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US air pollution rules could be insufficient in preventing deaths – study

The Guardian - Thu, 2019-11-21 02:00

Researchers linked nine causes of death with a certain type pollution when reviewing medical records of deceased veterans

US air pollution rules could be hugely insufficient in preventing deaths, experts are concluding from a new study of the likely causes of death of 4.5 million veterans.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Jama, the research finds that 99% of deaths from illnesses linked to a certain type of air pollution occur in people who are exposed to lower levels than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently deems acceptable.

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Extinction Rebellion protest: Met accused of 521 abuses of power

The Guardian - Wed, 2019-11-20 23:50

Network for Police Monitoring collated reports by XR protesters who took part in ‘autumn rebellion’

Police carried out widespread abuses of power during Extinction Rebellion’s two weeks of protests in October, according to investigators who have collated dozens of reports from protesters.

The Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol) says it counted 521 reports by XR protesters of abuses of police power, including 200 accusations of rough handling and physical harm and 99 of intimidation or inappropriate behaviour.

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EU Midday Market Update

Carbon Pulse - Wed, 2019-11-20 23:46
EUAs inched higher early on Wednesday as the market comfortably absorbed Poland's bumper auction and market watchers pointed out signals that could encourage bulls.
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UK flood victims criticise government for 'belated response'

The Guardian - Wed, 2019-11-20 22:56

Critics say announcement of extra funding serves as ‘reminder of government’s delayed reaction’

People affected by flooding in Midlands and north of England have accused the government of a “belated response” after Boris Johnson announced a series of measures designed to prevent a repeat of this month’s disaster.

The prime minister announced that £5,000 grants would be made available through local authorities from the end of November, in the wake of severe flooding in parts of Yorkshire and the Midlands.

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To eat or not to eat: 10 of the world's most controversial foods

The Guardian - Wed, 2019-11-20 22:36

From beef to cod to avocados to soya, many of our best-loved foods raise big ethical and environmental questions. What do the experts say?

Deforestation. Child labour. Pollution. Water shortages. The more we learn about the side-effects of food production, the more the act of feeding ourselves becomes fraught with anxiety. How can we be sure that certain foods are “good” or “bad” for society and the planet? As Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University of London and the co-author of Sustainable Diets, puts it: “When you come to ‘judge’ food, you end up with an enormous list of variables, from taste to health outcomes to biodiversity.” Here are some of today’s most controversial products – and some thoughts that may help you when shopping.

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China’s Hubei to sell up to 5 mln CO2 permits over two auctions this month

Carbon Pulse - Wed, 2019-11-20 22:25
China’s Hubei province will next week hold two CO2 permit auctions, with participation in the first one restricted to ETS compliance buyers and the second open to wider participation.
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Climate change: China coal surge threatens Paris targets

BBC - Wed, 2019-11-20 22:18
China is adding coal power equivalent to the EU's entire generating capacity.
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Woman rescues koala from bushfire in New South Wales – video

The Guardian - Wed, 2019-11-20 18:40

A woman rescued a badly burnt and wailing koala from an Australian bushfire. The marsupial was spotted crossing a road among the flames near Long Flat in New South Wales.  The local woman, who told Australia's Nine News her name was Toni, rushed to the koala's aid, wrapping the animal in her shirt and a blanket and pouring water over it. She took  the injured animal to the nearby Port Macquarie koala hospital. The country's koala populations have been a major victim of the bushfires, with more than 350 of the animals feared killed

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Australia to seek state support for ERF reform

Carbon Pulse - Wed, 2019-11-20 18:22
Australia’s emissions reduction minister Angus Taylor will this Friday seek support from state governments for changes to the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), media reports said Wednesday.
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Billionaires invest in giant Australian solar farm to supply power to Singapore

The Guardian - Wed, 2019-11-20 17:41

Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest joins Mike Cannon-Brookes to raise tens of millions of dollars for Sun Cable

The mining magnate and philanthropist Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has joined fellow billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes in raising tens of millions of dollars to build a giant solar farm in the Northern Territory to supply electricity to Singapore.

The company behind the project, Sun Cable, said Forrest’s Squadron Energy and Grok Ventures, the investment firm of Cannon-Brookes and his wife, Annie, had become co-lead investors in the $20bn-plus development.

