Environment | The Guardian

More than $80bn of investment decisions are delayed due to a collapsed oil price and a geopolitical price war

Saudi Arabia and Russia reach truce after collapse in demand caused by coronavirusThe world’s largest oil producers have agreed a historic deal to cut global oil production by almost 10% to protect the market against the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.Members of the Opec oil cartel and its allies have agreed to withhold almost 10m barrels a day from next month after the outbreak of Covid-19 wiped out demand for fossil fuels and triggered a collapse in global oil prices. Continue reading...

The Greens asked officials to calculate the cost of shutting down the native forest timber industry immediately rather than 2030 as planned

Campaigners raise concerns over investor’s financial interests in fossil fuel companies

Reduction of 5% would represent biggest drop in demand for industry on record

Broadcaster says ‘resilience is key’ after high court rejected case last weekThe broadcaster Chris Packham has said he will continue his fight against the construction of HS2, which environmentalists say is leading to irreversible destruction of ancient habitats and woodlands.Last week Packham applied for an urgent injunction to halt construction work and argued for a judicial review of the government’s decision-making process in relation to the £106bn high-speed railway. Continue reading...

Delhi is one of many capitals enjoying improved air quality since restrictions were introduced due to the coronavirusThe screenshots began to circulate on Delhi WhatsApp groups last week, captioned with varying expressions of disbelief. Having checked the air quality index, something of a sadistic morning ritual among residents of India’s capital, most could not believe their eyes.Gone was the familiar menacing red banner, indicating how each intake of breath is really just a toxic blast on the lungs, replaced instead by a healthy, cheerful green. Could it really be that Delhi’s pollution levels now fell into the category of … “good”? “It’s positively alpine!” exclaimed one message. Continue reading...

From the final verdict on George Pell to devastating Great Barrier Reef bleaching, here’s our roundup of important storiesAs Australia’s coronavirus outbreak continues, a lot of important news has slipped under the radar.Here are the most important stories you may have missed over the past week. From the statement of George Pell’s accuser to the worst coral bleaching the Great Barrier Reef has ever seen. Continue reading...

The pick of the world’s best flora and fauna photos, including Indian monkeys and a Parisian duck

Crisis destroys foreign sales of shellfish and supermarkets close fish counters causing slump during traditional Easter boom period

Swallows and swifts on their annual flight from Africa to Europe have been found dead across GreeceThousands of swallows and swifts migrating from Africa to Europe have been left dead by high winds battering Greece, bird watchers say.The birds have been found in the streets of Athens, on apartment balconies in the capital, in the north, on Aegean islands and around a lake close to the seaport of Nauplia in the Peloponnese. Continue reading...

Study highlights importance of biodiversity as part of strategy to stop planet overheatingScientists have shown to be true what JRR Tolkien only imagined in the Lord of the Rings: giant, slow-reproducing trees play an outsized role in the growth and health of old forests.In the 1930s, the writer gave his towering trees the name Ents. Today, a paper in the journal Science says these “long-lived pioneers” contribute more than previously believed to carbon sequestration and biomass increase. Continue reading...

Exclusive: researchers found some areas outside the bounds of the Great Barrier Reef had 90% of their shallow water corals bleached this summerMore than half of the spectacular and remote coral reefs beyond the boundaries of the Great Barrier Reef suffered severe bleaching this summer, an underwater scientific expedition has found.Several reefs in the vast Coral Sea marine park known among divers for their arrays of corals, large fish and precipitous drop offs into the deep ocean suffered extreme bleaching. Continue reading...

Draft policy released by agriculture ministry cites concern over animal welfare and prevention of disease transmission as factors behind move

While carbon emissions fall as human activity decreases, in the end it will be about the politics

#BlossomWatch participants share photos of gardens, parks and streets in bloom

Populations could recover as verges are left uncut, setting what conservationists hope will be a long-term trend

Exclusive: multinationals write to G7 and G20 urging leaders to keep borders open to trade and avert global food crisis

Having not been in the saddle for 15 years, Toby Chasseaud overcomes his nerves to beat the travel shutdown

Cultural knowledge, passed from animal to animal, is key to how species adapt to change in the world around themSam Williams’ Macaw Recovery Network in Costa Rica rewilds captivity-hatched fledgling scarlet and great green macaws. But introducing young birds into a complex forest world – bereft of the cultural education normally provided by parents – is slow and risky.For 30 years or so scientists have referred to the diversity of life on Earth as “biological diversity”, or just “biodiversity”. They usually define biodiversity as operating at three levels: the diversity of genes within any particular species; the diversity of species in a given place; and the diversity of habitat types such as forests, coral reefs, and so on. But does that cover it? Not really. A fourth level has been almost entirely overlooked: cultural diversity. Continue reading...

Highly contagious virus fatal to pigs found close to German border, as illness continues to spread in ChinaAn outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) was confirmed on Monday on a farm near the village of Więckowice near Poznań in western Poland, less than 150km (93 miles) from the border with Germany.

