Mainstream groups including National Trust and RSPB will join hunt saboteurs and direct action activists for first timeCrabs, badgers and scores of dragonfly wings will be among the fancy dress worn by thousands of people joining more than 350 environmental groups marching through London on Saturday to demand the next government does not recklessly" ignore the nature crisis.For the first time, mainstream organisations including the National Trust and the RSPB will stand beside hunt saboteurs and direct action activists in the Restore Nature Now march, as campaigners call on the next government to take bold" steps to tackle the biodiversity crisis. Continue reading...
Community conservation groups are fighting to protect woodlands from illegal logging, farming and fires, but limited resources are a constant challenge and the task is getting ever more difficult
State's transport department given a 2045 deadline to fully decarbonize and achieve zero emissions under agreementHawaii officials have announced a groundbreaking" legal settlement with a group of young climate activists, which they said will force the state's department of transportation to move more aggressively towards a zero-emission transportation system.You have a constitutional right to fight for life-sustaining climate policy and you have mobilized our people in this case," Josh Green, the Hawaii governor, told the 13 young plantiffs in the case, saying he hoped the settlement would inspire similar action across the country. Continue reading...
Heatwave leads to record daily highs in New York and Maine, as US south-west sees wildfires and excessive rainfallThe United States continues to suffer extreme weather as a heatwave baked millions across the upper midwest and north-east and a tropical storm soaked Texas and northern Mexico.The National Weather Service said the heatwave was expected to peak in the eastern Great Lakes, New England, the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic over the coming weekend. Continue reading...
DNA analysis of old samples finds only five historical cases raising hopes for polar bears as a distinct speciesA family of grolars" in Canada's Arctic remains the only confirmed example of hybrid offspring between polar and grizzly bears, according to a new study which may provide some optimism for conservationists worried about the future of polar bears as a distinct species.A team of North American researchers examined old bear samples collected between 1975 and 2015 using a newly developed tool to look for previously unknown examples of hybrid bears. Continue reading...
NFU and the BRC write to Tories, Labour and Lib Dems over lack of focus on food security in campaignsFarmers and supermarkets have accused the main political parties of ignoring the risk of severe food shortages in Britain, calling the issue a worrying blind spot" in their general election campaigns.The UK's main farming and food and drink bodies have joined forces to voice their frustration at the lack of focus on food security by politicians as the attempt to gain votes, despite the headwinds faced by producers. Continue reading...
Landmark judgment says planning bodies must account for burning of extracted fuel when considering site proposalsThe climate impact of burning coal, oil and gas must be taken into account when deciding whether to approve projects, the supreme court in London has ruled.The landmark judgment, handed down on Thursday, sets an important precedent on whether the inevitable" future greenhouse gas emissions of a fossil fuel project should be considered. Continue reading...
The animal, which is still categorised as vulnerable', has been the subject of a 20-year conservation programmeLess than a quarter of a century after the Iberian lynx was feared to be only a whisker away from extinction, populations of the animal have recovered enough across Spain and Portugal for it to be moved from endangered" to vulnerable" on the global red list of threatened species.The change in status, announced on Thursday by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN), is the result of a two-decade-long effort from a coalition of partners including the EU and regional and national governments in Spain and Portugal, as well as wildlife NGOs and local people. Continue reading...
by Anna Fazackerley in Falmouth. Photographs by Luke on (#6NN76)
On Falmouth pier, volunteer angling coaches and men and women of all ages gather regularly for fresh air, companionship and the mindfulness that comes from casting a rod into the seaWhen Justin Keight saw two ambulances outside his best friend's house one morning during the Covid lockdown, he knew instantly what it meant. His friend, who was married with children, had lived with depression.The day before he killed himself he told me he was really struggling," he says. Keight urged him to stay the night and talk, but his friend did not want to break the social distancing rules.On Falmouth pier, Andrew prepares his rod to take part in the Tight Lines fishing session Continue reading...
