Environment | The Guardian

The best of this week’s wildlife pictures, including a baby Sumatran elephant, gemsboks and copulating praying mantice Continue reading...

Despite the arrival of heavy rain, nine UK regions remain drought zones. But what is a drought and why is it happening?Despite the heavy rain and thunderstorms that have hit the UK this week, several areas of the country remain in drought. Drought was officially declared across eight regions of England on Friday 12 August, with a ninth – Yorkshire – added a few days later. Continue reading...

A fourth straight day of rain brought by an ‘atmospheric river’ has damaged roads and homes and forced more than 400 households to evacuateTorrential downpours that have battered New Zealand for four days straight have caused floods that could take years to clean up and displaced at least 1,200 people from their homes in the top of the South Island.Friday’s rain comes on top of weeks of wet weather and is worsening conditions in New Zealand’s already sodden landscape. Experts have attributed the unseasonably wet weather to a narrow stream of water vapour, or “atmospheric river”, sitting above the country. Continue reading...

Water company executives received on average £100,000 in bonuses, despite most firms missing targetsThe annual bonuses paid to water company executives rose by 20% in 2021, despite most of the firms failing to meet sewage pollution targets.Figures show on average executives received £100,000 in one-off payments on top of their salaries, during a period in which foul water was being pumped for 2.7m hours into England’s rivers and swimming spots. Continue reading...

The toxic chemicals, PFAS, are now thought to be contaminating drinking water supplies for over 200 million AmericansA new method for decomposing some PFAS compounds may represent a major breakthrough in addressing widespread environmental contamination across the world, according to research published on Thursday.PFAS, or per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are called “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down, and man-made processes that attempt to destroy them are expensive, energy intensive and have yielded questionable results.Tell us what you think about the Guardian’s climate reporting – it takes just 2 minutes Continue reading...

Announcement at national electric vehicle summit comes as climate change minister seeks input on national EV strategy

Fears for river ecosystems as average number of species declinesChemical pollution is killing off the invertebrate species that are the basis of England’s river ecosystems, with experts raising the alarm over falling diversity of mayfly, caddisfly and stonefly species.A census of aquatic wildlife on 12 English rivers found that in the spring and summer 2021, the mean number of riverfly species detected had fallen. In autumn last year, an average of just 10 species were recorded in each sample, compared with 13 in 2016. Continue reading...

Met Office data shows that despite number of storms this week, days of thunder are decreasing overallMore than half of the lightning strikes in the UK this year have taken place since Sunday, the Met Office has said.Lightning and thunder signalled the end of the country’s latest heatwave this week after a long spell of high temperatures in the south. Continue reading...

Country is hoping a new North Sea terminal can supply 8% of its gas usage as war in Ukraine upends energy policyAs tourists at the Hooksiel resort on Germany’s North Sea coastline lean back in their wicker beach chairs or stomp around the mud flats, the cast-iron jetty that stretches for 1.3km into the ocean to their right is a familiar sight. The frantic clanging of metal on metal at its furthest tip, however, is new.Built in 1982, the jetty was designed to host not just two import terminals for chemicals but also one for liquefied natural gas (LNG), shipped in on tankers from the US. With cheap Russian gas beating LNG for price, those tankers never arrived. Two adjacent plots of land, reclaimed from the North Sea to make space for industry, instead attracted rare warblers and bitterns. Continue reading...

B4Box in Stockport says by training workers in multiple skills it can build a better future and provide jobsLike many others, Orianne Landers left school feeling it had failed to prepare her for the challenges of life. “I did OK at GCSE and A-level. But the subjects I took aren’t much help to me now. I took English and drama, which helped with confidence,” she says. “But they’re not as useful as you think they’re going to be.”Landers, 25, soon found her calling in construction. “I did a painting and decorating qualification. That got me thinking about getting a house one day. I thought it would be easier if I could do all the maintenance work myself.” Continue reading...

Exclusive: Rishi Sunak will address NFU members and pledges to support farmers in future UK trade deals

Anglo-Italian pair – accompanied by their dog – hoped to highlight scale of climate crisis and encourage bike useFaced by the threat of the climate emergency, some people recycle more, or turn down the central heating thermostat a notch. Daniel Rayneau-Kirkhope and Arianna Casiraghi drew a 600-mile wide GPS bicycle across Europe. While accompanied by their dog.The couple gave up their jobs as physics researchers to undertake the 4,500-mile cycle trip through seven countries, a route painstakingly planned to plot the outline of a giant bicycle over the continent. Continue reading...

