Saw-whet owl was found tired and hungry in the branches of the huge Norway spruce at famous New York landmarkIt wasn’t quite a partridge in a pear tree, but a worker helping set up Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree found a holiday surprise – a tiny owl among the massive branches.
by Rebecca Smithers Consumer affairs correspondent on (#5AJSP)
Carvey Maigue, from the Philippines, used a substance made from crop wasteA novel material made from rotting fruit and vegetables that absorbs stray UV light from the sun and converts it into renewable energy has landed its designer the first sustainability gong in this year’s James Dyson awards.From a record 1,800 entries – despite the challenges of Covid-19 – the award was given to 27-year-old Carvey Ehren Maigue, a student at Mapúa University in the Philippines, for his Aureus system which uses the natural scientific principles behind the northern lights. Continue reading...
by Damian Carrington Environment editor on (#5AJHX)
Huge road, energy and mining projects driving into heart of world’s remaining forestsInfrastructure megaprojects risk pushing the world’s remaining forests past a “dangerous tipping point” and making climate targets unachievable, a report says.Tens of thousands of miles of roads and railways are planned alongside mines and dams, opening up the forests of South America, south-east Asia and central Africa to destruction, according to the report by a coalition of 25 research and conservation organisations called the New York Declaration on Forests Assessment Partners. Today, almost half of all large mines – more than 1,500 – are in forests. Continue reading...
A vibrant, buzzy stock market for tech companies is very useful if you’re planning a green revolutionRight on cue, here comes a £4bn stock market listing of a young and exciting UK electric vehicle company – a mini Tesla, if you wish. It’s just the thing for ministers to crow about, you might think: evidence that the UK possesses a few fast-growing tech innovators capable of injecting oomph into the government’s loose 10-point sketch for a green revolution.There’s just one drawback. Arrival, with its head office in London and operations in Oxfordshire, will not be arriving on the London Stock Exchange. It is listing in New York on Nasdaq, via injection into one of those special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, that are all the rage on Wall Street this year. Continue reading...
The prime minister has correctly identified the challenge, but his record invites doubt that he can turn his rhetoric into realityBoris Johnson’s comfort zone is the future. He is weak at managing the day-to-day business of a government and bad at making hard choices quickly. For that reason, he is poorly suited to the role of prime minister during a pandemic, but better at the job of selling a “green industrial revolution” for the recovery phase.The launch on Wednesday of a 10-point plan for net zero carbon emissions allowed Mr Johnson to indulge his predilection for hyperbole. He wants Britain to be the “world’s number one centre for green technology and finance” and “the Saudi Arabia of wind”. Those are fine aspirations. Regular readers of Mr Johnson’s rhetoric know to check the small print. Continue reading...
Firm will also hire hundreds of new staff as it prepares for switch away from petrol carsHalfords is training 1,500 extra technicians to work on electric vehicles, bikes and scooters as it prepares for the switch away from petrol cars.The cycles-to-vehicle servicing group said it expected to hire hundreds of new staff and to retrain existing employees so that it would have 100 more electric car technicians next year, bringing the total to 470, and 1,400 extra electric bike and scooter technicians in addition to the 400 now in place. Continue reading...
Firm says investment in low-carbon infrastructure will help UK emerge from Covid impactSSE has set out plans to triple its renewable energy generation by 2030 as it prepares to build the world’s largest offshore windfarm off the north-east coast of England.The energy firm told investors that it was days away from a final investment decision on the 3.2GW Dogger Bank offshore windfarm, which could generate enough clean electricity to power 4.5m homes by 2026. Continue reading...
How Boris Johnson’s proposals will affect drivers and people replacing boilersBoris Johnson’s green industrial revolution proposals have been praised by some environmental groups but critics are warning that electric vehicles are too pricey, there’s little charging infrastructure and households will receive £10,000 bills to replace gas boilers with heat pumps. As Britain transitions to a cleaner low-carbon future, what do the plans really mean for your car and home?What are the new rules for vehicles? Continue reading...
Some say proposed public funding is too little while others say key is galvanising private capitalThe government’s 10-point plan for putting the UK on track to reach net zero carbon emissions has been welcomed by experts as a good start, but many fear that the £12bn of public investment proposed will be too little to achieve the sweeping changes to the UK’s economy that will be needed.Sir David King, a former government chief scientist and chair of the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge University, said: “[This] is nowhere near enough either to manage the commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 or to provide a safe future. As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on our economy, there needs to be an understanding that this is the opportunity to grow our economy in a direction that is fit for purpose in this century.” Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips Latin America correspondent on (#5AHFZ)
Joe Biden warns on climate emergency as powerful storm inflicts catastrophic damageAt least six people have been killed and more than 60,000 evacuated after Hurricane Iota struck Nicaragua, prompting Joe Biden to say the surge in the number of powerful storms meant fighting the climate crisis was vital.Reports in the Nicaraguan press said at least three children were among the victims as the hurricane hammered the Central American country on Tuesday after making landfall the previous night. Continue reading...
