World on track to dangerous warming as emissions hit record high: UN
Scientists are in broad agreement that warming above 1.5C relative to pre-industrial times risks catastrophic consequences, and every effort must...
Geostrategy
UN plastic pollution treaty talks floundering, with countries wildly at odds
Geneva, Switzerland - Talks on forging a groundbreaking treaty to combat the scourge of plastic pollution were floundering Saturday, with...
Science
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.
Business
Energy companies to test CO2 capture in Brazil undersea oil field
PARIS, FRANCE - A consortium of Brazilian, British, French and Chinese energy firms will test new technology aimed at capturing CO2...
- The pilot unit will separate oil from CO2-rich natural gas at the bottom of the ocean and reinject the gas directly into the reservoir, TotalEnergies said.
- The company said the high pressure subsea separation (HISEP) technology has the potential to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions.
Makkah region sees 600% surge in green spaces within 5 months
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - There has been a 600% increase in green spaces in Makkah region from August to December...
- Remote sensing data analysis revealed that the total area of vegetation cover in Makkah in August was 3,529.4 square kilometers
- This area gradually rose over the following months with increased rainfall, reaching 26,256 square kilometers by the end of the year
Japan quake toll rises to 62 as weather hampers rescuers
The 7.5-magnitude quake on January 1 that rattled Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu triggered tsunami waves more...
- The regional government of Noto Peninsula announced Wednesday that 62 people had been confirmed dead and more than 300 injured, 20 of them seriously
- JMA said the quake which triggered a major tsunami warning, had a magnitude of 7.6 and was one of more than 400 to shake the region through Wednesday morning
Geostrategy
Jordan takes steps to raise position in Global Food Security Index, says minister
AMMAN, JORDAN - Agriculture Minister Khaled Al-Hneifat said the ministry has been working hard over the past year to create...
- One of the points to achieve this goal are the creation of a national database for food security.
- The other is the issuance of a unique system for the Food Security Council, the minister said.
Race against time after deadly Japan quake
The 7.5-magnitude quake, which hit Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu, triggered tsunami waves more than a meter...
- USGS said the quake had a magnitude of 7.5. Japan's meteorological agency measured it at 7.6 and said it was one of more than 150 to shake Noto peninsula
- Almost 33,000 households were without power in the region, which saw temperatures touch freezing overnight, the local energy provider said
Geostrategy
Sheikh Hamdan issues resolution regulating single-use products in Dubai
DUBAI, UAE - Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive...
- The aim of the resolution is to protect the environment, encourage people to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle.
- The move also aims to encourage the private sector to promote the use of recycled products.
Business
GCC forges ahead in sustainable tech initiatives
In 2023, the Gulf countries made a strong push towards renewable energy and pioneering green hydrogen projects, signaling a significant...
- In 2023, the Gulf countries made a strong push towards renewable energy and pioneering green hydrogen projects, signaling a significant green transition in the region.
- The GCC's commitment to sustainable technology initiatives, including advancements in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and smart city solutions, make it a global leader.
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World on track to dangerous warming as emissions hit record high: UN
Scientists are in broad agreement that warming above 1.5C relative to pre-industrial times risks catastrophic consequences, and every effort must...
Geostrategy
Company News
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
Arts & Culture
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Morocco volunteers on Sahara clean-up mission as part Nomads Festival
M'HAMID EL GHIZLANE, Morocco - It may be the gateway to the vast Sahara desert, but that does not mean...
Economy
Nations divided ahead of decisive week for shipping emissions
London, United Kingdom -- Members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are divided over whether to approve a carbon tax on...
Geostrategy
‘AI saved 1.5 billion liters of water, cut carbon emissions equivalent to 1 million trees in Saudi Arabia’
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Artificial intelligence (AI) has contributed to saving 150 million sheets of paper and conserving 1.5 billion...
Most Read
Plastic pollution talks South Korea fail to reach landmark deal
Busan, South Korea - Deeply divided negotiators failed on Sunday to reach a landmark global treaty to curb plastic pollution, missing...
- For a week, delegates from nearly 200 nations meeting in South Korea have wrestled with how to stop millions of tonnes of plastic waste entering the environment each year
- Plastic pollution is so ubiquitous that microplastics have been found on the highest mountain peak, in the deepest ocean and throughout almost every part of the human body
Saudi Arabia hosts UN talks on drought, desertification
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia will host the COP16 UN conference on land degradation and desertification next week as the...
- The subject of desertification is close to home for the Gulf kingdom, which has one of the biggest deserts on the planet
- Land degradation disrupts ecosystems and makes land less productive for agriculture, leading to food shortages and spurring migration
World reaches $300 bn climate finance deal at COP29
A group of 134 developing countries had pushed for at least $500 billion from rich governments to build resilience against...
- Nations grappled with bridging divides over how much wealthy, high-polluting countries should pay poorer nations most affected by climate change
- A group of 134 developing countries had pushed for at least $500 billion from rich governments to build resilience against climate change