At least 55 people have died after wildfires engulfed the historic town of Lahaina on Maui island, Hawaii. Experts say rising global temperatures and drought have fanned the flames in one of the deadliest fires in modern US history. The devastation was exacerbated by strong winds from a nearby cyclone. Wildfires in Hawaii are burning through four times the area of previous decades, studies show
Figures reveal capacity has fallen to an average rise of 4.45% in past three years, compared with 9.67% globallyThe UK's investment in renewable energy has lagged significantly behind the rest of the world in recent years, according to an analysis of global data.The latest government figures reveal the UK's renewable capacity has fallen to an average increase of 4.45% in the past three years, compared with an average 9.67% annual increase globally. Continue reading...
An open letter signed by more than 50 authors including Zadie Smith, Ali Smith and Katherine Rundell calls for investment firm Baillie Gifford to be dropped as main sponsor for 2024Authors including Zadie Smith, Ali Smith and Katherine Rundell have called on the Edinburgh International book festival to drop any sponsor that invests in fossil fuels.The lead sponsor of the literary festival, which is due to start on 12 August, is investment firm Baillie Gifford. According to its own report, the company has up to 5bn invested in corporations that profit from fossil fuels. An open letter signed by a group of more than 50 authors and event chairs stated that these corporations are making huge profits from global disaster, and hide behind esteemed cultural institutions, like the Edinburgh book festival, as sanction for its continued operations". Continue reading...
The ice once protected the Arctic ocean from threats - but as it melts it exposes the sea to fishing, shipping, mining and pollution. Would a marine protected area help secure this fragile ecosystem or is it too late?When the Arctic explorer Pen Hadow had to start swimming from ice floe to ice floe, rather than walking, he experienced for himself what scientists and Indigenous peoples of the north have long known: the floating sea ice, which used to reliably cover the Arctic Ocean for most of the year, is disappearing.For Hadow - who has crisscrossed that ocean on skis, both accompanied and solo - the vanishing ice wasn't just something that made his travels difficult. He knew that the Arctic ice is home to whole ecosystems above and below the water, protecting marine life from the worst impacts of humanity, pollution and the climate crisis. The sea ice created a natural barrier," says Hadow. It's undisturbed by vessels to this point." Continue reading...
by Libby Brooks Scotland correspondent on (#6DRBQ)
Family pay tribute to Graham Cox, a much-loved husband, father, son and brother' who was among three people who diedA man who was one of three hikers who died together walking the Aonach Eagach in Glen Coe last weekend has been named by his family as Graham Cox.A spokesperson for the family described the 60-year-old as a much-loved husband, father, son and brother ... He is remembered by all as the kindest, loveliest man. The family is devastated by his loss and request privacy at this time." Continue reading...
The $369bn Inflation Reduction Act has boosted clean energy and EV cars, but the politics remain difficultThe US' first serious legislative attempt to tackle the climate crisis, the Inflation Reduction Act, is hitting its first anniversary both lauded for turbocharging a seismic shift to clean energy while also weathering serious attack from Republicans.Joe Biden hailed the bill, which despite its name is at heart a major shove towards a future dominated by renewable energy and electric vehicles, as one of the most significant laws in our history" when signing it on 16 August last year. Continue reading...
Extreme weather fuelled by climate crisis and bacterial disease have led to dramatic decline' in orange cropsOrange juice prices are expected to rise further in the US after a bacterial disease and extreme weather intensified by global heating ravaged this season's crop of the citrus fruit.Last year Florida, which produces more than 90% of the US's orange juice supply, was hit by Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Nicole and freezing conditions in quick succession, devastating orange producers in the Sunshine State. Continue reading...
Global heating is causing vegetation to dry out, priming it as fuel for an outbreak of fire, says scientist at Nature ConservancyThe devastating fires in Hawaii, where at least 55 people have died after a conflagration that engulfed the historic town of Lahaina, were worsened by a number of factors including climate change, scientists have said.Rising global temperatures and drought have helped turn parts of Hawaii into a tinderbox ahead of one of the deadliest fires in modern US history, with these conditions worsened by strong winds from a nearby cyclone. Continue reading...
A mass coral bleaching event has hit reefs in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Scientists in the region have told Guardian Australia's environment reporter Graham Readfearn they have never seen anything like it before. The tragedy is unfolding early in the season and in areas not usually affected by coral bleaching, sparking fears it could become a global eventSubscribe to Guardian Australia on YouTube Continue reading...
