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China’s finance ministry will develop a toolkit to facilitate the country’s path towards carbon neutrality, sparking fresh speculation that a carbon tax might be on the steps.

Exclusive: PM told there could be eight years’ decline before any gains despite already being at ‘rock bottom’

The government has set damaging and illogical targets for species recovery in England that could mean there is eight years of decline before any improvement, despite already being at “rock bottom”, scientists have warned the prime minister.

Twenty-three leading scientists from institutions including Oxford and Cambridge universities, the Natural History Museum, the Zoological Society of London and the RSPB have written to Boris Johnson expressing their alarm over the nature targets.

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One of China’s richest provinces has released a draft plan to launch a nature-based carbon offset programme, though uncertainty around the national government’s approach to corresponding adjustments means the resulting credits might be restricted to domestic consumption.

The number of global asset managers that have now set climate targets has reached over 80, with nearly 40% of their assets aligned with a net zero emissions by 2050 goal, an update from the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAM) reported on Tuesday.

The rise of teals and Greens challenges Labor to take more ambitious climate action, but room to move is constrained by pre-election commitments. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Chris Bowen confirmed as Australia's next climate and energy minister, the first climate minister since the last Labor government.

The post Chris Bowen confirmed as new energy and climate minister, McAllister as assistant appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) spot price is likely to double over the next eight years to A$70 ($50), but remain below A$40 for the time being, analysts said Tuesday.

SA Labor calls for designs and delivery concepts for $592 million hydrogen hub proposed for Whyalla, but stays vague on what colour it prefers.

The post South Australia seeks ideas for Whyalla hydrogen hub, both blue and green appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Why this report? Why now? Why did I get all those rolling eye emoji text messages?

• Is nitrous oxide a climate risk? Yes, but doctors say effective pain relief in childbirth should be the priority

When a new report suggested that people who use nitrous oxide when giving birth should be warned about the impacts on climate change, I felt the mild tremor of a collective groan uttered in unison across the country. More than one person sent me headlines accompanied by a rolling eye emoji.

Clearly the climate crisis is a pressing mattter of life or death and the future of all humanity. The staggering results of our federal election show that this is an issue about which Australians are deeply concerned. And many medical colleges are considering the effects of climate change on their patients, with the Australian Medical Association even issuing a call to arms.

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The billions now going to fossil fuel exploitation could have funded efficiency measures that cut energy bills for good

Billions of pounds given away in a tax break for UK oil and gas exploitation could have permanently cut the energy bills of 2m homes by £342 a year if invested in insulation measures, according to a green thinktank.

Rishi Sunak announced the 91% tax break alongside a windfall tax on the huge profits of oil and gas companies last week. The E3G thinktank calculated that the tax break would hand between £2.5bn and £5.7bn back to the oil companies over three years, while an energy efficiency programme of £3bn over the same period would upgrade 2.1m homes making them less reliant on gas.

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Island states are often dependent on expensive imported fossil fuels for their power. Ocean thermal energy conversion plants could provide constant power – if technical issues can be overcome. Rosalind Archer, Professor, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New data shows ‘mystifying’ lack of progress in post-Brexit pledge to curb bottom-trawling, two years after landmark legislation

More than 90% of Britain’s offshore marine protected areas are still being bottom-trawled and dredged, two years after analysis of the extent of destructive fishing exposed them as “paper parks”, according to data shared with the Guardian.

The UK’s network of marine parks, set up to safeguard vulnerable areas of the seabed and marine life, is a cornerstone of the government’s target to protect 30% of ocean biodiversity by 2030.

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A Russian missile has damaged a small solar farm in eastern Ukraine over the weekend.

The post Russian missile strikes Ukraine solar farm, solar farm powers on appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Want to check your canine friend isn’t suffering when an Antarctic blast hits? Start with their ears and feet. Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One of Australia's largest business groups pleads for an accelerated switch to renewables, in the wake of 'apocalyptic' electricity prices.

The post “Apocalyptic”: Industry group’s desperate plea to get Australia off coal and gas appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Plans for massive green hydrogen hub backed by up to 6GW of wind and solar have been discontinued, citing "unacceptable" risks around water supply.

The post Massive 6,000MW renewable hydrogen plans shelved over “water issues” appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Queensland says no to new bidding directions for state owned generators, despite state prices soaring to unprecedented highs. But it's working on an energy plan.

The post Queensland won’t change bidding practices of state owned generators, despite soaring prices appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Rotting seaweed has plagued the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, US and West African coasts for a decade. So we’ve developed a new approach to turn what’s now rubbish into green electricity and fertiliser. Saeid Baroutian, Associate Professor, University of Auckland Dr. Terrell Thompson, Life Sciences Coordinator - Export Barbados, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

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Green hydrogen production requires significant water input, but a new report suggests this could work in favour of some already drought prone regions.

The post How green hydrogen could alleviate global water shortages, not exacerbate them appeared first on RenewEconomy.