Around The Web

EU power sector emission cuts have had little to do with the recent trebling of the bloc's ETS prices and are more because of ever-increasing renewables deployment, ICIS analysts said on Thursday, adding this was likely to change over the next few years as prices push to €40.

A US federal appeals court should not accept a biofuel trade group’s motion to temporarily halt compliance waivers under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) because its argument is untimely and lacks merit, the EPA said in a court filing this week.

EUAs raced to an early peak above €27 on Thursday, but a weak auction and declining natural gas prices dented the confidence of bullish speculators, triggering a sell-off.

Jury finds Roger Hallam not guilty of causing damage after spray painting building’s wall

The founder of Extinction Rebellion has been cleared by a jury of all charges relating to a protest against fossil fuels in what campaigners say is a historic moment for the climate justice movement.

Roger Hallam, 52, did not deny criminal damage worth £7,000 in an action to urge Kings College, London to divest from fossil fuels.

Continue reading...

About 2.8 planets would be needed if rest of world followed suit, biocapacity data shows

Europe is using up natural resources so quickly that the planet’s ability to replenish itself over the year would be exhausted by this Friday if everyone consumed as much, a new analysis has found.

It would take 2.8 planets to extend the EU’s rate of consumption of fuels, food, fibres, land and timber to all the world’s people, according to data collected by WWF and the Global Footprint Network.

Continue reading...

A shellfish consignment is carried across the busy North Sea by an Uncrewed Surface Vessel.

Ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Ghent to pipe greenhouse gas into vast under-sea cavities

Three of the largest ports in Europe – Rotterdam, Antwerp and Ghent – are to be used to capture and bury 10m tonnes of CO2 emissions under the North Sea in what will be the biggest project of its kind in the world.

The ports, which account for one-third of the total greenhouse gas emissions from the Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg region, would be used to pipe the gas into vast cavities about two miles (3km) below the seabed.

Continue reading...

South Korean carbon allowances inched upwards in Thursday trade to hit new record highs for the fifth time in just over two weeks as sellers continued to sit on their surplus units rather than bringing them to market.

An Anglo-Saxon royal whose tomb was found next to a road in 2003 may have finally been identified.

What are the major political parties planning to do about the hot-button issues of climate change and energy?

Our public space is increasingly out of reach for all but the fit, the brave, and those in motor vehicles

Almost 90% of cyclists experience a “close pass” – an overtake within 1.5m – at least weekly, and 70% say conditions on Britain’s roads haven’t improved in the last five years, according to a new damning survey from British Cycling.

Of 15,000 respondents, 66% said they were concerned about their safety while cycling on Britain’s roads, and almost 40% said they experienced a close pass daily.

Continue reading...

Despite emergency meeting in Brisbane, solar industry headed for major downturn as state government holds line on contested rules to be introduced on Monday.

The post “Shock and confusion” as Queensland holds line on solar rules appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Health food chain to replace all branded and own-label wipes with eco-friendly alternatives

Holland & Barrett is to become the first UK high street retailer to stop selling wet wipes, in a drive to reduce the environmental damage wreaked as a result of them blocking sewers and waterways.

The health food chain is removing all 34 branded and own-label products in its wet wipe range from its 800 UK and Ireland stores and – from July – replacing them with eco-friendly alternatives such as double-sided cotton cloths, unbleached cotton muslin cloths, cotton pads and exfoliating gloves. Its shops in other countries will follow suit by the end of September.

Continue reading...

Gary Lineker and Paloma Faith among public figures ‘terrified at what climate crisis means’ for future

Parents including Gary Lineker, Paloma Faith and Juliet Stevenson have joined children in demanding governments declare a climate emergency and dramatically speed up cuts in carbon emissions.

“We are inspired by the young people who are striking for climate action, but we can’t leave it to our children to fix the mess that past generations have created,” said the 124 public figures who signed an open letter.

Continue reading...

Sweden considers expanded role for solar in meeting country's 100 per cent renewables target.

The post Sweden looks to more solar to reach 100% renewables by 2045 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Allowing renewable energy certificates to be used in the safeguard mechanism could lower electricity costs, and provide cheap abatement for industry. Easy!

The post RECs could lower price of electricity, and cut emissions in industry appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australian lithium producer partners with major Chinese battery manufacturer to accelerate production and supply of batteries to Australia

The post Lithium Australia partners with Chinese firm to accelerate battery production appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Exclusive: Former environment minister calls for creation of ‘war’ cabinet committee to plot transition to zero carbon

The former environment minister Peter Garrett has urged an incoming Labor government to convene a climate emergency summit to plot a transition to zero carbon, and create a super department aligned to Treasury, like the Department of Post War Reconstruction after the second world war, to implement the transition.

In a speech overnight in New Zealand, Garrett – a former environment minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments – said Bill Shorten should create a standalone “war” cabinet committee, charged with the responsibility of overseeing the new initiatives and ensuring Australia meets its emission-reduction goals.

Continue reading...

At least £1bn a year needs to be spent on defences and some communities may have to move, a report warns.

There's a big difference between rehoming and abandonment. Bronwyn Orr, Veterinarian and PhD scholar, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.