Are Our Stock Markets Still Fit for Purpose?
The stock markets have once again returned to centre stage with the recent tumbling shares in China. Those financial events have yet to fully play out, but they do once again raise questions about the roles and purposes of the instruments of the finance sector in the global economy. John Fullerton, president of the Capital […]
Queues begin outside Malcolm Turnbull's door to push policies
From business to health to the environment to domestic violence, the new prime minister faces long wishlists from industry and policy groups As Malcolm Turnbull prepared to be sworn in on Tuesday, industry and policy groups were busy outlining their list of policy priorities for the new prime minister. Related: Malcolm Turnbull promises new style […]
Elephants electrocuted by sagging power lines | Janaki Lenin
Many elephants get electrocuted by low-slung overhead electric cables before authorities take action On the night of 4 September, a large tusker was electrocuted by a sagging high tension electric cable in Kaziranga national park, Assam. Two large bull elephants emerged from flooded Kaziranga to reach high ground across the highway that borders the park, […]
With a nip and a bit of tuck Turnbull can bring a touch of green to Direct Action
The Coalition’s climate policy holds a hidden key which will allow its new leader to set tougher baselines that emitters are not allowed to exceed Malcolm Turnbull once said he didn’t want to lead a party that wasn’t as committed to climate action as he was. Now he does. Climate policy cost Turnbull the Liberal […]
National Grid to remove electricity pylons from protected landscapes
Pylons to be replaced with underground cables in £500m project to improve scenery in New Forest, Peak District, Snowdonia and Dorset Four protected landscapes are to be transformed by removing the electricity pylons and overhead lines that scar the view, under plans unveiled by National Grid. Funding of £500m will go to reducing the visual […]
Ed Davey to advise law firm on renewable energy projects
Former energy secretary to work for Herbert Smith, but not advise on their Hinkley Point or Swansea Bay work Ed Davey, the former energy secretary, is to start private work today for City lawyers connected with both Hinkley Point C nuclear plant and the Swansea Bay lagoon. Davey has been given clearance by the Cabinet […]
Whales to gain 'long-sought protections' as navy limits sonar use, activists say
Court orders settlement after Earthjustice, Greenpeace and other organizations take legal action amid concern over the impact of military training activities A federal court has ordered a settlement in two cases that challenged the United States navy’s training and testing activities off the coasts of Hawaii and Southern California. Environmental legal aid organization Earthjustice tells […]
The Arctic loses its grip
Any day now Arctic sea-ice is going to hit its lowest extent for the year, and once again it’s set to be one of the lowest years on record (the four lowest years have all occurred since 2007). Already a number of ships have glided safely through the fabled northwest passage, unencumbered by sea-ice. Typically […]
California drought: Sierra Nevada snowpack falls to 500-year low
Last winter’s snow accumulation in the mountains that provide state’s most important natural water system was just 5% of what is normal, study finds The Sierra Nevada snowpack that is a critical water source for California fell to a 500-year low last winter – far worse than scientists had estimated and underlining the severity of […]
Two untamed wildfires displace 23,000 people in northern California
Valley fire incinerates 95 square miles in just two days, while 10,000 people flee a second blaze, the Butte fire about 200 miles away in the Sierra Nevada Related: By the numbers: a look at the California wildfires so far Two explosive wildfires have displaced 23,000 people in northern California and threaten to wreak more […]