FROM THE GUARDIAN — THEY SAY COPORATIONS NEED TO LOOK AFTER OUR PLANET

Support the Guardian Support us Fund independent journalism Down To Earth - The Guardian A state-owned coal fired power plant in Guizhou province, southern China. 12/02/2026 Businesses must take responsibility for biodiversity loss – for their sake as much as ours   Patrick Greenfield Patrick Greenfield It feels like groundhog day: another week, another warning about the seriousness of the biodiversity crisis. This time it was the financial sector’s turn, as on Monday a major report, approved by more than 150 governments, said that many companies face collapse unless they better protect nature. From healthy rivers to productive forests, the natural world underpins almost all economic activity. But human consumption of the Earth’s resources is unsustainable, driving what many scientists believe is the largest loss of life since the dinosaurs. And companies are not immune to the consequences. More after this week’s most important reads.   Essential reads Economics has failed on the climate crisis. This complexity scientist has a mind-blowing plan to fix that Economics has failed on the climate crisis. This complexity scientist has a mind-blowing plan to fix that ‘To live a normal life again, it’s a dream come true’: UK’s first climate evacuees can cast off their homes and trauma ‘To live a normal life again, it’s a dream come true’: UK’s first climate evacuees can cast off their homes and trauma ‘We’ve lost everything’: anger and despair in Sicilian town collapsing after landslide ‘We’ve lost everything’: anger and despair in Sicilian town collapsing after landslide   In focus A river delta with green areas, sand and water, and mountains in the background According to an assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the ongoing loss of nature poses a systemic risk to the global economy. Its findings echo much of what we already know: governments subsidise activities driving nature’s destruction by $2.4tn (£1.8tn) each year. In 2023, an estimated $7.3tn of public and private finance flowed into business activities that are harmful to nature, while just $220bn goes to activities that conserve biodiversity. “The loss of biodiversity is among the most serious threats to business,” said Prof Stephen Polasky, co-chair of the IPBES assessment. “The twisted reality is that it often seems more profitable to businesses to degrade biodiversity than to protect it. Business as usual may once have seemed profitable in the short term, but impacts across multiple businesses can have cumulative effects, aggregating to global impacts, which can cross ecological tipping points.” Despite the risks, there is little sign that humanity is responding with the urgency that the science demands. With a few notable exceptions, warnings about the consequences of nature loss for business have gone unheeded. Less than 1% of public companies mention biodiversity in their company impact reports, according to the assessment. A brilliant series of graphics, laid out by my Guardian colleague Alex Clark this week, shows that economic growth has long been tied to pollution and environmental destruction. Eva Zabey, CEO of Business for Nature, a coalition of business associations and companies pushing for greater action on conservation, says: “The IPBES assessment is a scientific reality check: biodiversity loss is now a systemic risk to the global economy and business itself. We have the frameworks. We have the solutions. There is no excuse for inaction. We welcome this report as an urgent wake-up call. Businesses, the financial sector and governments already have access to enough information to turn their intention into impact. Let’s put in place the systems and incentives to make it happen, fast.” It is easy to direct anger at businesses. From the fossil fuel companies driving global heating to extractive companies destroying ecosystems for raw materials, there are obvious examples where stronger action is needed. But the vast majority of companies have bigger immediate problems; indeed, it is unlikely that this assessment will even cross the desk of any major CEO. They need direction from governments and there are more and more examples of backsliding. Just four years ago, almost every government on the planet agreed, at Cop15 in Montreal, to transformational change for nature by the end of the decade. Once again, it seems clear that we will fall short. At the report’s launch, I asked the authors if we can realistically expect meaningful action from businesses while there is such weak leadership from politicians. “I don’t think we can expect businesses to take all the action,” said Matt Jones, a co-chair of the assessment. “That is not what this report says. We do not say that businesses have to act voluntarily. For the change that we really need, we need collective action. And that includes government. They are in an incredible position to set the way for businesses to then respond.” The world desperately needs leadership on nature in the era of Trump. Where will it come from? Read more: ‘It sounds apocalyptic’: experts warn of impact of UK floods on birds, butterflies and dormice Indonesia takes action against mining firms after floods devastate population of world’s rarest ape ‘We thought they would ignore us’: how humans are changing the way raptors behave   Composted reads The good news ‘A beaver blind date’: