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Tigers maul two women at Beijing wildlife park
‘World can’t afford to silence us’: black church leaders address climate change
One of the largest and oldest black churches in the US warns that black people are disproportionally harmed by global warming and fossil fuel pollution
African American religious leaders have added their weight to calls for action on climate change, with one of the largest and oldest black churches in the US warning that black people are disproportionally harmed by global warming and fossil fuel pollution.
The African Methodist Episcopal church has passed its first resolution in its 200-year history devoted to climate change, calling for a swift transition to renewable energy.
Continue reading...AEMO chief executive Matt Zema dies
The eco guide to cotton towels
Buy organic cotton and you’ll help transform lives, communities, the environment, the world…
The textiles industry is revolting. It causes 10% of the planet’s carbon footprint, while the dyeing and treatment of textiles is responsible for 17% of all industrial water pollution. Cotton uses 3% of global water, and the damage from cotton farming is $83bn. This eco cost is partially offset by longevity: a bath sheet should be in service for 10 years. I’m serious. So I was distressed to hear that 4,000 Wimbledon towels had been nicked as souvenirs by players. I make an appeal to Djokovic, Williams, Murray et al: please keep them towels in service.
Every time you make a purchasing decision, you’re also making a production decision, so when you come to replace towels and bed linen, go for organic. Currently, just 1% of the world’s cotton is organic. Let’s get that higher. Growing organic cotton is a far more responsible use of farmable land and fresh water, than conventional. The Textile Exchange surveyed 82,000 hectares of land in 2014 and found reduced global-warming potential, lower soil erosion, less water use and less energy demand from organic, as opposed to conventional, cotton growers.
Continue reading...Solar Impulse: Zero-fuel plane begins final flight
Kenya jails ivory kingpin for 20 years
Paula Kahumbu: The conviction and sentencing of Feisal Mohammed Ali sends a message to poachers and traffickers that the net is closing around them
On Friday, a Mombasa law court sentenced Feisal Mohammed Ali to 20 years in jail after finding him guilty of ivory illegal possession of ivory worth 44 million shillings (US $440,000). The court also imposed a fine of 20 million shillings.
This landmark ruling by the Kenyan court is the end of a long story that began with the seizure of 2 tonnes of ivory at Fuji Motors car yard in Mombasa in June 2014.
Continue reading...A roe deer doe transforms the scene
Achvaneran, Highlands The only recourse was to do a ‘wildlife watch’, ignoring everything else and concentrating solely on what was around in nature
Walking down the garden to my study I could hear a single male curlew calling from the field. They had bred down below the house, but his partner and their offspring had already gone to the coast.
I eased open the curtains in front of my desk and knew that with the warm sunshine it would be difficult to concentrate on writing. The only recourse was to do what I call a “wildlife watch”, concentrating solely on what was around in nature. Out came the telephone link to the house, the binoculars, camera and notebook, and I was set.
Continue reading...Soil microbes burp carbon dioxide after drought-breaking rain
Expectation influences reporting of adverse health effects from wind farms
E-waste a rich source of rare metals
Rare bog butterfly flutters back from brink
In want of water
Self-drive cars, a safer option or accident waiting to happen?
Week in wildlife - in pictures
A greater roadrunner and a pair of snub-nosed monkeys are among this week’s pick of images from the natural world
Continue reading...If the government cuts farmers’ subsidies, what will the rest of the UK lose?
There are certain environmental benefits only farmers can provide; a weakened subsidy system will dissuade their efforts
It was perhaps the most significant pre-Brexit tie between Britain and the European Union: for decades, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has provided supportive subsidies to EU farmers, consuming 40% of the EU’s annual budget in the process, almost £3bn of which went to the United Kingdom each year.
CAP’s system of subsidies works to incentivise farmers to produce more food, so the EU can remain food secure, and also funds those who set aside land for environmental protection instead of cultivation. But CAP’s inability to fully deliver on its ambitious goals has made it a controversial policy, one that both bolstered and undermined Britain’s relations with the EU.
Continue reading...Trump resumes fight against windfarm near Scottish golf course
US presidential candidate said planning conditions associated with Aberdeenshire project had not been satisfied
Donald Trump has vowed to continue fighting the windfarm development off the coast from his Aberdeenshire golf course, branding the project an act of “public vandalism”.
The US presidential candidate returned to the fray after Swedish energy company Vattenfall confirmed on Thursday that it is going ahead with its £300m investment, despite last month’s EU referendum vote.
Continue reading...Telecopes: A giant leap for Africa
Hot June, Kosovo coal and Andrea Leadsom's appointment – green news roundup
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
Continue reading...Sunburned dolphin spotted in Moray Firth
Diving enthusiasts could be used to measure ocean temperatures
Decompression computers worn by recreational and commercial divers provides accurate data, study shows
Millions of holidaying scuba divers are able to become citizen scientists and take vital measurements of ocean temperatures, which are being driven up by climate change.
More than 90% of the heat trapped by global warming goes into oceans, where it drives hurricanes and disrupts fish stocks. Satellites can measure surface temperature when there are no clouds, but getting data from below the surface is much harder and more expensive.
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