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The government pledged in 2016 to enshrine a zero target in law to meet its Paris commitments, but has yet to pass any legislation

The UK is to review its long-term target to cut climate emissions as part of global efforts to curb rising temperatures, the government has announced.

The announcement by clean growth minister Claire Perry during the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) raises the possibility the UK could implement a target to reduce emissions to “net zero” by 2050, tightening the existing goal to cut greenhouse gases by 80% by that date.

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Poland violated EU law by ordering large-scale logging in Bialowieza forest, Europe's top court says.

Karen Nyberg, who's been to space twice, answers questions from primary school children.

Judge dismisses claims by Polish government that logging was necessary to protect ancient forest from outbreak of bark beetles

The EU’s highest court has ruled that Poland’s logging of the ancient Białowieża forest is illegal, potentially opening the door to multi-million euro fines.

At least 10,000 trees have been felled in Białowieża, one of Europe’s last parcels of primeval woodland, since the former Polish environment minister, Jan Szyzko tripled logging limits there in 2016.

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New Zealand on Tuesday established the Interim Climate Change Committee, which will explore whether and how to bring agriculture into the nation’s emissions trading scheme.

Australia’s main opposition party on Tuesday embraced draft changes to the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) it said would make the policy work like an emission intensity trading scheme, but maintained the government-set emission target and approach to state renewable goals were unacceptable.

The decision comes after a scientific inquiry made 135 recommendations including strict new laws and regulations of the industry.

The ecological health of New Zealand's lowland rivers and lakes is in decline, but principles borrowed from drinking water safety could help reverse the degradation. Troy Baisden, Professor and Chair in Lake and Freshwater Sciences, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Australian Government is pleased to announce new appointments to the Board of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

Signs that federal Labor could "accommodate" the proposed National Energy Guarantee, on the basis that weak emissions targets could be improved later, should be treated with caution.

The government’s decision to open the Northern Territory to the environmental devastation of fracking is short-sighted and will lead to the contamination of water, increased carbon emissions and a myriad of health problems for the people of the NT.

The Electrolux Group announced today it has set two new ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in support of the Paris climate agreement.

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

PRESS RELEASE The Andrews Labor Government is delivering action on climate change by helping Victorian organisations lead the development of new ideas to help Victoria reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today announced 24 successful recipients of $4.3 million in Climate Change Innovation […]

Claxton, Norfolk: Intense blue spikes have covered half the lawn – but we can claim little credit for this

This spring I’ve been amused by our wild violets, which have spread suddenly across one half of the lawn. For anyone who has never met them, they are an absolute joy. Each flowering spike bears an asymmetrical corolla that comprises five petals of the most intense purple. Down the throat of the central spur is a delicious little nectary that bees apparently find irresistible.

If I crouch to sniff, it also yields this gentle odour, from which I judge them to be sweet violets, Viola odorata, the one common species in the family that has such a scent. It is highly evocative, bringing to mind my childhood when we used to buy those tubes of purplish sugar known as Parma Violets (a Derbyshire speciality, manufactured in New Mills).

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ABB trials “futuristic new design” of electric water taxi on Lake Geneva – a "milestone" in the development of zero emissions transport.

Big retailers may be allowed to pocket carbon credits from rooftop solar systems paid for and installed by households.

Ganawarra solar farm connected to grid, with work to begin on a new Tesla big battery to commence within weeks.

Poorest are hardest hit with many developing countries falling behind on cleaning up toxic air pollution

More than 95% of the world’s population breathe unsafe air and the burden is falling hardest on the poorest communities, with the gap between the most polluted and least polluted countries rising rapidly, a comprehensive study of global air pollution has found.

Cities are home to an increasing majority of the world’s people, exposing billions to unsafe air, particularly in developing countries, but in rural areas the risk of indoor air pollution is often caused by burning solid fuels. One in three people worldwide faces the double whammy of unsafe air both indoors and out.

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