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Critics say exemption for fossil fuels exploits White House's self-made gas crisis', and could doom the rare Rice's whale

Merlin could disappear in worst-case scenario, with British isles facing ecological point of no return'The merlin, Britain's smallest bird of prey, is one of more than 200 species that will become extinct in the UK if action is not taken to curb emissions and unsustainable land use, a study has claimed.According to the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), there is a 20-year window in which decisions on climate and land use will determine the fate of dozens of Britain's native species. Continue reading...

Home to one of the world's largest deposits of freshwater, the Great Lakes region will soon host next-generation generators - just as prices are being hiked across the USSubmersible hydroelectric technology deployed across the Great Lakes could become a key cog in clean energy efforts, supporters say, amid surging electricity demand and costs.Home to one of the largest deposits of freshwater on the planet, the Great Lakes region has on its shores some of the largest cities in North America in Chicago, Toronto, Montreal and Detroit, where electricity demand is growing. While none of the five Great Lakes have significant tides or currents to fuel hydropower, several of the waterways that link the lakes do. Continue reading...

Brittlestars, sea anemones and a catshark among new-to-science species collected during expedition off the Queensland coast

Critics say president is locking into 20th-century energy systems even as his bet' on oil and gas isn't going so well'By attacking Iran and threatening to seize its oil while taking extraordinary measures to block clean energy back in the US, Donald Trump has inadvertently highlighted the dangerous volatility of the fossil fuel era, critics say.The US and Israel's bombardment of Iran and southern Lebanon has caused a humanitarian and environmental toll, with threats of further escalation set to add to these casualties as well as add more planet-heating emissions and destroy drinking water supplies. Continue reading...

A death rate of up to 90%, attributed to warming seas, is threatening the trade in Hiroshima prefecture, which produces most of the country's farmed oystersThe Kure oyster festival is doing a brisk trade in beer and grilled meat on sticks. But the longest queues are in front of the oyster stalls, where chefs shuffle piles of mottled shellfish across griddles, waiting for their hinges to ease and reveal their fleshy interiors.Nobuyuki Miyaoka, who is attending the festival with his son, daughter-in-law and their young children, likes his oysters steamed with sake and served with a few drops of tangy ponzu sauce. The local oysters were fine until this year," he says. They used to be a lot bigger ... look how small they are."Chefs prepare oysters at the Kure oyster festival. This year, local businesses and consumers say the shellfish have been scarce and smaller than usual Continue reading...

Government told to focus on transition to mix of wind, solar, tidal and nuclear energyMore drilling in the North Sea would do nothing to improve the UK's energy security, former military leaders have said, as a new analysis finds no fossil fuel importer is safe from chokepoints in the global supply chain.The government should focus on a rapid transition to a mix of wind, solar, tidal and nuclear energy to ensure the UK's future security, the former military leaders told the Guardian, as well as a programme of energy efficiency and a major renewal" of the electricity grid. Continue reading...

The war reveals Britain's exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices. More North Sea drilling will not shield households, building domestic green energy willWhat should Britain do when war in the Middle East sends energy prices soaring? If the strait of Hormuz were blocked for the month of fighting that Donald Trump predicts, British households could face another brutal cost of living shock. Goldman Sachs warns of prices at the pump rising to 2022 levels. That would put more than 50p on each litre in the tank. Prolonged disruption to global gas supplies could see energy bills in the UK rise by 900 to 2,500 a year. Such uncertainty strengthens the case for going big on clean energy.Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has grasped this reality. By contrast, the Conservatives and Reform UK are doubling down on domestic fossil fuel extraction. The debate is framed around a simple claim of energy security: drill more at home. But the argument is rhetorical. Britain might export a bit more crude and have a smidgen more gas. But it would still need to import refined fuels and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Households would remain exposed to global energy shocks. Clean electricity, by contrast, cuts gas demand and reduces exposure to volatile markets. The political pressures are jobs, tax revenues and the economiesof Scotland and north-east England tied to a declining asset. Continue reading...

Private equity group EQT to take 42% stake as supplier faces scrutiny over environmental record and CEO's pay

Early spring sightings show colourful insect is a resident species for first time in decades, says conservation charityThe large tortoiseshell - an elusive and enigmatic butterfly that became extinct in Britain in the last century - is a UK resident species once again, with a flurry of early spring sightings.Britain's list of native butterflies has increased to 60 with the return of the insect after individuals emerged from hibernation in woodlands in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Cornwall and the Isle of Wight. Continue reading...

