Around The Web

Scientists say that more than 100 thousand varieties of rice have been safeguarded for the future.

Cars, planes, heating, fracking and food will come under scrutiny as the UK bids to keep climate change to 1.5C.

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

The administrator of the California-Quebec carbon market amended its by-laws on Thursday to account for Ontario’s summer departure from the programme, and approved in principle work to help account for cross-border compliance instrument transfers.

RGGI allowances continued to find support at higher prices this week due to heightened interest from speculators, while California allowances stagnated on the secondary market.

Strict new standards in Canada aim to end winter smogs caused by wood burning that have plagued cities such as Montreal

This October the city of Montreal will draw a line under a 20-year air pollution problem that started with the 1998 ice storm. Considered one of the worst disasters in Canadian history, around 35 people died and nearly 1,000 were injured. At its peak, more than 3 million people were without electricity as pylons and power lines collapsed under the weight of encrusted ice. Some homes had no power for many weeks. People rushed to install wood burners to keep warm and to be prepared for a repeat of the crisis.

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A decade ago, only a third of farmers accepted the science of climate change. But surveys show attitudes have shifted in recent years as the farming community begins to confront what the future holds. Sarah Ann Wheeler, Professor in Water Economics, University of Adelaide Céline Nauges, Research Director, INRA Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The latest UN climate report makes it clear that the task of limiting climate change is urgent and huge. We must start to transform our economy today, but it will bring rewards as well as challenges. Alan Finkel, Australia’s Chief Scientist, Office of the Chief Scientist Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Exclusive: Kingvale station’s proposed clearing of 2,000 hectares could be held up for months

Federal approval to clear more than 2,000 hectares of Queensland native forest in the catchment for the Great Barrier Reef could potentially be held up for months after the Environmental Defender’s Office launched court action to prevent it.

The federal court proceedings against the state environment minister and the owners of Kingvale station come as the federal environment minister, Melissa Price, extended the time to make a decision on the controversial Kingvale proposal to 31 October.

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If you believe the red-tops, these colourful creatures are heading for our bedrooms. But, can they be all bad? Here’s why we should try and live peacefully with them

‘Invasion of cannibal ladybirds carrying STIs wreaks havoc,” screams the Sun. Should we scoff at such sensationalism? Well, the red-tops are mostly correct. Except for the havoc bit.

There are plenty of ladybirds about this autumn and many are flying into our homes. Unlike our native letterbox-red ladybirds, these creatures are often orange or yellow and possessing many spots, or none.

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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.