38 h. ago ‘Clearances’ in reverse will see skilled labour heading north

Robert Ogg says the lure of green energy jobs in the Highlands could exacerbate the Central Belt’s skills shortage

Events

1 week ago ‘It’s a place of healing’: the man on a mission to restore Britain’s ancient rainforest

Dealing with PTSD, Merlin Hanbury-Tenison retreated to his family farm in Cornwall. There, working to revive a rare fragment of rainforest, he found a way to heal himselfA straight-backed, well-spoken former management consultant and ex-soldier in a wax jacket might not resemble much of a tree wizard, but the man leading me into a steep Cornish valley of gnarled, mossy oaks is called Merlin. He possesses hidden depths. And surfaces. Within minutes of meeting, as we head towards the Mother Tree – a venerable oak of special significance – Merlin Hanbury-Tenison reveals that he recently had a tattoo of the tree etched on his skin. I’m expecting him to roll up a sleeve to reveal a mini-tree outline, but he whips out his phone and shows me a picture: the 39-year-old’s entire back is covered with a spectacular full-colour painting of the oak. “It took 22 hours. I was quite sore,” he says, a little ruefully. “But I was in London afterwards, feeling quite overcome by the city and I had this...

Events

1 week ago The US has withdrawn from a climate agreement that helps developing nations, South Africa says

The United States has withdrawn from a climate agreement where rich nations have pledged billions of dollars to help a small group of developing countries switch from coal to green energy sources

Politics

1 week ago BP chief takes more than £2.3m pay cut after slump in profit

Murray Auchincloss’s pay fell by one-third last year, ahead of BP making a drastic pullback from its green energy targets.

Economics

1 week ago Germany bond rout worst since fall of Berlin Wall as Merz promises to boost defences

Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz (pictured) outlined plans to exclude military spending from the country's stringent 'debt brake' rule to free up cash.

Politics

1 week ago Is Trump’s America still an ally to the UK? – Politics Weekly UK

The news that the US had suspended military aid to Ukraine stunned world leaders and led to a rapid reassessment of how much we can really rely on our American ally. Is this the end of the western alliance? John Harris asks our diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour. Plus, as the UK pledges to boost defence spending by slashing our foreign aid budget, ActionAid’s CEO, Taahra Ghazi, tells John about the fallout for organisations working on the ground.Send your questions and feedback to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Germany's incoming Chancellor pledges to do 'whatever it takes' to boost the nation's defences and moves to lift 'debt brake'

Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz (pictured) outlined plans to exclude military spending from the country's stringent 'debt brake' rule to free up cash.

Politics

2 w. ago Government announces plans to axe oil and gas windfall tax in 2030

Ministers will consult with North Sea businesses, trade unions, workers, green groups and communities over plans for the energy sector’s future.

Politics

2 w. ago Conference returns to explore Scotland’s green energy ambitions

The Highlands and Islands Green Energy Conference, part of the Sustainable Scotland Green Series 2025 from The Scotsman, is being held in Inverness on 22 May.

Politics

2 w. ago New fast ferry service from Swansea to South West England explored

A maritime company is involved and a consultation has been launched. The vessel would be powered by a combination of electric batteries charged by renewable energy and locally-produced alternative fuels such as green hydrogen

Politics

2 w. ago Museums defend BP sponsorship despite backlash against cuts to climate change funding

The British Museum’s relationship with BP was decried as ‘untenable’ and ‘indefensible’

Economics

3 w. ago BP's radical shift from green energy to fossil fuels has stunned the market... but what does it mean for YOU? Read our ultimate guide on whether you should invest in the oil giant

The boss of BP insists investors will 'love' his radical plans to revive the struggling oil giant - but the jury remains very firmly out.

Economics

3 w. ago BP slammed as it ramps up oil and gas cash and slashes investment in green energy

Campaigners said the oil giant was committing a 'conscious act of climate vandalism' as it ditched targets to reduce fossil fuel production.

Economics

3 w. ago BP pivots back to oil and gas after ‘misplaced’ faith in green energy

Chief executive says group was too optimistic over shift to renewables

Politics

3 w. ago BP slashes green energy spending and turns back towards fossil fuels

The move follows pressure from some investors to boost profits at the firm, but has also angered environmental groups.

Events

3 w. ago BP to ramp up oil and gas output in major shift away from green goals

Fossil fuel firm will cut more than $5bn from low-carbon investment plan in ‘fundamental reset’Business live – latest updatesBP is dropping green goals, ramping up oil and gas production and slashing spending on low-carbon energy as part of a fundamental reset of the troubled company.The FTSE 100 fossil fuel company has promised shareholders it will increase its target for oil and gas production by 2030 to the equivalent of about 2.4m barrels a day – about 60% higher than the figure in its net zero plan set out five years ago. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago BP abandons green energy drive by slashing renewables budget and ploughing extra £8bn into oil and gas

BP has faced a deluge of criticism from environmental activists after it announced plans to slash green energy spending and bump up its oil and gas production instead.

Economics

3 w. ago BP to almost double oil and gas production by 2030 in move away from green goals

Firm will be selective about investing in low-carbon options, slashing more than $5bn from previous green planBusiness live – latest updatesBP is almost doubling its target for oil and gas production by the end of the decade and slashing its spending on low-carbon energy as part of a fundamental reset of the troubled company away from previous green goals.The FTSE 100 fossil fuel company has promised shareholders it will increase its planned oil and gas production by 2030 to the equivalent of about 2.4m barrels a day – almost twice the figure in its net zero plan set out five years ago. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago BP signs $25bn deal to redevelop Iraq’s oil and gasfields as it slashes investments in renewable energy

BP previously committed to cut oil and gas production by 40 per cent by 2030

Economics

3 w. ago BP to slash spending on net zero ventures as it focuses on oil and gas again

British energy company BP has confirmed it is to slash spending on green ventures and up its oil and gas production

Economics