Couple rode thousands of miles to plot GPS image to raise awareness about climate crisis and encourage bike useDaniel Rayneau-Kirkhope and Arianna Casiraghi, accompanied by their dog, Zola, have just finished 4,500-mile (7,250km) bike ride across Europe to draw a giant GPS-plotted bicycle across seven countries to raise awareness of how cycling can help tackle the climate emergency. It is believed to be the world’s largest GPS drawing. You can see photos of their trip on their Instagram account.We really, really love cycling. Like everyone, we’ve become more aware of climate change, and we wanted to add our voices to what should be a bigger chorus. We think using the bike as a form of transport is a wonderful thing, and wanted to do something. Continue reading...

Heralded as the next step in food production, this practice is gaining ground in the US. But are they really a greener alternative to traditional farming?At a hyper-controlled indoor farm in industrial South San Francisco, four robots named John, Paul, George and Ringo carefully transfer seedlings from barcoded trays into 15-plus foot towers that are then hung vertically inside a 4,800 sq ft grow room.Inside the hygienic space, which is operated by the indoor farming company Plenty, there’s no soil, sunlight or tractors, but rows of hanging crops illuminated by colorful LED lights and carefully monitored by cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence. Once a tower is ready to be harvested, a balletic automated process reminiscent of a dry cleaner’s conveyor belt begins. Continue reading...

Newly published figures show for first time how US-style factory farms have spread across British countrysideThere are more than 1,000 US-style mega-farms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including some holding as many as a million animals, according to a new investigation.In the US, mega-farms are defined as those that hold more than 125,000 birds reared for meat, or 82,000 egg-laying hens, 2,500 pigs, 700 dairy cows or 1,000 beef cattle. These are labelled by US officials as a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO). Continue reading...

Main sources of vehicle-specific CO2 emissions data use ‘old and outdated’ test which may not reflect driving in the real world

Bees ‘may be in for rough time’ over 21st century as hotter and wetter conditions affect developmentBumblebees have become increasingly stressed by changes in climate over the past century, researchers examining museum specimens have found.Bees develop asymmetrical wings when they experience stress during development, and by examining a series of preserved specimens and their dates, the scientists found bees showed higher levels of wing asymmetry in hotter and wetter years. Continue reading...

China battling its longest heatwave on record, with energy-intensive industries suspended and dams opened to boost flagging hydropowerChina is scrambling to alleviate power shortages and bring more water to the drought-hit basin of the Yangtze river as it battles a record-breaking heatwave by seeding clouds, deploying relief funds and developing new sources of supply.For more than two months, baking temperatures have disrupted crop growth, threatened livestock and forced industries in the hydropower-dependent regions of the south-west to shut down to ensure electricity supplies for homes. Continue reading...

Unique footage from US Navy sea mammals captures bursts of sonar clicks and victory squeals after grabbing mealVideo cameras attached to mine-hunting US Navy dolphins have filmed them hunting and eating fish and, to the scientists’ surprise, swallowing venomous yellow-bellied sea snakes.It is the first time video and sound has captured bottlenose dolphins feeding on live fish, from the bursts of sonar clicks used to pinpoint the prey to the victory squeals after grabbing a meal. Continue reading...

Consultation paper suggests annual rates of emissions cuts, with tradable carbon credits rewarded to companies cutting pollution quickly

Report looked at over 400 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia out of a sample of 2,500 Pennsylvania children ages two to sevenYoung children living near fracking wells at birth are up to three times more likely to later develop leukemia, a new peer-reviewed study conducted by the Yale School of Public Health finds.The alarming report, published on Wednesday in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal, looked at over 400 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia out of a sample of about 2,500 Pennsylvania children ages two to seven. The form of leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children, and though the survival rate is high, it frequently leads to other health problems later in life, like cognitive disabilities and heart disease. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Christian climate groups urge Clive Mather to resign and C of E to divest from fossil fuelThe chair of the Church of England Pensions Board, which has not divested its £3.5bn fund from fossil fuels, is a shareholder in Shell, the Guardian can reveal.Clive Mather had a 38-year career at the oil company during which he oversaw a multibillion-dollar tar sands project in Canada. Continue reading...

Defra’s proposal for highly protected marine area off the coast of Northumberland could displace fishers, islanders warnA Church of England vicar on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne has called the proposal to ban local fishing a “real error” with “massive socio-economic impact”.One of the most important centres of early Christianity in England, the tidal island in Northumberland saw the first significant Viking attack in Europe and is the birthplace of the Lindisfarne gospels, now housed in the British Library. Every year, half a million visitors flock to its 12th-century priory, castle, pubs and cafes. Continue reading...

