Environment news

• Amphibian icons of prodigious procreation

  04-04-2017 06:30
  
  Buxton, Derbyshire What compels our imagination is the sheer drive of frogs and toads to get to the spawning pondsWhat is it about frogs and toads that has made them such classic icons of sexual reproduction? It cannot be timing, because their breeding is often over before the other elements of high spring – flowers, bees, birdsong, sunshine – are in full flood. Frogs will gather at the spawning pond when the starlit nights are frosted and the vegetation rimed in white.Nor can it be
  
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• Red warning for south-east England after record June heat; 150 million Europeans to experience temperatures above 35C today – Europe heatwave live

  26-06-2026 10:42
  Paris to ban drinking alcohol in public as police ask organisers to cancel city’s Pride march; First time red warnings issued in UK for three consecutive daysEuropean heatwave is worst ever and impossible without climate crisis, scientists sayParis to ban drinking alcohol in public as hospitals hit heatwave breaking pointAt least 150 million Europeans will experience temperatures above 35C today, much higher than in the previous two days (94 million on Wednesday and 101 million yesterday),
  
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• Week in wildlife: paddling deer, a spring-loaded penguin and a rare sand cat

  26-06-2026 09:00
  This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...
  
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• ‘Slough is like an experiment’: Europe’s largest datacentre hub leaves town sweltering

  26-06-2026 09:00
  
  Emerging research suggests datacentres create a heat island effect, pushing up temperatures in the immediate vicinity by as much as 9C The community living next to the largest datacentre park in Europe say the scorching summer heat has grown unbearable.On days like Wednesday, said Nabeel Nawaz, the store manager of a Chaiiwala franchise in the centre of Slough, the heat is like something “pinching your body and burning your skin”. Continue reading...
  
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• Rain stopped play? Biggest worry now in British sport is extreme heat | Emma John

  26-06-2026 09:00
  Climate crisis is on show every day when sportspeople do their thing and the rest of us sweat on the sofaNothing sharpens the distinction between professional athletes and the rest of us like a week of truly hot weather. While we’re apologetically crying off long-in-the-diary engagements – so sorry, just can’t face it in this weather – elite sportspeople are blinking the rivulets of sweat out of their eyes while squinting under a hot and heavy helmet, then doing 22-yard s
  
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• A little bird told her: scientist wins $100,000 prize for decoding birdsong

  26-06-2026 08:53
  Julie Elie worked out how zebra finches announce who they are, what they are doing and use individual signaturesA scientist who decoded the dictionary that a bird uses to communicate has won a $100,000 prize for making progress towards a world in which humans can talk to the animals – without being met with a blank response.Dr Julie Elie at the University of California, Berkeley, was awarded the 2026 Coller-Dolittle prize for two-way interspecies communication after working out the 11 core
  
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• Shark bites are down globally – so why are they going up in Australia? It’s complicated

  26-06-2026 08:00
  In this week’s newsletter: Opinions are divided on how to mitigate risk, and whether it’s sharks or humans themselves who are the problem. Plus, Europe breaks heat records• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereShark bites are traumatic and can spark fear and anger alongside tragedy. Around the world, the trend is flat. But in Australia, shark bites are going up.A recent number of bites, especially around Sydney’s famous beaches, has surfers, s
  
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• Too hot for work: why extreme heat is a threat to Europe’s productivity

  26-06-2026 07:00
  High temperatures make some workplaces dangerous, with economists warning disruption will dent growthMonique Mosley is used to sweltering conditions at the food factory in Yorkshire where she works, but June’s record-breaking heatwave has made conditions unbearable. “We make hot filled food products and it’s common that we see temperatures in the high 30s,” she said. “Thanks to our union, our employer is offering extra breaks, but not every workplace is the same.&rd
  
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• Migrating swifts loyally return every year to nests in buildings, study finds

  26-06-2026 07:00
  Conservationists emphasise importance of protecting nesting sites used by ‘strongly faithful’ red-listed speciesMigratory swifts loyally return every year to their nests in buildings, according to a study, underlining the importance of providing the endangered birds with hollow nesting bricks if traditional nest sites are lost to renovations.The swift, which is on the red list of conservation concern, is one of Britain’s most threatened species, having declined in number by 70%
  
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• Fossil fuel price surges can lead to worse air quality, study finds

  26-06-2026 07:00
  Researchers find increases in toxic chemical in the air in some areas as people switch to cheaper wood burningNew research shows that the unreliability of fossil fuel supply chains and consequential price surges can lead to deterioration in air quality as people change their consumption behaviour.The conflict in Ukraine has had well-documented impacts on the immediate environment. Fires from destroyed buildings and industry, movement of military vehicles and extensive wildfires have added to air
  
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• Country diary: Even in a heatwave, haymaking is a race against time | Nicola Chester

