Feed aggregator

A selection of the day’s best images including demonstrating Ronald McDonalds in London, high dives in Texas and a beer holding world record in Germany

Continue reading...

Helicopter crew rescue two children and their mother from their flooded home in Houston after tropical storm Harvey caused devastating flooding last week. The storm, one of the costliest to hit the US, has displaced more than 1 million people, resulted in at least 44 deaths and damaged 185,000 homes in Houston alone

• Drone footage shows flooding in Houston, Texas – video
• Harvey recovery bill expected to exceed the $120bn required after Katrina

Continue reading...

As the seasons begin to change in most places, we would like to see and hear about the wildlife you’ve discovered in your area

Wherever you are in the world and however professional or amateur your photography set up, we would like to see your images of the wildlife living near you.

If you’re short of inspiration, have a look at some of the amazing images shared by readers around the world last month via GuardianWitness here. We regularly print readers’ best images in the Guardian newspaper and will let you know if your image should feature.

Continue reading...

To achieve climate agreement’s limit of 2C rise, pricing will have to increase to more than $100 a tonne, says Schroders

More than $1.5tn (£1.2tn) in company profits worldwide could be erased by taxes required to meet the Paris climate agreement, according to analysis by Schroders.

In a stark warning to investors to back more sustainable companies, the fund management group said total earnings of 12,500 global companies could fall by 20% were the world to limit itself to the 2C temperature rise target agreed in Paris through higher taxes. Schroders found prices in emissions trading would need to rise to “well over” $100 a tonne of CO2e from current levels, about $5, to encourage the move away from fossil fuels on the scale that was needed.

Continue reading...

A small community on the island of Sumatra is at the heart of a battle for traditional territories that could finally resolve the muddled and exploitative system of laws governing land ownership in Indonesia

It is cold and late on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Huddled around a map, a group of elders are planning their battle strategy. In a milestone victory last year, they were promised rights to the land their village has controlled for generations, but today they have had bad news. The local inspector wants to slice off a piece of the forest where they harvest benzoin – a substance like frankincense – and give it to a large pulp company. They see this as a betrayal.

The elders debate in a mix of languages – Batak and bahasa Indonesia – while sipping tea and planning how they will resume the fight the next day. For years now, almost every day has involved this kind of planning.

Continue reading...

No one will be surprised if AEMO projects a potential problem this summer in reports to be released this week.

PIAC’s Energy + Water Consumers Advocacy Program (EWCAP) has welcomed the NSW electricity bill relief package, announced yesterday

The key issue at moment around LGC prices remains the commissioning dates for new fleet of wind and solar generation.

Regulator report cites seven different occasions where Australia's big energy players used market power to push up prices nearly 100-fold. No wonder South Australia has pushed for Tesla big battery, which is likely to be able to smash this cartel, despite being derided by the Coalition.

With $50m in backing from Future Super, new debt fund taps renewable energy "sweet spot" – including small to medium solar projects with no PPAs.

AEMO report will be critical to design of policy and market rules, but wind and solar industry fear they are going to be unfairly penalised, when it is the fossil fuel fleet causing much risk to the energy system.

Ecclesall Wood, Sheffield A close-up look at these birds – which have evolved to be invisible in domains such as this – was proving elusive

A new noise stopped me dead in my tracks; a sort of pulse-quickening, primitive shriek, more banshee wail than bird call. Through the still-bare March treetops I saw the source of the sound barrel straight overhead – my first thrilling glimpse of sparrowhawk in this neck of Ecclesall Wood, near my home.

In the long light of a clear May evening came a second sighting, not far from the first; a revelatory 10 minutes of spectacular aerobatics in the full view of Ecclesall Road South, the bird’s fluidity of movement spellbinding.

Continue reading...

Defying the policy uncertainty that has held back utility-scale solar in Australia, much of the new renewables investment is happening in coal country.

Hydro Tasmania expects to run the Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) at the Tamar Valley Power Station Tuesday 5 September, 2017.

The Andrews Labor Government is helping businesses reduce their energy costs through a range of programs that support long term sustainability and jobs growth.

A rare native night bird makes a comeback; we turn beach coconuts into crunchy chips; go snail farming in Victoria; and meet 92-year-old former vegetable grower, turned machinery collector, Bill Ashman.

Draft Emissions Reduction Fund method for Measurement of soil carbon sequestration in agricultural systems released for public consultation. Consultation period closes 2 October 2017.

Draft Emissions Reduction Fund method for Measurement of soil carbon sequestration in agricultural systems released for public consultation. Consultation period closes 2 October 2017.

Australia-founded and managed company Atlantis Resources sets new benchmark for tidal energy with world's first multi-machine deployment in Scotland.

Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 4 September 1917

September 3
“Woolly bears,” in a fearful hurry, race across the road; they look as if they meant business or feared the wheel of passing vehicle or heedless boot. But the caterpillar knows nothing of danger, but merely acts as heredity has taught it; it must obey laws or go under in the struggle. Most insects need a wide distribution, for too restricted a feeding area may bring famine or degeneration; in one or other of their stages insects must get to a distance from congested districts or from ravaged food-plants. Naturally this distribution or migration takes place with many insects when, in their perfect stage, they are provided with wings, but some moths are slow-flying and lethargic, too busy with nectar-sipping and egg-laying to travel far, and in these the caterpillars make the journeys, getting over as much ground as they can before they find it necessary to spin cocoons.

Related: Why gardeners should protect caterpillars

Continue reading...