Australia must not be afraid of its obligations to Pacific climate migrants | Richard Marles
Australia’s humanitarian intake is from distant countries; as climate change leads some islanders to migrate, that will change. So must our approach It is almost impossible to convey the extraordinary landscape of an inhabited coral atoll without seeing it firsthand. From the sky, the thin strips of low-lying land surrounding turquoise blue lagoons make sense […]
Deadly dam burst in Brazil prompts calls for stricter mining regulations
Six bodies have been found with 22 still missing in one of the country’s worst mining disasters as hundreds are displaced in Minas Gerais As despair turns to anger over a deadly dam burst at a Brazilian mine, lawmakers pushed on Tuesday for tougher regulations in a new mining code, as iron ore giant Vale […]
Open-sourced food production – the future of urban diets?
Scientists are developing open-source technologies that reward locally grown foods, cutting down on shipping and improving nutrition As much as 40% of the urban diet could eventually be produced in specialized domestic grow-boxes, an agricultural scientist has explained, cutting down on unnecessary shipping and also providing fresher, more nutritional food. Caleb Harper, director of the […]
Renewable energy investment predicted to surge
Countries are realising the cost of their dependence on oil and coal, says International Energy Agency Between the tropics and probably as far as the 33rd parallel, the sun could soon be a major source of energy for households and businesses alike. Countries such as Mexico and Indonesia, long dependent on cheap home-produced oil and […]
Campaigners call for land reform as Scottish farmer faces eviction
Andrew Stoddart and his family must leave farm they have tended for 22 years by end of the month, with minimal compensation Land reform campaigners have gathered outside the Scottish parliament to protest against the threatened eviction of a tenant farmer, in a case that has galvanised activists and focused public attention on a legislative […]
Ten UK universities divest from fossil fuels
Institutions with endowments worth £115m are withdrawing their investments from fossil fuels ahead of crunch UN climate talks in Paris Ten UK universities with endowments worth £115m are in the process of moving their money out of fossil fuels ahead of crunch UN climate change talks in Paris later this month. The University of Surrey, […]
Saudi Arabia submits climate pledge to UN deal
Petropower offers conditional emissions cuts of up to 130Mt CO2e by 2030, becoming last G20 member to submit plan before Paris summit, reports Climate Home Saudi Arabia made its contribution to a climate rescue pact on Tuesday, calling it a “significant deviation” for the emissions of the oil-reliant economy. The world’s largest crude oil producer […]
Can social enterprise help fix the Greek crisis?
Despite youth unemployment at 53%, Greece’s young entrepreneurs face state obstacles and hostility Myrto Papadogeorgou and her business partner Nikos Konstantinou chose not to join the exodus of 200,000 people from Greece over the past five years. Instead they’ve stayed, hoping to help drag their country out of crisis. For them, and many other young […]
UK doesn't have right policies to meet renewable energy target, admits Amber Rudd
Energy secretary says heat and transport must make a contribution to meeting the EU target of sourcing 15% of renewable energy by 2020 Amber Rudd has admitted the UK does not have the right policies in place to meet its EU target of sourcing 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020, and challenged transport […]
How to green your home: make your own cleaning spray for every task
With a little soap, some baking soda and a bit of vinegar, you’re on your way to a sparkling interior – without the harmful chemicals and packed cleaning closet In our obsessive consumer culture, one of the most radical choices you can make is choosing to create, rather than consume. This sounds like a lofty […]