Environment | The Guardian

The award-winning atmospheric scientist on the urgency of the climate crisis and why people are her biggest hopeKatharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist and director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. She has contributed to more than 125 scientific papers and won numerous prizes for her science communication work. In 2018 she was a contributor to the US National Climate Assessment and was awarded the Stephen H Schneider award for outstanding climate science communication.In 2018, we have seen forest fires in the Arctic circle; record high temperatures in parts of Australia, Africa and the US; floods in India; and devastating droughts in South Africa and Argentina. Is this a turning point?

New images by Emma Stibbon of locations used by Turner and Ruskin highlight the toll taken on Alpine landscapeA Royal Academician has followed in the footsteps of JMW Turner and John Ruskin to capture in photographs the breathtaking sites in the French Alps that 19th-century artists caught so strikingly. The resulting images reveal a stark depiction of how climate change has taken its toll on the glaciated landscape.For a forthcoming exhibition on Ruskin and Turner, Emma Stibbon was commissioned to go to Chamonix and record the glaciers around Mont Blanc where, in the early 1800s, Turner painted sublime watercolours that inspired Ruskin to embark on his Alpine tours decades later, photographing and drawing awe-inspiring glaciers such as the Mer de Glace. Continue reading...

Shoalhaven council uses traffic controllers to redirect visitors after area ‘inundated’ with thousands of carsThousands of drivers have been turned away from the New South Wales beach billed as having the world’s whitest sand as the local council brainstorms solutions with residents over its booming popularity.Shoalhaven city council has appointed traffic controllers to redirect visitors from the Hyams beach village in Jervis Bay, given its parking capacity is 400 but up to 5,000 vehicles are around each day during peak season. Continue reading...

Mayor Sadiq Khan says toddlers’ exposure to air pollution is ‘inexcusable’A group of state-run nurseries in London are to be given air filtration systems as concern grows about the impact of the UK’s toxic air on some of the capital’s youngest and most vulnerable residents.Five nurseries have been selected for the purifiers in the first wave, with 20 nurseries being audited to measure the extent of toddlers’ exposure to the potentially deadly particles from vehicles. Continue reading...

Campaigners say it will cut pollution, but opponents claim it will hit poor people hardest“I’m just really glad the ULEZ is coming. Children’s lungs can’t wait,” says Jemima Hartshorn, a Brixton resident who helped set up campaign group Mums For Lungs. Continue reading...

Deaths reported at several sites amid staffing shortages, as local teams lend a hand at Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and elsewhereHuman waste by the side of a busy road in Yosemite. Overflowing toilets in the Grand Canyon. The Rocky Mountains inaccessible because of unplowed roads.And in all these places, ordinary people stepping in to try to save some of America’s most revered landmarks from being overrun. Continue reading...

The winning auction bid for the enormous tuna was more than double the price fetched five years agoA record $3.1 m (£2.4 m) has been paid for a giant bluefin tuna at Tokyo’s new fish market, which replaced the world-famous Tsukiji late last year.The winning bid for the prized but endangered species at the predawn auction was more than double the 2013 annual New Year auction. Continue reading...

Greater Manchester tells firms they are not welcome as discontent spreadsMinisters are facing a fresh confrontation with local councils over their controversial plans to expand fracking, after one of the biggest combined authorities in the country set out plans to ban the practice.Greater Manchester’s decision to effectively stop companies from extracting underground shale gas in the region was greeted as a critical moment in the fight against fracking, which critics say is dangerous and unproven. Continue reading...

Rescued turtles, piggybacking toads and a sadly missed rhino feature in this week’s gallery Continue reading...

