Environment | The Guardian

Cabinet Office does not have strategy to ensure resilience to extreme weather, says National Audit OfficeThe UK government is not adequately prepared for climate disasters including severe droughts and floods, a report by the National Audit Office has found.Climate campaigners have said that the UK government is like a boiling frog" and oblivious" to extreme weather. Continue reading...

Urine found to contain significantly' increased concentrations of glyphosate, which is associated with fetal problemsPregnant women living near farm fields show significantly" increased concentrations of glyphosate weedkiller in their urine during periods when farmers are spraying their fields with the herbicide, according to a new scientific paper published on Wednesday.The research team said the findings were concerning, given recent studies that have found gestational exposure to glyphosate is associated with reduced fetal growth and other fetal problems. Glyphosate separately has been linked to cancer and other health problems. Continue reading...

Humanity faces devastating domino effects' including mass displacement and financial ruin as planet warmsMany of the gravest threats to humanity are drawing closer, as carbon pollution heats the planet to ever more dangerous levels, scientists have warned.Five important natural thresholds already risk being crossed, according to the Global Tipping Points report, and three more may be reached in the 2030s if the world heats 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial temperatures. Continue reading...

UK advertising watchdog says firms could not corroborate claims on environmental impact of air travelAdverts from Air France, Lufthansa and Etihad have been banned by the UK's ad regulator due to concerns they have misled customers about the environmental impact of air travel.The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned three adverts identified in July using artificial intelligence that suggested flights operated by leading airlines were sustainable. Continue reading...

Albanese government announces at Cop28 it will phase out offshore support for coal, oil and gas within a year

Claire Coutinho says cybersecurity issues at UK's most hazardous nuclear site must be urgently addressedCybersecurity vulnerabilities at the UK's most hazardous nuclear site must be urgently addressed and explanations given for any shortcomings, a cabinet minister has demanded.Claire Coutinho, secretary of state for energy security and net zero, wrote to the chief executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), David Peattie, saying allegations by the Guardian about failings in cybersecurity at Sellafield in Cumbria needed urgent attention". Continue reading...

Health ministry says posters in English outside apartment buildings in Athens were absolutely false'Greece's health ministry is seeking police help against hoaxers who tried to scare foreign tourists out of short-term rental apartments in Athens by inventing a bedbug crisis.A ministry statement said the posters stuck up outside apartment buildings in the city centre, festooned with fake ministry and Athens municipality logos, were absolutely false". Continue reading...

Whether you're a novice or an experienced home cook these tried-and-true cookbook picks are welcome additionsAs 2023 comes to an end, the Guardian asked an inspired group of chefs from around the US to share the cookbooks that have resonated with them during the past year. The diverse group of book recommendations, which range from a colorful cookbook that celebrates the Arab diaspora to bold-flavored recipes from a New York restaurant known for its tropical comfort food, have one thing in common: they all showcase the power of food to bring people and communities together. Whether you're a novice in the kitchen or an experienced home cook (or checking off your holiday shopping list), these tried-and-true cookbook picks are welcome additions to any collection. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Under current policies, Britain could fall short of internationally agreed goal of 68% cut in emissions by 2030

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Safety concerns at Europe's most hazardous plant have caused diplomatic tensions with US, Norway and Ireland

Committee chair raises concerns as Lib Dem leader describes company as a slow moving car crash'Troubled Thames Water is likely to be called back to be questioned by MPs over concerns raised by its auditors that its parent company could run out of money by April.Sir Robert Goodwill, the chair of the environment food and rural affairs committee, said he would suggest to his fellow MPs that Thames Water be recalled to parliament over the financial concerns. The recall comes as the company released its interim results and as it is pushing the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) to allow it to raise customer bills by up to 40% to fund investment in crumbling infrastructure. Continue reading...

