there is ash falling on my clothes, i can take did in the air, and the whole time there is the thunderous rumble of the volcano in the background. and is climate change accelerateing the loss of biodiversity worldwide? we have a special report as part of the bbc�*s climate critical investigation. the australian state of victoria has been struck by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake. the epicentre was in the regional town of mansfield, about 180 kilometres north east of melbourne. there are reports emerging of significant damage in some parts of the state. you can see on the map just where mansfield lies — it�*s a small town of a few thousand people. but this quake was felt across the state of victoria as well as in canberra and as far as sydney in new south wales. the government agency geoscience australia measured its depth at 10 kilometres. earthquakes of this magnitude are pretty unusual in australia — according to the authorities there are around 100 a year which go above magnitude 3. the australian prime minister, scott morrison, has just spoken from new york. 0n the way in we learned about the earthquake in mansfield in victoria. geoscience australia recorded six, with after—shocks of four and five. we will continue to receive the ports throughout the night. of course the first response has been provided by the victorian government. and the federal government. and the federal government stands by the emergency management to provide whatever assistance is needed. at this stage we have had no reports of serious injuries or worse, and that is very good news. we hope that good news will continue but obviously we will continue but obviously we will get further reports as the night unfolds here in the united states. a very disturbing event, an earthquake of this nature. they are very rare events in australia. and as a result, i�*m sure people would have been quite distressed and disturbed, particularly in the most immediate area affected. i�*m joined now from sydney by our correspondent shaimaa khalil. distressed, but not that much damage. distressed, but not that much damaue. , , ., damage. the shock comes from the fact this _ damage. the shock comes from the fact this is _ damage. the shock comes from the fact this is quite _ damage. the shock comes from the fact this is quite a _ damage. the shock comes from the fact this is quite a rare - the fact this is quite a rare event _ the fact this is quite a rare event in _ the fact this is quite a rare event in australia. especially the magnitude of this one, hitting _ the magnitude of this one, hitting at a level six magnitude. we heard from the government tracker agency geoscience australia that there were _ geoscience australia that there were three tremors within the hour, — were three tremors within the hour, 58, _ were three tremors within the hour, 5.8, then 4.1 and a further— hour, 5.8, then 4.1 and a further after—shock. the epicentre was the further regional town of mansfield near melbourne. really strongly felt across — melbourne. really strongly felt across australia's second city melbourne, currently in lockdown because of a wave of coviii-19— lockdown because of a wave of covid—19. and experiencing some protests— covid—19. and experiencing some protests on the street. but we did see _ protests on the street. but we did see footage on social media of people showing some damage in areas. — of people showing some damage in areas, including chapel street, _ in areas, including chapel street, a _ in areas, including chapel street, a central shopping street— street, a central shopping street with restaurants and shops _ street with restaurants and shops. we saw some rubble there. — shops. we saw some rubble there, not a lot of damage and no injuries— there, not a lot of damage and no injuries immediately reported. also quite dramatic footage — reported. also quite dramatic footage from the australian broadcasting corporation, the abc, _ broadcasting corporation, the abc, showing its tv breakfast presenter is reacting as the earthquake hit. not knowing if it was— earthquake hit. not knowing if it was a — earthquake hit. not knowing if it was a structural issue or a bil it was a structural issue or a big tremor. you could see it shaking _ big tremor. you could see it shaking there. we had reports from _ shaking there. we had reports from local media and a couple of high—rise towers have been evacuated, as reports come in with— evacuated, as reports come in with the — evacuated, as reports come in with the extent of the damage, limited — with the extent of the damage, limited so far. but as you say, we've — limited so far. but as you say, we've also _ limited so far. but as you say, we've also heard it has been felt as— we've also heard it has been felt as far— we've also heard it has been felt as far as canberra, south australia _ felt as far as canberra, south australia and in parts of new south — australia and in parts of new south wales, including where i am in — south wales, including where i am in sydney. south wales, including where i am in sydney-— south wales, including where i am in sydney. thanks very much for bringing _ am in sydney. thanks very much for bringing us — am in sydney. thanks very much for bringing us up _ am in sydney. thanks very much for bringing us up to _ am in sydney. thanks very much for bringing us up to date. - well, this is the moment when abc news breakfast presenters were rocked by the earthquake in the studio in melbourne, let�*s take a look. they didn�*t know