Head of sports charity hails partnership that allows local people to use London independent school's football pitchChildren in the UK urgently need more easy-to-access green space, according to the head of a sports charity calling on private schools to open up their grounds.Kieran Connolly foundeed Sports Fun 4 All, which offers free football sessions to children in south London, and now works with a local private school that opens up one of its football pitches for his teams. Continue reading...

Czech Republic, Poland and Austria fear worst may yet be to come as thousands are evacuated to higher groundThe death toll from torrential rain and flooding in central and eastern Europe has risen to at least 16, with several more people missing, as authorities reported deaths in the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria and warned the worst may be to come.The number of victims in Poland rose to five after a surgeon returning from work drowned in the south-western town of Nysa, where the hospital was evacuated and patients rescued by raft. Four more people had died in the southern towns of Bielsko-Biaa and Ldek-Zdroj, firefighters said. Continue reading...

Cities such as Zurich and Dublin found to have key services accessible within 15 minutes for more than 95% of residentsWhen Luke Harris takes his daughter to the doctor, he strolls down well-kept streets with smooth sidewalks and curb cuts [ramps] for strollers at every intersection". If the weather looks rough or he feels a little lazy, he hops on a tram for a couple of stops.Harris's trips to the paediatrician are pretty unremarkable for fellow residents of Zurich, Switzerland; most Europeans are used to being able to walk from one place to another in their cities. But it will probably sound like fantasy to those living in San Antonio, Texas. That's because, according to new research, 99.2% of Zurich residents live within a 15-minute walk of essential services such as healthcare and education, while just 2.5% of San Antonio residents do. Continue reading...

Cultural protection order has been framed as a push to curry favour with inner-city seats, ignoring grassroots campaigns from Indigenous and non-Indigenous locals

Birds practising kleptoparasitism - harassing each other until they drop their saliva-covered food - seen as plausible pathway' for arrival of H5N1

There have been moments of modest progress but the Albanese government has not lived up to its early rhetoric

North Carolina, New Jersey and New Mexico petitioned regulators to classify some PFAS as hazardous air pollutantsThree US states are formally demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) begin regulating PFAS forever chemical" air emissions, as the toxic threat that the pollution poses to the environment and human health comes into sharper focus.So far, federal regulators have focused on water pollution, but state environmental agencies in North Carolina, New Mexico and New Jersey last week filed a petition calling for the EPA to categorize four types of PFAS compounds as hazardous air pollutants and to begin regulating them under the Clean Air Act. Continue reading...

Storm Boris has caused several deaths, and thousands have been evacuated from their homes across Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia

Locals called it a miracle' when the steel plant in JD Vance's home town got $500m for an upgrade. But Trump's running mate calls shifting the US to cleaner energy a green scam'A hulking steel plant in Middletown, Ohio, is the city's economic heartbeat as well as a keystone origin story of JD Vance, the hometown senator now running to be Donald Trump's vice-president.Its future, however, may hinge upon $500m in funding from landmark climate legislation that Vance has called a scam" and is a Trump target for demolition. Continue reading...

Soaring sea temperatures have made the celebrated gastropod lethargic and infertile, so scientists are helping the threatened species to reproduceOf the many novel initiatives dreamed up by scientists to protect threatened species from the ravages of record ocean temperatures, Florida's new speed dating for shellfish" programme might be about the most extraordinary.Researchers are acting as matchmakers for the queen conch, a mollusc with iconic status in the Florida Keys, by removing them from the heat of their nearshore habitat and relocating them to deeper, cooler waters where a plethora of potential new partners awaits. Continue reading...

