Luisa Neubauer, of Fridays for Future, cites language used by the chancellor amid protest crackdownSevere policing and scary" political rhetoric is fuelling abuse against climate activists, Germany's best-known environmentalist has said.It's not a shift any more, it's a slide," said Luisa Neubauer, from the German branch of Fridays for Future, the protest movement that grew out of Greta Thunberg's school strikes. There's an increase in hate language, there's an increase in threats, and the threats are getting more concrete. So they're not saying any more I hate you' but they're saying We should come to your place, we should go get you.'" Continue reading...
Beka Saw Munduruku , 21, traveled 4,000 miles to deliver letter and confront family behind Cargill empire over what she says amounts to a litany of broken promisesA 21-year-old Indigenous activist from a remote Amazonian village will hand deliver a letter to the Cargill-MacMillan dynasty in Minneapolis on Thursday, calling on the billionaire owners of the US's biggest private company to stop destroying the Amazon rainforest and its people.Beka Saw Munduruku traveled more than 4,000 miles to confront the family behind Cargill, the world's largest grain trader and a major meat producer, over what she says amounts to a litany of broken promises that pose an existential threat to Indigenous peoples and the global climate. Continue reading...
by Sarah Marsh Consumer affairs correspondent on (#6FGF8)
Research by Material Focus shows everyday items such as disposable vapes are a big contributing factorAlmost half a billion small, cheap electrical everyday items from headphones to handheld fans ended up in landfill in the UK in the past year, according to research.The not-for-profit organisation Material Focus, which conducted the research, said the scale of the issue was huge and they wanted to encourage more recycling. Continue reading...
Meaningful debate over climate emergency lacking ahead of October vote amid fresh warnings of more extreme weather eventsIn the lead up to New Zealand's 2017 election, Jacinda Ardern, the then soon-to-be prime minister, called the climate emergency her generation's nuclear-free moment" - a reference to the bold stance the country took against nuclear power.Her comments signalled renewed urgency in shaping New Zealand's response to combatting one of the globe's greatest existential threats. But six years on, with the country's general election just days away, the climate emergency has been sidelined against discussions of crime, co-governance" and the cost of living. Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam European community affairs correspon on (#6FG0F)
Campaigners use traditional Sami tents to block roads in Norwegian capital in protest against turbines on reindeer pasturesHundreds of Indigenous and environmental campaigners have blocked a main thoroughfare in Oslo to demand the demolition of two windfarms that have been described by the Norwegian government as a violation of human rights".The Wednesday protest traces its roots to a landmark 2021 decision by Norway's supreme court that found 151 wind turbines in the western region of Fosen had trampled on the rights of Sami reindeer herders by encroaching on their pastures. Continue reading...
Deal to buy Pioneer Natural Resources shows Exxon's confidence that fossil fuel output will not be hampered in years to comeOil giant ExxonMobil agreed to buy the shale group Pioneer Natural Resources for $59.5bn in a deal that places a vast bet on a future for fossil fuel production in the United States.America's largest oil and gas deal in more than two decades will increase Exxon's dominance in the Permian Basin shale field, at the heart of the country's transformation into the world's biggest oil producer. Continue reading...
The much-loved tree must be removed to protect Hadrian's Wall, but its ultimate fate remains uncertainThe Sycamore Gap tree is being removed from its spot on Hadrian's Wall after it was cut down by vandals two weeks ago.On Thursday a crane will lift the 50-foot sycamore off the wall in Northumberland and it will be put into storage at a National Trust property - the location of which is not being disclosed for security reasons. Continue reading...
Wastewater from the derailment site cleanup will be injected far underground in the foothills of the AppalachiansMounted on the wall above Mark Mills' head was a model of a large northern pike. This area is one of the most southerly places in the country that you can catch them," said Mills, the mayor of Coshocton, a town of 11,000 people in Ohio's Appalachian foothills.Coshocton's natural beauty and outdoor pursuits industry attract thousands of people worldwide, generating $60m annually for the local economy. The local visitors bureau sends packages to people in countries as far away as Poland. Continue reading...
There are at least 157,820 outstanding applications to local authorities, and waits of up to 15 yearsThere are few things so quintessentially English as the allotment, but the number of people waiting for a space of their own has almost doubled in the last 12 years.The most recent figures, obtained by independent artists and supported by Greenpeace through freedom of information requests, show there are now at least 157,820 applications sitting on English local authorities' allotment waiting lists, up 81% from 12 years ago when researchers found the figure was 86,787. Continue reading...
