Environment news

• Mystery deepens over mass die-off of antelopes

  17-01-2018 22:59 via bbc.co.uk
  A mass die-off of antelopes in Kazakhstan was triggered by environmental factors, scientists believe.
  
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• Researchers Explore Psychological Effects of Climate Change

  17-01-2018 22:26 via feedproxy.google.com
  Wildfires, extreme storms and major weather events can seem like a distant threat, but for those whose lives have been directly impacted by these events, the threat hits much closer to home.
  
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• Aid for Oceans and Fisheries in Developing World Drops by 30%

  17-01-2018 22:13 via feedproxy.google.com
  Financial aid to fisheries in developing countries has declined by 30 percent, finds a new study from UBC and Stockholm Resilience Centre researchers, published in Marine Policy. Projects focusing on climate issues in fisheries had a 77 percent decline over the five years studied.
  
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• Ocean Waters Prevent Release of Ancient Methane

  17-01-2018 22:06 via feedproxy.google.com
  Ocean sediments are a massive storehouse for the potent greenhouse gas methane.
  
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• Reimbursing Ranchers for Livestock Killed by Predators Supports Conservation Efforts

  17-01-2018 21:32 via feedproxy.google.com
  Alberta’s predator compensation program offsets costs of conserving wildlife habitat on private lands in the province.
  
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• NASA IMERG Reveals Rainfall Rates of Tropical Cyclone Berguitta

  17-01-2018 21:27 via feedproxy.google.com
  Heavy rain surrounded Tropical Cyclone Berguitta as it continued to move toward the island of Mauritius in the Southern Indian Ocean. NASA calculated the rate in which rain was falling within the hurricane-strength storm in the Southern Indian Ocean.
  
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• Unexpected natural source of methane discovered

  17-01-2018 20:42 via feedproxy.google.com
  Some nitrogen-fixing microorganisms contain an enzyme for the simultaneous production of ammonia and methane.
  
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• Coping With Climate Stress in Antarctica

  17-01-2018 20:42 via feedproxy.google.com
  Some Antarctic fish living in the planet’s coldest waters are able to cope with the stress of rising carbon dioxide levels in the ocean. They can even tolerate slightly warmer waters. But they can’t deal with both stressors at the same time, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.
  
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• No-fishing zones help endangered penguins

  17-01-2018 20:30 via feedproxy.google.com
  Small no-fishing zones around colonies of African penguins can help this struggling species, new research shows.
  
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• Malcolm Turnbull urged to pressure Japan over whaling during security talks

  17-01-2018 20:00 via theguardian.com
  Greens say Australia should not deepen security ties until whaling in Southern Ocean stopsAs Malcolm Turnbull meets with the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, on Thursday, the Greens are calling on the government to refuse to deepen Australia’s security ties with Japan until it stops whaling in the Southern Ocean.Turnbull will meet with Abe on Thursday, during a single-day visit, to discuss trade between Australia and Japan, and attempts to keep the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal
  
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• Chemistry 'Van Gogh' could help with cancer

  17-01-2018 19:02 via bbc.co.uk
  Scientists capture "incredible" images of instructions contained in DNA being read
  
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• Divers discover world's longest flooded cave – video

  17-01-2018 19:01 via theguardian.com
  A group of divers has connected two underwater caverns in eastern Mexico to reveal what is believed to be the world’s largest flooded cave, a discovery that could shed light on the ancient Maya civilisation. The Yucatán peninsula is studded with monumental relics of the Maya people, whose cities drew on an extensive network of sinkholes known as cenotes. Some cenotes had religious significance to the Maya, whose descendants remain in the regionWorld’s longest underwater cave s
  
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• ICEYE's 'suitcase space radar' returns first image

  17-01-2018 18:55 via bbc.co.uk
  Finnish start-up ICEYE releases a "first light" picture from its novel radar satellite.
  
