£1m fund for circular economy related manufacturing in Scotland
£1 million of funding is currently available from Zero Waste Scotland for manufacturing businesses aiming to harness and innovate towards realising the significant economic and environmental benefits associated with a circular economy. Manufacturing is a key target sector for Zero Waste Scotland’s Circular Economy Investment Fund, which aims to work with small and medium-sized enterprises […]
When magpies attack: the swooping, dive-bombing menace – and how to avoid them
In an excerpt from his book on Australian birdlife, Geoffrey Maslen finds there’s method in magpies’ madness Hostilities have broken out up and down the east coast of Australia. The enemy strikes from above, and always attacks from behind. Casualties have been reported and the dive bombings that began with the onset of spring have […]
Boaty McBoatface submarine records successful maiden voyage
Robotic submersible probes depths of up to 4,000m near Antarctic Peninsula to obtain unprecedented data on how mixing ocean waters affect climate change A yellow submarine dubbed Boaty McBoatface has obtained “unprecedented data” from its first voyage exploring one of the deepest and coldest ocean regions on Earth, scientists have said. The robotic submersible was […]
EPA seeks to scrap rule protecting drinking water for third of Americans
Environmental Protection Agency and army propose ending clean water rule to hold ‘substantive re-evaluation’ of which bodies of water should be protected The Environmental Protection Agency is poised to dismantle the federal clean water rule, which protects waterways that provide drinking water for about a third of the US population. The EPA, with the US […]
Ozone hole recovery threatened by rise of paint stripper chemical
The restoration of the ozone hole, which blocks harmful radiation, will be delayed by decades if fast-rising emissions of dichloromethane are not curbed The restoration of the globe’s protective shield of ozone will be delayed by decades if fast-rising emissions of a chemical used in paint stripper are not curbed, new research has revealed. Atmospheric […]
World's first floating windfarm to take shape off coast of Scotland
Turbines for £200m Hywind project will be towed from Norway across North Sea and moored to seabed off north-east Scotland The world’s first floating windfarm has taken to the seas in a sign that a technology once confined to research and development drawing boards is finally ready to unlock expanses of ocean for generating renewable […]
Red-faced encounter: rare new species of parrot discovered in Mexico
Ornithologists stress importance of conserving the blue-winged Amazon parrot, with no more than 100 of the birds thought to be in existence Miguel Gómez Garza was on his final expedition to the Yucatán Peninsula to gather information for his book Parrots of Mexico when it happened. He heard a group of parrots in the distance, […]
Plastic debris inundates remote UK coasts endangering wildlife
A Greenpeace research expedition into plastic waste finds devastating pollution on Scottish beaches and seabird colonies Plastic bottles and packaging are overrunning some of the UK’s most beautiful beaches and remote coastline, endangering wildlife from basking sharks to puffins. A Greenpeace research ship has spent the past two months touring the Scottish coast and islands […]
Most Australians want renewables to be primary energy source, survey finds
Climate Institute survey points to overwhelming frustration with government’s inaction and lack of leadership on clean energy The vast majority of Australians want to see the country dramatically increase the use of renewable energy, a new survey has found, despite attempts by the federal government to characterise renewables as unreliable and expensive. The Climate Institute’s […]
Why it’s time to bring back the great British stork | Patrick Barkham
The last breeding pair of these magnificent birds nested in Edinburgh in 1416. Elsewhere, they are a shining example of how people and animals can peacefully coexist The most inspiring sight I witnessed during a recent trip to northern Greece was entering small villages and finding white storks in huge nests plonked on telegraph poles […]