by Angela Giuffrida in Rome and Jon Henley in Paris on (#6QVE5)
Meloni government accused of lacking will to confront climate crisis as floods cause havoc in Emilia-RomagnaTwo people are missing and about 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes after devastating floods and landslides hit the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, prompting accusations that Giorgia Meloni's far-right government lacks the will to confront the climate crisis.The flooding was brought on by Storm Boris, which had earlier wreaked havoc in central and eastern Europe, killing at least 24 people. Several major cities in central Europe were bracing for swollen rivers to peak on Thursday but defences generally appeared to be holding. Continue reading...
Around the US, policies empower school staff to view an unpaid food tab as proof of possible abuseEarlier this year, administrators at South Mebane elementary in North Carolina sparked outrage - and a rushed community fundraising effort - after they issued a terse warning to parents in a school newsletter: students with lunch debt would not be allowed to attend an upcoming dance.Community members donated more than $4,000 in three days to ensure no students were excluded. But while the newsletter raised worries that students in the Alamance-Burlington school system might be singled out for money problems, the district's meal policy contains a far more serious warning to families: repeated failure to pay for school meals can result in a referral to child welfare services for neglect. Continue reading...
Ken Done, Jonathan Zawada, Blak Douglas and others created companion pieces to children's works celebrating sharks and rays. They're now on display at the Australian Museum Continue reading...
In West Africa, Pygmy hippos are said to carry a diamond in their mouths, which they use to light their way through the forestThe thing to know about the pygmy hippopotamus named Moo Deng is that she is angry, but also she is sweet. In photographs, she is often blurry and at all times, she is shiny. She secretes something known as blood sweat" which is actually her sunscreen.She is a hippopotamidae. She is stout. She runs like a piglet and has a snout like a very, very new puppy's. She is very fast. Continue reading...
by Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent on (#6QVM9)
Campaigners criticise decision to scrap tax introduced in 2018 amid rise of flight shame' movementCampaigners have accused the Swedish government of doing everything in its power to stop climate action" after it cut a tax on flying, despite admitting that it would increase emissions.The flight tax, aimed at cutting pollution from aviation, was introduced in 2018, amid the rise of the flight shame" (flygskam) movement popularised by Greta Thunberg. Continue reading...
Automotive lobby group warns multibillion-euro fines' will punish manufacturers without relaxation of rulesEurope's car industry has called for the relaxation of EU emissions targets after sales of electric cars stalled further in August, adding to growing political pressure that threatens to slow the transition away from fossil fuels.The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), a lobby group, said that its members could face multibillion-euro fines" because the shift to electric production has not been quick enough to meet the EU targets. Continue reading...
Risk' analyses largely ignore the dangers of the climate crisis. Unless we wake up to them, they will soon outweigh all othersThe Irish sea captain who in 1751 discovered the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc) - closely connected with, though not identical to, the Gulf Stream - found a practical use for it: he used the frigid deeper water to cool his wine.That may seem a rather frivolous response, but of course, Capt Henry Ellis had no idea that the oceanic pattern he had stumbled upon had been critical to the climate, the agriculture and indeed the entire development of western Europe. The same excuse can hardly be made for British and European governments today.Anatol Lieven is director of the Eurasia programme at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and author of Climate Change and the Nation State: The Realist Case Continue reading...
Research says flat-fee train travel would bring economic and health benefits as well as simplifying ticket faresRenationalising the railways does not go far enough - Labour should spur a rail renaissance by allowing people around the UK unlimited train travel for a flat fee, campaigners have said.Under a climate card" system, passengers could pay a simple subscription to gain access to train travel across all services. This could be effective if set at 49 a month, according to research published on Thursday, though travellers on fast long-distance trains and those on routes in and through London would need to pay a top-up to reflect the greater demand on those services. Continue reading...
