Victorian government says it's only fair' Great Ocean Road tourists should pay to see famous limestone stacks

Megawatt fast EV charging reflects a coordinated grid strategy the UK once used. Privatisation and fragmentation now make that infrastructure far harder to buildThe future of electric cars arrived this week in China. The world's biggest car seller, BYD, unveiled a new battery giving its latest electric models more than 600 miles of range. Remarkably, the Chinese motor-maker said 250 miles of range could be injected into its new batteries in just five minutes. If true, the last remaining advantages of petrol cars - long range and quick refuelling - are beginning to disappear.But such technology requires megawatt charging points. A single charger can draw as much power as a small town in Britain. BYD's system relies on chargers delivering around 1.5 megawatts of electricity - more than four times the fastest chargers in the UK. China is moving fast, planning thousands of megawatt charging stations within two years.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

Once abundant in California, the white abalone had all but vanished. Now, thanks to an innovative breeding program, it's staged a remarkable comebackOn a sunny January afternoon in Bodega Bay, some 70 miles north of San Francisco, the White Abalone Culture Lab is humming with activity.It's spawning day. Alyssa Frederick, the lab's program director, invites me into an industrial room full of troughs and tubs of bubbling seawater. The abalone program is tucked away in the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, a research facility devoted to studying ocean and coastal health. The goal is to bring the endangered sea snails, known for their iridescent shells and delicate meat, back from the brink. Continue reading...

LeadCare II offers point-of-care testing but the equipment has had recalls globally due to the potential for inaccurately low readings

Vermont and New York face high stakes to protect climate superfund laws as it faces attacks from Trump's DoJ

Self-styled punk' beer company bought land in 2020, pledging to plant Scotland's biggest ever forest'The self-styled punk" beer company BrewDog sold its Highland estate for a knockdown price after abandoning its efforts to plant Scotland's biggest ever forest" there.BrewDog's co-founder James Watt claimed its Lost Forest project at Kinrara in the Cairngorms national park would cover a staggering area" and capture tens of millions of tonnes of CO during its lifetime. Continue reading...

Prof Tim Lang says country produces far less food than it needs to feed population and is particularly vulnerableThe British government should be stockpiling food, according to a leading expert on food policy, as it is not prepared for climate shocks or wars that could cause the population to starve.Prof Tim Lang of City St George's, University of London said the UK produced far less food than it needed to feed itself, and as a small island that relied on a few large companies to feed its giant population, it was particularly vulnerable to shocks. Continue reading...

First of the trusts, formed with 12 people in a Norfolk pub in 1926, buys swath of farmland to restore to natureThe place where Norton Wood once stood is now a vast field of decaying wheat stubble. The ancient wood was grubbed up during the second world war. No trace of it remains - on the surface, at least. This ghost in the landscape lives on only in the name of the local village: Wood Norton.But trees will soon be bursting upwards again and the wood will regrow after Norfolk Wildlife Trust celebrated its 100th birthday by buying a swath of farmland to revive for nature. Continue reading...

This week's best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...

The 55 pilot whales, which had to be euthanised, had been following a female having a difficult birth, scientists believeThe mass stranding and death of 55 whales on the Isle of Lewis in 2023 was caused by the mammals' loyalty to their pod, a report has concluded.It had been thought that the unusually large incident on Traigh Mhor beach, Tolsta, could have been caused by trauma, disease or acoustic disturbance from military or industrially generated noise. Continue reading...

Lazarus taxa

BoM issues flood watch covering most of Queensland while NT authorities warn houses and roads could be inundated

The country's network of footpaths is growing - with hopes they will develop local economies and better preserve the environment

Fossil fuel price surge after US-Israeli attacks on Iran prompts calls to end dependence on volatile' energy source

Pacific island says the US weakened its proposal to advance a key climate ruling but vows to hold major polluters accountableThe Trump administration's attempt to sink a UN resolution demanding countries act on the climate crisis has caused cuts to the proposal but hasn't entirely killed it, according to the tiny Pacific island country spearheading the effort.The US has demanded that Vanuatu, an archipelago in the south Pacific, drop its UN draft resolution that calls on the world to implement a landmark international court of justice (ICJ) ruling from last year that countries could face paying reparations if they fail to stem the climate crisis. Continue reading...

Regulator says failures that hit nearly 300,000 customers made worse by utility's failure to maintain efficient supply system

At least eight councils receive legal threats alleging flyers criticising wood burners are in breach of advertising codesLobbyists for the UK wood-burning stove industry have threatened councils with legal action over public information campaigns warning of the harms of air pollution.At least eight councils have received legal threats, according to research by the British Medical Journal (BMJ). The Stove Industry Association (SIA), which represents the UK's expanding industry around the burning of wood in domestic settings, wrote to the councils, all London boroughs, in late 2023 complaining that flyers stating wood burners were careless, not cosy" were in breach of UK advertising codes. Continue reading...