what to make of it, did they? must have been very disconcerting. the capital of victoria, melbourne has sustained some damage — abcjournalist madeleine morris is there and joined me a short time ago. this is chapel street in windsor, anyone who has visited will have heard of it as a very famous dining destination. behind my shoulder, i can�*t zoom in on my phone but hopefully you can see behind me the damage to the building. there is a burger bar there, and all of the bricks on top of it have fallen down. fortunately no—one was injured when this happened, no—one in the building above, no—one in the building below. everyone is ok. this is the most visible damage we have heard so far from this massive quake in australia, 5.8 the first one. we actually had a second one about half an hour later, and that was four on the richter scale as well. these are apparently the biggest earthquakes we have felt in victoria since european settlement. it wasn�*t just felt here in melbourne, it was felt as far away as canberra, adelaide and down in tasmania as well. we also spoke to a heart surgeon in victoria who was performing open heart surgery as the quake hit. i was doing a routine coronary bypass operation when it hit. sort of in the crux of the operation. we just felt the whole table, the operating table move. we thought maybe the anaesthetist or one of the nursing staff was actually manoeuvring the table, but even the staff that were not at the operating table, the other nursing staff and the scientists managing the heart—lung machine, they all felt the room moving as well. it was a really bizarre feeling, because it was quite sustained. it probably felt like a minute at least, maybe two minutes. looking around the room, all of the iv poles were moving. some of the clamps were all shaking. clearly it wasn�*t the anaesthetist fiddling with the operating table. i�*ve felt a small earthquake before, but not whilst operating. and obviously in cardiac surgery we are doing a lot of microsurgery with fine movements, so when you have any movement at the table which is not anticipated, it�*s really exacerbated. so an earthquake, which i think i understand was fairly sizeable in magnitude, it was definitely extrapolated and we could feel the effects of that. fortunately we were at a stage of the operation where we could sort of come to a halt and just wait for that to pass, and subsequently carried on and finished the surgery. that is very calm open heart surgery. you rarely get a better stage for addressing the planet than the un general assembly, and president biden has taken he the opportunity to lay out his vision of america�*s position in the world. just weeks after the withdrawal from afghanistan, mr biden talked of relentless diplomacy rather than relentless war. he also stated his case for emerging stronger from the covid crisis, and made commitments to greater american funding for developing countries struggling with the effects of climate change. barbara plett usher has more. his excellency, joseph r bidenjunior, president of the united states... this was president biden�*s chance to show that america is back at the table. we stand, in my view, at an inflection point in history. he called for unity to face growing global threats at a time when many allies are sceptical about america�*s leadership, especially after his largely unilateral decision to withdraw from afghanistan. we�*ve ended 20 years of conflict in afghanistan, and as we close this period of relentless war, we�*re opening a new era of relentless diplomacy. a constant theme was us tensions with china, framed as a defensive democracy versus autocracy, although he never called beijing out by name. we are not seeking a new cold war or a world divided in the rigid blocks. the united states is ready to work with any nation that steps up and pursues peaceful resolution to shared challenges, even if we have intense disagreement in other areas, because we�*ll all suffer the consequences of ourfailure. mr biden�*s debut was seen as a test of american credibility after the confrontational years of donald trump, and by that standard, he offered reassurance. as we look ahead, we will lead. we will lead on all the greatest challenges of our time, from covid to climate, peace and security, human dignity and human rights, but we will not go it alone. this is an opportunity for a reset, but us action on covid and climate change will be crucial for convincing the world that america really is back. barbara plett usher, bbc news, new york. we can now speak to aaron kall, a presidential speech historian and director of debate at the university of michigan. thanks forjoining us. i�*m not sure how this goes down domestically. 0n sure how this goes down domestically. on an international stage, there are plenty of people saying there is a credibility gap at the moment between whatjoe biden is saying and what he�*s doing when it comes to helping allies. , , ., allies. yes, definitely a disconnect. _ allies. yes, definitely a disconnect. the - allies. yes, definitely a disconnect. the words | allies. yes, definitely a - disconnect. the words today were received pretty well, but as you mention, it will be the follow through that will turn out whether it�*s successful and he can regain the credibility he�*s lost in the last several months. climate was such a big topic today, but the domestic infrastructure package is on the ropes right now. a lot of money needed that he pledged today will need to come from congress, so he will have to expend a lot of political capital to get the us government to back up the words he echoed today on the international stage. you have acknowledged _ international stage. you have acknowledged there - international stage. you have acknowledged there is - international stage. you have acknowledged there is a - international stage. you have acknowledged there is a lot l international stage. you have | acknowledged there is a lot of scepticism around what he is saying. do you feel, though, this is becoming a permanent platform, at least? that they will not be much shift in his approach now?