The carnivorous plant regulates its feeding behaviour depending on how many times its trigger hairs are stimulatedVenus flytraps can count, according to scientists who tested the carnivorous plants and found they use their mathematical skill to conserve energy and avoid false alarms.Researchers in Germany learned that the Venus flytrap adjusts its feeding behaviour according to the number of times the sensitive trigger hairs on its special leaves that resemble spring traps are stimulated. Continue reading...

Only a fraction of the Michigan governor’s documents released represent communications about the contaminated water supply, and much is redactedMichigan governor Rick Snyder cited a commitment to transparency and accountability when he announced he would voluntarily release his emails related to the city of Flint, Michigan.“The Flint water crisis is an extraordinary circumstance and therefore I’m taking this unprecedented step of releasing my emails to ensure that the people of Michigan know the truth,” Snyder wrote. Continue reading...

Authorised hunt of nearly 50 of the country’s 250 grey wolves, beginning this weekend, aims to curb illegal poachingFinnish hunters have been authorised to kill nearly 20% of the country’s wolf population in a controversial trial cull that begins this weekend, aimed at managing stocks.Authorities hope the sanctioned hunt of nearly 50 of the country’s estimated 250 grey wolves will curb illegal poaching, which some rural landowners have resorted to in recent years after seeing wolves on their property, sometimes killing their dogs and livestock. Continue reading...

Recent flooding shut brick ovens at United Biscuits plant in Carlisle used to toast fabled cracker with McVitie’s ginger nuts and custard creams also hitA shortage of some of Britain’s best-loved biscuits is looming after flooding hit production at a Carlisle factory.The flood damage has halted production of Carr’s water biscuits. A variety of other favourite names usually produced at the site have also been hit, including McVitie’s ginger nuts, Crawford’s custard creams and Crawford’s shortcake. Continue reading...

Irate residents in small coastal towns say Obama’s plan to open a new fossil fuel frontier would harm endangered marine life – as politicians warn of ‘tragedy’Kure Beach, North Carolina, doesn’t seem a likely place to call itself “ground zero” for a key plank of Barack Obama’s presidential legacy. The small coastal town’s concerns rarely stretch beyond its golden beaches and shucked oysters; but it has found itself at the forefront of a struggle to head off a huge expansion in US oil drilling.

2015 may have seen a small dip in the number of rhino poached in South Africa, but the level of killing is still double natural reproduction ratesThe announcement that South African rhino poaching deaths fell slightly in 2015 adds a misleading gloss to another devastating year in which criminal gangs expanded their operations into new, even more delicate rhinoceros populations.South Africa’s environment minister Edna Molewa said on Thursday that 1,175 dead rhinos were discovered during the country’s annual census of poaching activities - 40 less than the 2014 record of 1,215. Continue reading...

Strong progress made on everything from biodiversity to recycling will all be put at risk if the UK votes to leave the European UnionScientists recently declared that the evidence is compelling enough to say we are now living in the Anthropocene. Humanity’s impact on the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and wildlife has, they argued, pushed the world into this new epoch.Britain is a world leader on the environment and has played a pivotal role in the European Union on this issue ever since 1986, when Margaret Thatcher signed the Single European Act, which established the EU’s competence in this area. If we are to play our part in ensuring a green future for the UK, we must remain in the EU.

Jut when we need it most, the very future of seafood is in doubt. How did the official figures get it so wrong – and can anything be done before it’s too late?About 164,000 years ago, people living in a South African coastal cave discovered the joy of seafood. Discarded marine snail shells deeply buried in the muck of human habitation represent the first evidence of seafood dinners. From then on, the increasing presence and richness of archaeological remains, and historical evidence, testify to our deepening love affair with seafood.Related: Fish stocks: Good news is a drop in the ocean | Editorial Continue reading...

A coalition of 30 leaders from business, governments and NGOs wants to halve the amount of food wasted globally by 2030

Premature deaths attributed to particulate pollution rose in 2013 after falling in previous years, government figures showThe number of premature deaths attributed to particulate pollution has risen, government figures show.