Just Stop Oil activists have sprayed two jets with orange paint at a private airfield in Stansted where they say Taylor Swift's plane landed before her shows at Wembley stadium. The group said on X: 'Private jet users are responsible for up to 40x as much carbon emissions compared with a commercial flight'. The previous day, Just Stop Oil protesters sprayed Stonehenge with orange powder paint before the summer solstice
by Nina Lakhani Climate justice reporter on (#6NN53)
Researchers find extreme heat four times more likely than at turn of millennium and urge reduction in fossil fuelsThe deadly heatwave that scorched large swaths of Mexico, Central America and the southern US in recent weeks was made 35 times more likely due to human-induced global heating, according to research by leading climate scientists from World Weather Attribution (WWA).Tens of millions of people have endured dangerous daytime and nighttime temperatures as a heat dome engulfed Mexico, and the large, lingering zone of high pressure stretched north to Texas, Arizona and Nevada and south over Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Continue reading...
Only two countries provide fair amount to compensate lower-income nations for biodiversity loss, with most paying less than half what they should, says ODIThe UK, Canada, New Zealand, Italy and Spain are among the rich countries contributing less than half their fair share of nature finance to poor countries, a new report has found.Developed nations have agreed to collectively contribute a minimum of $20bn annually for nature restoration in low and middle-income countries by 2025. This money is in addition to the $100bn agreed for climate finance. Continue reading...
by Damian Carrington Environment editor on (#6NN3V)
Largest ever climate survey also finds majority want countries to set aside differences to fight global heatingMost people in the world's biggest fossil fuel producing countries want their countries to transition quickly to clean energy to fight the climate crisis, according to the largest ever climate opinion poll, conducted by the UN.Many of these states have profited heavily from fossil fuel exploitation, but the 77-nation poll shows their citizens are deeply concerned about the impacts of global heating on their lives. In China and India, the biggest coal producers, 80% and 76% respectively want a quick green transition. Continue reading...
Report finds developing countries are increasing reliance on coal, gas and oil as overall demand for energy risesThe world's consumption of fossil fuels climbed to a record high last year, driving emissions to more than 40 gigatonnes of CO for the first time, according to a global energy report.Despite a record rise in the use of renewable energy in 2023, consumption of fossil fuels continued to increase too, an annual review of world energy by the Energy Institute found. Continue reading...
Environmentalists hail decision to end practice in five years but aquaculture industry warns of 6,000 jobs at riskCanada will ban open-net pen salmon farming in British Columbia coastal waters in five years, the government has announced, a decision that has been welcomed by environmental groups but opposed by the aquaculture industry.The Liberal government made the decision in 2019 to transition to closed containment technologies to protect declining wild Pacific salmon populations. Continue reading...
Peter Dutton says renewable energy is too expensive - and unveils a plan to switch to nuclear, which the CSIRO says will cost 50% more than wind or solar
Commission recommends 33-point plan to ensure oil giant complies with state climate commitmentsThe French government should intervene in TotalEnergies and spur faster climate action, a senate inquiry commission has concluded.The commission, set up to explore ways the state could guarantee that the oil conglomerate complies with French climate commitments, recommended 33 steps the government should take to encourage a rapid, orderly and effective transition". Continue reading...
Two people have been arrested after Just Stop Oil activists sprayed orange powder paint over Stonehenge. Members of the public tried to stop the incident and a visitor managed to wrestle a spray can from one of the protesters. According to Wiltshire police, two people have been arrested. The prime minister condemned the incident, saying: 'This is a disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK's and the world's oldest and most important monuments.'. Just Stop Oil says it took the action to demand the incoming government sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030
The photographer Tamsyn Warde explores spaces in which children play in Hampshire, UK, examining how and where they play and where play belongs in their lives. Spontaneous play is child-led and sparked by their own imaginations and interests - and this kind of play evolves naturally when children have the opportunity, requiring time that is not dictated by an adult timetable, and freedom of an appropriate space close to home
New York's Choy Commons builds supply chain of heirloom vegetables while reviving an agricultural legacyEvery Wednesday afternoon, seniors, community groups and restaurants across Manhattan Chinatown receive boxes of freshly grown Asian heirloom vegetables - it could be cabbage, Thai basil, bitter melon, chili peppers, okra or green stem cauliflower, depending on the season. The produce was grown by a small group of Asian American farmers upstate who are on a mission to make these staples more affordable and accessible for their own communities.I want our food to go to people who would really love it, but would not have access to it without money," said Amanda Wong, a 34-year-old farmer and co-owner of Star Route Farm in Charlotteville, New York. She's part of a collective of Asian American farmers in the Hudson Valley region known as Choy Commons, which grows ancestral foods and then works with mutual aid groups to distribute them, often for free, among the Asian American community. Continue reading...
