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Not long before coal use is over, say analysts, while warning of possible resurgence in China

The number of coal-fired power plants being developed around the world has collapsed in the last three years, according to a report.

The number of plants on which construction has begun each year has fallen by 84% since 2015, and 39% in 2018 alone, while the number of completed plants has dropped by more than half since 2015.

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Jo Cameron is one of two people on Earth known to have a mutation that means she feels almost no pain.

A 300MW wind farm has been proposed for development on forestry plantation land in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, overlooking the site of the now closed Hazelwood coal-fired power station.

The post Huge wind farm planned for Victoria’s coal centre, overlooking closed Hazelwood plant appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Global coal power capacity in pre-construction has fallen nearly 70% since 2015, when it was 1,090GW. In 2018, proposed capacity dropped nearly 25%, from 447GW in 2017 to 339GW.

Overall, the pre-construction pipeline has fallen nearly

The post Global coal plant pipeline shrinks for third year in a row appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Greens pick up AEMO's Integrated System Plan and accelerate it to reach 100% renewables by 2030, phase out fossil fuel cars, end thermal coal exports, and focus on solar hydrogen exports.

The post Greens aim to end coal, and petrol cars, by 2030 in rush to 100% renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Gold Coast-based engineering firm will partner with Canadian seaplane company to create what is thought to be the world’s first all-electric airline.

The post Canadian airline plans first all-electric fleet, with Australian twist appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Model X has some eye-catching features and gimmicks, but it is the joy of driving and the window to the future that is most fun.

The post Tesla Model X road test: An electric experience with smarts – and farts appeared first on RenewEconomy.

UN aviation body ICAO has listed the members of its technical advisory board (TAB) for its CORSIA global offsetting mechanism, adhering to historical splits between rich and poor countries with the latter represented by major CDM host nations and oil majors.

EUAs gained for a third successive session on Wednesday as a continued rebound in key energy contracts lifted sentiment in defiance of a weak auction.

California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits took a step back this week as entities looked to complete purchases ahead of this week’s carryback compliance deadline.

Park officials say many wildflower tourists have been well-behaved, but some have ignored pleas to stay on trails

In one of the most famous literary descriptions of wildflowers, the English poet William Wordsworth wrote in the early 19th century of happily gazing upon a host of daffodils “fluttering and dancing in the breeze”. In 21st-century California, wildflowers dancing in the breeze are being trampled by helicopter.

As thousands of sightseers descend on southern California parks for a springtime “super bloom”, officials reported on Wednesday that a couple in a helicopter landed in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, crushing the delicate plants. They proceeded to walk around, further inflicting harm. As soon as they were approached by law enforcement officers, they scurried back into their aircraft and zoomed away.

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California issued more than 620,000 across seven projects this week, with a bulk of those credits being issued to a new forestry project, regulator data showed Wednesday.

Leaked ministerial correspondence obtained by the ABC reveals a secret plan to exit logging in Victoria's native forests and support a transition package for the timber industry.

A 100 per cent renewable energy target and a total ban on all thermal coal — that's the Greens election plan to decarbonise the Australian economy by 2030, which lands smack in the middle of the heated debate over One Nation preferences.

A California Assembly committee this week advanced a bill that would enable the state's Offset Protocol Task Force (OPTF) to recommend aggregation methodologies for new and existing protocols, which could prove a boon for neglected project types in the WCI-linked carbon market.

Minister breaks ranks on forest policy amid fears for beekeeping industry and the knock-on impacts on farmers

The agriculture minister, David Littleproud, is breaking ranks on federal forest policy and backing a long-stalled proposal for Victoria to earn carbon credits by winding back logging and better conserving its native forests.

The minister cites concerns over the future of the Australian beekeeping industry and the knock-on impacts for farmers for his support, saying: “It seems as though it is common sense.”

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Switzerland has launched a consultation over proposed changes to its emissions trading regulations that are needed before it links its carbon market to the EU ETS, floating protective measures including allowance holding limits and a high price floor based on the social cost of carbon.

A barrier just 50km wide might stop water-reliant cane toads in their tracks. Mike Letnic, Professor, Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Vote by MEPs paves way for law to come into force by 2021 across EU

The European parliament has voted to ban single-use plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers as part of a sweeping law against plastic waste that despoils beaches and pollutes oceans.

The vote by MEPs paves the way for a ban on single-use plastics to come into force by 2021 in all EU member states. The UK would have to follow the rules if it took part in and extended the Brexit transition period because of delays in finding a new arrangement with the EU.

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By working in partnership with organisations like the Environment Agency, we are prioritising our work to ensure that it delivers best value and multiple benefits to the country, write Rob Ward and Jon Ford of the British Geological Survey

David Nowell (Letters, 23 March) suggests that the Environment Agency should put pressure on the British Geological Survey (BGS) to improve the quality of geological mapping. Mr Nowell will be pleased to hear that there is no need for them to do this as the BGS is already working with the Environment Agency to update our geological maps in areas where groundwater resources are vulnerable to over-abstraction and/or pollution.

As new data and new requirements arise, we recognise that in some areas the existing geological interpretations become out of date. A case in point is the area to the north of Holderness (referred to in Mr Nowell’s letter), where modern imagery highlights geological structures that would not have been apparent during the original 1800s survey. This is an area important for groundwater and we are currently working with the Environment Agency to improve the geological understanding of the area to help the better management and protection of water resources. In fact, our geologists are currently “in the field” re-mapping this area.

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