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The case was brought over cutting levels of nitrogen dioxide.

Chinese president Xi Jinping officially presents two giant pandas to Berlin’s zoo on Wednesday. German chancellor Angela Merkel said the bamboo-munching newcomers would be special ambassadors for the two countries. The pandas, Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, landed in Berlin on June 24 and have been settling in at the zoo since then, out of public view.

• Panda fever grips Berlin on Chinese president’s trip to Germany
  

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Mike Ashley’s ‘worth’ | American signal crayfish | String theory | Bacon sandwiches | Undergarments | Corbyn on violin

The word “earn” has become meaningless in today’s society, the word “get” being far more appropriate. In the same spirit, please could I urge you to refrain from repeating the misleading use of “worth” when referring to individuals and their personal wealth (Front page, 4 July). Mike Ashley is apparently “worth” £2.2bn – not to me he’s not.
Deirdre Burrell
Mortimer, Berkshire

• Carey Davies’s Country Diary (3 July) about the American signal crayfish in our rivers was interesting, but omitted to include one way of reducing their population: eating them. Fortunately George Monbiot has already provided information on how to do this (Monbiot cooks up revenge on invasive signal crayfish, 30 September 2009). Just make sure it’s not our (now very rare) native species.
Copland Smith
Manchester

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Oliver Yates says any taxpayer money facilitating the proposed Carmichael coalmine carry reputational risks for the government

Any loan the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (Naif) gives to Adani’s Carmichael coalmine project would likely be unlawful, according to the former head of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), which operated under an almost identical mandate.

Naif, which was set up to give $5bn of concessional loans to support the development of northern Australia, operates under an investment mandate that includes a clause saying it “must not act in a way that is likely to cause damage to the commonwealth government’s reputation, or that of a relevant state or territory government”.

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Planet could heat up far more than hoped as new work shows temperature rises measured over recent decades don’t fully reflect global warming already in the pipeline

Hopes that the world’s huge carbon emissions might not drive temperatures up to dangerous levels have been dashed by new research.

The work shows that temperature rises measured over recent decades do not fully reflect the global warming already in the pipeline and that the ultimate heating of the planet could be even worse than feared.

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Parliamentary triangle is ideal for bees because Canberra’s centre is relatively free from pollution and has a good range of plants

It is a fact that Canberra has its fair share of honey-tongued politicians but parliament is about to produce its very own product.

Three beehives have been installed in the grounds around Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra to produce honey for sale in the shop and to give as gifts for visiting dignitaries.

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How urban gardens are connecting with nature to bring wildlife into the city.

High court instructs ministers to publish full proposals by the end of July

The government has won the latest court challenge over the UK’s air pollution crisis.

Environmental lawyers ClientEarth had argued that ministers’ draft proposals to improve air quality – which contributes to tens of thousands of deaths each year – were unlawful.

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It’s unscientific, fails basic risk management, is bad for the economy, and immoral

Two weeks ago, Senator Al Franken (D-MN) had an exchange with Trump’s Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry about climate change.

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A recent incident has got some animal rights groups fired up about this issue.

Investigation is part of an £8m research project examining impacts on land, water and air of the extraction technique

Scientists will investigate how fracking can affect drinking water and its role in earthquake tremors of the kind caused by shale gas operations near Blackpool, as part of a taxpayer-funded £8m research project.

The programme, backed by the Natural Environment Research Council and Economic and Social Research Council, will examine hydraulic fracturing’s environmental impacts on land, water and air, as well as public attitudes to the controversial extraction technique.

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Subverting superhighways with sorry quietways; preserving motor vehicle capacity even if it brings conflict with cyclists – the mayor must do better

Do you remember that Blackadder scene where General Melchett proudly unveils a map representing the territory gained by his troops? Dimensions: 17 sq ft. Scale: actual size. London mayor Sadiq Khan’s cycling programme – formerly Britain’s bike flagship – is starting to feel a bit like that.

More than a year since he took office pledging to “make London a byword for cycling”, “accelerate” the existing programme and “triple” to 36 miles the length of segregated cycle superhighways, the mayor has by my count opened 80m (260 ft) of new segregated lane. Work is progressing, extremely slowly, on another half-mile or so. And that is about it.

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Powis Castle, Wales A dangerous beauty stolen by European adventurers and hinting of vast plains a world way

The anchor plant, Colletia paradoxa, with its geometric architecture, looks like trouble among the summer flowers in the herbaceous borders on the terrace gardens. And yet its very oddness makes it fit with an assembly of plants few, if any, of which would grow together in the wild. A paradox indeed.

Plants from the Americas, the far east and Europe grow cheek by jowl according to an aesthetic based on colour and form rather than geography. Although many do share similar ecological characteristics, some appear suited for other planets.

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Works begin on Ratch Australia's 42.5MW solar farm, which is being constructed on the site of a former coal power plant.

Things are becoming predictable in the Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificate market, even if that is supply side’s ability to surprise. Meanwhile, in NSW, a stunning development.

Last week's speech by NSW energy minister Don Harwin was exactly the sort of thing Malcolm Turnbull used to say about climate and energy policies, before he became master of all he surveyed – apart from his own climate and energy policies.

“the Code for Smart Communities will set new benchmarks for smart cities and communities across Australia, New Zealand and beyond, by providing important guidance on how to use technology, data and intelligent design to accelerate more efficient, liveable and sustainable development projects"

With renewable investment accelerating way faster than most anticipated a year ago, it's likely parts of the transmission grid will become constrained. We need action, not more analysis.

Farmers are using far greater amounts of untreated waste water on crops, posing risks to public health.

One home in the heart of the Latrobe Valley goes off grid. But more than half of the new homes in the area are not even bothering to connect to the network in the first place, using rooftop PV and storage to look after their own needs.