Feed aggregator

While overall US coral reefs are in fair condition, along the coast of Florida as little as 2% of original coral cover remains

The United States’ coral reefs are in fair condition, according to a recent reef condition status report, but vulnerable to decline. Scientists estimate that along the coast of Florida, where degradation is most severe, perhaps as little as 2% of original coral cover remains.

The report, released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (Noaa) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science last week, assesses reefs along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, from the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to Guam, Hawaii and American Samoa. It is the first of its kind to do so using standardized monitoring data on a national scale. Analyzing records from 2012 to 2018, researchers identify ocean warming and acidification, coral disease and fishing as ongoing threats to coral reefs, indicating a “dire outlook” for these ecosystems.

Continue reading...

Delegates agree on guidelines to align the industry with the Paris climate change treaty.

Thinktank says deadline of 2026 is needed for government to meet its own carbon budget

The prime minister’s plan to bring forward a ban on the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 10 years to 2030 will still not go far enough to meet the government’s own legally binding climate targets, according to new research.

Boris Johnson is expected to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles by setting out a new deadline for the sales of polluting passenger cars as part of a 10-point plan to tackle the climate crisis due to be revealed this week.

Continue reading...

The Threatened Species Scientific Committee is seeking comments on a proposal to list 3 species of frogs. Consultation closes on 22 January 2021.

Foxes deer and cats to be blocked from 50,000ha park in Victoria, turning it into a ‘wildlife haven’

A 10km fence to keep out foxes, deers and cats will be built across the Yanakie isthmus on Victoria’s Wilsons Promontory to create a 50,000-hectare native wildlife sanctuary.

The $6m fence is designed to protect vulnerable species including ground parrots, the southern brown bandicoot and long-nosed potoroo in the national park, south-east of Melbourne.

Continue reading...

Science improves our understanding of how plants and animals respond to water for the environment and informs how we deliver flows to best support them. Recent highlights from Flow-MER scientists are now available.

New IEEFA analysis says Snowy Hydro would need an injection of extra taxpayer funds to build Morrison's gas generator, or face falling into 'junk' status.

The post Snowy could burn through taxpayer funds to build gas generator, IEEFA says appeared first on RenewEconomy.

There are 85 'threatened ecological communities' listed under Australian environment law. But unrealistic criteria means they're not adequately protected. Manu Saunders, Lecturer, University of New England Deborah Bower, Lecturer in Ecosystem Rehabilitation, University of New England John Thomas Hunter, Adjunct Associate Professor in Landscape Ecology, University of New England Sarah Mika, Senior research fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

NSW energy minister Matt Kean explains why the state is fast-tracking plans to transition from coal to renewables. Plus: Australia’s newest big battery, and very big green hydrogen plans.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Matt Kean and the NSW energy transition appeared first on RenewEconomy.

GPG's 218MW Ryan Corner wind farm set for construction in Victoria after contract for the job awarded to a joint venture between Decmil and RJE Global.

The post Decmil lands contract for 218MW Ryan Corner wind farm in Victoria appeared first on RenewEconomy.

ACT drivers can soon access zero interest loans and free registration for buying an EV, a stark contrast to approaches being considered by other states.

The post ACT drivers to access free rego and zero interest loans for electric cars appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Regulator wants network owners to look at battery storage as it seeks feedback on how to manage an unprecedented flurry of new investment to deliver on AEMO's Integrated System Plan.

The post Regulator suggests big battery alternative to huge network infrastructure spend appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Solar is now regularly reaching 50 per cent of electricity demand in Western Australia.

The post Graph of the Day: Solar is now regularly hitting 50 pct share in Western Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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

Chinese wind turbine manufacturer begins work on hybrid renewables project in Inner Mongolia which will boast 1.7GW of wind, 300MW of solar, and storage.

The post Huge 2GW wind, solar and storage project gets underway in Mongolia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New research suggests unabated global warming could make solar power more unpredictable, has warmer temperature leds to more cloudy days.

The post Climate change impacts could dent global solar power output, researchers say appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Washington state Democrats are optimistic that reintroduced low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) and cap-and-trade bills could pass in the 2021 legislative session, while a New York environmental advocate believes the state could implement a clean fuels programme as early as 2022.

The anticipated growth in electric vehicle deployment over the coming decades may eventually require California to drop the credit generator from the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), a board member of regulator ARB said Tuesday.

The PM confirms he is bringing the ban forward as he sets out his "green industrial revolution".

How can the objectives of the 10-point plan be achieved?

• Boris Johnson announces 10-point green plan with 250,000 jobs

Boris Johnson’s £12bn plan for a “green industrial revolution” spans renewable energy, nuclear power and countryside restoration. However, some of the objectives are likely to be difficult to reach, and the plan has been criticised for a lack of ambition in key areas.

Continue reading...