Union boss Minette Batters says tariffs would price British farms out of export marketThe UK’s farmers face a profound crisis in the event of a no-deal Brexit, and there is dangerous ground ahead even if a deal is agreed, according to the head of the National Farmers’ Union.Minette Batters, the union’s first female leader, is determined to be cautiously positive about Brexit, for which a majority of farmers voted. “We have to embrace the future … and make sure we have a goal and a plan,” said Batters, who declined to reveal how she voted in the referendum. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Green MP will tell Oxford Farming Conference UK must prioritise sustainabilityParliament must “seriously consider” levying a tax on meat to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to render the farming industry carbon neutral, the Green party MP, Caroline Lucas, is urging.She will say on Friday that a meat tax in the UK could be offset for more sustainable meat producers, such as organic livestock farmers, through more money for sustainable agriculture schemes. Continue reading...

Richard Murphy and Colin Hines suggest a number of ways that revenue could be raised to fund energy efficiency in all buildings, renewables and local transport systemsThe counter to Larry Elliott’s gloomy economic projections for 2019 (For those inclined to pessimism, the new year offers plenty to be worried about, 31 December) is to be found in his earlier article making the case for countries to put their economies on an “environmental war footing” (We’re back to 1930s politics: anger and, yes, appeasement, 20 December).To deliver this will, however, require that people be convinced that they will benefit and that there is the money to pay for such a transformation. Continue reading...

Environment secretary warns of tariffs and delays as NFU chief calls for firm guidanceA no-deal Brexit would spell severe disruption for the UK’s farming and food industries, and hardship for small farmers in particular, the environment secretary, Michael Gove, has said.Tariffs of as much as 40% would be slapped on British exports and products destined for the EU would be subject to a strict inspection regime, which would cause hold-ups and delays. Small farmers would be most at risk from the effects, Gove told the Oxford Farming Conference, adding that the “real gains” from Brexit, such as leaving the EU’s common agricultural policy, would be at risk in the event of no deal. Continue reading...

Animal, thought to be a sperm whale, believed to have become caught in rope in Loch EribollRescuers are on their way to a loch in the far north of Scotland to help a whale thought to have become ensnared in rope.The nine-metre (30ft) animal, believed to be a juvenile sperm whale, has become stranded in Loch Eriboll, a 10-mile-long (16km) sea loch on the north coast of Scotland, close to the village of Durness. Continue reading...

Air quality index at 12 times US government-recommended level and visibility lowDelhi residents woke to a thick, grey smog on Thursday as air pollution in the Indian capital surged to emergency levels.The state-run Central Pollution Control Board’s air quality index, which shows the concentration of poisonous particulate matter known as PM 2.5, stood at 440, up from 430 on Wednesday and about 12 times the US government-recommended level of 35. Continue reading...

A former park service director says leaving parks open without key staff is equivalent to leaving the Smithsonian open with priceless artefacts unattendedWhen I was a ranger at Crater Lake national park in the 1980s, the average snowfall at headquarters was 500in a year, and snow could accumulate at 2in an hour. One of my jobs as ranger was to shovel out the fire hydrants every day, so that if there was a fire in the hotel, headquarters or housing, we’d be able to fight it. Our maintenance staff plowed roads for safe visitor access and rangers patrolled on skis, regularly performing rescues. This was all part of ensuring that, in accordance with the National Park Service’s founding charter, the parks are “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations”.Leaving the parks open without these essential staff is equivalent to leaving the Smithsonian museums open without any staff to protect the priceless artefacts. Yet as a result of the government shutdown, which furloughed most park staff, this is what has happened. It is a violation of the stewardship mandate, motivated only by politics. While the majority of the public will be respectful, there will always be a few who take advantage of the opportunity to do lasting damage. Continue reading...

Energy efficiency and changing economy cut generation by 1% in 2018 as renewables supplied 33% of electricityThe output of British power stations fell this year to levels last seen almost a quarter of a century ago, while renewables achieved a record share of the UK electricity supply.Electricity generation in 2018 was the lowest since 1994, when Tony Blair became the leader of the Labour party. Continue reading...

