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US funding new soldiers in wildlife trafficking war: giant rats
Elite rat team to begin by spotting illegal shipments of pangolins, the world’s most trafficked animal, at ports in Tanzania
The US government will fund the training of a team of giant rats to combat illegal wildlife trafficking in Africa.
An elite group of African giant pouched rats will be used at ports, initially in Tanzania, to detect illegal shipments of pangolins – the world’s most trafficked animal, which has been pushed towards extinction due to the trade in its scales and skins – as well as hardwood timber.
Continue reading...Jo Johnson and Martyn Poliakoff perform scientific test
Saturn's weird hexagon changes colour
Boris Johnson: Heathrow third runway is 'undeliverable' – video
Speaking on Tuesday, Boris Johnson, the UK foreign secretary, comments on the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow and says the project is ‘undeliverable’. Johnson adds that no other world city would dream of pursuing a similar project and create more noise pollution for its its suburban residents
Continue reading...Backyard battery recycling is biggest chemical polluter for poorer nations
Report finds mining, leather tanning, rubbish dumps and the dye industry among the most polluting industries harming health and causing early death
The backyard recycling of lead-acid car batteries is the number one source of chemical pollution in the world’s poorer nations and leads to millions of years of healthy life being lost, according to a new report.
The World’s Worst Pollution Problems, published by NGOs Pure Earth and Green Cross Switzerland on Tuesday, reveals the top 10 most polluting industries in low and middle-income countries.
Continue reading...'We feel betrayed': Harmondsworth residents furious at Heathrow decision
Six years after Cameron vowed no third runway, people in village set for part-demolition angry government now backs airport’s expansion
In Harmondsworth, one of the villages scheduled to be partly or wholly demolished to make way for Heathrow’s third runway, there was little shock but considerable distress and anger when the government’s decision was confirmed.
Neil Keveren, whose house will face the boundary fence of the new runway, said residents felt “betrayed” six years after David Cameron’s “no ifs, no buts” commitment that there would be no third runway at Heathrow.
Continue reading...Chris Grayling: Heathrow expansion the right decision for Britain – video
The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, praises the approved expansion of Heathrow airport on Tuesday. Grayling says the move shows that, following the Brexit referendum, the UK remains open for business, adding that the committee thought long and hard about the decision before settled on a third runway at Heathrow. He adds that Heathrow’s third runway is best for the whole country and offers another step ‘that works for everyone’
Heathrow expansion decision condemned by senior Tories - live updates
Continue reading...Heathrow airport expansion gets government approval
Transport secretary hails ‘truly momentous’ move but widespread protests and legal challenges are expected to follow decision
A third runway is to be built at Heathrow, the government has decided, paving the way for hundreds of thousands more flights a year at the airport in west London.
In a long-awaited response, ministers have endorsed the recommendation of the Airports Commission to expand Heathrow rather than Gatwick airport, which had hoped to build a second runway.
Continue reading...Hacked emails reveal plan to counter Rupert Murdoch's climate denial
Emails sent to Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta reveal $3m campaign aimed to put media mogul ‘on the defensive’ and help conservative politicians support global warming action
A well-funded international campaign to counter the influence of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire on climate change has been planned, emails to Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman reveal.
The plan to use “guerilla tactics”, civil disobedience and targeted advertising appears to have been hatched by David Fenton, founder of Fenton Communications, a US public relations agency.
Continue reading...Local residents on Heathrow's third runway: 'Kids love the planes'
People living in Harmondsworth, Sipson and Harlington share their views on how they will be affected
Heathrow will get a third runway after the government gave the go ahead on Tuesday, paving the way for hundreds of thousands more flights a year at the airport in west London.
In a long-awaited response, ministers have endorsed the recommendation of the Airports Commission to expand Heathrow rather than Gatwick airport, which had hoped to build a second runway. The move comes six years after the Conservative-led coalition scrapped previous plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
Whaling nations block South Atlantic sanctuary plans
Conservation groups dismayed as Japan and other pro-whaling nations vote against plans for a protected area for whales, dolphins and porpoises
Japan and other pro-whaling nations have defeated a proposal to create an sanctuary for whales in the South Atlantic.
