Rail operator said ‘safety aspect’ was involved in giving those on board disposable cupsA rail operator has done a U-turn and agreed to let passengers use their own reusable cups for hot drinks bought on board its trains after criticism by environmental campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.South Western Railway changed its policy after the chef complained on Twitter during a journey that buffet car staff – employed by catering company Rail Gourmet – had “refused” to pour tea into his refillable cup. Continue reading...

Up to 30,000 account holders sign petition against pipeline projects in US and CanadaThousands of Barclays customers have threatened to switch to another bank unless it promises not to invest in pipelines for oil from tar sands, dubbed the “dirtiest fuel on the planet”.Greenpeace, which occupied a branch of Barclays on Wednesday morning and erected signs branding it “The Dirty Bank”, said 30,000 customers signed a petition calling on the lender to pledge never to fund controversial tar sands projects. Continue reading...

Carolyn McCall said it was ‘ludicrous’ ad seen 65m times online could not run on TVThe chief executive of ITV has said she believes Iceland’s controversial anti-palm oil festive campaign should have been allowed to air on TV.As part of its festive campaign the discount supermarket struck a deal with Greenpeace to rebadge an animated short film featuring an orangutan and the destruction of its rainforest habitat at the hands of palm-oil growers. Continue reading...

Exclusive: a new study reveals the vast extent of public lands being opened up to the energy industry. The Guardian heard from three communities on the frontlines

Current food habits will lead to destruction of all forests and catastrophic climate change by 2050, report findsPeople in rich nations will have to make big cuts to the amount of beef and lamb they eat if the world is to be able to feed 10 billion people, according to a new report. These cuts and a series of other measures are also needed to prevent catastrophic climate change, it says.More than 50% more food will be needed by 2050, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI) report, but greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture will have to fall by two-thirds at the same time. The extra food will have to be produced without creating new farmland, it says, otherwise the world’s remaining forests face destruction. Meat and dairy production use 83% of farmland and produce 60% of agriculture’s emissions. Continue reading...

Prospects for species look dire as federal science body finds that only one of the country’s 16 populations is believed to be stableHalf of Canada’s chinook salmon are endangered, with nearly all other populations in precarious decline, according to a new report, confirming fears that prospects for the species remain dire.The report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada concluded that eight of the country’s 16 populations are considered endangered, four are threatened, one is of special concern and the health of two remain unknown. Continue reading...

With continent’s population set to soar, agriculture chief Gilbert Houngbo stresses need to make rural life profitableEconomic migration from Africa to Europe driven by poverty could double in the next decade unless urgent investment is made in job creation for young people in rural areas, the head of a UN financial body has warned.The global population is forecast to reach 9.9 billion by 2050 – a 29% increase – with most of that growth in Africa, where the population is expected to double to 2.6 billion. Continue reading...

Group rallies outside Parliament House after being told they needed to have a prearranged meeting organisedHigh school students from across Australia calling for emergency action on climate change have travelled to Canberra to confront the prime minister after he criticised them for skipping school to stage national strikes.Students from Scott Morrison’s southern Sydney electorate of Cook – as well as Townsville, Melbourne and Brisbane – arrived at Parliament House on Wednesday morning to meet with him. Continue reading...

Investor group finds most companies dismissing climate as a financial risk to their business, in breach of legal requirementsMore than a dozen of Australia’s largest mining and infrastructure companies may be in breach of their legal duties by refusing to consider the financial risks posed by climate change, an investor action group says.In September, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission published a report that said “the law requires” relevant companies to “include a discussion of climate risk” in their annual report. Continue reading...

In Washington last week, Alec, a group that links lobbyists with state lawmakers, approved measures to boost Donald Trump’s pro-fossil fuel agendaInside a little-known bulwark of conservative state policy, in a hotel conference room in Washington DC, state lawmakers and corporate lobbyists last week voted for a slate of anti-environment measures.Related: Progressive lawmakers call for climate change revolution Continue reading...

