Around The Web

Virginia utility Dominion Energy backed its auction-focused approach to RGGI compliance amid criticism about failing to account for long-term CO2 abatement trends, while the company disclosed it held a small shortage in the regional power sector carbon market through Q1, according to public documents.

EU presidency holder Portugal is proposing to cap the carbon removals that can be used to meet a strengthened 2030 emissions target, according to documents seen by Carbon Pulse, in a compromise designed to unblock stalled negotiations on the bloc's Climate Law.

Climate scientists says 1.5°C target now likely out of reach, and a dramatic ramp up emissions reduction efforts now needed to meet 2°C target.

The post Decade of inaction means it’s too late to cap global warming at 1.5 °C appeared first on RenewEconomy.

South Australia to trial "flexible" exports for solar households in a trial that is expected to become standard throughout the country.

The post South Australia to introduce “flexible” export option for rooftop solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

EUAs rose back above €44 early on Wednesday, but a challenge to this week's record levels was beaten back after a weaker auction.

France’s Saint-Gobain has launched an internal carbon fund to incentivise employees to cut the building materials manufacturer’s emissions, while monetising some of those actions to fund new abatement initiatives within the firm.

Report author calls for thorough clean-up of political donations, directorships and embedded interns

Boris Johnson’s government is “too cosy” with vested interests in business to take strong action on the climate crisis, the author of a report on “the polluting elite”, has warned.

Peter Newell, a professor of international relations at the University of Sussex, said: “We are never going to have change while these actors are so close to government. The government is not willing to take on these interests as it has close ties to big industries, including fossil fuels. There is a definite reluctance to take them on.”

Continue reading...

La Soufriere, on the island of St Vincent, has been erupting for the past five days.

Leaders condemn ‘unsolicited involvement by others in our territory’ as activists seek to protect old-growth trees

Two chiefs of a First Nation in western Canada have told anti-old growth logging protesters camped out on their traditional lands to pack up and go home.

Operating under the banner of the Rainforest Flying Squad, a group of predominantly non-Indigenous activists have been blocking logging roads across a swath of southern Vancouver Island and calling for an immediate halt to old-growth logging since last August.

Continue reading...

South Korea has postponed its scheduled CO2 allowance auctions for April and May amid the lowest secondary market KAU prices in more than five years, shifting the volume to the June sale just weeks ahead of the annual compliance deadline.

Further postponement of the UK climate summit would be better than a failed event, says an expert.

Bowen labels Morrison and Taylor's 'gas led recovery' a fraud, and says Labor must convince voters of economic opportunities of shift to zero emissions.

The post “The gas led recovery is a fraud”, Labor’s Chris Bowen says appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Market Forces says Woodside, Santos must wind down production immediately to avoid catastrophic climate change. Shareholders will vote on it tomorrow.

The post Australian gas giants’ success relies on massive Paris failure: Market Forces appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Drive to plant more trees will count for little if existing woods are lost, says Woodland Trust

The UK’s native woodlands are reaching a crisis point, with just 7% in good condition, according to the first comprehensive assessment of their health.

The Woodland Trust’s report found the woods facing a barrage of threats, including destruction by development, imported pests and diseases, the impacts of the climate crisis and pollution. Woodland specialist birds and butterflies have declined by almost half since 1970, it said.

Continue reading...

Colony does not perish when queen dies as ‘chosen’ workers shrink brains and expand their ovaries

Few species in the animal kingdom can change the size of their brain. Fewer still can change it back to its original size. Now researchers have found the first insect species with that ability: Indian jumping ants.

They are like catnip to researchers in the field. In contrast to their cousins, Indian jumping ants colonies do not perish once their queen dies. Instead, “chosen” workers take her place – with expanded ovaries and shrunken brains – to produce offspring. But, if a worker’s “pseudo-queen” status is somehow revoked, their bodies can bounce back, the research suggests.

Continue reading...

A 70MW solar and battery project proposed to help fill the gap left by Victoria’s retiring coal-fired power stations has applied for state development approval.

The post Morwell solar and battery project proposed to “fill void” in Victorian coal country appeared first on RenewEconomy.

MYTILINEOS’ Renewables & Storage Development Business Unit and QEnergy have executed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) on WePower's renewable energy procurement and trading platform.

The post Greek group strikes PPA for 18.7MW Wagga North solar farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The new Hyundai Ioniq will allow owners to plug in their laptops, tools, camping equipment and their entire house if need be.

The post Video: New Ioniq’s electric power play appeared first on RenewEconomy.

German energy provider completes first stage of test project to see whether the safe storage of green hydrogen in underground caverns is possible.

The post Hydrogen storage pilot project in underground salt dome reaches milestone appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Water is our life support system in a drying continent, yet the coal and gas industries consume prodigious amounts of water each day.

The post A fossil fuel frenzy is drinking Australia’s finite water resources appeared first on RenewEconomy.