Scheme goes further than most, as Swedish city tries to reduce pollution and noiseStockholm has announced plans to become the first big capital city to ban petrol and diesel cars from its centre, in an effort to slash pollution and reduce noise.From 2025, 20 blocks of Stockholm's inner city area, spanning its finance and main shopping districts, will be restricted to electric vehicle traffic only. A decision on whether to expand the zone will be made in early 2025. Continue reading...
People are ahead of governments, says David Cooper, who blames backtracking on parties seeking wedge issues' for electoral gainGovernment backtracking on environmental promises is being driven by politicians and vested interests, not the public, the acting UN biodiversity chief has said, as he called for greater support for those experiencing short-term costs from green policies.David Cooper, acting executive secretary for the UN convention on biological diversity (CBD), told the Guardian he believed the public mood was not moving against greater environmental protections, and that vested interests opposed to action on the climate crisis and nature loss were trying to frustrate progress. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: With Paris under siege by these tiny, blood-sucking terrors, many on the other side of the Channel are wondering if they're next - and what can be done Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. Paris is being overrun by bedbugs, at a time when the country is hosting the Rugby World Cup and preparing to host the 2024 Olympics. The news has alarmed people living in France and those visiting: in a moment of particularly acute panic, the deputy mayor of the French capital declared that no one is safe", which certainly intensified the concern.A bedbug epidemic on the other side of the Channel has unsurprisingly left many people worried that the hordes of insects are about to hop on a direct train to St Pancras International and invade the UK. London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, has said everything is being done to ensure that the problem does not get out of control, though he has acknowledged that it is a real cause for concern". Transport for London is disinfecting seats on buses and tubes every day and Khan is also in contact with Eurostar.Gaza | A massive Israeli military buildup is continuing along Gaza's border, as the country's military confirmed the death toll from Saturday's Hamas attack - the deadliest militant assault in its history - had passed 1,200 and wave after wave of airstrikes hit the territory.Labour | Keir Starmer has made a direct appeal for despairing" Conservative voters to back Labour at the next election, telling them he would repair a Britain broken by 13 years of Tory governments.Bibby Stockholm | The Home Office plans to return asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge next week following a lengthy evacuation after legionella was found there.Disinformation | The EU has issued a warning to Elon Musk over the alleged disinformation about the Hamas attack on Israel, including fake news and repurposed old images", on X, which was formerly known as Twitter.Luton airport | A major incident has been declared at London Luton airport after a huge fire broke out at a car park in the terminal, with all flights being suspended. Continue reading...
by Mark Brown North of England correspondent on (#6FFFK)
Historic England announces scheme to deter would-be criminals from treasures at shipwreck sitesShipwreck treasures that lie on seabeds around the coast of England are to be given gamechanging" protection against criminals.Historic England has announced details of a scheme that will involve, for the first time, forensic marking at some of the 57 most protected wreck sites. Continue reading...
Selected from 49,957 entries from 95 countries, the winners of the Natural History Museum's prestigious wildlife photographer of the year competition were revealed at an awards ceremony in South Kensington on Tuesday. The flagship wildlife photographer of the year exhibition featuring the awarded images will open on Friday 13 October 2023 at the Natural History Museum in London Continue reading...
Drought and heatwave has killed fish in rivers as Indigenous group Apiam says villagers have no water, food or medicineIndigenous people in the Amazon are calling on the Brazilian government to declare a climate emergency as their villages have no drinking water, food or medicine due to a severe drought that is drying up rivers vital for travel in the rainforest.The drought and heatwave has killed masses of fish in the rivers that Indigenous people live off and the water in the muddy streams and tributaries of the Amazon river has become undrinkable, the umbrella organization Apiam that represents 63 tribes in the Amazon said on Tuesday. Continue reading...
Louisiana residents face crisis as seawater penetrates Mississippi but scientists say other coastal cities likely to be affected over timeThe threat to drinking water from the kind of saltwater intrusion currently creeping up the drought-hit Mississippi River towards New Orleans will increasingly be faced by coastal cities around the US, experts warn.Louisianans have been preparing for a potential crisis because of seawater from the Gulf of Mexico penetrating the low-lying Mississippi. The mayor of New Orleans declared a state of emergency last month amid concerns about the potential health risks to the city's drinking water, which would leave residents reliant on bottled water for cooking and cleaning. Continue reading...
Research shows climate crisis by far main cause of recent unseasonable temperatures in southern winter and early springThe deadly heat in central South America over the past two months was made 100 times more likely by human emissions that disrupted the climate, scientists have shown.Temperatures have exceeded 40C in late winter and early spring in the southern hemisphere, affecting millions and leading to heat-related deaths. Continue reading...
