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Seven multinationals unite in drive to improve supply chain standards, though campaigners warn only firm commitments will make an impact

Pressure from consumers and investors has pushed seven of the largest names in the food industry to join forces in improving animal welfare standards, the first industry-led coalition of its kind.

The members of the Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW) are Aramark, Compass Group, Elior Group, Ikea Food Services, Nestlé, Sodexo and Unilever, which jointly serve 3.7bn customers daily, and have combined revenues of $165bn (£124bn).

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Ongoing animal slaughter must be treated with same severity as drug and people trafficking, say leaders from 80 nations gathered in London

The mass trafficking of wildlife impoverishes everyone in the world and must be treated with the same severity as drug and people trafficking, according to leaders from 80 nations gathered at the Illegal Wildlife Trade conference in London on Thursday.

“The illegal wildlife crime makes us all poorer, not just those countries robbed of their wildlife, natural habitat and resources, but all of us who are cheated of our natural inheritance, the rich diversity of our living world,” said Theresa May, UK prime minister, on Thursday. “We need to treat this billion-dollar criminal enterprise in the same way we do other serious and organised crimes.”

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Stephen Hawking's final scientific paper has been released, and deals with one of the central topics in the physicist's 56-year-long career.

Scientists break the rules of reproduction, so what does it mean for the future of sex?

The Dutch government’s proposed carbon floor price won’t likely affect the country’s energy sector until the latter half of next decade due to rising EU Allowances, analysts predict.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday that year-over-year inflation dipped in September, setting up a potential California carbon market floor price of $15.60 next year.

Switzerland plans to introduce a domestic carbon price floor when it links its emissions trading scheme to that of the EU in early 2020, a senior lawmaker told Carbon Pulse.

Alex Turnbull said in his video the IPCC report “frankly was terrifying … and it's seemingly insane to me that we could not be doing something about this and soon”. Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A capsule carrying two crew members on a Russian Soyuz rocket that malfunctioned has landed safely.

The slide in European carbon prices continued into a third session on Thursday, with prices tumbling to a one-month low near €18.

Elections have consequences. Denying science has consequences. And we are reaping what we sow.

Floridians are staring down a very powerful Category 4 typhoon that is causing extensive damage.  The high winds, heavy rains, and storm surge will cost billions of dollars.

We know that climate change is making these storms stronger.  The storms feed off of warm ocean waters, and those waters are much warmer now because of climate change. I have written about the science in more detail here and here.  But basically, Michael strengthened because it passed over really warm waters.  Waters that were hotter because of human-caused warming.

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Russian media says the capsule carrying the US and Russian crew has landed in Kazakhstan.

Mazda says it will reduce tailpipe emissions from its vehicles by making use of an electrified and low emission rotary engine.

The post Mazda takes ‘unique’ approach to going electric appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australian Resources Matt Canavan on Thursday attacked the energy sector over reports that major emitters are discussing among themselves how to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in the absence of a government policy.

Hurricane Michael is one of the most powerful storms ever to make landfall in the United States.

Tritium installs Australia's 50th publicly accessible DC fast charger at the Hunter Valley Gardens, in Pokolbin.

The post Australia installs 50th public EV fast charger appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hundreds of millions of pounds must be spent to achieve 80% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, report shows

Hundreds of millions of pounds must be spent on the UK’s draughty housing stock to meet the government’s climate change targets, with progress so far too slow to make the difference needed.

Repairing existing homes to a high standard, with insulation and renewable energy technology, would cut consumer bills and bring health improvements, a new report shows.

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Israeli government announces stop to sales of new petrol or diesel cars from 2030, as it pushes for 100% electric cars.

The post Israel commits to 100% electric vehicles, ICE ban by 2030 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Adapting to climate change means improving soil health, so it can hold more water (even during droughts). Nanthi Bolan, Professor of Enviornmental Science, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A BBC investigation exposing the scale of chimpanzee trafficking last year has helped police in Nepal uncover a smuggling operation.