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The European Commission is today publishing its long-awaited 'Fit for 55' climate legislative package, seeking to recalibrate the bloc’s climate policies towards a tougher 2030 emissions target. Here's a rolling timeline of today's major developments and expert and stakeholder insight to complement Carbon Pulse's other coverage.

More than 80% of companies in New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme paid the NZ$35 fixed price option (FPO) instead of surrendering allowances for 2020 compliance, according to EPA data, saddling the government with another 30 million surplus NZUs to digest.

Trent Zimmerman and Bridget Archer said net zero was not only the right thing to do but would create opportunities for Australia

Two Liberal backbenchers have called on Scott Morrison to set the long-mooted climate target of net zero emissions by 2050 before a major UNconference in November, and to restore funding and advisory powers to the Climate Change Authority.

Trent Zimmerman, the member for North Sydney, and Bridget Archer, the member for Bass in northern Tasmania, made the call in a joint response to an inquiry into climate change legislation proposed by the independent MP Zali Steggall.

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The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges have released guidelines for so-called carbon neutral corporate bonds in an attempt to root out abuse by companies seeking to profit from the new and trendy product.

The agency doesn’t place any limits on PFAS in drinking water, despite research suggesting the entire class of chemicals is toxic

The Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that it’s considering drinking water limits for the entire class of PFAS compounds, which public health advocates say are categorically toxic.

The chemicals are used to make products resistant to water, stain and heat, and are known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t fully break down or degrade. They’re linked to a range of serious health problems such as cancer, liver disease, kidney problems, heart disease, decreased immunity, and more.

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Thousands of young people are joining a mission to help solve the environmental crisis facing their generation.

South Korea’s first monthly auction for the 2021 compliance cycle failed to sell out Wednesday, as a handful of successful bidders only picked up around 70% of the 2.15 million units on offer.

George Monbiot hosts innovative investigation naming the farms and water firms damaging Britain’s rivers

Giant livestock farms and privatised water firms accused of polluting the nation’s waterways are to be named in what is thought to be the world’s first livestreamed investigative documentary.

The crowdfunded investigation Rivercide, which will be broadcast online at 7pm on Wednesday, will be hosted by environmental journalist and Guardian columnist George Monbiot. Monbiot will travel along the River Wye, which flows between England and Wales, to collect water samples that will be analysed as the documentary unfolds.

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New AEMO chief lists major transmission upgrades as some of the “hard realities” of the transition to renewables, as community push-back continues to build.

The post “Complex web of issues:” AEMO chief warns social licence crucial to 100 pct renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

ARENA to put $2 million into new initiative led by ClimateWorks looking at emission cuts in "hard to abate" industry sectors.

The post ARENA funds industry research into transition of “hard-to-abate” sectors appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Finnish tech giant Wärtsilä reveals its has started testing hydrogen power units, targeting a 900GW+ future market for zero emissions thermal generation.

The post Wärtsilä tests 100 pct hydrogen plants to back 11,000GW of wind and solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

MPs and builders want tax cut included in government strategy to cut emissions from home heating

Ministers are resisting calls to reduce VAT on green home improvements, despite pleas from MPs and builders, as they prepare to set out a national strategy for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from home heating.

Heating Britain’s homes accounts for about 14% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, and that number has barely budged in the past decade. This year, ministers scrapped the green homes grant, a scheme to subsidise insulation and low-carbon heating systems, after only six months. This left the UK with no plan to bring homes into line with the government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

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Across the country, citizens’ juries have shown strong support for ambitious green policies that improve lives

The fight against climate change is often presented as a binary decision between a costly but sustainable future or missing environmental targets while protecting people’s jobs. Not only is this framing environmentally dangerous, it’s politically unnecessary. There is strong support for ambitious government policy to tackle the climate crisis, and optimism about the positive benefits of doing so, as long as the measures taken are fair.

The IPPR Environmental Justice Commission, which publishes its final blueprint for a fair transition today, has seen this first-hand from hundreds of hours of conversations with citizens across the UK. Over the past 18 months, we have convened “citizens’ juries”, where people from different areas are randomly invited to take part in a series of events, to hear from experts and discuss and propose their own ideas. We spoke with people from all walks of life and different viewpoints in Aberdeenshire, Tees Valley and County Durham, Thurrock and south Wales. In each place, we asked these jurors what a fair transition would look like to them.

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Edward Jenner is credited with inventing the vaccine but his method was pioneered by a Dorset farmer.

Government controlled committee rejects Zali Steggall's proposed climate bills, but two Liberals call for net zero 2050 target.

The post Committee rejects Steggall’s climate bills, but rebel Liberals call for net zero by 2050 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Exclusive: oil rich nations back push against Unesco recommendation to have reef placed on world heritage ‘in danger’ list

Australia has gained the support of oil-rich Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in its lobbying effort to keep the Great Barrier Reef off a list of world heritage sites in danger.

The two nations, both members of the 21-country committee, are co-sponsoring amendments seen by the Guardian that back Australia and ask the world heritage committee to push back a key decision until at least 2023.

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If they go out of business it will "rip the heart out of the British countryside", he says.

Landmark report proposes free public transport, more green spaces and cash for home improvements

The British public should be given a “people’s dividend” worth billions of pounds as part of the national drive to hit targets for net zero carbon emissions and the restoration of nature, according to the most detailed blueprint to date for a green transition.

Free public transport, more green spaces and money for improving homes are at the core of a landmark report that proposes one of the greatest advances in the fairness agenda since the creation of the NHS.

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Passengers face ‘near impossible’ choice between low prices and climate-friendly travel, says Which?

Train fares on popular UK routes are 50% more expensive than plane fares despite rail journeys causing 80% lower carbon dioxide emissions, according to analysis by the consumer group Which?.

It said passengers face a “near impossible” choice between low ticket prices and climate-friendly travel. More people are taking holidays in the UK due to coronavirus and airlines have launched dozens of new domestic routes.

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WA to update its grid transition plan as rooftop solar becomes an even more dominant player in the market.

The post WA to update grid transition plan as rooftop solar heads to half of homes appeared first on RenewEconomy.