Brandon Johnson promised to address the city's longstanding inequities - advocates want to make the most of the momentOn the campaign trail, Brandon Johnson often talked about the asthma he suffered growing up just west of Chicago, connecting it to industrial pollution.For too long our communities have been seen as dumping grounds for waste and materials that no one seems to know what to do with," the then mayoral candidate said at an event in the majority-Hispanic neighborhood of Pilsen. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6MXPC)
Milford Haven, Southampton and Immingham top the list for emissions of gases and particulatesShips calling at the UK's most-polluted ports produce more nitrogen oxides than all the cars registered in the same cities or regions, analysis has shown.A report from Transport & Environment (T&E) said that ships were continuing to discharge huge quantities of air pollutants at ports, with Milford Haven, Southampton and Immingham topping the list for emissions of harmful sulphur oxides and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as well as nitrogen oxides (NOx). Continue reading...
Death toll in southern state of Rio Grande do Sul increasing daily as authorities plan four tent cities' for 77,000 displaced peopleThree weeks after one of Brazil's worst-ever floods hit its southernmost state, killing 155 people and forcing 540,000 from their homes, experts have warned that water levels will take at least another two weeks to drop.The death toll across Rio Grande do Sul is still increasing daily, and more than 77,000 displaced people remain in public shelters, prompting the state government to announce plans to build four temporary tent cities" to accommodate them. Continue reading...
As the prestige flower event begins, horticulturalists are shown how a waterlogged patch can help counter climate crisisGardeners should embrace the bog" that has formed in backyards across the country after record rain, a designer at this week's Chelsea flower show has said.Naomi Slade will unveil her design for a floodproof garden on 21 May, showing that even with the unusually wet weather seen in recent months, British gardens can still be full of colourful flowers. Continue reading...
PFAS chemicals present in air, rain, atmosphere and water in basin, which holds nearly 95% of US freshwaterToxic PFAS forever chemicals" are ubiquitous in the Great Lakes basin's air, rain, atmosphere and water, new peer-reviewed research shows.The first-of-its-kind, comprehensive picture of PFAS levels for the basin, which holds nearly 95% of the nation's freshwater, also reveals that precipitation is probably a major contributor to the lakes' contamination. Continue reading...
Thousands of homes and farming land damaged in Ghor province, a week after over 300 people killed in flash floodsAt least 60 people have been killed in a fresh bout of heavy rain and flooding in central Afghanistan, according to an official.Dozens others remained missing, said Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesperson for Ghor's provincial governor, on Saturday. He said the province had suffered significant financial losses, with thousands of homes and properties damaged and hundreds of hectares of agricultural land destroyed in the floods on Friday, including in the province's capital city, Feroz Koh. Continue reading...
South West Water identifies damaged valve' as possible cause of cryptosporidium contamination in Brixham areaHealth officials are expecting more cases of a waterborne disease in Devon, as an MP said heads are going to roll" over the outbreak and that the anger among residents was palpable".The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed 46 cases of cryptosporidium infection in the Brixham area, while more than 100 other people have reported symptoms, including diarrhoea, stomach pains and dehydration. Continue reading...
About 60 flights cancelled after members of Letzte Generation glue themselves to ground at MunichEight climate activists have been arrested after causing Munich airport to close, leading to about 60 flight cancellations.Six activists broke through a security fence and glued themselves to access routes leading to runways, officials and local media reported. Continue reading...
by Damian Carrington Environment editor on (#6MX29)
Edible oil droplets trap bugs without the harm to people and wildlife that synthetic pesticides can causeTiny sticky droplets sprayed on crops to trap pests could be a green alternative to chemical pesticides, research has shown.The insect glue, produced from edible oils, was inspired by plants such as sundews that use the strategy to capture their prey. A key advantage of physical pesticides over toxic pesticides is that pests are highly unlikely to evolve resistance, as this would require them to develop much larger and stronger bodies, while bigger beneficial insects, like bees, are not trapped by the drops. Continue reading...
