In probably the hottest summer ever, workers are organizing in 13 cities to raise alarm about workplace heat exposureAs temperatures in Baltimore neared 100F earlier this month, 36-year-old sanitation worker Ronald Silver II died after he was found lying on the hood of a car and asking for water.It's the kind of tragic workplace heat-related death that advocates say could have been avoided with the right labor protections. So this week, during what will probably be the US's hottest summer on record, frontline workers are organizing actions in 13 cities across the country, raising the alarm about workplace heat exposure. Continue reading...
Regulations ignored credible research and didn't fully protect human health, independent scientists sayThe World Health Organization (WHO) is poised to scrap controversial drinking water guidelines proposed for two toxic PFAS forever chemicals".The move follows allegations that the process of developing the figures was corrupted by industry-linked researchers aiming to undercut strict new US PFAS limits and weaken standards in the developing world. Continue reading...
Tim Walz made school meals free for all children in his state, while Project 2025 is gunning for programs that feed students in high-poverty schoolsThe humble school meal is having a moment. With the nomination of Minnesota's governor, Tim Walz, as Kamala Harris's running mate, many voters and pundits are suddenly talking about school meals. And that's good, because the stakes are high for the national school lunch and school breakfast programs since the campaigns and their parties have very different records and plans.Since Walz became the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, an image of him has frequently circulated. In the photograph, he's surrounded by smiling children hugging him after he signed a 2023 bill making school meals universally free for all Minnesota children. His was the fourth state to commit to feeding all children at school; now nine states have done so, and more are considering similar measures. No more forms to fill out to prove your income, which busy parents can forget or that get crumpled in a backpack. No more penalizing children when their parents fall behind on lunch accounts. Every kid gets fed, powering them up for their day's work learning and growing. Continue reading...
An electric-powered complex debuts with hundreds of passive' homesIt was the midst of a July heatwave, with humidity sticky in the air. Phoebe Saldana sat in the colorful plaza of her East Harlem housing complex, watching her two young daughters ride scooters and climb on workout equipment.They were getting some playtime outside before returning to the cool respite of their two-bedroom apartment. To Saldana, 37, the air conditioning was a godsend. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: As visitors overwhelm Venice, Barcelona and other famous cities, a model rewarding travellers for being more responsible could inspire other municipalities Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. Today we're taking a little trip to Copenhagen to explore a new pilot initiative designed to reward tourists for climate-friendly actions". The CopenPay scheme has been designed to encourage visitors to act a bit more responsibly and think about their impact on the environment during trips to the Danish capital.In return for small environmental actions - like cycling to attractions or fishing litter out of the canals - visitors have been rewarded with small gifts such as free ice-cream and museum tours.Climate crisis | Hot weather inflamed by carbon pollution killed nearly 50,000 people in Europe last year, with the continent warming at a much faster rate than other parts of the world, research has found. Heat-related mortality was highest in Greece, with 393 deaths per million people.Ukraine | Ukrainian forces have captured 1,000 sq km (386 square miles) of Russia's bordering Kursk region, Kyiv's top commander has claimed, as Vladimir Putin vowed a worthy response" to the attack. 121,000 people have fled the region since the incursion began.UK news | A shop security guard has described how he overpowered a knifeman as he stabbed an 11-year-old girl and her mother, 34, in a horrific" and apparently random attack in London's busy Leicester Square in front of shocked workers and tourists.UK news | A series of errors and misjudgments" in Valdo Calocane's mental health care led to him being discharged, despite repeatedly not taking medication and showing signs of aggression, months before he killed three people in Nottingham, a report says. The Care Quality Commission warned of systemic issues with community mental health care".Technology | Labour MPs have begun quitting X in alarm over the platform's direction, with one saying Elon Musk had turned it into a megaphone for foreign adversaries and far-right fringe groups". Meanwhile, Donald Trump gave a rambling interview to Musk on the platform that was marred with technical issues initially preventing many users from watching the conversation. Continue reading...
