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Queensland researchers unveil new low cost techniques for the conversion of carbon dioxide into renewable fuels like hydrogen and other chemicals.

The post Australian research could unlock way to make cheap renewable hydrogen while absorbing CO2 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New CSIRO modelling shows a 50 per cent increase in assumed rooftop solar installations across Australia from previous studies.

The post Australia may reach nearly 60GW of small scale solar – new CSIRO modelling appeared first on RenewEconomy.

International Energy Agency chief warns of need to prevent post-lockdown surge in emissions

The world has only six months in which to change the course of the climate crisis and prevent a post-lockdown rebound in greenhouse gas emissions that would overwhelm efforts to stave off climate catastrophe, one of the world’s foremost energy experts has warned.

“This year is the last time we have, if we are not to see a carbon rebound,” said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.

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As the bushfire royal commission examines whether to expand the use of indigenous fire techniques, overseas countries are already on board. Sam Johnston, Senior Fellow, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

BP annual survey shows that coal is stagnant, but gas is booming, threatening to slow emissions reductions, and Australia is playing a key role in that.

The post BP data highlights Australia’s awkward place in a rapidly changing energy world appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A group of leading environmental groups slam NCCC head Nev Power for falsely claiming they had been consulted on Covid-19 economic response.

The post Enviro groups slam Morrison’s Covid Commission over false claims of consultation appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

A fossil fuel generator in W.A. has received more than $10 million in annual payments even though it is switched on for just a few hours a year - much of that just to show it works.

The post Why fossil fuels love capacity markets: $11.4 million for three hours work appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Far more people have died during the coronavirus pandemic than official Covid-19 data can account for

The Xenon 1T experiment may have found signs of a previously undetected dark matter particle.

A lack of standardisation and transparency across eligible offset programmes under the international aviation offset market CORSIA is presenting a barrier to entry for participants and making it difficult to estimate credit supply, according to a new report.  

In my 24 years of research, including visiting most sites, I've yet to see a successful rehabilitation case study of Australia's uranium mines. Gavin Mudd, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The EU carbon market’s Market Stability Reserve (MSR) should shift its focus to allowance prices rather than supply, researchers have proposed, highlighting a number of shortcomings identified in the 18-month old mechanism.

EU lawmakers have insisted on the role of EUAs and a carbon border adjustment mechanism to help finance the continent’s green recovery, hoping to sway leaders from the 27 nations when they negotiate the Union-wide 2021-2027 budget on Friday.

The football-like fossil has puzzled scientists since it was found in Antarctica almost a decade ago.

Japanese researchers succeed in fertilising pears using pollen carried on a soap bubble.

• 750m insects to be released with second trial planned for Texas
• Critics say risks of ‘Jurassic Park experiment’ not assessed

A plan to release a horde of 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida and Texas is a step closer to fruition after a state regulator approved the idea, over the objections of many environmentalists.

Related: People v mosquitos: what to do about our biggest killer

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California natural gas-fired power generation is outpacing 2019 levels despite lower consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while imports are also beginning to make up a greater share of Golden State’s electricity grid, data showed.

Unusually high temperatures in region linked to wildfires, oil spill and moth swarms

A prolonged heatwave in Siberia is “undoubtedly alarming”, climate scientists have said. The freak temperatures have been linked to wildfires, a huge oil spill and a plague of tree-eating moths.

On a global scale, the Siberian heat is helping push the world towards its hottest year on record in 2020, despite a temporary dip in carbon emissions owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

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A genetic survey of ancient remains from Ireland reveals the existence of a Stone Age social elite.