Topics tagged with 'Carbon News world'
Most Americans say US should do more
27 Nov 2019
A majority of Americans believe the government must do more to address pollution and climate concerns, according to a new study.
It took a 60-year drought to end ancient Assyrian empire
27 Nov 2019
It took only a 60-year drought to lay low one of the first superpowers. It crumbled when harvests withered over two millennia ago.
Climate-heating greenhouse gases hit new high,
26 Nov 2019
The concentration of climate-heating greenhouse gases has hit a record high, according to a report from the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation.
Michael Bloomberg is a climate leader
26 Nov 2019
Michael Bloomberg has poured his time and hundreds of millions of dollars into projects aimed at getting the world 'beyond carbon,' but can he win the presidency?
OPINION; Scott Morrison and the big lie
26 Nov 2019
By RICHARD FLANAGAN | Australians everywhere are ready to get on with the job of dealing with the climate crisis. We just need a prime minister to lead us.
You can care about the climate and still drive an SUV ... I do
26 Nov 2019
According to a recent report, SUVs are the second-biggest cause of the rise in global carbon dioxide emissions during the past decade.
World is awash with fossil fuels, says UN
25 Nov 2019
Production of oil, gas and coal to 2030 is on track for warming way beyond 1.5deg goal, a UN Environment report warns.
BIG PLASTIC: Don't blame us, it's those public litterbugs
25 Nov 2019
Plastic manufacturers believe they are not to blame for the material choking the world’s oceans. They point the finger at litterbugs.
Australians see wildlife vanishing
25 Nov 2019
Farmers, bird watchers and other Australians close to the land are noticing the impacts of climate change on the country’s wildlife.
'Climate emergency' is Word of the Year
22 Nov 2019
Oxford Dictionaries has declared “climate emergency” the word of the year for 2019, following a hundred-fold increase in usage that it says demonstrated a “greater immediacy” in the way we talk about the climate.
We need to find ways to store extra energy
22 Nov 2019
When the grid depends on clean but sporadic natural resources like wind and the sun, we’re going to need ways to capture any extra energy they produce so we can use it later.
EU cities confront building emissions
22 Nov 2019
The European Union last year embarked on a mission to decarbonise the building sector, currently responsible for 40% of the bloc’s energy use.
BAMBOO BONUS: Plant-based building materials do the job
22 Nov 2019
Increasing the use of bamboo in the building sector could play a big role in fighting climate change, researchers believe.
Bill Gates backs startup using sunlight to make 1000deg heat
21 Nov 2019
Bill Gates is backing a venture which aims to turn sunlight into a source of heat exceeding 1000degC that could help to replace fossil fuels.
Can carbon offsets tackle airlines’ emissions problem?
21 Nov 2019
Not everyone is convinced that climate sins can be absolved through projects based on simple carbon accounting.
California makes stand against major carmakers
21 Nov 2019
California says it won't buy cars from General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan and other automakers that are aligning with the Trump administration in its battle over emissions rules.
Vietnam has a remarkable wind-energy story
21 Nov 2019
Vietnam is rising as Southeast Asia’s new wind hero, with power capacity soon to dwarf that of all other Asean nations.
'Green' cement step closer to cutting emissions
20 Nov 2019
Scientists have developed a “green” cement that could go a long way to cutting the construction industry’s emissions and making it more sustainable.
Amazon deforestation soars to 11-year high
20 Nov 2019
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest this year rose to its highest in over a decade.
Casualties mount in Bolivia's battle for white gold
20 Nov 2019
The overthrow of Bolivian president Evo Morales shows how the politics of environmentalism and social justice intersect in a silvery-white metal.
DIRTY SECRETS: Space camera tells tale of shipping pollution
20 Nov 2019
Exhausts from dirty heavy oils used in ships leave a telltale trail of such dense cloud that they can be tracked from space.
Crisis might have triggered faster wind speeds
20 Nov 2019
The global climate crisis could lead to more renewable electricity being generated by spurring faster wind speeds for the growing number of windfarms.