The arrival of loggerheads in New South Wales shows these sentinels of climate change' are being forced into unknown territoryWhen Bulwal Bilima (BB for short) first arrived at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, she, or possibly he, was lethargic, badly constipated and dehydrated. Named strong turtle" in the Aboriginal Dhurga language of the Yuin people on whose land it was found, the tiny 110g loggerhead hatchling, no bigger than a bar of soap, had a fight on its hands.The baby turtle was found stranded in New South Wales's Booderee national park last April, much further south than the usual hatching grounds. After days of feeding on squid, sardines and marine vitamins, BB, whose sex cannot be determined until it is fully mature, revived. Continue reading...

If we want things to be Made in Europe' again, we need to be realistic about how grimy and grey our centres of commerce once wereBitterfeld, Bitterfeld, where dirt falls from the sky," went a popular saying. Located in the intensely industrialised Chemical Triangle of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), in the 1980s Bitterfeld became known as the dirtiest town in Europe. Its chemical industry and lignite mines dumped toxic waste in waterways, and the air carried a concentrate of sulphur dioxide some 40 times today's levels.Europe would soon be rattled out of its postwar reliance on heavy industry, in favour of cheap imports from abroad. In the last days of the GDR, environmental activism brought the coup de grace. The 1988 release of the undercover film Bitter Things from Bitterfeld shed light on the appalling living conditions in the Chemical Triangle, and the city's chemical plants were soon decommissioned.Hans Larsson is an architect at OMA/AMO Continue reading...

The UK should optimise North Sea oil and gas production while it transfers to renewables and nuclear developmentsThe chancellor's failure to reform or remove the energy profits levy (EPL) - AKA the North Sea windfall tax - in her spring forecast was a case of political expediency and more to do with putting one byelection result before the economic needs of the country". Who said that? Some Tory or Reform politician being opportunist as war in Iran puts the UK's energy import dependency in the spotlight?Actually, no, it was the general secretary of the GMB union, Gary Smith, on Wednesday, demonstrating once again that views on the North Sea oil and gas do not fit neatly into a left-right divide. He has been making the principled case for an orderly transition in energy for ages, warning that decarbonising via deindustrialising costs jobs and will end up pushing voters rightwards. Continue reading...

Climate deniers expected more resistance to the fossil fuel blitz. But Democrats, billionaires and activists have gone silent

Government says it is working to solve postcode lottery' of access to green or blue spacesThere are urban areas of England where no one lives within a 15-minute walk of nature, government data shows, as ministers scramble to meet their access to nature targets.While the data shows 80% of people live within walking distance of green or blue spaces such as a river, park or woodland, it also reveals a disparity between rural and poorer urban areas. Continue reading...

Firm admits supplying water unfit for human consumption after nearly 150 people fell illA major utility company has admitted supplying water unfit for human consumption after a parasite outbreak in Devon made almost 150 people sick.South West Water (SWW) pleaded guilty to the criminal offence relating to the cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Brixham, Devon, which affected 2,500 homes. Continue reading...

Analysis shows average levels are 30cm higher than thought, and up to 150cm in south-east Asia and Indo-PacificSea levels around the world have been underestimated due to inaccurate modelling, with research suggesting ocean levels are far higher than previously understood.The finding could significantly affect assessments of the future impacts of global heating and the effects on coastal settlements. Continue reading...

Company will halt production of controversial paraquat weed killer by end of June as it faces thousands of lawsuitsSyngenta, maker of a controversial pesticide linked to Parkinson's disease, said on Tuesday that it will stop making its paraquat weed killer by the end of June.The announcement comes as the company is facing several thousand lawsuits brought by people in the US who allege they developed Parkinson's disease due to their exposure to Syngenta's paraquat products. Continue reading...

Puffins, guillemots, razorbills and terns are washing up on shores across Europe, after a string of storms affected their ability to find foodThe two puffins washed up among seaweed and bits of plastic on a beach in Newquay, Cornwall, on a damp February morning. Normally, these much-loved seabirds pull in crowds of tourists eager to see their courtship rituals, but these were rolling in the surf, dead. Most people walking past probably missed them.Their breast bones were sticking out, they had no fat on them, and their muscles were wasted; the pair probably starved to death, unable to find enough food out in the Atlantic Ocean where they spend the winter. Continue reading...

