Government is letting VW off the hook over emissions scandal, say MPs
Although 1.2m UK diesel cars were affected by Volkswagen’s defeat devices, ‘little action’ has been taken by regulators, report finds A lack of determination by the government to hold Volkswagen to account may allow the car manufacturer get away with cheating emissions tests in Europe, MPs have warned. In a scathing report, the transport select […]
Biodiversity is below safe levels across more than half of world's land – study
Habitat destruction has reduced the variety of plants and animals to the point that ecological systems could become unable to function properly, with risks for agriculture and human health, say scientists The variety of animals and plants has fallen to dangerous levels across more than half of the world’s landmass due to humanity destroying habitats […]
Andrea Leadsom's pledge to repeal foxhunting ban causes alarm
New environment secretary has also previously admitted being confused about whether climate change is a reality Andrea Leadsom, the new environment secretary, supports foxhunting and once said she wanted to end farming subsidies. The pro-Brexit cabinet minister, who was Theresa May’s leadership rival before pulling out on Monday, was a surprise appointment to the Department […]
BP faces further $2.5bn charge over Deepwater Horizon spill
Oil company has paid more than $60bn in fines over environmental disaster that still threatens wildlife and ecology around Gulf of Mexico BP is to take a further $2.5bn (£1.87bn) hit as a result of the Deepwater Horizon accident, bringing the total cost of the environmental disaster to almost $62bn. The latest after-tax non-operating charge […]
A climate report that we ignore at our peril | Letters
Though it does not actually say so, the report of the Committee on Climate Change (Report, 12 July) is a salutary reminder that a capitalist economy based on infinite economic growth, as expressed in terms of consumption-led GDP, is unsustainable and, if allowed to continue in its present form, will ultimately devastate the entire planet. […]
Scientists call for better plastics design to protect marine life
Improved materials would encourage recycling and prevent single-use containers from entering the oceans and breaking into small pieces Plastics should be better designed to encourage recycling and prevent wasteful single-use containers finding their way into our oceans, where they break up into small pieces and are swallowed by marine animals, scientists said on Thursday. This […]
The Keartons: inventing nature photography – in pictures
Richard and Cherry Kearton, working in the 1890s, were possibly the world’s first professional wildlife photographers. The brothers’ pioneering photos include the first shot of a bird’s nest with eggs and the first Masai lion hunt. These images are taken from a new book published by Uniformbooks about their lives and work Continue reading… Source: […]
Do microbes hold the key for the chemicals of the future?
In the current linear economy, most products and services require continuous and increasing extraction of raw materials to maintain economic and business growth. Employing circular economy principles, where technical and biological materials are cycled at their highest value and utility at all times for as long as possible, can help to negate and reduce the […]
Hinkley Point: new UK chancellor determined to start building
Philip Hammond says nuclear power project must go ahead but admits elements of uncertainty over spiralling cost and ministerial reshuffle The new chancellor of the exchequer has expressed his determination to see construction begin on the controversial Hinkley Point C nuclear plant, amid mounting concerns over the cost of the project. “We have to make […]
Brexit will force EU countries 'to make deeper, costlier carbon cuts'
Bloc will have to draw up new plan with higher cuts for remaining 27 states in order to meet its carbon reduction target, which could cost billions of euros Brexit will force the European Union’s remaining 27 countries to spend billions of euros on cutting carbon emissions more deeply to compensate for the UK leaving, […]