While overall US coral reefs are in fair condition, along the coast of Florida as little as 2% of original coral cover remainsThe United States’ coral reefs are in fair condition, according to a recent reef condition status report, but vulnerable to decline. Scientists estimate that along the coast of Florida, where degradation is most severe, perhaps as little as 2% of original coral cover remains.The report, released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (Noaa) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science last week, assesses reefs along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, from the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to Guam, Hawaii and American Samoa. It is the first of its kind to do so using standardized monitoring data on a national scale. Analyzing records from 2012 to 2018, researchers identify ocean warming and acidification, coral disease and fishing as ongoing threats to coral reefs, indicating a “dire outlook” for these ecosystems. Continue reading...
Thinktank says deadline of 2026 is needed for government to meet its own carbon budgetThe prime minister’s plan to bring forward a ban on the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 10 years to 2030 will still not go far enough to meet the government’s own legally binding climate targets, according to new research.Boris Johnson is expected to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles by setting out a new deadline for the sales of polluting passenger cars as part of a 10-point plan to tackle the climate crisis due to be revealed this week. Continue reading...
Foxes deer and cats to be blocked from 50,000ha park in Victoria, turning it into a ‘wildlife haven’A 10km fence to keep out foxes, deers and cats will be built across the Yanakie isthmus on Victoria’s Wilsons Promontory to create a 50,000-hectare native wildlife sanctuary.The $6m fence is designed to protect vulnerable species including ground parrots, the southern brown bandicoot and long-nosed potoroo in the national park, south-east of Melbourne. Continue reading...
Australia has no national policies to expand renewable energy and per capita emissions are three times the average, global report saysAustralia is one of only two countries in the G20 not implementing or planning any sort of carbon price scheme, one of only four without a national policy to increase renewable energy and ranks last in cutting greenhouse gas emissions from transport, a new global report has found.The Climate Transparency report, an assessment by 14 organisations released before this weekend’s virtual G20 summit, said Australia ranked in the bottom bracket in every climate policy area considered except one. Continue reading...
City Corporation signs £40m deal with French renewables firm Voltalia to ensure green energy supplyThousands of solar panels in the Dorset countryside will soon help power Britain’s historic financial centre under a new renewable energy deal struck by the City of London Corporation.The City’s governing body expects to save £3m by buying more than half of the electricity powering the Corporation’s historic buildings in the Square Mile from a subsidy-free solar farm in the south-west of England made up of 95,000 new solar panels over the next 15 years. Continue reading...
Multinational plans to cash in on consumer trend towards reducing meat and dairy intakeUnilever is setting a target of €1bn (£900m) in annual sales of its plant-based foods through some of its best-known brands, as it seeks to cash in on the growing number of consumers reducing their meat and dairy intake.The estimated five-fold sales growth over the next five to seven years will be driven by new products from The Vegetarian Butcher meat-free label, and bolstered by expansion of dairy-free ice cream and mayonnaise ranges from Ben & Jerry’s, Hellmann’s, Magnum and Wall’s. Continue reading...
The dam’s benefits have been overstated and the business case does not take environmental costs into account, economist saysA 1.5 trillion-litre north Queensland dam proposal backed by both the federal and state governments could return as little as 26c for every dollar invested, an economic analysis has found.The $2.9bn Urannah dam near Mackay has been awarded coordinated project status by the Queensland government. Studies and preliminary planning work have been financed with about $15m in federal grants since 2016. Continue reading...
Temperatures nearly two degrees above average have been recorded, months before the hottest part of the seasonClimate scientists are warning New Zealand is on the brink of a marine heatwave after recording temperatures nearly two degrees above average in coastal waters off the North Island.Forecasters at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) said a marine heatwave is building, with above-average temperatures reported throughout October, following a record warm winter. Continue reading...
by Fiona Harvey Environment correspondent on (#5AGD8)
What do governments across the world need to do to shift economies away from fossil fuels?What does a green recovery look like? That is the question governments around the world are considering as they decide how to align their $12tn worth of economic rescue packages for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic with their obligations under the Paris climate accord.The UK is expected to announce a 10-point recovery plan this week, and observers have warned that if it lacks ambition, it could undermine the world’s goals of limiting catastrophic climate breakdown. Continue reading...