An ecopark that treats injured wild animals from all over Argentina and the largest biobank in South America has the support of the public and conservationistsA mara, stretched out under the shade of a huge ombu tree, greets you at the entrance to the Buenos Aires Eco-park. It's just one of dozens of the hare-like rodents that roam the grounds of the former city zoo.Today, only a few legacy animals" remain in Buenos Aires, those hard to relocate due to their age. These include two hippos, which wallow in a new enclosure; a pair of geriatric giraffes; two aged elephants, which have regular podiatry sessions; and an arthritic camel, which receives acupuncture and magnet therapy five times a week. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: The inequality between fee-paying schools and the rest in terms of green space has been described as staggering'. Why is the disparity so big, and what impact is it having on children? Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.There is a wealth of scientific and anecdotal evidence that shows spending time in green spaces has significant mental and physical benefits for everyone, particularly children. Even just looking at scenes of nature can reduce stress and regulate heart rate. But not everyone gets access to nature in the same way.North Korea | Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea on Tuesday for a summit with Kim Jong-un, amid US warnings against any agreement that could add to military pressure on Ukraine and raise tensions on the Korean peninsula. They are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday and sign agreements designed to deepen a relationship that has strengthened significantly since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.General election 2024 | Labour has challenged the Conservatives to match its commitment to strengthen the Office for Budget Responsibility within the first 100 days of government. The changes are intended to prevent a repeat of Liz Truss's catastrophic mini-budget, which was delivered without an OBR forecast, by preventing ministers from gagging" the watchdog in future.China | Hundreds of Uyghur villages and towns have been renamed by Chinese authorities to remove religious or cultural references, with many replaced by names reflecting Communist party ideology, a report has found.Israel | The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, has said a decision on an all-out war with Hezbollah was coming soon, as Israel generals announced late on Tuesday that they had signed off planning for an offensive into Lebanon. The escalating rhetoric came after the release of video footage from a Hezbollah surveillance drone's overflight of the northern city of Haifa, which included images of sensitive sites and civilian neighbourhoods.Environment | Microplastics have been discovered in penises for the first time, raising questions about a potential role in erectile dysfunction. Male fertility has fallen in recent decades and more research on potential harm of microplastics to reproduction is imperative, say experts. Continue reading...
Speaking in Sydney on the Coalition's proposal to build seven nuclear power plants, opposition leader Peter Dutton says 'the first two' would be complete 'between 2035 and 2037, depending on which technology you use', with the rest to be completed 'into the 2040s' and 'ahead of 2050'. Dutton says this is 'achievable' and a 'sensible rollout'Subscribe to Guardian Australia on YouTube
In announcing the Coalition's proposal to build seven nuclear power plants, opposition leader Peter Dutton says the government's energy policy is 'not fit for purpose'. Dutton says the Coalition wants to make use of existing assets and that coal-fired power station sites can be used to distribute energy generated from the latest-generation nuclear reactorsSubscribe to Guardian Australia on YouTube
Issuing licences in the North Sea without accounting for environmental impact was unlawful, Oceana UK saysA marine conservation group has initiated legal action against the UK government, claiming the Conservatives' decision to issue North Sea oil and gas licences without taking into account their impact on the environment was unlawful.Oceana UK, part of an international conservation organisation, said that in issuing 82 licences, Claire Coutinho, the secretary of state for energy security, and the North Sea Transition Authority, ignored advice from independent government experts about the potential effects on marine protected areas (MPAs). Continue reading...
