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Oil-producing African nations argue they should be able to use fossil fuel resources for economic growth

African leaders and campaigners are at odds over the way forward for the continent as a critical climate summit begins in Nairobi.

Some countries, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa, have been expanding their renewable energy access and leading transition efforts on the continent, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

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A Nairobi-based blockchain carbon credit platform has launched with a futures transaction of more than two million credits sourced from one of its founding partners.

The invasive insect threatens to get a foothold, with nests found in East Sussex, Kent, Devon and Dorset.

Alien invaders are penetrating the borders of every country in the world. Now the full extent of the problems and potential solutions have been exposed, in a new United Nations report. Andy Sheppard, Research Director CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO Melodie McGeoch, Professor, La Trobe University Philip Hulme, Distinguished Professor in Pest Management and Conservation, Lincoln University, New Zealand Phill Cassey, Australian Research Council Industry Laureate Fellow, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A global panel of scientists and experts on Monday sounded a planet-wide alarm over the staggering economic and environmental cost of invasive species in a report that has been approved by 143 governments.

At least 3,500 harmful invasive species recorded in every region on Earth spread by human activity, says UN report

Invasive species are costing the world at least $423bn every year and have become a leading threat to the diversity of life on Earth, according to a UN assessment.

From invasive mice that eat seabird chicks in their nests to non-native grasses that helped fuel and intensify last month’s deadly fires in Hawaii, at least 3,500 harmful invasive species have been recorded globally in every region, spread by human travel and trade. Their impact is destructive for humans and wildlife, sometimes causing extinctions and permanently damaging the healthy functioning of an ecosystem.

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Open letter backs student-led campaign for vegan catering to fight climate crisis

More than 650 academics have called on British universities to commit to 100% plant-based catering to fight the climate crisis, saying that the institutions have “for centuries, been shining lights of intellectual, moral, and scientific progress”.

The open letter, organised by the student-led Plant-Based Universities campaign, likened the move to meat-free food to the fossil fuel divestment to which 101 UK universities have already committed.

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Sharp rise in sightings of the invasive species this year prompts fears for native bees on which they prey

It is likely the Asian hornet has become established in the UK, conservationists fear, as a record number of nests have been found.

There has been a sharp rise in sightings of the invasive species in the UK this year; the previous two years only had two sightings each, whereas there have been 22 confirmed so far in 2023. In total there have been 45 sightings since 2016.

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European carbon prices fell to their lowest in three weeks after finally breaching a key technical support as traders began to react to the resumption of larger auction volumes, while energy prices were weaker amid healthy gas stocks.

Reports of abusive behaviour towards Japanese citizens in China in response to wastewater release at nuclear site

Fake news and state-backed disinformation are fuelling Chinese anger at Japan over its release of treated wastewater from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant.

In the last week, there have been reports of rocks and eggs thrown at Japanese schools in two Chinese cities, abusive phone calls to Japanese businesses and social media campaigns to boycott Japanese products including cosmetics. It has prompted Japan’s government to summon the Chinese ambassador and urge caution among its China-based citizens.

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Climate change could undermine sustainable forest management efforts in Quebec's boreal forests, but promising strategies could mitigate the impacts of natural disturbances and help bolster resilience.

It is hoped the Vikram lander and Pragyaan rover will reawaken when the next lunar day starts.

Hollow bricks are ‘easy win’ to help several endangered species, say experts and Zac Goldsmith who is tabling amendment

• UK politics live – latest updates

An amendment to make swift bricks mandatory in new housing will be debated in the House of Lords this week in what campaigners call a “golden opportunity” for the government to halt wildlife decline.

The change to the controversial levelling up bill is being tabled by the Conservative peer Zac Goldsmith, who resigned from government over Rishi Sunak’s “apathy” towards environmental issues.

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There remains some confusion over Singapore’s plans to allow the trade of international carbon credits (ICCs) domestically to use against local businesses' carbon tax compliance, according to a note issued by a lawfirm Monday.

The federal government of Malaysia is considering a carbon tax to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a state official said according to local media.

Integrity Global Partners (IGP) has formed strategic partnerships with project developer Energy Changes and trading firm Gaia Environment to finance restoration and conservation projects, with a primary focus on Africa, it announced Monday.

Australia has appointed a full time chair of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) as part of a wider reform of its carbon market and hopes to further its emissions reduction goals.

Energy tech companies are envisioning homes of the future where we all generate our own power that is seamlessly bought and sold between householders and the grid.

The post SwitchedOn Podcast: The future of energy is local, in our smart all-electric homes appeared first on RenewEconomy.

EnergyCo signs deal to smooth the road to renewables by ensuring the literal roads can carry huge and heavy pieces of kit safely from port to REZ.

The post Road to renewables: Deal struck to get massive turbine parts and transformers from port to REZ appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Call for EU to match WHO’s air pollution regulatory limits as impact of climate emergency interlinks with human health

The climate crisis may pose the greatest risks to people with respiratory illnesses, with high temperatures and changing weather patterns exacerbating lung health problems, experts have said.

Respiratory experts have called on the EU to lower its regulatory limits for air pollution in line with the World Health Organization (WHO). In a European Respiratory Journal editorial, they said: “We need to do all we can to help alleviate patients’ suffering.”

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