The Guardian

The 2023 total solar eclipse is captured through telescopes at the Perth Observatory and Learmonth Solar Observatory, south of Exmouth on the west coast of Australia. A total solar eclipse was visible in some parts of the world, including Exmouth and Barrow Island in the Ningaloo region of Western Australia, eastern regions of Timor-Leste and West Papua in Indonesia

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• How to safely watch an eclipse – and protect your eyes while you look

• Solar eclipse chasers descend on tiny Western Australian town to experience ‘wonders of the universe’

Continent set for further drought in 2023, scientists say, as unstoppable impacts of climate crisis mount

The climate crisis had “frightening” impacts in Europe last year, with heatwaves killing more than 20,000 people and drought withering crops, an EU report has found.

Its writers said drought was already baked in for many farmers in 2023. The only way to limit the rising damages of global heating was rapidly to cut carbon emissions, they said.

Move suggested to tackle rise in plastic grass and paving, which exacerbate wildlife loss, flooding and summer heat

Eco-friendly gardeners should be given a cut in their council tax, scientists have recommended, as research shows cities may have lost as much as 50% of their green garden space over the past two decades.

Paving over gardens and using plastic grass has become a trend in recent years, which contributes to rising urban temperatures and biodiversity decline.

The town of Exmouth in Western Australia was the only place in the world to see the totality of Thursday’s astronomical phenomenon

• Total solar eclipse – watch the full live stream replay

High production costs for farmers lead to ‘worrying and worsening’ decline in new births

Though they grace the pictures of children’s books and appear in nursery rhymes, the UK’s traditional pig breeds are at risk of dying out.

With the pig market failure causing a shrinkage of the British pork industry, owing to farmers being offered less than the cost of production for their products, the UK pig population has fallen from about 8 million in the 1990s to just over 5 million today.

Sales of battery EVs also overtook conventional petrol hybrids in all categories, peak motoring body says. ‘The shift is on’

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Electric vehicle sales in Australia have overtaken petrol-driven vehicles in the medium-sized car category for the first time on record, according to the peak motoring body.

The announcement on Thursday follows Labor’s release of its EV policy backing new fuel efficiency standards, which the Coalition has cautiously welcomed, in an early sign legislation could be passed with bipartisan support.

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The solar eclipse is seen through telescopes at the Perth Observatory and Learmonth Solar Observatory, south of Exmouth on the west coast of Australia. A total solar eclipse will visible in some parts of the world on April 20, 2023. These include Exmouth and Barrow Island in theNingaloo region of Western Australia, eastern regions of Timor-Leste and West Papua in Indonesia

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• Total solar eclipse 2023 live blog: follow the latest updates from Australia and around the world

• What time is the eclipse? How and when to view it around Australia

• How to safely watch the eclipse today – and protect your eyes while you look

• Solar eclipse chasers descend on tiny Western Australian town to experience ‘wonders of the universe’

An avian alert | Serge Gainsbourg’s best song | Longer John Silver | Voter ID | Woke Windsor

Mark Cocker’s eloquent article (Look up, listen, and be very concerned. Birds are vanishing – and their crisis is our crisis, 17 April) should be required reading for Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, and for all those working for Defra, and all farmers and landowners in this country. It brought me to tears.
Helen Owen
Ludlow, Shropshire

• How could Alexis Petridis (Serge Gainsbourg’s 20 greatest recordings – ranked!, 13 April) have ignored Gainsbourg’s beautiful, clever tribute to Prévert’s Les Feuilles Mortes in his song La Chanson de Prévert? To my mind, his true poetic gift and his ability to parody and to rhyme are at their peak in this song, written in the 60s.
Jennifer Symien
Bedford

Discovery of carbon-capturing organism in hot springs could lead to efficient way of absorbing climate-heating gas

A microbe discovered in a volcanic hot spring gobbles up carbon dioxide “astonishingly quickly”, according to the scientists who found it.

The researchers hope to utilise microbes that have naturally evolved to absorb CO2 as an efficient way of removing the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. Ending the burning of fossil fuels is critical in ending the climate crisis, but most scientists agree CO2 will also need to be sucked from the air to limit future damage.

Shadow infrastructure minister says road user charging should not be ruled out and accuses government of ‘stalling’ with consultation

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The Nationals’ shadow infrastructure minister, Bridget McKenzie, has described Labor’s electric vehicle policy launch as a “missed opportunity” to achieve national consistency and warned the government not to rule out road user charging.

McKenzie made the comments after Labor announced a further consultation period for fuel efficiency standards, which some clean energy and transport stakeholders fear could push the long-anticipated reforms into next year.

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Money could come from carbon markets, donor countries and philanthropists, but radical action is also needed from legislators

At least $130bn (£100bn) a year is needed to protect the most at-risk areas of tropical forest by the end of the decade, alongside reductions in beef and dairy consumption and government bans on deforestation, a thinktank has warned.

