Paris agreement's 1.5C target 'only way' to save coral reefs, Unesco says
First global assessment of climate change impact on world heritage-listed reefs says local efforts are ‘no longer sufficient’ Greater emissions reductions and delivering on the Paris climate agreement are now “the only opportunity” to save coral reefs the world over from decline, with local responses no longer sufficient, a report by Unesco has found. The […]
Banks can help to protect world heritage sites | Letters
Chris Gee on how banks lend to companies that have the potential to cause irreversible damage to heritage sites Even protected Unesco world heritage sites – some of the most incredible places on earth – are threatened by decisions being made by banks (Report, 22 June). Almost half of those listed for their natural values […]
Sadiq Khan: Gove must get a grip on 'life and death' air pollution crisis
Mayor of London wants urgent meeting with new environment secretary to press for action on toxic air quality The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has requested an urgent meeting with the new environment secretary, Michael Gove, to urge him to get a grip on Britain’s “life and death” air pollution crisis. This week, Khan activated […]
In a world ruled by rumour, it is vital that scientists speak with humility and clarity | Sue Desmond-Hellmann
Facts are the science world’s stock-in-trade, but in an era of fake news it is ever more important to build public trust by avoiding exaggerated claims and jargon One of my most cherished possessions is a handmade cherrywood salad bowl that’s never held a leaf of lettuce. It is 25 years old and gets more […]
Circulate on Fridays: chemists are key to circular economy and much more
Welcome to Circulate on Fridays, your weekly dose of circular economy news. No more FOMO – read on to catch up… This week’s must-read piece comes courtesy of Roland Clift of the University of Surrey. Clift argues that ‘chemists — not just economists — are key to a circular future’, and addresses thermodynamics – something of […]
From heatwaves to hurricanes, floods to famine: seven climate change hotspots
Global warming will not affect everyone equally. Here we look at seven key regions to see how each is tackling the consequences of climate change It could have been the edge of the Sahara or even Death Valley, but it was the remains of a large orchard in the hills above the city of Murcia […]
Finding Neemo: Nasa goes from the bottom of the ocean to outer space | Andrea Boyd
Nasa astronauts-aquanauts have made a temporary underwater home to prepare for future missions. An Aussie space engineer is part of the team On Sunday a group of six astronauts, engineers and scientists submerged 19 metres to the bottom of an Atlantic Ocean reef to live underwater for Nasa’s extreme environment mission operations (Neemo) expedition. Living […]
Official view on Hinkley Point C? Nuclear power scheme is risky and expensive
Audit office’s 80-page report concludes that Britons have been sold a white elephant – and a badly costed one at that The National Audit Office does not use excitable phrases like “utter shambles.” But the spending watchdog’s verdict on Hinkley Point C, the nuclear power plant in Somerset that is supposedly inevitable, amounts to the […]
Spending watchdog condemns 'risky and expensive' Hinkley Point
Damning report says nuclear project is bad for UK consumers and governments failed to assess alternative finance models Generations of British consumers have been locked into a “risky and expensive” project by the UK’s subsidy deal for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset, according to a damning report by the spending […]
First flush of summer as swallows close loos | Letters
DUP and Brexit talks | Brian Cant | Blackpool body shapes | Butterflies | Swallows In light of the negotiating skills shown by the DUP in securing a very favourable outcome for Northern Ireland in the ongoing “confidence and supply” talks (Report, 22 May), should the Tories not send the DUP to Europe for the […]