Landmark research finds 244m tonnes of organic carbon is stored in top 10cm of marine sediment in British watersSeabed habitats could capture almost three times more carbon than forests in the UK every year if left undisturbed, according to a report published on Thursday.Researchers at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (Sams) have calculated that 244m tonnes of organic carbon is stored in the top 10cm of UK seabed habitats. That includes seagrass meadows, salt marshes, kelp and mussel beds but most (98%) is stored in seabed sediments such as mud and silt. Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#6QTYH)
Food campaign Bite Back says 10 firms account for more carbon emissions globally than aviation industryBritain's biggest food and drink firms are doing too little to tackle the climate emergency and are producing staggering" amounts of greenhouse gases, campaigners claim.The 10 companies that manufacture more of the UK's food than anyone else produce more carbon emissions between them than even the aviation industry, a report says.Three of the firms increased their annual emissions in 2022 - Ferrero, Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo.Seven are on course to miss meeting emissions targets they have set themselves to achieve by 2050.Only four have a verifiable commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 - Danone, Mars, Mondelz and Nestle. Continue reading...
It is hoped MV Shingle, intercepted in 2014 with 32m cigarettes onboard, will benefit marine life and tourismThe valves opened, the sea gurgled in and slowly, imperceptibly at first, the ship began its journey to the bottom of the Atlantic.The 60-metre MV Shingle debuted in Ireland a decade ago as a smuggling vessel, but then became an unwanted hulk. On Wednesday afternoon it performed its swan song - scuttled off County Mayo to create an artificial reef. Continue reading...
Hosting the conference would help us overcome our colonial mentality and the fossil fuel lobby, both of which have held us back from tackling climate change
Cinnamon, a one-year-old female, escaped on Friday and has eluded inventive efforts to recapture herTo catch a rat, many call pest control. But how does one go about catching the world's largest rodent, the capybara?Zookeepers in Shropshire are wrestling with that very problem after Cinnamon, one of the furry breed native to South America, escaped. Continue reading...
by Sandra Laville Environment correspondent on (#6QTMR)
Minister approved Thames Water project at location prioritised by Sadiq Khan for wild swimmingLabour appeared to be in disarray on Wednesday over ambitions to clean up the River Thames for swimming.The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced plans to prioritise an area of the river in Teddington, south-west London, to make it safe and clean for swimming as part of a new 10-year strategy to reduce pollution in the river and encourage people to spend time in and around it. Continue reading...
Jill Stein, the party's presidential nominee, is polling at about 1%, and of 500,000 elected positions it holds just 149American politics often has wild deviations from the norms of other major democracies and one of the most striking differences is set to be on display in this year's election - the performance of its domestic Green party.There are elected Greens at the national level in the UK, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany and Australia, sometimes helping form governments, and yet the US Green party has only ever had a handful of state-level representatives (it currently has none) and has never had a federal election winner. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: The party talked up its plans for the climate during this summer's election - and now seems to be backing that up with real action Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.During their election campaign, Labour made it clear that the climate crisis would be a key focus should they make it into government. It looks as if they are making good on that promise. A number of senior cabinet ministers have come out this week, banging the drum for the government's climate policies and reminding the public and the media that the climate crisis and its effects are at the top of their agenda.Labour | Keir Starmer has declared more free tickets and gifts than other major party leaders in recent times, with his total now topping 100,000 after recent support for his lifestyle from Labour donor Waheed Alli.Middle East | Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel after pagers used by its members exploded across Lebanon simultaneously, killing at least nine people and wounding almost 3,000. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The apparent sabotage attack followed months of targeted assassinations by Israel against senior Hezbollah leaders.Music | Sean Diddy" Combs has been charged with sex trafficking and racketeering, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday. Combs had been arrested late Monday in Manhattan, roughly six months after federal authorities conducting a sex trafficking investigation raided his luxurious homes in Los Angeles and Miami.NHS | A fifth of GPs are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT to help with tasks such as writing letters for their patients after appointments, according to a survey.Aid | UK aid spending will fall to its lowest level since 2007 unless the government takes urgent remedial action in the autumn budget, a group of more than 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the aid and humanitarian sector jointly warned on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Conservation group calls on government to ban insect-killing neonicotinoid pesticides outrightA national butterfly emergency" has been declared by Butterfly Conservation after the lowest Big Butterfly Count since records began.An average of just seven butterflies per 15-minute count were recorded by participants in this summer's butterfly count, the lowest in the survey's 14-year history. Continue reading...
by Sandra Laville Environment correspondent on (#6QTBD)
Oxfam says commonsense solution' would reduce emissions and raise urgently needed climate financeFair taxes on superyachts and private jets in the UK could have brought in 2bn last year to provide vital funds for communities suffering the worst effects of climate breakdown, campaigners say.Private jet use in the UK is soaring. It was home to the second highest number of private flights in Europe last year, behind only France, according to figures from the European Business Aviation Association. Continue reading...
