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UK river levels already at record lows forecast to be ‘devastated’ by dry spring
Campaigners warn that government and water companies have not done enough to conserve water supplies
River levels across the UK have been at record lows and are likely to be “devastated”, as new data forecasts broadly dry weather until at least May.
Campaigners have warned that the government and water companies have not done enough to conserve water supplies by building reservoirs and fixing leaks, as months of low rainfall could cause some areas to run out of water.
Continue reading...I’ve watched the Murray-Darling for 30 years and I’ve never seen carp numbers like this
The great flood of late 2022 changed the ecology of the basin’s rivers, and not in a good way
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As a fish ecologist who lives on the northern shoreline of Lake Cargelligo in western New South Wales, I’ve been fortunate to have had a front-row seat to the ever-changing drama of all aspects of the Murray-Darling Basin over the last 30 years.
It’s never been more dramatic than this past spring and summer.
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Continue reading...Microsoft invests in marine geoengineering project to support carbon negative pledge
‘It’s over’: five-year hunt for Rambo the feral fox paves way for greater bilby to roam free
Conservationists are confident invasive predator is dead allowing native creatures to flourish again in NSW’s Pilliga Scrub once more
He was the fantastic fox that derailed a multi-million dollar plan to reintroduce endangered native species into one of Australia’s largest forests. But after a five-year hunt that involved 10,400 traps, 3,500 baits, 73 stakeouts, 55 days of scent-tracking dogs and 97 infrared cameras filming 40-hours a week, the red fox nicknamed “Rambo” is officially “no longer”.
It means, for the first time in a century, greater bilbies are running wild in north-west New South Wales.
Continue reading...Sunak to focus on carbon capture and mini-nuclear reactors in energy policy
PM says energy security strategy will launch shortly after plans reworked to meet net zero commitments
An energy security strategy will be launched “shortly”, Rishi Sunak has promised, with a focus on ramping up carbon capture and small modular reactors to develop homegrown energy and meet net zero commitments.
Ministers have been forced to rework their plans after a ruling by the high court last July. It found that the government’s net zero strategy was unlawful due to a breach of the 2008 Climate Change Act, given the document did not outline how climate policies would meet legally binding carbon budgets.
Continue reading...Euro Markets: Midday Update
Insulate Britain protester jailed after vowing to return to streets
Stephen Pritchard tells judge before sentencing that peaceful resistance is ‘most responsible thing I can do’
A judge has jailed an Insulate Britain protester for five weeks after he vowed to return to the streets to carry out more disruptive protests if he was not sent to prison.
Stephen Pritchard, 63, was one of the first four Insulate Britain defendants to be sentenced for causing public nuisance over their campaign of disruptive “civil resistance” protests on major roads in 2021.
Continue reading...Construction workers wear body armour to complete Ukrainian wind project
Workers on a wind farm being built in Ukraine are wearing body armour to ensure the project is completed in the northern spring.
The post Construction workers wear body armour to complete Ukrainian wind project appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Seaweed farming offers big carbon sequestration potential for China, researchers say
Alaska’s Willow arctic drilling project is a climate turning-point. Biden must say no | Kim Heacox
If approved in full, the Willow project would mean the construction of 219 wells and hundreds of miles of pipelines
President Biden faces a legacy-making – or legacy-breaking – decision in arctic Alaska with the $8bn Willow project, the largest oil and gas project currently proposed on US public lands.
If Biden remembers his visionary pledge – forged in the hard truth of human-caused climate change – that the US will expand into clean energy and approve no new oil drilling on federal lands, then his decision should be straightforward.
Continue reading...Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in toilet paper around the world
Research finds waste flushed down toilets and sent to sewage plants likely responsible for significant source of water pollution
All toilet paper from across the globe checked for toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” contained the compounds, and the waste flushed down toilets and sent to sewage treatment plants likely creates a significant source of water pollution, new research has found.
Once in the wastewater plant, the chemicals can be packed in sewage sludge that is eventually spread on cropland as fertilizer, or spit into waterways.
Continue reading...From grey to green: unique farm on top of car park proposed for Birmingham
Plan would provide fresh locally grown food, promote sustainable agriculture and cut carbon emissions
Plans have been submitted to create a first-of-its-kind urban farm on top of a multi-storey car park in Birmingham as part of a vision to “turn grey space to green productive space”.
Slow Food Birmingham, a grassroots organisation that promotes hyperlocal food production, has sent proposals to the council to build a farm, glasshouses, community space and garden, as well as an education hub and cafe on the site.
Continue reading...Australian pension fund divests from land developer over biodiversity transparency concerns
Safeguard Mechanism: Why offsets are not an excuse for inaction
Offsets under the Safeguard Mechanism are not an excuse for inaction or an easy way out. They are an unfunded liability that will grow in both cost and risk.
The post Safeguard Mechanism: Why offsets are not an excuse for inaction appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Renate Egan to co-chair Australia-India solar taskforce, as PM talks “billions” in investments
Australian solar pioneer to lead collaboration with India on solar, including "enormous opportunities" to build up a domestic PV manufacturing supply chain.
The post Renate Egan to co-chair Australia-India solar taskforce, as PM talks “billions” in investments appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Wind turbines got too big, too fast: GE to focus on fewer models, less complex operations
GE says it will focus on leaner wind turbine manufacture operations, with far fewer variants, to stem the flow to breakdowns.
The post Wind turbines got too big, too fast: GE to focus on fewer models, less complex operations appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Orange-bellied parrot shows there's more to saving endangered species than captive breeding
PREVIEW: Topsy-turvy times ahead of year’s first NZ auction
Still time to save Our Wild Isles, say UK conservation charities
Forrest-backed wind project still a threat to endangered species, despite smaller size
Andrew Forrest owned Windlab shrinks size of massive wind farm but report says it still has "unavoidable" consequences for several endangered species.
The post Forrest-backed wind project still a threat to endangered species, despite smaller size appeared first on RenewEconomy.