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Wealthy nations’ drastic increase in construction sand consumption contributes to erosion of estuaries

The secretive trade of coastal sand to wealthy countries such as China is seriously damaging the wildlife of poorer nations whose resources are being plundered, according to a new study.

Sand and gravel are the most extracted groups of materials worldwide after water, with sand used in the concrete and asphalt of global cities. China consumed more sand between 2011 and 2013 than the US did during the entire 20th century. India has more than tripled its annual use of construction sand since 2000.

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

The US EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) on Wednesday posted draft recommendations for gauging carbon emissions from biomass used in power stations, a potential wrinkle in the agency’s guidance issued earlier this year that matched that of the EU ETS in declaring these GHGs as carbon neutral.

North American carbon prices rose on both coasts this week as RGGI prices stayed well-supported ahead of next week’s auction, while California allowances kept on their upward trend seen throughout August.

Widespread wildfires have taken lives and destroyed habitats as well as causing air pollution

Wildfires are spanning the northern hemisphere. Local impacts have been severe; notably the loss of habitat and life, including the tragic deaths in Greece. Smoke has caused air pollution problems in nearby cities, exposing millions of people. Moorland fires affected air pollution in Manchester. Cities on the west coast of the US and Canada, including Seattle and Vancouver, issued pollution alerts as forest fire smoke turned day into night. During a national league soccer game in Oregon players had breaks every 15 minutes and oxygen was provided for them. But the smoke spreads further. Smoke from Siberian forest fires crossed the Arctic to reach North America in July . Weather models and satellite pictures showed that smoke from North American forest fires crossed the Atlantic in the high atmosphere and reached Europe in mid-August, causing purple skies in southern Ireland.

A study in 2011 estimated that between 260,000 and 600,000 early deaths were attributable to air pollution from landscape fires each year. The annual toll normally varies with the La Niña/El Niño cycle that causes yearly variations in global weather. The effects of this year’s fires have yet to be estimated.

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Insect crop damage could result in the loss of two loaves out of every 12 by the century's end.

What drives companies to be green? Women, it turns out, are the key. New research shows that firms with a more balanced mix of women and men in the boardroom receive fewer environmental lawsuits. Chelsea Liu, Senior Lecturer, Adelaide Business School, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Japan's space agency has set dates for its plan to explore the surface of an asteroid with robots.

The technique was used to restore a protein that people with the condition are unable to make.

Rising temperatures make insects eat and breed more, leading to food losses growing world population cannot afford, say scientists

Rising global temperatures mean pests will devour far more of the world’s crops, according to the first global analysis of the subject, even if climate change is restricted to the international target of 2C.

Increasing heat boosts both the number and appetite of insects, and researchers project they will destroy almost 50% more wheat than they do today with a 2C rise, and 30% more maize. Rice, the third key staple, is less affected as it is grown in the tropics, which are already near the optimal temperature for insects – although bugs will still eat 20% more.

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Big emitters in July picked up their largest share of German-auctioned EU carbon allowances in the past year, as prices continued to rally and ahead of an annual tightening of supply.

One of Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s European power and carbon analysts is leaving the firm, Carbon Pulse has learned.

All shops in England would have to implement the charge under proposals announced by the PM.

The "distressed" seal was pictured with a fishing hook in the edge of its eye on Sunday.

EU carbon prices leapt back above €21.50 on Thursday in volatile trade, as higher energy prices helped to bolster bullish sentiment.

Wider access to wi-fi on trains and the use of mobile phones has extended the working day, a study says.

New Zealand must cut methane emissions from livestock - one of its biggest sources of GHG emissions - by as much as 22% below 2016 levels to avoid having further impact on global climate change, the parliamentary commissioner on the environment said Thursday.

New Zealand carbon permits on Thursday traded above the NZ$25 fixed price option as emitters sought to pick up as many as possible for future use amid expectations that the price ceiling will increase and prices continue to rise.

Negotiations on the future carbon market mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement are making good progress, with expectations that next week’s climate conference in Bangkok will see final text start to take shape, according to stakeholders.

Award-winning geographer Dr James Cheshire and designer Oliver Uberti take us to the forefront of the animal tracking revolution, mapping the movements of animals on land, sky and sea – from Peru’s elusive jaguars to ant activity in a colony

The elephants who crossed the railroad

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