‘Deluge of plastic waste’: US is world’s biggest plastic polluter 2/12/2021

The US is the world’s biggest culprit in generating plastic waste and the country urgently needs a new strategy to curb the vast amount of plastic that ends up in the oceans, a new report submitted to the federal government has found. ...more

Rising sun: renewables to dominate new power capacity through 2026 -IEA 1/12/2021

Renewable energy should account for nearly 95% of the increase in power capacity in the world through 2026, a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) showed on Wednesday, with solar power providing more than half the boost. ...more

World's underground fungal life to be mapped for first time 1/12/2021

Scientists unveiled plans on Tuesday to map the world’s huge underground webs of fungi for the first time, to identify hotspots that could better protect natural ecosystems and store carbon dioxide to help tackle climate change. ...more

EU drafts plan to remove more carbon emissions from the air 1/12/2021

The European Union plans to capture five million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year by 2030 through technologies, and create an EU system to certify carbon removals, according to a draft document seen by Reuters. ...more

German oil lobby seeks net zero CO2 emissions by 2045 1/12/2021

Germany's oil industry will aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045, moving away from fossil fuel to low carbon products such as biofuels and renewable energy-derived hydrogen, the industry's lobby group en2x said on Wednesday. ...more

Interpol: Wildlife trade seizures lead to hundreds of arrests worldwide 1/12/2021

Hundreds of arrests have been made in a global operation by Interpol and customs authorities against traffickers in wildlife. ...more

EU reaches for hydrogen stars as economics shift 30/11/2021

The cost of producing green hydrogen with renewable energy is set to fall and the capacity to produce it in Europe and nearby countries will likely surpass current targets by 2030, European Union officials said on Monday. ...more

EU's greenhouse gases rise by nearly a fifth on economic rebound - Eurostat 30/11/2021

Greenhouse gas emissions from European Union countries jumped 18% last spring, according to data from the bloc's statistics office, as all economic sectors released more harmful gases into the atmosphere as they recovered from pandemic shutdowns. ...more

Fracking fashion: Argentine designers turns shale sand bags into handbags 30/11/2021

An Argentine fashion firm has found a new source of inspiration - and materials - in an unlikely location: oil industry burlap plastic sacks from the country's huge Vaca Muerta shale formation, which they recycle to make shoes, bags and purses. ...more

Australia accused of trying to block Unesco process that could put Great Barrier Reef in danger list 30/11/2021

A dozen countries have accused the Australian government of trying to hit pause on a process that could still lead to the Great Barrier Reef being placed on a list of world heritage sites “in danger”. ...more