Environment news

• Climate change tightens grip on US west coast despite progressive aspirations

  07-03-2018 20:20 via theguardian.com
  California, Washington and Oregon have led criticism of Trump’s climate policies, but change hasn’t been easier closer to home
  California’s exposure to climate change has been laid bare with warnings that San Francisco faces a far worse threat from rising seas than previously thought, while the agricultural heart of the state will increasingly struggle to support crops such as peaches, walnuts and apricots as temperatures climb.The findings, from two new scientific studies, com
  
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• Fracking delayed at North Yorkshire site until autumn

  07-03-2018 19:26 via theguardian.com
  Third Energy to halt shale gas project in Kirby Misperton until completion of approval processThird Energy has postponed plans to frack for shale gas at a site in North Yorkshire until the autumn. Related: The village that took on the frackersContinue reading...
  
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• Gorilla sanctuary workers in eastern DRC kidnapped by militia

  07-03-2018 18:11 via theguardian.com
  Eighteen hostages are alive and abductors are demanding a large ransom, local sources sayEighteen employees of a gorilla sanctuary in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been abducted by a militia group, sources have said.An official with an NGO said the abduction took place on Monday in the area of Nzovu, in Kahuzi-Biega national park, and that an armed group called the Mai-Mai Raia Mutomboki was responsible.Continue reading...
  
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• Ofgem seeks tougher price controls on energy firms

  07-03-2018 17:56 via theguardian.com
  Plan would hit gas and electricity networks’ returns and save £5bn for consumers, says watchdogOfgem has signalled tougher price controls for energy firms that could knock up to £25 a year off the average household gas and electricity bill.Under the proposed new rules, due to come into force in April 2021, companies that run Britain’s gas and electricity networks would face a “significantly lower range of returns”, the regulator said. Continue reading...
  
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• Another oil firm seeks sweeping injunction against UK protesters

  07-03-2018 17:52 via theguardian.com
  Critics say legal move by UK Oil and Gas, that could see protesters at its sites jailed and fined, is draconian and anti-democraticAnother firm is seeking a sweeping injunction against environmental protesters, drawing accusations that the legal move is “draconian and chillingly anti-democratic”.UK Oil and Gas (UKOG) has applied for a broad injunction to prevent campaigners from mounting protests that it says would unlawfully interfere with its operations. Continue reading...
  
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• Red squirrels boosted by pine martens

  07-03-2018 17:15 via bbc.co.uk
  Red squirrel numbers in Scotland are being boosted by the activity of pine martens.
  
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• Monkey business: Florida wildlife sanctuary animal 'theft' declared hoax

  07-03-2018 17:01 via theguardian.com
  Josue Santiago, head of the We Care Wildlife Sanctuary, charged with the false reporting of a crime after claiming ad inspired thefts The mysterious disappearance of dozens of exotic animals from a Florida wildlife sanctuary after a fake “help yourself” advertisement appeared online has been solved, according to detectives: the alleged late-night theft was nothing more than monkey business contrived by the sanctuary’s owner. Josue Santiago, 41, head of the We Care Wildlife Sanc
  
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• Ocean mappers line up for XPRIZE final

  07-03-2018 15:55 via bbc.co.uk
  Nine teams, including one from the UK, will demonstrate new technology to map the sea floor.
  
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• 'History in the making': California aims for world's highest farm animal welfare law

  07-03-2018 13:48 via theguardian.com
  New law would ban the sale of all eggs, pork or veal from a caged animal, putting the state ahead of the EU – if campaigners can get enough signaturesThey call Chris Winn the signatures guy. A delivery driver by day, he spends his free time drumming up support for animal rights. “When I did the shark fin ban I got 4,000 signatures,” says Winn, 53. “Usually I’m the top guy in California.”Now he’s on a new mission. It’s a cold Saturday afternoon in S
  
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• Iowa stores may be forced to sell eggs from battery hens

  07-03-2018 13:47 via theguardian.com
  A bill that would require some stores selling only cage-free eggs to offer lower-welfare eggs as an affordable option risks a ‘major set-back’ for animal welfare, say criticsIowa grocery stores selling cage-free eggs may soon be required to stock eggs from battery hens as well.The bill would affect two of Iowa’s largest supermarkets, HyVee and Fareway Stores, and national chains such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and Target, as well as smaller independent grocers. That’s bec
  
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• Plastic pledges provide gateway to circular economy, says John Lewis

  07-03-2018 13:27
  The recent focus on plastic pollution has given sustainability professionals an opportunity to "reframe the narrative" on resource efficiency to move business models towards the circular economy, John Lewis's sustainability manager Ben Thomas has claimed.
  
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• Michael Bloomberg named as UN climate envoy

  07-03-2018 13:07
  American billionaire businessman and politician Michael Bloomberg has been selected as the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Climate Action.
  
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• Aldi unveils sweeping measures to slash plastics waste

  07-03-2018 12:12
  Discount chain Aldi will scrap 5p carrier bags by the end of this year and ensure all packaging on its own-label is reusable, recyclable or compostable before 2022.
  