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• 25 staff laid off at agency key to May's plastic reduction pledge

  17-01-2018 18:07 via theguardian.com
  Wrap, the agency responsible for tackling waste, blames government cuts for the redundancies, that come just a week after the prime minister’s pledgeJust one week after Theresa May and Michael Gove promised to eradicate the scourge of plastic waste, government budget cuts have forced a key agency charged with tackling the problem to make more than a tenth of its staff redundant, a move campaigners said could sabotage progress.About 25 people are losing their jobs at the Waste and Resources
  
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• Queensland councils say they won't own Adani airport despite paying $34m

  17-01-2018 18:03 via theguardian.com
  Councils backtrack on previous statements and say they do not own the site or have any say in how facility is builtTwo Queensland councils that together contributed $34m to an airport serving Adani’s coalmine have contradicted previous statements and now say they do not own the site or have any say in how the facility is built.Townsville and Rockhampton councils announced in October that they would spend $18.5m and $15.5m respectively on an airport hundreds of kilometres away at the Carmic
  
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• NSW cotton growers facing complete crop loss after alleged pesticide drift

  17-01-2018 18:00 via theguardian.com
  5,000 hectares of cotton thought to be affected by off-target spray drift, says Bernie Bierhoff of Walgett Cotton Growers’ AssociationOn Christmas Day farmers around Walgett in north-west New South Wales noticed their infant cotton plants had begun to wither. Leaves began to curl and die, killing some plants and stressing others. Within days, it was clear Walgett was facing a serious incident that had affected nearly 6,000 hectares (60 sq km) of cotton farms reaching as far as Burren Junct
  
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• Cotton growers facing complete crop loss after alleged herbicide drift

  17-01-2018 18:00 via theguardian.com
  5,000 hectares of cotton thought to be affected by off-target spray drift, says Bernie Bierhoff of Walgett Cotton Growers’ AssociationOn Christmas Day farmers around Walgett in north-west New South Wales noticed their infant cotton plants had begun to wither. Leaves began to curl and die, killing some plants and stressing others. Within days, it was clear Walgett was facing a serious incident that had affected nearly 6,000 hectares (60 sq km) of cotton farms reaching as far as Burren Junct
  
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• With China's Ban on Waste Imports, Europe Announces New Recycling Initiatives

  17-01-2018 16:59 via feedproxy.google.com
  In the wake of China’s ban on the import of foreign garbage, which took effect earlier this month, countries across the globe are scrambling to figure out what to do with the thousands of tons of trash piling up at their ports. Now, Europe has announced it is launching an aggressive new recycling initiative to reduce plastic waste and garbage exports.
  
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• Bitcoin’s energy usage is huge – we can't afford to ignore it

  17-01-2018 16:15 via theguardian.com
  The cryptocurrency uses as much CO2 a year as 1m transatlantic flights. We need to take it seriously as a climate threat Bitcoin’s electricity usage is enormous. In November, the power consumed by the entire bitcoin network was estimated to be higher than that of the Republic of Ireland. Since then, its demands have only grown. It’s now on pace to use just over 42TWh of electricity in a year, placing it ahead of New Zealand and Hungary and just behind Peru, according to estimates fro
  
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• Moustached monkey is separate species

  17-01-2018 15:34 via bbc.co.uk
  A monkey from Ethiopia and Sudan with a distinctive "handlebar moustache" has been identified as a distinct species.
  
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• The plastic-free stores showing the big brands how to do it

  17-01-2018 15:30 via theguardian.com
  Retailers at the vanguard of Britain’s zero-waste movement say business is booming, so why are major supermarkets not doing more to cut plastic waste?Read more: Nearly 1m tonnes every year: supermarkets shamed for plastic packagingIn the past few weeks Richard Eckersley has noticed a change in the type of people who come into his shop.The former Manchester United footballer, who turned his back on the game to set up the the UK’s first “zero waste” store on Totnes high str
  
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• Is it possible to live without plastic? Readers' tips for tip-free living

  17-01-2018 15:30 via theguardian.com
  We asked you to recommend the best ways to reduce your plastic consumption and avoid excess waste. Here’s what some of you said
  For 70 years, the world’s plastic usage has grown inexorably from humble beginnings to a position where humanity now produces roughly its own weight in plastic every year. But is there a turning point in view? Guardian revelations about the scale of plastic waste and the threat it poses has finally prompted the authorities to take the issue seriously. Michae
  
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• Is it possible to live without plastic? Readers' tips for for tip-free living

  17-01-2018 15:30 via theguardian.com
  We asked you to recommend the best ways to reduce your plastic consumption and avoid excess waste. Here’s what some of you said
  For 70 years, the world’s plastic usage has grown inexorably from humble beginnings to a position where humanity now produce roughly its own weight in plastic every year. But is there a turning point in view? Guardian revelations about the scale of plastic waste and the threat it poses has finally prompted the authorities to take the issue seriously. Michael
  
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• Nearly 1m tonnes every year: supermarkets shamed for plastic packaging