Unprecedented wildfires raged through Hawaii's Maui island, also claiming tree described as the largest banyan in the USThe devastating fires that roared through Maui this week, killing dozens and ravaging the historic town of Lahaina, scorched a beloved tree that has been described as the largest banyan in the US.For generations, the majestic tree along Lahaina Town's historic Front Street served as a gathering place with leafy branches that unfurled to give shade from the Hawaiian sun. By most accounts, the sprawling tree was the heart of the oceanside community - towering more than 60ft (18 meters) and anchored by multiple trunks that span nearly an acre. This year the town celebrated the banyan's 150th birthday with cake. Continue reading...
MP failed to reveal shares in oil company for more than five years despite disclosure rulesA former environment secretary has revealed she has shares worth more than 70,000 in Shell that she did not disclose as required for more than five years.Theresa Villiers was the secretary for environment, food and rural affairs from July 2019 until February 2020, but only this week disclosed she has had investments worth more than 70,000 each in Shell and the drinks company Diageo since February 2018. Villiers also disclosed shares worth more than 70,000 in Experian, held since July 2019, and in an investment trust, RIT Capital Partners. Continue reading...
by Ajit Niranjan European environment correspondent on (#6DQV3)
Hot natural weather pattern will exacerbate heat-related dangers brought about by climate crisisThe return of El Nino against the backdrop of the climate crisis will hurt people's health in many parts of the world, scientists have warned.The hot natural weather pattern is back after three years of its cooler sister, La Nina, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed last month. As it grows stronger, scientists fear it will raise the risk in some countries of hunger, drought and malaria. Continue reading...
This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our UK political coverage hereThe Royal College of Nursing says today's hospital waiting list figures for England (see 9.44am) show the NHS is falling into deeper crisis". In a statement Nicola Ranger, the RCN's chief nursing officer, said:With a record number of patients now on a waiting list in England, the NHS is falling into deeper crisis.A decade of underinvestment in the NHS has led to dire consequences for patients and pushed many nursing staff out of the profession they love and with unrelenting pressure on those who remain.
Environmental experts say proposals are too expensive and will come too late to meet energy needsEnvironmental experts have criticised the Swedish government's plan to build at least 10 nuclear reactors in the next 20 years, more than doubling the current number, saying it will be too expensive and will come too late to meet energy needs.The climate minister, Romina Pourmokhtari, announced on Wednesday that in order to meet its climate goals Sweden needed to double electricity production in the next two decades. Continue reading...
by Grey Moran and Sara Sneath in New Orleans on (#6DQKA)
Louisiana AG hired lawyers for EPA negotiations who were also representing chemical firm at center of inquiry, documents showFacing a pivotal federal investigation into Louisiana's relationship with petro-chemical companies, the state's attorney general hired lawyers who were simultaneously representing one of the main corporations at the center of the investigation, documents reveal.The revelations, contained in documents released under public records requests, have led to allegations of a major conflict of interest and come just weeks after the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] dropped its civil rights investigation. Continue reading...
Population has declined dramatically due to overfishing and environmental changes in the PacificAfrican penguins are on track for extinction by 2035 if measures are not taken to ensure their survival, campaigners have said.The population of African penguins has declined dramatically over the past 100 years. In the early 20th century, it is thought that there were probably several million breeding pairs: today, fewer than 11,000 breeding pairs remain, and the population continues to fall sharply. Continue reading...
Donana national park in Andalucia, Spain, is being threatened by drought, over-consumption and rightwing MPs. Seven people who work there describe the fragile ecosystem and what it means to themIn the heart of Spain's Donana national park, a battle is being waged to safeguard one of the most important wetlands in Europe. Donana, with its impressive landscapes and extraordinary biodiversity, hosts an estimated 6 million migratory birds every year. But its fate hangs in the balance.Despite declining water supplies, illegal wells and encroaching strawberry farms, and amid warnings from Unesco and the European Commission, the People's party (PP) and far-right Vox party in the Andalucian regional government are pushing to legalise irrigation in the park, which straddles the provinces of Huelva and Seville in south-west Spain. Continue reading...
