Environment
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Ze, toxic, single-use: words that defined 2018
What do they tell us about the year? Environmental catastrophe, extreme politics and gender relations… The dictionaries’ words of 2018 reveal a world battling division and destruction.
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BBC breaks Attenborough’s golden rule… twice
Should nature documentarians save the lives of the animals they film? David Attenborough has always said that he will not change the course of nature. Yet the crew of...
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MPs investigate fast fashion climate crisis
Is it wrong to buy a £2 T-shirt? The government has launched a probe into the UK’s throwaway fashion culture. Millions of items are binned every year — doing great damage to the environment.
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Hell on Earth: California wildfire kills dozens
Will the blaze spark action on climate change? At least 42 have died in the deadliest inferno in California’s history. Scientists claim that global warming will only make wildfires worse.
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‘Fake’ burger that could save the world
Is a meat-free diet the best way to preserve our planet? As Tesco launches vegan burgers that look and taste like meat, scientists declare that we should all adopt a plant-based diet.
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The Christmas ad banned for being too political
Should the ban be lifted? Thousands have signed a petition demanding that Iceland’s banned “Rang-tan” advert be allowed on TV. They say its urgent environmental message must be heard.
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Charles promises to stop meddling when king
Is this the right decision? Prince Charles has championed many social and environmental causes as heir. But in a BBC film last night, he vowed to stop speaking out when he becomes monarch.
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‘Attenborough has betrayed the living world’
Is this criticism fair? Environmentalist George Monbiot has denounced Sir David Attenborough, claiming his films do more harm than good. Attenborough’s new series,...
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Potato plastic, robot cleaners and edible bugs
Does change mainly come from inventions? The shortlist for the James Dyson Award has been announced, celebrating clever inventions from around the world. Many have a strong environmental focus.
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A diesel-driving, meat-eating climate minister
Is she a hypocrite? Britain’s climate minister, Claire Perry, has come under fire for refusing to encourage eco-friendly diets. A meat-eater herself, she also admitted to driving a diesel car.
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Act now! UN warns of climate catastrophe
Can global warming be stopped? In a dramatic new study, scientists claim that humanity has just 12 years to avert catastrophic climate change — they call for immediate and urgent action.
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Four easy(ish) ways to help save the world
How much difference can one person make? It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the mammoth task of rescuing our planet, but there are some simple changes we can all practise.
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How gene-editing could destroy world’s pests
Should all pests be wiped out? New Zealand’s government plans to kill all rats and invasive predators by 2050. Some want to use genetic modification, but others warn of ecological disaster.
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Race for survivors as tsunami death toll soars
Could the disaster in Indonesia have been prevented? On Friday, a devastating tsunami hit the city of Palu just as an official tsunami warning was called off. The death toll is still climbing.
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Dozens dead as lethal storms sweep the globe
How worried should we be about hurricanes? As ocean temperatures continue to rise, a respected US scientist has warned that an unprecedented “Category 6” storm is now inevitable.