Predominantly Latino towns in California like East Orosi face huge obstacles getting clean drinking waterAn invisible line splits the rural road of Avenue 416 in California’s Tulare county, at the point where the nut trees stretch east toward the towering Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.On one side of the line, residents have clean water. On the other side, they do not. Continue reading...

Joe Biden’s progressive nominee for interior secretary faced harsh questions from lawmakers with deep industry tiesPartway through the sometimes contentious confirmation hearing for Deb Haaland as US secretary of the interior last week came an acknowledgement of the two powerful forces, with very different attitudes to the climate crisis, that have squared off over the nomination.“I almost feel like your nomination is a proxy fight over the future of fossil fuels,” Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, told Haaland during the Senate hearing. Continue reading...

City to plant shadier trees to preserve its environment, keep people cool, reduce urban warming and improve air qualityAs a poster child for the climate emergency, Miami Beach has become a world leader in mitigating the effects of sea-level rise. Now the subtropical Florida city is cutting back on its famous swaying palm trees as it seeks shadier alternatives to preserve its environment and try to keep residents and visitors cool.Related: Republicans push 'blue-collar comeback' – but is the party a true friend of the worker? Continue reading...

Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant is one of many whose future lies in the hands of the merged auto giantCarlos Tavares is an unashamed petrolhead, with a rally-racing hobby that harks back to an earlier automotive age. Yet carmakers like Stellantis, which he leads, and its rivals have had to set aside affection for roaring internal combustion engines as environmental rules set the limits for the industry.Stellantis was formed in January in a €50bn (£43bn) merger between France’s Peugeot and Italian-American Fiat Chrysler, in one of the clearest responses to the Tesla-driven electric revolution: the merger will allow them to share expensive investments in battery technology. Continue reading...

Male called OR-93 makes longest tracked journey of any wolf in a century but elsewhere in US killing of wolves resumesA grey wolf has made the longest tracked journey of any wolf over the last century, venturing hundreds of miles from its home range in Oregon to California’s Sierra Nevada.Related: 'There's a degree of mistrust': a third of US military personnel refuse Covid vaccine Continue reading...

The gull that ‘won’t eat your fish and chips’ is about to make its annual return to the UK – but a favourite nesting spot is under threatDaniel Turner first became enamoured with the kittiwake when he was a teenager growing up in North Shields in the 1970s, where the North Sea meets the River Tyne.“I would cross the Tyne on the Shields ferry and on the way I would also observe some of the plant life of the limestone grassland at the clifftops,” he remembers. Continue reading...

Environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio says single-use plastics such as straws and plastic cups make up a third of the state’s litterVictoria has become the third Australian jurisdiction to ban single-use plastics, including polystyrene containers, straws, cutlery, plates and plastic cotton bud sticks.On Saturday the environment minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, announced a phase-out and ban of specific single-use plastics by 2023, including at bars, cafes and restaurants, in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic waste that goes to landfill each year. Continue reading...

Large land protection package combines various bills that languished under Trump – but now must pass a divided SenateThe US House of Representatives has passed a historic public lands preservation bill that pledges to protect nearly 3m acres of federal lands in Colorado, California, Washington and Arizona.The act combines various bills that languished without Senate approval during the Trump administration. Key provisions include permanently banning new uranium mining on land surrounding the Grand Canyon, giving wilderness designation to 1.5m acres of federal land, and preserving 1,000 river miles by adding them to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Continue reading...

United Nations calls on all countries to have ‘concrete plans to phase out fossil fuels as fast as possible’

The Queensland government has allowed the Central Queensland Coal project to move to the assessment stageConservationists are urging the Queensland government to block plans by Clive Palmer to build a major coalmine 10km from the waters of the Great Barrier Reef after the proposal moved to a decisive stage of environmental assessment.Palmer’s Central Queensland Coal project would mine 10m tonnes of coal a year for 18 years to be used in power plants and steelmaking from two open-cut pits north of Rockhampton. Continue reading...

The revised emissions data reflects better understanding of the role highly potent methane gas plays in global warmingThe Australian government has acknowledged it previously underestimated the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and has increased the official estimate for every year on record.Revised data in the latest quarterly emissions update shows Australia pumped out the equivalent of 272.5m more tonnes of heat-trapping gas between 2000 and 2020 than suggested in the last report three months ago. Continue reading...

Judge says firm’s breach of environmental standards in 2016 amounted to ‘high negligence’Thames Water, the UK’s largest water company, has been fined £2.3m for a pollution incident in 2016 that resulted in the death of 1,200 fish and damaged the environment.The incident, involving a leak of untreated sewage with a high ammonia content into the Fawley Court ditch and stream that flows into the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames, happened between 21 and 24 April 2016. Continue reading...