River wildlife is on the up and there's little evidence that storm overflows are being used more often. But protest is still vitalPublic outrage over river pollution has been heartening to see. Over the past few years, stories about sewage contamination in rivers have captured public attention, and prompted campaigns and protests, such as the forthcoming River Action UK march for clean water on 26 October in London. It is important to protect our rivers because they are biodiversity hotspots and essential for human health. However, as a freshwater ecologist, I know there is more nuance to the story than you may have been led to believe. From my perspective, there is some good news when it comes to our rivers. I would even say that some rivers in England are in the best state they have been in for hundreds of years.Many rivers in England are polluted, but we need to recognise that this is not an emerging issue but a much longer-standing one that has been largely ignored by the media and politicians for decades. Much of the recent furore over pollution has to do with increased awareness, rather than a sudden increase in pollution itself. It's only by understanding how these ecosystems have changed over time and reflecting on previous successes that we can make real progress.Michelle Jackson is associate professor of freshwater/marine ecology at the University of Oxford. Prof Jackson previously conducted one study that received funding from a wastewater treatment company, and currently has no industry funding. Continue reading...

Is there anything climate change cannot do?!

As rich westerners fuel demand for the ancient fragrance, a lucrative race for the resin is killing the trees but leaving little of the trade's profit for those gathering itIn a corner of Covent Garden, well-heeled Londoners and tourists browse the range of frankincense products sold by a leading cosmetics brand while they drink a complimentary rose and berry tea. Amid the aromatic resin sheathed under glass, shoppers can buy age-defying" serums, creams and essences, and tablets to strengthen brittle nails and hair.At one counter, a sales assistant is advising customers on how much of the essential oil to add to their nebuliser to make guests feel relaxed without overwhelming them". Another explains frankincense's hydrating and rejuvenating" properties, including its alleged ability to smooth out fine lines caused by smiling and squinting. In terms of popularity, she says, it now far outstrips lavender, tea tree and other botanicals. Continue reading...

Sarah Hanson-Young says PM needs to negotiate with senators after he appeared to rule out adding a climate trigger to proposed environmental laws

The hoiho, which means noise shouter', triumphed in a year free from the usual scandals surrounding the competitionOne of the world's rarest penguins has been crowned New Zealand's bird of the year, in an unusually sedate year for the competition, free from the foreign interference and voting scandals of previous events.The endangered yellow-eyed penguin, or hoiho, is the largest of New Zealand's mainland penguin species and is distinctive for the pale yellow band of feathers linking the eyes. Continue reading...

National park authority due to make decision on Monday over Flamingo Land development proposalIf Flamingo Land's proposal to build on the shores of Loch Lomond is rejected in a vote on Monday, that decision should spell the end of the plan, the Scottish Greens have said.The Yorkshire-based theme park owner is behind the Lomond Banks proposal, under which two hotels and more than 100 self-catering lodges would be built along with a water park and other amenities. Continue reading...

Lobbyists are increasingly confident about expansion plans as concerns for the economy start to deepenThe younger, tormented minister mulling his position before the Labour government granted Heathrow's third runway in 2009 might have been greatly relieved to know that, 15 years later, not a shovel would have touched the ground.But now, returning to power with a revamped energy and climate brief, Ed Miliband again finds himself in a cabinet which, many in aviation hope, may usher in bigger airports and more flights - as well as enough CO2 emissions to outweigh any new solar farms. Continue reading...

Soaring UK production is helping sate record demand for ultimate superfood' but growers want more help from retailersWhether they add them to smoothies or salads or just pop them straight in their mouths, Britons are eating more blueberries than ever before. But whereas supermarket shelves used to be filled with imports, fruit growers are hailing a British blueberry boom".Sales of British blueberries are up by 13% this year, despite challenging conditions for growers, according to British Berry Growers (BBG), the industry trade group. It said the rise was a clear indicator of the rising consumer demand for healthier food choices and a testament to the quality of British blueberries". Continue reading...

Lake Charles has been battered by storms over the past 20 years - and now its most famous landmark lies in ruinsLast week, one south-west Louisiana city in particular was girding itself for Hurricane Francine's blow: Lake Charles, located about four hours west of New Orleans and two hours east of Houston.In the lottery of hurricane paths over the past 20 years, Lake Charles has been very, very unlucky. But Francine's impact on the city turned out to be relatively minor, a summer storm like locals are used to. Continue reading...