Authorities confirm 46 cases and warn of weeks-long disruption as firms in Brixham hit by cancellations before school half-termCases of an illness caused by a microscopic parasite in a Devon harbour town could continue for a further two weeks, experts said, with businesses predicting thousands of pounds of losses as school half-term approaches.The comments came as the UK Health Security Agency confirmed that cases of cryptosporidium infection in the Brixham area had more than doubled from 22 to 46, with more than 100 others reporting symptoms of the disease. Continue reading...
San Pedro Sula is rated dangerous' as effects of forest fires, El Nino and the climate crisis cause a spike in respiratory illnessesThe air quality in San Pedro Sula, the second-largest city in Honduras, as been classified as the most polluted on the American continent due to forest fires and weather conditions aggravated by El Nino and the climate crisis.IQAir, a Swiss air-quality organisation that draws data from more than 30,000 monitoring stations around the world, said on Thursday that air quality in the city of about 1 million people has reached dangerous" levels. Continue reading...
NBIM, one of oil group's largest investors, calls for additional disclosures' about green commitments ahead of AGMNorway's state investment fund has urged Shell to clarify its climate targets as the oil group braces for its biggest ever green shareholder rebellion at next week's annual general meeting.Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which manages $1.6tn on behalf of the people of Norway and is one of Shell's largest investors, urged the company to give investors more information about its plans for the next decade after its new chief executive watered down climate commitments earlier this year. Continue reading...
Fossil-fuel dependent country hopes to provide bridge between wealthy global north and poor south at November gatheringOil is inescapable in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The smell of it greets the visitor on arrival and from the shores of the Caspian Sea on which the city is built the tankers are eternally visible. Flares from refineries near the centre light up the night sky, and you do not have to travel far to see fields of nodding donkeys", small piston pump oil wells about 6 metres (20ft) tall, that look almost festive in their bright red and green livery.It will be an interesting setting for the gathering of the 29th UN climate conference of the parties, which will take place at the Olympic Stadium in November. Continue reading...
Church asks people to record species found in local graveyards, which can provide good habitat for complex life formThe still calm of graveyards invites visitors to think about the dead, but now the Church of England is asking people across the country to look for surprising signs of life within them.Graves are a haven for lichen, with more than 700 of the 2,000 British species having been recorded in English churchyards and cemeteries so far. According to surveys by the church, many sites have well more than 100 species on the stonework, trees and in the grassland. Continue reading...
Glyphosate found in samples from French infertility clinic raising questions about controversial chemical's impact on fertilityMore than 55% of sperm samples from a French infertility clinic contained high levels of glyphosate, the world's most common weedkiller, raising further questions about the chemical's impact on reproductive health and overall safety, a new study found.The new research also found evidence of impacts on DNA and a correlation between glyphosate levels and oxidative stress on seminal plasma, suggesting significant impacts on fertility and reproductive health. Continue reading...
John Woodcock, whose review proposes bans for protest groups, has lobbying links to firms in arms and fossil fuel sectorsActivists have accused the government's independent adviser on political violence of a conflict of interest, after it emerged that he had lobbying links to companies that would benefit from curbs to protesting.John Woodcock, formerly a Labour MP and now a crossbench peer, has prepared a review of far-left" involvement in disruptive protest, which includes activism against climate change and war. At the same time, he has been chairing and advising lobby groups representing arms manufacturers and fossil fuel firms. Continue reading...
Hotline set up in Japan's capital to report sightings of raccoons, which became popular as pets after success of 1970s TV anime seriesHaving won the battle to tackle Tokyo's population of giant, ravenous crows, the city's authorities are now embroiled in an even tougher campaign: to rein in another animal menace, the North American raccoon.The number of raccoons caught in the capital every year has increased fivefold over the past decade, according to media reports, amid concern about the damage the animals are inflicting on the local ecosystem. Continue reading...
Unite launches bid to persuade Keir Starmer to invest more in north-east ScotlandThe UK's oil and gas workers risk becoming the coal miners of our generation," Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, has warned, urging Labour not to ban new North Sea licences without a clear plan to safeguard jobs.Unite is launching a billboard campaign in six Scottish constituencies aimed at persuading Keir Starmer to commit more investment to north-east Scotland, the centre of the offshore oil and gas industry. Continue reading...
