Environment news

• Influx of renewables sees coal power plants run well below capacity increasing chance of closures

  31-08-2020 19:30 via theguardian.com
  
  Coal generation at power plants in NSW and Queensland may be falling faster than anticipated, due to cheaper solar and wind energyCoal power plants in New South Wales are running less than 60% of the time due to an influx of renewable energy, increasing the likelihood some could become economically unviable and close earlier than planned.An analysis by Hugh Saddler, an energy consultant and ANU honorary associate professor, also found coal generation in Queensland had dropped to less than 70% of
  
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• Satellite images show rapid growth of glacial lakes worldwide

  31-08-2020 17:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Number of glacial lakes rose by 53% in 1990-2018 to reveal impact of increased meltwaterGlacial lakes have grown rapidly around the world in recent decades, according to satellite images that reveal the impact of increased meltwater draining off retreating glaciers.Scientists analysed more than quarter of a million satellite images to assess how lakes formed by melting glaciers have been affected by global heating and other processes. Continue reading...
  
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• Only one in 10 utility firms prioritise renewable electricity – global study

  31-08-2020 17:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Vast majority of world’s electricity companies remain heavily invested in fossil fuelsOnly one in 10 of the world’s electric utility companies are prioritising investment in clean renewable energy over growing their capacity of fossil fuel power plants, according to research from the University of Oxford.The study of more than 3,000 utilities found most remain heavily invested in fossil fuels despite international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and some are actively expa
  
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• Involve local groups in protecting biodiversity, conservationists urge

  31-08-2020 13:51 via theguardian.com
  
  Edinburgh declaration calls on leaders to work far more closely with communitiesThe worldwide effort to combat critical levels of biodiversity loss will fail without far greater involvement from local communities, according to an international declaration.The “Edinburgh declaration”, published on Monday, urges leaders to work more closely with sub-national governments, indigenous peoples, national parks, local councils and wider society in meeting 20 biodiversity goals set out in the
  
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• Lego becomes Ellen MacArthur Foundation member in bid to spur circular economy progress

  31-08-2020 11:01
  
  Toymaker the Lego Group has joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation for a three-year period, as part of its efforts to increase product reuse and recycling.
  
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• Price of plastic carrier bags in England to double to 10p next year

  31-08-2020 09:55 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The fee for single-use bags will rise to 10p and be extended to all shops from April 2021.
  
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• Coronavirus: Pandemic 'causing new wave' of plastic pollution

  31-08-2020 09:49 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Charity Surfers Against Sewage says it has seen a wave of discarded masks and plastics on beaches.
  
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• Hundreds of thousands of chickens to be culled after Covid disruption

  31-08-2020 09:00 via theguardian.com
  
  About half of staff at poultry plant in Norfolk have had to self-isolate after 75 tested positive for coronavirus
  At least 400,000 chickens are being culled in the UK as Covid-19 infections disrupt slaughterhouse routines. About 300,000 birds are due to be culled in England and 110,000 have been culled in Scotland.Chickens that cannot be slaughtered for food are usually gassed with CO2 and their bodies rendered for fat and other animal byproducts. They do not enter the food chain. Continue readi
  
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• How helpful is the term 'climate refugee'?

  31-08-2020 09:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Politicians warn the climate crisis will lead to more people migrating. But experts say this framing of the issue risks being misleading and dangerous“You think migration is a challenge to Europe today because of extremism,” John Kerry told a conference in Alaska in 2015, “wait until you see what happens when there’s an absence of water, an absence of food, or one tribe fighting against another for mere survival.”As warnings go, it seemed like the kind we’re u
  
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• Price of single-use plastic bags in England to double to 10p

  31-08-2020 07:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Exemption for smaller shops to end, and campaigners say ‘bags for life’ are next targetThe government is to double the charge for single-use plastic carrier bags in England from 5p to 10p and end the exemption for smaller shops from April 2021, as it steps up efforts to tackle plastic pollution.Since the introduction of the charge in October 2015, shoppers have used billions fewer thin-gauge plastic shopping bags. Continue reading...
  
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• UK plastic bag charge to be doubled and extended to all retailers

  31-08-2020 02:02
  
  The UK Government has confirmed that the 5p charge on single-use plastic carrier bags will be doubled to 10p and extended to all retailers from April 2021.
  
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• Hilary Swank on Netflix's sci-fi Away and the ultimate work-life dilemma

  31-08-2020 01:45 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Hilary Swank talks about her role for Netflix as the commander on the first manned mission to Mars.
  
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• Mauritius oil spill: 'We want to protect our island'

  31-08-2020 01:13 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Young locals are helping to prevent environmental damage after an oil leak from a ship that ran aground.
  
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• The search engine boss who wants to help us all plant trees

  31-08-2020 01:05 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Christian Kroll is the boss of Ecosia, which donates 80% of its profits to tree-planting projects.
  
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• Sir Isaac Newton's notes among Cambridge web gallery 'treasures'

  31-08-2020 01:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Cambridge University Library adds high-resolution images of its collection to a free culture site.
  
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• UK carbon emissions from electricity hit record low in lockdown – report

  31-08-2020 01:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Electricity demand fell by 13% in second quarter which helped renewables grow to 40% of energy mixCarbon emissions from Britain’s electricity system plunged by more than a third during the coronavirus lockdown after renewable energy played its largest ever role helping to keep the lights on, according to a report.During the spring bank holiday weekend in May, the energy grid’s carbon intensity reached a record low of 21 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour due to a slump in energy demand t
  
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