A storm is brewing with the states. And it’s entirely of Turnbull’s making | Kristina Keneally
The response to the South Australian blackout by Josh Frydenberg and Malcolm Turnbull has created three problems for them in dealing with the states There’s an old adage in politics: never waste a crisis. When severe storms caused a power blackout across South Australia last week, the Turnbull government bent mother nature to its will. […]
Paris climate deal a 'turning point' in global warming fight, Obama says
Commitments from other countries push accord forward and is set to be activated on 4 November after the EU, Canada and India ratify the agreement Barack Obama has said the Paris climate deal could prove a “turning point” in the effort to avoid dangerous global warming, after a flurry of commitments by nations pushed the […]
Energy ministers urged to map out strategic response to renewables
Policy uncertainty could cause essential investments to be deferred or distorted at a huge cost to consumers, business groups warn Major business organisations and energy users have urged federal and state governments to work cooperatively to map out a “strategic response to Australia’s energy transition and challenges” ahead of a meeting of energy ministers scheduled […]
Looming megadroughts in western US would make current drought look minor
Warming temperatures and uncertain rainfall mean if more isn’t done to slow climate change, droughts lasting 35 years could blight western states, study says The harsh drought currently gripping California may appear trivial in the future as new research shows that the south-west US faces the looming threat of “megadroughts” that last for decades. California […]
Fossil fuel industry's methane emissions far higher than thought
Emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas from coal, oil and gas are up to 60% greater than previously estimated, meaning current climate prediction models should be revised, research shows The fossil fuel industry’s emissions of a powerful greenhouse gas are dramatically higher than previously thought. Researchers who pulled together the biggest database yet of worldwide […]
The seven big decisions made at the Cites global wildlife summit
A major meeting on the regulation of trade in endangered species is drawing to a close in Johannesburg – here are seven of its key hits and misses Pangolin Sadly for the pangolin, the tough brown scales that so neatly tile its body are in huge demand for medicinal purposes, while the flesh that they […]
Romania bans trophy hunting of brown bears, wolves, lynx and wild cats
Unexpected move reverses a trend that has seen increasing numbers of large carnivores shot by hunters each year since Romania’s accession to the European Union Romania has banned all trophy hunting of brown bears, wolves, lynx and wild cats in a surprise decision that gives Europe’s largest population of large carnivores a reprieve from its […]
Anti-fracking groups protest as council mulls over shale gas drilling
Nottinghamshire county council to vote on iGas Energy’s plans for exploratory drilling on former RAF bombing range in Misson Anti-fracking campaigners are protesting outside a town hall where councillors are deciding whether to approve plans to open a UK shale gas exploration frontier in the east Midlands. Nottinghamshire county council will vote on Wednesday on […]
Drain brain: Paris pool uses sewer heat to cut costs and emissions
Aspirant Dunand swimming pool in French capital inaugurates system that recycles residual warmth from sewers and drains A Paris swimming pool has inaugurated a heating system using warmth recovered from sewers in an attempt to cut costs and reduce carbon emissions. The Aspirant Dunand pool in the 14th arrondissement is the latest in a series […]
Is Novamont’s new production plant a step towards 100% renewable materials?
One of the world’s leading bioeconomy companies, Novamont, has opened the world’s first production plant for biological butanediol (BDO) on an industrial scale derived directly from sugars using bacteria. It might sound like technical details, but Novamont’s latest innovation could enable the production of materials like bioplastics from 100% renewable sources. BDO is a crucial […]