Green new-dealers go all out on housing
19 Nov 2019
US political firebrands Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders have unveiled the next step to their Green New Deal plan with a bill focused entirely on reimagining public housing.
Germany approves climate protection law
19 Nov 2019
The German lower house has approved a major climate protection package which aims to ensure the country will meet its 2030 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
BARS NOT CARS: What to do with your old parking buildings
19 Nov 2019
Shopper numbers in UK city centres are falling, leaving car parks empty – and councils are finding innovative ways to repurpose the space.
Even Nobel Prize winners can get it wrong
19 Nov 2019
William Nordhause was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics. But his predictions of what global heating will cost us are dangerously at odds with the science.
THAT'S THE SPIRIT: Vodka made from CO2
19 Nov 2019
In Brooklyn, they're making vodka without potatoes or grains. The key ingredients are hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide.
No more money for fossil-fuel projects, says EIB
18 Nov 2019
The European Investment Bank will stop funding fossil-fuel projects at the end of 2021, a landmark decision that potentially deals a blow to billions of dollars of gas projects in the pipeline.
Jet stream battle raging above our heads
18 Nov 2019
When prolonged periods of severe weather strike, two things often get the blame these days: climate change and the jet stream.
Mines belching out as much methane as ships and planes
18 Nov 2019
Methane emissions leaking from the world’s coalmines could be stoking the global climate crisis at the same rate as the shipping and aviation industries combined.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE: Suburbs take to solar
18 Nov 2019
Australians are embracing the ‘virtual power plant’, which advocates say can protect the grid, save money and combat the climate crisis.
What's driving the Antarctic meltdown?
14 Nov 2019
Along with warmer water eating away at Antarctic ice shelves from below, atmospheric rivers are causing trouble from above.
Green-wise Norway is drilling more wells
14 Nov 2019
Never mind how many electric cars are sold there, Norway has to change tack and end prospecting for new oil reserves.
Wildlife is in crisis, but are we seeing a new mass extinction?
14 Nov 2019
The Earth is experiencing an extinction crisis largely due to the exploitation of the planet by people. But can this event be called a mass extinction?
Bigger hurricanes are now more damaging
14 Nov 2019
The biggest and most damaging hurricanes are now three times more frequent than they were 100 years ago, say researchers.
Airline probes 'fuei-tankering' allegation
13 Nov 2019
A major airline has launched a review into a money-saving practice which increases its greenhouse gas emissions.
Formula One pledges to go carbon neutral
13 Nov 2019
Formula One has pledged to deliver on an ambitious programme to address the global climate emergency by going carbon neutral within 11 years.
New battery could slash cost of e-cars
13 Nov 2019
A new battery technology that could significantly reduce the price of electric cars and home battery systems has taken a major step towards commercialisation.
Africa poised to lead way in global green revolution
12 Nov 2019
Africa is poised to lead the world’s cleanest economic revolution by using renewable energy sources to power a massive spread of urbanisation, says a new report.
Drivers love their e-cars, says BMW
12 Nov 2019
BMW has called for European policymakers to roll out electric vehicles on a massive scale, saying its customers are turning to e-cars - and loving them.
Italy first to make climate compulsory school subject
12 Nov 2019
Italian school pupils in every grade are about to become the first required to study climate change and sustainability.
Companies try to protect product-base plants
12 Nov 2019
As crop varieties disappear, boosting biodiversity becomes smart business.
Climate change deniers set new battle lines
11 Nov 2019
The battle between climate change deniers and the environment movement has entered a new, pernicious phase. That is the stark warning of one of the world’s leading climate experts, Michael Mann.
EXXON TRIAL: It's now up to the judge
11 Nov 2019
Lawyers for New York State and ExxonMobil have wrapped up a landmark climate fraud trial, shaping a tangle of testimony and evidence.
It's 10 years since Climategate, so what have we learned?
11 Nov 2019
Climategate marks its 10th anniversary this month – an opportune moment to to look at the effect it had on those who were trying to save the planet.
