Environment | The Guardian

Exclusive: New bill also increases the state’s legislated renewable energy target to 100% by decade’s end

Consumers say yes, the numbers add up, industry is largely on board and Labor has no policy hang-ups. This week could be the turning point• Get our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcastLast week an acquaintance who owns a secondhand Japanese electric car, brought to Australia as part of a bulk purchase by the Good Car Company, posted a quiet boast. His wife had put their Nissan Leaf in for its annual service. No major problems were found – just an underinflated tyre. The total bill? $120.Reading that sent me to the mess of my glovebox to work out how much I had paid mechanics to keep my Subaru Outback running over the past year. It added up to more than $700. Continue reading...

Michael O’Leary | Joined-up thinking | Mythic rail journeys | A rejection from Raymond Briggs | What to call an egg prickerOne shred of good news in this energy crisis is that it’s going to be more expensive to fly, and the hubristic idea of £1 flights could be gone for good (Ryanair boss blames Brexit for airport chaos and says era of €10 airfares over, 11 August). Michael O’Leary, for all his faults, is one of the few people with a public voice who has called Brexit what it is: a heap of lies.

Meteorologists say expected downpours are the wrong kind of rain to tackle driest spell for almost 50 yearsAfter the driest spell for almost 50 years, the UK is now being warned to expect flooding from thundery showers that will offer little relief from the drought.The flood alert follows days of extreme heat warnings and the official declaration of a drought after the longest nine-month dry spell since 1976. Meteorologists warned that downpours are the wrong kind of rain to tackle the drought and are more likely to lead to floods from water running off parched earth. Continue reading...

Lib Dem councillor calls for company to be fined over the incidentThames Water has been accused of repeatedly ignoring warnings about cuts to supplies and burst pipes in Surrey where hundreds of households had to endure three days without tap water at the height of this weekend’s heatwave.Residents, including some that were vulnerable, had to queue for bottled water on Saturday in temperatures of well over 30C (86F) after a pump failure at Netley Mill treatment works. Continue reading...

Young 600kg female had been basking in waters of Norway’s capital and attracting crowds who disturbed her restA walrus nicknamed Freya that attracted crowds while basking in the sun in the Oslo fjord has been euthanised.“The decision to euthanise was taken on the basis of a global evaluation of the persistent threat to human security,” the head of Norway’s fisheries directorate, Frank Bakke-Jensen, said in a statement. Continue reading...

Without lots of heavy rain in autumn and winter, water restrictions could be tightened even furtherSouth-east England could be tipped into severe and devastating drought without above-average rainfall this winter, while current water use restrictions in London and surrounding areas are expected to last until the new year even if rainfall returns, ministers have been told. Severe drought would mean even tighter restrictions, such as bans on non-essential uses of water including cleaning windows and filling and maintaining swimming pools.Though it is too soon to forecast weather for this winter, anything less than substantial rainfall could lead to London being placed under much stricter measures next year, experts have told the Observer. One Whitehall source said officials were being told to prepare for a potential severe drought throughout the south-east. Continue reading...

Residents of Everton, Bedfordshire, have learned to live with an on-off supply, and are always prepared for the worstYvonne Hinde opens her fridge to reveal three big bottles of water. There are two buckets full in her garden. “We have to be prepared,” she says. She isn’t being dramatic. Like other residents of Everton in Bedfordshire, Hinde, 59, a childminder, can no longer take running water for granted.Since the start of July the supply has been severely interrupted or cut off five times. Often the taps run dry for hours at a time. The problems have forced the pub to close and the village school to tell children to stay at home. “It makes life really difficult,” says Hinde, who is forced to close her business when the water isn’t running. Continue reading...

As official drought is declared in parts of England, here are some measures to preserve and future-proof gardensWith British gardens facing record temperatures, drought and hosepipe bans, it’s time for emergency measures. It’s particularly important because during drought, additional mains water is drawn from wild sources, affecting struggling wildlife. Here are some of the things you can do. Continue reading...

