Florida cleared to release genetically modified mosquitoes in Zika fight
US Food and Drug Administration finds ‘no significant’ environmental impact of experimental release of insects after 15 Zika infections were reported in Miami A release of mosquitoes genetically engineered to produce dead offspring and thus combat the spread of the Zika virus has been approved in Florida by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). […]
Our collective amnesia on climate change | Letters
George Monbiot’s article (The climate crisis is already here – but no one’s telling us, 3 August) reinforced something I’ve been aware of since the Paris climate talks – a dearth of information and emphasis in the media regarding action worldwide aiming to ensure that the world’s average temperature doesn’t rise by more than 1.5C […]
Brexit and the future of farming in the UK | Letters
Your editorial “The future of food and the farming revolution” (4 August) discusses a speech by the director of the National Trust, whose main role is protecting British heritage. That Brexit provides an opportunity to reform agricultural policy is reasonable, but many of the problems outlined were not solely due to failures of the common […]
Lancastrians will never surrender their territory | Letters
For the Yorkshire Dales to acquire some real class and distinction (Lancashire loses turf to Yorkshire for Dales expansion, 2 August) it has clearly been necessary for the national park to encompass some of Lancashire’s treasured acres. Although the park now embraces the high moors of Leck Fell, let it never be forgotten that all […]
Farm subsidies, oil spills and the fetid corpse flower – green news roundup
The week’s top environment news stories and green events. If you are not already receiving this roundup, sign up here to get the briefing delivered to your inbox Continue reading… Source: Guardian Environment
Circulate on Fridays: Patagonia’s new film and cashing in on the circular economy
Every Friday, Circulate provides a roundup of some of the best circular economy articles, videos and podcasts that we’ve seen during the week. Today, we’ve picked out a piece on the impact of one of the leading car-sharing firms in the U.S, a new film on the future of agriculture, the city that is fast becoming […]
Major Amazon dam opposed by tribes fails to get environmental license
Brazil’s environmental regulator rules the dam’s backers had failed to supply information to show its social and environmental impact Plans to build a giant hydroelectric dam in the heart of the Amazon rainforest have been halted by Brazil’s environmental protection agency because of mounting concerns about the fate of indigenous communities and wildlife living in […]
Bovine TB not passed on through direct contact with badgers, research shows
Contact comes through contaminated pasture and dung, with significant implications for farming practices What rural issues are important to you? Badgers and cattle never came into close contact during a new field study examining how tuberculosis (TB) is transmitted between the animals. Most TB in cattle is contracted from other cattle but some infections come […]
Adelaide charges ahead with world’s largest 'virtual power plant'
AGL project to roll out 1,000 battery systems to homes and businesses will operate like a 5MW plant, and optimise energy produced from solar panels Adelaide will be home to the world’s largest “virtual power plant” – AGL is rolling out 1,000 battery systems to homes and businesses, with backing from the Australian Renewable Energy […]
The town that reveals how Russia spills two Deepwater Horizons of oil each year
Oil spills in the Komi Republic caused by old pipelines are relatively small and rarely garner widespread attention – but added up they threaten fish stocks and pasture for cattle The Komi Republic in northern Russia is renowned for its many lakes, but sites contaminated by oil are almost just as easy to find in […]