Radical plan proposes power generators pay to close dirty coal competitors
EXCLUSIVE: Academics suggest scheme that would slow sector’s emissions without expensive government subsidies or need for carbon price Power generators would be forced to pay for the closure of a competitor’s dirty brown-coal fired plant under a radical plan that could help Australia slow the continued increase in electricity sector greenhouse emissions without a carbon […]
Thousands of social tenants will lose out if solar subsidies cuts go ahead
Proposed cuts will halt solar panel schemes on up to 45,000 UK social homes, that could save households £200 a year on energy bills, say renewable energy firms Plans to put solar panels on up to 45,000 social houses in the UK will be shelved if government subsidy cuts go ahead in January as promised, […]
The innovative delivery system transforming Gothenburg's roads
It’s a simple idea. The Swedish city’s Stadsleveransen system pools deliveries for 500 shops and businesses – drastically reducing shopping centre traffic and freeing up once-congested streets for pedestrians and cyclists “I call it the rolling deckchair,” says Johan Erlandsson as his six-wheeled cargo bike, the Velove Armadillo, glides down the cobbled pedestrian streets of […]
OECD countries agree to restrict financing for overseas coal power plants
Opposition from Japan overcome in compromise agreement hailed as ‘major step forward’ by US officials, although not all export financing for coal will be eliminated A compromise struck by the United States, Japan and several other major nations will restrict export financing to build coal power plants overseas, but not eliminate it completely. The agreement […]
Walmart is slapping itself on the back for sustainability but it still has a way to go
While the retail giant has met some of its sustainability goals, it has failed to set science-based targets for climate emissions or speed up progress on renewables It’s been 10 years since Lee Scott, the then-CEO of Walmart, publicly set the giant retailer on a path towards sustainability. In an influential speech, “Twenty-First Century Leadership”, […]
Barack Obama optimistic of reaching climate change deal at Paris summit
But US president warns there is still ‘a lot of work to do’ at UN climate summit which he said will send signal to businesses to go ‘all-in on renewable power US president Barack Obama said on Wednesday he was optimistic an elusive deal to contain global warming could be forged at an upcoming crunch […]
MetaWear Becomes First U.S. Cradle to Cradle™ ‘Fashion Positive’ Factory
Fashion manufacturer MetaWear, in collaboration with Cradle to Cradle initiative Fashion Positive, is set to offer the first U.S.-based Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver organic cotton men’s and women’s T-shirts. The products have met the highest standards in terms of chemical safety, water effluent standards, compostability and renewable energy production. MetaWear has developed T-shirts made […]
Cheap Material Prices Offer Circular Economy Opportunity
Current low costs of raw materials, further enabled by cheap oil, are increasingly being cited as a factor holding back progress towards circular economy models, most notably in the secondary materials market, where companies like Closed Loop Recycling have struggled to stay operational. However, Dutch bank ING has now suggested that for many businesses, cheap […]
Coalition unexpectedly pushes on with 'green lawfare' legislation plan
Labor says Turnbull government cancelled public hearings and brought forward a Senate committee report supporting laws proposed under Tony Abbott The Turnbull government is pushing ahead with Tony Abbott’s controversial “lawfare’ changes to remove the legal standing of conservation groups to mount environmental court cases, with a Senate committee dominated by Coalition members recommending they […]
Australian court fines Japanese whaling company $1m for 'intentional' breaches
Kyodo Senpaku has been found guilty in a case brought by Humane Society International – the first verdict of contempt of the environment act An Australian court has found a Japanese whaling company guilty of “wilful contempt” of court for breaching an order to stop killing whales, and has fined it $1m. On Wednesday, the […]