The Pacific country has committed to 100% renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030The Pacific country of Vanuatu has launched one of the world’s most ambitious climate policies, committing to 100% renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030 and ambitious targets on loss and damage.The announcement signals yet another instance of the small island state making its mark in international climate efforts. Continue reading...

Amber heat warning in place in parts of England and Wales, and very hot weather expected over rest of weekendWildfires could continue to break out across the UK this weekend, as the Environment Agency (EA) warns that the drought in England could persist into next year.The Met Office has issued an amber heat warning across parts of England and Wales, as regions are braced for temperatures as high as 35C. Continue reading...

Residents of Cranleigh faced with empty taps and low pressure as country braved another heatwaveBottled water stations have been opened in Surrey as residents were left without water due to a technical issue on one of the hottest days of the year.Many residents woke up to a diminished water supply or low pressure in their taps due to complications at Netley Mill water treatment works, which serves 8,500 properties in Cranleigh and surrounding villages. Continue reading...

This live blog has now closed.London Fire Brigade has called on people to avoid barbecues during the extreme weather, following a grass fire in Hayes, west London, yesterday.It tweeted:Firefighters tackled another grass fire in #Hayes which damaged around 400sqm of grass and shrubland, along with some boundary fencing, a chicken coop & a shed.Remember - don’t barbecue in parks, dispose of cigarettes properly & clear away rubbish & glass. Continue reading...

Crops, power plants, barge traffic, industry and fish populations devastated by parched waterwaysIn places, the Loire can now be crossed on foot; France’s longest river has never flowed so slowly. The Rhine is fast becoming impassable to barge traffic. In Italy, the Po is 2 metres lower than normal, crippling crops. Serbia is dredging the Danube.Across Europe, drought is reducing once-mighty rivers to trickles, with potentially dramatic consequences for industry, freight, energy and food production – just as supply shortages and price rises due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine bite. Continue reading...

Six young orca calves were separated from their mothers in 1970 and sold to marine parks. Only one is still alive at the Miami SeaquariumFive decades ago, a group of men rounded up more than 80 orcas in a cove on Whidbey Island off Washington state. Using boats, explosives, nets and sticks, they separated young orca calves from their mothers. Locals were haunted by the whales’ human-like cries, according to an account of the day.Six baby whales were taken away that day in Penn Cove and sold to marine parks. Most didn’t last a year in captivity. Only one who was captured and sold is still alive. Continue reading...

Nationals leader outlines vision for party at federal council meeting. This blog is now closed

Farmers in Auvergne despair as cows cannot be fed on grass left parched by hot summerTraditional cheese has become the latest casualty of France’s summer drought, as production of the salers variety in the central Auvergne region was halted due to a lack of grass for cows.Salers is an unpasteurised cow’s cheese that has been made for centuries in central France. It carries France’s appellation d’origine protégée (AOP) stamp of approval, meaning it is unique to the small area where it is produced. Continue reading...

Scientists concluded that a series of storms could dump enough rainfall to displace millions, causing over $1tn in lossesDriven by the climate crisis, exceedingly rare megafloods will become more common – and more catastrophic – according to a new study that found their likelihood has already doubled in California.The unexpected threat lingers even as browning hillsides, fallowed fields and bathtub ring-laden reservoirs serve as a constant reminder of the drought disaster in the state, which may be woefully unprepared when the coin inevitably flips. Continue reading...

Chlorine exposure appears to be cause of death of animals at UC Davis research centerA “catastrophic failure” at a university research facility in California killed 21,000 fish this week, some of which were endangered.The University of California, Davis, reported the loss of about 21,000 fish at its Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture. Chlorine exposure, which the university noted fish are particularly sensitive to, appears to have caused the deaths. Continue reading...

