Environment news

• Copeland by-election: Labour faces its nuclear test in the energy coast’s safe seat

  07-01-2017 23:00
  
  The party can’t afford to lose the Cumbrian seat which has concerns over immigration and its power plantIn the port of Whitehaven, a homemade banner affixed to an industrial garage confronts those arriving by train: “Save services at West Cumberland Hospital. Do not arrive D.o.A at Carlisle.”The local hospital risks losing its major trauma and maternity units – with ambulances facing a 40-mile journey in unpredictable rural traffic. Just about every shop window in Whiteha
  
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• Prince William charity urges UK to back ivory trade ban

  07-01-2017 21:29
  
  Conservationists urge Tories to resist antique dealers’ lobby and make good on manifesto promiseThe environment secretary Andrea Leadsom is under increasing pressure to make good on a Tory manifesto commitment to ban the UK ivory trade after China announced it would close down its domestic ivory market.Conservation organisations, including a charity championed by Prince William, say that by allowing the trade to continue the UK is fuelling the annual slaughter of thousands of rhinos and el
  
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• Libya says will declare force majeure at two ports over smuggling

  07-01-2017 19:17
  Libya's UN-backed government will declare force majeure on two ports to stop fuel smuggling from them, a statement from its presidential council said on Saturday. Libya expects its oil production to rise to around 900,000 barrels per day after a series of agreements to reopen major oil ports and oilfields which had been closed for two years by armed factions, fighting and strikes.
  
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• Iran seeks investors for 25 petrochemical projects

  07-01-2017 18:49
  Iran is seeking investment to build 25 petrochemical projects, an official at the state-run National Petrochemical Company (NPC) was quoted on Saturday as saying. The NPC is proposing joint or individual investor participation in building the projects, Farnaz Alavi, NPC's director for planning and development, was quoted as saying by the oil ministry's news website SHANA. In July 2015, Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions.
  
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• Ecuador’s leading environmental group fights to stop forced closure

  07-01-2017 16:26
  
  NGO Acción Ecológica responds to the government’s attempt to close the organization downMembers of one of Latin America’s most well-known environmental organisations, Acción Ecológica, are fighting for their survival against a controversial attempt by Ecuador’s government to shut them down.The move by the government came six days after violence between soldiers, police and indigenous Shuar people opposed to a proposed giant Chinese-run copper mine in
  
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• China's ivory trade ban: how to make it work

  07-01-2017 08:34
  
  Elephants will only be safe when decisive action is taken against the ivory traffickers who have been operating under the cover of the legal tradeChina’s decision to ban all trade in ivory by the end of the year has been widely hailed as a game changer by environmentalists in China itself and across the world. There is no doubt that this is very welcome news.Many commentators have also pointed out that this new Chinese policy is also motivated by self-interest. China has rapidly growing ec
  
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• Prey silence for the peregrine falcon

  07-01-2017 06:30
  
  Udale Bay, Cromarty, Highlands Rapid wings took the peregrine high, and it wheeled, looking for any movement belowThe tide was starting to ebb as I raised two of the windows in the RSPB hide. This meant I could not only see the mass of birds on the saltmarsh but also enjoy the music of their various calls. They seemed to be trying to decide just when to leave for the mudflats and the food that would be exposed for them by the departing tide. Curlews walked around looking superior on their long l
  
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• Urbanisation signal detected in evolution, study shows

  07-01-2017 01:05 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scientists discover a 'clear signal' of urbanisation in the evolution of organisms around the globe.
  
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