The US Congress hearing into the emissions-rigging scandal mixed frustration with incredulity at answers from Volkswagen’s US CEO Michael Horn

Despite Volkwagen’s congressional hearing lasting more than two hours and the carmaker’s US boss facing almost constant criticism, Congress was only fixated on a pair of questions – who is to blame for the diesel emissions scandal and how are you going to fix it?

Unfortunately for Michael Horn and VW, the energy and commerce committee in Congress was not satisfied with either answer.

Continue reading…
Source: Guardian Environment

Sex, drugs, money, sport, politics or hypocrisy? Sift through your songs to craft a collection of controversy, exposing the wrongs that pretend to be rights

It’s shocking! It’s upsetting, unacceptable, and immoral! Or is it? What makes a scandal scandalous? Scandal is always on the move. The more there is of it, the less there seems to be, each apparent scandal nullifying another from the past. And in the end the formal dictionary definition may evolve and dissolve into an outmoded anachronism, and what remains may be but a fashion accessory – a form of Nordic summer footwear – the Scandal.

But can scandal still exist today? In music or in our broader culture? Let’s try and answer that one, in song, or otherwise.

Continue reading…
Source: Guardian Environment

Michael Horn, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America is appearing before the House energy and commerce committee to discuss the company’s emissions-rigging scandal

5.56pm BST

We will be ending our live blog here.

Here is a quick summary of today’s hearing:

5.34pm BST

Here are Grundler’s prepared remarks.

As we reported yesterday:

The EPA is also being taken to task to determine why the agency failed to detect the use of such software earlier.

“VW manufactured and installed software in the electronic control module of these vehicles that sensed when the vehicle was being tested for compliance with EPA emissions standards,” Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA’s office of transportation and air quality, will testify on Thursday according to his prepared remarks. “Put simply, these cars contain software that turns off or significantly reduces the effectiveness of emissions controls when driving normally, and turns them on when the car is undergoing an emissions test.”

Continue reading…
Source: Guardian Environment

The key players include the parents of Stephen Lawrence, grieving families, women deceived by undercover police, trade unions and a whistleblower

At least 140 individuals will have a key role in the public inquiry into the undercover infiltration of political groups, and the total may rise.

The list of individuals gives an indication of the scope of the inquiry which is headed by a senior judge, Lord Justice Pitchford.

Continue reading…
Source: Guardian Environment

Kenya’s Samburu national park has been mapped by Google Street View, raising awareness of the reserve’s efforts to protect the elephant population

Google Street View has launched a map of Kenya’s Samburu national park, giving internet users the chance to get up close to the majestic elephants that live there. The project, created in partnership with Save the Elephants and with the support of the Samburu County government, aims to raise awareness about the struggle to protect the elephants, that remain at risk from poachers.

Continue reading…
Source: Guardian Environment

The third mass coral bleaching event in recorded history is underway, signalling a biodiversity disaster on an unprecedented scale

It may come as a surprise to learn that we are in the middle of the third great coral bleaching event in human history. And scientists are calling it the severest yet. The last great bleaching event was in 1998 when 11% of the world’s coral reef coverage was lost. Some areas like the Maldives lost as much as 90% of their reefs. This event is worse, possibly much worse. 38% of the planet’s reefs will be affected, with 12,000 sq km of reefs killed off entirely according to experts.

“If things go badly, this is going to be the biggest global biodiversity disaster since the last mass extinction,” says marine ecologist Gregor Hodgson founder of Reef Check, a non-profit organisation that maps reefs around the world and empowers local people to protect them. “Best case scenario, the damage will be extreme – there’s consensus that it will certainly be worse than ’98.”

Continue reading…
Source: Guardian Environment

Republican presidential contender and golf course owner says planned turbines would be ‘monstrous’ blight on Aberdeenshire coastline

Donald Trump, the US presidential contender who has electrified the republican right, has taken his campaign against windfarms to the UK’s supreme court.

Despite losing at every stage in the Scottish courts, the billionaire property developer is funding a fresh challenge to prevent offshore turbines being built within sight of his Menie golf resort in Aberdeenshire.

Continue reading…
Source: Guardian Environment

With Mark Group and Climate Energy going into administration this week, what does this mean for households in the process of solar installations?

Two solar panel-installing businesses have gone bust this week – where does this leave anyone who has had a system installed?

What’s happened?

Continue reading…
Source: Guardian Environment

Climate Energy solar panel installation firm collapses putting over 100 jobs at risk, a day after 1,000 jobs were lost with the closure of Mark Group

Climate Energy, a company specialising in installing solar panels and home insulation, has been forced into liquidation – the second such business in as many days to collapse blaming government policies.

Around 30 of the 128 staff have been immediately laid off by FTI Consulting, the professional services firm brought in to try to rescue Climate Energy and its subsidiaries which had revenues of £47m last year.

Continue reading…
Source: Guardian Environment