The mining conglomerate is asking the court to quash a request to produce information regarding its coal imports from IndonesiaMining conglomerate the Adani Group is trying to prevent Indian authorities from accessing its business records as part of an investigation into an alleged $4bn fraud by power companies.

A new study finds that weather associated with El Niño events is becoming more severe

Exclusive: On-the-road fuel efficiency is far lower than in lab tests, pushing up costs and CO2 emissions, research showsDrivers in Europe have paid €150bn more on fuel than they would have if their vehicles had performed as well on-the-road as in official laboratory-based tests, according to a new report.Car companies have legally gamed official tests of fuel economy for many years by, for example, using very hard tyres during tests or taking out equipment to make cars lighter. The gap between test and actual performance has soared from 9% in 2000 to 42% today. Continue reading...

Report blames climate change on cosmic ray fluctuations and sunspot activity, drawing derision from climate scientistsA European parliament report that blames climate change on cosmic ray fluctuations, sunspots and planetary gravitational pulls, is so hackneyed and ill-informed it would “make the dinosaurs blush,” climate scientists say.The non-binding opinion written by Ukip MEP, John Stuart Agnew, has shocked EU lawmakers for its dismissal of climate science – and the support he received to write it from mainstream rightwing and liberal political blocs. Continue reading...

Warragamba Dam in decline but private plant may not be fully operational for another year

Labor and Greens say former PM could ‘put to bed’ why government money was given to private charityMalcolm Turnbull could be compelled to appear at a Senate inquiry examining the government’s $443.8m grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation under a Labor and Greens push.Although MPs cannot be compelled to answer questions in Senate committees, Turnbull’s decision to resign as member for Wentworth on Friday means he could be forced to front the inquiry examining the grant. Continue reading...

Insects’ acquired taste for pesticide-laced food is similar to nicotine addiction in smokers, say scientistsBumblebees acquire a taste for pesticide-laced food that can be compared to nicotine addiction in smokers, say scientists.The more of the nicotine-like chemicals they consume, the more they appear to want, a study has shown. Continue reading...

Survey suggests Wentworth voters are watching Morrison’s steps on climate and energyThe major parties are neck and neck in the Sydney seat of Wentworth, and voters in the electorate are concerned that the new prime minister, Scott Morrison, is not as committed to action on climate change as Malcolm Turnbull was, according to a new opinion poll.With Turnbull’s resignation about to trigger a byelection in the Sydney seat the former prime minister holds with a margin of 17.7%, the new ReachTel poll funded by the Australia Institute, with a sample size of 886 residents, suggests voters in Wentworth are focused on Morrison’s early steps on climate and energy. Continue reading...

All but the cleanest vehicles to be banned from nine streets in Islington and HackneyTwo London councils are to ban all but the cleanest vehicles from some areas at peak times to help tackle the city’s air pollution crisis.In the UK’s first scheme of its kind, only ultra-low emission vehicles such as electric cars, e-bikes, and the newest hybrids and hydrogen vehicles will be allowed on nine streets in Hackney and Islington from 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm on weekdays. Continue reading...

Map produced by aerial survey of 10,000-mile coastline shows rubbish ‘at industrial levels’An aerial survey of Scotland’s long and rocky coastline has revealed that large amounts of industrial rubbish have washed up on the shore.The litter, made up of plastic barrels, fishing nets, timbers, crates and industrial equipment, has collected across large areas of shoreline and rocky coves, often washed into highly inaccessible areas. Continue reading...

California’s ‘megafires’ are making a demanding job even harder, say firefighters mourning their colleaguesThe firefighter Jeremy Stoke was helping residents evacuate from the northern California city of Redding when the wildfire menacing their neighborhood arrived suddenly in an apocalyptic form: a riot of wind and flame known as a “firenado”.As the firestorm ripped trees out of the ground and incinerated cars, Stoke radioed for help. But the potent combination of smoke and heat made it impossible to reach him, and his radio went silent. His colleagues found his body the next morning. Continue reading...