Legislation being debated in the Senate will create a market to encourage private spending on projects that protect and restore biodiversity

In 2018, sightings of these solitary, nocturnal animals were recorded in Kenya for the first time in half a century. Now conservationists are working with farmers to create space for them on the landWhen Fred Telekwa settled on his farm inside Nyakweri forest, in western Kenya, four years ago, his main worry was how to prevent elephants and buffaloes from destroying his crops. The nearby Maasai Mara game reserve housed a huge amount of roaming wildlife.Two or three elephants can clear an acre of cabbages in one night. I had no choice but to put up an electric fence to ward off the animals," he says. Continue reading...

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Industry experts say electric cars sales figures could be higher if the government stops delaying fuel efficiency standards

Altivia Chemicals said personnel have contained leak of phosgene as city lifts shelter-in-place order that affected nearby plantsEight people were taken to a hospital for treatment on Monday after a toxic gas leak at Altivia Chemicals' plant in La Porte, Texas, local officials said.An update on their condition was not immediately available. The city canceled a shelter-in-place order in the afternoon that had affected several nearby industrial plants, officials said.Reuters contributed to this report Continue reading...

Motion will force Tory MPs to say whether bonuses can still be paid despite poor state of English and Welsh waterwaysLabour aims to embarrass the government by forcing Conservative MPs to vote on whether Ofwat should have the power to ban water bosses' bonuses until they clean up waterways in England and Wales.Water suppliers have been repeatedly criticised for paying out large sums to bosses who have presided over leaky infrastructure and sewage dumping. Senior executives from five of the 11 water companies that deal with sewage took bonuses this year, while the rest declined after public outrage. Continue reading...

The Cop28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, held a surprise press conference at which he said comments he made about the phasing out of fossil fuels were 'misrepresented'. The Guardian reported how Jaber had remarked that there was 'no scientific evidence' indicating a phase-out of fossil fuels was needed to restrict global heating to 1.5C. Jaber, who is CEO of the UAE's state oil company Adnoc, defended the comments he made during a virtual meeting on 21 November with the former Irish president and UN climate envoy Mary Robinson. Jaber said: 'Let's just clarify where I stand on the science ... I honestly think there is some confusion out there and misrepresentation'

Co-leader of EU delegation at Cop28 says climate should be at centre of all financial and economic decisions

Cop28 president and oil chief says phase-down and phase-out of fossil fuels is essential and says his comments were misrepresented

Sultan Al Jaber, who is state oil CEO, had said phase-out of fossil fuels would take world back into caves'

The fact that we're still having to attend meetings - four years down the track - is just a disgrace. It is so depressing,' says one local

Exclusive: Malware may still be present and potential effects have been covered up by staff, investigation reveals

The Cop28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, held a press conference after the Guardian's report on his comments claiming 'there is no science out there, that says the phase-out of fossil fuels is what's going to achieve 1.5C'. Al Jaber, who is also the chief executive of the United Arab Emirates' state oil company, Adnoc, said he had been misrepresented and gave an impassioned defence of his background and belief in science. He then went on to say 'the phase-down and the phase-out of fossil fuels, is essential' and accused those who reported his initial comments of 'undermining' his message

Liberty condemns staggering and shocking' statistic as anti-protest legislation is enactedPolice have made at least 630 arrests of peaceful protesters campaigning against new oil and gas production in the past month, as the authorities exploit new powers under the government's anti-protest legislation.The mass arrests of more than 470 people - some individuals were arrested more than once - was condemned by civil rights group Liberty as staggering and shocking". Continue reading...

Exclusive: Labour leader tells Guardian at Cop28 that Britain is wanted back in leading role' as he accuses Sunak of retreatingThe UK will come back strongly to the world stage to lead from the front" in tackling the climate crisis under a Labour government, Keir Starmer has pledged, after meeting world leaders at the Cop28 summit in Dubai.There's an overwhelming feeling here among world leaders that they want to see the UK back playing a leading role," he told the Guardian at the UN climate talks. That's why our statement of intent that under a Labour government we will be back playing a leading role has been really well received. Continue reading...

