Boris Johnson: Treasury is endangering community renewables
Mayor of London calls on the government to reconsider plans to remove tax relief for investors in community energy projects Boris Johnson has warned the Treasury it is endangering efforts by local communities around the UK to build their own renewable energy projects. In a letter to the financial secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, […]
Yes, Ethiopia has problems – but this drought is no 1984 rerun | William Davison
With rapid economic growth and a government safety net, Ethiopians are understandably angry at being associated in western minds with misery When the BBC’s Michael Buerk brought Ethiopian famine to the world’s attention in 1984, the footage panned over thousands of people on the brink of starvation in the region of North Wollo. A BBC […]
VW diesel emissions investigation widened to include other brands
German regulators to run tests on possible ‘unusual pollutants emissions’ on other models including BMW, Mercedes and Ford German car regulators are expanding their investigation into suspected diesel emissions manipulation beyond Volkswagen to more than 50 models from brands including BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Volvo, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover. The Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) regulator said on […]
India could push world into climate change danger zone, warn scientists
As Narendra Modi visits UK for talks, academics warn if nation grows at expected rate without emission controls, Earth will breach critical two degree rise India’s growth in emissions could tip the world over the threshold to dangerous climate change, experts have said. The alert comes as the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, prepares to […]
Africa could lead world on green energy, says IEA head
World Energy Report 2015 predicts Africa could be the first to power economic growth with renewable energy while India becomes one of the world’s biggest energy consumers Africa could be the first region in the world to power its economic development on renewable energy rather than fossil fuels such as coal, the head of the […]
Bitcoin’s Value Surges
Bitcoin hasn’t necessarily received the same level of hype in 2015, but according to a recent article in Vox, that might only be positively affecting its overall value. The underlying reasons for Bitcoin’s surge in value are unknown, but across the board, from price to frequency of transactions to the internationalisation of Bitcoin, there are signs of […]
New ING Report: Low Metal Prices Won’t Last, Time for a Circular Economy
A combination of growing mining capacity and reduced trade barriers have assisted a significant drop in prices across the global metals market during the past four years, facilitating increased profitability in the European tech sector. However, a new report released by ING Bank, titled “Metals, a dangerous complacency?’, argues that longer-term challenges are masked and […]
Is Australia the last country standing in defence of coal? | Bill McKibben
The OECD wants to phase out export credit agencies providing money for coal projects. Australia, almost alone, might stand in its way Australia finds itself in a funny position headed for the Paris climate talks. It’s one of the few nations on the planet desperately trying to stop the hands on the clock and keep […]
Ballina mayor pleads for more aerial patrols after latest shark attack
David Wright says state government’s shark strategy needs to be brought forward after fifth major attack this year which left man, 20, in induced coma Ballina shire’s mayor, David Wright, wants the state government to implement more aerial patrols in the region after the latest shark attack at Lighthouse beach on Monday evening left a […]
Labor champions plan to resettle Pacific climate change migrants
Exclusive: Labor’s immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, returns from Pacific islands tour and says Australia should plan early to accept ‘people on the move’ Australia should be at the forefront of efforts to resettle climate change migrants forced from their homes across the Pacific, Labor says. The opposition immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, visited Papua New Guinea, […]