Bacterial enzyme originally found in compost can be used to make high-quality new bottlesA mutant bacterial enzyme that breaks down plastic bottles for recycling in hours has been created by scientists.The enzyme, originally discovered in a compost heap of leaves, reduced the bottles to chemical building blocks that were then used to make high-quality new bottles. Existing recycling technologies usually produce plastic only good enough for clothing and carpets. Continue reading...

Industry says it is not trying to dodge obligations but that it is a ‘matter of survival’

Harbour seals struggle to match volume of passing ships when trying to attract a mateCruise ships are drowning out the roars of seals that are important for bagging a mate, researchers have found in the latest study to reveal the consequences of human activity on wildlife.Ships are known to produce low-frequency sounds which can overlap with calls made by marine creatures. But now researchers studying harbour seals say such noise could be taking its toll. Continue reading...

Increased contact with animals likely cause of outbreaks such as Covid-19, say experts, as conservationists call for global ban on wildlife markets

On my daily walk I can enjoy hearing a bird whose song is the definitive sound of the countrysideOur world is cribbed, confined and bound in as never before. Yet amid all the fear and horror, there is one silver lining, as we reconnect with nature on our doorstep. My Somerset garden is awash with birdsong: chiffchaffs, wrens, robins and a new arrival, the blackcap, all competing to see who can shout the loudest as spring gathers pace. Overhead, buzzards soar and ravens tumble, as delighted as I am to herald the new season.Related: Wildflower planting on farms boosts birds, from skylarks to starlings Continue reading...

Plan for net-zero emissions combined with a new diplomatic effort is Australia’s best chance at saving reef for future generationsThe news is overwhelming and exhausting in a way it has rarely been in most of our lifetimes, but if you have five minutes of energy left this is worth your attention. That it hasn’t been reported in most of Australia’s major news outlets doesn’t make that any less the case.Across nine days last month, Prof Terry Hughes from James Cook University travelled the length of the Great Barrier Reef in a small plane to survey the health of more than 1,000 individual sites. He was joined by an observer from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, a government agency. Continue reading...

Dirty air increases risk of respiratory problems that can be fatal for coronavirus patients

Research offers ‘a sobering warning’ on the impact of today’s climate emergencyVolcanic eruptions played an important and direct role in triggering the extreme climate that killed off swathes of life at the end of the Triassic period 201m years ago, researchers have found.Experts say they have discovered bubbles of carbon dioxide trapped in volcanic rocks dating to the end of the Triassic, backing up the theory that such activity contributed to the greenhouse climate that is believed to have been behind the mass extinction. Continue reading...

More than half the National Park Service’s unit remain open but local police and health officials are urging people to stay away

Number of large-scale, intensive farms with upwards of 40,000 birds or 2,000 pigs is increasing, driven by demand for cheap meat

The 23-year-old man sustained injuries to his hand, leg and elbow in a ‘horrific’ attackA shark has killed a Queensland parks and wildlife officer during a work trip at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has paid tribute to the 23-year-old, who died in hospital on Monday night a few hours after he was mauled near North West Island. Continue reading...

There’s a kind of hush all over the world as the reduction in human activity stops the Earth buzzing so much

Most new electricity globally was green and coronavirus bailouts must boost this further, says agencyAlmost three-quarters of new electricity generation capacity built in 2019 uses renewable energy, representing an all-time record. New data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) shows solar, wind and other green technologies now provide more than one-third of the world’s power, marking another record.Fossil fuel power plants are in decline in Europe and the US, with more decommissioned than built in 2019. But the number of coal and gas plants grew in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In the Middle East, which owns half the world’s oil reserves, just 26% of new electricity generation capacity built in 2019 was renewable. Continue reading...

Two-fifths of Americans rely on water utilities which have not suspended the policy of shutoffs for non-paymentMillions of Americans risk losing running water if they fall behind with bill payments in coming months, as mass layoffs triggered by the coronavirus pandemic force families to make impossible tradeoffs on paying household expenses.Around two-fifths of the country rely on water utilities which have not suspended the policy of shutoffs for non-payment, despite public health warnings that good hygiene – specifically frequent hand washing – is crucial to preventing spread of the highly contagious virus, according to data analysed by Food and Water Watch (FWW) and the Guardian. Continue reading...

Judge makes major ruling in mass ‘dieselgate’ litigation against VW in England and Wales

Warning comes as destruction of nature increasingly seen as key driver of zoonotic diseases

The blaze started on Saturday close to the site of the world’s worst ever nuclear disasterUkrainian officials have sought calm after forest fires in the restricted zone around Chernobyl, scene of the world’s worst nuclear accident, led to a rise in radiation levels.Firefighters said they had managed to put out the smaller of two forest fires that began at the weekend, apparently after someone began a grass fire, and had deployed more than 100 firefighters backed by planes and helicopters to extinguish the remaining blaze. Continue reading...

