‘Screeching U-turn’ on freeports may bring new investment and jobs
Scottish ministers have announced plans to establish Scotland's first green freeports in a "screeching U-turn" that could attract major new investment and jobs.
environment
US return to climate deal welcomed ‘but there is a very long way to go’
World leaders have welcomed new US President Joe Biden’s swift move to rejoin the Paris climate accord as one of his first acts in office.
Four in five drivers say electric cars are too expensive – survey
Nearly four out of five drivers (78%) think pure electric cars are too expensive, according to a new survey.
Tough policies required to meet climate change targets, Scottish Government told
Scotland’s targets for cutting emissions are “fantastic” but the Government’s current policies mean the country is likely to fall short in achieving them, the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned.
Biden’s return to Paris climate accord raises hopes of boost to global action
Joe Biden’s presidency is set to begin with the US rejoining the world’s climate accord, raising hopes of renewed momentum on tackling global warming.
Biden presidency is ‘good news’ for climate, Cop26 talks president says
A Biden presidency is “good news” for tackling climate change, Alok Sharma, who is heading up crucial international talks in Glasgow, has said.
Pandemic has slowed down new green energy schemes, MSPs hear
The pandemic has slowed down the approval process for renewable energy schemes, with paperwork left “sitting on desks for weeks and weeks” due to a lack of staff, MSPs have heard.
Rare black-coloured pups spotted among England’s largest grey seal colony
Wardens have spotted 10 rare black-coloured seal pups among England’s largest grey seal colony on the north Norfolk coast.
Scientists examine whether microbes can help clean up contaminated land
Plant and food waste combined with microbes may be able to clean up contaminated soil, new research has shown.
2020 among top three hottest years on record, scientists say
Last year rivalled 2016 for the warmest on record, as global temperatures were measured to be nearly 1.3C hotter than pre-industrial times, scientists have said.
Woodland bird populations bounce back after Beast from the East
Scotland’s woodland birds have recovered from a more than 10% drop linked to the Beast from the East storm.
Help UK seas recover to deliver £50bn in benefits, report urges
Restoring the UK’s seas from their damaged state could give a £50 billion boost to the economy, create thousands of new jobs and help the climate crisis, a report says.
US fund managers at bottom of the pile as investors score low on climate goals
US fund managers are still lagging behind their European peers in putting pressure on companies and ensuring their investments align with climate change targets, a new report has claimed.
Forests almost twice the size of UK destroyed in global hotspots – WWF report
Forests covering an area nearly twice the size of the UK were destroyed across global hotspots in just 13 years, a report from wildlife charity WWF has found.
Sir David Attenborough receives Covid-19 jab
Sir David Attenborough has received the Covid-19 jab months after speaking of the “immense suffering” caused by the pandemic.
Nature can provide ‘soul food’ for people in lockdown – RSPB
Nature can provide “soul food” for people in lockdown, even in winter, the head of the RSPB has said.
Charities condemn clean air plan as ‘missed opportunity’ to reduce pollution
A clean air strategy from the Scottish Government is a “huge missed opportunity” and more should be done to tackle vehicle pollution, according to health and environmental charities.
Charles makes ‘urgent appeal to leaders’ to back Earth Charter
The Prince of Wales has urged business leaders to support his ambitious Earth Charter and “bring prosperity into harmony with nature, people and planet” over the next decade.
Investing in ‘natural capital’ can drive the economy – Charles
The Prince of Wales has said investment in “natural capital” should be the “engine of our economy” ahead of the launch of his ambitious Earth Charter.
Beaver population in Argyll forest successfully boosted
Work to reinforce the beaver population in Argyll has successfully boosted their numbers in the area.
Charles calls on private sector to sign up to his charter to protect the planet
The Prince of Wales is to launch an ambitious Magna Carta-style charter to encourage the private sector to safeguard the planet by adopting sustainability and invest 10 billion dollars (£7.3 billion) in “natural capital”.
£3.2m climate change fund shared by 250 community groups
More than 250 community groups have been given a share of a £3.2 million fund from the Scottish Government designed to tackle climate change.
Drone measuring noise from shipping which poses danger to marine life
Drones are being used to measure underwater noise from shipping which the United Nations has said poses a danger to marine life.
Call to ban damaging fishing in protected sea areas to help climate fight
Damaging fishing is taking place in almost all the UK’s offshore protected areas that were created to conserve seabed habitats, a report warns.
Ban on single use plastics ‘imperative’, environmental campaigners claim
Environmental campaigners say it is now “imperative” that the Scottish Government acts quickly to ban single use plastic items.
Flood protection scheme development making ‘glacial progress’, Lib Dems warn
Communities are at risk of flooding because of the “glacial progress” with flood protection schemes, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have warned.
Greta Thunberg thanks birthday well-wishers and says she is headed to the pub
Environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg has thanked well-wishers for their messages on her 18th birthday and joked she would be spending it in the pub exposing the “dark secrets” behind climate change conspiracy.
Greta Thunberg at 18: I’m not telling anyone what to do
Environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg says she has stopped buying new clothes and holds no grudges against people who fly or decide to have children.
Earth remained habitable for billions of years ‘because of good luck’
Planet Earth has remained habitable for billions of years simply because of good luck, according to a new study.
Home working sparks tech sales boom and fuels UK e-waste concerns – research
Lockdown restrictions and a spike in home office equipment sales have sparked concerns over the amount of e-waste the UK is producing, according to new research.