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COP26: World needs to act, says PM, as Prince Charles joins call for action
NZ releases company-level emissions data for the ETS
Optimism for Cop26: every bit of heating we prevent reduces suffering
I have spent much of my career focused on the environment. I know we have the tools and technology to beat this crisis
The most important thing to say is that we can still beat the crisis – but we are against the clock. Emissions are piling up in the atmosphere every day that goes by, so we’re in a race against time to act. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
There is no moment in time when we go from a world that’s fine to a world that’s a disaster. But every action, by every person, matters. Every bit of heating you prevent reduces human and planetary suffering, because that’s really what this will come down to.
Continue reading...Optimism for Cop26: we must win the climate battle – and we absolutely can
As an environment writer, I have seen many setbacks – but also triumphs such as the tackling of acid rain
I’ve been covering climate and the environment for 17 years – it’s astonishing to me that so many positive things are happening in response to the crisis.
Of course, we should have been bringing down emissions much sooner, and lots of the things that should have happened didn’t. In particular, I’d point to energy efficiency, which we all thought would be a big win early on, and fossil fuel subsidies, which have not come down as fast as we would have hoped.
Continue reading...Poor countries at Cop26 concerned by G20’s limited climate progress
Leaders say they hoped for more from talks in Rome and chances of staying below 1.5C are fading
The G20 is failing poor and vulnerable countries by not agreeing to a climate plan that would ensure their people’s survival, leading figures at the Cop26 climate talks have said.
Leaders representing more than a billion of the people most at risk from the climate crisis told the Guardian they were “extremely concerned” and had hoped for more from the G20 summit in Rome.
Continue reading...Jet-lag, climate villains and coffee: the seven stages of every Cop | John Vidal
Whatever the outcome of the UN’s latest high-stakes crapshoot, a lengthy and arcane process must be followed first
It’s not the expectation that is unbearable with Cop26; it is the hope. The world, faced with the urgency of the climate crisis, demands that this is the summit to surpass all summits. Those of us who have experienced (or endured) them know that won’t happen. There are seven stages to every Cop. This one is unlikely to be much different.
1 The arrival. Here we go again. Teams of jet-lagged lobbyists, diplomats, journos, bankers and business folk queue with delegations of indigenous peoples and youth groups, lawyers, NGOs and economists to enter the parallel universe that is a UN climate Cop. Within hours, the complaints will start about the price of coffee, the distance between meeting rooms, the Glaswegian accents, the rain, the trains, the traffic, the UN security, the heavy policing and the dearth of good restaurants.
John Vidal is a former Guardian environment editor
Continue reading...Green homes grant scheme helped just 15,000 low-income households buy insulation
Government’s flagship home insulation scheme reached less than 7% of intended 600,000 households
The government’s flagship green homes grant scheme to help people install energy efficiency measures resulted in just 15,182 households on low incomes improving their property’s insulation, it has emerged.
The £1.5bn scheme was designed to improve 600,000 properties but, according to data uncovered by the Liberal Democrats, only a small number of homes benefited from funding for much-needed improvements.
Continue reading...To avert climate disaster, we need resilient societies built on love, not just technology | Gaia Vince
Love is a human survival adaptation, and it is the scaffolding for the new social networks on which we will depend
When things look especially bleak for humankind, it’s worth reminding ourselves who we are – what makes us such a special species. Beyond our machines and our buildings, beyond our fiery conquests, beyond all of it, we’re exceptional creatures because we are capable of love. And not just one to one and within our families, but on a massive scale.
This is especially pertinent as we face the climate crisis. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of our technological transition, which dominates the climate adaptation narrative. We are the technological ape, and our technologies will be vital in solving this crisis: windmills to decarbonise our energy systems, flood defences against rising seas, and air conditioners to survive brutal heatwaves. We will need many more technological fixes, and much faster.
Gaia Vince is an author, journalist and broadcaster. Her latest book is Transcendence: How humans evolved through fire, language, beauty and time
Continue reading...Fortescue’s green energy arm strikes UK hydrogen supply deal
What climate change activists can learn from First Nations campaigns against the fossil fuel industry
No “big bang” as ESB confirms rethink on CoalKeeper design
National Cabinet approves ESB's suite of reforms for the NEM, but promises more work on capacity mechanism, including low-emissions focus.
The post No “big bang” as ESB confirms rethink on CoalKeeper design appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Electrifying transport: why New Zealand can't rely on battery-powered cars alone
Australia now has nearly 1kW of solar per capita after smashing year of rooftop installs
Australia now has nearly 1kW of solar installed for every person in the country, thanks to a record year of rooftop installations.
The post Australia now has nearly 1kW of solar per capita after smashing year of rooftop installs appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Morrison fumbles in Rome, but his main game is to block progress at Glasgow
Morrison's mishandling of major international relationships has come back to bite the PM, as Australia isolated on the eve of COP26.
The post Morrison fumbles in Rome, but his main game is to block progress at Glasgow appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Tindo Solar seek investment partners as it prepares new factory, storage offer
Tindo Solar seek investment partner as it prepares to open its new plant in Adelaide and prepares a new retail offering that includes battery storage.
The post Tindo Solar seek investment partners as it prepares new factory, storage offer appeared first on RenewEconomy.
COP26: Charles to say 'war-like footing' needed
Solar and wind keep getting cheaper, and crush coal, gas and nuclear on costs: Lazard
Latest LCOE report from Lazard confirms that wind and solar by far the cheapest of all energy sources, and cost of storage is falling too.
The post Solar and wind keep getting cheaper, and crush coal, gas and nuclear on costs: Lazard appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Glasgow Diary: “COP26 is our last best hope to keep 1.5° in reach”
COP26 officially launched in Glasgow; G20 disappoints; China proposes 1.2TW of renewables but comes up short on targets, and Greta arrives.
The post Glasgow Diary: “COP26 is our last best hope to keep 1.5° in reach” appeared first on RenewEconomy.
G20 leaders talk up climate action but avoid real commitments, casting a shadow over crucial Glasgow talks
Maoneng secures planning approval to build biggest battery in South Australia
Maoneng wins planning approval for what will be the biggest battery in South Australia, to be built just north of Adelaide.
The post Maoneng secures planning approval to build biggest battery in South Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.