Poisoning Earth and our terrible fate, if, if, if

Glacier Collapse Buries Swiss Village

That Voted Against Climate
Change Policies

May 30th, 2:23pm

(teleSUR)

In this European country, Alpine glaciers alone lost

10% of their volume..... between 2022 and 2023.

On Wednesday, the Swiss village of Blatten was buried under

an avalanche of ice, rocks and mud triggered by the melting

of a nearby glacier. However, its residents were saved...

thanks to an early warning system.

“Neither the landscape nor the village will ever be the

same again, but this showed how we can use

forecasts and alerts to save lives,” said

Clare Nullis, spokesperson ----- for the

World Meteorological Organization.

Between 2022 and 2024, scientists recorded the fastest

retreat of glaciers ever observed on the planet. Based

on global data compiled during this period, the World

Glacier Monitoring Service estimates that glaciers

have lost more than 9 trillion tons of ice.

“That’s equivalent to a gigantic mass of ice the size of

Germany and 25 metres thick,” Nullis said, adding

that Alpine glaciers alone lost 10% of their

volume between 2022 and 2023.

In Blatten, located in the canton of Valais, the threat -- remains.

But now it comes not from the Birch Glacier, which destroyed

the village two days ago, but from a lake formed by the

waters of the Lonza River, now blocked by debris

that tumbled down from the heights.

Paradoxically, the residents of this Swiss village

had ignored scientific warnings ------ about the

imminent consequences of climate change.

Earlier this year, the Green Party brought a proposal

to referendum titled - “For a Responsible Economy

Within the Limits of Our Planet” - which aimed to

introduce consumption restrictions --- to raise

the sustainability of human societies.

The question ---- “Should the Swiss economy respect the

planet’s limits?” was put to voters in 23 Swiss cantons.

More than 2.1 million citizens cast their ballots,

and 69.7% rejected the initiative. In Blatten,

the rejection was nearly unanimous:

91% of voters said “No.”

“The rejected proposal --- aimed to adjust the Swiss economy

to global limits within 10 years. The core idea was to limit

consumption ----- to what the planet can regenerate. The
government, parliament and business circles all urged

people to vote no,” recalled Argentine journalist

Andres Actis.

“The concept of planetary boundaries defines nine thresholds

that must not be crossed in order for humanity to live within

a safe ecosystem. These limits include climate change,

biodiversity loss, freshwater use, land use, nitrogen

and phosphorus emissions, ocean acidification,

atmospheric aerosols, ozone layer depletion

and chemical pollution,” he explained.

So far, Earth has already crossed six of those nine

planetary boundaries, according to the 2024

Planetary Health Check Report.

____________________________________

South Africa: Financial management

of biodiversity protection improved

May 27th, 9:43am

(Prensa Latina)

South African National Parks (SANParks)

launched its first Biodiversity Offset

Bank ---- in the capital.

In a statement, the government organization emphasized that

biodiversity offsets are a viable and innovative financing

mechanism for the expansion and management of

protected areas. “SANParks’ collective efforts to

finance and secure the future of our nation’s

extraordinary biodiversity are evident in

this unique opportunity to expand our

network of protected areas -- while

driving economic development,”

the statement noted.

The SANParks Biodiversity Offset Bank, the first of its kind in

South Africa, offers the country the opportunity to expand

and improve protected area management and help

developers achieve their environmental, social,

and governance objectives, while supporting

the State ----- in promoting inclusive and

sustainable economic growth.

SANParks’ Vision 2040 focuses on building sustainable,

inclusive protected areas designed to intentionally

benefit both people and the environment, the

document highlights.

Its cornerstone is the development of living megascapes:

large areas where conservation catalyzes social and

economic development.

____________________________________________

U.S. Seeks to Eliminate

Greenhouse Gas Limits

on Power Plants

May 26th, 11:33am

(teleSUR)

The EPA argues that gases from fossil fuel power plants

do not contribute significantly to climate change.

