Almost half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought
Paris, France - Europe and the Mediterranean basin has been hit by a long-lasting drought covering over 45 percent of...
Economy
UN summit to tackle ’emergency’ in world’s oceans
Nice, France - A global summit on the dire state of the oceans kicks off Monday in France, with calls...
Science
Business
Climate change parches Morocco breadbasket amid policy pitfalls
Berrechid, Morocco -- Around this time every year, Moroccan wheat farmer Abderrahim Mohafid is usually preparing for his spring harvest, but...
- Morocco has seen only about half the rainfall it did during the same period last year, the country's water minister Nizar Baraka told AFP.
- The sector accounts for 14 percent of Morocco's exports, with exported produce seen as more profitable than that sold in domestic markets.
Business
Barclays bank to stop financing new oil, gas projects
London, United Kingdom -- British bank Barclays said Friday it would stop directly financing its energy clients' new oil and gas...
- The bank added it would scale back lending for existing fossil fuel projects as the sector faces intense pressure from activist investors to help tackle climate change.
- The British lender's move to curb financing of oil and gas projects follows similar announcements from European bank heavyweights BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, HSBC and ING.
Science
Scientists in UK create new fusion record
LONDON, UK - Scientists in Britain announced on Thursday they had smashed a record for generating fusion energy in the final...
- Over 300 scientists and engineers from EUROfusion contributed to JET's landmark experiments over 40 years.
- Proponents believe it could one day help tackle climate change by providing an abundant, safe and clean source of energy.
Science
World sees first 12 months above 1.5C warming level, says climate monitor
PARIS, FRANCE - Earth has endured 12 consecutive months of temperatures 1.5C hotter than the pre-industrial era for the first time...
- Recent months have seen a global onslaught of extremes, including devastating drought gripping the Amazon basin
- The UN's IPCC climate panel had already warned that the world will likely crash through 1.5C in the early 2030s.
Geostrategy
EU seeks 90 percent drop in greenhouse emission by 2040
Strasbourg, France - The EU on Tuesday urged a 90-percent cut to its greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, even as the...
- The 27-nation European Union is already working towards an interim target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030.
- However, rising discontent could deal it a tougher time in trying to get the 2040 goal of 90 percent cuts adopted.
Paris Olympics’ organizers worry heatwave can spell trouble for games
A new study presenting "climate simulations to anticipate worst-case heatwaves during the Paris 2024 Olympics" has focused minds after it...
- Organizers of the Paris Olympics, which will run from July 26 to August 11, say they are "fully aware" of the climate-related risks to the Games
- Operational teams have run simulations looking at the consequences of shifting some outdoor events to earlier or later start times to avoid the heat
Economy
Embracing renewables secures UAE’s green future
"COP28 saw all parties reach an agreement on the historic ‘UAE Consensus.’ This consensus includes achieving a well-organized, responsible, fair,...
- UAE, under Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber's leadership, actively promotes global renewable energy.
- The 'UAE Consensus' at COP28 sets specific goals for a zero-carbon energy system, Al Jaber adds.
Business
France flooded with applications for electric car leasing scheme
Paris, France - The French government has been flooded with applications from low-income households to lease a subsidized electric car from...
- Some 90,000 people have applied to the scheme since the start of the month, French Environment Minister Bechu said.
- President Emmanuel Macron unveiled the plan on social media in December as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions in France.
Economy
Saudi Arabia to highlight role in dealing with global challenges at WEF meet
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef said that the Kingdom’s participation in the...
- Saudi Arabia’s participation in the annual meet underscores its pivotal role in the transition toward carbon neutrality.
- The Kingdom’s engagement provides an opportunity for communication with key players in the private sector globally.
Geostrategy
2023 hottest recorded year as Earth nears critical threshold
PARIS, FRANCE - The year of 2023 was the hottest on record, with the increase in Earth's surface temperature nearly crossing...
- Climate change intensified heatwaves, droughts and wildfires and pushed the global thermometer 1.48 C in 2023 above the preindustrial benchmark.
- Nearly half of 2023 exceeded the 1.5C limit, beyond which climate impacts are more likely to become self-reinforcing and catastrophic, said scientists.
Almost half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought
Paris, France - Europe and the Mediterranean basin has been hit by a long-lasting drought covering over 45 percent of...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
‘Moment of truth’ for world-first plastic pollution treaty
Bangkok, Thailand - Plastic pollution litters our seas, our air and even our bodies, but negotiators face an uphill battle next...
Divided G20 fails to agree on climate action, Ukraine war escalation dominates Rio summit talks
G20 leaders in Rio failed to resolve UN climate talks deadlock, merely stating funding for developing countries battling global warming...
COP29: Why new climate pledges need ambition, finance and action to succeed
Major emitters must take the lead, but every nation has a role in addressing the climate crisis. Success hinges on...
Most Read
How harmful are microplastics to human health?
A New England Journal of Medicine study found microplastics in blood vessels are linked to higher risks of heart attack,...
- These tiny pieces of plastic have been detected almost everywhere on Earth, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, as well as in the air, water, soil and food chain
- Every day humans ingest, inhale or otherwise come in contact with microplastics, which are less than five millimetres (0.2 inches) and mostly invisible to the naked eye
UN biodiversity conference in Colombia: what’s at stake?
Paris, France - The world's pledges to halt humankind's destruction of nature will be put to the test when the 16th...
- The COP16 is the first meeting of the international community since the adoption two years ago of an unprecedented roadmap to stop humankind's destruction of nature
- But putting that agreement into practice risks not moving fast enough to stop the destruction of land, oceans and species by a 2030 target date
Can biodiversity credits unlock billions for nature?
Paris, France - For supporters, biodiversity credits could unlock billions in much-needed funding for nature, but critics fear a repeat of...
- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has mooted a global fund for rainforest conservation that considers paying countries for forest areas that are protected or restored
- Many environment groups are wary, fearing money generated from biodiversity credits will not benefit conservation or indigenous communities living closely with nature