A summary of today’s top climate and clean energy stories.
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USA: After a wait of nearly two years, the Energy Department proposed two major energy efficiency rules Thursday for commercial refrigeration equipment and walk-in coolers and freezers. (Washington Post)
USA: The Pentagon announced $7 billion in power-purchase agreements (PPA) to nearly two dozen companies for solar energy on Wednesday (Greentech Media)
Pacific: The Marshall Islands has warned that the clock is ticking on climate change and the world needs to act urgently to stop low-lying Pacific nations disappearing beneath the waves. (AFP/Yahoo)
Morocco: Plans to generate 1000MW of renewable electricity in the Western Sahara upholds a partial occupation of the desert territory and could contravene international law (Euractiv)
Australia: Climate campaigners are starting ‘hunger strike’ to block a Queensland coal project. GVK Hancock’s proposed Alpha coal mine project will dig up 32m tonnes of coal per year from the Galilee basin and export it to Asia for burning in power stations. (Guardian)
Arctic: One of the biggest canyons in the world has been found beneath the ice sheet that smothers most of Greenland (BBC)
South Africa: Investment in clean energy soared to $5.7 billion in 2012, the world’s highest growth in renewable energy investment, according to the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP)
USA: NASA has commenced its most complex airborne science study of the year to try and establish how air pollution affects the climate (Live Science)
Sweden: Volvo Group has this week revealed how a combination of cleaner fuels, more efficient engines, and smarter logistics have helped cut emissions from a fleet of 400 trucks by almost a third as part of a three year trial. (Business Green)