The push to create the protected area during a biennial meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was defeated after 38 countries voted yes and 24 against, as proposals at the conference require 75% of votes to pass. Two abstained.
Continue reading...Keep it in the ground: renewable energy breaks new records
Last year renewable energy accounted for more than half of new power generation worldwide, for the first time
Think of China and energy today, and you probably think of coal. But as the chief of the International Energy Agency told me recently, that’s changing. In years to come, wind turbines and vast solar arrays could become the first things that spring to mind.
Last year, for the first time, renewable energy accounted for more than half of new power generation worldwide, as we report today. China is expected to build more than twice that global amount in the next five years, driven by its thirst for more electricity capacity, public anxiety over air pollution and the need to fulfil its climate change pledges.
Continue reading...IEA tips Australian renewables to reach 27 GW/54TWh by 2021
Renewables made up half of net electricity capacity added last year
Experts hail rapid transformation that will see clean energy outgrow fossil fuels in the next five years - but warn UK is failing to exploit huge potential
Green energy accounted for more than half of net electricity generation capacity added around the world last year for the first time, leading energy experts have found.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said the milestone was evidence of a rapid transformation in energy taking place, and predicted capacity from renewable sources will grow faster than oil, gas, coal or nuclear power in the next five years.
Continue reading...Night parrot population discovered in Queensland national park
Discovery of elusive bird, thought to be extinct for a century until 2013, leads scientists to believe the ‘dumpy budgerigar’ may be more common than thought
The elusive night parrot has been recorded in Diamantina national park in central-west Queensland, expanding its known range and leading scientists to believe it may not be as rare as previously thought.
The bird, described by Bush Heritage Australia’s Jim Radford as a “dumpy budgerigar” or a “podgy, sort of smallish, green and yellow parrot”, was thought to be extinct for more than 100 years before ornithologist John Young managed to photograph it in 2013.
Continue reading...Opposing camps to hold dialogue on railway through Nairobi National Park
Paula Kahumbu: The proposal to put a railway through Kenya’s iconic wildlife sanctuary raises issues that should concern us all
The Kenyan Ministry of Transport has announced that it is moving forward with its plans to build a standard gauge railway (SGR), linking Nairobi with the port city of Mombasa, that will cut through Nairobi National Park.
Nairobi is one of the world’s fastest growing cities. It is also unique in encompassing, within its precincts, a major national park that supports lions, rhinos, and other large wild animals. Despite its modest size, the biological diversity of Nairobi National Park is greater than that of some entire countries. It is also a sanctuary of global significance for some endangered species, notably the black rhinoceros.
Continue reading...Study links blood pressure risk to road noise
Traffic noise is associated with an increase in hypertension cases, according to research from five European countries
People living near noisy roads could have a bigger risk of high blood pressure, a new study suggests.
Meanwhile, long-term exposure to air pollution can also increase a person’s risk, experts found.
Continue reading...For exotic looks, nothing beats the native spindle
Ladle Hill, Hampshire The spindles are brave impressionist paintings among the ash and crab apple
In an almost silent late afternoon I have descended steeply through the thickly wooded path on a spur of the downs. The only sound is that of a blackbird. It has chosen, as is its habit, the very best notes in the very finest order to punctuate just such a dark autumn afternoon. It is indeed as if, as Edward Thomas wrote in The South Country, it “gathers up all the low-lit beauty into one carol”.
Emerging from beneath the canopy I take a moment to notice the great smears of unlikely tropical colour among the trees lining the chalky path. Delicately spectacular, there are few more exotic-looking things than a spindle tree in full autumn decoration. This is especially so when it’s nestled in among the damp beech woods.
Continue reading...Coal won’t solve poverty, but it may save Turnbull’s career
Which Chinese solar manufacturers will survive module price crunch?
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