Environment news

• Birdwatch: 'That is not a yellow wagtail'

  13-02-2018 22:30 via theguardian.com
  If there was a prize for most unsuitable British bird name, grey wagtail would win hands downMy heart sinks as I hear for the umpteenth time “I’ve just seen a yellow wagtail” and I explain that, although the bird was indeed a wagtail, and did sport a flash of lemon-yellow beneath the tail, it was in fact a grey wagtail. I reflect, not for the first time, that if there was a prize for most unsuitable British bird name, the grey wagtail would win hands down.Continue reading...
  
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• BBC to ban single-use plastics by 2020 after Blue Planet II

  13-02-2018 21:31 via bbc.co.uk
  The move comes after the 'shocking' scale of plastic waste featured on the Blue Planet II series.
  
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• BBC aims to be free of single-use plastics across all operations by 2020

  13-02-2018 20:30 via theguardian.com
  Decision follows the corporation’s landmark series Blue Planet II, which highlighted plastic pollution in the oceansThe BBC will ban single-use plastics from its operations by 2020, in the wake of its landmark series Blue Planet II which highlighted plastic pollution in the oceans.Plastic cups and cutlery will be removed across BBC sites by the end of 2018, ending the use of around 2m plastic cups used by visitors and staff each year, the corporation said. Continue reading...
  
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• Mark Dion review – a fabulous, fun-filled bestiary in the heart of the city

  13-02-2018 19:14 via theguardian.com
  Live birds crapping on David Attenborough, a unicorn’s horn, false teeth fished from the Thames … this is a mind-boggling romp through the natural (and not so natural) world
  Zebra finches flit about a dead apple tree, planted amid piles of books in a giant aviary at the Whitechapel Gallery. The birdschirp merrily, crapping on the books below. There are books everywhere: books on birds and novels with birds in their titles; books in the branches and underfoot. The branches are hung w
  
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• Genes remain active after death

  13-02-2018 18:56 via bbc.co.uk
  Cells continue to function even after an individual dies, a discovery that could be developed into a forensic tool.
  
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• 'Incongruous': species funding in the most unlikely places

  13-02-2018 18:00 via theguardian.com
  The government is providing $237m to projects it says will benefit threatened species – yet there is little chance the species actually occur at those sites ‘A national disgrace’: Australia’s extinction crisis is unfolding in plain sight
  The Polly Woodside, a three-masted historic cargo ship built in 1885, is a prominent feature of Melbourne’s south wharf. It’s a site for tour groups, birthday parties, and an event known as pirate day held on the first Sunday
  
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• ‘Absolute scandal’: how does restoring a ship help endangered species?

  13-02-2018 18:00 via theguardian.com
  The government is providing $255m to projects it says will benefit threatened animals and plants – yet there is little chance the species actually occur at many of the sites• ‘A national disgrace’: Australia’s extinction crisis is unfolding in plain sightThe Polly Woodside, a three-masted historic cargo ship built in 1885, is a prominent feature of Melbourne’s south wharf. It’s a site for tour groups, birthday parties, and an event known as pirate day hel
  
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• Express delivery: use drones not trucks to cut carbon emissions, experts say

  13-02-2018 17:00 via theguardian.com
  Research shows drones can deliver certain items faster and with less environmental impact than trucks – but there are drawbacksDrones invoke varying perceptions, from fun gadget to fly in the park to deadly military weapons. In the future, they may even be viewed as a handy tool in the battle to fight climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions from the transport of goods could be cut if drones replace trucks in some instances, researchers have found, providing an environmental edge to the pu
  
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• Share your questions for scientists aboard an Antarctic expedition

  13-02-2018 16:30 via theguardian.com
  The Guardian is aboard a Greenpeace ship in the Antarctic. We want to know what questions you’d like to ask scientists on the expeditionAntarctic exploration brings challenges, but also surprises that can often seem out of this world – according to those lucky enough to experience the adventure. We’d like you to share your thoughts, and questions, as Guardian journalists report direct from the region as part of a Greenpeace expedition.Related: First images of creatures from Ant
  
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• How Iceland became the bitcoin miners’ paradise

  13-02-2018 16:26 via theguardian.com
  The island nation is the first to use more electricity on mining cryptocurriencies than on its households – thanks in part to its magma-fuelled power plantsBitcoin’s price may be down more than 50% from its highs in December, but no one has told Iceland, where the cryptocurrency and its offspring are reshaping the economy.According to Johann Snorri Sigurbergsson, an employee of the energy company HS Orka, Icelandic cryptocurrency “mining” is likely to double its energy co
  
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• Amazon fish challenges mutation idea

  13-02-2018 14:19 via bbc.co.uk
  Study of an Amazon fish has challenged ideas about how DNA gathers deadly mutations over time.
  
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• Top investors call on global food brands to make plant-based shift

  13-02-2018 13:47
  An investor-led coalition worth $2.4trn has urged the likes of Unilever, Nestlé and Tesco to diversify their protein sourcing away from a reliance on animal proteins.
  
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• Shipping first as commercial tanker crosses Arctic sea route in winter

  13-02-2018 13:19 via theguardian.com
  The crossing, unassisted by an icebreaker vessel, marks a milestone as thawing polar ice opens up Russia’s northern coastline, reports Climate Home NewsAn LNG tanker designed for icy conditions has become the first commercial ship to travel the Arctic’s northern sea route in winter.It marks a milestone in the opening up of Russia’s northern coastline, as thawing polar ice makes industrial development and maritime trade increasingly viable. Continue reading...
  
