Feed aggregator

EU member states will face tougher targets and goals to increase renewable energy

In 2019 the European parliament declared a “climate and environmental emergency”. In 2020 EU leaders pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by the end of this decade. Now comes the hard part: turning promises into policies to curb dangerous global heating.

Continue reading...

Rising heat and deforestation cause eastern parts of the Amazon to become carbon sources, not sinks.

Cutting emissions is more urgent than ever with forest producing more than a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year

The Amazon rainforest is emitting a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, according to a study. The giant forest had been absorbing the emissions driving the climate crisis but is now causing its acceleration, researchers said.

Most of the emissions are caused by fires, many deliberately set to clear land for beef and soy production. But even without fires, hotter temperatures and droughts mean the south-eastern Amazon has become a source of CO2, rather than a sink.

Continue reading...

AEMC unveils new simplified rules for distributed energy resources, and a new 'fast frequency response' to reward batteries for keeping the lights on.

The post New rules to reward batteries for keeping the lights on, and make hybrids a reality appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Network investor Spark unveils major push into renewables, with a 2.5GW wind, solar and storage hub in NSW and another 1GW of projects.

The post Network giant proposes 2.5GW wind, solar and battery hub in south west NSW appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Reflective surfaces, green roofs can lower temperatures in sweltering cities

The sweltering heat endured by major American cities is being fueled by vast swaths of concrete and a lack of greenery that can ratchet up temperatures by nearly 9F (5C) compared with surrounding rural areas, new research has found.

In the past month, Phoenix experienced a string of four days above 115F (46C) for the first time and Boston hit 100F for the first time in a decade. A deadly heatwave in the US north-west, which scientists say would have been “virtually impossible” without human-induced climate change, baked Seattle at a record 108F, while Portland, where roads buckled and power cables melted in the heat, reached an incredible new high of 116F.

Continue reading...

It proposes taxing jet fuel and effectively banning the sale of petrol cars within 20 years.

The European Commission on Wednesday kicked off the reform of the EU’s carbon market by proposing an increase of the EU ETS’ linear reduction factor (LRF) and a one-off cut of the emissions cap that could tighten supply from 2023.

Carbon continued its see-sawing motions on Wednesday, giving up Tuesday’s gains as traders prepared for the European Commission to publish its long-awaited EU ETS reform proposals.

Rejection of planned scheme on outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne said to confirm industry’s demise

Campaigners are hailing the end of opencast coal mining in Britain after a long battle to see off the final applications for new mines in former coal heartlands.

The Banks Group’s decision not to appeal against the rejection of a proposed scheme on the outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne means England now joins Scotland in apparently reaching the end of the road for surface coal mining.

Continue reading...

The European Commission is today publishing its long-awaited 'Fit for 55' climate legislative package, seeking to recalibrate the bloc’s climate policies towards a tougher 2030 emissions target. Here's a rolling timeline of today's major developments and expert and stakeholder insight to complement Carbon Pulse's other coverage.

More than 80% of companies in New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme paid the NZ$35 fixed price option (FPO) instead of surrendering allowances for 2020 compliance, according to EPA data, saddling the government with another 30 million surplus NZUs to digest.

Trent Zimmerman and Bridget Archer said net zero was not only the right thing to do but would create opportunities for Australia

Two Liberal backbenchers have called on Scott Morrison to set the long-mooted climate target of net zero emissions by 2050 before a major UNconference in November, and to restore funding and advisory powers to the Climate Change Authority.

Trent Zimmerman, the member for North Sydney, and Bridget Archer, the member for Bass in northern Tasmania, made the call in a joint response to an inquiry into climate change legislation proposed by the independent MP Zali Steggall.

Continue reading...

The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges have released guidelines for so-called carbon neutral corporate bonds in an attempt to root out abuse by companies seeking to profit from the new and trendy product.

The agency doesn’t place any limits on PFAS in drinking water, despite research suggesting the entire class of chemicals is toxic

The Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that it’s considering drinking water limits for the entire class of PFAS compounds, which public health advocates say are categorically toxic.

The chemicals are used to make products resistant to water, stain and heat, and are known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t fully break down or degrade. They’re linked to a range of serious health problems such as cancer, liver disease, kidney problems, heart disease, decreased immunity, and more.

Continue reading...

Thousands of young people are joining a mission to help solve the environmental crisis facing their generation.

South Korea’s first monthly auction for the 2021 compliance cycle failed to sell out Wednesday, as a handful of successful bidders only picked up around 70% of the 2.15 million units on offer.

George Monbiot hosts innovative investigation naming the farms and water firms damaging Britain’s rivers

Giant livestock farms and privatised water firms accused of polluting the nation’s waterways are to be named in what is thought to be the world’s first livestreamed investigative documentary.

The crowdfunded investigation Rivercide, which will be broadcast online at 7pm on Wednesday, will be hosted by environmental journalist and Guardian columnist George Monbiot. Monbiot will travel along the River Wye, which flows between England and Wales, to collect water samples that will be analysed as the documentary unfolds.

Continue reading...

New AEMO chief lists major transmission upgrades as some of the “hard realities” of the transition to renewables, as community push-back continues to build.

The post “Complex web of issues:” AEMO chief warns social licence crucial to 100 pct renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

ARENA to put $2 million into new initiative led by ClimateWorks looking at emission cuts in "hard to abate" industry sectors.

The post ARENA funds industry research into transition of “hard-to-abate” sectors appeared first on RenewEconomy.