Damian Carrington

Hinkley Point sparks back into life as EDF lines up foreign investors

thetimes.co.uk — The £14 billion project to build Britain's first nuclear reactors for decades has been revived after EDF Energy lined up a consortium of investors. The Hinkley Point project has been close to collapse in recent months because of a stand-off between the Treasury and the French state-backed group about the level of subsidies, funded by levies on consumer bills, that it would receive.

Court case verdict reveals true scale of 2011’s “Annus horribilis” for African Elephants

traffic.org — Fujian Province, China, 24th May 2013-The sentencing of three men in Fujian Province for their role in smuggling ivory to China from Africa has provided new insights into the scale and nature of the global illicit ivory trade in 2011, already the worst year on record.

Global majority faces water shortages 'within two generations'

guardian.co.uk — The majority of the 9 billion people on Earth will live with severe pressure on fresh water within the space of two generations as climate change, pollution and over-use of resources take their toll, 500 scientists have warned.

That Tree: an iPhone photo journal - in pictures

guardian.co.uk — Using his iPhone 4S, Mark Hirsch photographed a tree in Platteville, Wisconsin, every day for a year

Court case verdict reveals true scale of 2011’s “Annus horribilis” for African Elephants

traffic.org — Fujian Province, China, 24th May 2013-The sentencing of three men in Fujian Province for their role in smuggling ivory to China from Africa has provided new insights into the scale and nature of the global illicit ivory trade in 2011, already the worst year on record.

Bee-harming pesticides banned in Europe

guardian.co.uk — Europe will enforce the world's first continent-wide ban on widely used insecticides linked to serious harm in bees, after a European commission vote on Monday. The landmark suspension is a victory for millions of environment campaigners concerned about dramatic declines in bees who were backed by experts at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Bee Health: EU-wide restrictions on Pesticide use to enter into force on 1 December

europa.eu — European Commission - Press Release - European Commission Press release Brussels, 24 May 2013 A restriction on the use of three pesticides belonging to the neonicotinoid family was today adopted by the Commission. These pesticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam) were identified as being harmful to Europe's honeybee population.

Green hysteria shackles our economic growth

guardian.co.uk — I am surprised so many people in Europe, the US and elsewhere have come to support policies underpinned by hysteria over global warming, particularly cap-and-trade legislation to cut greenhouse gas emissions and subsidies for "green" energy sources.