animals given freedom to repopulate Cornish rivers ‘A beaver blind date’: animals given freedom to repopulate Cornish rivers ‘We can learn from the old’: how architects are returning to the earth to build homes for the future ‘We can learn from the old’: how architects are returning to the earth to build homes for the future Only seven new petrol-powered cars sold in Norway in January Only seven new petrol-powered cars sold in Norway in January The bad news Post-Brexit sales of British farm products to EU fall by 37% Post-Brexit sales of British farm products to EU fall by 37% Outrage after US Congress votes to slash $125m in funding to replace toxic lead pipes Outrage after US Congress votes to slash $125m in funding to replace toxic lead pipes Israel accused of spraying cancer-linked herbicide on farms in southern Lebanon Israel accused of spraying cancer-linked herbicide on farms in southern Lebanon Read more on The Guardian right arrow The most important number of the climate crisis: 427.7 Atmospheric CO2 in parts per million, 5 February 2026 Source: NOAA   Climate hero – Bad River Band of Lake Superior’s Chippewa Tribe Members of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe protest walking down a road with trees on either side Tucked along the south shore of Lake Superior in Wisconsin sits the Bad River reservation. Containing 500 miles (805km) of rivers and 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) of wetlands, it is home to a number of Ojibwe Indigenous tribes. One group working to protect their land from the climate crisis and extraction efforts is the Bad River Band of Lake Superior’s Chippewa Tribe. The group have won a number of awards for protecting their wetlands and, as Oliver Milman reported, were among those who protested against the Enbridge Line 5 oil and natural gas pipeline, saying the 70-year-old pipeline put their way of life in peril. Nominated by reader Genie Stoker If you’d like to nominate a climate hero, email downtoearth@theguardian.com   Climate jargon – Decoupling Smoke billows from a large steel plant as a Chinese labourer works at an unauthorised steel factory in China. Decoupling is the process of breaking the link between economic growth and environmental harm. In other words, finding ways for countries to grow their GDP while reducing their impact on the planet – specifically lowering their fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. There are two types of decoupling: absolute decoupling, where GDP grows and fossil fuel consumption and emissions shrink, and relative decoupling, where fossil fuel consumption and emissions keeps growing, but more slowly than GDP. For more Guardian coverage of decoupling, click here   Picture of the week Courtesy of Hattie Crowther Credit: courtesy of Hattie Crowther Xaymaca Awoyungbo reports for the Guardian this week on a growing club of designers reclaiming football shirts otherwise destined for landfill. From custom jackets to unique headgear, makers such as Hattie Crowther are upcycling discarded shirts, helping the planet in the process. “I’m not here to add more products into the mix,” says Crowther. “I’m here to reframe what’s already in circulation and give it meaning, context and longevity while staying culturally relevant.” For more of the week’s best environmental pictures, catch up on The Week in Wildlife here   Get in touch If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email downtoearth@theguardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/uk Manage your emails | Unsubscribe You are receiving this email because you are a subscriber to Down To Earth. Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU. Registered in England No. 908396

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — A SCOTTISH VOICE IN SCOTLAND TO PROTECT THE WILD

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more A Scottish Voice for Scottish Wildlife A significant step forward for Protect the Wild! ROB POWNALL FEB 12 READ IN APP This is one of those emails I genuinely love writing because it marks a significant step forward for Protect the Wild and for our campaigning work north of the border. Over the past few months, what began as a focused campaign to end the Guga hunt has grown into something much bigger. The more time we have spent in Scotland travelling north, speaking to campaigners, examining the issue in detail, and listening to supporters, the clearer something became. If we are serious about ending the Guga hunt and serious about protecting wildlife across the UK, Scotland needs its own dedicated voice within Protect the Wild. Since our early beginnings, we have predominantly focused on England and Wales. That is where we started, where we built our base, and where much of the political pressure has been needed. But increasingly, more and more of you have contacted us about issues impacting wildlife in Scotland. You have asked us to investigate, to report, and to campaign. As we have spent more time north of the border, we have become increasingly aware of the scale of the challenges animals face there and the need for a sustained presence. So today I am proud to say that Protect the Wild is taking an important next step. Devon Docherty is joining Protect the Wild as our first dedicated campaigner based in Scotland, where she will lead our campaign to end the Guga hunt. Devon studied English Literature and Journalism before completing a