Look back 125,000 years and sea-level rises are terrifying
8 Nov 2019
Sea levels rose 10 metres above present levels during Earth’s last warm period 125,000 years ago, according to new research that offers a glimpse of what may happen under our current climate change trajectory.
Wall Street increasingly weighs climate risks
8 Nov 2019
In the wake of two years of wildfires in California, Wall Street is incorporating a new risk metric when evaluating companies: climate resiliency.
Australia (briefly) hits 50% renewables
8 Nov 2019
Australia’s main electricity grid was briefly powered by 50% renewable energy this week in a new milestone that experts say will become increasingly normal.
Honolulu mayor wants to sue Big Oil
8 Nov 2019
Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell wants the city to sue major oil companies for the damage he says they have done to the island of Oahu.
Mission Methane will be run from our very own space base
7 Nov 2019
The Government is paying $26m for a ringside seat to an international space mission helping to tackle climate change.
Experts examine climate impacts on Pacific health
Today 10:30am
Media release | The devastating impacts of climate change on health in the Pacific Islands will be discussed at a symposium at the University of Auckland tomorrow, 5 June.
Controversy around NZ’s methane target hits international press
Tue 3 Jun 2025
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand’s approach to methane targets has hit international media, with climate scientists from multiple countries penning an open letter warning Prime Minister Christopher Luxon not to weaken methane targets.
Greenwashing is rife in Australia, but could its days be numbered?
28 May 2025
COMMENT: Have you ever ticked the box to “fly carbon neutral”, had something delivered via “carbon-neutral shipping” or chosen to pay a bit extra to buy “carbon-neutral gas” from your energy retailer?
Help sustainable aviation fuels take off or delay targets, airlines warn EU
20 May 2025
Earmarked funding, risk-reduction tools, and simplified imports top Airlines for Europe’s wish list for the EU’s upcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan.
Microplastics found in sand on dozens of NZ beaches
Today 10:30am
Scientists have extracted microplastics from the sand of 22 beaches from the Far North to Banks Peninsula.
Sustainability claims questioned as renewable diesel surges
14 May 2025
Critics are sceptical about industry claims of renewable diesel life-cycle greenhouse gas emission cuts and warn renewable diesel carbon releases will surge if sourcing is scaled up, triggering tropical deforestation as producers convert forests to energy crops, such as oil palm and soy.
Govt mulls status quo for ETS auction settings
Thu 29 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has released its consultation on the Climate Change Commission’s latest advice on Emissions Trading Scheme auction settings and volumes, putting forward the option to ignore the commission’s advice to boost auction volumes from 2028-2030.
Carbon price too low to fund carbon capture
20 May 2025
The government’s climate target to 2030 is at risk, after revelations that a carbon capture project which the government was relying on to deliver one third of its carbon reductions, might not go ahead.
Fight over coal mine heats up
Fri 30 May 2025
Forest & Bird is calling on the government to create a new scientific reserve covering the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast, which would stop a fast-tracked coal mine.
Trump’s actions are already having consequences for climate, especially for the IPCC - expert
11 Apr 2025
Leading climate scientist, Dr Kevin Trenberth, left the US and came home to New Zealand because of the rise of Donald Trump. In this comment piece, he writes that he is appalled in multiple ways by the so-called “war on science” unfolding through staff cuts and the president’s policy edicts.
Owning a green home could cut mortgage payback time by two years
9 May 2025
A green certified home plus a green mortgage and associated energy bill savings could save Kiwi families up to $98,800 over the course of their mortgage - the equivalent of being mortgage-free several years early, according to new research.
Cuts to climate finance put exports in jeopardy: Lawyers
23 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | The government has halved international climate finance, a move aid organisations describe as “devastating,” and which lawyers say could put our Paris Agreement commitments and export market access at risk.
Watts talks big on energy reform, but barriers persist
Thu 29 May 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Energy and Climate Change minister Simon Watts says the government is doubling down on efforts to boost renewable energy generation, streamline regulation, and drive private sector investment as New Zealand faces mounting energy security and affordability challenges.