Analysis by conservation group Oceana suggests areas where suspension imposed are not fished by fleets anywayAnnual short-term moratoriums on squid fishing imposed by Chinese authorities are probably meaningless as there appeared to be little fishing activity in the areas before the bans were announced, analysis has claimed.In 2020, China's ministry of agriculture and rural affairs announced a pilot program banning fishing in parts of the south-west Atlantic Ocean from July to October, and parts of the eastern Pacific Ocean from September to December. Continue reading...
by Robyn Vinter North of England correspondent on (#6DQBV)
New Zealand pigmyweed harms waterways by forming dense mats and depleting oxygen, say expertsVisitors to the Lake District are being asked to help prevent the spread of a particularly bad" invasive weed that could wipe out native species if left unchecked.Conservation organisations said they were dismayed to find New Zealand pigmyweed spreading rapidly across a number of lakes in the national park, including a previously pristine waterway.Check all clothing, footwear and equipment for plant fragments and living organisms before leaving a water body. Pay particular attention to any crevices.Clean and wash all equipment on site, leaving all organisms and plant fragments behind. Or wash on a hard standing surface away from a draining system.Dry all equipment and clothing thoroughly before heading to the next water body. Some species can survive for two weeks in damp conditions. Continue reading...
Famed for their freediving skills, only a few hundred Bajau still live in the traditional way. Caught between laws hostile to their unique way of life, they are being forced to resettle as outcasts on shoreWords and photographs by Claudio Sieber in SempornaThe Bajau people have been crisscrossing the waters of the Sulu Sea for centuries, the world's only community of self-sufficient sea nomads. To the Bajau, a border" is merely the farthest distance they can reach by boat.Noted for their exceptional freediving abilities, the Bajau have evolved to have larger spleens, enabling them to stay underwater for up to 10 minutes at depths of 200 feet. Their diet includes a diverse array of sea creatures, including sea cucumbers - a valuable protein source also used for medical purposes and even as an aphrodisiac.Only about 100 to 200 Bajau families still live on the traditional Lansa houseboats. This one, part of the Bohey Bual community off Bodgaya Island, has 10 sq metres of living space and houses nine people Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: After years of rampant exploitation under a far-right government, Brazil has brought together leaders to help secure the future of the world's biggest rainforest - and create a just ecological transition' Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. I think the world needs to see this meeting in Belem as the most important landmark ever ... when it comes to discussing the climate question." For once you can forgive the hyperbole of Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, when he spoke about this week's Amazon summit.Leaders from the eight South American countries that share the river basin have been meeting this week in the Brazilian city to discuss an issue that, by any measure, is a global emergency: how to protect the vast rainforest and safeguard its critical role in regulating the planetary climate.Education | Rising costs and family needs could force one in three students starting university this year to opt to live at home, according to new research. While some of the Covid generation" of school-leavers said they planned to live at home because their preferred university was nearby, most said they could not afford to live away from home.Northern Ireland | The UK's Information Commissioner's Office has launched an investigation into an unprecedented data breach that disclosed details of more than 10,000 police officers and staff in Northern Ireland. The agency, which regulates data privacy laws, is working with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to establish the level of risk amid warnings that the leak may compel officers to leave the force or move their home address.Hawaii | Six people were killed after unprecedented wildfires tore through the Hawaiian island of Maui. The fires, fanned by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, destroyed businesses in the historic town of Lahaina, and left at least two dozen people injured.Ecuador | Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead at a campaign rally on Wednesday. The country's president, Guillermo Lasso, said he was outraged and shocked by the assassination" and would convene a meeting of his security cabinet.Media | Employees at ITV's This Morning were allegedly subjected to bullying, discrimination and harassment", according to staff members who have spoken out after Phillip Schofield's departure from the programme. Some workers claim they attempted to raise concerns about the programme only to face further bullying and discrimination" by bosses for speaking out. Continue reading...
Wildfires fanned by strong winds from Hurricane Dora have burned through the town on Lahaina in Maui. The US Coast Guard had to pull a number of people from the ocean beside the town after they dived in to escape smoke and flames. 'It's like an apocalypse,' said a local resident
Biden said I've done that' when asked about declaring climate emergency, yet White House has not announced such a declarationJoe Biden has said that he has practically" declared a national emergency on the climate crisis, despite not actually taking that step, vexing climate campaigners.I've already done that," Biden said when asked if he intends to declare a climate emergency in a Weather Channel interview aired on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Critics of the policy expressed concern that decision will weaken investor confidence in solar and wind energy in the regionA decision by Canada's largest oil and gas-producing province to halt new wind and solar projects has prompted disbelief among environmental groups and economists. The move comes as the country struggles with its worst wildfire season on record, a situation that experts agree is worsened by the climate crisis and a reliance on fossil fuels.Alberta last week announced a six-month moratorium on large solar and wind projects so it can review policies surrounding the projects' construction and impact on the power grid, as well as rules for their eventual decommissioning. Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips in Belém and Patrick Greenfield on (#6DPPT)
Brazilian president says developed nations that over centuries have pumped emissions into the atmosphere must pay their bit'The Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has told developed countries to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to protecting the world's remaining tropical forests, as major rainforest nations demanded hundreds of billions of dollars of climate financing and a greater role in how those resources are spent.It's not Brazil that needs money. It's not Colombia that needs money. It's not Venezuela. It's nature," Lula told journalists on the second day of a major environmental summit in the Amazon city of Belem. Continue reading...