The behavior, documented in footage from researcher Chris Law, is most seen in females and sheds light on the threatened speciesFloating on its back in the waters of California's Monterey Bay, a sea otter takes a shelled animal and strikes it against a rock sitting on its chest to break open the prey.This behavior, documented in footage from researcher Chris Law, is seen in relatively few animals and allows the otter to access food without damaging its teeth. A new study, which will be published in the journal Science on Friday, sheds light on the threatened species' tactics. Continue reading...
Republicans opposed to plan from Bureau of Land Management affecting Powder River Basin area of Wyoming and MontanaThe Biden administration on Thursday proposed an end to new coal leasing from federal reserves in the most productive coal mining region in the US as officials seek to limit climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions from burning the fuel.The Bureau of Land Management proposal would affect millions of acres (millions of hectares) of federal lands and underground mineral reserves in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming and Montana. Continue reading...
Reduction in insect numbers contributes to drop, and there are declines across more than a third of bird species surveyedSwallows, swifts and house martins were once a common sight over UK towns and cities, dextrously catching insects on the wing. But these spring and summer visitors are becoming increasingly rare, according to the definitive survey of the country's birds.Populations of these insect-eating birds have dropped by 40% or more in the past decade, according to the latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report. Continue reading...
Russian constitutional court is considering claim, which activists hope will raise awareness about emissionsA group of activists are fighting for the right to scrutinise Russia's climate policies, and in particular its enormous methane emissions, in court.Russia's constitutional court is considering a claim brought by 18 individuals and the NGO Ecodefense that insufficient action by the Russian state to cut national greenhouse gas emissions is violating their rights to life, health and a healthy environment. Continue reading...
Near-10% dividend increase follows allegation that water company failed to prevent illegal pollution for 10 hours in February Business live - latest updatesOne of Britain's most polluting water companies has increased its payouts to shareholders by nearly 10% in the same week that it emerged it had pumped raw sewage into Windermere in the Lake District for 10 hours.United Utilities will pay its investors - which include some of the world's biggest asset managers - 339m in dividends for this year, up from 310m for 2023, after it reported higher operating profits thanks to a rise in customer bills. Continue reading...
State, which just had its hottest year since 1895, will ban offshore wind power, boost natural gas and reduce gas pipeline rulesClimate change will be a lesser priority in Florida and largely disappear from state statutes under legislation signed on Wednesday by the state's governor, Ron DeSantis, in a move which experts say ignores the reality of Florida's climate threats.The legislation, which comes after Florida had its hottest year on record since 1895, also bans power-generating wind turbines offshore or near the state's lengthy coastline. Continue reading...
Council says primary school in Brixham shut due to having no drinking water as cases of cryptosporidiosis investigatedA primary school in south Devon has closed as it does not have drinking water as officials investigate a local outbreak of a disease that causes sickness and diarrhoea.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said 22 cases of cryptosporidiosis, a waterborne disease caused by a microscopic parasite, had been confirmed in Brixham and more were expected. Other reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting among residents and visitors to the town are under investigation. Continue reading...
Ex-president at Mar-a-Lago last month hosted more than 20 executives, including from Chevron, Exxon and OccidentalA deal" allegedly offered by Donald Trump to big-oil executives as he sought $1bn in campaign donations could save the industry $110bn in tax breaks if he returns to the White House, an analysis suggests.The fundraising dinner held last month at Mar-a-Lago with more than 20 executives, including from Chevron, Exxon and Occidental Petroleum, reportedly involved Trump asking for large campaign contributions and promising, if elected, to remove barriers to drilling, scrap a pause on gas exports, and reverse new rules aimed at cutting car pollution. Continue reading...
Neoprene is made from toxic chemicals, hard to recycle and, with 400,000 tonnes made a year, a growing problem. So can surfers and swimmers find green wetsuits?I have been hesitating for months. The wetsuit I swim in every week to keep me toasty warm in the winter and safe from jellyfish stings in the summer is riddled with holes. Yet I can't bring myself to buy a new one because I've learned that comfortable, flexible and insulating neoprene is manufactured using some of the most toxic chemicals on the planet.Neoprene, a synthetic foamed rubber, is made from the petrochemical compound chloroprene. Exposure to chloroprene emissions, produced during the manufacturing process, may increase the risk of cancer, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Continue reading...