Instead of removing plant-munching caterpillars, gardeners asked to take relaxed attitude to support the moths many of them grow intoAs spring unfolds and plants come to life, gardeners often fight a losing battle against the caterpillars who munch their cabbages.Traditionally, advice for gardeners regarding caterpillars would be about how to get rid of them and stop unsightly holes in plants. But the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Wildlife Trusts are asking Britons to take a relaxed attitude to caterpillar carnage in order to support the moths many of them grow into.Foxgloves: These pretty plants are food for several moths, including the lesser yellow underwing (Noctua comes), angle shades moth (Phlogophora meticulosa) and setaceous Hebrew character (Xestia c-nigrum).Lady's bedstraw: This native wildflower with frothy yellow blooms provides food for the hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), elephant hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) and bedstraw hawk-moth (Hyles gallii).Mullein: These tall, drought-resistant yellow plants are enjoyed by the brightly striped caterpillars of the mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci).Mint: This provides food for the mint moth and beautiful plume moth. It is also loved by bees.Hedges: If you have space, a mixed native hedge planted with hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), hazel (Coryllus avellana) and dog rose (Rosa canina) provides food for a multitude of caterpillars. Continue reading...

From the Chagos Islands to windmills' and sharia law, the US president's comments do not bear much scrutinyDonald Trump has been opining about the UK again, saying on Tuesday that Keir Starmer was not Winston Churchill" and repeating his complaint about the deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Here are some recent things the US president has said about British issues, and how they compare with reality. Continue reading...

Olivier De Schutter says new economic agenda needed to tackle crises of rising inequality and ecological collapseThe global economy must be reordered to ensure it serves ordinary people around the world rather than the frivolous and destructive demands of the ultra-rich", according to a leading UN figure.Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, says politicians must stop prioritising socially and ecologically destructive growth" that only increases the profits - and serves the consumption demands - of the world's richest individuals and corporations. Continue reading...

Researchers hope restoring the original song will improve breeding prospects for birds released into the wild

FoI documents show ministers ignored recommendation for fresh inquiry that could have reduced or paused farming

Google, Microsoft and Amazon among companies using algorithms and AI to influence what crops are grown and how, say criticsTech companies and industrial agriculture are playing with the food system" by using AI and algorithms to undermine farmers in choosing what the world eats, leading food security experts have warned.Companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM and Alibaba are working with industrial agriculture firms to influence what crops are grown and how, according to a report by the thinktank International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food). Continue reading...

Dublin, Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn among port cities more choked by sulphur oxides from ferries, analysis showsFume-belching ferries spew more sulphur pollution than cars in several EU capitals, analysis has found.Dublin, Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn are among 13 of Europe's 15 biggest port cities choked more by sulphur oxides (SOx) from ferries than road vehicles, data shared exclusively with the Guardian shows. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Schemes worth hundreds of millions of pounds to protect biodiversity and oceans likely to be substantially reducedUK programmes to protect nature and the climate in developing countries are suffering swingeing budget cuts despite ministers' promises, the Guardian has learned.The cuts belie the government's claims to be fulfilling international obligations on climate finance and are veiled behind a system that experts have criticised as opaque.The cutting and partial closure of the 100m Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, intended to protect nature in vital ecosystems in poor regions overseas. Six regions were originally targeted, in Africa, South America and Asia, but this has been reduced to two.Coast - a project for Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition - and Pact (Prepare and Accelerate Climate Transitions) are having substantial cuts.The future of the 500m Blue Planet Fund has been thrown into doubt despite its successful operation.Other schemes have been reduced in scope, for instance by allowing only one year's funding where years were expected.Requests for data under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed spending has been slashed among the departments responsible for international climate finance (ICF). Continue reading...

Hydrolysis uses alkaline and water to break down body in a few hours and is part of demand for more sustainable funeralsScotland has become the first part of the UK to legalise hydrolysis, an environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or burial, reflecting increasing demand for more sustainable funeral arrangements.Also known as water cremation or aquamation, the process is already available in many parts of the world, and regulations approved by the Scottish parliament on Monday mark the most significant change to funeral law since cremation was introduced in 1902. Continue reading...

Ken Henry leads push for federal government to do more to protect animals as biodiversity declines

Authorities say capture of bull and tiger sharks necessary to protect lives as environmentalists launch urgent legal challengeSome beaches in areas of New Caledonia are closed to swimming and the authorities have begun shark culling off the capital, Noumea, after a fatal attack in the popular tourist spot - prompting a legal challenge to stop the operation and reigniting debate over public safety and marine conservation.The culling operation began on 23 February, after a man from New Caledonia riding a wing foil in a recreational area was attacked and killed. Preliminary investigations indicate the victim was attacked by a tiger shark that measured at least three metres. Continue reading...

