Environment | The Guardian

‘Red list’ assessment of two separate African species exposes ‘critically endangered’ status of forest elephants, down 86% in 31 years

This critically endangered ‘gardener’ of the forest has been ‘red listed’ independent of its famous savanna relative for the first time. It’s time to take its plight seriously

Government is not testing drinking water for PFAS, which studies have linked to numerous health issuesThe UK government is not testing drinking water for a group of toxic manmade chemicals linked to a range of diseases including cancers, while across the world people are falling sick and suing for hundreds of millions of dollars at a time after finding the substances in their tap water.Known collectively as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), or “forever chemicals” because they are designed never to break down in the environment, the substances are used for their water- and grease-repellent properties in everything from cookware and clothing to furniture, carpets, packaging, coatings and firefighting foams. Continue reading...

The Department of Defense has ordered the burning of 20m pounds of AFFF – despite risks to human healthOne of the most enduring, indestructible toxic chemicals known to man – Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), which is a PFAS “forever chemical” – is being secretly incinerated next to disadvantaged communities in the United States. The people behind this crackpot operation? It’s none other than the US military.As new data published by Bennington College this week documents, the US military ordered the clandestine burning of over 20m pounds of AFFF and AFFF waste between 2016-2020. That’s despite the fact that there is no evidence that incineration actually destroys these synthetic chemicals. In fact, there is good reason to believe that burning AFFF simply emits these toxins into the air and onto nearby communities, farms, and waterways. The Pentagon is effectively conducting a toxic experiment and has enrolled the health of millions of Americans as unwitting test subjects. Continue reading...

Experts say new interior secretary will renew focus on climate emergency and public lands after years of cuts under TrumpAfter four years under an administration that denied the climate crisis, opened public lands to oil and gas drilling and stripped protections from national monuments, the US interior department will look radically different with Deb Haaland at its helm.Haaland, the first Native American cabinet secretary in US history and a member of the Laguna Pueblo, was sworn in to her post last week and has vowed to be a “fierce advocate” for public lands. Wildlife, parks and climate advocacy groups have hailed her confirmation as a major win for public lands and say that under Haaland’s leadership the interior department will renew its focus on fighting the climate emergency. Continue reading...

Foreign minister Marise Payne makes the claim when asked about the ex-finance minister’s OECD campaign, despite Australia’s much vaunted gas-led recoveryMarise Payne insists the Morrison government shares “the same ambitions” as the incoming OECD chief, Mathias Cormann, for a green recovery from the pandemic.The foreign minister made the claim despite the government’s promotion of a gas-fired recovery and despite research showing Australia was the worst performer among the world’s 50 largest economies for “green recovery” spending to kickstart economic growth. Continue reading...

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates have an estimated wealth of $466bn – and are emblematic of a Davos-centric worldview that sees free markets and tech as the answerThe latest must-have for America’s ultra-rich isn’t another mega yacht or space program – it’s a plan to save the world from the climate crisis.Related: The race to zero: can America reach net-zero emissions by 2050? Continue reading...

Almost a decade ago 3 million shearwaters arrived on Australian beaches and died. Now researchers know whyScientists finally know why millions of seabirds wound up dead on Australian beaches after unravelling a complex tale involving floating rocks, an underwater volcano and possibly something called the Blob.Back in 2013, the carcasses of short-tailed shearwaters, commonly known as muttonbirds, were found en masse along Australia’s east coast. Continue reading...

Some 60,000 people told to be ready to evacuate, while others are allowed to return homeResidents in one part of the mid New South Wales north coast have been allowed to return home as emergency services warn some of the state’s rivers will remain swollen into the weekend and flooding still poses a risk.Areas of continued concern include Moree in the NSW north-west, the Upper Hunter around Singleton, Grafton, parts of the Central Coast and the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment north-west of Sydney. Continue reading...

Proposed changes to the national energy market rules aims to prevent ‘traffic jams’ of electricity on sunny daysAustralian households with rooftop solar panels could be charged for exporting electricity into the power grid at times when it is not needed under proposed changes to the national electricity market.The recommendation is included in a draft deliberation by the Australian Energy Market Commission that is designed to prevent “traffic jams” of electricity at sunny times that could destabilise the network. Continue reading...

Toxicologist Jon Heylings speaks of his long-held concerns over paraquat, which is linked to thousands of deaths globally‘A sip can kill’: did a chemical company misrepresent data to avoid making a safer product?A scientist with one of the world’s largest chemical firms took the difficult decision to speak out publicly when “a new generation” of managers rejected concerns about a mass produced weedkiller that he had been expressing for decades.Going public has been a “relief”, says toxicologist Jon Heylings. He worked for 28 years for Syngenta, formerly ICI, where his efforts focused on developing safer formulations of the herbicide paraquat. But in 1990 he began consistently raising internal concerns about the handling of what was one of the company’s bestselling products. Continue reading...

