Low income UK homes ‘should be given free heat pumps’ to meet climate targets – but hydrogen ruled out 19/10/2023

More than 2 million low-income households should be given a free electric heat pump to replace their gas boiler if the UK hopes to meet its legally binding climate targets, according to the government’s advisers. ...more

Experts call for tighter limits on 'forever chemicals' in water 19/10/2023

Stricter limits are needed on levels of 'forever chemicals' in UK drinking water which are potentially harmful to human health, experts have warned. ...more

EU Commission proposes measures to curb microplastic pollution from pellets 18/10/2023

The European Commission proposed measures on Monday to prevent microplastic pollution from the spillage of plastic pellets into the environment. ...more

EU countries back targets to slash truck CO2 emissions 18/10/2023

European Union countries backed tougher CO2 emissions targets for heavy goods vehicles on Monday, requiring new trucks to slash their emissions by 90% by 2040, but they delayed a planned target to drive a switch to electric city buses. ...more

Global electricity grid must be upgraded urgently to hit climate goals, says IEA 18/10/2023

Ministers have been urged to “open their eyes” to the need to build a vast network of new electricity grids to allow countries to hit climate goals, the chief of the world’s energy watchdog has said. ...more

Climate Network Analysis Helps Pinpoint Regions at Higher Risk of Extreme Weather 18/10/2023

Tracking climate behavior could connect the dots between major weather events and help with forecasting on a global scale. ...more

New recipe for efficient, environmentally friendly battery recycling 18/10/2023

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, are now presenting a new and efficient way to recycle metals from spent electric car batteries. The method allows recovery of 100 per cent of the aluminium and 98 per cent of the lithium in electric car batteries. At the same time, the loss of valuable raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and manganese is minimised. No expensive or harmful chemicals are required in the process because the researchers use oxalic acid – an organic acid that can be found in the plant kingdom. ...more

UAE and France to develop Yas Bay solar power mega project 17/10/2023

The UAE and France will join forces to develop an Abu Dhabi solar power mega project which aims to offset 450 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. ...more

EU wrangles over negotiating stance for COP28 climate summit 17/10/2023

European Union countries' climate ministers meet on Monday to decide the bloc's negotiating position for this year's COP28 summit - but they are still split over some key issues, like how hard to push for a global deal to phase out fossil fuels. ...more

SUVs emit more climate damaging gas than older cars do, study finds 17/10/2023

The increasing popularity of ultra-heavy SUVs in England means a conventional-engined car bought in 2013 will, on average, have lower carbon emissions than one bought new today, new research has found. ...more