Experiment by Google and American Airlines reduces vapour trails, which are a source of global heatingAircraft contrails - or clouds of condensation behind planes - have been a familiar sight in skies across the world since the start of the jet age. However, a new experiment by Google and American Airlines suggests they could soon become much rarer, in a small but significant win that could assist the battle to cut aviation emissions.Pilots flying using artificial intelligence models to choose different altitudes were able to reduce contrails by 54%, with further improvements expected, Google said in a blogpost on Tuesday night. Continue reading...
Parts of eastern and central Norway still on red alert as country battles widespread flooding and landslidesA dam in Norway has partly collapsed as the country battles record high river levels, flooding and landslides after a fatal storm.Norwegian police were considering blowing up the dam when water from the Glama River, the country's longest, started spilling out the side at Braskereidfoss hydroelectric power plant. Continue reading...
Wildfires in Hawaii fanned by strong winds burned structures in areas including the historic town of Lahaina, forcing evacuations and closing schools in several communities. Rescuers pulled a dozen people from the ocean after they dived in to escape the smoke and flames; the coastguard tweeted that a crew rescued 12 people from the water off Lahaina. A firefighter responding to the West Maui fire was taken to hospital after experiencing smoke inhalation and was in stable condition, Maui county said. Because of the wind, helicopters were not able to dump water on the fires from the sky or gauge more precise fire sizes. Firefighters encountered roads blocked by downed trees and power lines as they worked the inland fires
This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereNicola Sturgeon's deeply personal and revealing" memoir will be published in 2025 by Pan Macmillan, after nine publishers bid for it at auction. Lucy Knight has the story here.Zac Goldsmith, who resigned as a Foreign Office minister in June saying he could no longer support Rishi Sunak because of his apathy" on climate issues, has told the BBC that he might even back Labour as a result.My concern about the Labour party at the moment - I don't say this is a tribal politician, I'm not a tribal politician - is I think there is a blind spot on the natural environment. When the Labour party thinks environment, when it talks about the environment, it is thinking carbon - and taxation, regulation and all the things that go with that.The simple truth is there is no pathway to net zero and there's no solution to climate change that does not involve nature, massive efforts to protect and restore the natural world. Continue reading...
Countries across the globe are facing a range of extreme weather events. In Germany, snowploughs were deployed in the middle of summer to shift ice from roads after a hailstorm. Severe flooding has affected parts of Europe including Sweden and Slovenia, with hundreds of houses submerged. Human-caused climate change is supercharging extreme weather across the world, driving more frequent and more deadly disasters, from heatwaves to floods to wildfires
Solar installation jobs grew by 247% since 2011, with promises of good pay and stability - but the work is grueling, and the pay is actually lowAs a child, Scott Horton dreamed of becoming a firefighter. My father worked for the post office," said Horton. My mother was a school [bus] driver." Only natural, then, that Horton would also want to enter public service.Now, at 55, with salt-and-pepper hair, transition lenses, and a sparkly stud in his left ear, some of Horton's early longings have materialized. He spends his days climbing ladders, wearing a hardhat, and scrambling around roofs. But Horton is not a firefighter; Denver's fire department disqualifies applicants with felony convictions. Instead, he is a solar panel installer, one of the few paths available to him after a 19-year stint in prison. Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips in Belém, Patrick Greenfield and age on (#6DP7F)
Eight South American presidents including Brazil's Lula say rich countries need to pledge more resources to help protect rainforestAmazon leaders have called on rich countries to help them develop a Marshall-style plan to protect the world's largest rainforest - but stopped short of committing to zero deforestation across the biome by 2030 amid divisions over oil extraction.In a joint declaration at the end of a two-day summit in the Brazilian city of Belem on Wednesday, the eight South American countries that are home to the Amazon rainforest said ensuring its survival could not be solely up to them, as resources from the forest were consumed globally. Continue reading...