— will not be much shift in his approach now? well, certainly it's a big difference _ approach now? well, certainly it's a big difference from - approach now? well, certainly it's a big difference from the l it�*s a big difference from the rhetoric and attitude from president trump and his reception at the united nations. this is more favourable. so he had a low bar in that regard. the first almost year of the biden presidency has been rocky, afghanistan and the lack of consultation when that occurred, to this new nuclear submarine deal between the united states, involving france, australia and even britain... he still has the opportunity to reverse things and get domestic legislative wins which can help him on the issue of climate and covid, but mostly rhetoric now, and requires more action, and we will have to see in the next few months whether he can back up few months whether he can back up the things he said on stage tonight. up the things he said on stage toniaht. , ., , ., tonight. interesting what you say about _ tonight. interesting what you say about donald _ tonight. interesting what you say about donald trump - tonight. interesting what you say about donald trump as i tonight. interesting what you - say about donald trump as well, he is almost a ghost hanging overjoe biden or the united states, for many countries, we recognise that in a democracy, mr trump or someone of his ilk can certainly return. definitely. he is still the standard bearer of the republican party, and in an election today he would likely be the nominee. in some ways thatis be the nominee. in some ways that is a real benefit to president biden. he may not have been able to beat another candidate. president trump is all over the 2022 mid—terms and may be a repeat performance in 2024. president trump talked about getting rid of nato, and article five commitments. president biden stressed the importance of that today, international co—operation over covid. we saw the speech followed up with the president of china also, pretty strong on climate. so yes, having him as a foil is very beneficial internationally, kind of put up against him, so that definitely has been one of his biggest benefits. but he has to have his own path and deliver, in absence of that threat potentially looming... thank ou potentially looming... thank you very _ potentially looming... thank you very much- _ potentially looming. .. thank you very much. thank- potentially looming... thank you very much. thank you i potentially looming... thank | you very much. thank you for being with us. stay with us on bbc news, still to come. lots of promises made at the un general assembly by world leaders on climate change — but will it be enough for those on the climate change frontline? we get the view from a nation that�*s in danger of disappearing. benjohnson, the fastest man on earth, is flying home to canada in disgrace. all athletes should be clean going into the games. i�*m just happy that justice is served. it is a simple fact that this morning, these people were in their homes. tonight, those homes have been burnt down by serbian soldiers and police. all the taliban positions along here have been. strengthened, presumably. in case the americans invade. it�*s no use having a secret service which cannot preserve its own secrets against the world, and so the british government has no option but to continue this action, even after any adverse judgment in australia. concorde had crossed the atlantic faster than any plane ever before, breaking the record by six minutes. this is bbc news, the latest headlines. a 5.8—magnitude earthquake strikes southern australia. emergency services receive calls about the tremors from melbourne, canberra and sydney. president biden promises a new era of �*relentless diplomacy�* instead of �*relentless war�* — as he delivers his first presidential address to the un general assembly. every week at this time, we home in on a key issue of climate change in our climate critical slot. this week, we�*re looking at the link between climate change — and life on our planet. it�*s increasingly clear that global warming accelerates the loss of biodiversity worldwide. that means more than a million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction. wildlife populations have dropped on average by 68% since 1970 — an unprecedented decline. and damage to our ecosystems has a direct impact on livelihoods, food security and health. experts point out that protecting those ecosystems is one of the best ways to counter climate change. healthy forests store carbon, mangrove swamps absorb flood water and elephants act as ecosystem engineers, excavating waterholes and fertilising land. but money is the key. for every dollar governments spend on nature, four dollars is spent on subsidies for agriculture, forestry and fisheries that exploit and degrade it. marco lambertini is the director general of wwf international. thanks very much indeed for