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For decades, economists have pondered the 'social cost of carbon' - the price worth paying to avoid the future costs of greenhouse emissions. But a new analysis suggests this quest is impossibly complex. Jack Pezzey, Senior Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

California regulator ARB is expected to approve the cap-and-trade amendments up for discussion at Thursday’s board meeting, with little chance of changing its position on the major elements of the proposal, sources said.

With negotiators struggling to break deadlock over an increasingly complex Paris Agreement rulebook text, the Polish presidency on Wednesday announced it was taking more direct control over the COP24 talks in Katowice.

Five countries have committed to curb N2O emissions nationwide from 2021 in return for Germany buying and cancelling carbon credits from their emission-cutting projects until that year.

‘Peaceful use’ of fossil fuels could mean their continued but decreasing extraction, within enforceable limits constrained by the Paris agreement goals, writes Hugh Richards

In the face of the emerging climate emergency (Letters, 10 December) and projected unconstrained growth in global fossil fuel use, this is a plea for people with relevant expertise and influence to take forward the idea for a “non-proliferation treaty” (NPT) for fossil fuels, floated by Andrew Simms and Peter Newell (theguardian.com, 23 October) and supported by Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein and others (Letters, 30 October).

The analogy between fossil fuels and fissile nuclear materials is imperfect, but it should not be overlooked that the nuclear NPT promotes cooperation in and equal access to “peaceful use” of nuclear technology. “Peaceful use” of fossil fuels could mean their continued but decreasing extraction, within enforceable limits constrained by the Paris agreement goals, and an offsetting role for carbon capture and geo-sequestration (funded by fossil fuel producers). Safeguards and oversight could be provided by a new United Nations monitoring agency, akin to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which could also administer a global fossil carbon budget.

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Fifteen international organisations and development banks pledged Wednesday to make their operations carbon neutral in part through offsets, but they did not specify a target year or detail any of their potential demand for credits.

Morrison government specifies generation projects will need to be coal, gas, batteries or pumped hydro to be eligible for underwriting

The Morrison government has sent a clear signal that it is prepared to provide taxpayer support for both new and existing coal plants, opening registrations of interest in its controversial new power generation underwriting program.

With the government accelerating to cover off major announcements before the Christmas break, the energy minister, Angus Taylor, will on Thursday use an event at a hydro power station in Tasmania to outline the terms of the new program and urge proponents to get their bids in over the summer break – before 23 January.

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António Guterres returns to Katowice to urge China to intervene as world is ‘running out of time’

The UN secretary general, António Guterres, has made a dramatic intervention to revive flagging climate talks in Katowice, Poland, by flying back to the conference and preparing a personal call to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.

Related: US accused of obstructing talks at UN climate change summit

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The Carbon Tracker Initiative’s managing director and head of research has resigned to take up a position at the asset management arm of French bank BNP Paribas.

California power utilities are poised to emit more CO2 in 2018 as hydroelectric power continues to decline and natural gas-fired generation rises, according to state and federal data.

The launch of Mexico’s pilot carbon market will be postponed for at least a few months after a consultation on the programme was withdrawn, a move that could delay the start of the actual market by upwards of a year, sources told Carbon Pulse.

Government officials are saying little about the possible start date for China’s national emissions trading schemes after two previous delays, but a number of experts familiar with the latest developments say late 2020 remains the likely launch time for the world’s biggest carbon market.

The profit margins on retail petrol prices, alone, are equal to an off-peak kilowatt-hour of electricity. So what’s stopping you from going electric?

The post Want to avoid the Christmas petrol price gouge? Go electric appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australian company breaks cover with a solar-powered Applied Electric Vehicle that seeks to re-imagine the future of transport.

The post Solar electric vehicle with swappable bodies unveiled in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Cosmonauts have cut samples from around a hole, which Moscow says may have been caused by a drill.

New Zealand on Wednesday announced a series of reforms to its emissions trading scheme that will limit permit supply and likely send prices higher in the future, though near-term impact on the market is expected to be modest.

What does this mean for you? ...

A world-leading, Adelaide-made 10MWh molten silicon energy storage system is on its way to Glenelg, where it will be tested at an SA Water treatment plant.

The post 1414 Degrees’ molten silicon biogas energy storage system set for trial in S.A. appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New Zealand urges others not to meet emissions pledge with ‘dodgy accounting’, but UN rules unlikely to prohibit using carryover credits

Australia appears likely be allowed to exploit a controversial climate loophole, using carryover carbon credits from the Kyoto protocol to meet its Paris agreement targets.

New Zealand has already ruled out using the carryover credits, saying it would discourage other countries from the practice.

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The wind and solar boom is clearly adding to competition, but 5GW of battery storage in coming years will really focus the minds of incumbent utilities.

The post Know your NEM: Wind and solar is boosting competition appeared first on RenewEconomy.