Leaving the EU provides a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for England to change the way its land is managed so that nature, the environment, and society are better off according to a new report by the UK charity People Need Nature which is published to coincide with this week's Oxford Real Farming Conference. KATHRYN HINDESS reports
Brexit offers a "rare opportunity" to change UK farming practices says the charity People Need Nature Kathryn Hindess | 3rd January 2017 News Food Farming Nature Brexit cows grass 1015.jpg Leaving …
As the new year begins, the global clean energy transition is progressing much faster than most people realise, and is probably irreversible, writes Jeremy Leggett. President-elect Trump's prospects of revitalising the US coal industry, and giving the oil and gas industry the expansionist dream ticket it wants, are very low.
… of clean-energy investments it and other major corporates are making. That would be … on the industry's record of delivering major projects on time) in 2021. Good luck to …
A legacy of lies and covered-up accidents has left nuclear energy with a serious credibility gap, writes Paul Brown. But poor safety is only the beginning of the industry's problems. With 'new improved' reactor designs all running late and way over budget, any nuclear revival can only be sustained at massive, unaffordable taxpayer cost.
… cost. There have been three well-documented major nuclear accidents in the last 60 years, … to pay for it. But it is the three major disasters that are at the root of this …
Will the UK keep Theresa May's promise to 'leave the environment in a better state than it found it' in the Brexit negotitions? Or is the government bent on the 'bonfire of red tape', including environmental protections, demanded by right-wing former and serving ministers? Viviane Gravey sets out four 'green lines' by which to judge the Brexiteers' true colours.
… Article 50. That's the conclusion of a major new report by the Environment Audit … Think, for example, of Michael Gove and John Whittingdale inviting companies to draw a … In or out of the customs union? - will have major impacts on the environment. Notably, if …
Chinese citizens are responsible for much of the wildlife crime taking place in Namibia, inflicting immense damage to the country's environment, and undermining community based conservation, writes the Namibian Chamber of Environment in this Open Letter to China's Ambassador Xin Shunkang. China must act to stop its citizens' criminal activities, and invest in making good the damage caused.
China must take responsibility for its citizens' wildlife crimes in Africa Namibian Chamber of Environment | 6th January 2017 Activism Namibia China Africa Wildlife Trade Bushmeat white-rhino-cut.jpg …
Nominations have opened for the new Lush Spring Prize. Launched jointly with the Ethical Consumer Research Association this is a new and very welcome £200,000 annual prize fund that aims to support those projects around the world that work towards environmental and social regeneration.
… for the new Lush Spring Prize. Launched jointly with the Ethical Consumer Research …
China's domestic ivory trade ban, which comes into force this year, is a major cause for optimism, writes Aron White. There are still loopholes, such as a partial exemption for 'cultural relics', that need clarifying and closing. Yet the new law sends a strong and timely signal that the global ivory market is progressively shutting up shop.
… ban, which comes into force this year, is a major cause for optimism, writes Aron White. … slaughter of elephants, and represents a major win for elephant conservation. The Chinese … ivory and the final destination for the majority of ivory from poached elephants. The …
Days into the 2017 pollution limits on the Brixton Road in Lambeth, South London, has already breached EU pollution limits for NO2 for the entire year. Meanwhile UK sales of diesel cars - one of the main causes of NO2 pollution - reached record levels in 2016, reflecting the government's failure to tackle the problem in spite of numerous court orders.
… already been breached. "Air pollution is a major health threat, particularly to children … found that people who live closest to major traffic arteries were 12% more likely to … editor at The Ecologist. Air pollution is a major health threat, particularly to children …
Cutting-edge molecular profiling analyses reveal that the popular weedkiller Roundup causes serious liver damage to rats at low doses permitted by regulators, reports Claire Robinson. The findings suggest that residues of glyphosate-based herbicides in food could be linked to rises in the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, diabetes and 'metabolic syndrome'.
… new peer-reviewed study published by a Nature journal shows. The study is the first ever to … since NAFLD is predicted to be the next major global epidemic. Approximately 20-30% of …
Indonesia's plans to meet its Paris Agreement obligations by protecting its swamp forests, the world's biggest land reservoir of carbon, have been acclaimed by the world's press, writes Yuyun Indradi. But they contain so many loopholes and flawed compromises that - unless radically reformed - they are doomed to certain failure.
… made a decision which was hailed as a major step forward in the fight against climate change. President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's administration issued a …
What with rising rainfall in the west, and hotter, drier summers in the east, British farmers place plenty of challenges from global warming, writes Anna Bowen. But there are also positive opportunities for agricultural innovators to adapt their farming systems to changing conditions, make their operations more resilient and sustainable, and make themselves part of the solution.
… in adaption. Farmers feed us all. My job will be to help them continue to do so. … the 2013 winner of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists / John Deere Training Award. Her blog can be …
A bill to quadruple the UK's aid funding to a profit-driven 'private equity' company owned by the government comes before MPs today for its third reading, writes Global Justice Now. Trouble is the investments do little or nothing for the poor, and instead entrench corporate power in health, education and infrastructure. Parliament should seize this last chance to reject the new law.