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• Achieving a circular economy: New business guide launched by edie

  07-03-2018 11:56
  Organisations looking to accelerate the transition to a circular economy now have access to a comprehensive 'edie explains' guide which breaks down everything there is to know about achieving a zero-waste world.
  
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• From air-cleaning moss tyres to blockchain: Car giants gear up for a transport revolution

  07-03-2018 11:39
  Car manufacturers continue to look to the horizon to deliver solutions that can integrate into future cities and energy systems. With a focus on the Geneva Motor Show, edie rounds-up the latest announcements making waves through the transport and energy sectors.
  
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• Brazil: natural disasters and large-scale construction forced millions from homes

  07-03-2018 11:00 via theguardian.com
  6.4 million moved after large-scale flooding, droughts and other disasters, while 1.2 million were forced out by projects such as damsAt least 7.7 million Brazilians, or one every minute, have been forced to leave their homes since 2000, a pioneering study has found. Of those, 6.4 million moved after large-scale flooding, droughts and other natural disasters, while 1.2 million were forced out by large-scale construction projects such as dams. Continue reading...
  
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• At least 7.7m Brazilians forced to leave homes since 2000, study finds

  07-03-2018 11:00 via theguardian.com
  Georeferencing helps reveal the scale of impact from natural disasters and dam building At least 7.7 million Brazilians, or one every minute, have been forced to leave their homes since 2000, a pioneering study has found. Of those, 6.4 million moved after large-scale flooding, droughts and other natural disasters, while 1.2 million were forced out by large-scale construction projects like dams. Continue reading...
  
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• You can deny environmental calamity – until you check the facts | George Monbiot

  07-03-2018 08:00 via theguardian.com
  Rosy worldviews that rely on avoiding inconvenient truths should always set alarm bells ringingOne of the curiosities of our age is the way in which celebrity culture comes to dominate every aspect of public life. Even the review pages of the newspapers sometimes look like a highfalutin version of gossip magazines. Were we to judge them by the maxim “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people”, they would not emerge well. Biography dominates.
  
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• Norway boosts whaling quota despite international opposition

  07-03-2018 07:10 via theguardian.com
  Fisheries minister announces 28% increase, but environmentalists say steep drop in number of minkes killed is sign of a dying industryNorway has announced a 28% increase of its annual whaling quota to 1,278 whales in a bid to revive the declining hunt amid international controversy.Whalers have for several years failed to meet the quotas set by Oslo and the number of whaling boats has plunged. Continue reading...
  
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• Return of pine martens could save Britain's red squirrels, say scientists

  07-03-2018 07:01 via theguardian.com
  Areas with growing pine marten populations have seen grey squirrel numbers fall as they provide easy prey for the predators – unlike native reds, a new study showsThe invasion of grey squirrels that has decimated native reds across the UK is reversed when pine martens prowl the woods, new research has shown. Unlike reds, grey squirrels appear to be easy meat for the predator.Pine marten populations have also been drastically reduced in the past. But where they are recovering, they send gre
  
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• Country diary: the dance of the snow devils

  07-03-2018 06:30 via theguardian.com
  Wenlock Edge, Shropshire: Some were like wisps of bonfire smoke, others formed rolling circles of spindrift or reel-shaped vortices that blew themselves apart after a couple of secondsWatching snow devils rise, dance and vanish in the field, as if they were beings composed of moonlight, was strangely compelling. It was really parky. For the past few days there had been intermittent snow showers, slow-motion flakes drifting without direction that settled into a sugaring. These were separated, lik
  
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• Red squirrel numbers boosted by predator

  07-03-2018 06:08 via bbc.co.uk
  Why red squirrel numbers are boosted by the activity of their natural predator, the pine marten.
  
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• Feed-in tariffs could be cut back due to high take-up of solar power

  07-03-2018 04:22 via theguardian.com
  Experts warn the grid could be over-supplied during low demand periods
  Governments should change the way feed-in tariffs are paid to homeowners or the high take-up of solar power might force them to be drastically cut back, one of Australia’s top energy experts says.On Tuesday the Clean Energy Regulator released new data which showed a record 3.5m solar panels were installed on Australia rooftops last year. Continue reading...
  
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• Cars buck falling CO2 emissions trend

  07-03-2018 02:28 via bbc.co.uk
  Britain's carbon emissions have sunk to the level last seen in 1890, helped by reduced coal use.
  
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• Australia and Timor-Leste sign historic maritime border treaty

  07-03-2018 00:40 via theguardian.com
  The treaty determines entitlement to Timor Sea oil and gas reserves, including in the Greater Sunrise basin Australia and Timor-Leste have a permanent maritime border for the first time after the signing of a significant and unprecedented treaty in New York on Wednesday. The treaty finally determines each nation’s entitlement and ownership of the rich oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea, including the untapped Greater Sunrise basin, estimated to hold $53bn worth of gas reserves. Continue
  
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