The top news stories of the week27 September 2013
In the first of a series of weekly blog posts, New Media team volunteer Manuella Anckaert looks at the biggest and most commented on media stories of the week.
Every week I give you the lowdown on the top environmental stories to hit the headlines. Good stuff. Not so good stuff. And other stuff... So what's up this week?
The IPCC climate change report
In case you ever doubted it, human influence is the main cause of global warming, reports the fifth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Scientists are 95% sure. As the EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard said on Twitter, what would you do if your doctor was 95% sure you had a serious illness? We clearly need to take action now.
The report says that the amount of carbon the world can burn without heading for dangerous levels of warming is far less than the amount of fossil fuels left in the ground. It's time to stop investing in dirty energy and start investing in cleaner alternatives. The UK could become a world leader in tackling climate change. Follow The Guardian's live reporting.
The IPCC also said that the human cost of climate change will hit poor countries hardest. Extreme weather events like flooding could lead to vast movements of population.
Want to hear the latest? Tune in to climate scientist Kevin Anderson's podcast on the IPCC report.
The Labour conference
Meanwhile, at the Labour party conference, leader Ed Miliband has proposed a freeze on energy bills. The Guardian reports how he's vowed to "stand up for British people" against the profiteering of the Big Six energy companies.
Predictably, the industry has reacted by warning that a price freeze could lead to power blackouts - something Friends of the Earth has dismissed in this blog.
Rhino and elephant trafficking in Africa
Quite a tragic week for wildlife too, due to human activity again, with reports of rhinos and elephants perishing in Africa.
The Daily Mail has reported that in the Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe, 81 elephants were found dead. Poachers had poured cyanide granules over natural salt licks where elephants and other game congregate to consume the rich mineral deposits. The elephants had been discovered with their tusks missing, as they'd been ripped out. Hundreds of animals are still at risk in the park.
Read The Guardian's piece about South Africa, where almost 700 rhinos have been killed for their horns in 2013.
Even Hillary and Chelsea Clinton are getting involved to fight illegal ivory trade.
And you, what struck you in the news this week?
Manuella Anckaert, volunteer, New Media Team
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