8 h. ago Make green great again: Can appeals to the wallet make climate policy an election

In this week’s newsletter: At a major gathering in New York, climate advocates say that language has to change• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereAt stuffy United Nations press conferences, in swanky auditoriums and at sticky socialist dance parties, one word was on everyone’s lips at this year’s Climate Week NYC: affordability.The US energy secretary, Chris Wright, said under that under President Trump the United States is “returning to commonsense energy policies that focus on affordability”. The former energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, said Democrats must focus on renewable power’s ability to shrink power bills to win elections. And supporters of the almost certainly soon-to-be New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, trumpeted their efforts to link green policies with efforts to lower city residents’ rent and make transit affordable.Revealed: Europe losing 600 football pitches of nature and crop land a dayUK fracking ban to be brought forward as Labour ...

Politics

31 h. ago Storm Amy: Met Office weather warning raised to 'amber' as 95mph winds to batter Scotland

The Met Office said “damaging winds” are expected to cause travel disruption and power cuts in some areas.

Events

4 d. ago Now Labour MP accuses Nigel Farage of wanting to send Welsh people 'back down the mines' as party hits the panic button over Reform UK threat

Claire Hughes, MP for Bangor Aberconwy, made the claim as she posted a video on social media urging voters not to back Reform at next year's Welsh Senedd elections.

Events

5 d. ago England fans soak up celebrations as Red Roses mark Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph

Rain could not England marked their World Cup win with a celebration event at Battersea Power Station

Sport

5 d. ago First Minister Eluned Morgan to say Wales will 'fall into chaos' if Plaid or Reform win power

'Wales doesn’t need fantasy politics', the First Minister will tell the UK Labour Party conference

Politics

5 d. ago Tories demand Commons sleaze investigation after leaked texts suggested secret slush fund to propel Starmer to Labour leadership

The WhatsApp messages appear to directly contradict the party's denials last week that embattled Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney, used his Labour Together think tank to back Sir Keir.

Politics

6 d. ago Zelensky threatens to unleash 'blackout' attacks on Russia if Putin repeats tactic

Vladimir Putin is believed to have ordered attacks again on Ukrainian power supplies this winter and Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia can expect retaliation

Events

8 d. ago Reform Senedd member denies party will charge for the NHS if it wins power in Wales

Laura Anne-Jones is the party's only Senedd representative

Politics

9 d. ago How Trump’s assault on US wind industry threatens jobs and power for nearly 5m homes

US president’s offshore wind crackdown targets nine projects, threatening jobs, homes and the clean energy transitionDonald Trump has jettisoned Republicans’ long-standing “all of the above” approach to energy by using the US government to aggressively stamp out clean energy projects – particularly offshore wind turbines.The scale of the intervention is remarkable – a total of nine already permitted offshore wind projects that were set to provide electricity to nearly 5m households and create around 9,000 jobs in the US are under investigation or have already been paused by the Trump administration. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Nigel Farage's new Reform UK policy 'already falling apart' over savings blunder

The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's blunder comes as Reform UK prepares to announce plans abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR) if the right-wing party wins power

Events

1 week ago Households hit with higher bills in £1bn ‘racket’ that sees wind farms paid to turn off power

Greg Jackson – founder and CEO of Octopus Energy – tells The Independent that wind farm companies are the winners from government policy, while consumers pay the price

Economics

1 week ago Labour cosies up to US tech firms with little thought of downsides | Heather Stewart

Economic benefits of generative AI, which may take time to show, put ahead of impact of datacentres on energy and water Jensen Huang, the boss of the chipmaker Nvidia, had some advice for UK ministers last week as they signed a multibillion-pound tech deal with the US: burn more gas.“I’ve every confidence that the UK will realise that it takes energy to grow new industries,” he said. “Sustainable power like nuclear and wind and of course all of that solar is all going to contribute. But I’m also hoping that gas turbines can also contribute.” Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago UK households warned to charge mobile phones before the weekend for one reason

Households across the UK are being urged to charge up their mobile phones before Saturday as the Met Office has warned of a risk of power cuts due to heavy rain and strong winds

Events

2 w. ago Scottish Labour would build buses and ferries in Scotland if party wins power, insists Anas Sarwar

The Scottish Labour leader blasted John Swinney for failing to come up with an industrial strategy that will allow Scottish manufacturing firms to thrive.

Events

2 w. ago Drill, baby, drill! Donald Trump piles pressure on Keir Starmer to U

The US President took a swipe at the Prime Minister's Net Zero goals as he suggested ramping up the production of fossil fuels would cut Brits' energy bills.

Politics

2 w. ago Now Starmer faces disaster in Wales: Poll shows Labour in freefall behind Reform and set to lose First Minister post for first time EVER

A grim poll suggests Labour is in freefall ahead of crucial Senedd elections next May - trailing far behind Reform and Plaid Cymru.

Politics

2 w. ago Readers' Letters: Wind alone can't power Scotland but nuclear can

Without nuclear power Scotland will inevitably fall behind rest of the world, says reader

Events

2 w. ago Man is killed by falling tree branch as storm winds of up to 78mph leave at least 600 homes without power and Met Office issue UK

The man in his 40s was found with serious head injuries at Revoe Park in Blackpool, Lancashire, shortly before 5am and was pronounced dead at the scene amid strong winds.

Events

2 w. ago Man is killed by falling tree branch as storm winds of up to 78mph leave at least 150 homes without power and Met Office issue UK

The man in his 40s was found with serious head injuries at Revoe Park in Blackpool, Lancashire, shortly before 5am and was pronounced dead at the scene amid strong winds.

Events

2 w. ago Storm winds of up to 78mph shut down parks and zoos and leave at least 150 homes without power as Met Office issue UK

A 26-hour Met Office yellow wind warning covering most of England and Wales will run until 6pm this evening, and a wind speed of 78mph has been recorded on the Isle of Wight.

Society