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ANALYSIS: EU budget delay imperils year-end deal to increase 2030 climate goal
The Guardian view on the ‘spy cops’ inquiry: secrets and liars | Editorial
The undercover policing inquiry was on shaky ground before it started, and victims are right to be concerned
The abuse carried out by undercover “spy cops” working in two police units over 40 years took many forms. The deception practised by at least 20 officers who had sexual relationships with their targets – mostly women, at least three of whom had children as a result – was a gross breach of the women’s human rights, as the force acknowledged when it apologised and paid substantial compensation to seven of them. The harm caused to the children of these deceitful unions is still unfolding: last month it was revealed that compensation has also been paid to a man who had his life turned upside down by the discovery in 2012 that the father who abandoned him as a child was a police officer, Bob Lambert.
Others had their trust violated in different ways. The first month of Sir John Mitting’s public inquiry into the work of 139 officers has heard evidence about how they passed details of trade union activists to a blacklisting organisation used by companies to stop them getting work. A leftwing writer, Tariq Ali, was spied on by at least 14 officers, and said he was shocked by their “prurient” reports. For Stephen Lawrence’s family, the discovery that police spied on their justice campaign was a profound insult that has been compounded by the Metropolitan police’s failure over the past six years to release documents about what happened.
Continue reading...The week in wildlife – in pictures
The best of the week’s wildlife pictures from around the world, including baby bears and a stowaway owl
Continue reading...Climate pledge on home heating 'vanishes' after 'mix-up'
TCI price cap could limit emissions reductions from cap-and-trade programme -study
‘Suffocating closeness’: US judge condemns ‘appalling conditions’ on industrial farms
Pork giant Smithfield has settled with North Carolina residents who sued over stench, flies and truck traffic from Kinlaw Farms
A US judge has issued a blistering condemnation of industrial farming practices. The judgment comes as one US meat giant finally settles after a six-year legal battle with plaintiffs who sued the company over the stench, flies, buzzards and truck traffic coming from its industrial swine farms in North Carolina.
J Harvie Wilkinson III, one of the judges in a case that pitted locals against the Smithfield subsidiary formerly known as Murphy-Brown, decried the “outrageous conditions” at Kinlaw Farms, the operation at the center of the lawsuit – “conditions that there is no reason to suppose were unique to that facility”.
Continue reading...Microplastic pollution found near summit of Mount Everest
Humans now known to have polluted Earth from deepest ocean to highest peak
Microplastic pollution has been discovered in snow close to the peak of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. With plastic debris revealed in 2018 at the deepest point on Earth, the Mariana Trench, it is now clear that humanity’s litter has polluted the entire planet.
The tiny plastic fibres were found within a few hundred metres of the top of the 8,850-metre mountain, at a spot known as the balcony. Microplastics were found in all the snow samples collected from 11 locations on Everest, ranging from 5,300 metres to 8,440 metres high.
Continue reading...Chinese flower has evolved to be less visible to pickers
Fritillaria delavayi, used in traditional medicine, turning grey to blend into rocks
For thousands of years, the dainty Fritillaria delavayi has grown slowly on the rocky slopes of the Hengduan mountains in China, producing a bright green flower after its fifth year.
But the conspicuous small plant has one deadly enemy: people, who harvest the flower for traditional Chinese medicine.
Continue reading...Exemptions cancel out stricter benchmark in new China ETS allocation plan
OneWeb satellite internet company is officially reborn
Pressure grows on Boris Johnson over UK carbon emissions plan
Climate experts say UK should aim to cut emissions by more than 70% as crucial summit looms
Boris Johnson is facing a fresh test of his green commitments as the UK prepares to submit its national plan on future carbon emissions, ahead of crucial UN climate negotiations.
Pressure is growing on the prime minister to come up with an ambitious national target – known as a nationally determined contribution, or NDC – on cutting emissions substantially by 2030, because the UK will host the postponed Cop26 climate summit next year.
Continue reading...Manager, US Forestry Operations (Carbon), NewForests – San Francisco/Remotely
CN Markets: Pilot market data for week ending Nov. 20, 2020
China should ban new coal plants, aim for $30/t carbon price -report
Solar Insiders Podcast: How the electric Solar Coaster nearly sank in deep water
As Victoria unveils an Australia-leading package focusing on solar, batteries and energy efficiency, the Solar Coaster nearly sank in deep waters off the coast of NSW.
The post Solar Insiders Podcast: How the electric Solar Coaster nearly sank in deep water appeared first on RenewEconomy.
UNSW to study hydrogen viability supply chain between Australia and Germany
UNSW will lead a study designed to test the viability of establishing a renewable energy-based hydrogen supply chain between Australia and Germany.
The post UNSW to study hydrogen viability supply chain between Australia and Germany appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Solar and wind farms face more production cutbacks in NSW and Victoria
Solar and wind projects in NSW and Victoria warned of further constraints after modelling by Transgrid discovered new risk of "voltage collapse" in region.
The post Solar and wind farms face more production cutbacks in NSW and Victoria appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Morrison might abandon Kyoto carryover, but Australia will remain friendless without stronger policies
Morrison may be considering abandoning plans to use a controversial Kyoto surplus to meet his 2030 target, but it won't be enough to win friends on climate.
The post Morrison might abandon Kyoto carryover, but Australia will remain friendless without stronger policies appeared first on RenewEconomy.
AEMO names former Ausnet boss as interim CEO after Zibelman departure
AEMO names former Ausnet boss as interim CEO after departure of Audrey Zibelman.
The post AEMO names former Ausnet boss as interim CEO after Zibelman departure appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Massive green hydrogen project signs network deal with Western Power
The proposed Arrowsmith green hydrogen project partners with Western Power to complete studies on potential transmission link for the project.
The post Massive green hydrogen project signs network deal with Western Power appeared first on RenewEconomy.