On Saturday, The New York Times published a report showing

that the U.S. administration is advancing plans to eliminate

all federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal

and gas-fired power plants across the United States.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drafted

a regulation -- arguing that carbon dioxide and other

greenhouse gases from fossil fuel power plants

“do not contribute significantly to dangerous

pollution” or climate change, the report

said, citing the EPA’s documents

sent to the White House for

review on May 2.

The proposal directly contradicted established climate science

and the agency’s own data. According to the EPA’s Sources

of Greenhouse Gas Emissions website, power plants were

responsible for roughly 25% of U.S. greenhouse gas

emissions in 2022, making them the second-

largest source of heat-trapping gases...

behind transportation.

Moreover, these facilities emitted approximately 1.36 billion

metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2023, exceeding the

total emissions of most countries worldwide.

“Fossil fuel power plants are the single largest industrial source

of climate destabilizing carbon dioxide in the United States,”

said Vickie Patton, general counsel for the Environmental

Defense Fund.

She called the proposed regulation “an abuse of the EPA’s

responsibility under the law,” adding that it “flies in the

face of common sense and puts millions of people

in harm’s way.”

The EPA’s justification, centred on an argument that U.S. power

sector emissions represented only about 3% of worldwide

greenhouse gases in 2022, down from 5.5% in 2005.

Agency officials contended that even if US power

plants eliminated all their greenhouse gas

emissions, the global public health risks

would not be “meaningfully” improved.

However, climate scientists overwhelmingly reject this

reasoning. According to the United Nations Climate

Action website, fossil fuels account for more than

75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and

nearly 90% of carbon dioxide emissions.

The power plant deregulation represents the latest phase in

the Donald Trump administration’s comprehensive assault

on climate policies. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin

announced on March 12 what he called “the

most consequential day of deregulation

in American history,” targeting more

than 30 environmental measures

established in Biden's time.

The Trump administration has already moved to terminate US

$20 billion - in grants for climate and clean-energy projects.

However, a federal judge temporarily blocked this action,

noting that the EPA had failed to provide adequate

legal justification.

Trump’s budget plan would slash EPA funding by nearly 55%

compared to 2025 levels - and eliminate 15 billion in carbon

capture and renewable energy funding from the bipartisan

infrastructure law. The proposed regulation will overturn

Biden-era rules that required existing coal-fired units

and some new gas-burning plants to cut or capture

90 percent of their climate pollution by 2032.

teleSUR English

@telesurenglish

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister

Terrance Drew talked about how climate change will affect

Caribbean countries in the future --- if no action is taken.

____________________________________________

In harmony with nature

Valentina Matvienko on the "green" agenda and

Russia's role in solving global environmental

problems

by Galina Mislivskaya

May 22nd, 4pm

(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)

Russia's environmental legislation, with its diverse natural

landscapes --- can serve as a model for many countries.

Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the Federation Council,

spoke about this - and much more - in an interview with

Rossiyskaya Gazeta on the eve of the opening of the

XI Nevsky International Environmental Congress

(IPEC) in St. Petersburg.

Russian legislation in the field of ecology is an example

for other countries, Valentina Matvienko believes.

Valentina Ivanovna, the XI Nevsky International Ecological

Congress starts today. How representative is it? What are

your expectations from it given the current international

political situation?

Valentina Matvienko: First of all, to answer the first part of your

question, the congress is really representative. And it cements

its status as the main international environmental platform in

the Russian calendar of events now and, I am sure, for the

long term.

It is noteworthy not only as a very broad, but, most importantly,

a very high-quality international representation. Participants

from 76 countries and 17 international organizations -

the representatives of national relevant ministries,

and parliaments at the level of speakers and

vice-speakers... the scientific community,

business and public circles --- will start

active work in the Tavrichesky Palace.

Our friends.. from the world majority

countries, the Global South, BRICS,

& the CIS will take a particularly

active part in the congress.

This shows that the international community remains firmly

aware that no geopolitical and economic difficulties of the

current situation --- tariff wars, sanctions, the crisis of

global institutions and agreements --- should hinder

common, joint work on the environmental agenda.