Leaked documents predict crop failure rates of up to 50% as water companies resist calls to prioritise food productionExperts have warned of widespread crop failures across England, as charities and farmers criticised water companies for dithering over hosepipe bans despite drought being declared across much of the country.On Friday, the Environment Agency classified eight of the 14 areas of England as being in a drought. Despite this, water companies, including Anglian Water, Southern Water and South West Water have not brought in hosepipe bans. Thames Water said it does not plan to expedite a hosepipe ban expected next week. Continue reading...

Water levels fall to below 40cm on parts of key route for transporting fuel, wheat and other commoditiesThe levels of the Rhine River fell to a new low on Friday due to the ongoing drought in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, further restricting the distribution of coal, petrol, wheat and other commodities amid a looming energy crisis.The water level at Kaub near Frankfurt – a key waypoint where the fairway is shallower than elsewhere on the river – fell below 40cm on Friday afternoon, the level at which it is no longer economical for many barges to transit the river. Continue reading...

IAEA warns of ‘grave hour’ amid fresh shelling of Zaporizhzhia plant, with region set to become new frontline

Hard sea defenses prompted by extreme weather and rising sea levels can have unintended consequences down the coast – is there a better way?Areas across the US staring down a greater risk of flooding due to extreme weather and sea level rise are turning to a stark solution: building a wall.In Miami, a 20ft seawall has been proposed. In Charleston, South Carolina, a $1.1bn plan to build a seawall around the city’s downtown awaits sign-off from Congress. And in New York City, a 2.5-mile seawall under construction along the shoreline of lower Manhattan is expected to be finished by 2026. Continue reading...

HMRC figures come as Europe rushes to bank supplies for winter in absence of Russian pipelineEnergy exports from the UK to the Netherlands rocketed by 67% in June, official figures reveal, in the latest sign of Europe’s scramble to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas.British exports of fossil fuels more than doubled in value in June compared with the same period last year, the latest trading data from HMRC shows. Continue reading...

The US spent six decades losing the climate war as fossil fuel companies spread misinformation. It has finally gained significant groundThe scientists’ warning to the US president on climate crisis was stark: the world’s countries were conducting a vast, dangerous experiment through their enormous release of planet-heating emissions, which threaten to be “deleterious from the point of view of human beings”. Some sort of remedial action was needed, they urged.This official alert was issued not to Joe Biden, who is poised to sign America’s first ever major legislation designed to tackle the climate crisis, but in a report given to his presidential predecessor Lyndon Johnson in 1965, a year when the now 79-year-old Biden was still in college. Continue reading...

Equestrian groups call for riders – who are mostly female – to get same access rights as cyclists and walkersThe government must allow horse riders access to England’s publicly funded woodlands, equestrian groups have said.Those who ride horses are banned from many scenic countryside routes, including many footpaths, meaning that most are severely restricted in their access to nature. Continue reading...

Expert group declares official drought amid prolonged dry spell, meaning water rationing may take placeA drought has been declared across wide swathes of England after a meeting of experts.The prolonged dry conditions, with some areas of the country not receiving significant rainfall all summer, have caused the National Drought Group to declare an official drought. Continue reading...

Lidl becomes latest retailer to halt sales of the barbecues as Met Office issues highest fire warningAll big supermarkets have now stopped selling disposable barbecues in the light of the risk of wildfires across the UK.Morrisons, Asda and Lidl on Friday joined Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer in temporarily removing the product from sale in all stores as an official drought was declared across large parts of south and east England and the Midlands. Continue reading...

Invasive species on islands: when signs of the pests were discovered on the Scilly isle in January, a crack squad of conservationists mobilised to save threatened seabird coloniesWords and pictures by Alexander Turner

Yorkshire Water announces ban from 26 August and Thames Water could introduce measure from FridayA hosepipe ban could be introduced as early as Friday by Britain’s largest water company, covering London and much of the south-east of England, after a drought is declared across eight areas of England on Friday.Thames Water is “ready to go” with its hosepipe ban, according to its strategy and regulatory affairs director, Cathryn Ross, who said there was a process for introducing a ban but that it could be bypassed if an official declaration of drought is made on Friday. Continue reading...

