UK climate watchdog said policy change would make it more difficult to meet legal commitments
Rishi Sunak is likely to face a series of legal challenges aimed at thwarting his plans to U-turn on net zero policies amid further international condemnation of the proposals.
Though the prime minister sought to shrug off criticism on Thursday, the UK’s independent climate watchdog joined the voices of concern, saying it was disappointed with changes that would make it more difficult for Britain to meet its legal commitments.
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Breaking Waves: Ocean News
09/21/2023 - 11:36
PM’s claim he has rescued the electorate from multiple recycling bins a particular focus of online lampooning
Rishi Sunak’s pledge to scrap a series of green measures has prompted ridicule from critics who say they were never a reality – and on social media have taken on a life of their own.
“You boy, which of the seven bins is it this week?” read the caption above an image of Scrooge – from the 1951 adaptation of A Christmas Carol – in a tweet lampooning the prime minister’s claim he had spared people from being forced to recycle in as many different bins.
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09/21/2023 - 11:21
Move has drawn comparisons to UK, where Rishi Sunak has U-turned on environmental commitments
The Swedish government is facing a huge backlash – including threats of no-confidence votes against its climate minister – after slashing the country’s climate budget while admitting it will dramatically increase carbon dioxide emissions.
The minority-run coalition, which has been in power for just under a year, announced on Wednesday it would be cutting funding for climate and environmental measures next year by 259m krona (£19m) and introducing tax cuts on petrol and diesel.
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09/21/2023 - 10:00
Recent temperatures among highest on record in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney with data stretching back more than 100 years
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Australia’s south-east has just experienced some of the hottest September days on record, but experts say worse weather could be yet to come as the chances of a hot and dry summer increase.
Sydney’s Observatory Hill weather station set or equalled several temperature records over the past week. Olympic Park in Melbourne and West Terrace in Adelaide have also seen maximum temperatures among the top 10% ever recorded in recent weeks. All three cities have records stretching back more than 100 years.
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09/21/2023 - 09:57
Scientists have mapped the reproductive strategies and life cycle of an endangered coral species, the purple cauliflower soft coral Dendronephthya australis. Lab-grown larvae have been successfully introduced back into the wild.
09/21/2023 - 09:28
The prime minister said the UK was still on course to hit net zero targets despite announcements on Wednesday that he was rolling back key policies. Rishi Sunak said the UK was adopting a more 'proportionate and pragmatic way' to reach its climate goals and that he was 'absolutely confident that we are on track to hit all our international and domestic targets'
Rishi Sunak defies critics and presses on with net zero U-turn
'You're making claims that aren't true': Sunak pressed on scrapping 'meat tax' proposal – audio
‘Dangerous and desperate’: Westminster reacts to Sunak’s net zero U-turn – video
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09/21/2023 - 07:34
Exclusive: Legislation was blocked by small group of peers who tabled more than 60 amendments
Labour has urged ministers to resurrect a bill banning the import of body parts of endangered animals hunted overseas, which was blocked by a small group of peers, saying a failure to do so would leave the government complicit in the trophy hunting trade.
The hunting trophies (import prohibition) bill, a private members’ bill led by two Conservatives, Henry Smith, an MP, and Janet Fookes, a peer, has cross-party support and after passing all Commons stages appeared set to be approved by the Lords.
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09/21/2023 - 06:26
The BBC's Nick Robinson criticised the prime minister for announcing he had scrapped policies, including a tax on meat, that were never included in government policy. Rishi Sunak has said he is confident the UK will meet net zero by 2050, despite announcing delays to a number of green policies initially set out by the government. Sunak announced there would be a delay to banning petrol and diesel cars, which has sparked outrage from manufacturing companies for the government's lack of consistency
Fury as Sunak presses ahead with watering down climate policies
Rishi Sunak insists UK can meet climate targets despite widespread condemnation after net zero policy U-turn – UK politics live
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09/21/2023 - 04:54
The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has announced the winner of its 11th annual photography prize, which showcases the UK’s relationship with the sea. Ian Watkin’s surreal image of a fish embedded in a jellyfish beat more than 1,000 entries
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09/21/2023 - 04:00
Maria Neira highlights health impacts of dangerous pollution levels after Guardian investigation revealed scale of crisis
Politicians across Europe have a moral responsibility to urgently tackle the continent’s dangerously polluted air, according to Maria Neira, the director of the World Health Organization’s department of environment, climate change and health.
On Wednesday a Guardian investigation revealed that Europe is facing a severe public health crisis, with almost everyone on the continent living in areas with dangerous levels of air pollution.
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