A Guardian investigation with DeSmog reveals thousands of tonnes of fish are illegally turned into fishmeal and oil off the coast of Guinea-BissauThe only ice factory on Bubaque, an island in west Africa's Guinea-Bissau, is out of service. Local fishers, such as Pedro Luis Pereira, are forced to source ice from factories on the mainland, about 70km away - a six-hour round trip by boat.The machines have been broken for months," Pereira says, as he pulls in his nets on the shore of the island inside the protected Bijagos archipelago. We've alerted the ministry of fisheries, but so far, no one has come to fix them."Foreign industrial vessels anchored near the port of Bissau. Photograph: Davide Mancini Continue reading...

Schools and highways close and Territorians living near major rivers leave amid possibly record-breaking rain

Victorian government says it's only fair' Great Ocean Road tourists should pay to see famous limestone stacks

Megawatt fast EV charging reflects a coordinated grid strategy the UK once used. Privatisation and fragmentation now make that infrastructure far harder to buildThe future of electric cars arrived this week in China. The world's biggest car seller, BYD, unveiled a new battery giving its latest electric models more than 600 miles of range. Remarkably, the Chinese motor-maker said 250 miles of range could be injected into its new batteries in just five minutes. If true, the last remaining advantages of petrol cars - long range and quick refuelling - are beginning to disappear.But such technology requires megawatt charging points. A single charger can draw as much power as a small town in Britain. BYD's system relies on chargers delivering around 1.5 megawatts of electricity - more than four times the fastest chargers in the UK. China is moving fast, planning thousands of megawatt charging stations within two years.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

Once abundant in California, the white abalone had all but vanished. Now, thanks to an innovative breeding program, it's staged a remarkable comebackOn a sunny January afternoon in Bodega Bay, some 70 miles north of San Francisco, the White Abalone Culture Lab is humming with activity.It's spawning day. Alyssa Frederick, the lab's program director, invites me into an industrial room full of troughs and tubs of bubbling seawater. The abalone program is tucked away in the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, a research facility devoted to studying ocean and coastal health. The goal is to bring the endangered sea snails, known for their iridescent shells and delicate meat, back from the brink. Continue reading...

LeadCare II offers point-of-care testing but the equipment has had recalls globally due to the potential for inaccurately low readings

Vermont and New York face high stakes to protect climate superfund laws as it faces attacks from Trump's DoJ

Self-styled punk' beer company bought land in 2020, pledging to plant Scotland's biggest ever forest'The self-styled punk" beer company BrewDog sold its Highland estate for a knockdown price after abandoning its efforts to plant Scotland's biggest ever forest" there.BrewDog's co-founder James Watt claimed its Lost Forest project at Kinrara in the Cairngorms national park would cover a staggering area" and capture tens of millions of tonnes of CO during its lifetime. Continue reading...

Prof Tim Lang says country produces far less food than it needs to feed population and is particularly vulnerableThe British government should be stockpiling food, according to a leading expert on food policy, as it is not prepared for climate shocks or wars that could cause the population to starve.Prof Tim Lang of City St George's, University of London said the UK produced far less food than it needed to feed itself, and as a small island that relied on a few large companies to feed its giant population, it was particularly vulnerable to shocks. Continue reading...

First of the trusts, formed with 12 people in a Norfolk pub in 1926, buys swath of farmland to restore to natureThe place where Norton Wood once stood is now a vast field of decaying wheat stubble. The ancient wood was grubbed up during the second world war. No trace of it remains - on the surface, at least. This ghost in the landscape lives on only in the name of the local village: Wood Norton.But trees will soon be bursting upwards again and the wood will regrow after Norfolk Wildlife Trust celebrated its 100th birthday by buying a swath of farmland to revive for nature. Continue reading...

This week's best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...

The 55 pilot whales, which had to be euthanised, had been following a female having a difficult birth, scientists believeThe mass stranding and death of 55 whales on the Isle of Lewis in 2023 was caused by the mammals' loyalty to their pod, a report has concluded.It had been thought that the unusually large incident on Traigh Mhor beach, Tolsta, could have been caused by trauma, disease or acoustic disturbance from military or industrially generated noise. Continue reading...

Lazarus taxa

BoM issues flood watch covering most of Queensland while NT authorities warn houses and roads could be inundated

The country's network of footpaths is growing - with hopes they will develop local economies and better preserve the environment

Fossil fuel price surge after US-Israeli attacks on Iran prompts calls to end dependence on volatile' energy source

Pacific island says the US weakened its proposal to advance a key climate ruling but vows to hold major polluters accountableThe Trump administration's attempt to sink a UN resolution demanding countries act on the climate crisis has caused cuts to the proposal but hasn't entirely killed it, according to the tiny Pacific island country spearheading the effort.The US has demanded that Vanuatu, an archipelago in the south Pacific, drop its UN draft resolution that calls on the world to implement a landmark international court of justice (ICJ) ruling from last year that countries could face paying reparations if they fail to stem the climate crisis. Continue reading...