Surge of lobbying over electricity sector review
Today 10:30am
Jostling and lobbying have intensified ahead of the release of a review into the electricity sector.
Govt budgets $200m for would-be gas investors
23 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | Energy Resources Aotearoa has welcomed the government's plan to co-invest $200 million in fossil gas expansion, while environmental and climate groups have reacted with horror.
Death toll from Nigeria flash floods rises to 151
Tue 3 Jun 2025
At least 151 people in central Nigeria are now known to have died following flash floods that destroyed homes and displaced thousands of residents earlier this week.
Oceans Commission must have teeth – minister
14 May 2025
If an Oceans Commission were to be established under the government it would need genuine powers to make change, says Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones.
Environmentalists see forestry changes as dangerous step for Tairāwhiti
Tue 3 Jun 2025
By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | Tairāwhiti environmentalists have called changes for commercial forestry under proposed Resource Management Act reforms “a slap in the face” and a return to weaker forestry regulations.
Vanuatu criticises Australia for extending gas project while making COP31 bid
Today 10:30am
Vanuatu’s climate minister has expressed disappointment over Australia’s decision to extend one of the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas projects and said it raises questions over its bid to co-host the COP31 summit with Pacific nations.
Hotter and deeper: how NZ’s plan to drill for ‘supercritical’ geothermal energy holds promise and risk
2 Apr 2025
By David Dempsey, University of Canterbury | New Zealand’s North Island features a number of geothermal systems, several of which are used to generate some 1,000 MegaWatts of electricity. But deeper down there may be even more potential.
Electrification challenge for politicians, regulators
27 May 2025
Rewiring Aotearoa is calling for stronger political leadership to bring its vision of a cheaper, cleaner and stronger energy system to life, with the launch of its policy manifesto today.
Could ‘orange’ hydrogen be NZ’s key to net-zero?
Fri 30 May 2025
By Liz Kivi | New Zealand could be sitting on resources for a thriving multi-billion-dollar, low-carbon hydrogen economy, which might even be capable of creating a net reduction of carbon dioxide, according to scientists.
Energy Australia is in court accused of greenwashing. What is the case about and why is it significant?
16 May 2025
Climate group alleges energy giant misled 400,000 customers about ‘Go Neutral’ product, arguing that carbon credits don’t actually remove emissions.
Methanex closure comes early this year
14 May 2025
The almost-now-annual closure of Methanex has come earlier this year, giving more confidence that the electricity system will get through the winter without a fuel shortfall.
What happened to the hydrogen economy?
Tue 3 Jun 2025
The hydrogen car that was supposed to carry us into a cleaner future is still not in the driveway. In fact, outside of a few test markets, it’s not in anyone’s driveway.
Climate change could drive surge in foreclosures and lender losses, new study finds
22 May 2025
Extreme weather linked to climate change could spell financial ruin for many American homeowners and lead to billions in losses for lenders, a new study finds.
Will NZ walk away from the Paris Agreement?
20 Dec 2024
By Geoff Bertram | COMMENT: Unless the government can find very cheap offshore mitigation, the temptation to walk away from its Paris Agreement obligations may well be too strong to resist for a coalition government focused on fiscal austerity.
Energy Australia apologises to 400,000 customers and settles greenwashing legal action
22 May 2025
Energy retailer says carbon offsetting ‘not the most effective way’ to reduce emissions.
Kiwi cleantech companies on the world stage
27 May 2025
Six New Zealand 'cleantech' companies were in Singapore earlier this month, along with a venture capital firm and the MacDiarmid Institute, to meet investors and multinational partners.
Carbon News launches price index
24 Jun 2024
Today’s issue is the first to feature Carbon News’ own carbon price index for secondary market spot prices for NZUs on New Zealand’s compliance market.
Govt's RMA overhaul sparks fears for nature and climate
Fri 30 May 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government has opened public consultation on the biggest overhaul of environmental planning rules in New Zealand’s history, with critics warning it puts nature and climate at risk in favour of fast-tracked development and industry expansion.