Denmark’s third-largest city has transformed its prospects by making itself a desirable place to live and invest. At the heart of this change is an extraordinary commitment to getting the whole city cyclingThe huge, wooden scale model of Odense, inside a temporary information centre opposite the town hall, looks initially like a replica of the Danish city. But give them a few minutes and a local would begin to spot some differences, especially to the main traffic route bisecting the urban centre.Thomas B Thriges Street was built in the 1960s as a solution to growing car congestion: a fast-moving, four-lane road laid like a curved ribbon across the middle of the city. Continue reading...

Slight dip in the number of rhino’s illegally killed for their horns breaks relentless rise in deaths since 2007The number of rhino being killed by poachers in South Africa dipped slightly in 2015, in the first sign that the country may be turning the corner in the fight against the lucrative illegal trade.The number killed each year for their horn increased every year from 13 in 2007 to a record 1,215 in 2014, driven by demand in Asia that has made it worth more than gold. Continue reading...

Pulling the plug on carbon capture and storage competition throws emissions targets into question, industry experts warn. Climate Home reportsThe UK government’s decision to scrap support for carbon capture and storage jeopardises its entire climate policy.What is more, it thwarts Brussels’ strategy to develop the clean technology in Europe. Continue reading...

Carrier strike group of four ships is the first to begin operating regularly with a blend of petroleum and biofuels made from beef fatThe US navy on Wednesday launched its first carrier strike group powered partly by biofuel a mix made from beef fat, calling it a milestone toward easing the military’s reliance on foreign oil.The maritime branch touted the warships as the centrepiece of its “Great Green Fleet” part of a navy-wide initiative that aims to draw 50% of its power from alternative energy in four years. Continue reading...

According to newly released emails concerns over the water were dismissed by officials who blamed mayor for exploiting public panicMichigan governor Rick Snyder was informed of water quality issues in the city of Flint’s supply as early as February 2015, according to emails released to the public on Wednesday, but his administration struck a dismissive tone, saying the problems would eventually “fade in the rearview”.Related: How Michigan's Flint River is poisoning the city's residents Continue reading...

Record dry weather in the usually wet farming regions of south-west Victoria forces farmers to queue for water and leads to push for future-proofingRecord dry weather in the usually wet farming regions of south-west Victoria has forced farmers to queue for water from a community bore, and led to calls for infrastructure that will future-proof the region in relation to climate change.Related: 2015 smashes record for hottest year, final figures confirm Continue reading...

The frog genus Frankixalus has been found in four northeast Indian states but could now be under threat due to human developmentFor more than a century, two mysterious tree frog specimens collected by a British naturalist in 1870 and housed at the Natural History Museum in London were assumed to be part of a vanished species, never again found in the wild. Until now.Related: A Costa Rican red-eyed tree frog - in pictures Continue reading...

Activist Tom Steyer’s comments followed reports that California attorney general is looking into what the world’s biggest oil company knew about climate changeBillionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer spoke out on Wednesday in support of an unconfirmed investigation by California into allegations that ExxonMobil spent decades lying to investors and the public about its knowledge of climate change.“We don’t have the facts yet, but I think that there is enough that has been revealed that it’s totally appropriate that (California) be conducting this investigation,” Steyer told the Guardian. “Anybody who puts out intentionally misleading information I think should be answering to us.” Continue reading...

President says he would be devastated if his children’s health was jeopardized, in reference to contamination that has put health of tens of thousands at riskBarack Obama’s speech in Detroit on Wednesday was intended to be a triumphant celebration of the renaissance of an automobile industry once on the brink of collapse. But the president’s successful bailout of American carmakers and the subsequent revival of Michigan’s most important industry was eclipsed by a nearby civic emergency: a water crisis in Flint that has threatened the health of tens of thousands of people.

Resilient People: Marissa Aho recently became Los Angeles’ chief resilience officer. In a city prone to earthquakes, reliant on imported water and suffering a housing shortage, how could the city survive and recover after a catastrophe?On the list of existential threats to Los Angeles, earthquakes rank highest. With dozens of fault lines running beneath and around the metropolitan area, the ever-looming threat of the Big One is a not-so-quiet concern in the back of most people’s heads. The last major earthquake to hit the region was the 6.7-magnitude Northridge earthquake in 1994, which killed 57 people and caused billions of dollars worth of damage. Many predict that an even stronger earthquake is increasingly likely to strike by mid-century.But LA isn’t just idly waiting for the catastrophe. For the past year, Mayor Eric Garcetti has been working with the US Geological Survey’s southern California earthquake expert Dr Lucy Jones to develop an quake resiliency strategy for the city. In October, the city enacted the showpiece of that effort, a set of aggressive seismic regulations that will require retrofits on more than 15,000 buildings across the city. Continue reading...