The first four of London’s new water fountains have been used tens of thousands of times since they were installedLondon’s new wave of drinking fountains have proved popular, with figures suggesting that thirsty members of the public have drunk thousands of litres of water from them since the first four were installed in the capital earlier this year.According to the team behind the installations, more than 8,000 litres of water have been dispensed in under a month from two drinking fountains installed at Liverpool Street Station – equal to 16,000 standard bottles of water – while another fountain, installed off Carnaby Street in March, has been used more than 10,000 times a month since tracking began in early June. Continue reading...

Charges against irrigator John Norman involve federal funds allocated for water projectsOne of Australia’s most successful cotton irrigators has been charged with conspiring to defraud the commonwealth of more than $20m.Queensland’s former cotton farmer of the year, John Norman, 43, was charged on Tuesday with six counts of fraud involving commonwealth funds allocated for water efficiency projects under the Murray-Darling basin plan.

Statewide assessment, which comes amid summer of extreme wildfires, warns of deadly cost if climate change is not stoppedCalifornia’s summer of deadly wildfires and dangerous heatwaves will soon be the new normal if nothing is done to stop climate change, a report released on Monday warns.City heatwaves could lead to two to three times as many deaths by 2050, the report says. By 2100, without a reduction in emissions, the state could see a 77% increase in the average area burned by wildfires. The report also warns of erosion of up to 67% of its famous coastline, up to an 8.8F (4.9C) rise in average maximum temperatures, and billions of dollars in damages. Continue reading...

Brent Finlay, former president of the National Farmers’ Federation, says Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce are the latest who are failing the bushThe former president of the National Farmers’ Federation, Brent Finlay, has accused politicians of “jumping in front of the cameras” while shirking effective policy work on drought and climate change.As Scott Morrison and his special drought envoy, Barnaby Joyce, toured south-west Queensland on Tuesday, Finlay described the former deputy prime minister and agriculture minister as the last in a long line of ministers who had “no real appetite” for national drought policy in a changing climate. Continue reading...

Local mayor forbids people to go in the sea after creature tried to rub against swimmersA mayor on France’s Brittany coast took the rare step of banning swimming for several days after a solitary frisky dolphin tried to get too close to bathers.Roger Lars decided last week that it was safest to ban swimming and diving on the coast near Landévennec, where the over-friendly dolphin had been spotted. Continue reading...

Windfarms fall short in heatwave, but 2018 was still UK’s second greenest summerBritain’s long heatwave threw the country’s green energy revolution into reverse and pushed up carbon emissions this summer, leading experts to stress the need for a diverse energy mix.The summer of 2017 was lauded as the “greenest ever” for electricity generation, thanks to a growing number of windfarms and solar installations edging out coal and gas power stations. Continue reading...

Some of the reporting of the climate impacts of the Dirty Power Plan has been inaccurateLast October, then-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that the agency would repeal the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan. But because the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that carbon dioxide is an air pollutant and the Obama EPA correctly concluded that it poses a threat to public welfare via climate change, the EPA is legally obligated to do something to address that threat. That meant they needed a replacement plan.Last week, the Trump EPA unveiled that plan and inaccurately named it the ‘Affordable Clean Energy Rule.’ The rule basically just extends the life of some dirty coal power plants and encourages them to run a bit more efficiently. The rule’s costs in worsening public health far exceed its monetary benefits. It would more accurately be named the ‘Expensive Dirty Power Plan.’ Continue reading...

MPs and outlets including the Guardian listened to Chris Faulkner on fracking. He is now under arrest for fraudThe self-appointed evangelist of the Texas fracking boom launched into a jargon-laced monologue, prompting the chairman of the UK parliament’s Welsh affairs committee to request he speak in plain English.Related: UK fracking push could fuel global plastics crisis, say campaigners Continue reading...

