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Reduction of 5% would represent biggest drop in demand for fossil fuel on record

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Global carbon emissions from the fossil fuel industry could fall by a record 2.5b tonnes this year, a reduction of 5%, as the coronavirus pandemic triggers the biggest drop in demand for fossil fuels on record.

The unprecedented restrictions on travel, work and industry due to the coronavirus is expected to cut billions of barrels of oil, trillions of cubic metres of gas and millions of tonnes of coal from the global energy system in 2020 alone, according to data commissioned by the Guardian.

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The US president signed an order this week stating Americans had rights to use resources in space.

Each week, we publish a gallery of readers' pictures on a set theme. This week it is "insects".

After working on Frozen and Big Hero 6, Sarah Airriess left Hollywood to create a graphic about early Antarctic explorers

This pandemic can be traced to our disregard for animal welfare. But our politicians won’t dare make the connection

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The boast that “when the facts change, I change my mind” is a proud one. “When the facts change, I reinforce my prejudices” is truer. If you want proof, look at the coronavirus that has changed everything and consider the undisputed fact that it spread because of humanity’s abuse of animals.

Imagine a world where facts changed minds. The United Nations, governments and everyone with influence would now be saying we should abandon meat or at a minimum cut down on consumption. Perhaps my reading is not as wide as it should be, but I have heard nothing of the sort argued. Making the case would be child’s play and would not be confined to emphasising that Covid-19 probably jumped species in Wuhan’s grotesque wet markets. The Sars epidemic of 2002-04 began in Guangdong, probably in bats, and then spread to civet cats, sold in markets and eaten in restaurants. The H7N9 strain of bird flu began in China, once again, and moved to humans from diseased poultry.

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Daniel Kariko uses microscopes to create vivid portraits of ordinary insects, including wasps, beetles, silverfish and moths. More than 60 photographs in his new book show these creatures up close, most of them found near where he lives in North Carolina. Aliens Among Us is published by WW Norton

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Delhi is one of many capitals enjoying improved air quality since restrictions were introduced due to the coronavirus

The screenshots began to circulate on Delhi WhatsApp groups last week, captioned with varying expressions of disbelief. Having checked the air quality index, something of a sadistic morning ritual among residents of India’s capital, most could not believe their eyes.

Gone was the familiar menacing red banner, indicating how each intake of breath is really just a toxic blast on the lungs, replaced instead by a healthy, cheerful green. Could it really be that Delhi’s pollution levels now fell into the category of … “good”? “It’s positively alpine!” exclaimed one message.

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The pick of the world’s best flora and fauna photos, including Indian monkeys and a Parisian duck

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The Netherlands is to delay plans to impose a carbon tax from next year on industrial firms included in the EU ETS due to the coronavirus impact, national media said on Friday, citing unnamed cabinet sources.

California’s ETS floor price next year is on track to rise sightly more than 5% despite inflation dropping month-on-month in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to federal data released Friday.

Closing prices, ranges and volumes for China's regional pilot carbon markets this week.

China’s National Energy Administration on Friday published a draft version of the nation’s first-ever energy law, stressing the need to cut carbon emissions in its energy system and proposing to give renewables preferential access to the grid.

Crisis destroys foreign sales of shellfish and supermarkets close fish counters causing slump during traditional Easter boom period

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Scottish fishermen are turning to food banks and welfare organisations, as the coronavirus crisis has led to plummeting demand for seafood, leaving many unable to work to feed their families.

Worst-hit are lobster and crab fishermen in Scotland’s south-east and west coasts, according to the Fishermen’s Mission, a Christian welfare charity. Staff at the charity have also identified “pockets of need” in Shetland and as far south as Newlyn in Cornwall. This comes just before the Easter holiday, traditionally a period of increased demand.

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Swallows and swifts on their annual flight from Africa to Europe have been found dead across Greece

Thousands of swallows and swifts migrating from Africa to Europe have been left dead by high winds battering Greece, bird watchers say.

The birds have been found in the streets of Athens, on apartment balconies in the capital, in the north, on Aegean islands and around a lake close to the seaport of Nauplia in the Peloponnese.

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A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Fears are growing that gorillas, orangutans and others apes could contract the virus.

Many cities have ambitious plans to boost tree numbers, but development hinders their aims.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) prices ceded previous gains during another hectic week of trading as participants remain wary of how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact WCI emissions, while RGGI allowances (RGAs) maintained their recent bullish trend.

We are looking for a new team leader to join our Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) group to lead, grow and develop our team responsible for CME activities with regards to the Emissions Trading Scheme that we administer under the CCRA.

Nova Scotia will offer 640,000 permits in the cap-and-trade programme’s first auction on June 10, the Canadian province’s environment ministry announced Thursday.