The Nevsky Congress confirms this. Humanity

has no right -- to postpone the solution of

environmental issues... until later.

As for expectations from the eleventh forum --- we are

maximalists here. The goals - are serious. We expect

that in the conditions of the current unpredictability,

"de-globalization", regionalization - including in the

environmental sphere, the actual suspension of a

number of projects, formats, it is our congress

that should consolidate the efforts of the

responsible part of the world majority

---- to find new effective mechanisms

as soon as possible and effectively

counteract growing environmental

threats. There is every reason ---

to do so.

The representatives of 76 countries... and 17 international

organizations will take part in the congress. It's time for

the West to forget about its plans to isolate Russia.

Failed to isolate Russia again?

Valentina Matvienko: Such a representation at the congress

venues, along with other bright events of recent days - the

Victory Day Parade, landmark official visits & the Kazan

Forum - confirms the complete inability of the West to

implement its plans to isolate Russia. In general, I

am sure that the project of isolating Russia, can

be considered closed. The West ---- should

completely forget about it ---- and never

think about it again and not interfere

with the work on really important

issues for everyone.

Valentina Ivanovna, what can you say

about the topics of the congress?

Valentina Matvienko: The congress agenda is fully determined

by the current environmental situation in the country and in

the world. It contains only real problems. There is nothing

made up...

At the meetings and round tables, we expect fruitful discussions

on such topics as -- food security in the face of climate change,

artificial intelligence, and high technologies, the ecology of

subsurface use, low-carbon solutions for the development

of a "green economy", a closed-loop economy, the

ecology of large cities, the development of eco-

tourism in harmony with nature, and so on.

Serious attention is paid to the problems of the Caspian Sea.

All these topics are in line with the main motto of the forum

"Planet Earth: harmony of man and nature". We look

forward to developing new approaches, which will

be reflected in the final resolution.

It is clear --- that we have a difficult job ahead of us. The

challenges are serious and large-scale. The ecological

situation on the planet is becoming more complicated

from year to year. An explosive technological update,

opening up new horizons for humanity, at the same

time carries obvious risks that require an urgent

response. We will discuss this in more detail

tomorrow. The theme of our main plenary

session is "Ecology of the New Reality:

Challenges ....and opportunities". Of

course - the global nature of tasks

implies that we must act together.

And the congressional agenda is set up for this. In general,

the agenda of the XI Nevsky Congress... can be safely

called unifying. It provides an opportunity to discuss

current environmental issues on an equal and fair

basis ---- without politicization, dictation and

pressure. Given -- this current situation in

the world and the confrontational mood,

this ---- is especially important. I think
this is the main focus of our forum.

Do the topics you mentioned overlap with the domestic

environmental agenda? What can we offer from

our experience?

Valentina Matviyenko: Of course ---- the congress program is

designed primarily to achieve real progress in international

environmental cooperation. At the same time, it is most

closely linked to the tasks that we, the Russians, are

currently solving in the course of implementing the

new national project "Environmental Well-being",

which was launched at the beginning of this

year on the initiative of President Vladimir

Vladimirovich Putin.

Representatives of almost all regions of the Russian Federation

will take part in the congress ------- regional experience will be

presented more widely than ever before. This is another key

focus of the XI Nevsky International Environmental Forum.

I believe that our regions ---- should be more actively

involved in the development of global solutions.

Our country occupies the largest part of the land, is washed by

the waters of the largest number of seas, we have a variety of

landscapes --- and natural and climatic zones. Hence the high

responsibility of Russia ----- for the planet's ecological health.

Our successful experience, especially regional experience,

is particularly representative. And..... our environmental

legislation, due to the broad geography of the country,

is a unique "model". By doing so, we are making a

significant contribution to humanity's efforts

to preserve our common home.

The main theme of the congress is "Planet Earth:

harmony of man and nature". In your opinion, is

this harmony achievable at all?

