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Germany-based utility RWE, the EU’s top corporate emitter, reported a 16.5% rise in its ETS-covered thermal power output for 2021, it said on Friday, upping its demand for carbon allowances.

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High Wycombe vigil implores senior Tory, who has questioned cost of net zero, to quit as trustee of Global Warming Policy Foundation

Protesters gathered in High Wycombe on Friday to implore their MP, Steve Baker, to quit as a trustee of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, a thinktank that has been accused of being one of the UK’s leading sources of climate scepticism.

Christians from the MP’s constituency prayed and sang Amazing Grace outside the constituency office, holding signs reading “Praying 4 Steve Baker”, “The Earth is what we all have in common”, “… And God created science”. Baker is an evangelical Christian.

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But a disaster at the defunct nuclear power plant there is "extremely unlikely", experts say.

EUAs are unlikely to quickly recover a near-10% drop in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the impact of the conflict is too far-reaching, several analysts told Carbon Pulse, though others expect prices to bounce back somewhat as bargain-hunters step in and coal power remains well-supported.

Grower says quick crop is down to weather conditions as well as use of coconut fibre

British asparagus is landing on supermarket shelves eight weeks earlier than usual after the mild winter weather quickened the arrival of this year’s first spears.

The traditional start to the season is 23 April but Waitrose will have homegrown asparagus in its shops from Saturday. It has been grown in polytunnels in Hampshire where the grower reported “unseasonably warm” January temperatures.

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Damian Hinds challenged schools to ditch disposable plastics by 2022 but goal is still long way off

The UK government has failed to back up its call for schools to ditch plastic, say campaigners, despite setting a 2022 target.

Three years ago Damian Hinds, then the education secretary, challenged headteachers in England to ditch disposables such as straws, bottles, bags and food packaging by this year. But campaigners say that without tangible targets, funded resources and a realistic strategy, this goal is still a long way off.

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EUAs posted moderate gains on Friday morning as traders regained confidence that Russian gas flows would not be interrupted amid modest sanctions, even as Russian forces advanced on the Ukrainian capital.

Australia’s weekly offset issuances dropped far below average levels this week though new project registrations rose, while the Western Australia government launched a new voucher programme for soil carbon farmers.

The best of this week’s wildlife pictures, including firefall, rock goats and a pack of grey wolves

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Price levels and trading volumes in China’s carbon market both rebounded somewhat over the past week, but regulatory uncertainty continues to put a dampener on activity.

PFAS chemicals detected in 20% of private wells and 60% of public wells sampled in 16 eastern states

Pollution by toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in America’s aquifer system has led to widespread contamination of private and public drinking water wells, data from a new study by the US Geological Survey finds.

The study, published in Environmental Science and Technology, detected PFAS chemicals in 20% of private wells and 60% of public wells sampled in 16 eastern states, and offered new insights on how to predict which drinking water sources may be contaminated.

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An experienced China carbon market analyst has joined the emissions trading desk at one of the country’s biggest power companies.

China Southern Power Grid on Friday released more detailed trading rules for the recently established green power trading scheme, which traders say might emerge as the option of choice for generators tired of waiting for clarity on the nation’s offset market.

Oil major Shell has signed a partnership agreement with a major Chinese steelmaker that spans carbon trading, green steel, and EV charging facilities.

Tony Juniper says he has high hopes for scheme obliging new developments to factor in 10% nature increase

Demand for nature is exceeding supply but new wildlife areas can be created by regulations to ensure housing estates bring about “biodiversity net gain”, according to the chair of England’s nature watchdog.

Tony Juniper said the post-pandemic surge in people visiting wild places for their mental and physical wellbeing – and to walk lockdown puppies – was concentrating footfall in relatively few nature reserves, which were increasingly used like public parks.

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The drones are being used to find pools of water that mosquitos use to breed.

Officials say a trio of oversized bears is responsible for home invasions that had been blamed on a 500lb black bear dubbed Hank the Tank

DNA evidence has shown that the 500-pound black bear the public had nicknamed Hank the Tank is, in fact, at least three not-so-little bears who have damaged more than 30 properties around Lake Tahoe in recent months.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife on Thursday said it would soon begin trapping bears in the South Lake Tahoe area to tag the animals and collect evidence for genetic analysis. The bears will be released in a “suitable habitat” and the agency said no trapped animals will be euthanised as part of the project.

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World leaders to gather in Nairobi next week to discuss first global treaty to combat plastic waste

World leaders will come together online and in Nairobi, Kenya, next week, in what is described as a “critical moment” in progress towards the first ever global treaty to combat plastic waste. Inger Andersen, director of the UN Environment Programme, said an agreement at the UN environment assembly could be the most important multilateral pact since the Paris climate accord in 2015.

Public disgust and impatience over the growing mountain of plastic waste has led to an unprecedented “degree of focus” that could see member states agreeing a blueprint for a legally binding treaty to control plastics “from source to sea”, she said.

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