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Satellite eye on Earth: September 2017 - in pictures
Algal blooms, hurricanes and volcano fields are among the images captured by Nasa and the ESA last month
A potentially harmful algal bloom covered more than 700 square miles in the western basin of Lake Erie in late September, turning the lake bright green and alarming residents and local officials. Blooms tend to thrive in Lake Erie during summer, sustained by warm water temperatures and nutrients from farm runoff. This year, the bloom had been ongoing since mid-July.
Continue reading...Moves to curb democratic fracking protests in the UK 'extremely worrying'
Green MP Caroline Lucas criticises attempts by chemicals multinational Ineos to impose a sweeping injunction against anti-fracking campaigners
The chemicals multinational Ineos is facing criticism for seeking to curb democratic protests against fracking in a move described by Green MP Caroline Lucas as “extremely worrying”.
On Tuesday Ineos began its latest legal move to impose a sweeping injunction against all campaigners protesting over its fracking operations.
Continue reading...UK's Halley Antarctic base set for second closure
Cod and haddock 'may vanish' from Scotland's west coast
Emissions gap remains 'alarmingly high' says UN
UN warns of 'unacceptable' greenhouse gas emissions gap
Report reveals large gap between government pledges and the reductions needed to prevent dangerous global warming
There is still a large gap between the pledges by governments to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the reductions scientists say are needed to avoid dangerous levels of climate change, the UN has said.
Current plans from national governments, and pledges made by private sector companies and local authorities across the world, would lead to temperature rises of as much as 3C or more by the end of this century, far outstripping the goal set under the 2015 Paris agreement to hold warming to 2C or less, which scientists say is the limit of safety.
Continue reading...World greenhouse gas levels made unprecedented leap in 2016
Country diary: one spider to make a song and dance about
Río Almonte, Extremadura, Spain Camel-haired legs, gleaming black eyes and the largest pair of spider jaws you’ve seen in your life – a tarantula
There were all sorts of exciting birds overhead, including vultures in elegant spirals and clusters of crag martins spooked up by a hunting sparrowhawk. Yet the group’s attention had been called to an insignificant hole in the bare ground by the picnic table.
The hole was 4cm across and had an untidy circlet of dead grasses arranged in a silk-knotted perimeter. By sheer chance I had just read about the occupant and how it could be lured into view with a grass stem drooped into the burrow entrance like a fishing line. Sure enough, within seconds, book learning was turned into startling experience.
Continue reading...RenewEconomy founder Giles Parkinson wins award, as RE page views hit 25 million
Gupta plans to take Sydney, Melbourne steel plants 100% renewable
Five reasons not to build new coal plant in Queensland
Explainer: The big 3 projects making South Australia capital of battery storage
NEG must grow new renewable energy capacity, not shrink it
Battery of the Nation worthy of national significance
A pint of view: What do farmers think about Brexit?
Vector wins new Australian smart metering contract
Climate change already damaging health of millions globally, report finds
Heatwaves, pollution and disease are the main health issues linked to global warming but action to halt emissions would deliver huge benefits
The health of hundreds of millions of people around the world is already being damaged by climate change, a major report has revealed.
Heatwaves are affecting many more vulnerable people and global warming is boosting the transmission of deadly diseases such as dengue fever, the world’s most rapidly spreading disease. Air pollution from fossil fuel burning is also causing millions of early deaths each year, while damage to crops from extreme weather threatens hunger for millions of children.
Continue reading...LONGi selected into “New China Nifty 50” by Goldman Sachs
Galapagos species are threatened by the very tourists who flock to see them
Cows are loving, intelligent and kind – so should we still eat them?
Rosamund Young, farmer and author of The Secret Life of Cows, says she is really a ‘ghostwriter’ for her herd, with a mission to explain how they play games, babysit and even judge us. But that doesn’t mean she’s a vegetarian …
‘I’ll see who is in the mood for talking,” says Rosamund Young, strolling across a steep field on the Cotswold escarpment. “Hello, are you busy? You’re very nice, yes you are. Don’t walk off.” Young pauses, empathising with Celandine’s shyness. “She doesn’t like being photographed any more than I do.”
“She won’t know she’s being photographed,” harrumphs Graeme Robertson, the photographer. Or will she?
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