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Rescuers find seventh Utah flash flood victim and release names of those killed

The hikers – six from California and one from Nevada – died when fast-moving floodwaters rushed through a narrow park canyon on Monday afternoon

Hours after rescuers traversed a 100ft drop into a rugged Utah area to find the seventh victim of a flash flood, Zion National Park officials released the names of all those killed.

The hikers – six from California and one from Nevada – died when fast-moving floodwaters rushed through a narrow park canyon on Monday afternoon.

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Source: Guardian Environment

Pro-nuclear environmentalists in call to scrap Hinkley C plans

Three leading experts urge government to end nuclear project saying delays will create panicked scramble back to fossil fuels

Three leading environmentalists who broke ranks to give their support to a new generation of nuclear plants have now urged the government to scrap plans for Hinkley Point C.

The call comes as George Osborne and Amber Rudd, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, head off to China, where they will discuss Beijing’s proposed investment in the new nuclear plant in Somerset.

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Source: Guardian Environment

River flows after 20 year drought: Indian village celebrates – video

The Kalavapalli river in the Anantapur district of India flows for the fist time in 20 years of severe drought. The video, originally posted to Facebook on 8 September, shows people gathering on the dry river bed and shouting and celebrating as they see the water coming. The slow flow gathers momentum and the bed floods
Watch the full video on YouTube

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Source: Guardian Environment

Australian homes among first to get Tesla's Powerwall solar-energy battery

Company says 7kWH energy storage unit, which uses lithium-ion battery to store energy from rooftop solar panels, will be available by end of year

Australia will be one of the first countries in the world to get Tesla’s vaunted Powerwall battery storage system, as several other companies scramble to sign up Australia’s growing number of households with solar rooftops.

US firm Tesla said that its 7kWH home energy storage units would be available by the end of the year in Australia, ahead of previous predictions it would arrive in 2016.

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Source: Guardian Environment

Asthmatic sea otter learns to use inhaler – video

One-year-old Mishka has asthma and is the first sea otter to be diagnosed with the disease. Cats and horses are two other animals that more commonly get asthma. A King 5 TV news report explains that Mishka began having trouble breathing when smoke from wildfires moved into the Puget Sound area last month and has since been taught by Seattle aquarium’s Sara Perry to push her nose on the inhaler and take a breath

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Source: Guardian Environment

Malcolm Turnbull's Faustian pact on climate change is heartbreaking | Mark Butler

Many Australians hoped the new PM would drag the Coalition back to the sensible centre on climate change – but he has swallowed Abbott’s Direct Action hook, line and sinker

Over recent days and bit by bit, Australians have been coming to understand the price that Malcolm Turnbull was willing to pay to achieve his long-held personal ambition of becoming prime minister. Australians are beginning to understand the extent to which he was willing to discard so many long-held beliefs to satisfy that ambition.

Nowhere has that price been higher than in relation to climate change and environmental protection policy. This was, after all, the signature difference between the former prime minister and the new prime minister.

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Source: Guardian Environment

This Changes Everything review – Naomi Klein's documentary on climate change doesn't

Avi Lewis’s fine-looking film purports to break from environmental documentary convention. Instead, it delivers another characterless prophecy that’s unlikely to inspire

Avi Lewis’s film about climate change, based on Naomi Klein’s book of the same name, opens with a confession from the author: “I’ve always kind of hated films about climate change”. She lists their faults: they’re boring, they’re presumptive, they always, always include shots of polar bears.

Related: Where to Invade Next review – Michael Moore gets happy with a sugar-binge idea-stealing session

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Source: Guardian Environment

Is new Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull already a climate change turncoat?

Malcolm Turnbull once endorsed common sense positions on climate change. Then he became prime minister

During the first few days of being prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull seems to be doing his best to argue about climate change with a former version of himself.

I know I might have already given the game away here, but who do you think said this only five years ago?

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Source: Guardian Environment

The Leap Manifesto isn't radical. It's a way out of Canada's head-in-the-sand politics | Martin Lukacs

A powerful movement in Canada, animated by a compelling and positive vision for the climate and economy, can force the hand of whichever government comes to power

Every political class considers themselves inclusive, diverse, open-minded. But present ideas that stray outside the boundaries of sanctioned debate, imposed by power and a patrolling press, and watch how quickly they stoop to bullying.

Consider the response to the Leap Manifesto, a declaration released this week by an unprecedented coalition of Canadian authors, artists, national leaders and activists in the midst of a federal election. It lays out a vision – bolder than anything on offer from political parties – to transition the country off fossil fuels while simultaneously improving the lives of most Canadians. Climate change is presented not just as an existential crisis but an opportunity – indeed, imperative – to make the political and economic system more just and fair.

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Source: Guardian Environment

Leaving tackling air pollution to local authorities is an inadequate response | Letters

The government’s proposal to leave tackling air pollution to local authorities alone is another sign that the Tories are intent on trashing the green agenda (Government passing the buck on air pollution, say campaigners, theguardian.com, 13 September). Air pollution is not only a local issue, it is a national health crisis causing 50,000 early deaths each year. Many of the most harmful pollutants have no respect for national or local borders. They are blown around our country and continent, with low-lying and coastal areas particularly at risk. We need a comprehensive approach to tackling this deadly problem which combines local measures with concerted efforts at the national and European level.

Crucially, local authorities must have access to adequate funding from both the UK government and EU for measures to improve air quality such as low-emission zones, improved cycling infrastructure and cleaner buses and taxis. At a time when local councils are seeing their funding cut to the bone, additional support is needed to make the transition to cleaner towns and cities which will save billions of pounds in health costs in the long-term. The UK government must also ensure EU limits to curb pollution are tightened and properly enforced. The longer we wait to tackle this invisible killer, the more lives will be tragically cut short.
Catherine Bearder Liberal Democrat MEP, Tom Brake Liberal Democrat MP and foreign affairs spokesperson, Kate Parminter Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson, Stephen Knight Liberal Democrat London assembly environment spokesperson, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson Liberal Democrat group leader, Local Government Association

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Source: Guardian Environment