Environment news

• Toxic algal bloom off South Australia coastline devastates marine life – video

  06-07-2025 17:00
  Footage shows the impact of an algal bloom unfolding along South Australia's coastline. The deadly bloom of Karenia mikimotoi algae has devastated marine life from the Fleurieu peninsula, to Kangaroo Island, to the Yorke peninsula and the Ramsar-listed Coorong. Since the start of the bloom in March, more than 7,800 marine animals have died and almost 400 different species have been affected, including shellfish, sharks, rays and many rare and unusual marine species, according to the SA Marine Mo
  
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• Weedkiller ingredient widely used in US can damage organs and gut bacteria, research shows

  06-07-2025 14:00
  Diquat is banned in the UK, EU, China and other countries. The US has resisted calls to regulate itThe herbicide ingredient used to replace glyphosate in Roundup and other weedkiller products can kill gut bacteria and damage organs in multiple ways, new research shows.The ingredient, diquat, is widely employed in the US as a weedkiller in vineyards and orchards, and is increasingly sprayed elsewhere as the use of controversial herbicide substances such as glyphosate and paraquat drops in the US.
  
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• Businesses and charities call for UK to scrap VAT on refurbished electronics

  06-07-2025 14:00
  Exclusive: Letter to government says lower prices for repaired goods would cut waste, create jobs and help households save moneyMinisters are facing fresh calls to scrap VAT on all repaired and refurbished electronics, with businesses, charities and community groups arguing the move would help households cut costs and stop electrical goods being binned prematurely.In a letter to the environment secretary, Steve Reed, the signatories say that removing VAT on repaired electronics should be part of
  
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• Deadly heatwaves are the new reality – we need to transform the UK's cities and towns to survive them | Hannah Martin

  06-07-2025 09:00
  While we work towards net zero, we also need to adapt. And we can pay for cooling measures like splash pads and trees by taxing the worst pollutersThere’s a lot to be anxious about as a new parent, let alone in a heatwave when the thermometer in your one-year-old daughter’s room is reading 26C. That’s six degrees higher than the upper limit of the recommended temperature for a child’s room. After scrolling my phone for advice on how to cool her room, I couldn’t help
  
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