If elected, the Democrat is likely to face a trade-off over manufacturing jobs and economic independence from ChinaEvery US presidential election is consequential but American voters face an unusually weighty decision in 2024. The outcome will have implications for foreign policy, social policy, and the integrity of the political system. But none of its consequences will be more profound or far-reaching than on global efforts to combat the climate crisis.As president, Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Paris climate agreement, while the US under Joe Biden rejoined it. Trump has promised to expand oil and gas production, and his campaign has said he will again withdraw the US from the Paris accord if he wins a second term. Continue reading...
Integrated' work to help biodiversity and tackle climate crisis can also benefit humanity, says Dr Trisha GopalakrishnaRestoring and protecting the world's forests is crucial if humanity is to stop the worst effects of climate breakdown and halt the extinction of rare species.Researchers have been concerned, however, that actions to capture carbon, restore biodiversity and find ways to support the livelihoods of the people who live near and in the forests might be at odds. Continue reading...
Yellow heat health alert in place for much of England as temperatures soarTemperatures in the UK have surged to their highest point of the year so far with 34.8C recorded in Cambridge on Monday, the Met Office said.The previous highest UK temperature in 2024 was 32C, recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens, south-west London, on 29 July. Continue reading...
Thirty mothers take turns with their babies in front of Mujur, 19, to try to encourage her to bond with newbornWhen staff at Dublin zoo discovered an orangutan named Mujur was pregnant they decided to stage maternal workshops.The 19-year-old female had not sufficiently bonded with either of her previous infants, who died in 2019 and 2022, so when she became pregnant earlier this year the zoo enlisted breastfeeding human mothers to try to show her how it was done. Continue reading...
by Ajit Niranjan Europe environment correspondent on (#6PXPW)
Continent is warming at much faster rate than other parts of world, leading to fires, drought and health problemsHot weather inflamed by carbon pollution killed nearly 50,000 people in Europe last year, with the continent warming at a much faster rate than other parts of the world, research has found.The findings come as wildfires tore through forests outside Athens, as France issued excessive heat warnings for large swathes of the country, and the UK baked through what the Met Office expects will be its hottest day of the year. Continue reading...
EPA says Tucson's drinking water is contaminated but air force claims agency lacks authority to order cleanupThe US air force is refusing to comply with an order to clean drinking water it polluted in Tucson, Arizona, claiming federal regulators lack authority after the conservative-dominated US supreme court overturned the Chevron doctrine". Air force bases contaminated the water with toxic PFAS forever chemicals" and other dangerous compounds.Though former US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials and legal experts who reviewed the air force's claim say the Chevron doctrine ruling probably would not apply to the order, the military's claim that it would represents an early indication of how polluters will wield the controversial court decision to evade responsibility. Continue reading...
Hidrovia project to dredge Paraguay River and build ports may destroy vast biodiversity and refuge of jaguars, giant otters and armadillos - and an age-old riverine way of life
A Thousand Thorns is a project by photographer Deepti Asthana documenting women's changing aspirations in rural India through the story of two young female forest guards in Rajasthan's Thar desert. Theirs is a scenario playing out in millions of homes - of the fight for equality and independence in a deeply patriarchal society Continue reading...
Weather-related claims hit 144m in second quarter of 2024 and total payouts rose by 5% to 1.4bnBritain's largest insurance firms have warned that the climate crisis has contributed to driving up insurance payouts to the highest level in seven years, after a sharp rise in damage to households and businesses from weather events.Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that the amount paid out in the three months to the end of June hit 1.4bn, a 5% increase on the first quarter of the year and the highest figure of any quarter since it started collecting the data in 2017. Continue reading...
Project to study all 11,000 species of butterflies and moths finds two species in the act of being created from one'The chalkhill blue has some surprising claims to fame. For a start, it is one of the UK's most beautiful butterflies, as can be seen as they flutter above the grasslands of southern England in summer.Then there is their close and unusual relationship with ants. Caterpillars of Lysandra coridon - found across Europe - exude a type of honeydew that is milked by ants and provides them with energy. In return, they are given protection in cells below ground especially created for them by the ants. Chalkhill blues thrive as a result, though their numbers are now coming under threat. Continue reading...
