Environment

For Pimlott, this drought has manifested itself in 21st-century fires unlike any he had previously witnessed. In 2018, a fire tornado destroyed part of one northern California town, and almost the entire community of Paradise, California, was wiped out by a blaze that claimed 85 victims. … [Read more...] about US south-west in grip of historic ‘megadrought’, research finds

The government could have made the deal conditional on ditching domestic flights, and used it as an opportunity to introduce new taxes on kerosene and frequent flying, as demanded by over 300 scientists and 90,000 members of the public in a petition to the German government from the Stay Grounded network. The network also called for major restructuring of transport networks toward affordable, cleaner alternatives to flying. … [Read more...] about Opinion: Lufthansa bailout shows Germany has learned nothing from the pandemic

"Now I don't know what Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, will say later in terms of self-employed and the furlough scheme for them, but I think there is a general overarching message here that we've had a very generous furlough scheme in place to help people through these extraordinary times and to ensure that businesses' overheads could be covered." … [Read more...] about Brits can’t stay on furlough ‘indefinitely’ and the nation must get back to work, Environment Sec warns

There's something undeniably wholesome about the Steiner approach. In an age when toddlers are adept at using iPhones, the idea of children building shelters in the woods is profoundly attractive to parents. Access to television is restricted – under the homeschool agreement with parents, children are not meant to watch TV before the age of eight. There is no uniform; the children wear hoodies, sturdy trousers and plimsolls, and the canteen serves mainly vegetarian food. A homely vegetable curry spiced with mustard seeds is dish of the day when I visit. … [Read more...] about A different class: the expansion of Steiner schools

Mark Breddy, Greenpeace’s EU spokesman, said: “There is a real risk that the EU’s coronavirus recovery plan will be a lifeline for fossil fuels and other polluting sectors. We’re already seeing governments pump billions into airlines and carmakers with no real green strings attached. To get back on track ahead of next year’s climate summit, the EU needs to adopt a target to cut emissions by 65% by 2030, in line with the Paris agreement.” … [Read more...] about EU’s greenhouse gas emissions continue to fall as coal ditched