The best of this week’s wildlife pictures, including grazing camels, hot bats and a newly hatched turtle Continue reading...

Exclusive: ex-US vice-president says with $370bn package of clean energy spending ‘we have changed history and will never go backwards’America’s passing of its first ever climate legislation will prove a pivotal moment in history that will help bring to an end the era of fossil fuels, according to Al Gore, the former US vice-president.Joe Biden is poised to sign a huge $370bn package of clean energy spending, overcoming decades of American political rancor and inaction on the climate crisis. Gore said he was now sure the fossil fuel industry and its political backers will not be able to reverse the shift to a decarbonized world, even if Republicans are able to wrest back control of Congress or the White House. Continue reading...

Yes, it’s a real word. Here’s the science (and etymology) behind itIt’s baking hot in New York, which can only mean one thing for the city’s small mammal population: it’s splooting season.This week, with temperatures reaching 95F (35C), the city’s parks department urged residents not to worry about the health of squirrels seen sprawling on the ground, legs extended behind them like a person whose arms gave out halfway through a yoga class. “On hot days, squirrels keep cool by splooting (stretching out) on cool surfaces to reduce body heat,” the department tweeted. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Britishvolt’s 95-hectare site seen as great hope for car industry, but construction severely limited until FebruaryConstruction of a huge electric car battery factory that has attracted tens of millions of pounds of taxpayer cash and been hailed as a flagship project of Boris Johnson’s levelling up policy has been put on “life support” to cut spending, leaked internal documents suggest.Work on Britishvolt’s 95-hectare site near Blyth in Northumberland has been severely limited until February to minimise spending as it focuses on unlocking its next round of funding and critical power supply infrastructure, the documents suggest. Continue reading...

Candidates to be next prime minister clash over how to tackle energy crisis at hustings in CheltenhamLiz Truss’s tax cut-based approach to the energy crisis risks putting millions of Britons in “real destitution”, Rishi Sunak has warned, as the Conservative leadership candidates again clashed bitterly over economic policy.The hustings event on Thursday in Cheltenham, a key Tory-held marginal seat, also saw the foreign secretary effectively rule out any increased windfall tax on energy firm profits, as she hit out at the “depressing” sight of fields used for solar power. Continue reading...

Experts warn of current and future impact of drought as ministers are expected to make official declarationEngland is likely to be declared officially in drought on Friday, a move that will allow water companies to impose tough restrictions on water use as temperatures remain high across swathes of the UK.Hosepipe bans are likely to follow in areas that have not yet declared them, with people being urged to save water by not washing their cars, using lawn sprinklers or filling large pools. Continue reading...

Supermarkets introduce total ban as large swathes of UK suffer from lengthy dry spellSainsbury’s and Tesco have halted sales of disposable barbecues amid rising alarm about their potential to spark wildfires, as large swathes of the UK suffer a lengthy dry spell.The supermarkets are the latest to introduce a complete ban after Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Aldi announced they will no longer stock disposable barbecues because of the potential detrimental impact they have on the environment and wildlife. Continue reading...

Bare rock is emerging between Scex Rouge and Tsanfleuron glaciers as they melt at an accelerated rateThe thick layer of ice that has covered a Swiss mountain pass for centuries will have melted away completely within a few weeks, according to a local ski resort.After a dry winter, the summer heatwaves hitting Europe have been catastrophic for the Alpine glaciers, which have been melting at an accelerated rate. Continue reading...

Vital statistics on power-generation firms suspected of having cashed in on high energy pricesBoris Johnson met executives from some of Britain’s biggest energy companies on Thursday to discuss the cost of living crisis.Johnson was flanked by the chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, and the business and energy secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng. Zahawi said afterwards that the energy firms agreed to “do more to help the people who most need it” – but did not specify what that would entail. Continue reading...