Master’s degree in Human-Animal Interactions, where she published academic research on the psychology of animal consumption. She has worked in animal rights education and content creation, including producing pro-animal content with Earthling Ed that has reached millions, and has been actively involved in grassroots campaigning across Scotland for a number of years. Devon said: Scotland is my home, but it belongs to far more than just us. Our incredible landscapes are inseparable from the animals who live in them, yet those animals are still treated as expendable. I’m so excited that Protect the Wild is putting down roots here, giving Scotland’s wildlife a stronger voice at a time when it’s most needed. We're one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and while our leaders talk a good game about fixing that, they're still allowing what little wildlife remains to be hunted, persecuted and culled. That ends here and now. Devon’s primary focus will be leading our campaign to end the Guga hunt. This brutal and outdated practice now has a dedicated campaigner whose role is to build pressure, engage communities, challenge decision-makers, and work towards bringing it to an end. Having someone rooted in Scotland and focused entirely on this work significantly strengthens the campaign and gives it the consistent attention it requires. This appointment is also about the long term. As we expand our Scottish team over the coming months and years, we will take on more issues affecting wildlife in Scotland. We will investigate more, challenge more, and build a stronger presence. This is the beginning of a broader Scottish chapter for Protect the Wild. I also want to be very clear about how this has happened. In the first six weeks of this year alone, 633 people signed up to support Protect the Wild with a monthly donation. That surge in sustained support has given us the stability and confidence to grow. It has allowed us to expand our team and appoint a dedicated Scottish campaigner. This is exactly what monthly support makes possible. It turns ambition into action and plans into permanent capacity. If you are one of the 633 new monthly supporters or someone who has been backing us for even longer, thank you! You have directly helped make this happen. If you are not yet supporting us monthly, I hope you will consider joining today. Regular support is what allows us to plan responsibly, grow sustainably, and build campaigns that do not fade away after a headline. It is what allows us to hire campaigners, expand into new areas, and build a movement that strengthens year after year. Become a monthly supporter This is what building lasting change looks like. It happens step by step because people choose to stand with us consistently. Six hundred and thirty three people already have this year. Let’s keep building. Rob SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM FRIENDS OF THE EARTH — THIS CANNOT BE FAIR — GREEDY COPORATONS SUE OUR GOVERNMENT

View in browser Dear John, Should greedy corporations be allowed to sue the government in secret courts when their climate-wrecking plans are thwarted? We certainly don't think so. But that's exactly what the backers of the cancelled Whitehaven coal mine are doing. And if they win, it'll be us taxpayers who foot the bill. Please sign our petition to demand the UK government puts an end to secret corporate courts. I'LL SIGN THE PETITION Around the world, secret Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) courts let companies sue governments. Shady cases are decided in private, outside normal legal systems. That means fossil fuel companies and other polluters can punish governments for protecting the climate. This is bad for people and planet. It costs us, the public, because compensation comes from taxpayers’ pockets. And the planet pays as climate-protecting laws are weakened. Tell the government to safeguard our climate by bringing secret corporate courts to an end. I'LL SIGN THE PETITION Thanks for standing up for transparency in our courts, Kierra, Campaigner, Friends of the Earth About us Supporter promise Privacy policy Contact us DONATE This email was sent to spanishjohnedwards@gmail.com Want to change how you receive these emails? Unsubscribe from this list We send communications to our supporters who have opted in to receive emails from us. Friends of the Earth Limited. Reg. No. 01012357. Incorporated in England and Wales. Registered office: Friends of the Earth The Printworks 139 Clapham Road London, SW9 0HP United Kingdom Copyright © Friends of the Earth Limited

NET ZERO ‘ET AL’ — STORMS AND RAIN NOW ONCE EVERY 20 YEARS AND NOT ONE IN 80