Regulator says failures that hit nearly 300,000 customers made worse by utility's failure to maintain efficient supply system

At least eight councils receive legal threats alleging flyers criticising wood burners are in breach of advertising codesLobbyists for the UK wood-burning stove industry have threatened councils with legal action over public information campaigns warning of the harms of air pollution.At least eight councils have received legal threats, according to research by the British Medical Journal (BMJ). The Stove Industry Association (SIA), which represents the UK's expanding industry around the burning of wood in domestic settings, wrote to the councils, all London boroughs, in late 2023 complaining that flyers stating wood burners were careless, not cosy" were in breach of UK advertising codes. Continue reading...

The arrival of loggerheads in New South Wales shows these sentinels of climate change' are being forced into unknown territoryWhen Bulwal Bilima (BB for short) first arrived at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, she, or possibly he, was lethargic, badly constipated and dehydrated. Named strong turtle" in the Aboriginal Dhurga language of the Yuin people on whose land it was found, the tiny 110g loggerhead hatchling, no bigger than a bar of soap, had a fight on its hands.The baby turtle was found stranded in New South Wales's Booderee national park last April, much further south than the usual hatching grounds. After days of feeding on squid, sardines and marine vitamins, BB, whose sex cannot be determined until it is fully mature, revived. Continue reading...

If we want things to be Made in Europe' again, we need to be realistic about how grimy and grey our centres of commerce once wereBitterfeld, Bitterfeld, where dirt falls from the sky," went a popular saying. Located in the intensely industrialised Chemical Triangle of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), in the 1980s Bitterfeld became known as the dirtiest town in Europe. Its chemical industry and lignite mines dumped toxic waste in waterways, and the air carried a concentrate of sulphur dioxide some 40 times today's levels.Europe would soon be rattled out of its postwar reliance on heavy industry, in favour of cheap imports from abroad. In the last days of the GDR, environmental activism brought the coup de grace. The 1988 release of the undercover film Bitter Things from Bitterfeld shed light on the appalling living conditions in the Chemical Triangle, and the city's chemical plants were soon decommissioned.Hans Larsson is an architect at OMA/AMO Continue reading...

The UK should optimise North Sea oil and gas production while it transfers to renewables and nuclear developmentsThe chancellor's failure to reform or remove the energy profits levy (EPL) - AKA the North Sea windfall tax - in her spring forecast was a case of political expediency and more to do with putting one byelection result before the economic needs of the country". Who said that? Some Tory or Reform politician being opportunist as war in Iran puts the UK's energy import dependency in the spotlight?Actually, no, it was the general secretary of the GMB union, Gary Smith, on Wednesday, demonstrating once again that views on the North Sea oil and gas do not fit neatly into a left-right divide. He has been making the principled case for an orderly transition in energy for ages, warning that decarbonising via deindustrialising costs jobs and will end up pushing voters rightwards. Continue reading...

Climate deniers expected more resistance to the fossil fuel blitz. But Democrats, billionaires and activists have gone silent

Government says it is working to solve postcode lottery' of access to green or blue spacesThere are urban areas of England where no one lives within a 15-minute walk of nature, government data shows, as ministers scramble to meet their access to nature targets.While the data shows 80% of people live within walking distance of green or blue spaces such as a river, park or woodland, it also reveals a disparity between rural and poorer urban areas. Continue reading...

Firm admits supplying water unfit for human consumption after nearly 150 people fell illA major utility company has admitted supplying water unfit for human consumption after a parasite outbreak in Devon made almost 150 people sick.South West Water (SWW) pleaded guilty to the criminal offence relating to the cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Brixham, Devon, which affected 2,500 homes. Continue reading...

Analysis shows average levels are 30cm higher than thought, and up to 150cm in south-east Asia and Indo-PacificSea levels around the world have been underestimated due to inaccurate modelling, with research suggesting ocean levels are far higher than previously understood.The finding could significantly affect assessments of the future impacts of global heating and the effects on coastal settlements. Continue reading...

Company will halt production of controversial paraquat weed killer by end of June as it faces thousands of lawsuitsSyngenta, maker of a controversial pesticide linked to Parkinson's disease, said on Tuesday that it will stop making its paraquat weed killer by the end of June.The announcement comes as the company is facing several thousand lawsuits brought by people in the US who allege they developed Parkinson's disease due to their exposure to Syngenta's paraquat products. Continue reading...

Puffins, guillemots, razorbills and terns are washing up on shores across Europe, after a string of storms affected their ability to find foodThe two puffins washed up among seaweed and bits of plastic on a beach in Newquay, Cornwall, on a damp February morning. Normally, these much-loved seabirds pull in crowds of tourists eager to see their courtship rituals, but these were rolling in the surf, dead. Most people walking past probably missed them.Their breast bones were sticking out, they had no fat on them, and their muscles were wasted; the pair probably starved to death, unable to find enough food out in the Atlantic Ocean where they spend the winter. Continue reading...