Fall in energy use combined with bright, breezy weather leads to lowest electricity prices in 10 years

Students and laid-off bar and restaurant workers given jobs as pickers after urgent appealScottish fruit farmers have solved a recruitment crisis that could have resulted in this year’s harvest of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries being destroyed.Several thousand people, including students and restaurant and bar workers laid off because of the coronavirus outbreak, have taken low-paid fruit-picking jobs in Tayside and Fife normally done by seasonal workers from Bulgaria and Romania. Continue reading...

The oil industry saw its opening and moved with breathtaking speed to take advantage of this momentI’m going to tell you the single worst story I’ve heard in these past few horrid months, a story that combines naked greed, political influence peddling, a willingness to endanger innocent human beings, utter blindness to one of the greatest calamities in human history and a complete disregard for the next crisis aiming for our planet. I’m going to try to stay calm enough to tell it properly, but I confess it’s hard.The background: a decade ago, beginning with indigenous activists in Canada and farmers and ranchers in the American west and midwest, opposition began to something called the Keystone XL pipeline, designed to carry filthy tar sands oil from the Canadian province of Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico. It quickly became a flashpoint for the fast-growing climate movement, especially after Nasa scientist James Hansen explained that draining those tar sands deposits would be “game over” for the climate system. And so thousands went to jail and millions rallied and eventually Barack Obama bent to that pressure and blocked the pipeline. Donald Trump, days after taking office, reversed that decision, but the pipeline has never been built, both because its builder, TC Energy, has had trouble arranging the financing and permits, and because 30,000 people have trained to do nonviolent civil disobedience to block construction. It’s been widely assumed that, should a Democrat win the White House in November, the project would finally be gone for good. Continue reading...

Monitoring work suspended due to restrictions on travel and physical contact, in a blow for research into threatened speciesScientists are being forced to shut down or scale back fieldwork to assess the impact of last summer’s devastating bushfires on threatened species amid the coronavirus crisis, prompting concerns it could affect wildlife recovery.Several universities have shut down fieldwork to comply with restrictions on travel and physical contact and government agencies working on the recovery have had to scale back some of their operations. Continue reading...

Scientists, farmers and volunteers are looking for ways to lessen the impact of climate change as experts warn a third mass bleaching has taken place

Scientists race to halt spread of pungent insect species after it sweeps eight citiesThe world’s hazelnut supplies could be threatened by a stinkbug that has recently invaded Turkey, scientists have warned.The brown marmorated stinkbug, which is native to north-east Asia, has been spreading across the world in shipping containers, breeding freely thanks to warmer temperatures and a lack of natural predators. Continue reading...

The presenter’s daily Self-Isolating Bird Club draws on wildlife footage caught by enthusiasts on mobile phones in their gardens. Packham calls it ‘Dad’s Army makes TV’Lockdown day 10 in south-east London. A loud rhythmic tweeting is emanating from the cherry plum tree in my back garden. A great tit? Blue tit? I catch a glimpse; too small for a great tit, not as colourful.I don’t know my birdsongs beyond the basics, but I remember a friend imitating calls to coax birds nearer so he could identify them. I have an idea and grab my phone and Google “coal tit song”. I press play and the rival tweeting produces instant results. Hopping from branch to branch towards me a delightful but agitated coal tit emerges and alights on a branch barely two metres away (I think it knows). Is it angry or amorous? My exhilaration at our proximity turns to doubt and guilt – I’ve used gadgetry to disrupt the natural world. What was I thinking? The coal tit flies off, its song tinged with irritation. Continue reading...

Activists says resolution shows strong support for fossil fuel companies to set limits on their own emissions and those that result from their productsOil and gas giant Santos faces increased pressure over its stance on climate change after nearly half its shareholders backed resolutions that it should strengthen emissions targets and review its membership of fossil fuel lobby groups.Ethical investor group the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility said the level of support for a shareholder-led climate resolution was unprecedented, and showed large institutional investors had “woken up to the damage a growing gas industry is wreaking on the planet”. Continue reading...

The pick of the world’s best flora and fauna photos, including a veiled chameleon and other animals enjoying the quieter streets Continue reading...

High court has decided there was ‘no real prospect of success’ for judicial reviewThe clearing of ancient woods for HS2 is to proceed this month after the high court refused an emergency injunction and judicial review of the government’s decision to proceed with the high-speed railway.HS2’s felling of woodlands in spring when birds are nesting has been widely condemned by wildlife charities but the conservationist Chris Packham’s attempt to halt “enabling” works was rejected after the court decided there was “no real prospect of success” for a judicial review. Continue reading...

Research into North Atlantic plankton likely to lead to negative revision of global climate calculationsThe North Atlantic may be a weaker climate ally than previously believed, according to a study that suggests the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide has been overestimated.A first-ever winter and spring sampling of plankton in the western North Atlantic showed cell sizes were considerably smaller than scientists assumed, which means the carbon they absorb does not sink as deep or as fast, nor does it stay in the depths for as long. Continue reading...

Motor traffic and air pollution decline steeply, with walking and cycling in cities also down