joining arts. so what is the cost of reversing this trend, and how likely are we to get it? , ., ., ., it? first of all, today's event. _ it? first of all, today's event, with _ it? first of all, today's event, with more - it? first of all, today's event, with more thanj it? first of all, today's i event, with more than 90 it? first of all, today's - event, with more than 90 heads of state subscribing is a great signal that the nature loss is at the top of the political agenda alongside climate change. it is considered as dangerous as climate change. it's dangerous as climate change. it�*s really important, because we need to be carbon neutral but also a nature positive society at the same time. sorry to interruot. — society at the same time. sorry to interrupt, but _ society at the same time. sorry to interrupt, but that _ society at the same time. sorry to interrupt, but that is - society at the same time. sorry to interrupt, but that is a - to interrupt, but that is a good point, nature positive is not a craze that springs to mind. carbon neutral very much is. you have been sort of a poor relation of the climate change is due. —— not a phrase that springs to mind. change is due. -- not a phrase that springs to mind.— that springs to mind. yes, and we believe _ that springs to mind. yes, and we believe the _ that springs to mind. yes, and we believe the world _ that springs to mind. yes, and we believe the world needs . that springs to mind. yes, and we believe the world needs to | we believe the world needs to embrace a global goal for nature, embrace a global goalfor nature, as we have with climate. the two together will support each other. as you said earlier, there is no way we can address climate change without protecting nature, and climate change is one of the main drivers of nature loss. so that connection is very clear and is a new dimension in the political debate.- a new dimension in the political debate. and one of the critical _ political debate. and one of the critical areas _ political debate. and one of the critical areas would - political debate. and one of. the critical areas would seem to be the 30 by 30, protecting 30% of the earth�*s land and ocean by 2013. it has a very neat ring to it. does it have a scientific basis? —— by 2030. yes, unless we reverse the loss of forests and wildlife, but also the ocean, overfishing, some of these ecosystems will reach a tipping point and start degrading on their own. we have to stop that by protecting at least 30% globally of the nature that is left on the planet, but also managing sustainably the rest. that is an important point, because we have to change the way we produce and consume food. with the technology we have, the regulations we need to put in place, with the funding we need to redirect. to not destroy the environment, to develop but not destroy. environment, to develop but not destro . . , , environment, to develop but not destro . ., , , , destroy. that suddenly sounds so desperately _ destroy. that suddenly sounds so desperately difficult, - destroy. that suddenly sounds so desperately difficult, to - so desperately difficult, to change some of the things which are the absolute base plates of our civilisation. it are the absolute base plates of our civilisation.— our civilisation. it is difficult, _ our civilisation. it is difficult, but - our civilisation. it is difficult, but first i our civilisation. it is difficult, but first of our civilisation. it is i difficult, but first of all our civilisation. it is - difficult, but first of all we understand it is necessary. that is a major cultural revolution. we have taken nature for granted, and now we understand the consequences of nature loss for us, as well as climate change, are disastrous. the cost is much higher than the several hundred billion dollars we need to spend to fix nature loss. today we spent an equivalent amount of what�*s needed to save nature on the planet in the wrong way. giving subsidies to agriculture, which destroys the soil, and subsidising overfishing destroys the soil, and subsidising over fishing and forestry that is not sustainable. we need to redirect to sustainable practices. the money is there, we need to spend it better. i5 we need to spend it better. is the will there to thank you. we�*ve been hearing about what the world�*s two super powers, china and america, have committed to do to fight global warming. but will these pledges help the countries that are literally on the frontline of climate change? tuvalu is an island nation in the pacific ocean that has suffered due to increased temperatures and rising sea levels. samuelu laloniu is tuvalu�*s ambassador to the united nations. the commitment to the us, by the us, will help in that direction, but we need a lot more assistance to small island states. the costs are much more than the 100 billion that has been committed to. what is the risk — what is at stake, rather, if these countries that have pledged to put money into this fund don�*t end up sticking to their promises? paint us a picture of what that means for countries like yours. well, for a country like ours, we really very much depend on global solidarity in addressing this issue, because we need everybody, every hands on board. if the $100 billion is not met, that means we will not be able to carry out our adaptations, our needs. like i said before, we are already living the impact, the future impact of climate change as we speak. my country is one of the four atoll nations in the world, no more than two metres above sea level. a recent report estimated that we would be submerged in 100 years. so if we cannot adapt to climate change, or countries are not able to commit to the financial commitments in the paris agreement, then we are talking about our statehood. mass climate displacement. danjohnson has the latest from la palma. 