Animal rights campaigners win a judicial review over pioneering 120m scheme at Grimsby portOn former railway sidings at Grimsby docks in Lincolnshire, the seafood industry is backing new plans for an onshore salmon farm that it claims will create jobs, cut emissions and help meet the nation's huge demand for the fish.The scheme would be the UK's first large-scale onshore salmon farm, with the fish growing to a weight of four or five kilograms. The project's backer says the closed system would prevent disease and invasions of sea lice, which can blight open-net salmon farms. Continue reading...

Leaked government figures show proportion of assets in adequate condition has fallen significantly below' targetThousands of flood defences in England that are supposed to protect properties from serious damage are in a state of disrepair, according to official figures leaked to the Observer before what is expected to be a wetter than usual autumn.Data from inside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency about the so-called asset condition" of key flood defences shows the proportion of those regarded as being in adequate condition now stands at just 92.6%, compared with 97.9% in 2018-19. This is the proportion of defences judged to be fit for purpose after rigorous inspection by experts. Continue reading...

Arson charges filed against Justin Wayne Halstenberg in San Bernardino county, which has burned 38,000 acresThe mother of the 34-year-old man accused of starting the Line fire in southern California - which has scorched at least 38,000 acres (15,378 hectares) and destroyed one home - has spoken out in defense of her son, telling the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that he did not light that fire".Arson-related charges have been filed against Justin Wayne Halstenberg, who is accused of starting the San Bernardino county blaze on 5 September. He is due to be arraigned on Monday according to the San Bernardino county district attorney's office. Continue reading...

Two cameras in Chingford were twisted around to face roads outside the low-emission zone boundaryTransport for London (TfL) has said it will refund drivers wrongly issued with ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) charges because of vandalised enforcement cameras.The transport body confirmed two cameras in Chingford, north-east London, became misaligned" for a short period and many fines were issued incorrectly. It is understood the cameras were twisted the wrong way so that they were facing roads outside the Ulez boundary. Continue reading...

A new bill forcing local authorities to remove homeless animals from city streets has led to a furious backlashNext to the network of the highways that crisscross Turkey, among the lush forests or mountain peaks that dot the country, large stray dogs are a common sight. Most are pale white Akba dogs or Kangal shepherds, with their distinctive dark muzzle, pale golden coat and large bodies designed to herd livestock, although on the streets of Istanbul they are more commonly found lazing outside coffee shops, rotund and docile from a lifetime of treats.In cities at least, the stray dogs are popular enough to be seen as part of the architecture. One particularly large and sleepy example that dozes outside an ice-cream shop on Istanbul's main shopping street has become a local celebrity nicknamed The Boulder", complete with a string of rave reviews left by delighted tourists. The dog is marked as an Istanbul tourist attraction on Google Maps, which features a recommendation to avoid petting him. Continue reading...

Campaign group challenges industry regulator over price rises for customers that will pay to upgrade infrastructureThe water industry regulator has been accused of overseeing a stealth bailout of water companies" over proposals to increase bills by up to 44% over the next five years.Campaign group Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (Wasp), which exposed suspected illegal discharges of sewage across England and Wales, has challenged Ofwat, the industry regulator, over the proposed price rises. The final determinations are due to be announced in December. Continue reading...

Environment minister says country has more elephants than it needs while critics of hunt say they are a major tourist drawcardZimbabwe will cull 200 elephants as it faces an unprecedented drought that has led to food shortages, a move that tackle a ballooning population of the animals, the country's wildlife authority has said.Zimbabwe had more elephants than it needed", the environment minister said in parliament on Wednesday, adding that the government had instructed the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) to begin the culling process. Continue reading...

