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Sandy, Bedfordshire: The smaller birds lunged and jabbed with mute jibes that might have said: ‘Egg thief! Chick killer! Get out of our territory!’

All through the spring, mewling cries of raptors have scolded out of thin air. On clear-sky days such as this the buzzard is complainer-in-chief, condemned by nature to speak only in a minor key. Even in the exaltation of soaring, the uplift of raised wings is accompanied by a downbeat of dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, the buzzard demonstrates moments of great expressiveness, when its peevish tones are transformed into genuine distress.

Such a mayday came just as I was sauntering down the long slope from Sheerhatch Wood. The call had me swivelling round to scan over the trees, only to be turned again by a pained cry that seemed to be coming from the opposite direction. The buzzard was flying overhead, assaulted front, back and sides by a pair of crows. The smaller birds were intent on ruffling a few feathers, lunging and jabbing with mute jibes that might have said: “Egg thief! Chick killer! Get out of our territory!” The hapless buzzard, their sworn-at enemy, flapped in loud desperation, unable to rid itself of its turbulent assailants.

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Renewables policy pioneer, Simon Corbell, details why state schemes like VRET are critical – including to counter "stifling impact" of NEG on solar and wind investment.

Another three new solar farms ready to begin production as list of projects in the pipeline jumps to a breath-taking 35GW.

A new study shows that workers exposed to solvents in the vehicle collision repair industry are at greater risk of adverse health effects than other blue-collar workers. Samuel Keer, Research officer, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Jeroen Douwes, Professor of Public Health; Director, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Construction underway at Goldwind's 530MW Stockyard Hill Wind Farm in Victoria, one of Australia's biggest and cheapest wind projects.

Fledgling Chinese auto-maker raises $US500m to go towards preparation of all-electric fleet for market by end 2019.

After choosing to stop to recharge on first leg of Finke desert race, Acciona electric car pushed the limits on the return journey.

Xenophobic comments are found in private journals from the physicist's 1920s tour of Asia.

Nasa says it is concerned after the ageing solar-powered Opportunity rover lost all power.

With Antarctica shedding ice at an accelerating rate, here's what you need to know about continent's ice sheet.

Scientists hope to save the saiga, a Central Asian antelope which survived the Ice Age, but is now in peril.

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California regulator ARB handed out just shy of 790,000 carbon offsets across three different project types this week, as compliance demand helps boost prices.

Queensland investigating claims that mining company New Hope may have circumvented due process by expanding stage 2 operations at its New Acland coalmine without approval.

Households most likely to join in the solar spree are affluent enough to afford upfront investment, but not so much to not worry about future power bills.

What will Antarctica look like in 2070? Will the icy wilderness we know today survive, or will it succumb to climate change and human pressure? Our choices over the coming decade will seal its fate. Steve Rintoul, Research Team Leader, Marine & Atmospheric Research, CSIRO Steven Chown, Professor of Biological Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Since 1995, several ice shelves off the Antarctic Peninsula have abruptly disintegrated. A new analysis suggests that these events are triggered when ice shelves lose their buffer of floating ice. Luke Bennetts, Lecturer in applied mathematics, University of Adelaide Rob Massom, Leader, Sea Ice Group, Antarctica & the Global System program, Australian Antarctic Division and Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, Australian Antarctic Division Vernon Squire, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A ‘glacial lake outburst flood’ killed 44 people and many animals in 1818 in Switzerland

In June 1818, ice falling from the tongue of the Giétro glacier had in effect blocked the valley of Mauvoisin in Switzerland. Water was building up behind this ice dam to dangerous levels, and engineers were called in to release it gradually. They drilled a hole through the ice, but it did not relieve the water pressure quickly enough. On 16 June at 4.30pm the ice dam burst, disintegrating and releasing all the water at once.

The result was a catastrophic “glacial lake outburst flood”, a phenomenon characterised by extremely high rates of water flow. Warnings did not travel as fast as the sudden rush of 20m cubic metres (4.4bn gallons) of water, which swept away bridges and buildings in its path, killing 44 people and many animals.

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Achieving emissions reductions in line with Ontario and Quebec’s climate goals will not occur under forecast WCI carbon prices, though it will see billions of dollars sent to California or elsewhere by the two provinces, according to a study released Wednesday.

Global CO2 emissions from energy use climbed 1.6% in 2017 as output rose in both rich and emerging economies amid a pick-up in industrial activity, according to oil major BP.