Public Health England makes plea to ban cars near schools.

New evidence from the Public Health England (PHE) has highlighted the effects of pollution from cars.

Public Health England wants to ban cars from near schools.

The review informs local and national governments on actions to improve outdoor air quality and health. Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, with around 28,000 to 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure.

The report sets out a number of ways that local authorities can improve air quality. PHE suggests boosting investment in clean transport and promoting a faster uptake of low emission vehicles.

PHE also recommends redesigning cities so people aren’t so close to highly polluting roads. They also want to discourage highly polluting vehicles from entering populated areas. This would include introducing no-idling zones outside schools.

Read the ClimateAction story by Rachel Cooper - “Public Health England makes plea to ban cars near schools.”

Australia only nation to join US at pro-coal event at COP24 climate talks

Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to coal – and its unwavering support for the United States – by appearing at a US government-run event promoting the use of fossil fuels at the United Nations climate talks in Poland.

Patrick Suckling (sitting on panel right), Australia’s
ambassador for the environment, waits as protesters
 disrupt an event at the COP24 climate change
summit in Katowice, Poland. 

Australia was the only country apart from the host represented at the event, entitled “US innovative technologies spur economic dynamism”, designed to “showcase ways to use fossil fuels as cleanly and efficiently as possible, as well as the use of emission-free nuclear energy”.

Its panel discussion was disrupted for several minutes by dozens of protesters who stood up suddenly during speeches, unfurling a banner reading “Keep it in the ground” while singing and chanting “Shame on you”.

Read the story from The Guardian by Ben Doherty - “Australia only nation to join US at pro-coal event at COP24 climate talks.”

Government ditches $10m promotion blitz amid Great Barrier Reef furore

The Morrison government has abandoned plans for a $10 million campaign promoting the Great Barrier Reef's promising future, after a public backlash over its failure to address climate change and protect the natural wonder.

The Morrison government has abandoned a $10
million public relations campaign to raise hopes
 about the future of the reef.

An eminent reef scientist has also slammed as "not scientifically credible" claims by a charity gifted $444 million for reef conservation efforts that it will "climate-proof" the tourism icon.

Fairfax Media has learned the government has scrapped the $10 million reef communication campaign outlined in this year's federal budget.

Read the story from The Age by Nicole Hasham - “Government ditches $10m promotion blitz amid Great Barrier Reef furore.”

China stakes claim on electric car market with 100 new models at auto show

Chinese car brands are staking a leadership claim in the global race to dominate electric vehicles, unveiling and promoting more than 100 new models at the country's annual auto show.

The LSEV is touted as the first mass-producible
3D-printed electric car in the world.

More than two-thirds of the hybrid and fully electric plug-in cars on display in Beijing are from Chinese brands, despite international car giants trying hard to court the huge local market with the unveiling of several new electric SUVs.

New energy vehicles (NEVs) aren't just fashionable in China's big cities — they are also being actively pushed by China's government through subsidies for manufacturers and a planned cap-and-trade quota system that will force car companies to make at least 10 per cent of their output NEVs or face fines.

Read the Bill Birtles story from ABC News - “China stakes claim on electric car market with 100 new models at auto show.”