Protection measures appear to be working, but the outlook for the whales remain bleak as only 411 are believed to remain worldwideNo North Atlantic right whales were killed in Canadian waters last year – a rare glimmer of hope for officials working to protect one of the world’s most endangered species.While the government protection measures appear to be working, the outlook for the whales remains bleak: only 411 are believed to remain worldwide, with fewer females giving birth than in previous years. Continue reading...

Executive order transfers regulation and creation of indigenous reserves to agriculture ministry controlled by agribusiness lobbyHours after taking office, Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, has launched an assault on environmental and Amazon protections with an executive order transferring the regulation and creation of new indigenous reserves to the agriculture ministry – which is controlled by the powerful agribusiness lobby.Related: Jair Bolsonaro's inauguration: the day progressive Brazil has dreaded Continue reading...

‘Reverse vending machines’ receive 311,500 bottles to date, says supermarket IcelandShoppers have received the equivalent of more than £30,000 in total for recycling plastic bottles in the first supermarket trial using “reverse vending machines” installed to reduce littering.The machines, introduced last year by the Iceland chain at five UK sites, reward consumers with a voucher worth 10p for every deposit of a bottle purchased at the shops. Continue reading...

Almost half of proposed area of construction falls within hunting and roaming zone that is essential to animal’s survivalThe extinction of the endangered Florida panther could be hastened by a large development proposed for the state, environmental groups are warning, as a major project is expected to win approval from the Trump administration as early as April. Continue reading...

As we reflect on a year of extreme weather and ominous climate talks, Guardian environment writer Fiona Harvey explains why 2019 could see some much-needed breakthroughsExtreme weather hit the headlines throughout 2018, from the heatwave across much of the northern hemisphere, which saw unprecedented wildfires in Sweden, drought in the UK and devastating wildfires in the US, to floods in India and typhoons in south-east Asia.According to the World Meteorological Organisation, last year was the fourth hottest on record and confirms a trend of rising temperatures that is a clear signal that we are having an effect on the climate. Droughts, floods, fiercer storms and heatwaves, as well as sea level rises, are all expected to increase markedly as a result. Continue reading...

Energy Transfer Partners planted only about 8,800 of the 20,000 trees required along the pipeline’s route in 2018The developer of the Dakota Access oil pipeline missed a year-end deadline to plant thousands of trees along the pipeline corridor in North Dakota. The company said it was still complying with a settlement of allegations it violated state rules during construction.Related: 'They're billin' us for killin' us': activists fight Dakota pipeline's final stretch Continue reading...

We are trying to be positive, but there’s little likely to put a smile on your face – except for a couple of things …Making predictions in the world of business and economics is a fool’s errand but that’s no reason not to have a crack at it. Here are some things to look out for in 2019, which could be a rollercoaster ride. Continue reading...

MPs must show leadership on issues such as meat production and air travel, says Clive Lewis

Human feces, overflowing garbage and damaging behavior reported as staff hampered over busy holiday period

I reject the suggestion that the capital’s action plan contains nothing newTwo weeks ago, the mayor of London and I spent a morning cycling with the leader of Enfield council looking at their excellent new protected cycleways and secure bike parking hub at Edmonton Green station. Together we unveiled Transport for London’s new cycling action plan, which aims to make London the world’s best big city for cycling and to double the number of cycle journeys in five years.The launch follows the publication of this year’s TfL business plan, in which Sadiq Khan demonstrated his continuing commitment to cycling by not only protecting the record level of funding for cycling, but increasing it from an average of £169m to £214m a year. This commitment is despite central government’s complete withdrawal of the £700m annual operating grant, which has left TfL in a tough financial position, compounded by the delay and increased cost of Crossrail. Continue reading...

