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Quantity of particles hundreds of meters underwater off California is on par with Great Pacific Garbage Patch, study finds

Anela Choy, a biological oceanographer, had been noticing something odd while studying the diets of tuna and other deep-diving fish. Though they lived at average depths of 1,000ft, their stomachs routinely contained bottle caps, trash bags, and light sticks. “It was so strange,” says Choy, who works at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. “We were seeing recognizable pieces of human society.”

Her concerns about plastic pollution inspired a study of waters off the coast of northern California, conducted by Choy and a team of other scientists. The findings, released today in Nature Scientific Reports, reveal a proliferation of microplastic particles, the tiny fragments left over when larger plastics break down. Most remarkably, the highest concentrations of microplastics were found about 200-300 meters (650-1,000ft) down – four times more plastic than was found in samples at the surface. That’s on par, or higher, with quantities found at the surface of the Great Pacific Garbage patch.

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A carving believed to be about 12,000 years old has been discovered in south-western France.

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions rose again last year, according to new government data, as a massive increase in liquefied natural gas more than offset CO2e cuts from electricity generation and agriculture.

The town's only supermarket has burned down and the nearest source of food and clean water is 80 kilometres away.

New Zealand carbon allowances fell to 10-month lows in Thursday trade as lingering questions about the fixed price option has muted demand.

South Korea on Thursday announced new regulations that will limit the amount of CO2 allowances emitters can bank into the future without offloading some of their surplus, in a bid to address concerns over liquidity in the nation’s emissions trading scheme.

Chancellor says target would mean less money available for schools and hospitals

The chancellor, Philip Hammond, has warned Theresa May that reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero could cost the country £1tn and lead to industries becoming “economically uncompetitive” without government subsidies.

In a letter to the prime minister, he said the 2050 net zero target – one of the most far-reaching proposed in the world – would mean less money for schools, the NHS and police forces, the Financial Times reported. The target has the backing of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the government’s advisory panel.

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Minister for Resources Matt Canavan on whether Australia can meet its emissions reduction targets.

Australia's new emissions data for the December 2018 quarter show a rise on the previous quarter, although the raw figures actually dropped. Here's what that all means. Tim Baxter, Fellow - Melbourne Law School; Associate - Australian-German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Two new reports have highlighted the potential of “renewable gas” in Australia, if the Federal Government can put in place the right policy mechanisms to support its use. The reports, one from by Energy Networks Australia and another by Bioenergy Australia were launched at the Renewable Gas in Australia Symposium held in Sydney, have recommended...

The post Networks lobby pushes for RET-style scheme for hydrogen gas in pipelines appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Independent panel lead by former Labor climate change minister urges big emissions reductions, even without factoring in a 1.5C pathway.

The post Combet panel urges big emissions cuts for Victoria, but stops short of 1.5°C pathway appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Request by Adani Renewables triggers review of controversial allocations of marginal loss factors, as rule-maker also moves to provide some transparency to project plans.

The post AEMC to consider proposed changes to marginal loss factor rules appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Data showing 0.7% rise in 2018 published a week late and only after minister discloses it to the Australian

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are still increasing, according to a government report that was withheld for a week in defiance of a Senate order.

The environment department published its emissions data for the December 2018 quarter on Thursday morning, but only after the energy and emissions reduction minister, Angus Taylor, first disclosed information from the report in an interview with the Australian.

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Queensland government attempts to overturn Supreme Court ruling that declared its controversial "solar rules" invalid to be heard by Court of Appeal on Friday.

The post Queensland court to hear government appeal on Friday on solar rule rejection appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Council wants NSW government to work with banks on financial products to make divestment easier

Sydney’s Inner West council says it has 100% divested from fossil fuels after a three-year process that began before the amalgamation of Leichhardt, Marrickville and Ashfield councils.

The council is now calling on the New South Wales government to work with the big four banks “to develop financial products that will allow more organisations to follow our lead”.

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Norwegian multinational energy company Equinor has received approval to build the world’s largest planned floating offshore wind farm.

The post Norway’s Equinor to build world’s biggest floating wind farm near Canary Islands
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Chile, the host of the next UN climate talks unveiled its plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, which will require one of the fastest coal shut downs anywhere.

The post Coal-dependent Chile vows to eradicate fuel by 2040 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Latest data shows how Australia's greenhouse emissions continue to surge as Angus Taylor opts to release greenhouse figures through the Murdoch press.

The post Australia’s emissions jump again, as Taylor delivers early spin to Murdoch media appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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The technology is designed to cut down queues, and lose the annoyance of removing liquids from bags.