Environment news

• Why Britain's coast is doomed

  18-12-2016 22:30 via theguardian.com
  
  A study of recent data suggests that only good fortune has so far saved coastal communities from a major floodStorms during the winter of 2013-14 generated the maximum recorded sea level at 20 of the 40 tide gauge sites around the UK, as well as the largest number of extreme sea level events in any season in the last 100 years.This is one of the findings of scientists from Southampton University who have been studying coastal flooding around Britain to try to understand the increasing threat fro
  
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• A birder's paradise at an Indian festival

  18-12-2016 22:30 via theguardian.com
  
  Encountering a peacock in the wild is a surreal experience. Just one of the sightings among a wealth of exotic and unfamiliar birds at the Uttar Pradesh Bird FestivalThere was a flash of the richest blue, as the bird emerged from the forest and strutted across the path in front of us. Instantly recognisable, yet at the same time oddly unfamiliar, it lifted its neck and flicked an enormously long tail, before melting into the vegetation, never to be seen again.Encountering a peacock in the wild,
  
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• Poland appeals to European Court over Opal pipeline decision - PAP

  18-12-2016 21:58
  Poland has appealed to the European Court of Justice over a European Commission decision to give Gazprom more capacity on the Opal gas pipeline through Germany, PAP news agency said on Sunday, citing a foreign ministry spokeswoman. In October, the European Commission lifted a cap on Gazprom's use of the Opal pipeline, which carries gas from the Nord Stream pipeline under the Baltic Sea to customers in Germany and the Czech Republic.
  
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• Urban wildlife needs more room to breathe | Letters

  18-12-2016 19:31 via theguardian.com
  
  Patrick Barkham is rightly worried about the impacts of urbanisation on our wildlife (Notebook, 13 December). London is home to more than 13,000 species of fauna, flora and fungi, but we are expected to accommodate a population increase equivalent to the size of Leeds by 2050, and building density can only go so far before our needs override those of others we share our city with. While flowering buddleia, dashing parakeets and curious foxes demonstrate adaptability to this brave new world,
  
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• Northern Ireland's first minister faces vote of no confidence

  18-12-2016 15:34 via theguardian.com
  
  Motion censuring Arlene Foster over energy scheme allegations could force her to resign, triggering Stormont electionsA vote of no confidence will be held in the Northern Ireland assembly, which could force the region’s first minister to step down and trigger fresh elections to the devolved parliament in Belfast.The Social Democratic and Labour party (SDLP) has won cross-party support for its motion censuring Arlene Foster over allegations about a scandal that is estimated will cost taxpay
  
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• Northern Ireland assembly faces vote of no confidence

  18-12-2016 15:34 via theguardian.com
  
  First minister could be forced to step down, triggering elections to Stormont parliamentA vote of no confidence will be held in the Northern Ireland assembly, which could force the region’s first minister to step down and trigger fresh elections to the devolved parliament in Belfast.The Social Democratic and Labour party has won cross-party support for its motion censuring Arlene Foster, first minister, over allegations about a scandal that is estimated will cost taxpayers £400m. Con
  
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• The 12 key science moments of 2016

  18-12-2016 09:30 via theguardian.com
  
  Our panel of leading scientists pick the most significant discoveries and developments of the year – from the Zika virus to the planet Proxima B – and a surprising secret of marriage 1 February Continue reading...
  
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• The eco guide to Christmas chocolates

  18-12-2016 07:00 via theguardian.com
  
  There’s good news and bad, it’s a bit of an ethical pick and mixThis is a glorious time of year for confectionary lovers, and in a few days time I’ll embark on my annual mission to hoover up boxed chocolates with customary enthusiasm.My mission includes house visits, so although I would favour Fairtrade artisanal chocolate brands with top notch ethical sourcing, I can’t always choose.The good news is that there is evidence the big chocolate brands are wising up with regar
  
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• Greg Hunt offers Alcoa new power station in bid to save Portland smelter

  18-12-2016 02:24 via theguardian.com
  
  A station in Victoria’s south-west would reduce the smelter’s vulnerability to outages and could access Clean Energy Finance Corporation funds, Hunt saysA new power station for Victoria’s south-west are among offers being made to Alcoa in a bid to save jobs at the struggling Portland aluminium smelter.Federal and Victorian industry ministers Greg Hunt and Wade Noonan will fly to New York on Monday to meet with senior global leaders of Alcoa in a bid to secure a future for the s
  
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• Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi to share electric car platform: Nikkei

  18-12-2016 00:16
  Nissan Motor Co , Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp will combine their electric vehicle platforms in an effort to slash prices down to levels comparable to conventional gasoline cars, the Nikkei newspaper said. The strategy comes as auto giants Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp are also aiming to mass-produce battery electric vehicles amid tightening emissions and fuel-economy regulations around the world. Franco-Japanese alliance partners Renault and Nissan have been among the most vocal
  
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