Rangers hope reintroduction of once eradicated species will help manage habitat and improve biodiversity

Government of Scotland in line for windfall after lifting cap on maximum bidsThe Scottish government is in line for a windfall of up to £860m from a forthcoming auction of Scottish seabed plots for windfarms, after lifting a cap on maximum bids following a runaway auction in England and Wales.Crown Estate Scotland had planned to cap the amount developers could offer for a seabed lease at £10,000 per square kilometre, but under new rules the bidding will be allowed to swell to a maximum £100,000 per sq km. Continue reading...

Scheme will not come into effect in England, Wales and Northern Ireland until at least six years after it was announcedA promised deposit return scheme for plastic bottles to cut marine pollution will not be in place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland until late 2024 at the earliest – six years after it was announced by the government as a key environmental policy.Critics said the delay was “embarrassing” and not the sign of a government committed to tackling plastic pollution. Continue reading...

The potential of soils to slow climate change by soaking up carbon may be less than previously thoughtThe storage potential of one of the Earth’s biggest carbon sinks – soils – may have been overestimated, research shows. This could mean ecosystems on land soaking up less of humanity’s emissions than expected, and more rapid global heating.Soils and the plants that grow in them absorb about a third of the carbon emissions that drive the climate crisis, partly limiting the impact of fossil-fuel burning. Rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere can increase plant growth and, until now, it was assumed carbon storage in soils would increase too. Continue reading...

Twitter video serves as reminder that once polluted body of water is cleaner than it has been in more than a centuryA video of a pair of dolphins swimming in New York’s once famously polluted and dirty East River has served as a reminder that the body of water is cleaner than it has been in more than a century.Related: Dolphins have similar personality traits to humans, study finds Continue reading...

Helen Browning’s Organic says it is switching to Danish suppliers owing to bureaucracy, delays and costs

Republican governor received warning after failing to take required certification course before killing animalThe Republican governor of Montana has been slapped with a written warning and directed to take an online education course after trapping and killing a black wolf in violation of state regulations.The governor, Greg Gianforte, was elected in November and was formerly a member of US Congress representing the state. The news was first reported by Nate Hegyi in the Mountain West News Bureau of Boise State public radio in Idaho. Continue reading...

Thinktank reports that northern UK cities are lagging behind on development of clean air zonesThe delayed introduction of measures to tackle the UK’s air pollution crisis will exacerbate the glaring health inequalities and entrench the north-south divide, according to a report.Several local authorities in the north have scrapped or deferred plans to introduce clean air zones, regarded as the best way to tackle toxic air, while cities in other parts of the UK are pressing ahead with the schemes to limit dirty vehicles. Continue reading...

Once-in-a-century weather extremes could become commonplace by 2080 unless carbon emissions are curbed

Authorities searched Cattai Creek in Glenorie for seven hours before finding the Sydney man’s car with his body inside

Joint investment of up to £16bn tied to industry promise to cut carbon emissions by 50% by end of decadeMinisters will allow oil drillers to keep exploring the North Sea for new reserves, despite the government’s pledge to tackle carbon emissions, as long as they pass a “climate compatibility” test.The government has offered to help the North Sea oil and gas industry cut its carbon emissions through a joint investment of up to £16bn to help support 40,000 North Sea jobs. In return, the industry has promised to cut its carbon emissions by 50% by the end of the decade. Continue reading...

Guardian Australia understands Ben Pennings has rejected the company’s offer to settle the multimillion-dollar lawsuitLawyers for mining giant Adani told a Queensland court they do not know what confidential information – “if any” – about the Carmichael coalmine was obtained by the environmental activist Ben Pennings, who is being sued by the company for breach of confidence.At the centre of Adani’s multimillion-dollar damages claim against Pennings is an allegation that he solicited confidential information about the construction process and used it to harass contractors. Continue reading...

Coal, oil and gas firms have received $3.8tn in finance since the Paris climate deal in 2015The world’s biggest 60 banks have provided $3.8tn of financing for fossil fuel companies since the Paris climate deal in 2015, according to a report by a coalition of NGOs.Despite the Covid-19 pandemic cutting energy use, overall funding remains on an upward trend and the finance provided in 2020 was higher than in 2016 or 2017, a fact the report’s authors and others described as “shocking”. Continue reading...

