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Activists tour financial institutions to highlight firms they believe to be culpable in climate crisis

Extinction Rebellion protesters poured red paint over the entrances of City institutions as they marched through London’s financial district in a protest against the ‘“blood money” on which they say the UK economy is built.

In what appeared to be the biggest mobilisation so far this week by the environmental protest group, several thousand demonstrators took a tour of the City, stopping off at the banks and law firms they saw as most culpable in the climate crisis.

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A summary of legislative and regulatory action on carbon pricing, clean fuel standards, and clean energy at the US subnational and federal level this week, including developments in California and Pennsylvania.

Agency scientists say management silences and harasses them to appease chemical industry

Whistleblowers say the US Environmental Protection Agency has been falsifying dangerous new chemicals’ risk assessments in an effort to make the compounds appear safe and quickly approve them for commercial use.

Over the past five years, the EPA has not rejected any new chemicals submitted by industry despite agency scientists flagging dozens of compounds for high toxicity. Four EPA whistleblowers and industry watchdogs say a revolving door between the agency and chemical companies is to blame, and that the program’s management has been “captured by industry”. The charges are supported by emails, documents and additional records that were provided to the Guardian.

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The Guardian’s new nature series Young Country Diary has been a hit since its launch in June – now we need more writers

Do you know any 8-14s who would like to write the natural world, whether its bird or bee or nettle or tree? Or are you a teacher who wants to encourage their class into taking notice of wildlife?

We are looking for new submissions to the Guardian’s new nature series Young Country Diary, which launched in June. YCD is an offshoot of the Country Diary – the oldest newspaper column in the world – which runs every day and is written by our team of “diarists” all over the UK.

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Signs of mid-September are already here, which experts predict could create spectacular autumnal colours

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is rolling in earlier than usual across parts of the south and south-east of England due to the soggy and sunny summer, according to forestry experts.

Ripening blackberries, sweetening chestnuts and burgeoning forest fruits – typically seasonal hallmarks of autumn normally seen from mid-September – are all evident, said Forestry England, which manages publicly owned forests.

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Carbon prices jumped to their highest in nearly two months early on Friday, targeting their July record as traders positioned themselves ahead of a week of reduced auctions and as gas prices rose amid forecasts of hurricanes in the US Gulf.

Public urged to report dying or dead animals as fears grow that form of myxomatosis has crossed over from rabbits

More than 1,100 hares have been recorded as dying of a new “viral cocktail” since 2018 as fears grow that a form of myxomatosis has jumped from rabbits.

People are being urged to report dying or dead hares to scientists who are seeking to discover the cause of so many unexplained deaths in the hare population, with a spike in sickness occurring each autumn.

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The best of this week’s wildlife pictures, including a slow loris, a pink lady mollusc and Lake Titicaca frog

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For too long we’ve been shortsighted, mistaking our cleverness for wisdom. Now, it’s time for politics to take a longer view

Shortly before he died in 2007, the celebrated American novelist, iconoclast and second world war veteran Kurt Vonnegut gave a final interview. “My country is in ruins,” he said. “I’m a fish in a poisoned fishbowl.” Vonnegut was 84, and sounded razor sharp as he spoke about inequality and political shortsightedness, adding that in the history of the United States “one thing that no cabinet has ever had is a Secretary of the Future, and there are no plans at all for my children and grandchildren.”

“Why should I care about future generations?” asked the comedian Groucho Marx. “What have they ever done for me?”

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Number rising by 15,000 each week, with fewer staff at abattoirs and meat-processing plants, says NPA

Britain’s pig producers are warning that as many as 70,000 extra animals are stranded on UK farms as a result of shortages of workers at abattoirs and meat-processing plants.

The excess numbers of pigs on UK farms is growing by 15,000 each week, with about a quarter fewer pigs leaving for slaughter than would be expected in normal times, according to the industry trade body the National Pig Association (NPA).

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The Deputy Managing Director, Forest & Carbon Investing is part of the NatureVest leadership team and oversees the development and execution of The Nature Conservancy’s Forest Investing strategy and portfolio. They will originate and manage numerous projects across multiple geographies in coordination with Global Strategy and Regional Leadership colleagues, and oversee a team of deal leads and forestry specialists.

Chinese Carbon Emissions Allowances (CEAs) this week fell to their lowest level since the market launched, with traders expecting further drops in the weeks ahead amid a lack of demand.

They argued the NSW Environment Protection Authority should take action on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. In an Aussie first, the court agreed. Laura Schuijers, Research Fellow in Environmental Law, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Independent MP's proposed Local Power Agency receives backing from community energy groups who say ARENA and CEFC won't deal with community projects.

The post Haines’ Local Power Agency plan could be huge boost for community energy projects appeared first on RenewEconomy.

If energy and climate policy could be decided by slogans and newspaper headlines, then federal energy minister Angus Taylor would have an easy job.

The post “Keep coal to encourage renewables:” Is this the silliest energy headline ever written? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Jemalong solar farm suffers impairment as a result of accounting treatment, as Genex moves forward on its first big battery project.

The post Genex writes down value of 50MW solar plant due to falling electricity prices appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Exclusive: research finds small rise in exposure to air pollution leads to higher risk of needing treatment

Exposure to air pollution is linked to an increased severity of mental illness, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind.

The research, involving 13,000 people in London, found that a relatively small increase in exposure to nitrogen dioxide led to a 32% increase in the risk of needing community-based treatment and an 18% increase in the risk of being admitted to hospital.

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New Zealand’s conservation needs to consider the long-term impact of climate change and focus not only on protecting native species but on preserving ecological richness. Tom Womack, PhD Candidate, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Refocusing attention on transmission and distribution of electricity will bring better results than payments to ageing and unreliable fossil fuel generators.

The post Government cannot lower electricity bills by subsidising old and high cost power plants appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW government fast-tracks planning process for Port Kembla power station, set to be one of the first to co-fire fossil gas and renewable hydrogen.

The post NSW fast-tracks Andrew Forrest backed gas-hydrogen Port Kembla power station appeared first on RenewEconomy.