Consumers left angry and dismayed when they found out the truth about these terms, says Advertising Standards Authority studyPlastic bottles, takeaway cups and food packaging that could take an unlimited amount of time to break down are being advertised as biodegradable", with the advertising regulator calling for more clarity on such claims from businesses.British consumers believe they are making green choices while disposing of waste when they are often not, according to a new report. The study, from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), based on extensive interviews with consumers, found widespread misunderstandings around common terms such as biodegradable", compostable" and recyclable", leaving participants angry when they discovered what they meant. Continue reading...

Dakar's nine-mile-long Hann Bay used to be known as one of West Africa's most beautiful, lined with traditional fishing villages, villas and tourist attractions. But for the last 20 years it has been at the centre of the city's industrialisation, with 80% of the city's industry nearby. Today it is one of Dakar's most polluted areas, with canals spilling raw sewage and chemicals on to the beach and into the sea Continue reading...

Advocates say territory government choice to only consult directly with fossil fuel companies before walking away from emissions laws is bitterly disappointing'

Six people have been killed and more than 200 injured since April, with warnings of more to come during winterThe number of people injured or killed in bear attacks in Japan this year exceeded 200 for the first time, as experts warned of more encounters during the winter, when the animals are supposed to hibernate.The environment ministry said 212 people were attacked in the eight months from April, including 30 in November alone, according to the public broadcaster NHK. Continue reading...

Exclusive: former US vice-president and climate activist says phase-out can be only measure of success for Cop28An agreement by countries to phase out fossil fuels would be one of the most significant events in the history of humanity", according to Al Gore, amid wrangling by governments at Cop28.It would be a welcome surprise" if world leaders agreed at the climate talks to call for an end to fossil fuels, but such a declaration would have enormous impact" upon the world, Gore told the Guardian at the gathering in the United Arab Emirates. Continue reading...

In Brest, this protected species, found only in Brittany and the Basque Country, is being painstakingly moved to a new home before their habitat is destroyedOn a drizzly November evening, ecologists in Brest, Brittany, are rooting through the damp undergrowth flanking an unmarked and unlit track going nowhere. They are searching for Quimper snails. It's a slow and meticulous job: the snails are small, come out only at night and prefer the dank, dark cover of soggy leaves and twigs.Soon, their natural habitat here will be destroyed by a 200m (170m) public transport project, which includes a new tramway. Continue reading...

Toll expected to rise after heavy rains caused flooding in Katesh in country's northAt least 47 people have been killed and 85 others injured in landslides caused by flooding in northern Tanzania, a local official has said, with warnings the toll would rise.Heavy rain on Saturday hit the town of Katesh, 300km (186 miles) north of the capital, Dodoma, district commissioner Janeth Mayanja said on Sunday. Up to this evening, the death toll reached 47 and 85 injured," Queen Sendiga, regional commissioner in the Manyara area of northern Tanzania, told local media. Both warned that the death toll was likely to increase. Continue reading...

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Dave Lees, principal of the newly rebuilt Mullumbimby public school, vividly recalls the emotion of his first visit to assess the flood damage

Thousands of activists attending climate conference in UAE, which has a poor record for demonstrationsCop28 organisers and the UN body that oversees the annual climate conference have failed to clarify whether activists in Dubai are safe to demonstrate outside the conference area, putting civil society at risk in a country where protest is normally prohibited.At least 80,000 people are registered to attend the conference, including thousands of activists and members of civil society, who normally hold protests around the conference area. Continue reading...

Tolkien's hostility to rampant industrialisation should chime with nations represented in Dubai

UK prime minister attacked for inconsistency after allowing more gas and oil exploration in the North SeaRishi Sunak has been accused of hypocrisy on the international stage after pushing for a phase-out of fossil fuels at the UN Cop28 climate summit in Dubai - weeks after backing more oil and gas exploration in the North Sea.The prime minister's lack of consistency" over climate policy was ridiculed by several senior Conservatives, as well as the former US vice president Al Gore, while members of other international delegations said the UK's incoherent approach meant it was no longer a global leader on climate issues. Continue reading...