From Port Stephens to Illawarra, council candidates are running against renewable schemes because of lack of consultation'

Mayor says blatant disregard for environment is offensive' as councils struggle to deal with increasing environmental destruction

Legislation makes it illegal to advertise fossil fuel products and services with a high carbon footprintThe Hague has become the first city in the world to pass a law banning advertisements promoting fossil fuel products and climate-busting services.Legislation passed on Thursday spells the end of publicly and privately funded advertising for petrol and diesel, aviation and cruise ships in the streets of the Dutch city, including on billboards and bus shelters. It takes effect from the start of next year. Continue reading...

Survivors of the 2023 massacre in Half Moon Bay, California, were moved from dilapidated sheds to subsidized housing but struggle with a sense of security and normalcyJust a short car ride from the famous crescent shoreline of Half Moon Bay, the California beach town best known for big wave surf contests, a gravel road off Highway 1 leads to a cluster of ramshackle sheds and trailers.For years, few people knew about the dozens of farmworkers who lived in them, growing fresh gourmet mushrooms to deliver to grocery stores and restaurants across the state. Continue reading...

Trump promises to end electric vehicle mandate. Harris has been silent, risking swing state autoworkers' critical votesAs the critical swing state of Michigan hangs in the balance, experts warn that Democrats' poor messaging over the shift to electric vehicles could lose them the state in November's election.I will end the electric vehicle mandate on day one, thereby saving the US auto industry from complete obliteration, which is happening right now," Donald Trump told the Republican national convention in a speech this summer that would reach tens of millions of people. Continue reading...

Researchers are finding heat-related illnesses can also contribute to heart disease and cognitive impairmentAt a dialysis center in Atlanta, Lauren Kasper tended to patients resting in hospital beds, some too sick to be transferred to a chair. Many arrived in wheelchairs or walked with canes, their bodies weakened from kidney disease.As she hooked them up to dialysis machines, Kasper, a nurse practitioner, was struck by how young many of her patients were. Continue reading...

The image of huge, glorious landscapes, where wildlife runs free under the protection of the state, is far from reality

Exclusive: Campaigners call for overhaul as Guardian investigation shows nature rarely on agenda

Government's communication called unconscionable' after one of largest spills of toxic forever chemicals'A former US navy base in Maine has caused among the largest accidental spills of toxic PFAS forever chemicals" ever recorded in the nation, and public health advocates suspect state officials are attempting to cover up its scale by reporting misleading and incomplete data.Meanwhile, state and regional officials were slow to alert the public and are resisting calls to immediately test some private drinking water wells in the area despite its notoriously complex hydrology, which could potentially spread the contamination widely. Continue reading...

Voters in Canada province will go to polls in October with climate policies and Indigenous rights at stakeCanada's westernmost province has been gripped by a chaotic provincial election campaign, rife with political backstabbing, abrupt resignations and unexpected allegiances.And as an unpopular premier squares off against a climate crisis skeptic, the October vote could have profound consequences for British Columbia, a province seen as the vanguard for progressive climate policy. Continue reading...

The hazards of urban roads are familiar to many: from drivers itching to get in front, to corner cutters and e-bike dabblersMore or less anyone who has ridden a bike, particularly in a town or city, has a mental list of the types of road users or situations you really need to look out for. The more you cycle, the longer and more entrenched this list becomes, to the extent that you can almost sense a familiar peril lurking a good minute or two's pedalling distance away.Below are some examples from my list, the product of years cycling around several cities; London more than most. I'd say at least four are nonetheless fairly universal, at least to urban areas lacking proper cycling infrastructure. But there are others - do tell us yours below. Continue reading...

Nearly 5,000 primary school students took part in the Australian Conservation Foundation's Wild at Art competition, which invites children to create an artwork depicting one of the country's threatened native animals or plants

The best of this week's wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...

The newspaper owned by billionaire Kerry Stokes has not been shy about attacking environmental reforms - but are readers getting the full picture?