The British prime minister wrote to his Australian counterpart to explain why he was denied a speaking slot in DecemberBoris Johnson has told Scott Morrison Australia was denied a speaking slot at a leaders’ climate ambition summit in December because his government had not set ambitious commitments to address the climate crisis.In a sign of the growing international pressure over climate, the British prime minister also indicated he expected Australia to this year set a timeframe to meet net zero greenhouse gas emissions and increase its short-term commitments – steps the Morrison government continues to resist. Continue reading...

Fast growth of plant-based alternatives means consumption of conventional meat will start to fallThe fast growth of plant-based alternatives to animal products could mean Europe and North America will reach “peak meat” by 2025, at which point consumption of conventional meat starts to fall, according to a report.The study also forecasts that plant-based meats will match regular meat on price by 2023 and that nine out of 10 of the world’s favourite dishes – from pepperoni pizza to sushi – will have realistic alternatives by 2035. Continue reading...

Extent of devastation wrought on native animals will only become apparent as water recedes

Greenhouse in Melbourne’s Federation Square is forging new ground in low-waste living. But what’s it actually like to live in?We’re accustomed to living our lives publicly, but chefs Jo Barrett and Matt Stone have gone all in. They are living centre stage, in full public view, in Greenhouse by Joost, an 87sqm, zero-waste “future home” in Melbourne’s Federation Square. Goldfish Bowl by Joost could be more apt.“Every time you walk out of the building, there’s people that want to have a chat,” Stone says. “Some are cool, but others get really grumpy when you tell them they can’t just walk through.” Continue reading...

Experimental animal jabs could stop spillover back to humans, says firm behind vaccines for primatesAt the start of 2021, four orangutans and five bonobos became the first great apes at a US zoo to receive Covid-19 vaccinations. An outbreak in San Diego zoo’s western lowland gorilla troop had caused panic among staff after the virus spread to the animals, probably from an asymptomatic zookeeper. Eight gorillas tested positive – with symptoms such as runny noses, lethargy and coughs – and there were fears the virus could spread to other primates.“We were approached by San Diego zoo asking if we had any vaccine because the primates were getting sick. Luckily, we had some that we thought would be appropriate,” recalls Dr Mahesh Kumar, a senior vice-president at the US veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis, which developed the jab. Continue reading...

Addition would displace more than 1,000 disproportionately Black, brown and low-income householdsTexas is crisscrossed by thousands of miles of freeways, but a Houston-area county is suing the state to stop one of them being expanded, arguing the air pollution and displacement will primarily harm minority communities.Advocates say the plans are an example of environmental racism, when harmful infrastructure is built among disadvantaged people. The Biden administration has joined the fight, and the Federal Highway Administration – headed by the transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg – recently sent a letter saying that the plans could violate residents’ civil rights. Continue reading...

Cloud seeding involves adding small particles of silver iodide to clouds to spur rainfall – but will it work?With three-quarters of the US west gripped by a seemingly ceaseless drought, several states are increasingly embracing a drastic intervention – the modification of the weather to spur more rainfall.Related: Climate crisis: recent European droughts 'worst in 2,000 years' Continue reading...

Claims to be fast-tracked as extreme weather events put growing pressure on regional Australia and the insurance industry• Follow the Australia floods liveblog

Climate impact, such as use of biofuels, to be taken into account when calculating charges, says governmentSweden plans to charge airlines more at takeoff and landing if their aircrafts are more polluting, the government has said.The measure is set to go into effect in July and means that newer and more efficient aircraft will benefit from the scheme while older planes will be hit with higher fees. Continue reading...

Drax in Yorkshire burns wood pellets to generate electricity, but forests cannot be replaced quickly enough, say campaignersThe UK’s plan to burn more trees to generate “renewable” electricity has come under fire from green groups and sustainable investment campaigners over the controversial claim that biomass energy is carbon-neutral.A letter to the government signed by more than a dozen green groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth warns ministers against relying too heavily on plans to capture carbon emissions to help tackle the climate crisis. Continue reading...

Bylaw supported by David Attenborough protects large area of seabed to allow kelp to regrowDamaging trawl fishing has been banned in more than 100 square miles of seabed off Sussex to help once vast kelp forests recover.A new bylaw has been approved to prohibit trawling year round over large areas along the entire Sussex coast closest to the shore, to help habitats regenerate and improve fisheries, Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) said. Continue reading...

Deep Branch aims to create protein that will replace the use of soy, which has been linked to deforestationA UK company that turns carbon dioxide into protein to be used for animal feed has raised €8m (£6.8m) in funding as it seeks to displace the use of deforestation-linked soy by farmers.Carbon and hydrogen are fed to a microorganism in a fermentation process similar to what you would see in a brewery. But rather than alcohol, the output is a high-value protein that can be dried and converted into pellets to feed animals. Continue reading...