Total of 16,245 hospitals at high risk by end of century unless fossil fuels phased out, analysts sayOne in 12 hospitals worldwide are at risk of total or partial shutdown from extreme weather events without a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, a new report warns.A total of 16,245 hospitals, twice as many as are currently at high risk, will be in this category by the end of the century without a change in pace, according to a report released on Saturday by Cross Dependency Initiative (XDI), a climate risk analyst. It adds that a residential or commercial building with this level of risk would be considered uninsurable. Continue reading...

US vice-president, deputising for Joe Biden, tells summit that world faces a pivotal moment' in the climate crisisThe world is facing a pivotal moment" in the climate crisis, Kamala Harris has told the Cop28 summit after the US vowed to phase out coal plants and slash methane emissions, but also came under attack for meagre assistance to developing countries and for its own booming oil and gas extraction industry.The US vice-president, deputising for Joe Biden - who skipped the UN climate talks - said Biden's administration had made the largest climate investment in the history of our country, and some have said the world" via the Inflation Reduction Act. Continue reading...

The mushroom moment of the past few years shows no sign of ending. What's feeding its enduring popularity?You can't walk more than a few aisles in the grocery store these days without running into some kind of new mushroom product. Fresh white button mushrooms are increasingly joined by specialty varieties like lion's mane, maitake or oyster mushrooms. There's sparkling cordyceps tea and chaga coffee boasting a range of health benefits, mushroom chips and even chocolate bars infused with reishi.Mushrooms have been steadily growing in popularity in the US over the last decade, said Eric Davis, a representative of the Mushroom Council. Mushrooms frequently top food trends lists and were even named ingredient of the year" in 2022 by the New York Times. According to the consumer consultancy Circana, grocery store sales of fresh mushrooms have increased by 20% over the past decade, while sales of specialty mushrooms have doubled in the same timeframe. Continue reading...

Protesters have been using canoes and dinghies to obstruct deep sea mining exploration vessel between Mexico and HawaiiDeep sea miners have turned water hoses on Greenpeace activists attempting to block their prospecting in the Pacific Ocean, according to footage released by the NGO.For the past week, an international team of Greenpeace activists have been using canoes and dinghies to obstruct the Coco, a deep sea mining exploration vessel, as it collects data to file for a mining permit for waters between Mexico and Hawaii. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Cop28 coverage hereFor the first time at a Cop the UNFCCC, which organises the summits, has published the full list of participants in spreadsheet format, making them far easier to analyse.Carbon Brief have looked at the provisional figures, and found that 84,101 people are registered to attend, 3,074 of whom are attending virtually. Continue reading...

Regulations would cut equivalent of 1.5bn metric tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2038, head of EPA says at Cop28

Brazilian president's plans to approve new fossil fuel projects sit awkwardly with pledge to meet 1.5C targetThe Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has roared into Cop28 with a mega-delegation of more than 2,000 people and grand ambitions to address inequality and protect the world's tropical forests.Lula, as he is known, said his country was leading by example: We have adjusted our climate goals, which are now more ambitious than those of many developed countries. We have drastically reduced deforestation in the Amazon and will bring it to zero by 2030," he said. Continue reading...

Colombian president Gustavo Petro wants treaty to lay out plan to end era of coal, oil and gas

World's militaries produce at least 5.5% of emissions, as evidence mounts that climate crisis puts regions at greater risk of warWealthy nations should divert 5% of their military budgets to climate finance, advocates argue.The call comes as global leaders at Cop28 in Dubai gather for a special-themed day on relief, recovery, and peace" on Sunday, marking the first time climate-fueled conflict has ever been on an international climate conference agenda. Continue reading...

Taronga Wildlife hospital tracked three turtles that had been rescued, with one swimming as far as Longueville

Ramblers criticise appointment of Robbie Douglas-Miller to Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsNo 10 has appointed a wealthy Scottish landowner accused by ramblers of restricting public access to his estate as a new environment minister by making him a peer.The government made the surprise announcement on Friday afternoon that the king was giving the title of baron to Robbie Douglas-Miller, allowing him to enter the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as a minister. Continue reading...