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Pacific Explorer cruise ship spilled liquid food waste into reef’s protected waters

Carnival Australia has been compelled to provide a “$2.1m undertaking” after spilling 28,000 litres of liquid food waste into the Great Barrier Reef’s protected waters.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority detained the Pacific Explorer cruise ship on its way back to Sydney in early September until it paid the amount, which was equal to the maximum fine available, an AMSA spokesman said on Thursday.

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Wind overtakes gas for first time, solar displaces coal in Queensland, and curtailment more than doubles in South Australia as renewables hit record levels across the country.

The post Wind and solar curtailment jumps as renewables reach record levels appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Redeployment of 400 staff jeopardises vital work protecting wildlife and overseeing recycling, pollution and flood prevention

Hundreds of staff who protect biodiversity and enforce environmental regulations in the UK have been redeployed to work on Brexit.

The raid on staff from the Environment Agency, which is responsible for enforcing rules on recycling, air pollution and protecting the country from flooding, and Natural England, which protects habitats and species, has been condemned by MPs.

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Monash University and ClimateWorks Australia have won the Momentum for Change Award presented by the United Nations at the Climate Week conference in New York for the Net Zero initiative.

The post Monash University’s Net Zero initiative wins global UN 2018 Momentum for Change Award appeared first on RenewEconomy.

AEMO appears sidelined as Taylor underlines push for "24/7" base-load power and industry pushes for "capacity" payments.

The post Industry wants capacity payments, as Taylor pushes for new “24/7” power appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Renewable energy capacity has for the first time overtaken fossil fuel capacity in Great Britain, with 42 GW worth of capacity now feeding into the grid.

The post British renewable energy capacity surpasses fossil fuels for first time appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Berejiklian government urged to acknowledge ‘the extensive, serious and potentially irreparable damage’ the horses are causing

Dozens of Australia’s top scientists are demanding the New South Wales government repeal legislation that abandoned the culling of feral horses in the Kosciuszko national park.

In Canberra on Thursday 145 scientists met to hear evidence of the damage feral horses are causing to the park, the worst of which includes the destruction of nesting habitat of critically endangered corroboree frogs.

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AGL has given 7 years' notice of its plans to shutter Liddell – but a new rule finalised by the AEMC means Australia's ageing coal plants must notify AEMO at least 3 years ahead of permanent closure.

The post Coal plants must give 3 years’ notice of closure, under new market rule appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A lack of sustainability, profitability and transparency in the global fishing industry is exacerbating the problem of slave-like working conditions for crew. Here are the warning signs to look out for. Jessica Meeuwig, Professor & Director, Marine Futures Lab, University of Western Australia Andrew Forrest, PhD Candidate, University of Western Australia David Tickler, PhD Candidate in Marine Ecology, University of Western Australia Dirk Zeller, Professor & Director, Sea Around Us - Indian Ocean, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Over the next few decades the world’s energy systems will undergo a seismic revolution, with a transformation on a massive scale as renewable energy takes over from fossil fuels.

The post Will the clean energy revolution enhance energy security? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Victoria Labor promise to boost its target for renewables generation to 50 per cent by 2030 if re-elected. It will probably get there anyway.

The post Victoria Labor boosts renewable energy target to 50% by 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

As concern grows about climate change and resources, is it time to re-use more of our junk?

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

Ausnet canvasses idea of charging connection fees of "several hundreds of dollars" to new solar households that refuse network limitations.

The post AusNet canvasses hefty connection fees for rooftop solar in Victoria appeared first on RenewEconomy.

California’s Air Resources Board (ARB) will retire future vintage allowances next year to meet the uncovered carbon obligations of the La Paloma generating station during the 2015-2017 period, pending approval of the regulator's proposed amendments, officials said.

Green group leaders are debating the efficacy of including Republicans in future climate policy efforts and resisting Trump administration environmental rollbacks after Democrats retook control of the House of Representatives in Tuesday's US midterms.

EUAs stretched their relief rally to a fourth day on Wednesday as another strong auction helped push prices above €18 and key technical resistance to further bolster bulls’ confidence.

Scientists spent several days trekking through rural Borneo to find the 40,000-year-old artwork.

The earliest known painting of an animal has been identified in a cave on the island of Borneo.

Mushrooms for lunch inspire scientists to try to generate electricity from a fungus covered in bacteria.