Long-nosed fur seal seen on banks of waterway in city's inner west similar to those occasionally found outside Sydney Opera House

The juvenile freshwater crocodile was first spotted by a group of teenagers in Ironbark Creek in the Australian city on SaturdayAn Australian freshwater crocodile has been captured in a city creek thousands of kilometres south of its normal range, after sightings shocked onlookers at a suburban park.The crocodile was first spotted in Ironbark Creek in Newcastle - about 100km north of Sydney - around midday on Saturday, by a group of teenagers. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Whistleblower figures show large rise in serious' to minor' downgrades based on water company evidenceEnvironment Agency (EA) staff have downgraded thousands of serious pollution incidents by water companies in England without visiting to investigate, data unearthed by freedom of information (FoI) requests suggests.The figures were obtained by Robert Forrester, a whistleblower who left the agency in January and has spent nine years shining a light on the state of the water industry. His identity was revealed in the Channel 4 docudrama Dirty Business this week, and he has vowed to carry on fighting to expose the truth. Continue reading...

Unsettling predictions are now our catastrophic reality, but a brighter future is still within reach if our political leaders change courseSoaring, scorching, record temperatures, yet again. Distressing, protracted droughts. Raging fires and devastating floods. Australia's summer is drawing to a close, and a reprieve from climate whiplash can't come soon enough.We've witnessed and suffered immense losses and deep heartache for wildlife, ecosystems, and our communities. There was a time when the dire potential consequences of climate breakdown and environmental destruction were warnings, calls from scientists and experts for increased and urgent action. Now an unsettling possibility feels like a disturbing reality. Continue reading...

Understanding biodiversity within species is key to our understanding of why nature works the way it does, say researchers

Judge slashed a $667m damages award to Energy Transfer over Greenpeace's role in Dakota Access Pipeline protestsA North Dakota judge on Friday finalized a $345m judgment against Greenpeace in a lawsuit pursued by pipeline company Energy Transfer (ET.N) over the environmental group's role in protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.The final judgment by judge James Gion was in line with a decision he issued in October, in which he slashed by almost half a damages award of about $667m that a jury had awarded Energy Transfer in March. Continue reading...

SA premier Peter Malinauskas warns residents to prepare for heavy falls and possible flash floods

Researchers find that across 195 US cities, winters are on average nine days shorter than they were in 1970-1997For the millions of people across the United States who have spent the last month digging themselves out of above-average levels of snow and ice, this winter has felt especially long and harsh. But the typical winter is actually getting shorter in 80% of major US cities scrutinized by researchers, according to new data released by Climate Central, an independent climate science and communication group.Researchers found that across 195 US cities, winters are on average nine days shorter today than they were from 1970 to 1997, as the climate crisis progresses. Continue reading...

What is a favourite place if not one built upon our fondest memories?Would I like to write about my favourite place?The invitation inspired me to recall so many magical places - from north-east Arnhem Land to Mediterranean island hamlets with idyllic quayside tavernas, from the Melbourne Cricket Ground on grand final day to Dickensian London pubs, from picture postcard villages beneath snow-capped alpine peaks to the haunts of my literary giants and on to Joshua Tree and Hagia Sofia. Continue reading...

EPA rolls back rules as chemical firms claim provisions in RMP protection system too expensive to implement

With most Scots supportive of reintroducing the wild cat, charities are focusing on those whose jobs could be affectedCould lynx, the elusive wild cat driven to extinction in Britain more than 1,000 years ago, become the new Loch Ness monster? Whether Nessie's there or not, she draws tourists," said Margaret Luckwell, a resident of Moray, Scotland. It would be the same with lynx. I'd love to see a lynx in the wild."Luckwell's view is a majority one among local people gathering at village halls across the Highlands, as a painstaking consultation slowly gathers momentum for the apex predator's return to Scottish forests. Continue reading...

EPA found only 27 of 219 plants needed upgrades; 71 later got exemptions as Donald Trump scrapped mercury limitsAlmost all coal-fired power plants in the US had the ability to comply with rules limiting their emission of dangerous pollutants such as mercury that can cause brain damage in children. Despite this, Donald Trump's administration decided to demolish the standards anyway.Last week, the Trump administration said it is loosening restrictions on air toxins from mercury, lead and other heavy metals that are released by coal plants. Such pollution is known to be neurotoxic and has been linked to irreversible brain damage in children and infants, as well as heart disease and cancer in adults. Continue reading...

This week's best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...