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Global warming and international trade offering increasingly hospitable environment

Some are small and jumpy; others are large and intimidating – if you’re a humble housefly. Exotic spiders are flourishing in Britain as international trade offers ample opportunities for spider travel and global heating provides an increasingly hospitable climate.

A jumping spider new to science has been identified living on the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus in Cornwall. The nearest known relative of the 3-4mm-long Anasaitis milesae is found in the Caribbean, making it highly likely that this tiny species – alongside 17 other non-native jumping spider species – found its way to Britain from distant climes.

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Fiftysix multinationals are responsible for more than half of the world's branded plastic pollution, with six companies producing a quarter of that, a study has unveiled.

China’s national carbon market saw allowance prices extend recent gains over the past week, climbing above the 100 yuan ($13.80) level and rising for the seventh straight session, amid continued optimism among participants.

The world’s long-term supply of LNG may well outstrip demand and markets may tip into oversupply in just two years, according to a report published this week, adding to concerns over the fossil fuel industry's ability to reduce carbon emissions in line with global targets.

Rain in Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi kills at least 90 people and damages farmland and infrastructure

Eastern Africa has experienced heavy rain in recent weeks, with flooding in Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi. About 100,000 people have been displaced or otherwise affected in each country, with 32 reported deaths in Kenya and 58 in Tanzania, alongside damage to farmland and infrastructure.

There are also fears that large areas of standing water could give rise to outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

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A Tokyo company's satellite encounters a big lump of space debris high above the Earth.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has entered the first stage of discussions with the UN, donors, NGOs, and other stakeholders to understand the impact of climate change on the Central Asian nation.

Soiled seas and huge shareholder dividends: where has the £64bn borrowed by firms since privatisation gone?

So that’s how they do it. I’d been wondering how, when more sewage has been entering our rivers than ever before, some of the water companies have managed to improve the ratio of the sewage they treat v the sewage that pours untreated from their storm overflows into our rivers and the sea. Now we know.

It’s called “flow trimming”. Sounds innocuous, doesn’t it? What it means is that sewage is diverted into rivers and ditches upstream of the water treatment works. By reducing the amount of sewage entering the works, the companies can claim to be dealing responsibly with a higher proportion of it.

George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist. Join him for a Guardian Live online event on Wednesday 8 May at 8pm BST. He will be talking about his new book, The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism. Book tickets here

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

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Open letter calls for green policies that empower farmers, after months of protests jeopardise future of flagship biodiversity deal

The EU’s nature restoration law will only work if it is enacted in partnership with farmers, a group of leading scientists has said, after months of protests have pushed the proposals to the brink of collapse.

In an open letter, leading biodiversity researchers from across the world said that efforts to restore nature are vital for guaranteeing food supplies – but farmers must be empowered to help make agriculture more environmentally friendly if the measures are to succeed.

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The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

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Symbiosis is so much part of life on Earth that it has shaped the evolution and structure of cells. It’s happening almost everywhere we look, including inside our gut. Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Energy minister Chris Bowen discusses the capacity investment scheme, the Eraring closure, social licence, planning approvals, long duration storage, and why the Coalition’s nuclear plan does not stack up.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Chris Bowen explains the green energy plan appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Bowen says Coalition nuclear plan will put grid reliability at risk because it will stop renewables and storage and force ageing and unreliable coal power plants to stay open.

The post Bowen says Coalition’s nuclear push would put grid reliability at risk due to delays in coal plant closures appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Renewables industry welcomes government funding to fill "critical knowledge gaps" on environmental and wildlife impacts of wind farm development, while also helping to get projects built.

The post Wind farm handbook to help developers avoid brolgas, bats and other project-sinking biodiversity risks appeared first on RenewEconomy.

BHP is making a $60 billion bet on "future-facing commodities" with a bid for rival Anglo American to combine their strengths in energy transition materials.

The post BHP makes $60 billion power play for global electrification appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator on Friday opened the fourth pilot exit arrangement window for companies with fixed delivery contracts to sell carbon credits to the government’s Emissions Reductions Fund (ERF).

A wind farm worker has been killed in a fall that is understood to involve the collapse of a meteorological mast installed at the site.

The post Man dies in met-mast accident at site of massive Queensland wind project appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australia's largest listed coal miner is proposing to transform an open-cut mine site into a renewable energy hub with solar and pumped hydro.

The post Yancoal proposes solar and 12-hour pumped hydro storage for Hunter mine site appeared first on RenewEconomy.

China has wound back its ambitious nuclear targets and turned instead to the deployment of solar and wind energy at unprecedented rates.

The post China’s quiet energy revolution: The switch from nuclear to renewable energy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Federal incentives to lower carbon intensity (CI) in feedstocks, coupled with advancements in carbon removal and renewable natural gas, could propel the biofuels industry towards net zero in the US, industry members told a webinar Thursday.