Support the Guardian Support us Fund independent journalism First Edition - The Guardian Winter weather Feb 9th 2026A flood warning sign on a flooded road in Mountsorrel in Leicestershire. Parts of the UK look set to be soaked by downpours with a yellow warning for rain issued ahead of widespread heavy showers which could drench London, south-east and south-west England and parts of Wales. Picture date: Monday February 9, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire 12/02/2026 Thursday briefing: Britain ​is ​flooding, ​so ​why ​is ​support for ​net ​zero ​drying ​up?   Aamna Mohdin Aamna Mohdin Good morning. It has rained for 40 days and 40 nights. No, I’m not reciting the story of Noah’s Ark, but a tale from the Met Office. In some parts of the UK, the forecaster said it really has rained for 40 days in a row. Devon, Cornwall and Worcestershire have barely had a break. January 2026 was marked by exceptionally high rainfall, particularly in Northern Ireland, which saw its wettest January in 149 years. Southern England recorded its sixth wettest January since records began in 1836. The culprit behind Britain’s endless drizzle is no mystery. At current levels of global heating, the Met Office estimates that very wet winters have shifted from once-in-80-year events to once in every 20 years. And yet, at the very moment the climate crisis feels impossible to ignore, the UK’s sense of urgency on net zero targets and its support for climate policies is falling sharply, according to a major new study. To understand why, and what it means for climate action in Britain, I spoke to Guardian environment editor Damian Carrington. That’s after the headlines.   Five big stories 1 Politics | Female Labour MPs have told Keir Starmer to appoint a woman as his de facto deputy to oversee a “complete culture change” in Downing Street after a series of scandals. 2 Canada | Canadian police have identified the suspect who carried out a school massacre in remote British Columbia as an 18-year-old woman with a history of mental health problems. 3 UK news | An undercover officer who deceived three women into sexual relationships said his superiors did nothing to prevent him from doing so, the spycops public inquiry has heard. 4 US news | A Cheshire woman who was shot dead by her “reckless” father while visiting him in the US after a row about Donald Trump was unlawfully killed, a coroner has ruled. 5 Television | James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for playing the lead in hit 90s teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died. Man buying fruit and veg in Lidl supermarket. UKEYT1JJ Man buying fruit and veg in Lidl supermarket. UK With flood warnings flashing across the country and extreme rainfall becoming the new normal, it might seem baffling that public support for tackling the climate crisis is slipping. But Damian Carrington says the contradiction makes sense when placed within the current economic and political context. “I saw a good quote from someone who was being asked about this, who said ‘how can you expect me to worry about the end of the world when I’m worried about the end of the week?’” Damian says. The UK’s cost of living crisis has been compounded by the successive shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, the latter of which has resulted in a sharp rise in energy prices. “People are having a really difficult time in making ends meet so things that seem like they’re potentially in the future, like climate change, tend to fall to the back seat,” he says. There is historical precedence for this, Damian adds. In 2007, there was a peak in interest in climate change after scientists conclusively blamed humanity for the crisis for the first time. But then the 2008 financial crash came and the salience of climate change in people’s lives dropped off. A growing tide Before we properly dig into why support for reaching net zero is going down, let’s spell out exactly what the study (pdf) says. The study found that just 29% of the public now say the UK should reach net zero before the government’s 2050 target. That’s down from 54% in 2021. At the same time, the proportion who say the UK shouldn’t have a net zero target at all, has jumped from 9% to 26%. The research was carried out by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, Ipsos, and the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations, and is based on a large, nationally representative survey. Support has also fallen across a range of specific policies. Backing for low-traffic neighbourhoods, taxes on frequent flyers, subsidies for electric vehicles and taxes on environmentally damaging foods have all declined. In several cases, opposition now outweighs support, a sharp reversal from just a few years ago. The drop has been steepest among people aged over 55. A weapon in the culture war The falling support for net zero targets cannot be separated from a broader political shift taking place in the UK. “Up until very recently, there was a consensus among the British political parties about the damage the climate crisis is already causing and the urgent need to act,” Damian explains. “But that has been broken in recent years, most notably by Reform in Nigel Farage, but also the Conservative party, which has reversed its position.” Last October, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative party leader, vowed to repeal the Climate Change Act if the Conservatives win the next election, dismantling what has been the cornerstone of green and energy policy for successive Conservative governments. Climate policy has increasingly been pulled into the culture wars. Measures designed to cut emissions, from low-traffic neighbourhoods to heat pumps, have become symbols in wider arguments about the role of the state and personal freedom. Bluntly put, some people don’t like to be told where they can drive in their local neighbourhoods, even if such rules mean the air is clearer for them to breathe. Misinformation is also a huge issue. “When you look at some of the policies that this polling considers, like low-traffic neighbourhoods or electric cars or heat pumps, there’s a great deal of rubbish published about