Valentina Matvienko: I don't think that this -- should sound like a

question. This should sound like a clear goal setting. Humanity

has an absolute priority goal. And --- it is achievable. To do

everything possible for this - is the responsibility of the

current generation to the generations of the future.

We, I mean the international community, and humanity as a

whole, simply have to build a harmonious relationship with

nature. By and large, we have no choice. Otherwise, the

world will face a global environmental catastrophe. No

continent can escape it. There should be no illusions

about this. Climate change, pollution of the world's

oceans, inland waters, air, and soil, accumulating

various kinds of waste ----- and the irretrievable

disappearance of some species of flora and

fauna - all this, alas, is the reality of today.

And if our relationship with nature

continues to be as consumerist

and irresponsible, the survival

of both humanity and nature

on planet Earth -- is

not guaranteed.

Ensuring this survival, and not at the expense of sustained

economic growth, social progress, & improving the quality

of life of people in all countries, is a challenge that is now

more acute than ever.

I have no doubts that it can be solved, even in today's very

difficult international situation. But to succeed, we must

accept as an axiom that environmental security can

only be one and indivisible ---- for all of humanity.

Therefore, it is only through joint efforts of the

entire international community, that the task

of harmonizing man and nature can be fully

solved & even the most just environmental

agenda, can be implemented.

Not everyone in the world shares this position...

Valentina Matvienko: Yes, the current international situation is

far from harmonious. European officials promote militarization,

increase the confrontational mood, which, of course, worsens

the prospects for implementing environmental policy... on the

continent. Today, ecovestka has actually become a hostage

to rampant, reckless politicization.

At the same time, the West continues to pursue a policy, of so-

called ecological neo-colonialism. We see how environmental

issues are openly used to promote their own selfish interests.

Of course -- such manipulations are absolutely unacceptable for

Russia and other world-majority countries, as they are aimed at

obtaining unilateral benefits to the detriment of the interests

of other states. Our philosophy and ideology is that it is

impossible to reliably ensure environmental safety for

individual countries ----- at the expense of others.

We are all in the same ecological boat. Therefore,
the interaction of States in this area should be

based on: the principles of international

law, a fair distribution of the costs and

benefits, and a balance of interests.

It is impossible to reliably ensure environmental safety for

individual countries at the expense of others. We are all

in the same ecological boat

Valentina Ivanovna, the last Nevsky Congress was held two

years ago. What has changed in Russia during this time

and what is the contribution of NMEC?

Valentina Matvienko: Much of what was spelled out in the

resolution of the last-tenth-Congress --- is already being

implemented in practice! Now, for example, we are

introducing digitalization into the ecomonitoring

system, the implementation of forest climate

projects has begun, legislation in the areas

of both industrial and consumer waste

management and medical waste

is being improved - and the

relevant federal laws -

have been adopted.

I view the journey that has been made over the past two years

positively, and ----- I consider the contribution of the Nevsky

Congress to be very significant. As Chair of the Federation
Council, I can even judge by the areas that our chamber
oversees: we have made significant progress -- every

where. This includes the rehabilitation of the Volga

and Don rivers, environmental education projects,

adaptation to climate change, in various sectors

of the economy, and the long-suffering garbage

reform which has been stalled for many years

and which our agribusiness committee is

struggling with. In 2025 --- we plan to

adopt a total of six serious laws ---

in the field of MSW management.

All these processes, of course, require time to solve and,

of course, constant monitoring. We work closely with

the government --- and the supervisory authorities.

And here I would like to say a special big thank

you to Dmitry Nikolaevich Patrushev, for his

caring attitude to all issues, for a prompt

response and support of initiatives.

What can citizens do in the field of ecology -

at the household level, or business?

Valentina Matvienko: You are right --- ecology is a topic that can

only be achieved through the efforts of the entire society. This

can't be the concern of individual services or departments.