Controversial mining project is a political fault line in Balkan country over fears about environmental impactsThousands hit the streets in Serbia's capital Belgrade Saturday to protest against the rebooting of a controversial lithium mine set to serve as a vital source to power Europe's green energy transition.Before the rally, two leading protest figures said they were briefly detained by security officials who warned that any moves to block roads during the protest would be viewed as illegal. Continue reading...
Two-tier policing' claims are nonsense, but government is guilty of two-tier sentencing', says green energy boss Dale VinceA Labour donor has called on the government to review a sentencing regime that led to a climate protester being given a longer prison sentence than a Southport rioter who punched a police officer in the face, as he derided what he called two-tier sentencing".Dale Vince, the green energy entrepreneur who has given millions of pounds to Labour, said it was absurd" that a Just Stop Oil protester received a five-year prison sentence for their role in conspiring to cause gridlock on the M25 while a man pleading guilty to violent disorder received a significantly shorter sentence. Continue reading...
Some areas see days of temperatures over 100F, drying plants and fueling wildfires as extreme heat creates deadly conditionsCalifornia experienced its hottest month on record in July as grueling heat baked the American west for weeks on end.The state's average temperature for the month was 81.7F (27.6C), according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, but some areas endured days of temperatures greater than 100F (about 38C). Several cities broke temperature records during a heatwave in early July - Palm Springs hit 124F on 5 July, while Redding in the state's far north saw a high of 119F on 6 July. Continue reading...
As California sees increasingly devastating fires, Butte county residents lose their insurance - and homesKristy and Michael Daneau breathed a deep sigh of relief when they found the home for sale on a heavily wooded lane in northern California's Butte county five years ago. Everything lined up.The owner was looking to sell only to survivors of the Camp fire. A few months earlier, the couple and their four daughters had lost everything in the blaze, save for their four dogs. Kristy barely escaped the fast-moving flames. Continue reading...
The group says the logging in a state-owned forest in Queensland is taking place less than 3km from a high-density population group of endangered greater gliders. Conservation groups want swathes of St Mary state forest near Maryborough to be included in the Queensland government's proposed Greater Glider Forest park After 25 years, logging and bushfires, a greater glider has been spotted in Deongwar state forest Continue reading...
For first time, moors must hold licence under regime aiming to reduce unlawful killing of birds of prey by gamekeepersWildlife campaigners are calling for even tougher policing of Scottish grouse moors on the eve of this year's Glorious Twelfth", which marks the legal start of the grouse shooting season.On Monday 12 August moors across the British uplands will echo to the sound of shotguns and estate vehicles. Continue reading...
For a writer and runner in Denver, Colorado, the city's severe air pollution creates a daily dilemma: do something you love, or risk your health?Outdoor runners have always had a lot of data to juggle: their pace, heart-rate, mileage, route, calories, weather and much more. Though in recent years there's been a new, considerably more ominous data point for alfresco athletes to monitor: the Air Quality Index (AQI).The index, which measures the level of air pollution at any given time and location, is an increasingly necessary tool for outdoor enthusiasts in the age of climate change. Continue reading...
New research shows toxic forever chemicals' gas may escape landfills and threaten the environmentToxic PFAS forever chemicals" that leach from landfills into groundwater are among the major pollution sources in the US, and remain a problem for which officials have yet to find an effective solution.Now new research has identified another route in which PFAS may escape landfills and threaten the environment at even higher levels: the air. Continue reading...
Flea treatments for dogs, ant killer, washing-up liquid and herbicides may be partly to blame for decline in UKInsect numbers are in freefall and most people know that pesticide use in agriculture is partly to blame.But many domestic products including topical flea treatments for dogs, ant killer applications, washing-up liquid and herbicides can also contribute to the problem. Continue reading...