Measures include a $1,000 rebate for low-income residents to replace old heaters and upgrades to 35,000 social housing propertiesVictorians have been promised Australia’s biggest household energy efficiency drive, with the Andrews government pledging $797m to programs it says will cut power bills and greenhouse gas emissions.Measures include a $1,000 rebate for low-income households to replace old heaters with modern split-systems, upgrades to 35,000 social housing properties and a new requirement that landlords keep rental properties at a minimum efficiency standard. Continue reading...
Trial to allow rented scooters on roads as part of green transport planE-scooters to rent are expected to be on the streets of London from next spring after the capital gave the go-ahead for trials. Up to three firms will be permitted to operate hire schemes, which are likely to start as small-scale operations in a limited number of boroughs.Transport for London said the trials were part of plans to encourage greener forms of transport and, in particular, to avoid a “damaging, car-led recovery from coronavirus”, with road congestion already approaching pre-crisis levels. Continue reading...
by Damian Carrington Environment editor on (#5AFJH)
Discovery is ‘extremely concerning’ for water insects, and fish and birds that depend on themHighly toxic insecticides used on cats and dogs to kill fleas are poisoning rivers across England, a study has revealed. The discovery is “extremely concerning” for water insects, and the fish and birds that depend on them, the scientists said, who expect significant environmental damage is being done.The research found fipronil in 99% of samples from 20 rivers and the average level of one particularly toxic breakdown product of the pesticide was 38 times above the safety limit. Fipronil and another nerve agent called imidacloprid that was found in the rivers have been banned from use on farms for some years. Continue reading...
Recycling rates soar in Christchurch after council rewards the best households and confiscates bins of laggardsA recycling scheme in New Zealand modelled on rewards familiar to kindergarten children has seen tonnes of additional recycling head to the sorters every week, instead of landfill.Following the coronavirus lockdown in March and April, Christchurch city council saw recycling rates plummet, with material from only 48% of recycling trucks able to be processed in June due to frequent contamination issues, the result of poor sorting by residents. Continue reading...
by Richard Partington Economics correspondent on (#5AF00)
Rishi Sunak looking at how to recoup lost revenues after ban on new petrol and diesel cars potentially from 2030The government is exploring options for dealing with a £40bn black hole in the public finances, which would result from a proposed ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars within a decade.Boris Johnson is expected to announce this week the cut-off date for the ban will be brought forward by five years to 2030, in a step designed to underscore the government’s commitment to a green economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading...
Proposal would create 62,000 jobs and help towards carbon neutrality, says commissionThe capacity of the EU’s offshore windfarms in the North Sea, the Baltic, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea will be increased by 250%, under a draft plan drawn up by the European commission.The move follows Boris Johnson’s announcement this year of his intention to generate enough electricity to power every home in the UK within a decade from the country’s offshore sites. Continue reading...
by Richard Partington Economics correspondent on (#5AEBF)
Academics call for urgent changes to Bank’s mandate to help UK hit carbon zero targetUrgent reforms of the Bank of England are needed to help decarbonise the financial system and boost green investment as Britain recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, a group of leading academics has said.The New Economics Foundation thinktank and Positive Money campaign group said landmark changes needed to be made by the government to give Threadneedle Street more powers to cut carbon emissions. Continue reading...
Calls for EU animal welfare rules to be enforced as country set to overtake Germany as Europe’s biggest pork producerFootage that appears to show newborn piglets lying in faeces, pigs with pus-covered wounds and pig carcasses in varying states of decomposition has been published by animal welfare campaigners in Spain.
Biden has said he will end construction of Trump’s wall, but activists say they hope for more than a return to the status quoAs Joe Biden prepares to take office, activists say the president-elect must not only take meaningful action to stabilize the US-Mexico border, but also reckon with his own history of militarizing the border landscape and communities.Biden has promised to end many of the Trump administration’s border policies, but has yet to unveil the kind of bold immigration plan that would suggest a true departure from Obama-era priorities. Cecilia Muñoz, Obama’s top immigration adviser who memorably defended the administration’s decision to deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants, was recently added to Biden’s transition team. Continue reading...
The Sunrise Movement helped reach 3.5m voters in swing states and are determined to hold the president-elect to his promisesJoe Biden will have to navigate a path for the most ambitious climate agenda ever adopted by a US president through not only stubborn Republican obstruction but also an emergent youth climate movement that is already formulating plans to hold him to account. Continue reading...