… in private equity funds remain a major part of CDC's operations, amounting to … on the basis of vague calculations of job creation. We believe that no additional … business projects, it is supposed to create jobs, and encourage other investors into …
Back in the 1990s Scotts Miracle-Gro worked out a cunning plan, writes Jeff Manning: to make a fortune from a GMO grass seed for golf courses that survived the Roundup herbicide. But after investing $100 million in the project, it has never sold a single seed. And now the GMO is spreading from test plantings in Idaho, and threatening Oregon's $1 billion hay and grass seed industry.
… handling of the case. "I think we did a great job getting the commitments we did from the … it." Jeff Manning is an investigative journalist at The Oregonian / Oregon Live, …
With the UK capital struggling to get commuters to work on time following strike action by tube and train drivers this week, JAN GOODEY reports on a project that will bring the first solar-powered electric buses to the public in the Spring
… and Hove Bus and Coach company runs the majority of these), 10% from cars, 7% from taxis … one of them already underway. To finish the job they need another £225,000 which they are …
Last week's decision by the Romanian government to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for Rosia Montana, a historic Carpathian mountain village under threat of gold mining, is a massive victory for campaigners after a hard 15-year struggle, writes Alexandru Predoiu - one that has united farmers, city-dwellers and new-age protestors against cultural and ecological destruction.
… for people in Bucharest, Cluj and other major cities throughout the country to take to … 45% of all the votes and forming a calm majority in Parliament with their coalition of …
EU-Canada trade deal CETA, like its more well-known ‘evil twin' deal, TTIP, is a new form of trade deal which targets the removal of social, health and environmental regulations, locks in privatisation of public services and introduces a ‘corporate court' system so big business across North America can sue European governments in a private justice system. Worse still, CETA will worsen runaway climate change warns MARK DEARN
Ecologist Special Report: Impending vote on the Canada trade deal which forced tar sands on Europe Mark Dearn | 11th January 2017 News CETA Climate Change Paris Agreement Tar Sands Oil Greenhouse …
As Kraków, Poland's second city, takes steps to protect its citizens from rising electromagnetic 'smog' from mobile phones, wifi, Bluetooth, smart meters and other devices, Lynne Wycherley summarises 2016's news highlights on the emerging bio-risks of rising exposure to non-ionisiong radiation. For how much longer can governments continue to ignore the growing evidence of harm?
… by documentary-maker Marc Khanne (2013) 5G Dr Joel Moskowitz, community-health studies … that connects to the user's smartphone. Dr Joel Moskowitz: "We are playing with fire ... …
The OECD is pursuing a complaint that WWF has funded abuses against the indigenous forest-dwelling Baka or 'Pygmy' peoples of Cameroon, after determining that its human rights guidelines do apply to WWF owing to the 'commercial nature' of its conservation activities.
… to beat us right there on the road to Elandjoh. They said that we were hunting elephants …
The green movement's squeamish social liberalism has left it to the political right to exploit public concerns about population and immigration, writes Colin Hines. We must make the progressive case for controlling our borders, and restricting not just migration but the free movement of goods, services and capital where it threatens environment, wellbeing and social cohesion.
… governments attempted to protect domestic jobs while still wanting to compete and export … can return a sense of optimism to the majority through championing policies geared to achieving more job security, a decrease in inequality and …
In 2020 the fate of Devon's River Otter wild beavers will be decided. With Chris Packham backing the campaign to save the species and the protection of beavers into Scotland recently getting the go-ahead, the outlook is bright for the species.LAURA BRIGGS reports
… from our work in Devon in the academic journal Science of the Total Environment on … a native species came on November 24, 2016. Jonathan Hughes, Chief Executive of the … Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: "This is a major milestone for Scotland's wildlife and the …
In the first of his new Ecologist columns on the ups and downs of trying to live a Greener, low-impact lifestyle, writer PAUL MILES debates the eco pros and cons of getting his first dog
… life as a kind of penance, rather it is a joy. There are 2,000 miles of waterways on … Kassie on board, life feels complete. Their joy is infectious. Rain or shine we walk the … They are the perfect dogs. In the evenings, I join them on the floor to curl up in front of …
Alexey V Yablokov (1933-2017) was a scientific giant of the post-Chernobyl age, writes Chris Busby. It was he who brought together the work of dissident Soviet scientists and revealed to the world, in English language, the true health impacts of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe. His hard work and dedication underlies the continuing opposition to the nuclear industry today.
… now ... they have all gone. Karl Z Morgan, John Gofman, Ed Radford, Ernest Sternglass, … them? Nowhere. It is all brush and spin and jobs now. So: Goodbye Alexey Vladimirovitch. A … Conference of the ECRR. Ed Chris Busby, Joseph Busby, Cecilia Busby Ditta Rietuma. …
The loss of birds could significantly impact efforts to combat deforestation, according to research from scientists looking at species across the Brazilian Amazon. LAURA BRIGGS reports
… reports Study results, published in the Journal Philosophical Transactions of the … as land-use change intensifies. Dr Joseph Tobias, of Imperial College London, …
Ecological Economist FEDERICO DEMARIA was the youngest panellist at a recent House of Commons debate on ‘Degrowth' as a movement gaining traction and now entering the corridors of power. Here's his report on the challenges and tasks ahead
… of Commons and I recently had the chance to join one of these, entitled The end of growth? … prosperity in Spain shows that although a majority still views growth and environmental … or Secular Stagnation. The Wall Street Journal recently argued that: "In Europe, as …