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• Trump's infrastructure plan aims to sweep away 'inefficient' environmental reviews

  13-02-2018 13:00 via theguardian.com
  Trump’s plan would threaten endangered species or fragile habitats with limits for environmental reviewsThe Trump administration is attempting to speed up or even sweep away various environmental reviews in its plan to fix America’s crumbling infrastructure and construct a wall along the border with Mexico.
  The White House’s infrastructure plan targets what it calls “inefficiencies” in the approval of roads, bridges, airports and other projects. It proposes a 21-mon
  
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• Could Scotland be on the verge of becoming the first European country to ban plastic straws?

  13-02-2018 12:54
  The Scottish Government could introduce a ban on plastic straws by as early as next year, it has been reported.
  
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• London, Barcelona or Singapore: Which will be the best smart city in the world?

  13-02-2018 11:55
  A new report from Philips Lighting and SmartCitiesWorld polled 150 city planning experts to find out which city will lead the global smart city transition. edie outlines the top three cities, and why they are primed to act as global smart city leaders.
  
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• Government to phase out diesel trains by 2040

  13-02-2018 11:49
  The Government has made a pledge to remove all diesel-only trains form UK railways by 2040.
  
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• Melting ice sheets are hastening sea level rise, satellite data confirms

  13-02-2018 09:57 via theguardian.com
  Research shows that pace of melting in Antarctica and Greenland has acceleratedMelting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are speeding up the already fast pace of sea level rise, new satellite data shows.At the current rate, the world’s oceans will be on average at least 60cm (2ft) higher by the end of the century, according to research published in Monday’s Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. Continue reading...
  
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• Adani Australian CEO's record 'wouldn't have altered mine approval'

  13-02-2018 09:06 via theguardian.com
  Department investigation finds failure to disclose ‘may have been negligent’ but would not have changed decisionA federal environment department investigation into Adani’s failure to disclose its CEO’s link to a mining company convicted of causing serious environmental harm says the failure to disclose “may have been negligent”. But knowledge of the link would not have altered the decision to grant Carmichael mine ministerial approval, an internal document say
  
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• Business benefits of EU ETS reform clouded by Brexit uncertainty

  13-02-2018 08:58
  EXCLUSIVE: Last week's vote in favour to reform the EU's carbon market is a "strong signal" that energy-intensive businesses should accelerate decarbonisation processes, although the European Parliament's rapporteur on the reform has warned that Brexit will act as high-profile distraction.
  
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• Wildlife photographer of the year people's choice winner 2018 – in pictures

  13-02-2018 08:01 via theguardian.com
  A heartwarming image of a gorilla in the arms of her rescuer won this year’s award, after 20,000 nature fans voted on a shortlist of 24 imagesThe picture will be displayed in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum until 28 May Continue reading...
  
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• 'A first in my 60 years': readers spot early signs of spring

  13-02-2018 08:00 via theguardian.com
  Readers around the UK have been getting in touch after noticing blooming and blossoming ahead of time
  Spring has come early in the form of blooming flowers and butterflies, according to readers around the UK who responded to our callout. Related: Spring flowers in autumn, birdsong in winter: what a freak year for natureContinue reading...
  
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• A eureka moment for the planet: we’re finally planting trees again | John Vidal

  13-02-2018 07:00 via theguardian.com
  After centuries of bad stewardship, communities are at last starting to see the benefits of forestsChina plans to plant forests the size of Ireland. Latin American countries have pledged to restore 20m hectares of degraded forest and African countries more than 100m hectares. India is to plant 13m hectares, and on a single day last year 1.5 million people planted 66m trees in Madhya Pradesh alone. Related: Trees make our lives better in unquantifiable ways | David FergusonContinue reading...
  
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• Country diary: panic ripples through the birds as a raptor approaches

  13-02-2018 06:30 via theguardian.com
  Pulborough Brooks, West Sussex: This is no idle flyover – the peregrine falcon is focused, intent, trying to single out possible targets Continue reading...
  
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• New antibiotic family discovered in dirt

  13-02-2018 04:51 via bbc.co.uk
  The compounds are called malacidins and can kill several stubborn infections, including superbug MRSA.
  
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• NSW land-clearing prosecutions down 80% in three years

  13-02-2018 04:49 via theguardian.com
  Government says it has no information on extent of clearing under new, less-restrictive lawsProsecutions in New South Wales for illegal land clearing have dropped by 80% in the past three years, according to data released under freedom of information laws.The information, obtained by the NSW Labor opposition, shows the Berejiklian government claims not to have any information about how much clearing has occurred under new laws that came into force in August 2017 aimed at making land clearing eas
  
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• Scottish engineering yards set to close once windfarm work ends

  13-02-2018 00:50 via theguardian.com
  Shutdown of BiFab operations in two locations would mean loss of hundreds of jobsHundreds of workers at the BiFab marine engineering yards are to be made redundant, union leaders have said.
  Management at the yards told trade unions on Monday they will be issuing redundancy notices to the core workforce on Tuesday, giving 45 days’ notice of the closure of the yards. Unions said 260 jobs at yards in Fife and Arnish on Lewis are to go by early summer, with the possible total closure of the ya
  
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