Defeat by gilets jaunes will make others think twice before taking similar steps to cut emissionsEmmanuel Macron’s defeat by the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) movement over a proposed eco-tax rise is likely to come as a painful lesson for environmental policymakers at this week’s UN climate talks in Katowice.After the most violent protests in Paris for half a century, the French president has been forced to postpone a planned eco-tax rise on fuel, showing how ecological measures can have explosive consequences if there is any suggestion they are being used to “greenwash” austerity. Continue reading...

Shortage of female swift parrots caused by sugar gliders wreaking ‘havoc’ on matingTasmania’s critically endangered swift parrots are facing a new threat to survival – polyamory.A study by researchers at the Australian National University, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, has found that a chronic shortage of female swift parrots caused by intensive predation by sugar gliders has wreaked havoc on the bird’s usually monogamous breeding habits and lowered the survival rate for young hatchlings. Continue reading...

Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez emphasized need to ‘transform our energy system’ but did not discuss how to pursue itA star-studded progressive town hall on climate change drew thousands of viewers online and hundreds in person – but offered little insight into how the US left might overcome Republican opposition and lay the groundwork to limit rising temperatures.Related: David Attenborough: collapse of civilisation is on the horizon Continue reading...

Greta Thunberg, 15, told UN summit that students are acting in absence of global leadershipAction to fight global warming is coming whether world leaders like it or not, school student Greta Thunberg has told the UN climate change summit, accusing them of behaving like irresponsible children.Thunberg began a solo climate protest by striking from school in Sweden in August. But more than 20,000 students around the world have now joined her. The school strikes have spread to at least 270 towns and cities in countries across the world, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the US and Japan. Continue reading...

Melissa Price made an error of law in assessing pipeline plan, Australian Conservation Foundation will argueThe Australian Conservation Foundation has launched a federal court challenge to the environment minister Melissa Price’s decision not to apply the water trigger in assessing water infrastructure for Adani’s Carmichael coalmine.The court action, lodged on Tuesday, relates to the federal government’s assessment of Adani’s north Galilee water scheme, which would see a 100km pipeline constructed to transport 12.5bn litres of water a year from the Suttor River and Burdekin basin. The project would also expand an existing 2.2bn-litre dam to 10bn litres. Continue reading...

About 100 schools under blockade while prime minister meets opposition leadersThe French prime minister, Edouard Philippe, has met opposition party leaders as nationwide protests continue to spread across France, with students blockading about 100 schools.Related: Who are the gilets jaunes and what do they want? Continue reading...

UN climate summit in Poland will hear public money available is not enough to provide clean energy for those living off-gridThe world’s 1 billion people who live without electricity are not benefiting from climate change money promised by governments to help them develop.In theory, there has never been a better time for developing countries to install renewable energy such as solar or wind to combat climate change. The UN’s Green Climate Fund (GCF), along with the World Bank and regional development banks, have all said they intend to significantly increase their green energy financing, offering developing countries cheap loans and grants. Many donor countries like Britain and Japan have also pledged to help poorer nations switch to clean energy. Continue reading...

Naturalist tells leaders at UN climate summit that fate of world is in their handsThe collapse of civilisation and the natural world is on the horizon, Sir David Attenborough has told the UN climate change summit in Poland.The naturalist was chosen to represent the world’s people in addressing delegates of almost 200 nations who are in Katowice to negotiate how to turn pledges made in the 2015 Paris climate deal into reality. Continue reading...

Five cygnets and their parents were shot, wrapped in plastic bags and thrown down bank of a streamA family of swans has been shot and killed in what has been called a “senseless” attack.The bodies of five cygnets and both of their parents were found wrapped in plastic bags after they were thrown down the bank of a stream in the village of Benenden, in Kent. Continue reading...