Activities such as mining, dredging and bottom trawling in most MPAs mean conservation targets will be missed, say researchersMost of Europe's marine protected areas, set up to safeguard species and habitats, will not meet conservation targets as they provide only marginal" protection against industrial activities such as dredging, mining and bottom trawling, a study has revealed.Low levels of protection in 86% of marine protected areas (MPAs) have left the EU far from reaching its 2030 biodiversity targets, which are designed to reduce the risk of species' extinction, researchers said in a paper published in the One Earth journal. The EU aims to protect 30% of its seas by 2030, with 10% strictly" protected from damaging activities. Continue reading...

In announcing the strategy, climate minister Chris Bowen also took a swipe at the climate inactivism' of critics of the nascent industry

Residents rattled by a 4.7 magnitude quake while firefighters work to put out blazes east of the cityMillions of residents in the Los Angeles area were rattled by a 4.7 magnitude earthquake that hit early on Thursday morning and came as the region continues to battle multiple wildfires that have yet to be brought under control.The quake's epicenter was 4 miles north of Malibu, according to the US Geological Survey. The tremor unleashed boulders on to a Malibu road, visibly shook Santa Monica's historic 1909 wooden pier and jolted people from bed. No injuries or damages were immediately reported. Continue reading...

Storm did not cause large-scale damage or loss of life, but ferocity of winds and rain raises fears for the futureAs Hurricane Francine churned offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, Danielle Morris, a resident of the village of Dulac out in the swampy Louisiana coast, made a tough call.We're crazy and we're staying," she said, speaking by phone before the hurricane hit, as she stocked up on gasoline for the family's generator. Some might agree with her judgment of her own sanity - Morris lost her previous home in Hurricane Ida in 2021. Continue reading...

Calls for suppression efforts to be extended after at least five nests discovered at Logan in the Daisy Hill koala bushlands

While the Greens remain hopeful of compromise, the PM has indicated he wants a deal struck with the Coalition

The storm's winds increased 35mph in 24 hours - something that global heating is only making more commonHurricane Francine may now be weakening after pummeling Louisiana but the storm's rapid and surprise intensification into a category 2 storm is one that scientists say is only getting more common due to global heating.Francine crunched into Terrebonne parish, in southern Louisiana, on Wednesday, bringing sustained winds of about 100mph (160km/h) as it came ashore from the Gulf of Mexico, causing flash flooding and power outages for hundreds of thousands of people. New Orleans got a month's worth of rain within just a day. Continue reading...

Rollout of pylons in countryside is a cheaper, quicker way to integrate green electricity, energy adviser saysThe government has ruled out burying electricity cables underground as part of its energy strategy, which will involve the unrolling of hundreds of pylons across the British countryside, Ed Miliband's clean energy adviser has said.Chris Stark, the former leader of the Climate Change Committee, now heads the government's mission control" department for decarbonising the grid by boosting renewable energy and building connections across the country. Continue reading...

As increasingly explosive fire seasons ravage the country, federal firefighters say their employer is exacerbating exhaustion by misclassifying their jobsFirefighters are feeling the strain of another long and intense season, with months to go before the highest risks subside. But as they battle the flames, the thousands of people working for the US Forest Service (USFS), the largest federal employer of firefighters, are also fighting for changes within the agency to tackle issues they say have made the work even harder.Federal firefighters have been waiting for years for revisions to outdated job descriptions, which have forced them to do more for less. Many have opted to leave altogether. Continue reading...

Language in Senate defense bill is probably first step to shield widely used toxic F-gases from regulationUS lawmakers and the military are pushing for a new definition of toxic PFAS forever chemicals" that would exclude a subclass of toxic compounds increasingly used across the economy and considered to be potent greenhouse gases.Language included in the defense bill by the Senate armed services committee asks the military to detail how it uses fluorinated gases, or F-gases, stating that the committee is interested in learning more about how the [department of defense] may or may not be impacted by the definition" of PFAS. Continue reading...