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Leaf blowers are the latest modern human contraption harming the insect world

ABC Environment - Wed, 2019-11-20 17:25
The German Government has advised its people to stop using leaf blowers in an effort to stop the further destruction of insects.
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'What will be left for us?' Lagos fishermen lament the oil refinery

The Guardian - Wed, 2019-11-20 17:00

In Nigeria’s megacity, rampant development and a growing population are forcing communities to go further for fish

Almost as soon as the fishermen arrive with their haul, it disappears. The fish market in Epe, at the edge of Lagos, now runs like a kind of seafood cabal, with demand so high that many miss out. The major buyers are served as a priority – the big Lagos restaurants, a few cold room owners, then the rest. Sometimes smaller fishermen will sell to favoured market-stall holders. There is simply not enough to go around.

“When I couldn’t find red snappers in Victoria Island, a friend suggested I go to the Epe market. But the snappers were not there either,” says Enita Aderemi, a local freelance writer. “The freshwater catfish I found cost three times the price I bought them for three months ago, a price that was already high.”

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Musicians 'have to be proactive' on climate change

BBC - Wed, 2019-11-20 16:56
Emma Banks puts on tours for some of the world's biggest musicians - but says they need to change.
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North Sea oilfields could help contain climate change, says report

The Guardian - Wed, 2019-11-20 16:00

Offshore infrastructure in place to store carbon emissions under seabed, new report heralds

North Sea oil executives believe the ageing fossil fuel basin may still lead a global climate revolution by providing a testbed for clean energy breakthroughs.

An industry report has revealed that the North Sea could emerge as an unlikely climate hero by becoming a global showcase for the energy transition after decades producing fossil fuels.

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Beavers to be released in plan to ease flooding and aid biodiversity

The Guardian - Wed, 2019-11-20 16:00

‘Nature’s engineers’ to be introduced on National Trust land in south of England

Three families of beavers are to be introduced on land managed by the National Trust as part of plans to ease flooding and improve biodiversity.

Two Eurasian beaver families will be released next spring into enclosures at Holnicote estate on Exmoor, in Somerset, and another group will arrive at Valewood on the Black Down estate, on the border of West Sussex and Surrey.

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Fossil fuel production on track for double the safe climate limit

The Guardian - Wed, 2019-11-20 15:01

‘We’re in a deep hole over the climate crisis and we need to stop digging,’ warn experts

The world’s nations are on track to produce more than twice as much coal, oil and gas as can be burned in 2030 while restricting rise in the global temperature to 1.5C, analysis shows.

The report is the first to compare countries’ stated plans for fossil fuel extraction with the goals of the Paris climate agreement, which is to keep global heating well below 2C above pre-industrial levels, and to aim for 1.5C. It exposes a huge gap, with fossil fuel production in 2030 heading for 50% more than is consistent with 2C, and 120% more than that for 1.5C.

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Origin mulls five different big battery projects, as hydro costs disappoint

RenewEconomy - Wed, 2019-11-20 14:35

Leading utility Origin Energy has revealed it is contemplating five different big battery storage projects in four different states, as an early feasibility study for an expanded pumped hydro project indicated higher-than-expected costs. Origin, in its annual investor day briefing for analysts in Sydney, said battery storage was being considered as an addition and co-location...

The post Origin mulls five different big battery projects, as hydro costs disappoint appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Cannon-Brookes, “Twiggy” Forrest lead capital raise for world’s biggest solar project

RenewEconomy - Wed, 2019-11-20 14:29

Australian billionaires back early funding for "world's largest" solar project, and the 3000km cable that will link it to customers in Singapore.

The post Cannon-Brookes, “Twiggy” Forrest lead capital raise for world’s biggest solar project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Dalrymple battery wins S.A. Premier award for excellence in energy and mining

RenewEconomy - Wed, 2019-11-20 14:14

A meat processing plant generating electricity from waste water, a company transforming landfill into fuel and a global geoscience data competition accelerating the process of mineral discovery are just some of the innovative projects recognised in this year’s Premier Awards.

The post Dalrymple battery wins S.A. Premier award for excellence in energy and mining appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Renewable investors fear new AEMC rules will prop up fossil fuels

RenewEconomy - Wed, 2019-11-20 14:13

Renewable energy sector calls on COAG meeting to reject AEMC's proposed rules, saying they will prop up fossil fuels.

The post Renewable investors fear new AEMC rules will prop up fossil fuels appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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