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Policy Coordinator, Climate Alliance – Brussels
Policy Analyst on Climate and Environment, Foundation for European Progressive Studies – Brussels
World’s soils ‘under great pressure’, says UN pollution report
Soils provide 95% of all food but are damaged by industrial, farming, mining and urban pollution
The world’s soils, which provide 95% of humanity’s food, are “under great pressure”, according to a UN report on soil pollution.
Soils are also the largest active store of carbon, after the oceans, and therefore crucial in fighting the climate crisis. But the report said industrial pollution, mining, farming and poor waste management are poisoning soils, with the “polluter pays” principle absent in many countries.
Continue reading...Moscow Exchange and VTB to launch Russian carbon marketplace
Private finance won’t decarbonise our economies – but the ‘big green state’ can | Daniela Gabor
While the private sector wants to keep control of the green transition, what’s needed is massive public investment
The pandemic, we often hear, is forcing a rethink in economics. We are leaving behind one model: the austerity-obsessed small state that outsources the job of macroeconomic stability to unelected central banks. Central banks, in turn, worked to target inflation under a regime of benign neglect for unemployment; it was assumed, meanwhile, that the bond market should and would discipline governments into fiscal rectitude.
Now, the Biden administration’s “once in a generation” spending plans suggest a paradigm shift is under way. It puts governments, through fiscal policy (taxing and spending), back in the driving seat. In this sense, macroeconomics has the potential to become more democratic. But are we celebrating too soon? The big test of the paradigm shift, possibly the fundamental test, is how we go about decarbonising our economies.
Continue reading...NZ Market: NZUs climb to 11-wk high as FPO becomes history
UN body pushed to demand stronger climate action from Australia to save Great Barrier Reef
Conservationists lobby World Heritage Committee to demand Australia reduce emissions or risk reef being placed on ‘in danger’ list
Members of the United Nations World Heritage Committee are being lobbied to pressure Australia to commit to more ambitious climate action as part of its plan to slow the decline of the Great Barrier Reef ahead of a key July meeting.
Conservationists have lobbied representatives of 13 of the 21 countries that make up the committee, saying the threat of placing the reef on an “in danger” list should be used to lever more domestic action on greenhouse gas emissions.
Continue reading...Morrison’s Ampol refinery bail-out could go straight to shareholders
Ampol shareholders likely to get big payments following Morrison government's massive fossil fuel subsidy for oil refiners.
The post Morrison’s Ampol refinery bail-out could go straight to shareholders appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Australia-Japan coal trade in spotlight, as groups call for it to end by 2030
Environment and research groups says emissions from Australian coal sold to Japan almost equals Australia's entire domestic emissions.
The post Australia-Japan coal trade in spotlight, as groups call for it to end by 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Wind power drives new renewables record for Spain: 50.7 pct in May
Renewable energy supplied just over half of Spain’s electricity demand over the month of May, boosted by second-biggest wind market.
The post Wind power drives new renewables record for Spain: 50.7 pct in May appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Rooftop solar resumes upward march, but what’s going on with NSW?
Latest data from SunWiz shows Australia's rooftop solar market is back on track in May, with the exception of some "worrying" figures coming out of NSW.
The post Rooftop solar resumes upward march, but what’s going on with NSW? appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Pitt was not told that Kaban project he vetoed would include big battery
Officials did not tell Keith Pitt the Kaban Energy Hub included a battery, before he vetoed a $280m loan on the basis the project wasn't dispatchable.
The post Pitt was not told that Kaban project he vetoed would include big battery appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Saudi Aramco invests in Swiss energy storage company Energy Vault
World's biggest oil and gas company makes strategic investment in Swiss based energy storage innovator Energy Vault.
The post Saudi Aramco invests in Swiss energy storage company Energy Vault appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Boom! Why supersonic planes are a climate nightmare
Are emissions-free supersonic jets really around the corner? Almost certainly not - and they may significantly worsen emissions, too.
The post Boom! Why supersonic planes are a climate nightmare appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Woolworths signs first wind farm supply deal in first step towards 100pct renewables
Supermarket giant Woolworths signs its first renewable energy PPA, buying power from the Bango Wind Farm being built near Yass.
The post Woolworths signs first wind farm supply deal in first step towards 100pct renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.