts with central government.

And yet it does matter. We are almost one week into the creation of that expanded ultra-low emission zone in London and yet the world still turns, the lights stayed on and the pubs are still serving beer. There has been some hardship for those who have struggled and will struggle to adapt, despite the scrappage scheme to offset expense. It’s no joke for poorer people who can’t just buy another car in an overheated secondhand market, and tradespeople who don’t have another £25,000 for a new compliant van (though they can claim tax relief on the charge).

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Spanish research centre achieves first tank-bred Atlantic bluefin as NGOs warn of poor welfare, more antibiotic use and water pollution

The first successful breeding of Atlantic bluefin tuna at a Spanish research centre has spurred at least two companies to ramp up plans for the industrial farming of land-bred tuna.

The companies would be the first to use only tank-bred Atlantic bluefin stocks of fertilised eggs or young tuna. Up to now, farming of Atlantic bluefin has relied on catching young wild fish and fattening them in open-sea cages.

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Bipartisan push to replace coal in NSW is fraying at the seams, with Labor taking aim at Matt Kean over claimed Eraring extension costs and sending mixed signals about its closure date.

The post “Delayed and over budget:” Sharpe strikes out at Kean, gives mixed signals on Eraring appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Bans on new gas connections will force distributors to start paying down debt sooner than expected as managed declines begin.

The post Ratings agency says Victoria ban is beginning of the end for gas distributors appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Genex says its revenue will increase threefold over next three years, with its growing storage portfolio and the "tremendous opportunity" of volatile grid pricing.

The post Genex eyes trebling of revenue, says new battery already “sopping up” negative prices appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A new report spans more than 300 peer-reviewed studies to present a comprehensive summary of the risks the industry creates for people’s health and wellbeing, as well as for the planet. Melissa Haswell, Professor of Health, Safety and Environment, Queensland University of Technology and Professor of Practice in Environmental Wellbeing, Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services) and Honorary Professor (School of Geosciences), University of Sydney David Shearman, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide Jacob Hegedus, Research Assistant, University of Sydney Lisa Jackson Pulver, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Rooftop solar installs had their biggest August ever, new SunWiz data shows, as households help put the market within striking distance of best year ever.

The post Rooftop solar market closes out winter at a new high, as households keep going big appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New Zealand market watchers are once again doubtful that this week’s government-held auction will clear due to a lack of demand.

Ministers hope to make it easier for councils to pass planning applications for new turbines in move that has Labour support

Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning to revoke the ban on building new onshore windfarms in order to head off a row with Tory MPs for the second time.

Ministers are preparing to introduce changes to planning rules that will allow councils to give the go-ahead to turbine proposals where there is broad public support, according to the Telegraph.

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Carbon Pulse is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and strategic leader to serve as EMEA Policy Editor. This is a management role, reporting to Carbon Pulse's directors.

Andrew Forrest has been described as "loopy" and weird for his striking speech that warns "humanity is at risk" and that "business will kill your children." Just because he said the obvious.

The post “Business will kill your children:” Was Andrew Forrest’s climate speech really that “loopy” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Moths are often overlooked as the poor cousin to butterflies, but they are truly remarkable creatures. Mark Stevens, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Party’s apparent support for Tory move to axe controls on pollution caused by housebuilders is condemned by a range of environmental organisations

Labour will “lose public trust” over moves to clean up the environment if it continues to back Tory plans to scrap pollution rules for housebuilders, green groups have said.

Secretaries of state Michael Gove and Thérèse Coffey last week tabled an amendment to the levelling up bill removing rules that require local councils to block new homes in sensitive areas, such as the Lake District and Norfolk Broads, if they add to nutrient pollution in rivers.

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One thing the Conservatives have achieved: the comprehensive choking to death of our waterways

Last Monday, the Conservative government announced plans to scrap the water pollution rules that protect rivers from environmental damage caused by nearby housebuilding. Some people accuse Sunak’s government of being a zombie government, trapped by infighting and incompetence in legislative inertia, incapable of seeing any task through. This is unfair on zombies who, given enough time, often overwhelm shopping malls, eat people’s brains, or fight sharks underwater. If a barely sentient zombie can do all this, it makes the Conservative’s failure to Stop the Boats ™ ® and Get Brexit Done ™ ® seem even less impressive.

But during their time in office the Conservatives will at least have achieved the comprehensive choking to death of our pesky seas and rivers, once teeming with unruly life, providing leisure opportunities to ungrateful peasants, and offering employment opportunities to the ne’er-do-wells who don’t vote Conservative – surfboard hire operators, conservationists, and a Spanish hippy who sits at the prow of the boat on a cruise round Camden Lock, serenading you relentlessly with detumescent Neil Young covers on a nylon-stringed acoustic guitar.

Tickets for Stewart’s Basic Lee show are on sale now

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Return to the wild will boost biodiversity, but government accused of backing out of scheme

They were some of the country’s most resilient residents, creatures that shaped and nurtured our environment for millennia. Few animals could beat the beaver as a restorer of blighted landscapes, say scientists.

This ecological prowess means Castor fiber has a crucial role to play in helping the nation to revitalise its biodiversity and find solutions to the impacts of climate change, these researchers argue. However, they have become alarmed that a government scheme to reintroduce beavers across England is being held back by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

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I welcome robust discussion, but this obsession with Ulez is an attempt to sow discord and division

London’s ultra-low emission zone expanded to the Greater London boundary on 29 August – making it the largest clean air zone in the world. Five million more Londoners will now breathe cleaner air – helping to prevent early deaths, protect children growing up with stunted lungs and reduce serious health issues such as asthma, cancer and dementia.

Nine out of 10 cars seen driving in outer London on an average day already meet the strict emissions standards and their drivers will not have to pay the charge, but will see the benefits of cleaner air. The Ulez will also help to tackle climate change and congestion.

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Mayor of London defends scheme and accuses Tories of trying to sow ‘division and discord’

• Bogus war on the motorist is sign of Tory desperation | Sadiq Khan

Sadiq Khan has hit back at criticism of the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) and accused the Conservatives of creating a “bogus war on the motorist”.

The scheme, which was expanded to cover all of Greater London on Tuesday, charges older, more polluting vehicles £12.50 a day and is the largest clean air zone in the world. However, the strategy aimed at improving air quality has been divisive.

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Federal and state governments cut a deal to save Marinus Link after cost blowout, but the key element of the Battery of the Nation project is cut in half.

The post Scale of Battery of the Nation project cut in half after huge cost blow-out appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A California Assembly committee on Friday endorsed a pair of bills that would require Scope 1-3 emissions reporting and climate-related financial risk disclosures from companies, sending the proposals to await a final floor vote.

Paintings from a climb that retraced an 1800s route on western Europe’s highest mountain reveals the extent of the peak’s melting ice

A British landscape artist who recreated a climb made 150 years ago to document the impact of the climate crisis on western Europe’s highest mountain says what he found was so grim it reminded him of the “dark paintings” of Francisco de Goya.

James Hart Dyke ascended Mont Blanc’s ancien passage north face, the route taken in 1786 by the first climbers to reach the summit. It was also the same one taken in August 1873 by French painter Gabriel Loppé, whose climb inspired Hart Dyke’s own.

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