Tudor manuscript listing aristocratic owners, and birds’ ornate markings, is described as ‘a really rare survival’Distinctive markings on the beaks of swans to denote their aristocratic ownership in the 16th century are logged in a rare Tudor manuscript to be auctioned this month.A book dating from 1566 contains images of more than 600 marks used in Norfolk and Suffolk, along with notes on the “laws and ordinances regarding swan”. Continue reading...

Drought group preparing to meet as Met Office issues highest fire risk warning for much of EnglandAn official drought could be declared for parts of England on Friday as rising temperatures and tinderbox conditions prompted the Met Office to issue its highest warning under its fire severity index.The National Drought Group – made up of civil servants, the Environment Agency, water companies and other groups including the National Farmers’ Union – is due to meet on Friday to discuss the longest dry spell since 1976. Continue reading...

Élisabeth Borne makes statement as more than 1,000 firefighters battle huge blaze south of BordeauxThe French prime minister has said France must fight “more than ever” against climate breakdown but also learn to adapt to it, as she met authorities battling a huge wildfire that continued to burn through south-western pine forests and has forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people.As more than 1,000 firefighters battled the rampant Landiras fire south of Bordeaux, with hundreds of reinforcements expected, Élisabeth Borne said: “We must continue more than ever to fight against climate breakdown.” She added that from September, she would oversee a form of “environmental planning” to ensure France adapts to new climate situations, as well as planting new forests. Continue reading...

Drax has taken £5.6bn in subsidies from energy bill payers but business secretary says practice is ‘not sustainable’The importing of wood to burn in Drax power station “is not sustainable” and “doesn’t make any sense”, the business and energy secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, told a private meeting of MPs this week.The remarks are significant as the burning of biomass to produce energy is an important part of the UK government’s net zero strategy and has received £5.6bn in subsidies from energy bill payers over the last decade. Scientists and campaigners have long argued that burning wood to produce electricity is far from green and can even increase the CO emissions driving the climate crisis. Continue reading...

Campaigners told new deadline for decision on first new deep coalmine in more than 30 years is 8 November

While the legislation provides renewed hope, work remains to be done to ensure the funding is put to best possible useThe passage of the historic US climate legislation this weekend sparked renewed hope in environmental circles and even tears of joy in Congress. Many who have spent decades on the front lines feel that, despite its imperfections, the landmark federal funding opens up new frontiers on which to fight in a rapidly changing world.The call to arms rings especially true in the American west, where the devastating effects of the climate crisis – from drought to wildfires to heatwaves – are already hitting home. Continue reading...

Adam Bandt says allowing global offsets to be traded along with Australian ones would just delay action to cut emissions

Yellowstone, Death Valley, Kentucky – experts say extreme rainfall spurred by global heating is rendering historical norms obsoleteAn entire building and roads washed away by raging waters in Yellowstone. People desperately swimming from their homes in St Louis. Dozens dead after torrential downpours in Kentucky. The summer of 2022 has been one of extreme floods in the US, with scientists warning the climate crisis is worsening the devastation.The deadliest of the recent barrage of floods, in Kentucky, was described as “heartbreaking” by Joe Biden as he surveyed ruined houses and inundated cars on Monday. At least 37 people died after five days of pounding record rain washed down mountainsides and drowned entire towns, an event that scientists say is a once in 1,000 year occurrence. Continue reading...

Senex Energy says extra fuel will be for domestic use but plans are yet to secure state or federal environmental approvals

Port Stephens growers say entire crops have been lost, workers are being laid off and consumers face higher prices

Livelihoods are on the line with outages of up to 17 hours a day as the country’s ageing power plants struggle to copeInside a grimy flat in the heart of Mbare, one of Zimbabwe’s oldest townships, steam billows from a hissing iron.It is 7am and Nhamo Chari, 42, is racing to finish ironing a client’s clothes before the power cuts out. Continue reading...