Palau approves huge Pacific marine sanctuary
Tiny archipelago seeks to create world’s sixth-largest area to be fully protected from fishing or drilling The tiny western Pacific archipelago of Palau has approved the creation of a marine sanctuary twice the size of Mexico. Conservationists said the 500,000 sq km (193,000 sq mile) sanctuary would be the world’s sixth-largest fully protected area – […]
Australian Labor Party release sharing economy principles
Bill Shorten, leader of Australia’s Labor Party, has announced the publication of six sharing economy principles in an effort to support the meaningful growth of new business models in the country. The principles aim to address the set of complex issues around tax, worker safety and accessibility that stand at odds with the development of […]
London's black cabs to go green with a little help from China
New hybrid black cab will hit London roads in 2017, a year before all taxis are required to be capable of ‘zero emissions’ motoring, reports Business Green London’s iconic black cabs have received a green makeover with the launch of the latest battery-powered TX5 model, unveiled yesterday during Chinese premier Xi Jinping’s state visit to […]
Former foes Greenpeace and energy giant Enel stand together in low-carbon push
New CEO, Francesco Starace, is taking the Italian firm in a new direction, investing in solar and wind to become the first ‘truly green energy giant’ Just a year ago the Italian energy giant Enel was in a bitter court battle with Greenpeace, which accused the utility’s coal plant pollution of killing people. Today, the […]
Ash walks out from cauldron of decay
Waresley Wood, Cambridgeshire From the rotting log, branches grew at a right angle, thickening to become new trunks It was raining leaves in Waresley Wood, on a day so still it felt that every fall might be recorded in sound. They came from on high, striking branch after branch on their descent as if they […]
Government finally admits it is subsidising nuclear – while cutting help for renewables
The official admission blows a hole in already bewildering UK energy plans, which back the failed and expensive over the cheap and successful The government confirms that it is not continuing the ‘no public subsidy policy’ [for nuclear power] of the previous administration. That little footnote, tucked away at the end of the announcement of […]
Evrnu: A Different Future For Apparel
The vision for clothing in the circular economy, as in many sectors, is “in-development”. On both the technical and business side, a different model for the industry presents challenges for designers, manufacturers and retailers alike. However, that context also leaves open opportunities for innovation, new thinking and new technology. Seattle-based startup Evrnu has been created to exploit those opportunities, developing […]
World Solar Challenge: Australian electric car race charges ahead – in pictures
Teams of energy-efficiency enthusiasts are racing homespun solar-powered vehicles over 3,000km from Darwin to Adelaide. Each car is allowed a maximum of 6 sq m of solar panels as well as a nominal 5kW hours of stored energy; all other energy must come either from the sun or from the kinetic energy of the vehicle. […]
Eye-opening research suggests sleeping crocodiles still keep watch
Researchers in Australia and Germany find crocodiles deploy ‘unilateral eye closure’ while dozing in order to keep a close eye on potential threats or prey If you ever thought you could safely tiptoe past a sleeping crocodile, please reconsider – scientists have confirmed that the fearsome reptiles sleep with one eye open. Researchers in Australia […]
Judge warns Massey Energy CEO not to bring politics into mine explosion trial
Don Blankenship’s lawyers have found ways to repeatedly suggest to jurors that regulators targeted his company for political reasons under Obama’s watch An outspoken critic of president Barack Obama charged with conspiring to violate mine safety rules before a deadly explosion is under orders not to tell jurors he’s being persecuted by Democrats. The federal […]