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One third of the world's protected lands are being degraded by human activities, says a new study.

New study’s author says failure to protect biodiversity in places identified for that purpose is ‘staggering’

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A third of global protected areas such as national parks have been severely degraded by human activities in what researchers say is a stunning reality check of efforts by nations to stall biodiversity loss.

A University of Queensland-led study, published on Friday in the prestigious academic journal Science, analysed human activity across 50,000 protected areas worldwide.

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Insects are vital to ecosystems but will lose almost half their habitat under current climate projections

Global warming is on track to cause a major wipeout of insects, compounding already severe losses, according to a new analysis.

Insects are vital to most ecosystems and a widespread collapse would cause extremely far-reaching disruption to life on Earth, the scientists warn. Their research shows that, even with all the carbon cuts already pledged by nations so far, climate change would make almost half of insect habitat unsuitable by the end of the century, with pollinators like bees particularly affected.

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Threat is not a possible future one but one endangering Australia now, parliament told

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Climate change is a “current and existential national security risk” to Australia, a Senate inquiry has told parliament, one that could inflame regional conflicts over food, water and land, and even imperil life on Earth.

The Senate committee inquiry into the implications of climate change for Australia’s national security recommended an increase in foreign aid to be dedicated to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the region, as well as a government white paper on climate security, Department of Defence emissions targets and a dedicated climate security post within the Department of Home Affairs.

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The European Commission is gearing up to propose deeper EU emission reduction goals later this year as lawmakers are increasingly willing to accept more ambitious near-term measures, according to EU climate chief Miguel Arias Canete.

The endangered whale shark has been hiding in plain sight off Madagascar, say scientists.

The endangered whale shark has been hiding in plain sight off Madagascar, say scientists.

Critics say it will be as easy to get the go-ahead to do a test drill as it is for a home conservatory.

Government plans to make test drilling as easy as building a conservatory outrage fracking's critics.

A Rhode Island bill that would have implemented a state-wide carbon tax was halted by a House committee this week, meeting an identical fate to both the Senate version and similar legislation floated last year.

The Guardian’s picture editors round up their favourite photos of the past 24 hours

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News and analytics firm ICIS is losing its lead North American carbon markets analyst, Carbon Pulse has learned.

But projectile boulders are not the only hazard facing islanders near the erupting Mount Kilauea.

ICIS, the leading global carbon markets data & research provider, is looking for a Lead Analyst – North American Carbon Markets. Ideally, the position is based in Houston, Texas or New York City.

UK demand for fruit increased by 27% last year alone, prompting accusations that growers are illegally diverting rivers and leaving locals without water

British supermarkets are selling thousands of tonnes of avocados produced in a Chilean region where villagers claim vast amounts of water are being diverted, resulting in a drought.

Major UK supermarkets including Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl source avocados from Chile’s largest avocado-producing province, Petorca, where water rights have been violated.

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Photographer Dougie Wallace turns his lens away from the pampered dogs of the world to its antithesis: the beach dogs of Goa. In doing so, Wallace has produced a wildlife project from a street photographer’s perspective, shot from a dog’s eye view

• Goan to the Dogs will be on display at his Well Heeled exhibition at the Hospital Club, Covent Garden, as part of Photo London, 17-20 May
• Signed copies of Well Heeled available at Dewi Lewis 4pm on 18 May

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From a tiny sound recorder in a Victorian sheep paddock comes a startling array of sounds - some identifiable and some complete mysteries. Relax and let this earworm do its work.

‘Exploratory drilling will be as easy as building a garden wall or conservatory’ – Greenpeace

Fracking opponents have reacted with anger after ministers unveiled measures to help projects through the planning system, which campaigners said would make drilling a shale well as easy as building a conservatory.

Shale gas explorers will be able to drill test sites without applying for planning permission and fracking sites could be classed as nationally significant infrastructure, meaning approval would come at a national rather than local level.

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Britain is being taken to the European Court of Justice over persistent breaches of pollution limits.

Britain is being taken to the European Court of Justice over persistent breaches of pollution limits.