Drone footage shows Russia's coldest city, Yakutsk, blanketed by smog as wildfires continue to burn in the region. Local residents explained how they 'annot open the windows at home or in the car to deal with the 'stuffiness' as it only exacerbates the problem. Hundreds of firefighters and dozens of vehicles have been deployed to tackle the wildfires raging in the area Continue reading...
Land dispossession and depravation was a mainstay strategy used by settler colonials to divide and disempower communitiesMore than a million acres of tribal land - an area larger than the state of Rhode Island - have been flooded by dams, compounding centuries of land seizures and forced displacement by settler colonials and the US government, new research has found.Land has always been central to Indigenous culture, sovereignty and prosperity, while land dispossession has been a mainstay strategy used to divide and disempower communities, by depriving Indigenous people of clean water, traditional food sources, spiritual connections and economic opportunities. Continue reading...
More than 300,000 homes and businesses in the eastern US were without power after storms passed over the region, killing at least two people and disrupting air travel. The National Weather Service highlighted the tornado risk for more than 29.5 million people across a region spanning Alabama to western New York state
Residents on island rush to buy warm clothing and heaters amid unusually cold winter weather for the Pacific nationTonga is bracing for more chilly weather as the Pacific nation shivers through one of its coldest winters ever, sparking a rush for jackets and heating units.The island has experienced unusually cold weather through July and Tonga Meteorological Services (TMS) recorded a low of 9.3 degrees Celsius at the Lapaha village weather station at the end of the month. The country's record low of 8.7C was set in September 1994. Continue reading...
Class action legal claim on behalf of 20 million householders in England and Wales could top 800m in compensationThe public could receive hundreds of millions of pounds in compensation in the first class action against water companies which are alleged to have failed to reveal the true scale of raw sewage discharges, and abused their position as privatised monopolies.A collective case against six water companies alleges they have failed to properly report sewage spills and pollution of rivers and seas to the Environment Agency and Ofwat, the regulator for England and Wales. The first of six parallel claims is against Severn Trent Water on behalf of its 8 million customers. Claims against Thames Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water are being brought in the coming months. Continue reading...
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sets out ambitious programme to repair damage done by Bolsonaro and tackle environmental crimeThe Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has vowed to haul the Amazon out of centuries of violence, economic plundering" and environmental devastation and into a new Amazon dream", at the start of a major regional summit on the world's largest rainforest.Addressing South American leaders gathered in the Brazilian city of Belem, Lula offered a bold blueprint for the future of the Amazon, a 6.7m sq km region that is home to nearly 50 million people spread across eight countries and one territory. Continue reading...
Conclave represents handbrake turn in Brazilian government policy since Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took powerThe leaders of Amazon nations including Brazil, Colombia and Peru have gathered in the Brazilian city of Belem for a rare conclave about the future of the world's largest rainforest amid growing concern over the global climate emergency.The environmental summit - convened by Brazil's leftist president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - represents a handbrake turn in Brazilian government policy after four years of Amazon destruction and international isolation under the country's previous leader, Jair Bolsonaro. Continue reading...
Amazon nations' leaders have gathered in the Brazilian city of Belem for a rare summit about the future of the world's largest rainforest amid growing concern over the global climate emergency. The environmental summit convened by Brazil's leftist president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, represents a handbrake turn in Brazilian government policy after four years of Amazon destruction under the country's previous leader, Jair Bolsonaro. In the run-up to the summit, thousands of Indigenous people gathered to protest and demand the government pledge a greater commitment towards protecting the rainforest. Activists have warned Brazil's ultra-right congress could prevent the president from carrying out his ambitious environmental agenda
The Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni Grand Canyon monument - home to several Native tribes - will be protected from uranium miningJoe Biden signed the proclamation establishing a national monument in Arizona on Tuesday, surrounded by a small crowd of Indigenous leaders and lawmakers who have championed permanently protecting the land.It's not hyperbole to suggest there is no national treasure, none grander, than The Grand Canyon," the president said on Tuesday, describing the valley as God's cathedral". Continue reading...
Global average temperature exceeded previous record by substantial marginJuly has been confirmed as the hottest month on record globally after several heatwaves in parts of Europe, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).The global average temperature was 16.95C last month, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 by a substantial 0.33C. Temperatures exceeded 40C last week in several countries across Europe including Greece, France, Italy and Spain. Continue reading...
Environment | The Guardian