Climate change is transforming the state’s coast but with habitats hemmed in by cliffs, condos and farms, pre-emptive action is needed to preserve biodiversityThe sea otters of Elkhorn Slough float by on their backs, greeting the occasional kayaker with unwanted socializing that can tip a boat. Chubby harbor seals lounge on large rocks and a great blue heron stands tall among hundreds of birds on a sliver of land.This Monterey Bay estuary south of San Francisco hosts about 20,000 migratory shorebirds a year and is a nursery habitat for fish and shellfish. It’s notable for having bolstered the waning population of the curious southern sea otters, which now exceed 100 and are webcast live daily. Continue reading...

Wildlife Trusts report comeback of rare seahorse breed and nudibranch slugs but plastic pollution still poses grave riskA rare kind of seahorse and a rainbow-coloured sea slug with a titillating name are among the creatures making a comeback in UK waters, according to an annual conservation review.The coast around Britain is now home to more than 100 species of nudibranchs – brightly hued, soft-bodied marine molluscs that appear nude because of their lack of external shells. The Wildlife Trusts credited a big conservation push around the coast for their proliferation. Continue reading...

Pilot will redistribute surplus food, with aim of stopping waste going to landfill by 2030The government has appointed a food waste champion to tackle the problem of 250m meals being thrown away in the UK each year.Ben Elliot, a philanthropist and co-founder of the lifestyle group Quintessentially, will aim to help the government eliminate food waste going to landfill by 2030. Continue reading...

Guardian journalists spell out the potential impact, sector by sector, on national lifeIf Theresa May fails to get her deal through parliament in January, the prospect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal becomes more likely. Here, Guardian journalists examine what a no-deal Brexit could mean for the country, sector by sector. Continue reading...

Monastery producing 10m litres a year invents plant-based recycling systemKoningshoeven abbey is one of only 13 places in the world to brew Trappist beer, and its products have won over drinkers around the world.For all the commercial success, however, a nagging sense that money has triumphed over spirituality has prompted the monks to rethink their use of water after more than 130 years. Continue reading...

Cumbrian farmers who planted willow for a Swedish paper mill say the crop kept floods at bayOne December night three years ago, more rain fell over Cumbria than ever recorded before. Simon Peet’s farm in Langwathby, near Penrith, was one of 600 across the county that took a battering. Twenty of his Herdwick sheep drowned when the River Eden burst its banks, up to 4km of fencing was destroyed and 5,000 tons of gravel from the river ended up in one of his fields. The repair bill was £38,700.Twenty-five miles up the road, by the River Derwent near Keswick, Steven Clark, a sheep farmer, was bracing himself for the worst after Storm Desmond. But while nearby bridges had collapsed and the army had been called in to help 5,500 people flooded out of their homes, Clark’s farm in the village of Braithwaite was fine. The year before he had been persuaded to take part in an experimental project with a paper mill in Workington, which involved planting 28 acres of willow crop. He is convinced it saved his land. Continue reading...

State-run chain of heritage properties converts to sustainable energy to set wider example to countrySpain’s state-owned chain of paradores, the grand hotels often housed in ancient castles and monasteries, has announced that all 97 of its establishments will use only electricity from renewable sources from the start of the new year.The 90-year-old chain said the decision to switch to green electricity had been made for both environmental and symbolic reasons. “Paradores is a company that supports sustainable tourism in every sense of the word,” said its chair, Óscar López Águeda. “What’s more, as a public company, we also want to set an example when it comes to investments that encourage energy saving and responsible consumption.” Continue reading...

Exclusive: environmental group calls plan to protect black-throated finch an ‘elaborate hoax’Adani has set aside a “conservation area” for the endangered black-throated finch at the same site earmarked for the massive Clive Palmer-backed Alpha North coalmine.The environmental group Lock the Gate said the land-use conflict meant the Adani plan to protect the black-throated finch – which is one of two crucial management plans for the Carmichael mine yet to be approved by the Queensland government – amounted to an “elaborate hoax”. Continue reading...