Instead of removing plant-munching caterpillars, gardeners asked to take relaxed attitude to support the moths many of them grow intoAs spring unfolds and plants come to life, gardeners often fight a losing battle against the caterpillars who munch their cabbages.Traditionally, advice for gardeners regarding caterpillars would be about how to get rid of them and stop unsightly holes in plants. But the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Wildlife Trusts are asking Britons to take a relaxed attitude to caterpillar carnage in order to support the moths many of them grow into.Foxgloves: These pretty plants are food for several moths, including the lesser yellow underwing (Noctua comes), angle shades moth (Phlogophora meticulosa) and setaceous Hebrew character (Xestia c-nigrum).Lady's bedstraw: This native wildflower with frothy yellow blooms provides food for the hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), elephant hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) and bedstraw hawk-moth (Hyles gallii).Mullein: These tall, drought-resistant yellow plants are enjoyed by the brightly striped caterpillars of the mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci).Mint: This provides food for the mint moth and beautiful plume moth. It is also loved by bees.Hedges: If you have space, a mixed native hedge planted with hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), hazel (Coryllus avellana) and dog rose (Rosa canina) provides food for a multitude of caterpillars. Continue reading...

From the Chagos Islands to windmills' and sharia law, the US president's comments do not bear much scrutinyDonald Trump has been opining about the UK again, saying on Tuesday that Keir Starmer was not Winston Churchill" and repeating his complaint about the deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Here are some recent things the US president has said about British issues, and how they compare with reality. Continue reading...

Olivier De Schutter says new economic agenda needed to tackle crises of rising inequality and ecological collapseThe global economy must be reordered to ensure it serves ordinary people around the world rather than the frivolous and destructive demands of the ultra-rich", according to a leading UN figure.Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, says politicians must stop prioritising socially and ecologically destructive growth" that only increases the profits - and serves the consumption demands - of the world's richest individuals and corporations. Continue reading...

Researchers hope restoring the original song will improve breeding prospects for birds released into the wild

FoI documents show ministers ignored recommendation for fresh inquiry that could have reduced or paused farming

Google, Microsoft and Amazon among companies using algorithms and AI to influence what crops are grown and how, say criticsTech companies and industrial agriculture are playing with the food system" by using AI and algorithms to undermine farmers in choosing what the world eats, leading food security experts have warned.Companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM and Alibaba are working with industrial agriculture firms to influence what crops are grown and how, according to a report by the thinktank International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food). Continue reading...

Dublin, Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn among port cities more choked by sulphur oxides from ferries, analysis showsFume-belching ferries spew more sulphur pollution than cars in several EU capitals, analysis has found.Dublin, Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn are among 13 of Europe's 15 biggest port cities choked more by sulphur oxides (SOx) from ferries than road vehicles, data shared exclusively with the Guardian shows. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Schemes worth hundreds of millions of pounds to protect biodiversity and oceans likely to be substantially reducedUK programmes to protect nature and the climate in developing countries are suffering swingeing budget cuts despite ministers' promises, the Guardian has learned.The cuts belie the government's claims to be fulfilling international obligations on climate finance and are veiled behind a system that experts have criticised as opaque.The cutting and partial closure of the 100m Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, intended to protect nature in vital ecosystems in poor regions overseas. Six regions were originally targeted, in Africa, South America and Asia, but this has been reduced to two.Coast - a project for Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition - and Pact (Prepare and Accelerate Climate Transitions) are having substantial cuts.The future of the 500m Blue Planet Fund has been thrown into doubt despite its successful operation.Other schemes have been reduced in scope, for instance by allowing only one year's funding where years were expected.Requests for data under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed spending has been slashed among the departments responsible for international climate finance (ICF). Continue reading...

Hydrolysis uses alkaline and water to break down body in a few hours and is part of demand for more sustainable funeralsScotland has become the first part of the UK to legalise hydrolysis, an environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or burial, reflecting increasing demand for more sustainable funeral arrangements.Also known as water cremation or aquamation, the process is already available in many parts of the world, and regulations approved by the Scottish parliament on Monday mark the most significant change to funeral law since cremation was introduced in 1902. Continue reading...

Ken Henry leads push for federal government to do more to protect animals as biodiversity declines

Authorities say capture of bull and tiger sharks necessary to protect lives as environmentalists launch urgent legal challengeSome beaches in areas of New Caledonia are closed to swimming and the authorities have begun shark culling off the capital, Noumea, after a fatal attack in the popular tourist spot - prompting a legal challenge to stop the operation and reigniting debate over public safety and marine conservation.The culling operation began on 23 February, after a man from New Caledonia riding a wing foil in a recreational area was attacked and killed. Preliminary investigations indicate the victim was attacked by a tiger shark that measured at least three metres. Continue reading...