Most data stored on power-hungry servers is used once then never looked at againWhen I can has cheezburger?" became one of the first internet memes to blow our minds, it's unlikely that anyone worried about how much energy it would use up.But research has now found that the vast majority of data stored in the cloud is dark data", meaning it is used once then never visited again. That means that all the memes and jokes and films that we love to share with friends and family - from All your base are belong to us", through Ryan Gosling saying Hey Girl", to Tim Walz with a piglet - are out there somewhere, sitting in a datacentre, using up energy. By 2030, the National Grid anticipates that datacentres will account for just under 6% of the UK's total electricity consumption, so tackling junk data is an important part of tackling the climate crisis. Continue reading...
Legal action aims to force criminal justice department to air condition prisons, where 85,000 are at risk of heat illnessesWhen Jason Wilson was transferred in June to the Coffield Unit, a men's prison in Texas, to serve his sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, he was initially pleased by the change of scenery. He was aware that the lock-up could be challenging in summer, given its lack of air conditioning and the intense heat in the cells, but his previous institution had been depressing.It's better here for sure," he wrote in an email to an outside advocate. Continue reading...
by Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on (#6PVDB)
Drax received 22bn in subsidies despite being UK's largest emitter in 2023, though company rejects flawed' researchThe Drax power station was responsible for four times more carbon emissions than the UK's last remaining coal-fired plant last year, despite taking more than 0.5bn in clean-energy subsidies in 2023, according to a report.The North Yorkshire power plant, which burns wood pellets imported from North America to generate electricity, was revealed as Britain's single largest carbon emitter in 2023 by a report from the climate thinktank Ember. Continue reading...
Last month large parts of Tonga were left without internet when an undersea cable was broken. It's a scenario that is far more common than is understoodIt was the opening days of 2022, in the aftermath of a huge volcanic eruption, when Tonga went dark. The underwater eruption - 1,000 times more powerful than the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima - sent tsunami waves across Tonga's nearby archipelago and blanketed the island's white coral sands in ash.The strength of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai eruption severed internet connectivity with Tonga, causing a communication blackout at just the moment that a crisis was unfolding. Continue reading...
Another report found pesticide levels posing significant risks' in 20% of tested fruits and vegetablesA new scientific report lends weight to consumer concerns about pesticide residues on food, presenting fresh evidence that washing fruit before eating does not remove various toxic chemicals commonly used in agriculture.The paper, published on Wednesday in the American Chemical Society's journal Nano Letters, comes amid ongoing debate over the extent of pesticide contamination of food, and the potential health risks associated with a steady diet that includes pesticide residues. Continue reading...
Climate scientists say that the world is continuing to warm, despite brief respite in record breaking temperaturesEarth's string of 13 straight months with a new average heat record came to an end this past July as the natural El Nino climate pattern ebbed, the European climate agency Copernicus announced on Wednesday.But July 2024's average heat just missed surpassing last year's July, and scientists said the end of the record-breaking streak changes nothing about the threat posed by the climate crisis. Continue reading...
by Jonathan Watts Global environment editor on (#6PTXE)
Devastation in Brazil wetlands was made at least four times more likely by fossil fuel use and deforestation, scientists sayThe devastating wildfires that tore through the world's biggest tropical wetland, Brazil's Pantanal, in June were made at least four times more likely and 40% more intense by human-caused climate disruption, a study has found.Charred corpses of monkeys, caimans and snakes have been left in the aftermath of the blaze, which burned 440,000 hectares (1.1m acres) and is thought to have killed millions of animals and countless more plants, insects and fungi. Continue reading...
Exclusive: Victorian Environment Protection Authority launches proactive program' to investigate potential risks from recycled soil fillAsbestos found in recycled soil at more than half NSW waste facilitiesVictoria's environment watchdog has launched a compliance blitz of waste facilities that produce cheap landscaping soil after a Guardian Australia investigation revealed systemic problems with similar recycled products in New South Wales.The Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said it had begun a proactive program looking at recovered fines" - the cheap soil or sand substitute made from construction and demolition waste residues after larger recyclable materials are removed.Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...