The 250MW battery will provide power for four hours, supporting evening peak demand, and is not subsidised by state or federal governmentsThe announcement of a large, long-duration battery in Adelaide has been hailed as a milestone in the developing technology that is competing with fossil fuels to support wind and solar energy.The energy company AGL, which owns several coal plants and is Australia’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, announced on Monday it would build a large-scale battery on the site of the Torrens Island gas station, which is due to shut by 2022. Continue reading...
Exclusive: authors find ‘no clear social equity problem related to low-traffic neighbourhoods’ after studying slew of projects sparked by Covid restrictions
Expansion of energy-from-waste incineration could stop UK hitting its net zero carbon target, campaigners warnCarbon emissions from waste disposal are increasing because of the expansion of energy-from-waste incineration plants, a coalition of campaigners has warned.By 2030 the government’s push to increase incineration of waste will increase COemissions by 10m tonnes a year, mostly from the burning of plastics, the groups said. They argue that the growth in energy-from-waste incineration means the UK will not be able to meet its commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Continue reading...
The Indian city is home to 20 million people but is also a place rich in biodiversity, with flamingos, leopards and black kites among its flora and faunaAn Indian Ocean humpback dolphin swims beneath an Indo-Pacific octopus close to the coast, a gargantuan atlas moth flutters above Sanjay Gandhi national park, while an Asian palm civet shins up a tree near Vasai Creek and a black kite soars over a banyan tree. All are part of a vibrant new map of Mumbai that showcases the Indian city’s rich biodiversity.“Most people only think of Mumbai as a concrete jungle, with skyscrapers, slums and beach promenades, but scratch beneath the surface, and you will find a place of rich biodiversity,” says Rohan Chakravarty, an award-winning wildlife cartoonist from Nagpur famous for cartoons that deal with the environment, conservation and wildlife, and creator of the Mumbai map. Continue reading...
by Rebecca Smithers Consumer affairs correspondent on (#5AE1R)
Consultation with firms in England on mandatory reporting deferred to 2021A government consultation that could force companies to publish details of how much food they waste has been delayed until next year, triggering criticism by campaigners that ministers are using the pandemic as an excuse to stall efforts to drive down the amount thrown away.The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had this month been due to consult on mandatory food waste reporting in England, but has put the exercise on hold because of the disruption caused to the food and drink industry by Covid-19. Continue reading...
More than two-thirds of UN member states have declared they are open to a new agreement to stem the rising tide of plastic wasteSupport is growing internationally for a new global treaty to tackle the plastic pollution crisis, it has emerged, though so far without the two biggest per capita waste producers – the US and the UK – which have yet to signal their participation.A UN working group on marine litter and microplastics met at a virtual conference last week to discuss the issue. More than two-thirds of UN member states, including African, Baltic, Caribbean, Nordic and Pacific states, as well as the EU, have declared they are open to considering the option of a new agreement. Continue reading...
Focus shifts to compensation and environmental impact of huge fire that has been burning since June in the state of AssamA massive oil well fire that raged for more than five months in north-east India has been extinguished, officials have said.Oil India engineers have been battling the blaze in Assam since an explosion in June, weeks after the well blew out and began discharging huge quantities of natural gas. Continue reading...
Evidence is not so much in the number of tropical storms the Atlantic has seen, but in their strength, intensity and rainfallPaddling in a canoe through the flood waters left by Hurricane Eta in his rural village near the north coast of Honduras, Adán Herrera took stock of the damage.“Compared with Hurricane Mitch, this caused more damage because the water rose so fast,” said Herrera, 33, a subsistence farmer who is living on top of a nearby levee with his wife and child while they wait for the water to recede. “We’re afraid we might not have anything to eat.” Continue reading...
A Japanese tradition could replace sparkly paper this festive season as lockdown prompts a green rethinkChristmas wouldn’t be Christmas without mountains of glittery wrapping paper covering the floor on 25 December. Or would it?A rise in interest in crafting, coupled with a greater awareness of the environment under lockdown, has led to a surge in interest in furoshiki – the Japanese art of fabric wrapping – this year. Continue reading...
Farm to supply skins to make handbags and shoes would be one of the biggest in Australia under plan approved by Northern Territory governmentThe high-end French fashion brand Hermès wants to build one of Australia’s biggest crocodile farms in the Northern Territory that would hold up to 50,000 saltwater crocodiles to be turned into luxury goods such as handbags and shoes.But the proposal has come under fire from animal welfare groups, who say other fashion brands have moved away from using exotic animal skins on cruelty grounds. Advocates told Guardian Australia they had concerns about the welfare of the crocodiles, and that farming animals for luxury goods was “no longer fashionable.” Continue reading...