Coral reefs are not just pretty – they are vital to life | Erik van Sebille
Millions depend on the ‘rainforests of the seas’ and we abuse them at our peril We need our oceans, and our oceans need corals. But it’s not going well for them. Last week, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in the US announced that extremely hot oceans have triggered a global bleaching event spanning the […]
World will pass crucial 2C global warming limit, experts warn
Carbon pledges from 147 nations to Paris climate summit ‘are not enough to stop temperature rise’, experts conclude Pledges by nations to cut carbon emissions will fall far short of those needed to prevent global temperatures rising by more than the crucial 2C by the end of the century. This is the stark conclusion of […]
Oklahoma earthquake likely caused by wastewater injection, seismologist says
Magnitude-4.4 temblor Saturday was among nearly 700 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or greater in state this year, compared to 20 throughout 2009 A moderate, magnitude-4.4 earthquake has shaken northern Oklahoma. It was one of the stronger temblors the earthquake-prone state has had this year. Continue reading… Source: Guardian Environment
'Poisoned' air killing residents near Heathrow, says John McDonnell
Shadow chancellor tells rally to oppose third runway at UK’s largest airport that aviation industry has ‘consistently lied to us’ People are dying from air “poisoned” by the aviation industry, which has “consistently lied” about expanding Heathrow airport, the shadow chancellor has said. John McDonnell addressed hundreds of people gathered in London’s Parliament Square for […]
Texas pipeline plans rouse protest and pride from residents of lush Big Bend
Wooden stakes marking the natural gas line’s path to Mexico symbolize a disruption of idyllic beauty the region is cherished for, as wary locals prepare to fight against environmental damage and new economic realities Thorny mesquite branches scratched the sides of James Spriggs’ battered old Chevrolet truck as he drove the rutted pathway from his […]
Food, tech and divestment: the students fighting for a sustainable future
Young people are instrumental in bringing about environmental change – we spoke to some of the student campaigners tackling the issue The planet is telling us something. Currently, much of Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia is covered by a blanket of acrid smog thanks to the illegal burning of forests and agricultural land for palm oil […]
Shell and Exxon's €5bn problem: gas drilling that sets off earthquakes and wrecks homes
Groningen has been one of Europe’s richest gas fields for 30 years, and thousands of people say their homes have been damaged by the tremors that drilling sets off. Now a class action may finally bring them compensation – and force a rethink of European energy security Five years ago, Annemarie Heite and her husband, […]
Failure of Puma's biodegradable range doesn't mean eco-fashion is dead
Sports giant Puma has pulled the plugs on R&D for its InCycle range but other companies say they are having more success with sustainable fashion After launching with a blaze of celebration, sports brand Puma’s new eco-friendly range of gear was meant to be the moment ethical fashion went mainstream. A shoe, jacket and backpack […]
World Bank pledges extra $29bn to poorer nations for climate change fight
Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group, said it could boost funding by a third in response to client demand The World Bank has pledged to boost by up to $29bn the financial assistance pledged to poorer nations to cope with climate change, bringing closer the possibility of reaching a target of $100bn […]
Briquettes are the hot new thing for your wood-burning stove, so cut out the logs
Hugely popular elsewhere in Europe, briquettes are beginning to take off in the UK – and they’re good for your fireplace or stove, your pocket and the environment They burn hotter and cleaner, are cheaper to buy, and much easier to store and handle – so why do so few people with open fires and […]