Luke air force base said studies showed high levels of contaminants had affected drinking water for about 6,000 peopleThe US air force says it will be distributing bottled water to thousands of residents and business owners near its base in suburban Phoenix until at least April, marking the latest case of chemicals from military firefighting efforts contaminating the water supply in a nearby community.Luke air force base announced this month that studies showed high levels of contaminants had affected drinking water for about 6,000 people in roughly 1,600 homes as well as a few neighboring businesses. Continue reading...

The best of the week’s wildlife pictures, including a bat rescue mission and knitted nests for injured birds Continue reading...

Secretary general António Guterres says first assessment of promises amounts to ‘red alert for our planet’The first assessment of countries’ pledges to cut their greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade, a vital component of the Paris climate agreement, has found they are only a fraction of the effort needed to avoid climate breakdown.If all of the national pledges submitted so far were fulfilled, global emissions would be reduced by only 1% by 2030, compared with 2010 levels. Scientists have said a 45% reduction is needed in the next 10 years to keep global heating to no more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, in line with the Paris agreement. Continue reading...

All eyes on budget as seaside town seeks funds for ‘once in a generation opportunity’ to boost local economyWhen Rishi Sunak stands up to deliver the budget on Wednesday, the chancellor’s speech will be watched with particular interest in one northern English seaside town.For several years, plans have been under way to build Eden Project North on Morecambe’s somewhat doleful seafront, a sister to the eco-friendly original in Cornwall, which has brought in more than £2bn to its local economy. Continue reading...

The congresswoman has faced hostile questioning from senators during her confirmation for interior secretary. Some of them are personally invested in fossil fuelsRepublicans appear eager to derail the cabinet nomination of Deb Haaland, a Native American congresswoman who wants to conserve federal lands and slow climate change as secretary of the interior to Joe Biden. Continue reading...

Emissions releases affected communities that are already disproportionately exposed to pollution

Guardian investigation shows systems in Latino areas violate federal drinking water rules twice as much as those serving the rest of the USMillions of people in the US are drinking water that fails to meet federal health standards, including by violating limits for dangerous contaminants.Latinos are disproportionately exposed, according to the Guardian’s review of more than 140,000 public water systems across the US and county-level demographic data. Continue reading...

Landmark emissions disclosures cover 22-year lifetime of 1,429 aircraft sold in 2019 and 2020Planes sold by Airbus in 2019 and 2020 will produce well over 1bn tonnes of carbon dioxide during their lifetimes, according to landmark first estimates of the aerospace manufacturer’s emissions.Airbus sold a record 863 planes in 2019, which would translate to 740m tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent produced over a 22-year period, according to figures seen by the Guardian. It sold 566 planes last year, for which lifetime emissions would be 440m tonnes. Continue reading...

Government consulting on scheme that would increase obligation on retailers to take back broken itemsThe UK government is considering nationwide kerbside collection of used electrical appliances and gadgets to help improve the recycling of electronic waste.Local councils in some areas already collect broken washing machines and toasters in schemes funded by waste collection fees that all retailers selling electrical goods must pay. The government is consulting on the best way to implement such schemes across the country and how to fund them. Continue reading...

Project aims to inspire UK equivalent of hanami – the Japanese custom of relishing fleeting sight and scent of blossomThe joyful sight of trees bursting into blossom during the first Covid lockdown last spring gave comfort and hope to countless people confined indoors or only allowed to roam very briefly outside.Almost 12 months on a conservation charity is leading a major project to create “blossom circles” in cities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to provide spaces for reflection and optimism to aid the emotional recovery from the pandemic. Continue reading...

Photographer says he won ‘nature’s lottery’ when he spotted unique bird among thousands of animals on a beach on the South Georgia islands

Scheme will issue vouchers to just 49,000 people by end of March at current rate, analysis findsThe government’s flagship green homes grant scheme will help just 8% of its target 600,000 households switch to renewable energy by the end of March, analysis reveals.The £2bn for the scheme is being withdrawn at the end of next month. Analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit thinktank reveals that at the current rate it will issue vouchers to just 49,000 members of the public by that time. Continue reading...

The state government and SunWater agree to the payout, but no settlement has been reached with the second dam operator SeqwaterVictims of south-east Queensland’s 2011 floods have won a partial $440m payout a decade after the negligent operation of two dams saw thousands of homes and businesses swamped.The Queensland government and state-owned dam operator SunWater have agreed to the payout, which is about half of what is owed to 6,700 class action members. Continue reading...

