58 h. ago Ecotricity founder Dale Vince: ‘There’s got to be a bigger purpose in life’

The entrepreneur on his Labour party donations, the case for green growth — and taking Elon Musk to court

Politics

64 h. ago The Beatles to Virginia Woolf: UK tree of the year shortlist is rooted in culture

Woodland Trust’s 10 nominees from across the country highlight how trees inspire creative minds A cedar tree climbed by the Beatles, an oak that may have inspired Virginia Woolf and a lime representing peace in Northern Ireland are among those shortlisted for tree of the year 2025.Voting opens on Friday for the Woodland Trust’s annual competition, which aims to celebrate and raise awareness of rare, ancient or at-risk trees across the UK. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Why are some of Britain’s ancient woodlands failing to regenerate?

With forests under pressure from drought, heat, disease and deer, a study has found fewer trees across a range of species surviving to maturity. But scientists say there is still hopeTo the untrained eye, Monks Wood looks healthy and lush in the summer sun. Hundreds of butterflies dance on the edge of footpaths in the ancient Cambridgeshire woodland, which is rich with ash, maple and oak trees. Birds flit through the hedgerows as they feed. A fox ambles through a forest clearing, before disappearing into long grass.But for a number of years, it has been clear to Bruno Ladvocat and Rachel Mailes that something is missing. In 2022, Ladvocat, Mailes and their research team from Birmingham University were out sampling when they noticed that the small trees that typically cover the woodland floor were increasingly hard to find. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago In some UK woodlands, every young tree has died. What’s going wrong?

With forests under pressure from drought, heat, disease and deer, a study has found fewer trees across a range of species surviving to maturity. But scientists say there is still hopeTo the untrained eye, Monks Wood looks healthy and lush in the summer sun. Hundreds of butterflies dance on the edge of footpaths in the ancient Cambridgeshire woodland, which is rich with ash, maple and oak trees. Birds flit through the hedgerows as they feed. A fox ambles through a forest clearing, before disappearing into long grass.But for a number of years, it has been clear to Bruno Ladvocat and Rachel Mailes that something is missing. In 2022, Ladvocat, Mailes and their research team from Birmingham University were out sampling when they noticed that the small trees that typically cover the woodland floor were increasingly hard to find. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Ofgem says UK household energy bills set to soar by over £100

Britain's energy watchdog has given the green light to an initial £24 billion of investment to upgrade UK energy infrastructure

Economics

2 w. ago Fire rages on cargo ship with smoke and ‘burning plastic’ smell engulfing Hull

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service was called to Albert Dock at around 10am

Events

3 w. ago Ancient trees are shipped to the UK, then burned – using billions in ‘green’ subsidies. Stop this madness now | Dale Vince

The evidence against the Drax power station is damning, yet the government wants to continue its massive public fundingHow green is this? We pay billions of pounds to cut down ancient forests in the US and Canada, ship the wood across the Atlantic in diesel tankers, then burn it in a Yorkshire-based power station.Welcome to the scandal of Drax, where Britain’s biggest polluter gets to play climate hero. The reality is that billions in public subsidies has enabled Drax to generate electricity by burning 300m trees. Now the government is trying to force through an extension that would grant Drax an estimated £1.8bn in public subsidies on top of the £11bn it has already pocketed, keeping this circus going until at least 2031.Dale Vince is a green energy industrialist and campaigner Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago 'Absolutely fascinating' Biblical carving finally deciphered and linked to Jesus' death

A team of archeologists cracked the ancient mystery after a tree fell over in Canada and uncovered the 200-year-old stone carving with 255 symbols inscribed on it

Events

3 w. ago Huge flames leap from cargo ship as ‘dark fleet’ tanker burns after crash in sea

Thick black smoke can be seen pouring from the blazing ship, which is believed to be a “dark fleet” oil tanker which had been making its way through the Persian Gulf

Events

3 w. ago Forests, fires and footings: Earth Photo award winners – in pictures

From peat bogs to ancient trees via abandoned mining towns, these prize-winning images deliver both a stark warning and a message of hope for the future of our planet Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Bank unveils green loans plan to unlock trillions for climate finance

IADB’s proposals involve lenders using public money to buy up renewable energy loans in poor countriesAn innovative plan to use public money to back renewable energy loans in the developing world could liberate cash from the private sector for urgently needed climate finance.Avinash Persaud, a special adviser on climate change to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), who developed the proposals, believes the plan could drive tens of billions of new investment in the fledgling green economy in poorer countries within a few years, and could provide the bulk of the $1.3tn in annual climate finance promised to the developing world by 2035. Continue reading...

Economics