The Strawberry Line network of paths in Somerset has found a way to speed up planning permission and harness the goodwill of the communityIn the past two years, multiple sections of a hoped-for 76-mile rural cycling and walking route spanning Somerset have sprouted up around the small town of Shepton Mallet, seemingly every few weeks.These new routes are popular. One 300-metre section of path in the heart of the town, for example, uses one of Historic Railway Estates' bridges for the first time for a cycle route (an organisation usually more given to infilling its structures). Continue reading...
by Fiona Harvey, Gwyn Topham and Jillian Ambrose on (#6MVBK)
Sir John Armitt urges ministers to act swiftly or risk impeding growth and jeopardising climate targetsRishi Sunak's U-turns over net zero have delayed progress on vital infrastructure that is needed for economic growth, the government's advisers have said.Sir John Armitt, the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), said good progress had been made on renewable energy in the past five years, but changes to key policies, including postponing a scheme to boost heat pump takeup, had created uncertainty and delay.The government will fail to meet its targets on heat pump rollout.The promised lifting of a ban on new onshore windfarms has not gone far enough.Massive investment is needed in the electricity grid.There is no proper plan for rail in the north and Midlands now that the northern leg of HS2 has been cancelled, severely inhibiting economic growth in those regions.Water bills will need to go up to fix the sewage crisis, and more reservoirs are needed to avoid drought, while water companies have done too little to staunch leaks.The UK lacks a coherent strategy on flooding, with more than 900,000 properties at risk of river or sea flooding and 910,000 at risk of surface water flooding.Good progress has been made on the rollout of gigabit broadband around the country. Continue reading...
Polytag system prints invisible tag on to containers, which can be picked up by readers located at recycling centresMarks & Spencer is teaming up with a recycling technology group to enable the retailer to trace what happens to its drinks bottles, cartons and other plastic packaging.The Polytag system prints an invisible tag on to containers, which can be picked up by electronic readers located at recycling centres. Continue reading...
Clean river campaigner says pollution poses threat as Labour MP calls for water industry to be taken into public ownershipA clean river campaigner has warned of a serious risk someone will die from swimming in English rivers and seas because of the level of E coli from water pollution.Charles Watson of River Action, speaking on Wednesday as the bathing water season officially opened, said that with warm weather approaching and half-term in a week, thousands of children and families would be taking to rivers, lakes and seas. Most of these sites are not monitored for E coli, as they are not designated bathing sites. Continue reading...
Footage on social media showed roads full of cars evacuating the suburbs of Fort McMurray in the western Canadian province of Alberta. A growing blaze threatened the city and its surroundings, which experienced devastating fires in 2016. Local officials have ordered thousands to evacuate as the fire grows in size and strength, with winds fanning the flames. 'We're seeing extreme fire behaviour. Smoke columns are developing and the skies are covered in smoke. Firefighters have been pulled from the fire line for safety reasons,' Josee St-Onge of Alberta Wildfire told reporters
Read more from The DIY Climate Changers, a new series on everyday people's creative solutions to the climate crisisBeverly Lofton's home in south Los Angeles used to have a water-guzzling grass lawn. Today, it's a verdant microfarm that uses solar power and recycled water to grow carrots, beets, potatoes and more, with the bounty distributed to her neighbors. The 67-year-old's switch was a bold move in a city ruled by cars and concrete, and where the impact of extreme heat and water shortages are acutely felt. It's also a powerful rebuttal to food insecurity and big agriculture, in a neighborhood considered a food desert".*** Continue reading...
Democrats on the House oversight committee send letters to oil executives asking about alleged $1bn quid pro quo offerHouse Democrats have launched an investigation into a meeting between oil company executives and Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home and club last month, following reports that the former president offered to dismantle Biden's environmental rules and requested $1bn in contributions to his presidential campaign.Democrats on the House oversight committee late on Monday evening sent letters to nine oil executives requesting information on their companies' participation in the meeting. Continue reading...
