World needs £1.45 trillion to prepare for climate change
The Global Commission on Adaptation has estimated that investments to the tune of $1.8 trillion (about £1.45 trillion) would make the world better prepared to cope with climate change, producing benefits worth more than $7 trillion (£5.66 triillion).
Adaptation strategies should include putting warning systems into place, building suitable infrastructure, improving agriculture, restoring mangrove forests and protecting water supplies.
The day dinosaurs began to die
Scientists have mapped out what may have happened on the day when a vast asteroid hit Earth about 66 million years ago. Examining a portion of rock taken from a crater formed by the asteroid, they have discovered that violent explosions and a tsunami followed the impact, which melted millions of tonnes of rock.
But they found no trace of sulphur in the section they analysed and this led them to believe that huge amounts of the element were released into the atmosphere following the collision. This caused the climate to cool to such an extent and for so long that it made life extremely hard for existing plants and animals, putting an end to dinosaurs.
Farmers step in to fight climate change
The National Farmers Union has set out the strategy through which the industry could become carbon neutral by 2040, ten full years ahead of the Government’s target for the UK.
Steps include reducing emissions through precision farming, planting more trees and hedgerows to absorb carbon and replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy.
Bitterns return from the brink
Twenty years after they almost disappeared from these shores, bitterns (below, courtesy of Andy Hay and the RSPB) have made a big comeback. The males of the species have an unusual booming call that earned them the nickname of Britain’s loudest bird, but you would have been hard pushed to hear it in 1997, when only 11 males were left in the country. Now, a record 198 have been counted at 89 different sites.
Recovery started in earnest in 2006 and numbers have been rising ever since. The RSPB is now asking to support the birds with new environment law and adequate funding.
On This Day... America suffered one of the world’s deadliest acts of terrorism
On September 11, 2001, nineteen members of the al-Qaeda terrorist group hi-jacked four aeroplanes and launched a co-ordinated attack on the United States. Two of the planes struck the World Trade Centre’s twin towers, in New York, making them collapse and killing more than 2,700 people. A third plane hit the Pentagon IN Washington D.C., while, on the fourth, passengers and crew confronted the hijackers and, during the struggle, the airliner crashed on a field in Pennsylvania.
Altogether, 2,977 people lost their lives on September 11, with many more injured.
Help shape the future of England's Jurassic Coast
Devon and Dorset residents have an opportunity to have their say on how the Jurassic Coast will be managed in the future.
The Trust that looks after the World Heritage Site is creating a new Partnership Plan document that will underpin the Coast's management strategy and, as part of the process, it is inviting the public to take part in drop-in consultation days at several venues in Devon and Dorset.
Full story (Bridport & Lyme Regis News)
And finally… A clever disguise
A three-year-old boy was not afraid of correcting the Duchess of Cambridge during her visit to the Royal Horticultural Society's garden this week.
Dylan Corbin was among the youngsters at the royal visit in Wisley, Surrey, and had his face painted for the occasion.
The Duchess asked him, 'Are you a tiger?' to which Dylan replied, 'No, it's face paint'. We would have been fooled too...
Country Life Today: Your favourite tree needs your vote
In today's news round-up, we bring you Britain's most remarkable trees, reveal why Norfolk has three miles of new beaches
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Why don't we know how long the UK coastline is?Welcome to the Coastline Paradox, where trying to find an accurate answer is more of a hindrance than a help.
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The Country Life guide to Somerset: What to do, where to stay and how to eatSomerset is rich in natural beauty and history, but it is its wealth of small-scale food and drink producers, farmers and makers that really set it apart from the competition. Find out how to make the most of it all with our indispensable guide.
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The brilliant tractor tribute to the NHS from a group of Warwickshire farmersPeople around Britain have been paying tribute to the efforts of our NHS workers at the time of the coronavirus pandemic — but few have been as creative and clever as this one.
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London's iconic red bus at risk and 6,000 year old chewing gum gives clues into our DNA historyCuts to industry subsidies and an increase in fares has left bus use at its lowest point ever, while DNA extracted from ancient 'chewing gum' allows scientists to decipher the genetic code of a Stone Age woman.
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90-million-year-old 'swimming dinosaur' skeleton found by dogs out walking in Somerset, and the nonchalant moths who don't bother fleeing enemiesA superbly intact dinosaur skeleton — described as being 'museum quality' — has been discovered on a beach in Somerset.
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Battle to ban 4x4s from the idyllic Lake District spot bequeathed by Beatrix Potter, eagle fights octopus and the 'snail's pace' climate talksThis morning we look at Little Langdale's fight for peace, reflect on the climate change talks in Madrid and discover the soundtrack for Brexit.
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Country Life Today: How Greta Thunberg shifted the dial on climate change — and the backlash shows just how muchThis morning we ponder whether Greta Thunberg is the Joan of Arc for the environmental movement, look at a key election — one from 19 years ago — and ponder the marvel of 'dad tidying'.
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Country Life Today: Great news for those who love our great country pubs — the years of decline are overThere is a great sign of health in the pub industry, we look back at Edward VIII's abdication message and fret about Greenland's melting ice.
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Country Life Today: Spain accused of being 'a deplorable choice' for UN climate conferenceA no-holds-barred assault on the Spanish fishing industry, Banksy raising awareness of the homeless and the woes of the Christmas jumper are in today's news round-up.
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Country Life Today: 'This is perhaps the ultimate wake-up call from the uncontrolled experiment humanity is unleashing on the world’s oceans'In today's round up, we examine why oxygen loss is putting oceans at risk, discover that action to cut air pollution brings almost immediate benefits to human health and find out which bird's arrival marks the start of winter in Gloucestershire.