Traditional owners are ‘upset and frustrated’ after Fortescue Metals Group began land clearing at a significant site in the Pilbara without their involvement

Company says sewage plan would avoid 105,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over 30 years

Auditors say emissions down just 1% since 2011 and target of zero emissions by 2050 is a long way offCarbon emissions from passenger cars across Britain have fallen by just 1% since 2011, despite a steep rise in the sale of electric and hybrid vehicles, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has said.The National Audit Office said the popularity of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and an increase in road traffic were among factors that have cancelled out expected reductions from low-emission car sales. Continue reading...

Butterflies had bad year after four times as many trees were lost to illegal logging and extreme climate conditionsThe number of monarch butterflies that reached their winter resting grounds in central Mexico decreased by about 26% this year, and four times as many trees were lost to illegal logging, drought and other causes, making 2020 a bad year for the butterflies.The butterflies’ population covered only 2.1 hectares (5.2 acres) in 2020, compared to 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres) the previous year and about one-third of the 6.05 hectares (14.95 acres) detected in 2018, according to government figures. Continue reading...

Self-driving vehicle can interact with traffic lights and is the first project of its kind in EuropeA new driverless electric bus has begun operating in the southern Spanish city of Málaga, in the first such project in Europe.The bus, which began running on Saturday, is equipped with sensors and cameras and links Málaga’s port to the city centre on an 8km (five-mile) loop it does six times a day. Continue reading...

A ‘confronting and sobering’ report details degradation of coral reefs, outback deserts, tropical savanna, Murray-Darling waterways, mangroves and forestsLeading scientists working across Australia and Antarctica have described 19 ecosystems that are collapsing due to the impact of humans and warned urgent action is required to prevent their complete loss.A groundbreaking report – the result of work by 38 scientists from 29 universities and government agencies – details the degradation of coral reefs, arid outback deserts, tropical savanna, the waterways of the Murray-Darling Basin, mangroves in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and forests stretching from the rainforests of the far north to Gondwana-era conifers in Tasmania. Continue reading...

Australia should prioritise large-scale renewable energy options to replace ageing thermal generators, infrastructure body saysRenewable energy zones and dispatchable energy storage have been listed as “high priority initiatives” by Infrastructure Australia for the first time.The energy initiatives are among 44 new infrastructure proposals on the priority list, released on Friday, which together represent a $59bn pipeline of potential investments. Continue reading...

Males use vocal trickery to fool females into thinking a threat is lurking, giving them time to sow their genetic seedsMale lyrebirds in the throes of sexual union will mimic the sound of a distressed mob of other birds to fool their mate and stop her from escaping, new research from Australia has found.The remarkable discovery was made after analysing audio and video of superb lyrebirds – a species known for extravagant dance routines and an ability to imitate the calls of more than 20 other species. Continue reading...

Global study shows blazes diminish forest density and tree size, making woods likely to sequester less carbonMore fierce and frequent fires are reducing forest density and tree size and may damage forests’ ability to capture carbon in the future, according to a global study.Although forest fires are naturally occurring phenomena and natural forests regenerate, global heating and human activity have caused the frequency and intensity of fires to rise. Wildfires burn 5% of the planet’s surface every year, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere equivalent to a fifth of our annual fossil fuel emissions. Continue reading...

Critics say plan would wreck efforts to tackle climate crisis and undermine UK credibility ahead of Cop26The government is under growing pressure to halt a proposed expansion of Leeds Bradford airport, which critics say would wreck efforts to tackle the ecological crisis and undermine the government’s credibility ahead of a key climate conference later this year.The expansion plans, which would support an increase in passengers from 4 to 7 million people a year by 2030, were given conditional approval by Leeds city council earlier this month despite widespread opposition from local MPs, residents and environmental groups. Continue reading...

Livestock company still hopes to find a buyer for animals on board ship for two months, after rejection by Turkey and LibyaThe manager of a ship that has spent months at sea with hundreds of cattle on board has accused Spanish officials of failing to answer his call for help and of threatening to kill all the livestock if the ship enters port.

Group tells Robert Jenrick it intends to contest his decision not to challenge plans for new deep mineA Cumbrian campaign group has given notice to the communities secretary that it intends to seek a legal challenge of his controversial decision to allow a new deep coalmine in the west of the county to go ahead.Legal representatives acting on behalf of the South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC) group have written to Robert Jenrick’s office to notify him of the group’s intention to contest his “ongoing refusal” to call in the mining plans. Continue reading...

Andrew Constance confirms he ordered the now-sacked transport department head to remove trees 40 metres either side of highways but was refusedThe New South Wales transport minister, Andrew Constance, demanded the now-sacked head of his department create an 80-metre “clearance zone” around highways after the 2019-20 bushfires, an order Labor says could have resulted in countless trees being felled if followed.During the state’s budget estimates hearings on Thursday, Constance confirmed he had issued the directive to the former department head, Rodd Staples, following last summer’s bushfire crisis. Continue reading...