A network of public bodies are supposed to safeguard us from flooding. But, like old boys' clubs, they are bastions of self-interestLabour's first stage of government resembles a vast forensic excavation. As it works through the Conservatives' midden of horrors, it discovers an ever greater legacy of underinvestment, neglect and corruption. However disappointing the new government's compromises might be, we shouldn't forget how overwhelming this task must feel.So I'm sorry to expose yet another toxic stratum. It contains a series of stupendous failures in the governance of rural bodies, which, in the case I want to discuss, put human lives at risk.George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
Exclusive: analysis finds $800bn increase in direct support for activities including deforestation and fossil fuel useThe world is spending at least $2.6tn (2tn) a year on subsidies that drive global heating and destroy nature, according to new analysis.Governments continue to provide billions of dollars in tax breaks, subsidies and other spending that directly work against the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement and the 2022 Kunming-Montreal agreement to halt biodiversity loss, the research from the organisation Earth Track found, with countries providing direct support for deforestation, water pollution and fossil fuel consumption. Continue reading...
Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, was denied bail and entered his plea from jail in a video arraignment TuesdayA California man has pleaded not guilty to starting a fire that authorities said ballooned into the rapidly spreading Line fire that has scorched at least 39,000 acres (15,783 hectares) and forced the evacuations of thousands of homes.Online court records show that Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, entered the plea from jail in a video arraignment Tuesday in the San Bernardino city of Rancho Cucamonga. He was denied bail and appointed an attorney, the records show. Continue reading...
by Paul Karp Chief political correspondent on (#6QSSE)
PM says Labor's nature-positive legislation provides vital certainty' and talks up mutual respect in an address before the Business Council of Australia
Charity says band are a perfect example of an act that rose through the grassroots circuit and their support really will stop venues closing'Coldplay are to donate 10% of the band's proceeds from their 2025 UK dates in London and Hull to the Music Venue Trust, the UK charity that supports grassroots music venues.Earlier this year, parliament's culture, media and sport committee heard from promoters, artists and industry body representatives about the crisis" facing the country's smaller venues, nearly all of whom backed the idea of a 1 levy being placed on tickets from concert arenas to be distributed to smaller venues. Continue reading...
Two separate reports find policies will save Americans from pollution in coming decades and added nearly 150,000 jobsThe environmental policies of Joe Biden's administration will save approximately 200,000 Americans' lives from dangerous pollution in the coming decades and have spurred a surge in clean energy jobs, two independent reports outlining the stakes of the upcoming US presidential election have found.The first full year of the Inflation Reduction Act, the sprawling climate bill passed by Democratic votes in Congress in 2022, saw nearly 150,000 clean energy jobs added, according to a new report by nonpartisan business group E2. Continue reading...
When Rob Barrett set out to survey one of the country's largest colonies in the 1970s there were too many birds to count. Now, his pictures and archive images show a species decline echoed around the worldIn the mid-1970s, seabird researcher Rob Barrett set out in a rubber boat to survey one of Norway's largest seabird colonies. Equipped with a camera and a pair of binoculars, he planned to photograph the Syltefjord colony, in the far north of the country, then, back on land, develop the photos and fit them together to create a panorama. After that, he would count the birds.As the boat drew closer to the cliffs, the gulls' chattering increased to an overwhelming level. So did the smell. The cliffs rose 100 metres above him, kittiwakes filling every nook and crevice. It continued like that for five kilometres along the coast. Continue reading...
Climate summit host positioning itself as peacemaker but is accused of ethnic cleansing and imprisoning opponentsThe host country of this year's UN climate summit, Azerbaijan, has been accused of hypocrisy in calling for a global truce to coincide with the conference taking place.Azerbaijan holds the presidency of the Cop29 summit, which will take place in its capital, Baku, from 11 November for two weeks. Heads of government from around the world are expected and more than 180 countries are likely to be represented. Continue reading...
