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From toucans and puffins to iridescent hummingbirds, the most unique creatures are the most vulnerable to human impacts

For decades ecologists have been warning about the homogenisation of diversity – species becoming more alike – in the living world. Now, researchers at the University of Sheffield have published research predicting that bird species with striking and extreme traits are likely to go extinct first. “The global extinction crisis doesn’t just mean that we’re losing species,” says the study’s leader, Dr Emma Hughes. “It means that we are losing unique traits and evolutionary history.”

This shows that human activity is not just drastically reducing numbers of species, it is probably disproportionately destroying the most unique, unusual and distinctive creatures on Earth.

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Meanwhile heavy rainfall predicted to far exceed annual averages in South and North Korea

While it feels as though Europe should be starting to see the end of its heatwaves, scorching temperatures are expected to continue across the north and west of the continent this week. As high pressure becomes established, parts of France and Spain could experience temperatures of 38C (100.4F) between Wednesday and Saturday. A prolonged hot period is also forecast to hit the UK with temperatures exceeding 30C, and maximum temperatures possibly hitting as high as 35C.

Meanwhile, low pressure and a slack south-westerly wind across the East China and Yellow seas will bring heavy rain across the Korean peninsula over the coming week, the second monsoon spell of the season. Daily rainfall totals of 100mm to 150mm could hit South Korea’s capital, Seoul, on Monday, with high levels of precipitation extending north-eastwards across northern Chungcheong and North Gyeonsang provinces.

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A global energy and commodity trading firm has recruited a carbon trader from Shell for its APAC environmental markets team.

Two Australian senators are withholding their critical votes on the Labor government’s climate change bill until it addresses their concerns around several Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) methodologies.

The US Senate has passed a landmark climate bill - the biggest in its history, although a fraction of what Joe Biden wanted to do.

The post “Unprecedented:” US Senate passes landmark bill to tax billionaires to fund clean energy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Greg Balkins from Transit Systems was not sure what to expect when the first electric buses rolled out on Sydney routes. It turns out he needn’t have worried - they have performed far better than expected, and the passengers, drivers and mechanics love them.

The post The Driven Podcast: Electric buses and range anxiety appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Senate Democrats passed their climate and healthcare spending package on Sunday, sending the legislation to the House and bringing Joe Biden one step closer to a significant legislative victory ahead of crucial midterm elections in November.

'To the tens of millions of young Americans who spent years marching, rallying, demanding that Congress act on climate change, this bill is for you,' said Chuck Schumer, the US Senate majority leader. 

'The time has come to pass this historic bill'

• Senate passes $739bn healthcare and climate bill after months of wrangling
• Climate bill could slash US emissions by 40% after historic Senate vote
• What does the US-China row mean for climate change?

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Before the pandemic, our cities had a simple plan: let population growth drive economic activity. But the world is changing and the perpetual growth mindset has to change with it. Kate Shaw, Honorary Senior Fellow in Urban Geography and Planning, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hydrogen has emerged as the great white (or green) hope of the clean energy transition due to its potential use in decarbonising hard-to-abate industries like shipping, steel production, and even transport. These sectors are tricky to electrify. Cargo ships for example, can’t necessarily recharge battery supply in the middle of the ocean, and cutting emissions […]

The post Green hydrogen has a leakage problem that may cancel out some of its climate gains appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A new breakthrough in research on polymer electrolyte chemistries that can be used with metals more abundant and less expensive than lithium.

The post “Significant milestone” in quest for safer, greener, cheaper polymer battery alternative appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Kidston solar farm tops the ranking of best performing Australian solar farms for the fourth month in a row.

The post Graph of the Day: Kidston leads again as best performing solar asset in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The plans - which aim to reduce US carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 - still needs House approval.

In a political system long captured by fossil fuel interests, there is a disconnect between the arguments and the evidence

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One of the most striking voices for aggressive climate action right now is the secretary general of the United Nations. Speaking at the Major Economies Forum hosted by Joe Biden last month, António Guterres held little back as he compared the culpability of coal, oil and gas companies in causing climate breakdown to the damage caused by the tobacco industry.

“We seem trapped in a world where fossil fuel producers and financiers have humanity by the throat. For decades, the fossil fuel industry has invested heavily in pseudoscience and public relations, with a false narrative to minimise their responsibility for climate change and undermine ambitious climate policies,” Guterres said.

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If a rudderless government continues to stand back, other countries will dominate the electric vehicle revolution

Over recent decades, Britain’s economy has become steadily more service-based. But as the opening ceremony of Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games powerfully illustrated, industry still occupies pride of place in the imagination of regions such as the West Midlands. At the Alexander stadium, Jaguars, Minis and Rovers of various vintages were showcased to the world – the past and present of a car manufacturing sector that provides well-paid, skilled jobs, and defines a local sense of identity.

The future, though, has never looked more insecure. In the short term, a combination of the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine has created a supply chain crisis that has led to an output slump and drop in sales. In July, car sales in the UK fell by 9%. Falling living standards, prolonged recession and high inflation will add to the industry’s problems by hitting demand. This perfect storm is challenging enough. But the longer-term question facing the UK car industry is existential: as the world leaves the internal combustion engine behind and moves to battery electric vehicles, is Britain going to remain a mass car producer or not?

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Campaigners visit Berkshire estate belonging to Richard Benyon, minister in charge of access to nature

It’s hard to know what access to nature minister Richard Benyon normally finds in his gigantic Berkshire estate when he strolls out on a Sunday afternoon. It is unlikely, however, to be a loudly singing group of activist trespassers, dressed up as psychedelic animals and accompanied by an all-female morris-dancing troupe.

But that’s what wandered up his drive on Sunday, when protesters visited the Englefield estate, calling on Benyon to open it up to the public and extend access for everyone to green space across England.

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Australia is paying a high price - in terms of fuel bills, health impact and energy security - because of the scare campaigns against fuel efficiency standards.

The post Carbon tax on wheels? The overwhelming case for Australia to go electric appeared first on RenewEconomy.

My Climate party will take on 110 Conservatives in the next election: Britain can win when it comes to the environment

• Ed Gemmell is leader of the Climate party

Conservative members – and by default the whole country – have been let down by the current leadership race. Both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have almost completely ignored the climate and biodiversity crisis in their pitches to party members, effectively jeopardising the future of millions.

The Conservative party as a whole, along with the other mainstream parties, has miserably failed Britain on climate, displaying a nonchalant attitude to the danger and a lack of commitment to action. Leadership has been so lacking on this issue that my co-founders and I felt compelled to create a new single-issue, centre-right party to champion these concerns: the Climate party.

Ed Gemmell is leader of the Climate party, a Buckinghamshire councillor, and managing director of Scientists Warning Europe

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The needle is moving in the Indo-Pacific region towards collaboration, multi-lateral support and action that can provide multiple pathways to decarbonisation.

The post Indo-Pacific can be major hub for global renewable energy supply chain appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Patient safety compromised during IT failure at Guy’s and St Thomas’

Two of the UK’s leading hospitals have had to cancel operations, postpone appointments and divert seriously ill patients to other centres for the past three weeks after their computers crashed at the height of last month’s heatwave.

The IT breakdowns at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London have caused misery for doctors and patients and have also raised fears about the impact of climate change on data centres that store medical, financial and public sector information.

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The world’s first subsidy-free offshore wind farm, located off the coast of the Netherlands, has begun generating electricity.

The post World’s first subsidy-free offshore wind farm starts to produce power appeared first on RenewEconomy.