these things, which is having an effect,” Damian says. “People are repeatedly told these things are useless, which they are not. It’s not surprising some people come to believe that.” One of the most powerful and misleading narratives is the idea that the push towards net zero, and especially the development of renewable energy, is to blame for rising energy bills. In reality, the main driver of higher prices has been the soaring cost of gas, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “It’s a complete red herring,” Damian says. “If we didn’t have the renewable energy that is being increasingly built out, Britain would have spent a lot more.” There is also a deeper ideological tension at play. Tackling climate change requires collective action, long-term planning and regulation, all of which sit uneasily with parts of the political right. As climate action becomes framed as an attack on individual freedom, support erodes. Fair and green If public support for climate action is to be rebuilt, fairness has to be at the centre of policy design, Damian says. “Britain, like many countries around the world, is very unequal. The rich are incredibly rich and the poor are really poor,” he argues. “The problem with climate action sometimes is that it requires upfront investment to save money.” He points to heat pumps as a good example. While they can be cheaper to run in the long term, the initial cost can be daunting. Air-source heat pumps cost just over £12,500 to buy and install on average, according to a report published last year. This is about four to five times more than a gas boiler. Without proper support, policies that encourage uptake risk feeling as if they are designed for the well-off. “One of the failings of the last government and the current one is that climate policies have to be affordable and fair for everybody, including people on lower incomes. When that’s not happening, people will react against it,” he says. And while people are experiencing more extreme weather, “there has always been bad weather,” Damian says. “The climate crisis means it’s getting worse. If you’ve never had floods, and suddenly you get floods that you can pin to the climate crisis, that would be different.” The other important factor is that the UK, alongside the US and Australia, hosts powerful fossil fuel companies, and has a strong strain of neoliberal economics, as well as a highly influential rightwing press. Together, those forces make it especially difficult to sustain a broad public consensus on climate action, even as the physical impacts become harder to ignore. But all is not lost. Despite the falling sense of urgency, the study shows a clear majority of the public (64%) still believe the government’s target for net zero should be at least 2050, if not earlier. The challenge now is not just holding on to that consent, but building on it.   What else we’ve been reading L-R: A drone view shows mourners gathering around bodies, the day after a deadly police operation against drug trafficking at the favela do Penha, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 29, 2025. Mourners react as people gather around bodies, the day after a deadly police operation against drug trafficking at the favela do Penha, Police officers escort suspects arrested during the Operacao Contencao (Operation Containment) out of the Vila Cruzeiro favela, in the Penha complex, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 28, 2025. Last October, police in Rio carried out a raid against criminal gang, the Red Command, which left 122 people dead. This in-depth investigation brilliantly unpacks the many lingering questions, while Nesrine Malik’s interview with Tiago Rogero for The Long Wave newsletter explores how the event revealed Brazil’s race and class fissures. Lucinda Everett, newsletters team Simon Hattenstone is a generational talent. His interview with Lisa Nandy has it all: a great news line, funny, and engrossing from start to finish. Aamna Jonathan Liew is searing and incisive on how Reform’s plan to save the great British pub actually means maintaining “a refuge where old white lads can say whatever they like without ever being challenged”. Lucinda We are entering a new age of discovery in the field of ancient history, Marcus Haraldsson writes in this fascinating long read on how new technologies are transforming what we know about Maya civilisation. Aamna “The impossible contradictions around motherhood are a way of making femaleness impossible,” is one of many spot-on insights from Zoe Williams’ interview with Rose Byrne, the star of If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Lucinda The Guardian is a reader-funded news organization that answers to no one other than the public. You can support us here – it’s quick, and any amount helps. Thank you. Support us   Sport Lilah Fear and partner Lewis Gibson of Team Great Britain compete in the Ice Dance at Milano Ice Skating Arena on 11 February, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Winter Olympics | Lewis Gibson did his best to smile, but the pained pinch on the face of his partner, Lilah Fear, as they twirled around the Milan Ice Skating Arena gave the game away. The Team GB pair had dreamed of becoming the first British Olympic skating medallists since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean in 1992. Instead, they endured a nightmare on ice. Football | Premier League | Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal to three points with a 3-0 win against Fulham. Liverpool ended Sunderland’s unbeaten home record, while Sean Dyche has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after a draw with rock‑bottom Wolves. Olympics | Qatar’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games has received a boost with the state-owned broadcaster beIN Sports concluding a media rights deal for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.   