  17-01-2018 15:29 via theguardian.com
  Exclusive: Guardian investigation unwraps truth about supermarket plastics after big brands refuse to divulge packaging secrets
  Read more: The plastic-free stores showing the big brands how to do itBritain’s leading supermarkets create more than 800,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste every year, according to an investigation by the Guardian which reveals how top chains keep details of their plastic footprint secret.
  As concern over the scale of unnecessary plastic waste grows, the Guard
  
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• Scientists on the road to discovering impact of urban road dust

  17-01-2018 14:32 via feedproxy.google.com
  In an attempt to better understand the urban environment and its components, scientists have discovered that sunlight causes chemical reactions in the dust found on Edmonton roads.“We found that when you shine light on road dust, it produces a reactive form of oxygen called singlet oxygen,” said environmental chemist Sarah Styler. “It acts as an oxidant in the environment and can cause or influence other chemical reactions.”
  
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• Tetrodotoxin: the poison behind the Japanese pufferfish scare

  17-01-2018 14:28 via theguardian.com
  The accidental sale of potentially deadly fugu in Japan has sparked a health scare – and the same poison is now found in European speciesGamagori city in Japan was put on alert this week after toxic fish went on sale in a local supermarket. Pufferfish are considered a delicacy in Japan, often eaten raw as shashimi or cooked in soups. But if the fish are not carefully prepared they can be deadly. The supermarket in Gamagori failed to remove the liver from the fish before putting them on sal
  
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• UK firm contracts to service satellites

  17-01-2018 14:15 via bbc.co.uk
  Effective Space says it will launch "space drones" to prolong the life of telecommunications satellites in orbit.
  
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• Are we a step closer to achieving the 'green hydrogen economy'?

  17-01-2018 13:58
  Paint and chemicals giant AkzoNobel has unveiled plans to build Europe's largest "green hydrogen" production plant, with the company's energy director telling edie of the technology's potential to enable the decarbonisation of the UK economy.
  
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• Achieving Mission Possible: edie Live returns for 2018 with renewed purpose

  17-01-2018 13:49
  edie Live 2018 returns to the NEC Birmingham on 22-23 May as a show with a difference. This year, the event will be tailor-made to help sustainability, energy and resource professionals achieve a sustainable future, today. This is Mission Possible.
  
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• Plan to remove hen harrier chicks and raise them in captivity dismissed as 'nonsense'

  17-01-2018 13:35 via theguardian.com
  Conservationists say government scheme, aimed at placating grouse moor land owners who object to the birds breeding on their land, will not boost numbers of the endangered birds Controversial government plans to remove chicks from the nests of one of England’s rarest birds and rear them in captivity have been criticised as “nonsense” by conservationists.Hen harrier chicks or eggs will be removed from nests in northern England and hand-reared in captivity before being reintroduc
  
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• EDF could build second nuclear plant 'for a fifth less than Hinkley Point'

  17-01-2018 12:30 via theguardian.com
  Company claims a plant at Sizewell in Suffolk would be £4bn cheaper than £20bn projectEDF Energy has claimed it could build a second new nuclear power station in Britain that would be a fifth cheaper than the £20bn Hinkley Point C project under construction in Somerset.The French state-owned company said a new plant at Sizewell on the Suffolk coast would be cheaper because of replication in construction techniques, existing grid connections and the exploration of new finance mo
  
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• EDF could build second nuclear plant 'for 20% less than Hinkley Point'

  17-01-2018 12:30 via theguardian.com
  Company claims a plant at Sizewell in Suffolk would be £4bn cheaper than £20bn projectEDF Energy has claimed it could build a second new nuclear power station in Britain that would be 20% cheaper than the £20bn Hinkley Point C project under construction in Somerset.The French state-owned company said a new plant at Sizewell on the Suffolk coast would be cheaper because of replication in construction techniques, existing grid connections and the exploration of new finance models
  
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• Scott Pruitt insincerely asked what's Earth's ideal temperature. Scientists answer | Dana Nuccitelli

  17-01-2018 12:00 via theguardian.com
  In short, from a practical standpoint, as little additional warming as possible
  In an interview with Reuters last week, Trump’s EPA administrator Scott Pruitt said,The climate is changing. That’s not the debate. The debate is how do we know what the ideal surface temperature is in 2100? Continue reading...
  
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• McDonald's and Waitrose lead business charge against plastic waste

  17-01-2018 11:54
  Fast food giant McDonald's and UK retailer Waitrose are the latest companies to publicly announce plans to tackle the growing issue of plastic waste, with McDonald's setting a 2025 commitment to boost the recyclability of its packaging and Waitrose reaffirming its packaging commitments that it made in 2017.
  