A koala has been spotted browsing the aisles of an IGA grocery store in regional Australia. Koalas are frequent visitors to the Victorian town of Meeniyan, population 840, but it's the first time one has entered the local supermarket. After 20 minutes exploring, the marsupial was carefully removed from the store with the help of a wildlife carer
Head of sports charity hails partnership that allows local people to use London independent school's football pitchChildren in the UK urgently need more easy-to-access green space, according to the head of a sports charity calling on private schools to open up their grounds.Kieran Connolly foundeed Sports Fun 4 All, which offers free football sessions to children in south London, and now works with a local private school that opens up one of its football pitches for his teams. Continue reading...
Czech Republic, Poland and Austria fear worst may yet be to come as thousands are evacuated to higher groundThe death toll from torrential rain and flooding in central and eastern Europe has risen to at least 16, with several more people missing, as authorities reported deaths in the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria and warned the worst may be to come.The number of victims in Poland rose to five after a surgeon returning from work drowned in the south-western town of Nysa, where the hospital was evacuated and patients rescued by raft. Four more people had died in the southern towns of Bielsko-Biaa and Ldek-Zdroj, firefighters said. Continue reading...
Cities such as Zurich and Dublin found to have key services accessible within 15 minutes for more than 95% of residentsWhen Luke Harris takes his daughter to the doctor, he strolls down well-kept streets with smooth sidewalks and curb cuts [ramps] for strollers at every intersection". If the weather looks rough or he feels a little lazy, he hops on a tram for a couple of stops.Harris's trips to the paediatrician are pretty unremarkable for fellow residents of Zurich, Switzerland; most Europeans are used to being able to walk from one place to another in their cities. But it will probably sound like fantasy to those living in San Antonio, Texas. That's because, according to new research, 99.2% of Zurich residents live within a 15-minute walk of essential services such as healthcare and education, while just 2.5% of San Antonio residents do. Continue reading...
Cultural protection order has been framed as a push to curry favour with inner-city seats, ignoring grassroots campaigns from Indigenous and non-Indigenous locals
North Carolina, New Jersey and New Mexico petitioned regulators to classify some PFAS as hazardous air pollutantsThree US states are formally demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) begin regulating PFAS forever chemical" air emissions, as the toxic threat that the pollution poses to the environment and human health comes into sharper focus.So far, federal regulators have focused on water pollution, but state environmental agencies in North Carolina, New Mexico and New Jersey last week filed a petition calling for the EPA to categorize four types of PFAS compounds as hazardous air pollutants and to begin regulating them under the Clean Air Act. Continue reading...
Storm Boris has caused several deaths, and thousands have been evacuated from their homes across Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia
Locals called it a miracle' when the steel plant in JD Vance's home town got $500m for an upgrade. But Trump's running mate calls shifting the US to cleaner energy a green scam'A hulking steel plant in Middletown, Ohio, is the city's economic heartbeat as well as a keystone origin story of JD Vance, the hometown senator now running to be Donald Trump's vice-president.Its future, however, may hinge upon $500m in funding from landmark climate legislation that Vance has called a scam" and is a Trump target for demolition. Continue reading...
Soaring sea temperatures have made the celebrated gastropod lethargic and infertile, so scientists are helping the threatened species to reproduceOf the many novel initiatives dreamed up by scientists to protect threatened species from the ravages of record ocean temperatures, Florida's new speed dating for shellfish" programme might be about the most extraordinary.Researchers are acting as matchmakers for the queen conch, a mollusc with iconic status in the Florida Keys, by removing them from the heat of their nearshore habitat and relocating them to deeper, cooler waters where a plethora of potential new partners awaits. Continue reading...