Experts warn that global warming is tipping climate into ‘uncharted territory’, as Met Office, Nasa and Noaa data all confirm record global temperatures for second year running2015 smashed the record for the hottest year since reporting began in 1850, according to the first full-year figures from the world’s three principal temperature estimates.Data released on Wednesday by the UK Met Office shows the average global temperature in 2015 was 0.75C higher than the long-term average between 1961 and 1990, much higher than the 0.57C in 2014, which itself was a record. The Met Office also expects 2016 to set a new record, meaning the global temperature records will have been broken for three years running. Continue reading...

A cold snap has gripped Britain with temperatures plunging to a winter low of -12C. Warmer weather is expected from Thursday

Judge deems evidence from shadow chancellor irrelevant in trial of 13 climate change protesters accused of blocking Heathrow runway in July last yearShadow chancellor John McDonnell has been barred from giving evidence in the trial of 13 climate change protesters accused of blockading a Heathrow runway.The group of Plane Stupid supporters are accused of cutting a hole in a fence and chaining themselves to railings on the north runway in July 2015. Continue reading...

Yes, £480 for its latest cycling jersey and shorts is steep, but I’m still puzzled why the high-end brand, and those who wear it, are the focus of such ireWhen it comes to cycle clothing, one brand polarises cyclists like no other: Rapha. The very word will leave some purring at the thought of their next visit to its Soho store, while others will twitch involuntarily at the very mention of the name.Forums see these two entrenched camps trading blows, which often fall below the waistline. Rapha occupies a position in the high-end sector of the market and there’s no denying that its clothing is expensive, but premium fabrics and construction deliver performance and longevity. I rate their kit highly, but it is not infallible. Continue reading...

The aerial shooting of five coyotes on the now infamous Hammond ranch in Oregon cost taxpayers more than $11,000. Critics of Wildlife Services say that’s just the tip of the icebergAfter anti-government protesters took over Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge earlier this month to support two ranchers convicted of arson, it emerged that the convicts, Steven and Dwight Hammonds, had received thousands of dollars in financial support from the federal government. The public aid included the killing of five coyotes by a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) agent on Steven Hammonds’s ranch, to the tune of more than $11,000, according to documents obtained by Reveal News.Five coyotes might not sound like much, but the revelation shed new light on Wildlife Services, a federal agency long mired in controversy for what critics charge is excessive and indiscriminate killing of millions of animals and birds on public land at the behest of ranchers and farmers. Continue reading...

The cartoneros of Buenos Aires are finally cashing in on the city’s newfound love of recycling. But the Argentinian capital still has a long way to goCecilia works a five-block strip along Calle Paraguay in Palermo, a hip district in downtown Buenos Aires. Opening a flap door at the bottom of a lime-green bin the size of an industrial fridge, her gloved hands reach in to fish out the contents inside. Plastic bottles, discarded cardboard, newspapers, a discarded cheque book and a set of bookends: all the items disappear into a large, heavy plastic sack that she ties up and leaves by the roadside.“After we’ve finished, a truck from the cooperative comes and picks up the sacks and takes them back to the plant for sorting,” says the 34-year-old, who has been in the job for three years after a long stint of unemployment. Continue reading...

Providing energy which is green, secure and affordable is a challenge for governments around the world.The World Energy Council’s recent Energy Trilemma Index ranks countries on their ability to administer energy that is sustainable, reliable, affordable and accessible to its citizens. This interactive shows how ten countries are managing in those three areas (see definitions underneath the map). Continue reading...

With oil at below $30 a barrel, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran and Kuwait are looking to curb fossil fuel use at home to maximise export profitsThe oil price slump below $30 barrel is spurring some of the world’s biggest oil exporters to curb domestic consumption of fossil fuels and invest in wind and solar power, according to government officials meeting in Abu Dhabi.A month after the historic climate agreement in Paris, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and other oil exporters are in the midst of overhauling domestic energy policies and seeking alternatives to oil and gas for electricity. Continue reading...

