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

Effect seen across much of world will have profound consequences, warn scientists

The climate crisis is heating up nights faster than days in many parts of the world, according to the first worldwide assessment of how global heating is differently affecting days and nights.

The findings have “profound consequences” for wildlife and their ability to adapt to the climate emergency, the researchers said, and for the ability of people to cool off at night during dangerous heatwaves.

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The US Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) has the authority to approve a carbon price brought forth by independent and regional wholesale grid operators, a conference heard Wednesday.

Ten entities opened California-based Compliance Instrument Tracking System Service (CITSS) accounts during the third quarter of 2020, as three others shuttered their accounts in the WCI-linked ETS, data from state regulator ARB showed Wednesday.

The CDM risks being killed "through the back door” as officials consider blocking post-2020 carbon offset renewals rather than waiting for countries to agree on the UN mechanism’s future under the Paris Agreement.

This mine has destroyed thousands of lives and livelihoods in Bougainville, an island in Papua New Guinea. It’s time Rio Tinto cleaned up its mess. Matthew G. Allen, Professor of Development Studies, The University of the South Pacific Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

EU carbon prices consolidated near €27 on Wednesday, as buying backed by a strong UK auction result was met by technical selling.

New Zealand voters are divided on climate policy along party lines, with the majority on one side of the political spectrum calling for urgent action while at the other end most recommend caution. Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The EU will need to carefully combine a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) with the bloc's existing polices for spurring decarbonisation and ensuring competitiveness, a senior European Commission official said on Thursday.

Paul Stein QC is ‘deeply concerned’ the IPC has been diminished by recent changes introduced by the government

A former New South Wales judge has called for “independent” to be dropped from the name of the state’s planning commission after it approved the controversial Narrabri coal seam gas development, arguing the body is effectively controlled by the government.

The commission on Wednesday gave what it described as “phased approval” of the $3.6bn project in the state’s north. The decision, which included 134 conditions, was welcomed by the proponent, oil and gas company Santos, and the federal and state governments, but criticised by local farmers, conservationists and Indigenous traditional owners.

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A Virginia-based electricity generator opened an account in RGGI’s CO2 Allowance Tracking System (COATS) this week with the state set to join the Northeast US power sector cap-and-trade programme next year.

As world leaders line up to address the UN biodiversity summit, experts say our future is at stake.

The European Commission favours putting tougher curbs on potent F-gas emissions used in air-conditioning units and electrical equipment, it said on Wednesday, judging that cleaner solutions are likely too costly to be otherwise taken up voluntarily.

Human destruction of nature has led to the extinction of many plants and animals.

Leaders prepare to discuss the destruction of the natural world as the international community negotiates a set of targets for the next decade

• All eyes on China: what to look out for at the UN biodiversity summit

4.19pm BST

Protecting at least 30% of land and sea is the headline target of the draft Kunming agreement for the next decade’s biodiversity targets. But Indian indigenous youth activist Archana Soreng has warned that it could be the “biggest land grab in history”.

Removing indigenous communities from their land to protect nature is “colonial and environmentally damaging”, the member of the Khadia tribe continues, warning that human rights could be abused en masse in the name of conservation if world leaders are not careful with how the implement protections.

Related: Planetary ‘safety net’ could halt wildlife loss and slow climate breakdown

4.10pm BST

Prince Charles is speaking as we get towards the end of the introduction, telling the summit that he was immensely flattered to be invited. The Prince’s comments are focused on what he calls a “blue-green recovery”, talking of an urgent need to embrace circular economics with a Marshall plan for nature. Establishing functioning carbon markets, developing carbon capture and storage, and creating a market for ecosystem services are all key, he says.

“We are at the last hour. We know what we need to do. Let’s get on with it,” the Prince concludes.

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Consumers can get vouchers to install insulation, double glazing, smart controls and more

Homeowners in England can now apply for vouchers worth between £5,000 and £10,000 to make their homes more energy efficient under the government’s Green Homes Grant scheme.

From Wednesday, homeowners can apply for a government grant to fund energy efficient improvements.

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The future gets described in confusing ways. Things that are likely, improbable and impossible are constantly muddled. As RenewEconomy has documented for a good part of the past decade, the recent history of clean energy has sat in the middle of this muddled language. Many have peeked into the future, and declared the rapid growth...

The post A rapid Chinese energy transition is far more feasible than you might think appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hear how to make the leap to smart, sustainable transport in this first in a series of webinars to discuss the global transition to electric vehicles.

The post Webinar: The EV transition – Policy and practice appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Ground controllers say the leak is coming from a Russian module on the International Space Station.

UK retailer worked with dairy farms to end use of destructive cattle feed, but critics say move could ‘shift problem elsewhere’

UK retailer Marks & Spencer has eliminated soya from the production of all its milk as part of its commitment to end deforestation in its supply chain.

The high street chain says it has worked with the 44 British farmers producing M&S RSPCA Assured milk to replace soya feed with alternatives such as rapeseed oil and sugar beet – avoiding the use of nearly 4,000 tonnes of soya each year. The retailer sells an estimated 160m pints of milk in its UK stores and through Ocado annually.

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