River wildlife is on the up and there's little evidence that storm overflows are being used more often. But protest is still vitalPublic outrage over river pollution has been heartening to see. Over the past few years, stories about sewage contamination in rivers have captured public attention, and prompted campaigns and protests, such as the forthcoming River Action UK march for clean water on 26 October in London. It is important to protect our rivers because they are biodiversity hotspots and essential for human health. However, as a freshwater ecologist, I know there is more nuance to the story than you may have been led to believe. From my perspective, there is some good news when it comes to our rivers. I would even say that some rivers in England are in the best state they have been in for hundreds of years.Many rivers in England are polluted, but we need to recognise that this is not an emerging issue but a much longer-standing one that has been largely ignored by the media and politicians for decades. Much of the recent furore over pollution has to do with increased awareness, rather than a sudden increase in pollution itself. It's only by understanding how these ecosystems have changed over time and reflecting on previous successes that we can make real progress.Michelle Jackson is associate professor of freshwater/marine ecology at the University of Oxford. Prof Jackson previously conducted one study that received funding from a wastewater treatment company, and currently has no industry funding. Continue reading...
As rich westerners fuel demand for the ancient fragrance, a lucrative race for the resin is killing the trees but leaving little of the trade's profit for those gathering itIn a corner of Covent Garden, well-heeled Londoners and tourists browse the range of frankincense products sold by a leading cosmetics brand while they drink a complimentary rose and berry tea. Amid the aromatic resin sheathed under glass, shoppers can buy age-defying" serums, creams and essences, and tablets to strengthen brittle nails and hair.At one counter, a sales assistant is advising customers on how much of the essential oil to add to their nebuliser to make guests feel relaxed without overwhelming them". Another explains frankincense's hydrating and rejuvenating" properties, including its alleged ability to smooth out fine lines caused by smiling and squinting. In terms of popularity, she says, it now far outstrips lavender, tea tree and other botanicals. Continue reading...
by Eva Corlett in Wellington and agencies on (#6QRJV)
The hoiho, which means noise shouter', triumphed in a year free from the usual scandals surrounding the competitionOne of the world's rarest penguins has been crowned New Zealand's bird of the year, in an unusually sedate year for the competition, free from the foreign interference and voting scandals of previous events.The endangered yellow-eyed penguin, or hoiho, is the largest of New Zealand's mainland penguin species and is distinctive for the pale yellow band of feathers linking the eyes. Continue reading...
National park authority due to make decision on Monday over Flamingo Land development proposalIf Flamingo Land's proposal to build on the shores of Loch Lomond is rejected in a vote on Monday, that decision should spell the end of the plan, the Scottish Greens have said.The Yorkshire-based theme park owner is behind the Lomond Banks proposal, under which two hotels and more than 100 self-catering lodges would be built along with a water park and other amenities. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6QR98)
Lobbyists are increasingly confident about expansion plans as concerns for the economy start to deepenThe younger, tormented minister mulling his position before the Labour government granted Heathrow's third runway in 2009 might have been greatly relieved to know that, 15 years later, not a shovel would have touched the ground.But now, returning to power with a revamped energy and climate brief, Ed Miliband again finds himself in a cabinet which, many in aviation hope, may usher in bigger airports and more flights - as well as enough CO2 emissions to outweigh any new solar farms. Continue reading...
Soaring UK production is helping sate record demand for ultimate superfood' but growers want more help from retailersWhether they add them to smoothies or salads or just pop them straight in their mouths, Britons are eating more blueberries than ever before. But whereas supermarket shelves used to be filled with imports, fruit growers are hailing a British blueberry boom".Sales of British blueberries are up by 13% this year, despite challenging conditions for growers, according to British Berry Growers (BBG), the industry trade group. It said the rise was a clear indicator of the rising consumer demand for healthier food choices and a testament to the quality of British blueberries". Continue reading...
by Shannon Sims in Lake Charles, Louisiana on (#6QR6Y)
Lake Charles has been battered by storms over the past 20 years - and now its most famous landmark lies in ruinsLast week, one south-west Louisiana city in particular was girding itself for Hurricane Francine's blow: Lake Charles, located about four hours west of New Orleans and two hours east of Houston.In the lottery of hurricane paths over the past 20 years, Lake Charles has been very, very unlucky. But Francine's impact on the city turned out to be relatively minor, a summer storm like locals are used to. Continue reading...
Environment | The Guardian