Fossil Free Books' statement also demands that the book festival sponsor stops investing in companies that profit from Israeli apartheid, occupation and genocide'More than 200 authors including Naomi Klein, Sally Rooney and George Monbiot have signed a statement by Fossil Free Books (FFB), which puts increased pressure on investment management firm Baillie Gifford, sponsors of the Baillie Gifford prize for nonfiction. In addition to the reiteration of its previous demands that the company ceases its investments in the fossil fuel industry, the group is asking that Baillie Gifford also divests from companies that profit from Israeli apartheid, occupation and genocide", as it believes that solidarity with Palestine and climate justice are inextricably linked".Literary organisations that accept sponsorship from Baillie Gifford can expect escalation, including the expansion of boycotts, increased author withdrawal of labour, and increased disruption until Baillie Gifford divests," the statement reads. Continue reading...
by Christopher Cherry, Rebecca Ratcliffe, Sawitree Wo on (#6MTJE)
Ban Khun Samut Chin, a coastal village in Samut Prakan province, Thailand, has been slowly swallowed by the sea over the past few decades. This has led to the relocation of the school and many homes, resulting in a dwindling population. Currently, there are only four students attending the school, often leaving just one in each classroom. The village has experienced severe coastal erosion, causing 1.1-2km (0.5-1.2 miles) of shoreline to disappear since the mid-1950s Continue reading...
Oscar-winning film-maker Craig Foster on his first octopus encounter, the price of fame and his new video book about the power of connecting with animalsWhen the film My Octopus Teacher aired on Netflix in 2020 it was a huge overnight success, going on to win an Oscar the following year for best documentary. The simple but touching tale of the tender bond between film-maker Craig Foster and his young undersea companion had audiences spellbound worldwide. Some, like Sir Richard Branson, even gave up eating octopus after watching the film.Yet for Foster himself, the overnight fame was emotionally debilitating. You're working on this little story that you think a few people might be interested in and suddenly you're in front of 100 million people," he says. I didn't think it would affect me so much, but it was very difficult. Terrifying, to be honest." Continue reading...
Free-roaming animals reintroduced in Romania's arcu mountains are stimulating plant growth and securing carbon stored in the soil while grazingA herd of 170 bison reintroduced to Romania's arcu mountains could help store CO emissions equivalent to removing almost 2m cars from the road for a year, research has found, demonstrating how the animals help mitigate the worst effects of the climate crisis.European bison disappeared from Romania more than 200 years ago, but Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania reintroduced the species to the southern Carpathian mountains in 2014. Since then, more than 100 bison have been given new homes in the arcu mountains, growing to more than 170 animals today, one of the largest free-roaming populations in Europe. The landscape holds the potential for 350-450 bison. Continue reading...
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington taking very serious look' at whether Mar-a-Lago meeting justifies legal actionA powerful watchdog group that has been at the forefront of efforts to hold Donald Trump accountable for constitutional violations is investigating whether his Mar-a-Lago meeting with oil company executives last month merits legal action.Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) has told the Guardian that it is investigating the dinner at Trump's club with more than 20 oil and gas company executives. Trump asked them for a $1bn presidential campaign contribution, while at the same time vowing to undo Joe Biden's restrictions on natural gas export permits, oil drilling and car pollution, the Washington Post reported. Continue reading...
Cross-party group of 50 calls on prime minister to appoint climate envoy and back Beyond Oil and Gas AllianceA cross-party group of MPs and peers has urged Rishi Sunak to make a U-turn on his oil and gas extraction plans as part of a broader plea to increase efforts to address the climate crisis.The 50 politicians, including three Conservatives, wrote to the prime minister calling for the UK to regain its international leadership on the crisis by ending the licensing of new oil and gas fields, appointing a climate envoy, and backing the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance. Continue reading...
by Damian Carrington Environment editor on (#6MT4F)
Human-caused climate crisis brought soaring temperatures across Asia, from Gaza to Delhi to ManilaThe record-breaking heatwave that scorched the Philippines in April would have been impossible without the climate crisis, scientists have found. Searing heat above 40C (104F) struck across Asia in April, causing deaths, water shortages, crop losses and widespread school closures.The extreme heat was made 45 times more likely in India and five times more likely in Israel and Palestine, the study found. The scientists said the high temperatures compounded the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where displaced people are living in overcrowded shelters with little access to water. Continue reading...