Queensland setting catch limits for endangered sharks based on ‘dodgy data’
Experts calls for reinstatement of observer program as commercial shark catches jump dramatically on Great Barrier Reef The Queensland government is allowing commercial fisheries to catch endangered sharks on the Great Barrier Reef, with a quota based on data that was useless for managing the shark numbers, according to an independent peer reviewer. Shark experts […]
South Africa's great white sharks face extinction, says study
Research shows ‘rapid decline’ in numbers caused by hunting, pollution and nets South Africa’s great white sharks face the threat of extinction after a steep decline in numbers caused by trophy hunting, shark nets and pollution, according to a study. The six-year research project along the country’s coastline revealed that only between 353 and 522 […]
Antarctic peninsula temperatures have fallen, study shows
Scientists said cooling of tip over past 15 years is related to wind patterns, but does not mean that global warming has stopped The tip of the Antarctic peninsula has cooled over the past 15 years, scientists have found, but the discovery does not mean global warming has stopped. Researchers analysed air temperature data from […]
Is this the restaurant of the future? 3D printing, VR headsets and AI composed music
Later this month, a 3D-printing pop-up restaurant, called “Food Ink”, will open in London. The restaurant promises to offer a completely different dining experience, rather than being served food that has been cooked and prepared by a chef, customers will be offered a selection of 3D-printed food items by the British tech company. 3D-printing food […]
Google uses AI to cut data centre energy use by 15%
Technology firm hailed success of machine-learning trial and said efficiencies will be applied to all its centres by end of year Google says it has cut its vast data centres’ energy use by 15% by applying artificial intelligence to manage them more efficiently than humans. The servers that power billions of web searches, streamed films […]
Microbeads report reveals loopholes in pledges by biggest firms
Greenpeace urges legal ban to tackle problem after finding that top personal care companies fell short on commitments Loopholes in the voluntary pledges by the biggest personal care companies to phase out polluting microbeads have been revealed in a report from Greenpeace, which says a legal ban is needed. Tiny plastic beads are widely used […]
Conservative groups push back against Republican party's climate denialism
Partnership for Responsible Growth and other groups launch campaigns to urge Republicans and Rupert Murdoch’s media empire to accept climate change Conservative and free-market groups have staged a rearguard effort to get the Republican party to accept the dangers of climate change, criticizing climate denialism within the GOP and Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. Climate change, […]
Former EU fisheries chief brands UK's post-Brexit plan an ‘illusion’
Maria Damanaki questioned feasibility of UK controlling stocks or setting its own catches without input from Europe The EU’s former fisheries chief has said it is an illusion that the UK will be able to dictate its fishing policies after Brexit. Maria Damanaki, the former commissioner for fisheries, who oversaw the most sweeping reforms of […]
Investors' neglect of small-scale renewables threatens universal energy access
From east Africa to India, finance for off-grid clean energy projects offers a wealth of benefits beyond tackling climate change Investing in a large-scale wind farm is a better guarantee of profits than multiple, small, off-grid renewables projects but without the latter, argues a recent report, the sustainable development goal of low-carbon energy access for […]
Why is the World Bank backing coal power in Europe's youngest country?
The World Bank is poised to support a new coal plant that would modernise Kosovo’s creaking energy infrastructure, but also lock the young nation into a future powered by a regressive fossil fuel In the early days of December 2015, as the Paris climate talks veered off course and off schedule, the US secretary of […]