  26-06-2026 06:30
  Inkpen, Berkshire: Mow, tedder, rake and bale – it all has to be done before the next rainfall, which is increasingly hard to predictWith the weather set fair and a heatwave under way, all around are literally making hay while the sun shines. Last year’s drought produced very little grass to make hay with, resulting in high prices and scarcity over winter. This year, the grass has received good amounts of both sun and rain – the ideal conditions.Foxglove Farm and Manor Farm are
  
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• Tarmac playgrounds and windows that don’t open: why hot spells turn our schools into heat traps | Harry Paticas

  25-06-2026 19:09
  Our schools are a dated mix of single glazing, dodgy pipes and atriums like Kew hothouses. They urgently need retrofitting for a changing climateThis week’s soaring summer temperatures have put a spotlight on our schools and their ability to cope, with one in Hertfordshire telling me that it recorded temperatures of more than 40C. So why are our schools struggling?Modern schools often have too much glass, and not enough shading or ventilation to keep out the sun’s heat. During the 19
  
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• Extreme heat grips Europe as UK hits new June record, France shuts down nuclear reactors and deaths rise across continent – as it happened

  25-06-2026 19:00
  
  Heatwave-related deaths climb in Spain, Italy and France as continent battles another day of extreme temperaturesFarryn StockOver in the UK, South East Water has announced a temporary hosepipe ban in Kent amid growing strain from the ongoing heatwave (31C today, 33C tomorrow).“To safeguard that shared supply and prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this cause
  
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• ‘Infection control becomes almost impossible’: four doctors on the NHS heatwave crisis

  25-06-2026 18:57
  Frontline medics describe extreme heat conditions they feel are unsafe and lacking in dignity for patientsHospitals in England declare critical incidents as machines and IT fail in heatHospitals in England are declaring critical incidents with radiotherapy machines, MRI scanners, cooling units and IT systems failing owing to the extreme heat.Here four doctors describe their experiences on the frontline that they say feels unsafe and dangerous for patients amid the worst NHS heatwave crisis in ye
  
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• Ben Jennings on a new idea for ‘carbon capture’ – cartoon

  25-06-2026 18:54
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• Extreme heat grips Europe as UK hits new June record, France shuts down nuclear reactors and deaths rise across continent – live

  25-06-2026 16:04
  Heatwave-related deaths climb in Spain, Italy and France as continent battles another day of extreme temperaturesFarryn StockOver in the UK, South East Water has announced a temporary hosepipe ban in Kent amid growing strain from the ongoing heatwave (31C today, 33C tomorrow).“To safeguard that shared supply and prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this cause
  
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• Extreme heat grips Europe as UK extends warnings and Italy, Spain and France report rise in deaths – live

  25-06-2026 15:09
  The highest UK temperatures are expected across the east and southeastern England while heatwave-related deaths climbed across EuropeFarryn StockOver in the UK, South East Water has announced a temporary hosepipe ban in Kent amid growing strain from the ongoing heatwave (31C today, 33C tomorrow).“To safeguard that shared supply and prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately. We are deeply sorry for the d
  
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• Polanski and unions warn Burnham against backsliding on climate action

  25-06-2026 14:44
  Debate in Labour and union movement over climate commitments as many call for Burnham not to allow drilling in North SeaAnalysis: ‘Act on the evidence outside the window’: Andy Burnham urged to stick to net zero targets if he becomes PMBacksliding on climate action would drive the Labour party into political obscurity, Zack Polanski has warned, as trade union leaders said more drilling in the North Sea would not help UK workers.The Green party leader, speaking to the Guardian as sear
  
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• ‘Act on the evidence outside the window’: Andy Burnham urged to stick to net zero targets if he becomes PM

  25-06-2026 14:26
  Burnham is coming under pressure from some to ditch net zero targets but this could be highly damaging on many levelsUK politics live – latest updatesBritain’s net zero economy is booming. The sector is worth £100bn a year to the UK, has outpaced other sectors, and supports higher-paying jobs than the average.For a union leader to suggest that the man who has overseen this impressive record – the energy secretary, Ed Miliband – would be a “noose around the nec
  
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• UK Met Office extends red heat warning into Friday night as extreme heat grips Europe – live

  25-06-2026 13:22
  The highest UK temperatures are expected across the east and southeastern England while heatwave-related deaths climbed across EuropeFarryn StockOver in the UK, South East Water has announced a temporary hosepipe ban in Kent amid growing strain from the ongoing heatwave (31C today, 33C tomorrow).“To safeguard that shared supply and prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately. We are deeply sorry for the d
  
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• ‘People shouldn’t expect there will be water in their taps every day’: why is St Lucia running out of water?