Juneau residents clear sodden homes after lake dammed by Mendenhall Glacier gives way in what is now yearly eventResidents in Alaska's capital cleared out waterlogged homes on Wednesday after a lake dammed by the picturesque Mendenhall Glacier gave way, causing the worst flooding in Juneau yet from what has become a yearly phenomenon.At least 100 homes and some businesses were damaged by rapidly rising floodwaters that crested early on Tuesday, according to initial estimates. In some areas, cars floated in chest-high water as people scrambled to evacuate. The waters receded by Wednesday, and the river level was falling. Continue reading...
Volunteers are helping save baby sea turtles as the endangered species' favourite nesting spots come under pressure from development, poaching and tourists
UN says a global backlash' against climate action is being stoked by fossil fuel companiesFossil fuel companies are running a massive mis- and disinformation campaign" so that countries will slow down the adoption of renewable energy and the speed with which they transition away" from a carbon-intensive economy, the UN has said.Selwin Hart, the assistant secretary general of the UN, said that talk of a global backlash" against climate action was being stoked by the fossil fuel industry, in an effort to persuade world leaders to delay emissions-cutting policies. The perception among many political observers of a rejection of climate policies was a result of this campaign, rather than reflecting the reality of what people think, he added. Continue reading...
by Erika Hayasaki in Las Vegas, Nevada on (#6PTN0)
A year after the fire some try to rebuild life in the city known as the ninth Hawaiian island' - as temperatures top 117FRemedios Ramos moved into her newly built, sand-colored Las Vegas home during a blistering week in July, when temperatures topped 117F. Inside her air-conditioned living room, a shiny grandfather clock, its price tag still attached, chimed every half hour. I like it here," Ramos said, glancing around at her pristine surroundings: brand new reclining chairs, a glossy dining set, a television still in its box.But," she sighed, scrunching her face, I like it better back home, in Hawaii." Continue reading...
A new study is mapping the secrets to the remarkably steady flight of kestrels, which could inform future drone designs and help achieve steadier flight in fixed wing aircraft. Scientists later hope to adapt the data so it can be applied to larger aircraft Continue reading...
by Susanna Rugghia and Michele Gambirasi in Gaeta, an on (#6PTGF)
Much of Italy's beachfront is in the hands of family-run concessions who operate exclusive clubs or charge big money for umbrellas and loungers. But a new ruling is rallying activists on both sides
First phase of trial starts this month and includes rice and pastaOcado is testing offering everyday products such as pasta, rice and washing liquid in refillable packaging in a first by an online supermarket.The scheme will trial a reusable vessel that can take food or laundry products with no extra costs for customers. Continue reading...
Experts say booming demand for holidays afloat mean ocean liners' burden on the environment is growingThe huge passenger vessels sometimes known as cruisezillas" are getting bigger than ever, according to new research which has found that the world's biggest cruise ships have doubled in size since 2000.If the industry's growth does not slow, the biggest ships in 2050 will be eight times larger, in terms of tonnage, than the Titanic - the largest ship on the seas before it sank a century ago, according to the campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E). The group also found that the number of cruise ships has risen 20-fold since 1970. Continue reading...
Study shows average platform has four times the level of pollution exposure deemed safe by EPANew York City subway riders are breathing in hazardous air, with Black and Hispanic commuters exposed to higher levels of pollution, a new study shows.New York University researchers found that the average subway platform had four times the particulate pollution (PM2.5) exposure standard deemed safe over a 24-hour period by the Environmental Protection Agency, and nine times the exposure guideline set by the World Health Organization. Continue reading...
Only 40% of birds survive collisions with windows, researchers say, suggesting that mortality rates are far higher than previously thoughtLess than half of stunned or injured birds survive a collision with a window, research has found, pushing up estimates that more than 1 billion birds may die each year from flying into buildings in the US.In a new study published on Wednesday in Plos One, researchers examined how many birds recovered in rehabilitative care after a building collision. Older estimates had assumed that most stunned birds would recover, but researchers found about 60% died, meaning the number killed by building strikes may be far higher than previously thought. Continue reading...
Environment | The Guardian