The front pages Guardian front page 12 February, 2025 “Select female deputy to end ‘boys club’ in No 10, PM told,” is the splash on the Guardian on Thursday, while the Mail has “Labour women’s fury over second paedophile crisis,” and the Telegraph: “Labour ‘up for’ closer ties with Europe.” “PM knew his peerage pick had backed sex offender,” says the Times. “Andrews faces growing police inquiry into Epstein links,” has the i. “Credit cad,” says the Sun. “UK ‘colonised by migrants’ claims United chief,” is the lead story over at the Express. “Man U Jim ‘racism ‘ storm’”, writes the Star. The Mirror covers the same, running the headline: “Shameful.”   Today in Focus Police officers guard alleged criminals arrested during the Operacao Contencao (Operation Containment) at the Vila Cruzeiro favela, in the Penha complex, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 28 October, 2025. The untold story of Brazil’s deadliest police raid Guardian journalists Tom Phillips and Tiago Rogero investigate the bloodiest day in Rio de Janeiro’s modern history, when police last October attempted to capture a drug kingpin in the favelas.   The Guardian Podcasts   Cartoon of the day | Ben Jennings Ben Jennings cartoon   The Upside A bit of good news to remind you that the world’s not all bad Bats hunting around a lamp post, Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park, France2MGMPW3 Bats hunting around a lamp post, Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park, France Being plunged suddenly into darkness as streetlights switch off around you may, very reasonably, not sound like good news. However, there is a growing trend in Europe of deliberately darkening our evenings – for the sake of our wildlife. In this report on one national park in Belgium (curiously, one of the most light-polluted countries on the planet), Phoebe Weston explains how, across the continent “unnecessary lighting is being extinguished, and a key motivation is to protect nature “Over the past decade an increasing amount of research has shown that illuminating night skies is bad for a wide range of species, including insects, birds and amphibians – disrupting their feeding, reproduction and navigation.” Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday   Bored at work? And finally, the Guardian’s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Martin Belam’s Thursday news quiz Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply   We know, we know, we know… We appreciate that getting these messages can be slightly annoying, but we do our best to send as few (and make them as interesting to read!) as we can. But the truth is, the Guardian survives because of them – thanks to people like you taking the time to read and then generously stepping up to help fund our work. Annoying messages aside, we’re enormously proud to be reader-funded: not only does it keep us going, but it’s what makes the Guardian unlike other news outlets. • Reader funding lets us cover what we like • Reader funding means no chasing clicks and traffic • Reader funding keeps our website open to all We really appreciate your readership and your support. Help power our journalism with a one-off payment or a regular monthly amount of your choice. Thank you. Support us Get in touch If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/uk Manage your emails | Unsubscribe | Trouble viewing? You are receiving this email because you are a subscriber to First Edition. Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU. Registered in England No. 908396

FROM GREEN PEACE — ABOUT THE UKRAINE, RENEWABLES & WHAT THEY ARE ACHIEVING

Greenpeace_Logo_Green_PNG Hola, John: Si este invierno te has quejado alguna vez del frío, imagina lo que puede significar vivir a -17 °C, sin calefacción y, a menudo, sin agua caliente. Esa es hoy la realidad de millones de personas en Ucrania, tras los ataques rusos a la infraestructura energética. En la gran mayoría de hogares y en nuestra oficina en Kiev, la temperatura apenas está por encima del punto de congelación. Muchos supermercados y cafeterías se ven obligados a cerrar porque los generadores diésel no soportan 12-15 horas de funcionamiento continuo. Y mientras nuestros compañeros y compañeras trabajan a oscuras, con solo unas pocas horas de electricidad al día, las sirenas antiaéreas y la amenaza de los drones continúan las 24 horas del día. Y, aun así, en medio de la oscuridad, hay algo que sigue encendiendo la esperanza. Greenpeace Ucrania acaba de completar un proyecto histórico: la reconstrucción verde de un bloque de viviendas en Trostyanets, una ciudad cercana a la frontera rusa. Un edificio que antes estaba gravemente dañado por la ocupación rusa y que hoy funciona con energía geotérmica, solar y bombas de calor. Es el primer bloque de apartamentos en Ucrania totalmente alimentado por energías renovables. Y no es solo eso: es un símbolo del modelo de energía descentralizada y resiliente