Global study reveals dirty air is second only to malnutrition as cause of death among under-fivesNearly 2,000 children under five are dying every day from air pollution, which has overtaken poor sanitation and a lack of clean water to become the second biggest health risk factor for young children around the world.More than 8 million deaths, of children and adults, were caused by air pollution in 2021, according to a new study from the Health Effects Institute (HEI), as both outdoor and indoor pollution continue to take an increasing toll on health. Continue reading...
Aerial footage has revealed the scale of a wildfire in Colusa County, northern California. Video released by California forest protection department showed the blaze covers 10,000 acres. Firefighters in California have been struggling with several wildfires, which have led to evacuation orders and warnings in affected areas
Center for Biological Diversity signed a joined petition to recognize the increasing number of heat-related crisesA coalition of environmental non-profit organizations have called on the the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to add extreme heat and wildfire smoke to its list of major disasters that could qualify for emergency funding.The Center for Biological Diversity signed a joint petition on Monday urging Fema, the federal government's lead agency in responding to natural disasters, to officially recognize the increasing number of heat-related crises. Continue reading...
Arjuna Capital agreed not to pursue effort to put climate science on agenda at company's annual meetingsA federal court in Texas has dismissed a lawsuit brought by ExxonMobil against activist shareholders pushing for the oil giant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as contributions to anthropogenic climate change.The lawsuit aimed at Arjuna Capital was dismissed after a lawyer for the activist investor group agreed not to pursue its effort to put climate science on the agenda at the company's annual meetings.Reuters contributed reporting Continue reading...
Michael Regan defends civil rights record and denies abandoning communities who face brunt of toxic pollutionRepublican-led states attacking protections shielding disadvantaged communities from industrial pollution will be confronted by the Biden administration, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned.In a Guardian interview, Michael Regan, administrator of the EPA, also denied abandoning those who face the brunt of air and water contamination in the US. Continue reading...
Increasing use of fans, air coolers and air conditioners is placing serious' strain on grid in north of countryEngineers in India have warned of the possibility of prolonged power outages in the north, where a heatwave has brought misery for millions of people.Demand for electricity has soared due to fans, air coolers and air conditioners being run constantly, placing a strain on the grid in Delhi and elsewhere in the north. Manufacturers of air conditioners and air coolers report sales rising by 40-50% compared with last summer. Continue reading...
Stark images of coal markets, coastal cleanups and a photographer who burns her own work all feature in this year's Earth Photo awards Continue reading...
Investigation finds assessors providing inaccurate EPCs and unhelpful advice to homeownersThe consumer group Which? has called for an overhaul of the energy performance certificates (EPC) system after an investigation found assessments riddled with inaccuracies and unhelpful advice that could cost homeowners thousands of pounds.The investigation, which included Which? securing EPC assessments for 12 homeowners, found in one case an assessor had failed to mention a property's solar panels or wood burning stove in their final assessment, while the cost of upgrades recommended to another owner would not have been recouped for 29 years. Continue reading...
Cities in midwest and north-east brace for heatwave with some to experience highs of 105F - 25 degrees above normalExtreme heat has begun to hit the US, delivered by a high-pressure weather pattern that the federal weather prediction center says will be potentially the longest experienced in decades for some locations".According to meteorologists with WeatherBELL Analytics, about 265 million people in the US are forecast to see air temperatures reach or exceed 90F (32C), with many of them experiencing heat indices of about 105F by next Sunday. Continue reading...
University hires Brunswick Group amid anger from campus organizers at its sustainability school's fundingStanford University's sustainability school has hired a public relations firm to address potential reputational challenges" amid concern from campus activists over the institution's extensive ties with fossil fuel companies.However, that PR firm, the Brunswick Group, has itself faced criticism for working with oil and gas companies, disappointing the university's climate advocates. Brunswick says it is vital to engage with companies in the most complex sectors to decarbonize". Continue reading...
Environment | The Guardian