Manuscript note has linked the 18th century poet to one of lost gardens of Georgian EnglandTwo words in faded brown ink on the back of a translation of Homer’s Odyssey have linked the 18th century poet Alexander Pope to the design of a grand garden created for one of his best friends, Henrietta Howard, a mistress of George II.Emily Parker, a landscape historian, said the words “Plum Bush” jumped off the page at her as she pored over Pope’s manuscripts in the British Library, looking for proof that he had indeed designed one of the great lost gardens of Georgian England. Continue reading...

Milestone reached nearly a year after China but ahead of the USThere are now more than a million electric cars in Europe after sales soared by more than 40% in the first half of the year, new figures reveal.Europe hit the milestone nearly a year after China, which has a much larger car market, but ahead of the US, which is expected to reach the landmark later this year driven by the appetite for Tesla’s latest model. Continue reading...

A cluster of new technologies aim to fulfill humanity’s ancient desire to influence the weather. But is it a good idea?Farmers in Mexico have accused Volkswagen of ruining their crops by installing “hail cannons”, which fire shockwaves into the atmosphere in an effort to prevent hail storms from damaging the cars rolling off the production line.The devices are being blamed for causing a drought during months when farmers near the German carmaker’s plant in Puebla expected plenty of rain. Continue reading...

Civic leaders representing 20 million people sign letter calling for clean air planCity leaders across England and Wales have teamed up to demand that Theresa May take immediate action to fight air pollution, which scientists say causes at least 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK.A total of 17 mayors and civic leaders, representing 20 million people throughout the country, have signed a letter that calls for a national action plan to clean up the nation’s air to be implemented as a matter of urgency. They include the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, as well as mayors Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester), Steve Rotheram (Liverpool city region), and Dan Jarvis (Sheffield), along with leaders from authorities around the country including Cardiff, Leeds, Newcastle and Southampton. Continue reading...

Parts of drought-ravaged eastern Australia receive more rain in two days than in previous months combined

In California and beyond, lawmakers are taking action for the environment. But advocates for people with disabilities say the bans create yet another hurdle to dining in publicAt first glance, bans on plastic straws might seem like a simple – and harmless – next step for the environmentally conscious.Love sea turtles? No more straws. Want to save the planet? “Stop sucking.” Continue reading...

A genetic study has found that some specimens of the invasive reptile that has decimated local wildlife are a mixture of two Asian species which could make it an even more formidable predatorFrom carnivorous giant lizards to toxic climbing tree frogs, the Florida Everglades have become a haven to invasive species steadily destroying and devouring the flora and fauna of the state’s famed River of Grass.Now comes news of a hybrid super-predator slithering its way through the waterways of the 1.5m-acre wilderness: a genetically blended python that researchers believe might be able to better embrace the subtropical environment and expand its range more rapidly than any species before it. Continue reading...

Ministers consider doubling existing 5p levy and imposing it on even smallest storesMinisters have been considering rolling out the plastic bag levy to all shops and doubling it to 10p.The prime minister was reportedly planning to announce the proposals next week as part of a series of measures designed to encourage the reuse of carrier bags and reduce the UK’s reliance on plastics, which are harmful to the environment. Continue reading...

Red avadavat birds, pink dolphins and a bamboo rat are among this week’s pick of images from the natural world Continue reading...

Use of mechanical device to pull kelp plants from beds would destroy local ecosystem, say campaignersA proposal to mechanically dredge kelp forests off the coast of Scotland has led to an outcry from conservationists, who say it would destroy local ecosystems.Ayr-based company Marine Biopolymers has approached Marine Scotland to apply for a licence to use a comb-like device that pulls entire kelp plants from the bed. In order to inform the environmental appraisal required by Marine Scotland, Marine Biopolymers has published a report describing the potential environmental impacts to be researched further for a full assessment. Continue reading...

Funding sought to ‘reimagine 21st-century seaside resort’ in once-booming Lancashire townThe Eden Project plans to open a version of its Cornish tourist attraction in Morecambe in a move hailed as a “game-changer” for the Lancashire seaside resort.The environmental centre, which attracts more than 1 million visitors a year, said it was looking for funding for the project after carrying out a feasibility study. Continue reading...