0n la palma�*s volcanic hillsides, it�*s time to move. more families and more communities are packing up and getting out. "i don�*t even know where to take my things," this woman says. the flames and the lava are really close. being here forjust a couple of minutes, you get a sense of the risk, because there is ash falling on my clothes, i can taste it in the air, and the whole time there is the thunderous rumble of the volcano in the background. that is why people are loading up and going. but leaving is painful and there is a sense of panic at times. this man desperately helping his dad, who has lived here for over 40 years and can�*t believe it�*s ending like this. translation: i am angry with the authorities. - we could have done this without so much stress, without running. i don�*t know where i am going to live, and now what? this is what. more homes destroyed, more communities that will have to be abandoned. and here is the molten lava on the move, a slow motion menace, inching relentlessly downhill. this is a live geology lesson in nature�*s unstoppable forces, and it�*s notjust property. everything here has been shaken. hello there. another warm day in the offing for many with spells of sunshine once the early mist and patchy, dense fog clears away. however, further north we do have a different complexion to the weather for the day ahead. some cloudy skies with some rain, heavy to start and the risk of an autumnal gales just on cue for the autumn equinox. that�*s all being brought by this advancing area of clouds, it�*s a low pressure system. we do have a weaker weather front ahead of it. so, in contrast, it will be quite a mild start in the north whilst it could be a little bit chilly down to seven or eight in the south. it is here we will see the best of the sunshine once that mist and fog clears away, particularly for the far south. a little bit more cloud for england and wales and the odd spot of drizzle first thing, but that clears away. this is the main rain player through the day, the northwest highlands and the islands initially. it will tend to turn a little bit lighter as it pushes southward, some brightness ahead of it and some brighter weather with showers following behind. but a breezy day even in the south as well, and the winds do escalate towards the evening. so, temperature wise, a cooler day, we are into cooler air behind that weather front, but as recent days, 22 to possibly 23 in the spots in the south and east. through the evening overnight look at those showers packing in, the winds really strengthen, there is a risk of gales across the far north and west and a cooler feel. while further south, our weather front starts to introduce a bit more cloud, so it will be milder here as we start thursday morning. a little bit of mistiness and the odd patch of fog. we still got that high—pressure close by, but you can see that deep area of low pressure whisking away toward scandinavia. behind it is just introducing that cooler air for a time. but it is just a brief incursion of chilly airfor the far north. i think you will notice a temperature dip a little bit in southern areas as well, with some cloud coming and going but still plenty of dry and bright weather. 0ur weather front, however, just bringing the increased risk of drizzly, cloudy weather into northern and western areas. so, temperaturesjust a degree or so down on those that we are going to see through the day ahead. but then, the wind turns back to the southwest. in fact, by the weekend it�*s turning towards the south actually. so, dragging that warmer air back to all parts. and some fairly settled weather, but always the risk of some showery rain out towards the west. as ever, there�*s more on our website. bye— bye. this is bbc news. the headlines: an earthquake has struck the australian state of victoria, causing significant damage to buildings. the epicentre was in the regional town of mansfield, about 180 kilometres north east of melbourne. hundred of people have been evacuated. emergency services say there has been significant damage in some parts of the state. president biden has used his first address at the united nations general assembly — to promise a new era of "relentless diplomacy" instead of "relentless war". mr biden said that battling climate change and coronavirus will not be defeated by a force of arms, or a new cold war. authorities in la palma, in the canaries, are stepping up evacuation efforts as a volcano on the island continues to erupt. at least 100 homes have been destroyed — and more are being threatened. local officials say explosions of toxic gasses could be triggered when the lava reaches the sea. now on bbc news, panorama investigates football�*s broken dreams. crowds back at wembley. it already feels as if football�*s come home... in comes sterling! this summer, football almost came home. and we were introduced to a new generation of england stars. but panorama�*s been investigating a darker side of the beautiful game. i would be on my phone on the way to training, crying, saying how much i didn't want to go. the football academies where superstars are made, but dreams are also broken. he ripped my heart out. his mental health went downhill.