Solar, wind costs could fall up to 59 percent by 2025, study says

Tropical depression forms off Mexico’s southern coast
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A tropical depression has formed off the southern coast of Mexico, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Monday, adding it was expected to become a tropical cyclone within 48 hours.

Prosecutor in Cincinnati gorilla case to decide on charges against family
(Reuters) – The Cincinnati prosecutor is due to announce Monday whether criminal charges will be filed against the family of a 3-year-old boy who fell into a gorilla exhibit at the city’s zoo, forcing officials to kill an endangered primate to rescue the child.

Abundant Ivory Coast rains expected to improve cocoa crop
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Abundant rain mixed with sunshine last week in most of Ivory Coast’s main cocoa growing regions will help the April to September mid-crop finish strongly, although farmers in some areas feared humidity could cause diseases.

Offshore wind can match coal, gas for value by 2025: RWE, E.On, GE, others
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Eleven energy and technology firms said on Monday offshore wind can be as cheap as gas and coal within a decade, but said European nations must do more to ensure a stable legal framework to inspire investment in zero carbon generation.

Groups urge U.S. Congress to reject TPP over environmental concerns
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than 450 groups on Monday called on Congress to reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) if it comes up for a vote this fall, saying the trade deal would allow fossil fuel companies to contest U.S. environmental rules in extrajudicial tribunals.

Berlin says no EU accord on license for weed-killer glyphosate
BERLIN (Reuters) – European Union member states failed to agree on a proposal for a limited extension of the license for the pesticide glyphosate, used in Monsanto’s Roundup, a spokeswoman for the German environment ministry said on Monday.

Save the last dance for me: Being cute not enough for this spider when choosing a mate
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A Sydney scientist has discovered seven new species of the tiny Australian peacock spider – a spectacularly colored, three-millimetre arachnid that dances to attract a female mate.

Sydney storms have silver lining for big wave daredevils
SYDNEY (Reuters) – The heavy storm that battered eastern Australia over the weekend had a major silver lining for a bunch of big wave surfers in the south of Sydney on Monday.

Philippine regulator: Half of 44 metal mines frequently violate environmental rules
MANILA (Reuters) – Around two dozen Philippine metallic mines have repeatedly breached environmental rules and been identified in a list to be submitted to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, the industry regulator said on Monday.

Australian storm disrupts everything from internet to shipping
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A weekend of wild weather in Australia disrupted everything from the internet to shipping and banking, while pummeling coastal towns and exposing insurance companies to hefty payouts.

Cleanup underway after Oregon train carrying oil derailed
(Reuters) – Most of the cars from a Union Pacific train carrying crude oil that derailed and burst into flames in Oregon on Friday have been removed and the remaining oil will be hauled away on flatbed trucks, a spokesman for the company said on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Colin threatens Florida, southeastern U.S.
(Reuters) – A tropical depression threatening Florida and parts of the southeastern United States with severe thunderstorms was upgraded on Sunday to Tropical Storm Colin by the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Storms menace East Coast; Florida under tropical storm warning
TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) – While the U.S. West Coast sweated in a heat wave, forecasters warned of severe thunderstorms along the East Coast on Sunday and issued a tropical storm warning for Florida’s Gulf Coast

Southern California brush fire threatens homes, prompts evacuations
(Reuters) – A brush fire outside Los Angeles was threatening thousands of homes and has prompted mandatory evacuation of local residents, authorities said on Saturday.

Australia flooding forces hundreds into evacuation centers
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Torrential rain and high winds battered Australia’s east coast on Sunday, leaving up to 26,000 homes without power while flooding forced hundreds of people into evacuation centers.

French PM Valls says Seine river stable after floods kill four
PARIS (Reuters) – Floods that inundated parts of France this week, killing four and forcing thousands from their homes, could start easing as the Seine river stabilized after reaching a peak on Saturday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said.

Environmental crime growing at ‘alarming pace’: police body
RIO DE JANEIRO (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Criminal gangs are plundering the Earth’s natural resources faster than previously thought, with the value of environmental crimes estimated to be as high as $258 billion annually, U.N. and police officials said on Saturday.

Illegal poaching, logging and mining worth up to $258 billion: report
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Illegal logging, mining, poaching and other environmentally destructive trade earned criminal gangs up to $258 billion last year, the United Nations said in a report published on Saturday.

U.S. environmental groups question Arch Coal’s bankruptcy exit plan
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A coalition of U.S. environmental groups said Arch Coal’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy fails to describe how the coal producer would finance its mine clean-up obligations, according to a court filing.

Bonnie again becomes tropical storm: U.S. National Hurricane Center
(Reuters) – Bonnie returned to tropical storm status after weakening earlier this week, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Friday.

Under attack from beetles, ancient Polish forest faces chop
BIALOWIEZA, Poland (Reuters) – Inside Poland’s ancient Bialowieza Forest, birds chirp and bison graze as visitors explore the lush green surroundings, a home to boars, beavers, lynx – and beetles.

Luxembourg sets aside 200 million euros to fund space mining ventures
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Luxembourg on Friday upped its bid to be a leader in the nascent space mining industry by setting aside 200 million euros ($223 million) to fund initiatives aimed at bringing back rare minerals from space.

EU transport ministers to debate defeat device loophole -document
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU transport ministers will debate next week whether there is an urgent need to close loopholes in EU regulations that allow defeat devices in car engines under certain circumstances, according to a document seen by Reuters.