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Findings show for first time how plastic chemicals throw off the body’s internal clock by up to 17 minutes

Chemicals in everyday plastics may disrupt the body’s natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythm in a way similar to coffee, which increases the risk of sleep disorders, diabetes, immune problems and cancer, new in vitro research shows.

The study looked at chemicals extracted from a PVC medical feeding tube and a polyurethane hydration pouch, like those used by long-distance runners. PVC and polyurethanes are also used in everything from kids toys to food packaging to furniture.

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South Australia’s plan to revive and decarbonise its Whyalla steelworks, one of only two major steel production facilities in the country, risks missing the mark if it leans too heavily on gas rather than green hydrogen, a briefing note published this week has warned.

At least 7% of existing energy transition minerals (ETM) extraction sites around the world sit within Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), affecting an area twice the size of Belgium, according to a WWF report released this week.

Boreal forests remain largely overlooked compared to tropical biomes despite their importance for biodiversity and climate mitigation, with major knowledge gaps hindering protection efforts, the UN warned in a study released this week.

European carbon prices stabilised on Friday morning, finding support at an important technical level despite sustained selling pressure as the market prepared for the weekend, while UKAs steadied near their highest in 18 months and headed for the largest weekly gain in two months.

A technology group has launched a new commercial carbon capture solution for the maritime industry at an estimated cost of €50-70 per tonne of CO2 ($54-$76) including capital and operating costs.

The government of Uganda will soon set up a national climate fund along with numerous other measures to finance climate action in the country, an official from the country’s ministry of finance announced at the East Africa Carbon Markets Forum on Thursday.

Retirement activity in the voluntary carbon market (VCM) crept up month-on-month in April across the four major registries, but remained well below levels that would suggest a market-wide recovery is underway.

Prices in China's national emissions market continued to decline over the past two weeks, falling to their lowest level in 16 months, but liquidity remained healthy after the annual pre-allocation of permits to ETS participants.

Just over a fifth of the EU ETS-financed Modernisation Fund may end up being spent on unsustainable projects, according to an NGO report published this week.

An international partnership has launched a new tool designed to help countries unlock and channel climate finance, including via Article 6 carbon markets, for their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

A carbon technology developer has gained the first approval in Europe to store CO2 onshore in geological formations, it announced this week.

A project backed by the German government is edging closer to developing a forest biodiversity monitoring framework tailored to the EU's Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), aiming to support ongoing efforts to establish a bloc-wide nature market.

Scientists fear early emerging insects may fall out of sync with pathogens, predators or availability of food

Midsummer butterflies are on the wing in early May after a sunny spring prompted one of the most advanced seasons for Britain’s Lepidoptera on record.

The Lulworth skipper – usually found in June and July – is flying at Lulworth Cove in Dorset, the chequered skipper emerged in April rather than mid-May in Scotland and the first swallowtail, which is most common in mid-June, was spotted in Norfolk on 1 May.

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Experts found 60% of the EU’s agricultural soils had been degraded, with about 40% similarly damaged in the UK

More than 60% of the EU’s agricultural soils are degraded due to intensive agriculture, with similar damage to about 40% of British soils, a report has found.

Experts from the Save Soil initiative said nourishing and restoring agricultural soils could reduce the impact of the climate crisis and provide protection against the worsening extremes of weather, as well as the food shortages and price rises likely to accompany them.

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Data from Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) showed a small uptick in Kyoto-era carbon credits being cancelled in Australia’s national accounts last month, as businesses hope the new government sticks with its voluntary Climate Active scheme.

Giles and David unpack the key takeaways, from rising project costs to policy challenges, and what it all means for Australia’s energy transition.

The post Video: Rising costs, vanishing moderates, and the race to net zero appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

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NSW launches new tender for long duration storage, seeking at least 1 GW of capacity by 2034 - ahead of the planned closure of the last of its coal generators.

The post NSW launches new tender for 1 GW of long duration storage, with longer timelines for pumped hydro appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Tilt Renewables boss says battery costs are falling rapidly, but he is by shocked the rising cost of civil construction, like concrete slabs. It's a major problem for the energy transition.

The post Renewables boss shocked by plunging price of battery storage, and soaring cost of a concrete slab appeared first on RenewEconomy.