Research in Australian bay shows absence of apex predators can exacerbate extreme climate damage

Family forced to swim to survival from Telegraph Point home while farmer has 85 cattle swept away

Damning assessment of ‘disastrous’ scheme is a blow to plans for reaching net zero emissions

Report reveals more than 250 deals between high-carbon industries and leading sports teams

Distraught pet owners can get permits for creatures including pythons and lizards but state wants trade and breeding to stopFlorida is known as a state with a fondness for the exotic, from its long history of accommodating religious cults to the Bubble Room restaurant where every day is Christmas Day. But now time is running out for one type of eccentric Floridian: those who own or breed exotic and invasive reptiles and other non-native animals.Related: Miami Beach imposes emergency Covid curfew to curb spring break chaos Continue reading...

Inundation in western Sydney reignites debate about the location of the $915m project

A tropical low is colliding with a coastal trough – kept in place by a band of high pressure

Misuse and subsidising of supplies for the rich also causing shortages and high prices for the poor and vulnerableThe failure of governments around the world to place a clear value on water is leading to widespread water waste, shortages and high prices for poor and vulnerable people, the UN has warned.In many countries, water is treated as a low-cost resource for uses such as irrigation, but this is leading some farmers to use too much, causing scarcity for other users. In other places, rich people receive heavily subsidised water to their homes, leading to further waste, while the poor struggle to gain access to water for essential uses. Continue reading...

Minerals Council of Australia has been accused of trying to export its ‘negative approach to climate policy’The Minerals Council of Australia has weighed into a European Commission climate policy debate, urging it to back fossil fuels with carbon capture use and storage (CCS) and nuclear power on a list of environmentally friendly developments.In a written submission to the commission, the minerals council (MCA) said a proposed EU taxonomy for sustainable activities intended to shape investment under a European green deal was inconsistent in how it dealt with clean technologies because it favoured solar, wind and biofuels over nuclear and CCS. Continue reading...

Storks, butterflies and turtle doves could all suffer at the Knepp estate in West SussexIt is a place where rare white storks raise their chicks alongside peregrine falcons and purple emperor butterflies, where the trees are filled with endangered turtle doves and nightingales, and where the population of breeding songbirds is the densest in Britain.For conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts, the Knepp estate in West Sussex is more than just a wildlife sanctuary, it is a symbol of hope: a former arable and dairy farm that is now a world-famous rewilding project, home to some of the rarest birds and insects in the UK. Continue reading...

With the average UK family throwing out £730 of surplus items a year, eco-conscious consumers have found a hi-tech fixThere is such a thing as a free lunch, it turns out, as long as you don’t mind too much what it is. Tamara Wilson found hers a few streets away from her west London home – and as well as picking up some unwanted bread and fruit that would otherwise be thrown away, she made a new friend.Wilson* is one of 3.4 million people around the world using an app designed to encourage people to give away rather than throw away surplus food. “It’s such a small thing, but it makes me feel good and my neighbour feel good. And a lot of small acts can end up making a big difference,” she said. Continue reading...

Move reverses former president’s order to drop all references to the climate emergency on government websitesCanceled four years ago by a president who considered global warming a hoax, climate crisis information has returned to the website of the US government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of Joe Biden’s promise to “bring science back”. Continue reading...

Candidates to succeed Cedric Richmond in a solidly Democratic seat in Saturday’s special election have been obliged to address the toxic effects of the chemical industry in Cancer AlleyIn Ascension parish at a jambalaya cookout, bathed in the afternoon sun, a politician made promises rarely heard in this heavily polluted region of south Louisiana, known colloquially as Cancer Alley.Karen Carter Peterson, a state senator and one of three frontrunners to become the next congressional representative for Louisiana’s second district, told the assembled crowd that she would fight the proliferation of polluting oil, gas and petrochemical plants. Continue reading...

Thousands of blazes in Similipal national park threaten indigenous peoples and wildlife such as tigers, elephants and orchidsAs the flames move fast, snaking quickly upwards in the treacherous terrain of Similipal national park and turning everything on the ground to smoky ash, the women are in hot pursuit. Throwing their dupattas over their shoulders, sweat dripping from their foreheads, they vigorously whack the flames with leafy branches to extinguish them. Nearby, a forest department official armed only with a leaf blower works to move the leaves fuelling the fire out of the way.Finally, as the hills of Similipal, in the Indian state of Odisha, become too steep, the women fall back. “It’s very smoky and hot, but for the past two weeks, we have been helping put out the fires in any way we can,” says Sanjukta Basa, chair of local environmental NGO Sangram. Continue reading...