4 h. ago England’s water industry issued £10.5bn in ‘green bonds’ despite pollution record

River Action says use of issuance tied to environmental benefits is ‘corporate greenwash on steroids’Water companies have issued a fifth of the UK’s “green bonds” since 2017, despite a consistently poor record of sewage pollution during that time, research has shown.Privately owned water companies in England have together issued £10.5bn in bonds tied to projects that offer “environmental benefits”, according to analysis of financial market data by Unearthed, which is part of Greenpeace UK. Continue reading...

Economics

15 h. ago Water shortages could derail UK’s net zero plans, study finds

Tensions grow after research in England finds there may not be enough water for planned carbon capture and hydrogen projectsRevealed: Europe’s water reserves drying up due to climate breakdownTensions are growing between the government, the water sector and its regulators over the management of England’s water supplies, as the Environment Agency warns of a potential widespread drought next year.Research commissioned by a water retailer has found water scarcity could hamper the UK’s ability to reach its net zero targets, and that industrial growth could push some areas of the country into water shortages. Continue reading...

Politics

27 h. ago Jeremy Clarkson talks 'so many issues' with career move after halting show filming

Jeremy Clarkson, who only last month disclosed that the production of his Amazon Prime show, Clarkson's Farm, had halted, has addressed the "many issues" facing the industry he switched careers for

Culture

3 d. ago Pennon swings to profit after water bill hikes and summer heatwave

The owner of South West Water revealed the improved financial performance despite coming under fire for wastewater spills earlier this year.

Economics

9 d. ago The Guardian view on authentic casting in Wicked: finally a true celebration of difference | Editorial

The wider TV and film industries have a long way to go in including disabled actors and creators, and leaving stereotypes behindWhile the entertainment industry has been at pains to address issues of diversity in race, gender and sexuality, disability remains shockingly underrepresented. It’s not just that disabled actors are discounted for many roles. As actors and activists have pointed out, “blacking up” might have become taboo, but “cripping up” is still a shoo-in for awards. In almost 100 years, only three disabled actors have won an Oscar, compared to 25 able-bodied actors who have won for playing disabled characters.The arrival this weekend of Wicked: For Good, the second part of a prequel story to The Wizard of Oz, has put the importance of authentic casting in the spotlight once more. The story of green-skinned witch Elphaba, and the prejudice she faces, Wicked is a celebration of difference. Yet since the hit musical opened in 2003, only able-bodied actors had played the p...

Politics

1 week ago Beth Mead: ‘If we don’t adapt to climate change, football becomes a privilege, not a right‘

The Arsenal and England forward is backing new global campaign because talent and teamwork should decide the game – not the climateI’ll never forget stepping out on to the pitch in Switzerland for the Euro 2025 tournament. The air felt heavy – not with pressure or expectation, but with heat. It was more than 30C (86f) that day. It makes your lungs sting, makes you feel like you’re running through water.In the England camp, we had done everything to prepare. Ice vests before training, hydration breaks, modified warm-ups – things that just weren’t part of football life a few years ago. At our base in Zurich we even had cryotherapy and Slush Puppies to cool our core temperatures. During training, there were ice-cold towels, extra rest moments and constant reminders to hydrate. You could feel how carefully the staff planned every detail. But when the whistle blew, no protocol could change the fact that the climate itself has changed. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘We feel we’re fighting a losing battle’: the race to remove millions of plastic beads from Camber Sands

A huge cleanup effort has seen volunteers working to remove beads by hand and machine. They can only wait and see the extent of damage to wildlife and dune habitatJust past a scrum of dog walkers, about 40 people are urgently combing through the sand on hands and knees. Their task is to try to remove millions of peppercorn-sized black plastic biobeads from where they have settled in the sand. Beyond them, a seal carcass grins menacingly, teeth protruding from its rotting skull.Last week, an environmental disaster took place on Camber Sands beach, on what could turn out to be an unprecedented scale. Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works, owned by Southern Water, experienced a mechanical failure and spewed out millions of biobeads on to the Sussex coastline. Southern Water has since taken responsibility for the spill. Ironically, biobeads are used to clean wastewater – bacteria attach to their rough, crinkly surface and clean the water of contaminants.Camber Sands is one of England’s ...

Sport

2 w. ago Rolfö heads Manchester United winner against PSG to ruin Earps’ Old Trafford return

Mary Earps received the boos she feared on her return to Manchester United 501 days after leaving, and departed defeated, as Marc Skinner’s team cuffed aside Paris Saint-Germain courtesy of Fridolina Rolfö’s expert second-half header.When jogging out for the warm-up Earps was cheered but as soon as the crowd swelled for kick-off she was targeted throughout, though for a footballer whose CV shows nine clubs, 52 England caps, and a Euro 2022 winner’s medal, this felt water off the proverbial for her. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Earps booed and defeated as Rolfö heads Manchester United winner against Paris Saint

Mary Earps received the boos she feared on her return to Manchester United, 501 days after leaving, then departed defeated. Marc Skinner’s team cuffed aside Paris Saint‑Germain courtesy of Fridolina Rolfö’s expert second-half header.When jogging out for the warmup Earps was cheered, but when the crowd swelled for kick-off the jeers came, though for a player whose CV shows nine clubs, 52 England caps, and a Euro 2022 winner’s medal, this felt water off the proverbial for her. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago What to do if your parcels don’t arrive as expected this Christmas season from damage to delays

MANY of us will be drowning in cardboard boxes over the coming weeks as we shop online for Christmas gifts. Last year there were 4.2billion parcels sent out across the UK. But more than two thirds of people had a delivery issue in the last six months, according to industry regulator Ofcom. Here is what...

Events