Anger drives hunt for 'criminal' water guzzler during California drought
As residents cut water use, even the rich rage at the mysterious ‘Wet Prince of Bel Air’, who used 11.8m gallons in one year Dean Gamburd has been a Bel Air resident all his life. Normally, he has nothing but good things to say about his neighbourhood, one of the most affluent in Los Angeles, […]
The Observer view on the Tories’ shameful record on climate change | Observer editorial
Since the election, the government has performed a series of dizzying U-turns on its green policies President Obama reputedly remarked of the forthcoming UN climate change summit: “I’m dragging the rest of the world behind me to Paris.” Later this month, 149 nations will congregate to agree national targets for reducing carbon emissions. But Britain, […]
Brazilian rescue teams struggle to reach villages in path of dam burst
Nineteen people are still missing as mining executives suggest that an earth could have triggered the disastrous collapse of two dams Rescue teams have struggled to reach villages devastated by a massive mudflow after two dams burst at a major iron ore mine in south-east Brazil. The twin bursts, which mining executives think could have […]
Carbon tax more affordable than GST hike to raise same revenue, say Greens
Adam Bandt and Richard Di Natale say a carbon tax delivers as much to the budget as increasing or broadening the GST, while costing households less Related: Raising GST to 15% ‘will cost poorest families 7% of disposable income’ The Australian Greens say a carbon tax would raise as much revenue as increasing the GST […]
Protest threatened over memorial 20 years after Ken Saro-Wiwa execution
Twenty years after ‘judicial murder’, Nigeria’s Ogoni people highlight international storm over oil spillage pollution Leaders of Nigeria’s Ogoni people have threatened to disrupt the country’s oil industry if the government does not release a British artwork commemorating the 20th anniversary of the execution of the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa. The memorial, in the form of […]
You’re failing on green energy, Tory ex-minister warns Cameron
John Gummer, PM’s climate change adviser, fears impact of subsidy cuts to solar and wind power David Cameron’s chief climate change adviser has warned that the government is “clearly failing” in key policy areas and needs to regain the confidence of investors in green technology, in the runup to next month’s crucial global summit in […]
Canadians 'disappointed' by Keystone XL pipeline decision but not surprised
Prime minister looks forward but some have accused the US of ‘hypocrisy’, as shale oil production sent US production soaring by four million barrels per day The Obama administration’s decision to kill the Keystone XL pipeline met with disappointment and derision – though little surprise – in Calgary, the boomtown-turned-bust capital of Canada’s oil industry. […]
Keystone XL pipeline rejection signals US taking lead on climate change fight
Obama said approving project would undercut global leadership as climate change is a diplomatic imperative that overrides traditionally domestic interests The symbolism was everything. Standing before a portrait of Teddy Roosevelt, the conservationist president who 104 years ago busted the Standard Oil monopoly, Barack Obama made his own tilt at an environmental legacy. Related: Obama […]
The hidden lives of car parts revealed – interactive
In a circular economy, everything is designed so that nothing is sent to landfill. Use this interactive to learn what this means for the design of different car parts The journey towards more sustainable rubber leads to Russian dandelions Continue reading… Source: Guardian Environment
Waltham Forest ‘mini-Holland’ row: politics, protests and house prices
Boris Johnson’s east London suburban cycling scheme is meeting strong opposition, though estate agents seem very keen on it It was a lively scene outside Walthamstow Town Hall: hundreds of people, young and old, female and male of many faiths and ethnicities united in advance of a full council meeting against what they see as […]