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Schools should teach pupils gardening skills to instil a passion for the environment in future generations, says horticultural chief

From the water vole to the Scottish wildcat, the dwindling numbers of Britain’s most at-risk animals are well documented. But now the alarm bell is sounding over a rather more overlooked endangered species: green-fingered children.

Young people are so rarely spotted in gardens across Britain nowadays that the Royal Horticultural Society is warning that the country is facing a green skills crisis unless more learn to garden.

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Will Darling has paddled more than 100 miles in his search for rubbish.

Two BBC presenters put Impossible Foods' meat-free burger to the taste test. How does it shape up?

World's leading solar PV researcher helps launch Sunport's innovative solar modules, as Australian solar tech starts to achieve market dominance.

The post Next-gen solar modules launched by “father of PV” Martin Green appeared first on RenewEconomy.

From pushing boundaries to defying stereotypes - five women who are breaking barriers in science.

Tesla CEO on his favourite models, the latest super-fast charging station, why full autonomy is the future, and his plans for reusable rockets.

The post Musk reveals EV charging station of the future – and his favourite Tesla models appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australians can afford to spend more on food that meets higher animal welfare standards. It’s time to demand change from farmers

It’s easy to argue that the intensification of animal farming puts food on the average Aussie battler’s table at a price they can afford. By suggesting we eat less meat, or better-quality meat, it’s easy to be accused of favouring the rich: perhaps only they can afford the grass-fed, organic, free-range alternative?

So let’s take a look at the numbers. The average Australian spends about 14% of their income on food – down from about 19% of income 30 years ago. According to government statistics, total annual expenditure on meat and seafood was only $650 per person in 2015-16 compared with $734 in 1988-89, allowing for inflation (the data for seafood and meat were compiled into one number, unfortunately). We spend less on meat than we used to, and buy more of it. So now, according to the most recent numbers available, each week households spend an average of $13.70 on vegetables and $9.60 on fresh fruit. Compare that to the $40 or more we spend each week on takeaways, fast food and confectionery. Or the 31% of our food budget we spend eating out, a 50% increase on three decades prior. Or the $13 we spend, on average, per household, per week, on our pets.

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US Steel will lay off 2,500 workers at its large steel mill in Slovakia over the next two years, the company announced on Friday, blaming high EU carbon and power prices.

Breakthrough means less pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions

It is a problem bedevilling households across the UK: what can we do with the mountains of food-spattered plastic waste left in our bins?

Now a group of scientists say they have the answer – by using the detritus of domestic life to heat homes.

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As wildfires increase in intensity, how can farmers safeguard their animals – and their way of life?

Two years after wildfires killed the pigs on his family farms in British Columbia, Scott Kellington is still coming to terms with the destruction.

This particular fire had come from the north, its towering flames whipped into a terrible ferocity by strong winds and sustained by the 40C heat. After making sure his wife was evacuated, Kellington and his three sons stayed behind to try to save the neighbourhood homes and livestock.

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An engineer at Jodrell Bank says he could hear every word from Apollo 11's famous mission.

Fifty years on, the 03:56 AM TV moment that was out of this world.

The minutes before landing were tense, as fuel ran low and connections were lost between the lunar module and mission control

An endeavour which was born out of conflict ended by bringing the entire world together, at least for a moment.

Scientists and architects in London have developed 'bio-curtains' to act as an alternative to urban trees.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

How climate change will effect your dinner plate, and the unintended consequences of the multi-billion dollar water market.

NT government throws its backing behind world-leading 10GW solar proposal, and gives it "major project status".

The post NT government backs 10GW solar and storage plant, biggest in world appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Poland’s parliament passed a bill on Friday to compensate its EU ETS-covered industry for indirect carbon costs, making good on a government plan announced nine months earlier when carbon prices first surged towards €30.

Stressed? Got the sniffles? Need a nap? Got a fussy baby? Just. Over. It? You won’t realise how much you needed to hear nature until you’ve heard this set of wild sounds sent in by Off Track listeners from around the globe.