Every Russian -- should change their mentality and make

efforts to solve environmental problems. Therefore - I

have already mentioned eco-education - now, one of

our main common tasks is to change the habits and

ecological culture of the population and business:

to explain - to all citizens, business owners, and

responsible officials the basics of reasonable
consumption, to convince them that garbage
is recyclable material, that can - should be

- recycled. That this --- is the foundation

of the closed-loop economy, that we

are striving for. This name is even

given to a separate new

federal project.

A modern, efficient approach -- is sorting and

recycling, and, most importantly, minimizing

the production of what cannot be recycled.

What else needs to be done at the state level?

Valentina Matvienko: The government -- is already motivating

businesses. We can see that. Starting from January 1 of this

year, for example, companies that use recycled materials

will receive a discount when paying environmental fees.

But -- I think we need to offer even more effective and

efficient incentive algorithms. Those that will allow

you to reach your goal, as soon as possible. I mean

avoiding the production and use of non-recyclable

plastic, banning single-use non-recyclable plastic.

I believe that - in the near future - we need more

serious, more visible results, than we currently

have and within the framework of the Nevsky

Congress -- we will pay special attention to

these issues; we will work on specifics.

What I also see as an extremely important influence of the IPEC

on the environmental sphere of our country is that Russia has

begun to demonstrate - from Congress to Congress - an

increasingly systematic, more comprehensive and

consistent approach to solving environmental

problems, outlined in the final resolutions.

We observe a great correlation between

the national eco-policy & global trends.

Thanks to the close attention of the country's leadership and

the head of state personally, we have developed effective

mechanisms to eliminate the negative human impact

on the environment: the elimination of accumulated

damage, the prompt elimination of environmental

emergencies, the formation of an ecological

culture among the population, and the

development of volunteerism.

The same applies to technologies in the field of

"green" energy, ecotourism, working with

businesses on the principles of ESG,

and so on. The movement along

this path will - undoubtedly....

continue.

____________________________________________

Díaz-Canel highlights
biological diversity
of Cuba

May 22nd, 11:53am

(Prensa Latina)

The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, highlighted

the wide variety of plants and animals that live in

the Caribbean nation ---- about to celebrate

International Biological Biodiversity

Day today.

«Cuba has more than 35 thousand species of flora

and fauna», said the head of state through a

message in X.

As he stressed, this country is considered one of the

most biodiverse island territories on the planet.

«We celebrate Biodiversity Day - with the commitment to

conserve this Natural Heritage, in harmony with nature

and sustainable development», Díaz-Canel declared

on the social network X.

This Thursday, humanity celebrates the International Day for

Biological Diversity, with the purpose of raising awareness

about the importance of biodiversity for life and the need

to preserve it for future generations.

______________________________________________

Gas emissions --- from the

EU economy are growing

May 15th, 8:28am

(Prensa Latina)

The European statistics office Eurostat reported today

that greenhouse gas emissions from the EU economy

have grown.

They reported that according to this increase they reached

897 million tons of CO2 equivalent - which represents an

increase of 2.2 percent compared to the same quarter

of 2023 (878 million tons).

This increase is in line with the EU's (PIB) gross domestic

product, which recorded an increase of 1.5 percent in

the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same

quarter of 2023.

The two economic sectors responsible for the largest

increases between quarters -- were households

(+5.2 percent) and the supply of electricity,

gas, steam and air conditioning (+4.6).

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Eurostat estimates a

decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, in six EU

countries compared to the same quarter of 2023.

The largest such gas reductions occurred in Estonia (-11.3%),

Finland (-6.1) and Sweden (-2.3). Of these six EU countries ---

two also recorded a decline in their GDP (Latvia & Austria).

________________________________________________________________

Deforestation of the Brazilian Atlantic

Forest... Fell by 14% in 2024

May 12th, 10:53am

(teleSUR)

On Monday, the NGO SOS Mata Atlântica released data

showing that deforestation in the Atlantic Forest
— Brazil’s most threatened biome —
fell by 14% in 2024.

However, logging in mature forest

areas --- which are critical for

biodiversity --- and carbon

storage, fell only 2%.