Sum available for 2021-25 represents doubling of current five-year planThe World Bank is to make about $200bn (£157bn) available to fund action on climate change from 2021-25, helping countries adapt to the effects of warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.The sum represents a doubling of the five-year investment plan put in place after the landmark Paris agreement of 2015. Continue reading...

European firms are making faster progress in refusing to insure polluting firms, says campaign group Unfriend CoalUK and US insurers are lagging far behind European firms when it comes to divesting from coal-heavy businesses and refusing to insure them, campaigners have warned.At least 19 major insurers holding more than $6tn in assets – a fifth of the industry’s global assets – have now divested from coal, according to a report from the Unfriend Coal campaign, which represents a coalition of a dozen environmental groups including Greenpeace, 350.org and the Sierra Club. Continue reading...

Buybacks also recommended for those affected by PFAS contamination from defence bases across AustraliaA group of MPs from across the political divide has urged the commonwealth to consider compensation and property buybacks for people affected by contamination from toxic firefighting chemicals which leached off defence bases and into soil and waterways across Australia.On Monday a joint parliamentary committee, which for months has been investigating the defence department’s firefighting foam contamination scandal, handed down its long-awaited report, recommending the government “assist property owners and businesses in affected areas for demonstrated, quantifiable financial losses associated with PFAS contamination that has emanated from defence bases”. Continue reading...

Indian mining giant Adani has announced it will scale back its proposed Carmichael mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin, but begin construction 'imminently', using its own funds. But the company still faces numerous obstacles including groundwater approval and native title. Most of all, it has its eyes on the impending federal election and the uncertain position of a potential incoming Labor government on the mine. Ben Smee breaks down the state of play

Big cuts in carbon emissions and a rise in protection from extreme weather urgently neededThe UN climate change summit begins on Monday with a warning that today’s generation is the last that can prevent catastrophic global warming, as well as the first to be suffering its impacts.Almost 200 nations were set to meet in Poland for two weeks, aiming to hammer out a vital agreement to turn the carbon-cutting vision set in Paris in 2015 into reality. Moves to rapidly ramp up action would be another key goal, with current pledges leaving the world on track for a disastrous 3C of warming. Continue reading...

Environment secretary launches consultation into ‘biodiversity net gain’ requirementDevelopers could be obliged to enhance wildlife habitats when building houses or commercial property, under new government proposals.A mandatory “biodiversity net gain” requirement could be put in place, meaning developers would have to leave habitats better off for wildlife than before any construction work. Continue reading...

Some of Australia’s highest solar takeup is occurring in the electorates of some of the Coalition’s strongest coal supporters, new analysis showsAustralia’s biggest energy and business groups have banded together to urge the government to abandon its “big stick” approach to energy legislation, warning the divestiture powers the government craves will impede investment and create genuine sovereign risk.Scott Morrison and Angus Taylor threatened to break up Australia’s energy companies if power prices didn’t come down – by utilising commonwealth divestment powers never used before in Australia – through legislation due to be introduced to parliament this week. Continue reading...

National Grid using artificial intelligence to check drone footage of 7,000 miles of wires and pylonsNational Grid has turned to artificial intelligence to help it maintain the wires and pylons that transmit electricity from power stations to homes and businesses across the UK.The firm has been using six drones for the past two years to help inspect its 7,200 miles of overhead lines around England and Wales. Continue reading...

If you’re running a business, I hope you’re thinking of the future. Not doing so will put you in the same tight spot our farmers faceWhen you drive from Minneapolis to West Okoboji Lake, Iowa – as I did early last summer – you pretty much see just one thing: farmland. And those farms are pretty much just growing one thing too: soybeans. The state of Iowa is the second largest producer of soybeans in the US – and can you guess their biggest customer? An estimated one out of every three rows of soybeans grown there are shipped to China. I didn’t see any pork farms from my car, but I’ve also learned that Iowa is the largest exporter of pork to China as well.Related: The Iowa farmers on the frontline of Trump's trade war with China Continue reading...