From the Amazon to the Siberian taiga, financing dedicated to forests must be rapidly scaled up if governments are to meet their target of halting and reversing deforestation by the end of this decade, a nonbinding aim agreed by more than 140 world leaders at Cop26 in 2021, which is crucial to limiting global heating well below 2C and halting biodiversity loss.

Griffith University researcher captures video of five whales doing ‘bizarre rolls’ on the sea floor as they exfoliate and socialise

Whales have been caught on camera enjoying a marine version of a day spa, returning to their favourite spot off the Gold Coast to scratch off itchy skin and parasites, and catch up with their cetacean buddies.

Griffith University whale researcher Dr Olaf Meynecke and his colleagues were trying to shed light on the behaviour of competing pods of humpbacks that use Gold Coast waters to rest, breed and socialise.

The granting of Unesco world heritage site status would give these habitats the recognition they deserve

In the 17th century, when the first large-scale attempts were being made to drain the Fens, an anonymous protest ballad imagined the creaturely resentment coursing through the waters of the wetlands. “For they do mean all Fens to drain, and waters overmaster,” laments a sea lamprey in Powte’s Complaint. “All will be dry, and we must die, ’cause Essex calves want pasture”.

The local protests were in vain. Since 1700, according to research published this year, the UK has lost more than 75% of its wetlands as land has been drained for development and farming. The Industrial Revolution inevitably accelerated the destruction of terrain that was viewed simply as wasteland. But the tide may finally be turning for habitats that should be valued as 21st century environmental assets, crucial both to preserving biodiversity and protecting Britain’s coastline.

Scientists operating a submersible have discovered deep-sea coral reefs in pristine condition in a previously unexplored part of the Galapagos marine reserve. Diving to depths of 600 metres (1,970ft), to the summit of a previously unmapped seamount in the central part of the archipelago, the scientists witnessed a breathtaking mix of deep marine life. This has raised hopes that healthy reefs can still thrive at a time when coral is in crisis due to record sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification

• Scientists discover pristine deep-sea Galápagos reef ‘teeming with life’

Reusables have 25% less global heating potential, finds UK government report, but overall picture is mixed

Environmental campaigners are calling on the UK government to take action after new analysis found a significant difference between the carbon footprints of washable and disposable nappies.

Reusable nappies have 25% less global heating potential compared with single-use nappies, according to a report commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Report highlights environmental and economic impacts of algae threatened by climate crisis, overfishing and pollution

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Almost a third of the globe’s coastal environments rely on kelp to reduce local pollution and sustain fisheries that provide billions of dollars in benefits, according to a new study.

But the climate crisis, overfishing, invasions of voracious sea urchins and pollution are putting at risk the world’s kelp forests, threatening the economic benefits they provide and the huge array of species they support.

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London-listed Serabi Gold extracting gold without approval of Brazilian land registry and Indigenous communities

A London-listed company has been mining gold in the Amazon rainforest without approval from the Brazilian land agency or the consent of nearby Indigenous communities, according to an investigation by the Guardian and partners.

Serabi Gold has been blasting 4.5 metre-wide tunnels and trucking ore from the Coringa project site in Pará state. But interviews with land agency officials and documents seen by the Guardian, Unearthed and Sumaúma indicate that ownership of the area is disputed and the land was allegedly occupied by illegal land-grabbers.

Officials announce 45-day ban on harvesting elvers in provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

Canada has temporarily shut down its baby eel fishery following a string of attacks on harvesters, as well as mounting concerns over widespread poaching of the threatened fish.

Officials from the department of fisheries and oceans on Saturday announced a 45-day ban on harvesting the young eels, called elvers, in the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, shuttering the lucrative C$50m (£30m) market.

Diving to 600m, researchers find reefs full of octopus, lobster and fish, raising hopes for corals’ survival amid rising sea temperatures

Scientists operating a submersible have discovered deep-sea coral reefs in pristine condition in a previously unexplored part of the Galápagos marine reserve.

Diving to depths of 600 metres (1,970ft), to the summit of a previously unmapped seamount in the central part of the archipelago, the scientists witnessed a breathtaking mix of deep marine life. This has raised hopes that healthy reefs can still thrive at a time when coral is in crisis due to record sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification. It also showed the effectiveness of conservation actions and effective management, they said.

Hampton Court flower show to feature gardens using creative methods to mitigate against heatwaves

Wilting flowers, dried-up soil and sweltering tents have become the norm at flower shows in England as the country faces more frequent heatwaves and droughts in summer.

Now, “desert gardens” featuring cacti and other succulents are being used at top shows as horticulturalists struggle with a changing climate.

The pretty, pink palm-like shrub Cordyline australis brings some colour while being tolerant to heat.

Juniperus conifers are drought-tolerant and many varieties have an attractive gold hue.

The Judas tree, Cercis siliquastrum, has heart-shaped leaves and does not need too much water.

Jasmine plants provide pretty little flowers and a heady scent, and are also able to grow in warm climes.

The Abelia × grandiflora is recommended by the RHS as it provides dainty, well-scented flowers over a long period in summer, and tolerates heat well.