Mayor on Île d’Oléron is leading the fight, saying the island is ‘not about mass consumption’Inside a ramshackle former holiday club on the picturesque Île d’Oléron off France’s Atlantic coast, a group of people were screen-printing old T-shirts with anti-burger slogans inspired by the student protests of May 1968. The artwork implored “comrades” to choose their side in the island’s battle with McDonald’s.“Oléron is a beautiful place, it’s important to protect it,” said Nicolas, 36, an IT worker, who volunteers on a local project to make furniture from discarded wooden pallets. “We don’t need McDonald’s in a place that is pioneering local organic food, sustainable development, zero waste – alternative ways of living that aren’t about mass consumption.” Continue reading...

Government advisers reject central bank’s proposal to sell billions held in oil stocksGovernment advisers have urged Norway not to ditch oil and gas investments from its $1tn sovereign wealth fund, in a setback for those backing the world’s biggest fossil fuel divestment.Norway’s central bank last year recommended the fund sell the billions it holds in oil stocks to avoid the risk of a permanent drop in crude prices. Continue reading...

Moderate rainfall predicted for Queensland and NSW won’t make a ‘big difference’While many in eastern Australia woke to rain on Friday, the wet weather will not be enough to bring significant relief to farmers affected by the drought in New South Wales and Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology has said.But farmers are still hopeful forecast rain will start to make a dent in what has been described as the area’s worst drought in 50 years. Continue reading...

Russian arms maker says cutting edge elements will ensure it can take on Elon Musk’s brandThe Russian arms maker Kalashnikov has unveiled its new electric car, inspired by a rare 1970s model, saying the technology will rival Elon Musk’s Tesla.The brand, best known for the AK-47 machine gun, on Thursday presented the retro-looking pale blue prototype, the CV-1, at a defence expo outside Moscow. Continue reading...

Researchers from the Humane Society found 52 US locations in which giraffe products continue to be soldThe giraffe population has fallen by around 40% since 1990. There are now fewer than 100,000 giraffes alive in the world, and there are now fewer giraffes than elephants in Africa.Yet in America, trade in giraffe parts is booming. A report by the Humane Society of the United States, released on Thursday, found that nearly 40,000 giraffe parts have been imported to the US over the past decade, the equivalent, they estimate, of nearly 4,000 individual giraffes. Continue reading...

Almost three-quarters of motorists also think toxic air in their area is damaging their healthMore than half of UK motorists think diesel cars should be banned from urban areas due to air pollution concerns, according to a new opinion poll.The proportion backing a ban rose to 80% when drivers were asked if diesel cars should be excluded from areas around schools and hospitals. Nearly a third said diesels should be banned from all roads. Continue reading...

After nearly 60 years of lighting homes halogens will be replaced with more energy efficient LEDsAfter nearly 60 years of brightening our homes and streets, halogen lightbulbs will finally be banned across Europe on 1 September.The lights will dim gradually for halogen. Remaining stocks may still be sold, and capsules, linear and low voltage incandescents used in oven lights will be exempted. But a continent-wide switchover to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is underway that will slash emissions and energy bills, according to industry, campaigners and experts. Continue reading...

London mayor challenges move to axe tariffs and discounts for householders installing solar PVSadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has embarked on a lobbying drive to persuade the government to keep the subsidies for household solar power.Khan has made solar one of the key planks of his energy policy, supporting community solar projects and negotiating collective solar installations for homeowners in the capital. Continue reading...

Oral vaccination campaign will use goat meat baits to pre-empt outbreaks of rabies among Ethiopian wolvesRabies vaccines hidden inside goat meat baits have been deployed in the first campaign to protect the Ethiopian wolf, Africa’s most endangered carnivore.There are less than 500 of the wolves in the high mountains of Ethiopia and they are very vulnerable to infectious diseases from domestic dogs. The oral vaccine approach will next be rolled out to cover all six surviving populations of the wolf. Continue reading...