Discharges following heavy rainfall affecting water quality, especially in southSwimmers have been warned to stay away after sewage was discharged on beaches across England and Wales, predominantly in the south.Pollution alerts have been issued to beachgoers by the Environment Agency, and on some beaches signs have been put up to warn people. Continue reading...

Species at risk of death from collision with proliferating wind power but rising temperatures could cut ranges by 40%The rush to build wind farms to combat climate change is colliding with preservation of one of the US west’s most spectacular predators, the golden eagle – as the species teeters on the edge of decline.Ground zero in the conflict is Wyoming, a stronghold for golden eagles that soar on 7ft wings and a favored location for wind farms. Continue reading...

The giant $369bn bill signed by the president on Monday promises to bring big savings by offering tax rebates for green investmentsThe giant climate bill signed by Joe Biden on Tuesday is set to touch upon myriad aspects of Americans’ lives, helping shape everything from the cars they drive to the stovetops in their kitchens.Biden has lauded the $369bn of climate spending in the Inflation Reduction Act as the “largest investment ever in combatting the existential crisis of climate change” and predicted it will save people hundreds of dollars each year in energy costs. This claim is based upon a series of investments aimed at shifting buying habits away from a polluting status quo towards cleaner, electrified vehicles and appliances. Continue reading...

Outdoor tubs in town of Gérardmer damaged by intruder who left notes saying ‘water is for drinking’They are calling him the “Jacuzzi driller”: a hooded youth in north-east France who is carrying out raids on properties with outdoor pools in protest over water use.Pools at eight chalets in the town of Gérardmer in the Vosges region were vandalised by the intruder, who drilled a 2cm hole in each. The saboteur left a note reading: “Water is made for drinking! You are killing the Vosges. Seriously, the planet is sick. Wake up!” Continue reading...

George Eustice says rival Rishi Sunak has made clear there will be no compromise on welfare standardsLiz Truss has refused to recognise the importance of animal welfare in post-Brexit trade deals, the environment secretary has said.George Eustice was speaking at the Conservative Environment Network Tory leadership hustings on behalf of Rishi Sunak, and said he faced “challenges” in trying to get Truss to enshrine animal welfare in trade deals. Continue reading...

Neglected and polluted, the ponds were nearly barren of native species. But community efforts are starting to pay offOn a clear day, Ku’uleini Keakealani peers into the Kīholo fish pond on the west coast of Hawaii Island, Hawaii, and sees an abundance of fish.It’s a sight for sore eyes – Keakealani knows all too well how the development of the Big Island has threatened delicate ecosystems, waterways, and Indigenous ways of life. Her ancestors were once stewards of this place. Continue reading...

Greens say 300% increase in profits shows Australia is ‘being taken for a ride’ while other activists claim company is ‘burning our long-term future’

Harnessing natural insect power can, with proper management, have higher efficacy than resorting to harmful chemicalsAnts can be more effective than pesticides at helping farmers produce food, according to new research. They are better at killing pests, reducing plant damage and increasing crop yields, according to the first systematic review of ants’ contributions to crop production.Ants are generalist predators and hunt pests that damage fruits, seeds and leaves, leading to a drop in crop yields. A greater diversity of ants generally provides more protection against a wider range of pests, the study found. Continue reading...

Measure will come into force from 24 August, affecting 15m customers in Thames Valley and LondonThames Water has announced a hosepipe ban across the south of England, which will affect 15 million of its customers.The ban will come into force from 24 August, affecting people in London and the Thames Valley area. Continue reading...

Premier says he will push ahead and seek funding to raise wall 14 metres despite concerns for endangered flora and fauna

Government accused of inaction as downpours leave schools destroyed, homes ruined, crops failing and cholera on the riseMore than 580 people have died and thousands have lost their homes across Pakistan as torrential rains batter the country.An estimated 1 million have been affected by heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides since July as Pakistan endured more than 60% of its normal total monsoon rainfall in three weeks. Continue reading...

Insect’s mating call is a familiar sound of summer in region but experts say climate may force a relocationThe noise of church bells, ducks, geese, cockerels and even frogs has been the source of many a complaint – and even legal action – from visitors and newly arrived city dwellers in the French countryside.Few will forget Maurice the crowing cockerel, who landed his owner in court in a case that ruffled feathers across France and symbolised the town and country divide. Continue reading...

