Australia prevents a new coal mine from opening 10 kilometres from the Great Barrier Reef.

(Image from Pixabay)

Climate win: The Australian government rejected a new thermal coal project right off the coast of central Queensland in February.

The project would have involved two coal mines with an open pit - and would have led to the extraction of 10 million tonnes of coal annually, causing significant environmental impacts.

It was expected to operate for 20 years.

Coral bleaching occurs as a result of global warming, causing warmer sea temperatures. Corals will eject the protective algae (zooxanthellae) dwelling in their tissues if the water is too warm, turning the coral white. The term for this is coral bleaching. Bleached coral becomes sensitive and is more susceptible to mortality. If the water conditions do not improve, the coral will turn black and never recover.

The announcement follows a public outcry over possible threats to the reef, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Ozone layer is on track to recover within decades

(Image from Pixabay)

Each year, human emissions of specific chemicals cause a hole to appear in the ozone layer over Antarctica. This affects the ozone layer's ability to protect life on Earth from the sun's harmful radiation.

Results from the 1987 Montreal Protocol, in which 197 countries committed to gradually phase out ozone-damaging compounds, are now becoming apparent.

According to the UN-backed Scientific Assessment Panel to the Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Chemicals' four-yearly report, nearly 99% of prohibited ozone-depleting compounds have been successfully phased out.

An expert panel supported by the UN stated during a presentation on Monday at the annual conference of the American Meteorological Society that the ozone layer will restore by 2066 over the Antarctic, 2045 over the Arctic, and 2040 for the rest of the world.

UK waste incinerators more likely to be in deprived areas

(Image from Pixabay)

Waste incinerators are three times more likely to be situated in the most deprived and ethnically diverse areas of the UK, raising fears about the impact on air quality and the health of vulnerable people.

Data obtained by Unearthed, the investigative arm of Greenpeace, found that areas in the top 20% for deprivation host nearly one-third of the waste incinerators in the UK. The richest, least ethnically diverse areas are home to less than 10% of incinerators, which are increasingly being used to deal with the UK’s waste.

Meanwhile, recycling rates are falling, with the government likely to miss a target of 50% recycling in 2020. The UK recycling rate was 45.0% in 2018, down from 45.5% in 2017.

Unearthed identified 90 incinerators in the UK, many of which are run by companies such as Viridor, Veolia and Suez. These include energy-from-waste incinerators, hospital waste incinerators and waste wood incinerators. There are also 50 more proposed or in development, according to government data and data collected by the anti-incineration group UKWIN.

Enforcement officers target illegal waste site in Crowland

Enforcement officers are urging waste carriers and traders not to drop off any rubbish at The Streddars site on Hundreds Road in Crowland. During its inspection of the site on 23 July 2020, the Environment Agency discovered piles of illegally dumped waste, including construction and demolition materials, metals, plastics and garden waste. The visit was aimed at gathering evidence and disrupting those believed to be involved in illegal waste activities.

Car taxes need to be raised to help climate, say advisors

Government advisors say ministers should bring forward the date for ending sales of new conventional cars from 2035 to 2032. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) says the chancellor should also consider increasing the tax on gas for home heating. It says the changes should be made as the UK looks to recover from the Covid-19 crisis by creating jobs.

The CCC also recommends the country aim to cut carbon emissions as part of a “green recovery“. It says the government has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change society for the better. A government spokesperson said that tackling climate change should be at the heart of the UK's economic recovery.