Trump in power; the farce of Brexit; dire warnings of power shortages – welcome to dystopia nowFilm reviewers often reach for a clutch of well-thumbed words and phrases to convey a sense of time and place quickly. This is not a criticism. These reviewers are rarely given sufficient space to explore often complicated themes of several films at a time.A familiar locution, understood by all readers, allows them to cut to the action, as it were. “Dystopian nightmare” is one of them and when I see this deployed by my favourite reviewers my interest is piqued. Continue reading...

Coles and Woolworths have prevented an estimated 1.5 billion bags being introduced into the environmentThe ban on single-use plastic bags by Australia’s two largest supermarkets prevented the introduction of an estimated 1.5 billion bags into the environment, and the retail industry is hopeful this is only the beginning.Coles and Woolworths’ decision to stop offering single-use disposable plastic bags midway through the year was initially met with swift public backlash. Continue reading...

Residents insulted by red, sad-face emoji placed on rubbish bins in botched campaignPeterborough city council has apologised for offending residents after thousands of stickers reading “waster” were put on bins as part of a recycling campaign.Dozens of households said they were insulted by the stickers depicting a red sad-face emoji on their black wheelie bins. Continue reading...

Brexit and heatwave drive up prices of sprouts, turkey and Christmas puddingShoppers who scour the high street for the best possible deals will still face the most expensive Christmas dinner in a decade.The UK’s cheapest traditional festive spread will cost nearly 6% more than last year after the hot summer combined with uncertainty about Brexit to drive up the price of turkey, sprouts and Christmas pudding, according to the latest annual survey by Good Housekeeping magazine. Continue reading...

Adani’s plans to get started quickly on a scaled-down version of its Queensland mega-mine still face numerous obstaclesThe Indian mining giant Adani could be left in limbo until September – well after the federal election – before learning whether its controversial Carmichael coal project will be allowed to access the Queensland freight rail network.Adani announced on Thursday it would self-finance the Carmichael mine and that construction would begin “imminently”. But the company still has to gain several regulatory approvals and negotiate access for its coal trains to use the Aurizon network. Continue reading...

Airgun testing in search for oil and gas could harm hundreds of mammals such as dolphins and whales off the Atlantic coastThe Trump administration is to allow marine creatures such as whales and dolphins to be harmed by companies as they search for potential oil and gas reserves off the Atlantic coast.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) has granted five operators permission to “incidentally but not intentionally harass marine mammals” while conducting surveys for fossil fuels in the seabed. Continue reading...

In the final part of our series looking at the climate report Trump tried to bury over Thanksgiving, we examine how regions will experience climate change

This week’s Upside digest on images sent back from Mars, and other scientific breakthroughsAs technology advances at a seemingly exponential rate, it can be hard to keep up – and journalists don’t always get it right.A report from 2017 found that over half of newspaper articles surveyed on scientific studies were factually incorrect. This was mainly due to journalists writing on initial findings without checking back for follow-ups or meta-studies, which could put a new spin on those first results. Continue reading...

‘Strike 4 Climate Action’ brings thousands of students together in defiance of prime minister’s warningThe best banners from the strike dayThousands of schoolchildren across Australia walked out of class on Friday to demand action by the federal government on climate change.The “Strike 4 Climate Action”, inspired by 15-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg, brought together children in capital cities and 20 regional centres such as Ballarat, Newcastle, Townsville and Cairns. A large protest was also held in Hobart on Thursday. Continue reading...

I’m six years out of school, nearly graduated from university, and I’ve never seen a protest like thisThe kids couldn’t believe it. The adults couldn’t believe it.

A new group supported by the Canary Wharf Group property company and lorry, coach and taxi drivers is attacking one of the city’s most popular routesEven on a wet, cold November night, London’s flagship cycle superhighway along the Embankment is thronged. Across the whole 24 hours, it is used by 10,329 cyclists, an average of seven a minute. But at this time of day, it is one every three seconds. In the rush hour, the bike track – which takes up one lane of this four-lane road – carries more traffic than the other three lanes put together.It’s an extraordinary success, and it looks like a permanent fixture. But it might not be. Behind the scenes, a powerful property company, Canary Wharf Group, is working with a political lobbying firm and major road organisations on a campaign to get it ripped out. Continue reading...

