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State’s powerful advisory body has recommended development of Wollar and Hawkins-Rumker coalfields

Farmers and activists in NSW’s Bylong Valley say they are concerned about the damage to water quality and prime agricultural land in the area if development of two coalfields is given the green light by the state government.

The NSW deputy premier, John Barilaro, has confirmed to locals Guardian Australia’s report in October that the state’s powerful advisory body for strategic release has recommended opening up for development two coalfields in the area: Wollar and Hawkins-Rumker.

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The Global Climate Change Conference is taking place in Madrid this week. One of the key speakers is the General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, the Reverend James Bhagwan of Fiji.

Some 134 species of eucalypts had drops in numbers of at least 30% and the endangered Rose Mallee declined by more than half

A global assessment of all 826 known species of eucalypt trees – of which some 812 grow only in Australia – has found almost a quarter are threatened with extinction.

The figures are revealed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s update of its “red list” of threatened species.

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Recent study shows electric vehicles emit less carbon emissions than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles even when charged off a largely coal-powered grid.

The post Are electric vehicles cleaner than petrol, diesel when run from coal grid? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia's zero for climate policy is well earned, because even its own projections show little in the way of real emission reductions from the Coalition government.

The post Coalition’s zero for climate policy is well earned. All it’s done is cook the books appeared first on RenewEconomy.

International think tank gives Australia a zero for national climate policy as Taylor avoids mentioning the bushfires in his address to COP25 in Madrid.

The post Taylor avoids mention of bushfires as Australia given a zero for climate policy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Fuming, burnt out, drained. Can our smoky cities spark a change in the political atmosphere? Blanche Verlie, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The second half of 2019 has seen a healthy improvement in prices in Victoria and NSW energy efficiency markets, despite a shock expansion in one state.

The post Energy Efficiency market report – Prices strong despite shock expansion appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW Department of Planning gives development approval for "state significant" 125MW Maryvale solar farm, in the Central-West Renewable Energy Zone.

The post Maryvale solar farm approved for development in NSW renewables zone appeared first on RenewEconomy.

ARENA's 5th solar R&D funding round to focus on cutting costs and amount of waste to landfill from solar panels that have reached the end of their working lives.

The post ARENA targets solar panel recycling in new $15m funding round appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Thinktank report deems Morrison government ‘an increasingly regressive force’

Australia is the worst-performing country on climate change policy, according to a new international ranking of 57 countries. The report also criticises the Morrison government for being a “regressive force” internationally.

The 2020 Climate Change Performance Index, prepared by a group of thinktanks comprising the NewClimate Institute, the Climate Action Network and Germanwatch, looks at national climate action across the categories of emissions, renewable energy, energy use and policy.

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ITK forecasts that the tine weighted spot price average in Victoria for the March 2020 quarter will be lower than the current futures quote, but price forecasts are inherently subject to error. The price forecast has fallen despite the fact the weather forecast continues to be terrible. Seeing climate change problems emerging as predicted won’t...

The post Know your NEM: More renewables, lower prices, questions over battery storage appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Brazil, China, India and Saudi Arabia are criticised as anger grows at a UN climate change meeting.

Energy minister tells governments gathered in Madrid ‘technology is central’ to reducing emissions

Angus Taylor has touted investments in technology as central to fighting climate change in Australia’s official address to UN climate talks, but sidestepped the country’s controversial plans to use a carbon accounting loophole to slash its Paris climate target.

The emissions reduction and energy minister told the world’s governments gathered in Madrid that the Paris climate agreement “sent a powerful signal to the world that countries are serious about climate action.”

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E3G is looking for an enthusiastic practitioner to lead E3G’s work on Europe-China climate diplomacy and cooperation, analyse and interpret Chinese climate related policy and activities, and facilitate engagement between E3G’s Chinese partners and European climate policy & actors. The role will be based in E3G’s London office.

The British Embassy in Ankara is part of a world-wide network representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to hire a Climate Change Policy Adviser to contribute to British Embassy work to combat Climate Change, including diplomatic action to support delivery of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in December 2020.

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

It is disappearing from our countryside, but what is the real story behind its inclusion in the famous carol?

“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…” I bet you’re already singing the next line: “a partridge in a pear tree!” The Twelve Days of Christmas is one of our best-known Christmas carols, even if its repetitive format does sometimes drive us round the bend.

But what of the partridge itself? When I was growing up on the edge of London, the grey partridge was, if not exactly common, a fairly regular sight. If I took a trip to East Anglia, they were ten a penny. Nowadays, I struggle to find them anywhere.

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The NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean has broken ranks with his Liberal colleagues in Canberra and is demanding more action be taken on climate change.

Yesterday the air pollution in Sydney hit an unprecedented high, with the thick smoke haze forcing the closure of ferry routes, evacuations of buildings and workers walking off the job.