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The 20 photographs of the week

The Guardian - Sat, 2016-09-03 19:29

The aftermath of the Italian earthquake, the continuing refugee crisis in Europe, the Burning Man festival – the best photography in news, culture and sport from around the world this week

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Protected lands and endangered species aren't properly safeguarded, report says

The Guardian - Sat, 2016-09-03 15:00

Some of the most biodiverse ecosystems are not being protected and the management of many protected areas is deficient, a progress report warns

The world is edging towards a major conservation target for protected land and oceans, but there are concerns over how safeguarded areas are managed and whether they are effectively protecting endangered species, according to a new report.

Nearly 15% of the Earth’s land, covering around 20m sq km, is contained in national parks or other protected areas. This figure has flatlined over the past year, largely because of improved data collection, but is close to an internationally-agreed goal to protect 17% of the land surface by 2020.

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How to converse with a raven

The Guardian - Sat, 2016-09-03 14:30

Fishguard I am of the opinion that you can have as satisfying and varied a conversation with these dark and gleaming bright birds as you can with the majority of humankind

The first hatch of small heath butterflies dipped and darted along the path to Garn Fawr’s rocky summit, their open wings a delicate Indian orange, eye-markings prominent, their undersides muted umber and silver. Here and there, wings folded, they settled on flowers of potentilla and heather in crevices among basaltic columns.

I scrambled to the top, the view suddenly taking in Strumble lighthouse and the Rosslare ferry thrumming past behind. As soon as I was at rest, sandwiches to hand and my back to the Ordnance Survey pillar, the first raven appeared, closely followed by her mate once he’d chased away some upstart from this year’s brood.

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China ratifies Paris climate agreement

BBC - Sat, 2016-09-03 13:05
China's top legislative body ratifies the Paris global climate agreement, ahead of an expected joint announcement with the US.
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Beyond the coal rush part 2: The age of coal

ABC Environment - Sat, 2016-09-03 12:05
Tom Morton continues his report of struggles against coal on three continents as local people fight to protect, homes, farmlands and forests.
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Plastic microbeads expected to be banned by end of 2017

BBC - Sat, 2016-09-03 11:03
Microbeads used in bathroom products are expected to be banned by the government by the end of next year.
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Modern day orchidelirium

ABC Environment - Sat, 2016-09-03 10:30
Cheap supermarket orchids may act as a 'gateway drug' to the exotic and challenging world of orchidelirium.
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Gaping chasm between Coalition's climate mantra and the real debate | Lenore Taylor

The Guardian - Sat, 2016-09-03 09:28

Like the emperor with no clothes, Josh Frydenberg is continuing the grand parade, insisting that Australia is making a successful transition

Almost every group with a financial, intellectual or ethical interest in salvaging a workable climate policy is now deep in an urgent debate about how Australia can break a decade of policy paralysis. Everyone except the Turnbull government, that is.

The debate, involving big business, small business, investors, the government’s own independent climate advisers, academics, environmentalists, the welfare lobby and the unions, is predicated on the obvious conclusion that our policy – as it stands – cannot deliver the cuts to greenhouse emissions that are domestically necessary and which Australia has promised internationally.

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New images of Jupiter

BBC - Sat, 2016-09-03 07:49
NASA has released spectacular images of Jupiter that have never been seen before.
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A Big Country

ABC Environment - Sat, 2016-09-03 06:20
A poor wet season sees a drop in northern quoll numbers in the Pilbara; the scallop season begins in Tasmania; home delivery scheme good for farmers and consumers; and the Brook Hunt Club chases an elusive fox.
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How a microbead ban could help solve a massive problem – video

The Guardian - Sat, 2016-09-03 03:50

A poll from Greenpeace found that almost two thirds of people in the UK think microbeads should be banned. The beads are already banned in the US, but are still common in Britain. They’re a threat to marine life and potentially to humans, but the poll also found that most people don’t actually know what they are

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UK government to ban microbeads from cosmetics by end of 2017

The Guardian - Sat, 2016-09-03 02:49

Found in beauty products, tiny pieces of plastic which can harm marine life will be banned from sale in the UK from the end of 2017, government will announce

Tiny pieces of plastic in personal beauty products, that end up in the oceans and are swallowed by marine life, will be banned from sale in the UK by the end of 2017, the government is to announce on Saturday.

The move comes just days after MPs called for a ban on so-called microbeads, and sees the UK following in the footsteps of the US, which has banned them beginning in mid-2017. More than 357,000 people signed a petition calling for a UK ban, and environment groups welcomed the news of the ban.

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Juno probe returns close-up Jupiter pictures

BBC - Sat, 2016-09-03 02:06
The US space agency releases pictures and other data from the Juno probe, which has just made its first close approach to Jupiter since going into orbit in July.
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Hawaii and other big marine protected areas 'could work against conservation'

The Guardian - Sat, 2016-09-03 01:36

The Papahānaumokuākea marine park created by Barack Obama could end up as just a ‘paper park’, argue US and UK marine experts

British and US marine scientists say that the race to designate ever-bigger marine national parks in remote parts of the world could work against conservation.

In an commentary timed to coincide with President Obama’s announcement of the huge extension of a marine park off Hawaii, the authors argue that the creation of very large marine protection areas (Vlmpas) may give the illusion of conservation, when in fact they may be little more than “paper parks”.

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Obama talks climate change during Midway Atoll visit – video

The Guardian - Sat, 2016-09-03 00:43

On Thursday Barack Obama made a trip to Midway Atoll, an unincorporated territory of the US and the site of the second world war’s Battle of Midway against the Japanese navy. Obama also focused on conservation of Midway Atoll against climate change. ‘I look forward to knowing that ... 100 years from now, this is a place where people can still come to and see’

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Why do lithium batteries explode?

BBC - Sat, 2016-09-03 00:21
Samsung has halted sales of the Galaxy Note 7 because of battery fire reports.
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Asiatic cheetahs, Pope Francis and chicken bones – green news roundup

The Guardian - Sat, 2016-09-03 00:12

The week’s top environment news stories and green events. If you are not already receiving this roundup, sign up here to get the briefing delivered to your inbox

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Week in Wildlife - in pictures

The Guardian - Fri, 2016-09-02 23:18

An unidentified sea creature and a shoal of disappearing fish are among this week’s pick of images from the natural world

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Pacific Islands fail to agree plan to protect tuna

The Guardian - Fri, 2016-09-02 20:40

Countries from around the Pacific Ocean met to discuss ways of protecting the shrinking supplies but were unable to come to any agreement, officials say

Pacific island states and countries failed on Friday to strike a deal to protect shrinking supplies of tuna and adopt cutbacks following a regional conference, officials said, sparking condemnation from conservationists.

The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest tuna fishing ground, accounting for almost 60% of the global catch.

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