Demise of reptile venerated as symbol of independence struggle considered bad omen for forthcoming Communist congressA sacred giant turtle venerated as a symbol of Vietnam’s independence struggle has died, state media have said, prompting an outpouring of grief and fears the death bodes ill for a forthcoming communist leadership handover.The reptile, a critically endangered swinhoe softshell turtle, occupies a key mythological role in the country – in the past, the turtle surfaced only rarely, with its sightings deemed auspicious. Continue reading...

How can ordinary citizens help bring about the change we need and encourage our leaders to actually lead on issues from drugs to climate change?What does the illegal drugs trade have in common with the death toll from the Ebola epidemic? Or our collective failure so far to address climate change (the climate agreement in Paris marks the beginning, not the end, of the road) or the security council’s inability to stop the violence in Syria and Iraq? In each case – as with so many other crises in our world – they have at their heart a lack of political will and a failure of leadership. Narrow, short-term self-interests have overshadowed the understanding of how, in a truly global world, interdependent are our destinies.

Goan authorities remove the coconut from their official list of trees to make it easier for them to be cut down by farmers

Leonardo DiCaprio condemns fossil fuel industries at the World Economic Forum’s 2016 Crystal Awards. DiCaprio says the world cannot afford to allow the corporate greed of the fossil fuel industries determine the future of the planet and humanity

Solution to climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground, Hollywood star tells World Economic Forum in DavosLeonardo DiCaprio has launched a ferocious attack on the greed of the world’s energy industry at the World Economic Forum in Davos.DiCaprio used an awards ceremony to demand more action on climate change, decrying those who deny it is a problem. And he insisted fossil fuels must be kept in the ground – backing a campaign launched by the Guardian last year. Continue reading...

Healthcare workers John Henshaw and Jessica Hoyt among group of protesters who walked on to Forestry Tasmania coup at Lapoinya in state’s north-westTwo healthcare workers protesting against the clearfelling of native forest in Tasmania have become the first people charged under the state’s controversial anti-protest laws.John Henshaw, 66, and Jessica Hoyt, 35, were in a group of nine protesters who walked on to a Forestry Tasmania coup at Lapoinya, 37km from Burnie in north-west Tasmania, on Monday. Continue reading...

The lifting of sanctions will support positive change quickly if government funds are freed to tackle environmental challenges and if international investment is encouraged in green technology

The trial of 13 climate protesters is not really about aviation, it highlights a glaring democratic deficitThey have been reviled as vandals, hooligans and lunatics. But to me, these people are heroes. The 13 women and men on trial this week for cutting through the perimeter fence around Heathrow airport and chaining themselves together on a runway were excoriated by police, passengers and politicians. (One of the defendants in the case is a member of the cooperative society that rents my house.) If convicted, they all face a possible prison sentence. But there are two trials here: the legal proceedings in a local magistrates court, and a test of something much bigger.Aviation enjoys some astonishing exemptions from the civilising rules that constrain other sectors. Other industries must limit the noise they make; but aircraft, thanks to an obscure clause in the 1949 Civil Aviation Act, are exempt. Other industries pay duty on the fuel they use; but even when air passenger duty is subtracted, aviation’s various tax holidays amount to a subsidy of some £7bn a year, forgone by the Treasury. Some industries must limit the air pollution they produce; but while in principle airports are subject to pollution laws, in practice they have been allowed to breach them routinely for years. (In this case the legal immunity also seems to extend to motor traffic.) Continue reading...

Geopolitical uncertainty, over-regulation and cyber attacks among biggest threats to business, survey of CEOs findsThe high profile UN summit on climate change in Paris appears to have had little impact on the decision making and worries of global business leaders.

During his state of the state address, Rick Snyder announced a $28m request to aid residents whose water last year was found to contain high levels of lead Michigan governor Rick Snyder said during his state of the state address on Tuesday that he would release his emails related to the city of Flint’s water crisis and request for a $28m appropriation from the legislature to help aid the town’s residents.“We will not stop working for the people of Flint until every person has clean water, every single day, no matter what,” the governor said on Tuesday. The town’s water supply was found to have been poisoned with extremely high levels of lead last year. As part of his appropriation request, Snyder said the additional funding would provide bottled water, faucet filters, and lead-testing kits for households in the city of 100,000. Continue reading...