Indigenous Sami herders urge state to help mitigate impact of climate change in Arctic circleSweden’s indigenous Sami reindeer herders are demanding state aid to help them cope with the impact of this summer’s unprecedented drought and wildfires, saying their future is at risk as global warming changes the environment in the far north.The Swedish government this week announced five major investigations aimed at preparing the country for the kind of extreme heatwave it experienced in July, when temperatures exceeded 30C (86F) and forest fires raged inside the Arctic circle. Continue reading...

Government aim to end plastic pollution undermined by keen support for fracking, says Campaign to Protect Rural EnglandThe push for a large-scale fracking operation in England will fuel the global plastic crisis and undermines the government’s claims that it is tackling the issue, according to a leading charity.The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) says fracking will not only destroy large areas of the countryside, it will exacerbate the global plastic binge which is already causing widespread damage to oceans, habitats and the human food chain. Continue reading...

A nearby town is suing over fears that the land, once home to a nuclear weapons facility, still poses a threatThe nation’s newest national wildlife refuge, filled with swaying prairie grass and home to a herd of elk, is slated to open next month just outside Colorado’s largest city.But seven Denver metro area school districts have already barred school-sanctioned field trips to the preserve. A top local health official says he would probably never hike there. And a town is suing over what the soil might contain. Continue reading...

Green deals account for half of cheapest 10 tariffs, despite public thinking they are dearer, says uSwitchGreen tariffs now account for many of the cheapest deals on the energy market, despite many consumers still wrongly believing renewable energy deals are more expensive.Half of the top 10 cheapest tariffs are green ones offered by challenger suppliers taking on the big six. Continue reading...

The stranglehold of the big six and tough market conditions bode ill for Labour policyJeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon may be big fans, but the rise of publicly owned energy companies looks like it is faltering in the face of tough market conditions.The movement was dealt a blow this month when a newly Lib Dem-controlled Portsmouth city council scrapped the former Conservative administration’s plans for an energy firm. Continue reading...

EPA proposals published on Tuesday have no national emissions reduction target and could result in 1,400 deaths per yearWhat has the Trump administration done?“Did you see what I did to that? Boom, gone,” Donald Trump said about the clean power plan last year. Trump has long targeted the plan – the cornerstone of Barack Obama’s climate change agenda – by portraying it as disastrous for coal-producing regions in particular and the US economy in general. Continue reading...

Stop the Cull group says it will not threaten cull organisers but rather disrupt themAnimal rights activists have published what they claim is a comprehensive list of farmers leading the badger cull complete with addresses, phone numbers and a map.The Stop the Cull group has suggested its supporters get in touch with the scores of cull organisers it says it has identified to express their opposition, “sabotage” their time by making misleading phone calls or arrange demonstrations outside their farms. Continue reading...

Plan would boost output from coal-fired plants and lead to as many as 1,400 premature deaths a yearThe Trump administration has put forward a greenhouse gas emissions plan that could boost output from coal-fired power plants rather than push them towards closure and result in as many as 1,400 premature deaths each year.Related: Andrew Wheeler: 'point man for Trump' focused on undoing Obama's EPA agenda Continue reading...

State’s health director to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter in two deaths linked to legionnaires’ disease in the Flint areaA judge has ordered Michigan’s health director to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter over two deaths linked to legionnaires’ disease in the Flint area, the highest-ranking official to face criminal charges as a result of the city’s tainted water scandal.Nick Lyon is accused of failing to issue a timely alert about the outbreak. District court judge David Goggins said deaths probably could have been prevented if the outbreak had been publicly known. He said keeping the public in the dark was “corrupt”. Continue reading...

Councils remind public that taking pebbles risks floods, erosion and wildlife harmA holidaymaker who took pebbles from a Cornish beach was forced to travel hundreds of miles to return the souvenirs to avoid a hefty fine.The man was traced to his home after taking a carrier bag full of stones from a beach at Crackington Haven near Bude. Continue reading...