International study places country at the top of the list for fighting invasive species, though it warns that the pace of eradication is slowingNew Zealand’s unremitting war against pests has earned it the global top spot for island pest eradication but researchers warn the pace of eradication is slowing.An international study, published in Scientific Reports, found New Zealand leads the world in creating island sanctuaries and is responsible for nearly a quarter of the world’s island pest eradications. Australia is the second most successful with just over 12% of global eradications. Continue reading...

Shanghai, Moscow and Tehran have the highest levels of NO pollution, according to the researchCities in relatively prosperous countries are blighted by serious levels of air pollution from nitrogen dioxide, often without realising the extent of the problem, research has found.Moscow is the world’s second worst city for nitrogen dioxide pollution, behind Shanghai in China, while St Petersburg takes fourth place. Other cities near Russia follow close behind, including Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, and Minsk, capital of Belarus, at seventh and eighth place respectively, according to the research, published on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Arizona, Nevada and Mexico affected as federal government steps in after states failed to reach agreementAfter western US states failed to reach agreements to reduce water use from the beleaguered Colorado River, the federal government stepped in on Tuesday, issuing cuts that will affect two states and Mexico.Officials with the Bureau of Reclamation declared a “tier 2” shortage in the river basin as the drought continues to pummel the American west, pushing its largest reservoirs to new lows. The waning water levels, which have left dramatic bathtub rings in reservoirs and unearthed buried bodies and other artifacts, continue to threaten hydroelectric power production, drinking water, and agricultural production. Continue reading...

More than 500 firefighters deployed to haul in dead fish, using dams, boats, quad bikes and even a dronePolish firefighters have recovered 100 tonnes of dead fish from the Oder river running through Germany and Poland, deepening concerns of an environmental disaster for which no cause has yet been identified.“We’d never had an operation of this scope on a river before,” said Monika Nowakowska-Drynda from the national firefighter press office on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Fish and crustaceans eating wreck to prey on shipworms and snails while storms could expose more wood to damage

Bureau of Meteorology forecasts heavy rain in spring driven by negative Indian Ocean Dipole and warm waters in the north

Fightback comes amid concerns race to replace Boris Johnson could lead to rollback of environmental policiesA leading group representing green-minded Conservatives has called for the new prime minister to take urgent action to insulate more homes and scale up the installation of heat pumps to help poorer households with energy bills.The Conservative Environment Network (CEN), which has the support of 133 Tory MPs, half the backbench parliamentary party, said its plan could be rolled out in parallel with measures to directly help with this winter’s fuel costs and would help move the UK towards its net zero goals, as well as saving people money. Continue reading...

There’s a slight downward trend in meat-eating but figures are still high. So what more can be done?

Henry Dimbleby says move is politically toxic but only way to achieve sustainable land use and avoid ecological breakdown

David Black also says most firms are meeting leakage targets despite water shortages in EnglandThe head of the water regulator for England and Wales has defended water companies against criticism over not building new reservoirs despite high levels of executive bonuses and shareholder dividends.David Black, the chief executive of Ofwat, also said old pipes were not to blame for leaks and that most companies were meeting their leakage targets. Continue reading...

In Peru’s Sacred Valley, a community-led initiative is creating fire prevention brigades to stop devastating wildfires before they even beginPeru’s Sacred Valley, the breathtaking landscape between Cusco and Machu Picchu, has always had a few conventional fire brigades, but anyone who has ever witnessed a bushfire will know there is little you can do once it takes hold.While there is a place for carefully managed burning – at the right time of year and in the right weather conditions it can clear land of brush and understory – reckless burns can be catastrophic. “Years of hard work can be undone in a single day,” says Joaquín Randall, who has set up the NGO Valle Sagrado Verde, a reforestation project planting native trees such as huaranhuay, chachacomo, molle and tara in the Sacred Valley. “2020 was a really bad year. One fire burned 20,000 replanted trees in one go. Another killed eight people.” Continue reading...

Government defends measures against claims of slow progress, lack of consultation and a decision to put pods in a flood zone

Oil firm wins decision against environmental protesters blocking 105km-long Southampton-to-London pipeline projectThe oil company Esso has secured an interim high court injunction to prevent environmental protesters disrupting construction work on a 105km-long aviation fuel pipeline.Activists have targeted efforts to replace most of the underground Southampton to London pipeline by interfering with equipment and “attacking” it with angle grinders, a judge was told. Continue reading...

Grenada’s environment minister faces task of getting countries back on track to meet climate goals ahead of Cop27The next UN climate chief will be Simon Stiell, the environment minister of Grenada, a surprise appointment that will cement the importance of holding global temperature rises to 1.5C.Stiell will face the task of putting countries back on track to meet international climate goals at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and a global energy price crisis. Continue reading...