World’s nations to gather in France to tackle what UN says is a global emergency in the oceans
Fri 30 May 2025
The world’s nations are gathering in France next month to tackle what the United Nations calls a global emergency facing the world’s oceans as they confront rising temperatures, plastic pollution choking marine life, and relentless overexploitation of fish and other resources.
Tech alone won’t save us, warns climate expert
Today 10:30am
By Shannon Morris-Williams | Technology alone won't be enough to reach net zero emissions, environmental psychologist Lorraine Whitmarsh told the Carbon and Energy Professionals conference in Auckland last week.
New research reveals NZ’s natural resource footprint
Thu 29 May 2025
Media release | New research from the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment reveals that about 107 million tonnes of natural resources were required to produce the goods and services consumed by New Zealanders in 2019 – approximately 21 tonnes per person on average.
NZ's first chance in 20 years to catch up on waste
Fri 30 May 2025
Media release | The government has announced proposals for updating the Waste Minimisation Act and the Litter Act. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Kiwis have a chance to catch up with other countries to reduce our waste and litter.
US: Clean energy project cancellations top $14 Billion so far in 2025
Today 10:30am
Businesses have pulled the plug on big projects amid Trump’s retreat on climate action. But plenty remain in the pipeline, awaiting a Congressional decision on tax credits.
Dismissals 'massive win' for climate movement
13 May 2025
The outstanding charges against 25 climate activists who disrupted traffic in Wellington have been dropped, a move the group calls a win for the climate movement.
Straterra has a new name: the New Zealand Minerals Council
16 Apr 2025
Media release | Straterra has been renamed as New Zealand Minerals Council, says chief executive Josie Vidal.
India, a major user of coal power, is making large gains in clean energy adoption
Today 10:30am
One of the most carbon-polluting countries, India is also making huge efforts to harness the power of the sun, wind and other clean energy sources.
A fungus that can ‘eat you from the inside out’ could spread as the world heats up
27 May 2025
Infection-causing fungi responsible for millions of deaths a year will spread significantly to new regions as the planet heats up, new research predicts — and the world is not prepared.
Green budget 'ludicrous la-la land' – govt
15 May 2025
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the budget was "clown show economics" and an "absolute circus".
United Nations carbon market rules agreed but concerns remain
25 Nov 2024
New carbon market rules agreed at the fractious UN climate summit will be a relief to New Zealand and Singapore, who were leading the negotiations, but concerns about greenwashing and disadvantaging nature-based solutions remain.
“It’s not the car – it’s how we move” – EECA
Tue 3 Jun 2025
By Shannon Morris-Williams| New Zealand’s transport emissions conversation has focused heavily on electric vehicles – but Richard Briggs, group manager, delivery and partnerships at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, says we’re asking the wrong question.
Europe’s next climate target may already have been agreed in Berlin
28 May 2025
Germany’s new coalition has adopted a climate stance shaped by talks with the EU’s top climate official, signalling where the bloc may land on a likely upcoming 2040 emissions target.
Water crisis on the horizon?
26 May 2025
Media release | Sewage contaminating Auckland oyster farms highlights the “dire state” of water infrastructure in Aotearoa, says University of Auckland Associate Professor Daniel Hikuroa.
Global sea levels rise spelling catastrophe for coastal towns and cities
14 May 2025
For around 2,000 years, global sea levels varied little. That changed in the 20th century. They started rising and have not stopped since — and the pace is accelerating.
Tropical forest loss hit new heights in 2024; fire a major driver in Latin America
23 May 2025
Tropical forest loss skyrocketed in 2024, with vast swaths of primary forest consumed by fire, according to new satellite data.
For the first time, China invests more in wind and solar than coal overseas
Thu 29 May 2025
China’s Belt and Road Initiative, long derided for its heavy carbon footprint, was dominated by wind and solar power projects for the first time from 2022 to 2023, according to a new analysis. But coal plants financed in earlier years are still coming online.