que sigue funcionando incluso cuando la red central se cae. Energía que no solo ayuda en la lucha contra el cambio climático, sino que también protege vidas. John: hoy, más que nunca, queda claro que romper la dependencia de los combustibles fósiles no es solo una cuestión climática: es una cuestión de paz, seguridad y supervivencia. Por favor, ¿nos ayudas a poder seguir haciendo posibles proyectos como este con tu donación mensual? Pero este no es el único trabajo en el que Greenpeace Ucrania está marcando la diferencia: ✅ Desde hace casi cuatro años, nuestro equipo allí está monitorizando la situación en la central nuclear de Zaporiyia, la mayor de Europa, bajo ocupación militar rusa. Su trabajo ha contribuido a evitar que Rusia ponga en marcha de forma ilegal los reactores nucleares, reduciendo el riesgo de un posible accidente cuyas consecuencias se sentirían en muchos países de Europa, no solo en Ucrania. ✅ Acabamos de finalizar un curso de formación para 30 mujeres como instaladoras de plantas solares. Algunas de ellas ya están trabajando en instalaciones en hospitales. ✅ Hace un año lanzamos el proyecto “Energía solar para Ucrania”, que ya ha proporcionado equipamiento solar a 13 hospitales para que puedan seguir funcionando incluso cuando todo lo demás falla. Hasta en los momentos más oscuros y en las situaciones de mayor vulnerabilidad, avanzar hacia otro sistema basado en las renovables nos da fiabilidad, resistencia y agilidad en el despliegue. Traen luz, calor y la esperanza de un futuro mejor y más verde. John, solo el apoyo de nuestros socios y socias hace posible este trabajo. Con tu ayuda, podemos seguir llevando energía limpia a los hospitales, formar a más personas y ofrecerles oportunidades de empleo, proteger a la población frente a riesgos nucleares y demostrar que un futuro distinto no solo es necesario: es posible. ¿Nos ayudas? Sí, quiero unirme a Greenpeace Gracias por estar del lado de quienes, incluso en las circunstancias más duras, siguen construyendo un futuro más justo y en paz. Un abrazo, Eva Saldaña Directora Ejecutiva de Greenpeace España firma-eva P.D. Greenpeace es una organización independiente que no acepta dinero de gobiernos ni empresas para poder denunciar a todas aquellas personas o instituciones que amenazan el planeta. Solo personas comprometidas como tú hacen posible nuestro trabajo. Hazte socio/a hoy y ayúdanos a seguir luchando por un mundo mejor para las generaciones futuras. Greenpeace, Calle Valores 1, Madrid, España 28007 Darme de baja

FROM THE HUNT SABOTEURS — THE BEAUFORT HUNT BRANDED AS ‘SERIAL KILLERS’ BY BBC CHANEL FOUR

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Beaufort Branded ‘Serial Killers’ By Channel 4 News! Last night, millions watched on in horror as Channel 4 News screened a major report on illegal fox hunting. The piece was largely composed of footage captured by hunt saboteurs in recent weeks and months. WATCH THE VIDEO Some of the most disturbing footage features the Beaufort Hunt – who count the King and Queen amongst their most fervent supporters. Blatant fox hunting at the Beaufort Hunt. Evidence collected since early October shows that fox hunting by the Beaufort is neither accidental nor rare. Instead, it is deliberate, persistent, and organised — involving hunt staff, management, terrier-men, mounted followers, paying subscribers and, more recently, a group of high-visibility-clad sab “stalkers”. Far from isolated incidents, the footage reveals a consistent pattern of behaviour that is simply pre-ban, traditional fox hunting. Sustained Sabbing Reveals the Truth Hunt saboteur groups from Bath, Bristol, Cirencester, Reading and Wiltshire have maintained a near-constant presence at the Beaufort Hunt throughout the season. The use of a thermal drone by Wiltshire Sabs has dramatically increased visibility of what happens beyond public view, exposing multiple fox chases, confirmed kills, and attempts to conceal evidence. This level of documentation does not suggest a hunt behaving unusually badly compared to other hunts; rather, it reveals what happens when a hunt is subject to consistent scrutiny. Furthermore, several attempts by the hunt – including a successful attempt in November 2024 to bring the sabs drone out of the sky– show the lengths the Beaufort will go to conceal the evidence of their cruel criminality. Sopworth: Multiple Foxes Hunted in a Single Day On Saturday 20 December 2025, five foxes were actively hunted during a single Beaufort meet. At Sopworth in north Wiltshire, two foxes were flushed from cover in front of the huntsman, Will Bryer, so close in fact that it leaves no room for plausible deniability. The reality of ‘trail hunting’. Drone footage shows the huntsman deliberately positioning himself at the edge of covert immediately before the first of the two foxes broke cover. Hounds were cast into a wildlife habitat, to deliberately search for foxes. One fox crossed Bryer’s direct line of sight before hounds were later put deliberately onto its line. A second fox then broke cover directly in front of the huntsman and was immediately chased at full cry. During the ensuing pursuit, hounds closed to within a metre of the fox on multiple occasions. The fox escaped only through quick, instinctive manoeuvring and by reaching the larger woodland of Sopworth Brake. Mounted followers then surrounded the wood, rendering claims of ignorance implausible. Rather than