Blue & Green Daily: Friday 6 June headlines

Blue & Green Daily finds and summarises the top sustainability stories around the web every morning. We start with our own picks from Blue & Green Tomorrow.

Thermal coal investments ‘high risk strategy’, say analysts

World Environment Day should help save ‘drowning’ small islands

John Prescott warns of focus on energy security as climate talks get underway

Lord Deben: floods have a ‘real effects’ in inspiring climate action

IRENA: renewables key to delivering cheaper energy

——————————————————————————————————————————————

6 June headlines

Canada poised to dilute EU rules over tar sands oil

Canada looks set to win a big concession in forthcoming EU environment legislation that would open the European market for fuel derived from the oil sands of Alberta. Planned EU legislation to encourage cleaners transport fuels would have set heavy penalties on those made from Canada’s tar sands crude, because of the higher level of carbon dioxide emissions associated with its production. Financial Times.

BP faces billions of fines over Deepwater Horizon pollution

A US appeals court has ruled BP will be held liable for pollution-law violations, which could costs billions of dollars, in connection with the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The ruling means the US could impose a maximum fine of $18 billion.  BP has set aside $42.7 billion for the disaster. The oil major has paid out $27 billion – $14 billion for the clean up and $13 billion in local compensation claims. Independent.

UN urges action to protect forests’ genetic diversity

Forest species are coming under increasing pressure from human activities and climate change, and face the risk of extinction, the UN warns. The Food and Agriculture Organisation has published a global action plan to improve management of the world’s forests genetic resource. It describes forest ecosystems as “essential refuges for biodiversity”. BBC.

El Nino 70% likely to arrive in summer, says US weather forecaster

The changes of an El Nino, the global climate phenomenon that can destroy crops in Asia and offer a relief from harsh winters in North America, were raised to 70% on Thursday. But scientist said the coming El Nino was likely to be of only moderate strength. Guardian.

Farm wildlife protection plan ‘fails’

A bid to protect wildlife and give value to the funding of Europe’s farm policy by taxpayers has failed, a damning report suggests. Farm subsidies cost every EU household more than €490 a year, and a process of reforms has aimed to ensure the cash helps the environment. But the report calculates that 88% of farms will be exempted from key green measures. BBC.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Interesting picks

Climate change “off the G20 agenda” as Australia prepares to abolish carbon price – Guardian

Finance advisers urged to think green – bdaily

Do other charity investors risk getting the Comic Relief treatment? – Civil Society

5 myths socially conscious entrepreneurs needs to ignore – Fast Company

Climate change: no longer just an ‘environmental problem’ – Guardian

London’s Dirty Secret: Pollution Worse Than Beijing’s – Bloomberg