  25-06-2026 13:00
  Despite millions of dollars of investment, crumbling infrastructure and erratic rainfall are pushing the Caribbean island to the brinkWhen St Lucia’s rainy season began in May, Madeleine Solomon, 55, breathed a sigh of relief. For months, she had been feeling the squeeze of an intermittent water supply that disrupted normal hygiene and food preparation, forcing families like hers to rely on water tanks, rainwater harvesting and bottled water bought from private companies.“I’m t
  
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• Datacentres facing increase in global climate-related legal cases, report finds

  25-06-2026 12:03
  
  LSE analysis highlights litigation linked to energy sources, water consumption and air pollutionThe proliferation of datacentres and AI is increasingly at the forefront of environmental litigation around the world from Chile to Ireland, a report has found.In an analysis of about 3,600 climate-related lawsuits filed since 2015, the latest annual review of climate litigation by the London School of Economics (LSE) found a growing number of cases challenging the energy sources, water consumption an
  
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• Datacentres are growing target of global climate-related legal cases, report finds

  25-06-2026 12:03
  
  LSE analysis highlights litigation linked to energy sources, water consumption and air pollutionThe proliferation of datacentres and AI is increasingly at the forefront of environmental litigation around the world, from the US and UK to Chile to Ireland, a report has found.In an analysis of about 3,600 climate-related lawsuits filed since 2015, the latest annual review of climate litigation by the London School of Economics (LSE) found a growing number of cases challenging the energy sources, wa
  
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• Has Cornwall’s housing crisis created a van life generation?

  25-06-2026 11:17
  Cornwall's housing crisis is forcing young people to live in vans. As second homes and short-term holiday lets drive up house prices, a growing number are turning to van life to stay in the place they love. The Guardian meets young people who say their van brings them freedom but also uncertainty, as they struggle to find water, safe places to park and secure a future​’It can flip quickly from being idyllic’: the reality of life in Cornwall for young van dwellers priced out of
  
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• Europe braced for another day of extreme heat as warnings issued across UK, France and Italy – live

  25-06-2026 10:47
  UK June heat record could be broken for the second consecutive dayA heatwave that has gripped much of Europe and seen temperature records tumble is linkable with 212 deaths in Spain between Sunday and Wednesday, estimated from a public institute showed, AFP reported.The MoMo monitoring system compiles daily death statistics in Spain and calculates the difference in mortality by comparing them with the levels foreseeable based on historical records. Continue reading...
  
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• Hot Mess and Acid’s Reign: the romcom and queer cabaret spotlighting climate crisis

  25-06-2026 10:02
  A blooming new wave of musical theatre is exploring the plight of the planet with a playful and hopeful approachEarth is a single woman with a lot to give; Humanity is a charismatic bad boy who turns out to be an inveterate taker. Their toxic relationship is told in Hot Mess, a musical created by Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote, which works both as an eccentric romcom with broad commercial appeal and a serious analogy for our abuse of the once fecund, now depleted planet. A hot ticket at the Edinbu
  
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• ’It can flip quickly from being idyllic’: the reality of life for young van dwellers priced out of Cornwall’s housing market

  25-06-2026 07:00
  
  With tourists buying up property and landlords opting for lucrative Airbnb rentals, young Cornish people are turning to old campervans to provide a roof over their headsSkye has a thick duvet in the van she calls home in Cornwall. In winter, the 25-year-old goes to bed in several layers of clothes and is grateful for the extra warmth of her cat. She parks up late, often in car parks well away from beaches, and never stays more than one night in case local people get angry and bang on her windows
  
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• Country diary: Bright and bohemian, this moth could be a David Hockney | Paul Evans

  25-06-2026 06:30
  The Marches, Shropshire: Scarlet tiger moths are on the wing at our allotment, taking advantage of the sunny days – and our human activityThe jackdaw takes three hops and is airborne, swinging into a warm dry wind, back over the fence to the northern side of the plateau. Jackdaws and rooks lift from careful stepping into the wind to fly and call, mingling with singing voices from the school nearby. The corvids are shadowing the sheep, Soay/Hebridean cross breeds that graze the Ol
  
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• UK records its hottest June day and France its hottest day ever as heatwave sweeps Europe

  24-06-2026 20:03
  Temperature of 36.1C (97F) recorded in Hampshire, while two-thirds of Europe’s population experience temperatures above 30CThe UK has broken its all-time temperature record for June and France has recorded its hottest day ever for the second day running, as a heatwave affecting more than 90 million people sweeps across swathes of Europe.As the UK and France registered record-breaking temperatures, the World Health Organization warned that the extreme temperatures are “putting lives a
  
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• Farmers criticise government plan to counter threats to UK food security

  24-06-2026 19:47
  Plan warns climate crisis will lead to food price shocks and shortages but farmers say it fails to adequately fund responseThe climate crisis will lead to food price shocks and shortages, the government has warned in its new plan for British farming.But farmers criticised the plan, which outlines for the first time the government’s vision for the long-term direction of farming, for failing to adequately fund a response to this threat to the UK’s food security. Continue reading...
  
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