In the fourth part of our series looking at the climate report Trump tried to bury over Thanksgiving, we examine how sea-level rise will reshape the population

Spider milk containing four times the protein of cow’s milk is secreted by mothers, scientists in China findThe ability of mothers to produce milk for their babies is commonly considered a unique feature of mammals, but now scientists have discovered a species of spider that also nurses its young.Spider mothers were observed feeding a milk-like substance to their spiderlings and continuing to look after them almost into adulthood. Continue reading...

Use of tropical plywood from Malaysia and Indonesia risks destruction of orangutan habitat, say NGOsWood from threatened south-east Asian rainforests has been used to build venues for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, according to complaints filed with organisers.At least 134,000 large sheets of tropical plywood from Malaysia and Indonesia have been used as concrete moulds to build stadiums, causing what campaigners say is irreversible harm to precious biodiversity reserves. Continue reading...

WWF rates Australia a zero due to the absence of biodiversity measures in our Paris climate change commitmentsAustralia has been named as one of the worst performers among a group of 100 nations due to the absence of biodiversity measures in our climate change commitments, according to a new report by WWF.The report, published this week during the conference of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Egypt, examines whether climate commitments from countries under the Paris agreement also offer benefits for nature and biodiversity. Continue reading...

But many people still don’t agree with the consensus science that shows humans are the dominant cause of climate changeAmericans, including Republicans, are becoming more convinced that climate change is causing extreme weather and sea-level rise, according to a new poll from Monmouth University.Nearly two-thirds of Republicans, 64%, now think climate change is happening, compared to 49% three years ago. And more of the general population, 78% compared to 70% three years ago, acknowledge climate change. Continue reading...

Police have warned people not to approach the snake, which escaped from its owner’s home in BostonA boa constrictor has been reported missing from a house in Lincolnshire.Police have warned the public not to approach the snake, which has a white tail and grey, black and brown spots. Continue reading...

Charity warns against complacency as levels of plastic remain ‘shocking’Record numbers of volunteers turned out this year to help clear litter from the UK’s beaches, in the 25th annual Great British Beach Clean.But the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which organises the event, warned there were still shocking amounts of plastic litter on UK beaches, despite a 16% decrease compared with last year. It said the average of 16 glass and plastic bottles and drinks cans retrieved on every 100-metre stretch of beach (330ft) surveyed strengthened the case for the urgent introduction of a deposit return system in all parts of the UK. Continue reading...

Designer aiming to make business case for why brands should tackle climate changeStella McCartney is to announce a United Nations fashion industry charter for climate action, which will be launched at next month’s climate talks in Poland.The designer hopes the charter will “ring some alarm bells” while making a business case for sustainable fashion, setting out a path for collective action to enable low-carbon production methods to be scaled up, improving economic viability. Other signatories to the charter, which will be launched in Katowice on 10 December, have yet to be announced but are known to include several major fast fashion brands.

Despite announcement construction is to begin within weeks, regulatory approvals are still neededThe Indian mining giant Adani has announced it will self-finance its controversial Queensland coalmine project and says major works are due to start “imminently”.Adani has made a string of announcements in recent months that indicated the company would scale back its mine, rail and port plans plans, having been unable to find an outside investor. Continue reading...

Work crews and police leave Hillingdon site as activists mount Extinction Rebellion-style blockadeFour environmental protesters have stopped work by shackling themselves on a nature reserve where a new phase of construction of the HS2 high-speed rail link had been due to start on Wednesday evening.The group locked themselves to a contraption made of chimney pieces in a field at the Colne Valley nature reserve in Hillingdon where HS2 operatives are currently working on the controversial rail project. Continue reading...