Experts say hop yields and quality will continue to drop by 2050 if farmers don't adapt to higher temperaturesClimate breakdown is already changing the taste and quality of beer, scientists have warned.The quantity and quality of hops, a key ingredient in most beers, is being affected by global heating, according to a study. As a result, beer may become more expensive and manufacturers will have to adapt their brewing methods. Continue reading...
Report on state of flora and fungi says newly discovered plants should be listed as threatened by defaultMore than 2m fungi species are waiting to be identified around the world in what scientists have called a new frontier of discovery" for life on Earth, according to a new report.But researchers also warn that the vast majority of new plant discoveries are endangered species, which should be listed as threatened with extinction by default, warning that three-quarters of undescribed species are likely to be at risk of disappearing. Continue reading...
Only a third of countries with climate crisis plans include access to sexual, maternal and newborn health services, UNFPA report findsOnly a third of countries include sexual and reproductive health in their national plans to tackle the climate crisis, the UN has warned.Of the 119 countries that have published plans, only 38 include access to contraception, maternal and newborn health services and just 15 make any reference to violence against women, according to a report published by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and Queen Mary University of London on Tuesday. Continue reading...
First of 277 turbines goes into operation at site that will produce enough energy for 6m homes a yearThe first turbine to be completed in a project to build the world's largest offshore windfarm, in the North Sea, has begun powering British homes and businesses.Developers confirmed on Monday that Dogger Bank, which sits 70 nautical miles off the coast of Yorkshire, started producing power over the weekend as the first of 277 turbines was connected to the electricity grid. Continue reading...
Measure signed into law by Gavin Newsom on Saturday is strong blueprint for national climate accountability, experts sayA groundbreaking California law will force large companies doing business in the state - including major global corporations - to disclose their planet-heating carbon emissions.The measure, signed into law by the governor, Gavin Newsom, on Saturday, will be the nation's first of its kind, serving as a blueprint for national climate accountability. Continue reading...
In Lajas, Puerto Rico, wealthy newcomers drive up land prices and bring construction that reduces the bay's oxygen levelsEvery year, tourists from across the globe flock to the south-west corner of Puerto Rico to witness a phenomenon found in only a few select locations worldwide.Here in the idyllic coastal region of La Parguera in Lajas, the main attraction is a bay by the same name: filled with microscopic plankton that can glow in the dark, the bay turns into a sparkly blue lagoon after sundown. This is one of the only bioluminescent bays in the world; nighttime visitors rush to see it up close, pushing off into the shimmering waters in kayaks. Continue reading...
Kim Foster, author of The Meth Lunches: Food and Longing in an American City, tried to distribute healthy food in Las Vegas during the pandemicDuring the first year of the pandemic, I put out a few rolls of toilet paper in my Little Free Library. I found myself adding more and more, until one day, I realized I was running a free pantry. People kept showing up, asking for food and supplies. Soon there was a fridge, too, with a sketchy extension cord running back to the house to keep it powered.I didn't know it at the time, but our family would run this pantry for more than a year, providing fresh vegetables, herbs, meat and dairy to our downtown Las Vegas community. Neighbors often wanted to chip in and help. They asked what the pantry needed. Continue reading...
EPA says too many pesticide formulas exist to check all for the safety of ingredients that could harm humans, plants and wildlifeIngredients labeled as inactive" in pesticide formulas are potentially poisoning the environment, crops and animals, but the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rebuffed calls to examine their toxicity and risks.Agency rules do not require the EPA to account for inactive ingredients when it evaluates pesticide formula safety, despite the fact that industry labels dangerous substances like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as inert. Continue reading...
by Damian Carrington Environment editor on (#6FDRZ)
Analysis shows at least $2.8tn in damage from 2000 to 2019 through worsened storms, floods and heatwavesThe damage caused by the climate crisis through extreme weather has cost $16m (13m) an hour for the past 20 years, according to a new estimate.Storms, floods, heatwaves and droughts have taken many lives and destroyed swathes of property in recent decades, with global heating making the events more frequent and intense. The study is the first to calculate a global figure for the increased costs directly attributable to human-caused global heating. Continue reading...
Findings regarding clouds above Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama highlight how microplastics are highly mobileMicroplastics have been found everywhere from the oceans' depths to the Antarctic ice, and now new research has detected it in an alarming new location - clouds hanging atop two Japanese mountains.The clouds around Japan's Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama contain concerning levels of the tiny plastic bits, and highlight how the pollution can be spread long distances, contaminating the planet's crops and water via plastic rainfall". Continue reading...