Water Act proposes massive injection of federal dollars as millions of people go without access to clean, safe, affordable waterDemocratic lawmakers and advocates are urging Joe Biden to back legislation proposing unprecedented investment in America’s ailing water infrastructure amid the country’s worst crisis in decades that has left millions of people without access to clean, safe, affordable water. Continue reading...

Green groups argued plan to replace coal burning units with gas at Yorkshire site was inconsistent with emissions goalsDrax has scrapped its controversial plans to build Europe’s largest gas power plant at its site in North Yorkshire following fierce opposition from climate groups.The electricity generator confirmed that it would drop plans to build two combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) in place of two old coal burning units at the Drax site, weeks after completing the sale of four other gas plants to a subsidiary of Vitol last month. Continue reading...

As oil companies go out of business, they are leaving a legacy of abandoned wells that leak huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphereJill Morrison has seen how the bust of oil and gas production can permanently scar a landscape.Near her land in north-east Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, where drilling started in 1889, more than 2,000 abandoned wells are seeping brine into the groundwater and leaking potent greenhouse gasses. Continue reading...

Household bills also likely to rise if 17 plants proposed are built, according to CarbonTracker reportFossil fuel companies risk derailing the UK’s climate targets and pushing up household bills by planning to build a string of new gas-fired power plants worth £9bn, according to a thinktank.The UK has 17 gas-fired plants proposed with a combined generation capacity of 14GW. They include plans for Europe’s largest at the Drax site in North Yorkshire. Continue reading...

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Other predators such as narwhals are suffering similarly as unique adaptations become less suitedPolar bears and narwhals are using up to four times as much energy to survive because of major ice loss in the Arctic, according to scientists.Once perfectly evolved for polar life, apex predators are struggling as their habitats shrink and unique adaptations become less suited to an increasingly ice-free Arctic, researchers say. Continue reading...

Two livestock ships have been refused entry to multiple countries on health grounds since leaving Spain in DecemberOne of two livestock ships at sea since mid-December with thousands of cattle on board is now at the Spanish port of Cartagena, but the fate of its cargo is unclear.The two vessels left from different ports in Spain before Christmas to deliver their cargoes of animals, but were each refused entry by various countries including Turkey and Libya, owing to suspected outbreaks onboard both ships of the bovine disease bluetongue. Continue reading...

Chimneys for bat boxes and a flying fox heat stress forecaster are among efforts to prevent deaths from effects of climate crisisSteve Latour and his wife were enjoying their usual early morning coffee in the sun outside their lake house in the Kootenay region of British Columbia when they heard noises coming from the bat box attached to the side of the house. Every summer, about 150 Yuma myotis bats return to the box, using it as a maternity colony to give birth to pups and take care of them until they are ready to leave for hibernation in the autumn. Continue reading...

Black farmers have been disregarded by the USDA for years. Will anything change in Tom Vilsack’s second stint?James “Bill” McGill has been a farmer for 40 of his 76 years. He can’t remember the year his 320-acre farm was put up for sale by the same man from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) he’d gone to for a loan to help him keep it. He can sum up the loss succinctly: “The government took it away. It has always been that way for us.”Related: 'I'll be fierce for all of us': Deb Haaland on climate, Native rights and Biden Continue reading...

Conservatives have blamed the state’s power fiasco on solar and wind even though they account for a fraction of supplyThe frigid winter storm and power failure that left millions of people in Texas shivering in darkness has been used to stoke what is becoming a growing front in America’s culture wars – renewable energy. Continue reading...

Ernst and Young says results reflect pressure from investors to make sustainability a priority in decision makingAustralian bosses say the climate crisis is the biggest challenge facing their businesses – in contrast to their overseas counterparts, who have ranked recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic their top concern.“Climate change impacts” were rated the No 1 concern by 18% of 155 Australian executives surveyed by accounting firm Ernst & Young, followed by technological disruption (17%) and “the continuing Covid-19 pandemic” (15%). Continue reading...

Levies on flying, imports and other high-carbon services could raise £27bn a year by 2030, says Zero Carbon CampaignTaxing carbon dioxide emissions would be popular with voters, polling suggests, as the government moots ways to put a price on carbon that could help tackle the climate crisis and fund a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.Carbon taxes could be levied on energy suppliers, transport including flying, food, imports and other high-carbon goods and services. At present, the UK levies implicit taxes on carbon, for instance through duties on petrol and diesel, and some heavy industries pay an effective price on carbon. But there are no taxes for consumers that are explicitly geared to the carbon emissions created by the goods and services that they buy. Continue reading...