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Call for companies to ‘clean up their mess’ as Athabasca oil sands emissions vastly exceed industry-reported levels

Toxic emissions from the Canadian tar sands – already one of the dirtiest fossil fuels – have been dramatically underestimated, according to a study.

Research published in the journal Science found that air pollution from the vast Athabasca oil sands in Canada exceed industry-reported emissions across the studied facilities by a staggering 1,900% to over 6,300%.

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Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah opens claim against environment, health and transport departments in pursuit of ‘right to clean air’

The mother of a nine-year-old girl who became the first person in the UK to have air pollution cited on their death certificate has launched a high court claim against the government.

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah is suing three government departments for compensation for personal injury arising from the illness and premature death of her daughter Ella. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Transport and the Department of Health and Social Care have all been named as defendants in the claim.

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While Canada’s greenhouse gas inventory demonstrates the forestry sector as roughly carbon neutral, academics and environmental non-profits called attention to methodologies that instead deem the sector as generating more emissions than electricity and agriculture, accounting for more than 10% of the country’s annual emissions, in a series of reports published in January.

Hunting by Kenyan lions impeded in ‘ecological chain reaction’ as big-headed ants fail to stop elephants stripping acacia trees – the cats’ ambush cover

When a lion decides to chase down a zebra it seems as though nothing can stop it. But now researchers have discovered these enormous predators are being thwarted by a tiny foe: ants.

Scientists have found the spread of big-headed ants in east Africa sets off a situation leading to lions making fewer zebra kills.

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A twice-weekly summary of our biodiversity news plus bite-sized updates from around the world. All articles in this edition are free to read (no subscription required).

The Republic of Ireland has said it wants every person in the country to be aware of the importance of biodiversity, as it launches its latest National Biodiversity Action Plan.

The European Commission will include carbon removals in its recommended goal to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, according to a leaked draft seen by Carbon Pulse on Thursday.

A recent dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA) study has revealed that soil organic carbon (SOC) changes resulting from the removal of forest residues for biofuel production significantly impact greenhouse gas emissions.

The Lisa project to detect gravitational waves will be one of the most complex ever space missions.

The European Commission has handed out nearly €600 million to eight cross-border energy infrastructure projects, including several for CO2 management, it announced on Thursday.

Pressure is mounting on the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to allow companies to use carbon credits to meet emissions reductions targets, after a survey of corporate big hitters found a healthy majority said it would galvanise meeting their mitigation goals.

Research finds 14 different types of PFAS chemicals commonly used in ski wax on slopes in Austrian ski resorts

Skiers are leaving “forever chemicals” in the snow on ski slopes, a study has found.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – a group of 10,000 or so human-made chemicals widely used in industrial processes, firefighting foams and consumer products – are colloquially known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment; they do not easily break down.

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European carbon prices fell back on Thursday morning as the surge of buying interest that had driven prices back above €65.00 in midweek dried up, while energy markets retreated, encouraging a resumption of more aggressive EUA selling.

UK power company Drax is setting up a new US-based business unit to develop and build large-scale carbon removal projects internationally, it announced on Thursday.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has released a new set of guidelines to enable governments to identify and redesign subsidies harmful to biodiversity.

The World Bank has issued an outcome bond in partnership with a social enterprise whereby the proceeds will be directed towards reducing and recycling plastic waste, generating plastic and carbon credits to provide a financial return to investors.

The Hōkūleʻa’s oceanic voyages, navigated by the stars, have led other Indigenous people to revive their own ancient traditions – and serve as a call to action on the climate

A double-hulled Polynesian sailing canoe glides up to a busy dock in San Diego, California. Hōkūleʻa’s two short wooden masts are dwarfed by the historic schooner that escorted the boat into the harbour. Dozens of small outrigger canoes trail in its wake, honouring the crew’s arrival.

Once the docklines are secure, Hōkūleʻa’s 13 crew members put on ceremonial leis – floral garlands – and request permission from the local Indigenous tribe to come ashore. In response, 30 members of the Kumeyaay Nation sing and dance to welcome them to their native lands. Hundreds of onlookers snap photos before joining the festivities at a nearby park.

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On a walk through a nature reserve I felt dread at the pink flowers on a bone-grey tree, grief-stricken right down to my roots

There is a particular queasy disquiet that comes from looking at blossom in January. Or daffodils just weeks after Christmas. At seeing catkins dangling from trees that are still bathed in dark from about 4.30pm. It is an uncanny sense that something here isn’t right. I get it, too, in August, when the blackberries have already ripened into dust, before the new school term starts. Or when I hear birdsong under a yellow streetlamp.

Perhaps this is just the outdoors equivalent of moaning about Easter eggs being in the shops in January. As in, it happens every year but we are somehow shocked anew each time. Maybe daffodils have always pushed up their spears as students fill in their Ucas applications. Maybe there have always been blackberries in July. Maybe it’s just my memory playing tricks on me.

Nell Frizzell is the author of Holding the Baby: Milk, Sweat and Tears from the Frontline of Motherhood

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A Berlin-based startup that offers a digital voluntary carbon market platform has successfully raised €10.3 million in a recent funding round, it said Thursday.

BP has invested into a software platform that allows corporates and individuals to purchase carbon credits or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to offset emissions in hard-to-abate sectors.