The Guardian - World news
Jackdaw approval is a step towards a grownup North Sea policy 21 October 2026 at 18:12

Jackdaw approval is a step towards a grownup North Sea policy

21 October 2026 at 18:12

Government decision is about how much oil and gas is sensible for UK to produce on the way to net zero

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Andy Burnham hit the nail on the (well)head in his first fortnight as prime minister when he said: “The question isn’t whether Britain will still be using oil and gas, the question is, where does it come from?”

It was a nod towards several awkward energy facts. First, oil and gas provided 75% of the UK’s energy in 2025, government data shows. Second, even with the rollout of domestic renewables for generating electricity, about 43% of overall energy was imported last year.

The Guardian - Europe
This Norwegian village is one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. How can its people save it? 21 October 2026 at 07:00

This Norwegian village is one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. How can its people save it?

The Guardian - Europe

By: Karen McVeigh in Longyearbyen · Norway

21 October 2026 at 07:00

As glaciers melt and permafrost thaws, Longyearbyen, on the remote Arctic islands of Svalbard, faces climate-induced problems from tap water to housebuilding to landslides

• Heavy metals make Norwegian village’s tap water toxic

On a rugged mountain plateau of snow-dusted rocks, in the remote archipelago of Svalbard, a glaciologist, Andy Hodson, points out the “ears” of ice, white against the rock, that gave Foxfonna glacier its name, after the arctic fox.

The small glacier, on a mountain 8 miles (15km) outside the Norwegian village of Longyearbyen, is a popular summer hike for tourists who come here seeking the Arctic experience.