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• Clean Growth Strategy 'not enough' to meet UK's carbon targets, climate advisers warn

  17-01-2018 11:37
  Urgent action is needed to flesh out current plans in the Clean Growth Strategy in order to meet the UK's fourth and fifth carbon budgets, the Government's climate change watchdog has cautioned.
  
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• EU maps out plastics vision in new strategy

  17-01-2018 10:34
  The European Commission presented on Tuesday (16 January) its eagerly anticipated strategy on how the EU intends to approach plastic production and pollution over the next decade and beyond.
  
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• Brain-to-vehicle technology and solar Wi-Fi: the best green innovations at CES 2018

  17-01-2018 08:15
  Around 185,000 people descended into Las Vegas last week to check out the latest gadgets and tech innovations on show at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). edie has selected some of the best displays that could have the biggest sustainability impacts.
  
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• UK to miss legal climate targets without urgent action, official advisers warn

  17-01-2018 07:01 via theguardian.com
  Vague ambitions, such as banning new petrol cars by 2040, must be turned into solid plans, says the Committee on Climate Change
  The UK will miss its legally binding carbon targets without urgent government action, official advisers have warned.The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said vague ambitions, such as banning new petrol and diesel cars by 2040, must be turned into solid plans and new policies, such as planting more trees, are needed. Continue reading...
  
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• Heathrow to unveil shorter third runway plan in bid to cut costs

  17-01-2018 07:01 via theguardian.com
  Proposal sees 300 metres cut from runway in effort to help reduce costs to £15bn, but opponents say move changes forecasted economic benefitsHeathrow is to unveil proposals for a shorter, cheaper third runway in a public consultation to help push its expansion plans through.The airport will propose cutting 300 metres from the length of the northwestern runway, a scheme approved by the government following the Airports Commission process, in an attempt to cut costs.Continue reading...
  
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• World's longest underwater cave system discovered in Mexico by divers

  17-01-2018 06:39 via theguardian.com
  Discovery of 347km-long cave by the Gran Acuifero Maya project could shed light on Mayan historyA group of divers has connected two underwater caverns in eastern Mexico to reveal what is believed to be the biggest flooded cave on the planet.The discovery could also help shed new light on the ancient Maya civilization.Continue reading...
  
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• Country diary: ancient enclave where walkers usually roam

  17-01-2018 06:30 via theguardian.com
  Cadson Bury, Lynher Valley: Early farmers and their animals were protected from marauders and wild creatures lurking in the dense woodland belowJust below the summit a shaggy-coated cow with long, curving horns gazes into the greyness of this dull afternoon. The sound of rushing water carries up from the river, now swollen with run-off from Redmoor and Tresellern Marshes, the Withey Brook and other boggy headstreams on the eastern side of Bodmin Moor, as well as little tributaries from intermedi
  
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• New Zealand fisheries want grisly images of dead penguins caught in nets censored

  17-01-2018 05:13 via theguardian.com
  Industry leaders say plan to install cameras on commercial fishing vessels is a risk to ‘NZ Inc’​The seafood industry in New Zealand has asked the government to withhold graphic video of dead sea life caught in trawler nets as they are potentially damaging to fisheries and to brand New Zealand. A letter from five seafood industry leaders to the Ministry of Primary Industries highlights the fisheries’ growing unease with the government’s proposal to install video cam
  
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• Most new cars must be electric by 2030, ministers told

  17-01-2018 04:05 via bbc.co.uk
  Three-fifths of new cars must be electric by 2030 to meet climate change targets, ministers are told.
  
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• Paris, London

  17-01-2018 02:38 via bbc.co.uk
  A partnership between Imperial College London and a major French agency will keep access to European research funding.
  
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• Dolphin diet study gives conservation clues

  17-01-2018 02:06 via bbc.co.uk
  Wild dolphins burn up to 33,000 calories a day, say researchers - equivalent to about 60 salmon portions.
  
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• Wagamama to mark Earth Day by ditching plastic straws

  17-01-2018 01:01 via theguardian.com
  Asian food chain says it will hand out biodegradable paper alternative on request from 22 AprilWagamama has become the latest restaurant chain to commit to end the use of plastic straws.From Earth Day on 22 April, the Asian food chain will switch to a biodegradable paper alternative, which will be available on request. Continue reading...
  
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