drawing hounds away, Bryer later directed them towards the escape route of the first fox. A member of the public subsequently witnessed a fox being chased by hounds across Worcester Avenue. The fate of both foxes remains unknown. Brave fox makes a lightening turn to escape the Beaufort hounds. Kill Confirmed on the Duke’s Estate - one crime a day isn’t enough for the Beaufort. Later that day, drone footage captured the killing of a fox within the Duke of Beaufort’s private estate near Lord’s Copse. The fox was pursued into cover, seized by hounds, and killed. Two terrier-men waiting on quad bikes witnessed the incident and immediately attempted to conceal the body. In a grotesquely farcical scene, one terrier-man retrieved the mangled body and stuffed it down the side of his clothing, awkwardly batting away hounds still biting at the remains. Footage shows him next loading it onto a quad bike and leaving the scene. When foot saboteurs approached, they were met with intimidation and aggression. Public Posturing, Private Reality Just six days later, Bryer appeared across national news coverage for his “rousing” Boxing Day speech, theatrically calling out, “Are you watching?” to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. The implication was clear: minority public support for hunting should override animal welfare law. This performance stood in stark contrast to the documented reality of foxes being chased, torn apart, and concealed only days earlier. Beaufort Hunt riders enjoy illegal fox hunting. Cranmore Farm: Another Kill, Same Pattern - Serial Killers! On 3 January 2026, further drone footage revealed another fox being hunted and killed at Cranmore Farm in south Gloucestershire — property linked to prominent figures close to the Royal Family and just kilometres from the King’s Highgrove residence. Hounds were cast into woodland well before the kill. Quad bikes were used to harass saboteurs, suppress audio evidence, and drive foxes back into cover — standard tactics designed to obstruct sabbing. The huntsman knowingly rode towards a fox hiding in a hedgerow, triggering a predictable flush and chase. At no point did he attempt to stop the hounds. He rode with them until the fox was caught and killed. As hounds tore into the animal, Bryer dismounted and stamped on the fox while dogs still had the dying fox in their jaws, attempting to retrieve the body as a drone approached. Cranmore Creep removes the evidence. Not Isolated. Not Rare. Not Accidental. These incidents occurred within weeks of each other. They are not anomalies. In late November, Wiltshire Sabs arrived at the Fosse Way to find hounds killing a fox in a hedgerow — just fields from the later Cranmore kill. Whipper-in Mitch Prosser removed the remains in a bin bag. Other documented chases, including the widely reported Bremhill incident, further reinforce the pattern. Several cases remain under police investigation. Yet two decades after hunting with dogs was supposedly banned, enforcement remains weak and loopholes persist. Beaufort hounds tear into their victim. Time for the Government to Act The evidence is overwhelming. The Beaufort Hunt is not “accidentally” breaking the law — it is continuing a banned activity in plain sight. Without urgent action to end the loopholes and ban trail hunting outright, fox hunting will continue in all but name. The government should make good on its manifesto promise and get the job done. ‘Trail Hunting’ is a Smokescreen A spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association said: “Once again, ‘trail hunting’ has been exposed as a sham. Several hunts from around the country have now once again, been caught hunting wildlife some 20 years after it was banned. What the public saw on Channel 4 News is only a fraction of what happens every week. Foxes are fed through the summer, hunted in front of paying spectators, and dug out or bolted when they seek refuge. Enormous resources and effort is spent intimidating sabs and hiding evidence of criminality. The government has promised to end this. It must now act to finally dismantle the trail hunting smokescreen that enables this cruelty to continue.” Join the Hunt Saboteurs Association! Support our vital work by becoming a member. Join The HSA Spread the word! Please share our news Share via email Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Logo Copyright (C) 2026 Hunt Saboteurs Association. All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Hunt Saboteurs Association. Our mailing address is: BM HSA, London, WC1N 3XX, U.K. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — PIN BADGES TO SUPPORT OF BANNING THE KILLING OF FOXES

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more A new pin badge to support the fight to end fox hunting FEB 11 READ IN APP We’re super excited to release these gorgeous limited edition pin badges! They’re designed by the talented Ben Sinclair from Fire Lily Studio, the mastermind behind our animations. Buy a Pin Badge 🦊 All funds raised will go towards our ongoing campaign to end hunting with hounds for good. This means continuing to lobby the Govt through online and in-person campaigning, funding equipment for monitors and saboteurs, producing viral animations, monthly hunting news pieces, mental health support for activists.. There’s only 500 available and once they’re gone they’re gone for good! SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing