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Japan announced an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement on Monday, but the nation will not increase its 2030 climate ambitions.

Neal Maxwell wants trade to go from 50,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year to zero by 2040

A builder from Merseyside has launched a project that aims to remove plastic from the British construction industry within two decades.

Neal Maxwell, who has worked in the trade for more than 30 years, co-founded the non-profit organisation Changing Streams after a trip to the Arctic.

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UK prime minister’s refusal to criticise Amazon fires and sharp rise in deforestation praised by Brazilian ambassador

Boris Johnson was personally thanked by the Brazilian government for refusing to support European action over the Amazon fires, according to documents obtained by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

As the rainforest burned last summer – fuelled by a sharp rise in deforestation that critics blame partly on President Jair Bolsonaro’s agenda – Johnson criticised a threat by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to block the EU’s Mercosur trade deal with Brazil.

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Activists say hundreds have been trampled by previous cross-country races near pond

The cancellation of a series of cross-country running races in West Yorkshire because of coronavirus has apparently saved hundreds of migrating toads from being squashed underfoot.

A toad protection group said hundreds of the amphibians have been trampled by fell runners in previous years.

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Report out of Norway warns full extent of impact of Covid-19 on global renewables market is "just beginning to reveal itself;" Covid restrictions hit Tilt Renewables NZ wind farm.

The post Covid-19 live blog: Clean energy industry impact, stories, useful links appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Coalition of community groups call for additional government support for homes and small businesses under financial stress to deal with energy costs.

The post Community groups call on Federal government to fund electricity bill relief appeared first on RenewEconomy.

AER says NSW-Queensland interconnector upgrade stacks up economically, will address system security problems and help lower wholesale electricity prices.

The post Upgrade for Queensland-NSW transmission link waved through by regulator appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW Berejiklian government quietly waves through planning approvals for coal mine expansion under Sydney drinking water catchment, ignoring criticism from environmental groups.

The post NSW approves coal mine expansion under drinking water catchment appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A look at the numbers shows that in eastern Australia, gas demand is going nowhere - for a whole bunch of reasons, including costs, climate and competition.

The post Gas in eastern Australia – clearly, a declining industry appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hyundai's Kona Electric and Ioniq can now be booked under subscription model from Northern Beaches auto dealer Col Crawford.

The post Sydney car dealer makes electric cars available on subscription appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The rise of primary energy use and CO2 emissions over four decades across 70 countries is not closely correlated with increases in life expectancy, a new study finds.

The post Fossil fuel use not closely linked to longer life expectancy, study suggests appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Genex says Kidston pumped hydro project in north Queensland certain to go ahead after landing a re-worked deal with EnergyAustralia.

The post Australia’s first pumped hydro project in 40 years gets green light appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The BBC's Justin Rowlatt found a visit to Antarctica made him emotional, and ultimately hopeful.

The report reveals the worst environmental conditions in many decades, if not centuries. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Luigi Renzullo, Senior Research Fellow, Australian National University Marta Yebra, Senior lecturer, Australian National University Shoshana Rapley, Research assistant, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Spain on Saturday ordered the closure of all 'non-essential businesses, including a number of factories, after the number of deaths from the coronavirus reached a new high.

The annual Australia’s Environment report finds last year’s heat and drought caused unprecedented damage

Record heat and drought across Australia delivered the worst environmental conditions across the country since at least 2000, with river flows, tree cover and wildlife being hit on an “unprecedented scale”, according to a new report.

The index of environmental conditions in Australia scored 2019 at 0.8 out of 10 – the worst result across all the years analysed from 2000.

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Coronavirus keeps crowds that usually greet hatching of hawksbill turtles away

Nearly 100 critically endangered sea turtles have hatched on a deserted beach in Brazil, their first steps going almost unnoticed because of coronavirus restrictions that prohibit people from gathering on the region’s sands.

The 97 hawksbill sea turtles, or tartarugas-de-pente as they are known in Brazil, were born last Sunday in Paulista, a town in the north-eastern state of Pernambuco.

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Animals are getting some peace and people are reconnecting with nature, but wildlife crimes may be going unnoticed

Moles are daring to clamber above ground to hunt for worms, oystercatchers are nesting on deserted beaches, and overlooked plants such as ivy-leaved toadflax are gaining new friends.

The shutdown of modern life as we know it is liberating British wildlife to enjoy newly depopulated landscapes. But conservationists say the impact is not all positive, with wildlife crimes going unreported and vital work including monitoring unable to be carried out.

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The global Covid-19 pandemic is expected to hit planned wind and solar projects in Australia and other countries particularly hard, and wipe out any anticipated growth in renewables deployment in 2020, according to a new study. The Norway-based Rystad Energy says it had expected global solar additions to grow 15% to 140 gigawatts in 2020,...

The post Covid-19 could stop new Australia wind and solar projects, wipe out global growth appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The pandemic has exposed business to such scrutiny that even Britain’s high street mavericks are cowed

Strange things happen in a crisis. For one, it can dawn on Mike Ashley that pretending that a sports shop is an essential public service is absurd. Friday’s apology from the Sports Direct founder seemed to be more about communication – “ill-judged and poorly timed” emails to overworked government ministers – than his original ludicrous attempt to keep his shops open, but it was still an uncharacteristic climbdown.

Even JD Wetherspoon’s Tim Martin, who has never previously appeared to give a damn what anyone thinks, paused to consider he may have made a mistake. Having announced staff would only be paid until the moment the pubs were shut, he then said they would get their wages at the next payroll date provided the government agreed a reimbursement scheme in time.

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