The colours of Autumn: share your photographs
With autumn arriving in the northern hemisphere, we’d like you to share your seasonal signs and colours of fall wherever you are Your contributions so far Autumn foliage is at its most colourful in the UK, north America and parts of Europe in October, and we’d like to see the early autumn signs and colours […]
Circulate on Fridays: A New Plastics Economy and the Future of Work
Visit Circulate every Friday to read our weekly round up of interesting circular economy related videos, stories and articles. In this week’s piece we explore the economic opportunities for a new plastics economy, the future of work and more! Are humans economically redundant in an age of machines? It’s a question asked by Erik Brynjolfsson […]
X -Prize Will Go To Machine That Turns Carbon Into Cash

The latest X-Prize, announced this week, offers $20 million to the team that can turn carbon into a sellable, useful and profitable commodity. Credit: X-Prize media gallery The X-Prize in an international competition that accelerates breakthrough innovation relating to the grand challenges of our time. The challenges attract the world’s best thinkers, designers, engineers, scientists and business […]
There is deep unease about sharks in northern New South Wales. Here are some facts to keep in mind
Are shark numbers off the northern coast of New South Wales really increasing, as frequently reported? Even if they are, is killing them any sort of an answer? Humans have dastardly short memories, writes shark author James Woodford There is a simple populist action that would quickly see a reduction in the numbers of sharks, […]
Obama administration tightens rules on smog pollution
EPA cuts standard for US smog levels to 70 parts per billion Campaigners on both sides of debate frustrated by new figure New national rules to reduce smog pollution in the US were announced on Thursday, in a long-awaited environmental move by the Obama administration. The Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Gina McCarthy, announced that the […]
The winter challenge
Three brimstones were the first butterflies I saw this year in March when I was gardening with my dad. And we were gardening again in this lovely high-pressure weather when a female brimstone flew into view. In bright sunshine, it swooped into a thicket of ivy and vanished. Butterflies don’t usually avoid sunshine, so I […]
Greg Hunt's 'gift' will bring Coalition closer to 2020 emissions reduction goal
Thanks to a deal done with landfill operators, the environment minister is set to receive a ‘free’ gift of at least 16m tonnes of greenhouse emissions cuts The environment minister, Greg Hunt, is set to receive a free “gift” of at least 16m tonnes of greenhouse emission cuts, bringing him closer to Australia’s 2020 emissions […]
Food industry executives call on Congress for climate change action
Despite Trump’s position, a new survey has found that most Republicans believe mankind plays some role in climate change. Food industry executives say it’s past time their congressmen listened If the US Congress is to take meaningful action to curb climate change, the support of corporate America and Republicans will be required. This is why […]
The Guardian view on diesel pollution: tougher regulation to clean up the car industry | Editorial
The VW scandal was not a surprise but it must lead to effective action – even though the cost will be high Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, marking the end of the worst urban pollution that, at the peak of the 1952 London smog, killed nearly 1,000 people a […]
California surpasses mandate to save water for a third consecutive month
In the midst of wildfires and a drought, Californians used nearly 27% less water in August than the same month in 2013, passing a goal set by the governor State officials say Californians have surpassed a mandate to save water for a third consecutive month, using nearly 27% less in August than the same month […]