The idea, central to Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign, aims to eliminate greenhouse gas pollution – but lacks key political supportMost US voters would support a “Green New Deal”, for the country to transform its infrastructure with a rapid shift to clean energy. But while the idea is gaining attention on Capitol Hill, it lacks key political support. Continue reading...

Trump administration criticized for trying to make it harder to obtain records of interior department dealings

From an eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano sending lava into residential areas to deadly wildfires in California, the US saw record-breaking natural disasters in 2018. This year’s weather was more extreme because of human-caused climate change, scientists say Continue reading...

Ridgeview – named the world’s best producer – uses candles to protect vines from frostBritons buy record 164m bottles of sparkling wine in 2018

First global coastline survey shows 16% of tidal flats lost between 1984 and 2016Coastal development and sea level rise are causing the decline of tidal flats along the world’s coastlines, according to research that has mapped the ecosystems for the first time.Scientists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the University of Queensland used machine-learning to analyse more than 700,000 satellite images to map the extent of and change in tidal flats around the globe. Continue reading...

Opponents of plan to dump waste from coal seam gas mining celebrate court decisionControversial plans to dump up to 15m tonnes of salt and other waste near a creek in drought-stricken Queensland have hit an unexpected roadblock after a court ruled that planning approvals do not allow for trucks to park at the site.Guardian Australia reported in October that a study had found that the dump, near the town of Chinchilla, north-west of Brisbane, carried a “considerable” risk of water contamination. Salt waste from coal seam gas operations is planned to be stored fewer than 100 metres from Stockyard Creek, in the headwaters of the Murray-Darling basin. Continue reading...

Move is part of a series of rollbacks pursued on behalf of coal interests, decisions scientists say are detrimental to public healthThe Trump administration will reconsider the reasoning for restrictions on toxic mercury pollution from coal plants that is linked to developmental delays in children, it was announced on Friday. Continue reading...

Environmentalists raise concern as Lime and Bird vehicles pile up in California lakeIt was a sight as common at Oakland’s Lake Merritt as the ducks paddling on the water or the seagulls fighting over scraps: a bright green motorized Lime scooter was submerged just feet off the murky shore.“Aw man, the Lime person just came by this morning,” James Robinson, executive director of the Lake Merritt Institute, said when he found out about the latest scooter deposit. Continue reading...

After a harrowing week of human tragedy, rescuers find a moment of hope as they return more than 30 turtles to the seaFor the officials and volunteers aiding rescue efforts after the tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Indonesia, it has been a grim week.After deadly waves hit the coasts of Java and Sumatra in the Sunda Strait, they know they are more likely to find bodies than survivors. Amidst the horror, volunteers are clinging to any victories, however small, to keep them going. Continue reading...

Decades after it became part of the fabric of our lives, a worldwide revolt against plastic is under way• Read the text version hereClare Longrigg, deputy editor of the Guardian’s Long Read section, introduces three of her favourite long reads from 2018. They’re all on the theme of “Discovering the Familiar” – things we use every day without considering the extraordinary impact they can have on us.Today: plastic. Decades after it became part of the fabric of our lives, a worldwide revolt against plastic is under way. Continue reading...

‘Beast from the east’ to summer heatwave resulted in record years for some species while others struggledA year of extreme weather ranging from the snowy bitterness of the “beast from the east” to a baking hot summer has resulted in a rollercoaster year for wildlife, according to an annual audit of the UK’s flora and fauna.The prolonged, harsh end to the winter followed by a mild May and sunny weather in June and July meant some species had record years while others struggled to cope. Continue reading...

Tiny creatures prefer calm, warm waters – with risk of stings increasing after rainfallIrukandji jellyfish may be elusive during far north Queensland’s big wet but they’re set to come back in big numbers when the sun comes out.After they forced the closure of two northern Queensland beaches last weekend, including Ellis Beach near Cairns when a teenage girl was admitted to hospital with stings to her upper body, no irukandji have been spotted in swimming areas since. Continue reading...