A 5m project is helping more than 100 historic churches deal with the damage caused by bat coloniesHigh above the pews of All Saints church in Thornham, north Norfolk, a roost of soprano pipistrelle bats have made their home. The nooks and crannies of the medieval church are perfect entry points for the winged mammals, whose bodies are about the size of a thumb. In the warmer months, they emerge every evening from the rafters as darkness falls.They like our church," says Janet Needham, the warden, over tea and chocolate digestives in the church library. Continue reading...
Strategy for governing includes taking on firms that contaminate environment and getting supermarkets to pay fair price to farmersLabour's new environment team says it will take on big businesses and supermarkets in order to halt pollution and stop farmers from being ripped off if it wins the next election.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has been criticised in the past for being too soft on polluting companies, and not using its full powers to stop water companies from spilling sewage. Farming groups have also criticised its close relationship with supermarkets, when farmers have felt ripped off by rising prices not being passed down the supply chain to their struggling businesses. Continue reading...
Hawaii's environment has suffered since its annexation by the US - can rebuilding return the island to an earlier way of life?In the weeks after deadly wildfires tore through Maui, Dr Mlia Purdy thought often of a Hawaiian proverb she learned as a child.E Malama oe I ka ina, e Malama ka ina ia oe. Continue reading...
Major weather event' continues as heavy rainfall causes widespread disruptionHeavy rainfall caused flooding, transport disruption and the cancellation of events across many parts of Scotland over the weekend with a warning of more to come.An amber weather warning - the second highest - was in place between Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon for parts of north-east Scotland, while a yellow warning was in place for much of northern Scotland. Continue reading...
by Christine Peterson in Laramie, Wyoming on (#6FD6W)
The tiny army cutworm moth provides a surprisingly nutritious meal for the giant carnivores - but humans are getting in the wayThe barren mountain slopes of north-west Wyoming might seem like inhospitable territory for a hungry grizzly bear. Big game animals are few and far between, and blueberries don't grow from these rocky hillsides, high above the treeline.But for a couple of months each summer, this stark landscape becomes a high-calorie buffet for hundreds of grizzly bears in the Rocky Mountain west. And it's all thanks to a small, unassuming insect whose relationship with the grizzly is as essential as it is unexpected. Continue reading...
Manuel Paez Teran, known as Tortuguita' was isolated and alone as police shot him dead - and his family and friends say the full story is being kept from themManuel Paez Teran's last word was: Help." It wasn't spoken; it was sent by text. From another location in the same forest where Paez Teran - or Tortuguita"- was camping in a tent, someone texted back: What do you need?"Seconds later, Tortuguita - Spanish for Little Turtle"- was dead. Six Georgia state patrol troopers shot Paez Teran with at least 14 bullets, leaving 57 wounds. The 26-year-old had been sleeping in tents and tree houses in a public park for months, along with dozens of other forest defenders" in protest against a $90m police and fire department training center known as Cop City", planned for another part of the forest less than a mile away. Continue reading...
Shnappy, who weighs 50lbs and lives in Clove Lakes Park, has gone missing - and locals suspect poachers stole it for soupIt is the case of a missing turtle.And this is no ordinary beast. The huge snapping turtle, known to all as Shnappy, weighs an enormous 50lbs and is a fixture in the New York borough of Staten Island, where he has long resided in Clove Lakes Park. Continue reading...
by Tama Matsuoka Wong, as told to Whitney Bauck with on (#6FCN3)
I had ideas about gardening, but everything I planted died. Then I started looking at what was already around me, and a lightbulb went offI was working as a financial services lawyer in urban areas like New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong for 30 years. My family came back to New Jersey because my youngest daughter had really bad allergies to the pollution in Hong Kong at the time. The whole forager thing started because we bought this major fixer-upper, and I had ideas about gardening. But everything I planted died. I was working, I've got three kids, so I didn't have time to look after things.I started looking at what was already there. What grows naturally? I was captivated by how beautiful some of these native plants are. And then my neighbors who are naturalists came over and explained the ecological difference between invasive plants [which are non-native to the ecosystem and whose introduction causes harm to human or ecological health] and native plants, which are indigenous species that occur naturally in an ecoregion without human introduction. That was my first lightbulb moment. I started to totally geek out on knowing what different plants are. I would read plant books in the bathtub after a long day of work. Continue reading...
Environment | The Guardian