A total of 14,366 hectares of mature forest — native areas

of the biome that have remained intact for over 50 years

with dense vegetation and no signs of degradation

— were deforested last year.

This level of deforestation represents the emission of

approximately 6.87 million metric tons of carbon

dioxide (CO2) equivalent, comparable to the

annual emissions of Cameroon, or
the city of Brasilia.

Now, only 24% of the original Atlantic Forest remains,

and just 12% of that ------- consists of mature forest.

The reduction recorded last year, “is modest” compared to

what is needed, which is “zero deforestation,” especially

in these types of forests that “are irreplaceable in terms

of biodiversity and climate regulation,” said SOS Mata

Atlântica Director, Luis Fernando Guedes Pinto.

Deforestation still poses a “major threat” to the future of

the Atlantic Forest and the populations that live within

it, especially due to the expansion of agriculture

and livestock farming.

“We are cutting down forests ---- to increase areas for pasture,

forestry, and agriculture. Another major pressure comes from

urban expansion and real estate speculation around large

cities, coastal areas, and tourist zones,” he said, adding

that such actions put at risk the ecosystem services

the biome provides to the population ------ and the

Brazilian economy.

The Atlantic Forest covers about 15% of Brazil’s territory, mainly

along the coast. It is home to 72% of the population and

accounts for 80% --- of the country’s GDP. Essential

services and activities, depend on this biome,

including water supply, climate regulation,

agriculture, fishing, plus electricity

generation, and tourism.

The states of Piaui and Bahia led the country in deforestation

rates, with 26,030 and 23,218 hectares lost, respectively.

Parana reduced the deforestation of mature forests by 64%.

In Rio Grande do Sul, “extreme weather events” were

responsible for the destruction of 3,307 hectares

of vegetation within the biome.

EU Parliament - Votes for One-Year

Delay... to Anti-Deforestation Law

for Europe!

_________________________________

Angola advocates ----

responsible forestry

May 7th, 11:24am

(Prensa Latina)

The Secretary of State of Angola, for Forests, João

Bartolomeu da Cunha, advocated from the city of
Uíge ------- for the exploration and use of the

country's forests, in a ''responsible and

sustainable'' way.

During the start of the 2025 Forest Campaign - the

senior official considered forests as an important

national heritage that constitutes a strategic

natural resource.

In that sense, da Cunha... highlighted the need for

each citizen to become a guardian of the forest

and potential supervisor of that resource.

When referring to the 2025 Forest Campaign underway

since this week, the Secretary of State for Forests

recalled that the total volume of forest products

in Angola....... is just over 400 thousand cubic

metres of wood, including planted forests.

On the other hand, according to the general director of

the (IDF) Forest Development Institute, Simão Zau, in

2024, 13 million 570 thousand 933 seedlings of d

ifferent forest species, were produced.

Zau added that in 2024, of an annual quota of 181,100 cubic

metres for native forest - of the 111 licenses issued for the

cutting of palo santo for a volume of 85,746 cubic metres.

Regarding the forest planted as part of the implementation of

the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests strategy in the forest

polygons of the Central Plateau, he added, 25 licenses

were issued for a volume of 65,950 cubic metres of

wood, within an approved annual quota of

200,000 cubic metres.

Also, 11 licenses were issued for

a total of 3,651 tons of charcoal.

_________________________________

Dominica Prioritizes Investments

in Energy Sustainability

March 14th, 2:35pm

(Prensa Latina)

The government of Dominica today, celebrated the

progress made in the installation of a geothermal

plant, calling it an important step toward energy

self-sufficiency from renewable sources.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and

Energy, Vince Henderson, commented that the plant

will provide 10 megawatts and make the nation a

pioneer in this area, as it will be the first in the

Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Scheduled for completion in the second half of 2025, the
facility, located in Laudat --- a valley surrounding the

capital, will harness the land’s volcanic potential,

reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and provide

clean and stable energy --- to approximately

23,000 homes, confirmed the Dominica

Geo-thermal Development Company,

a public-private partnership,

carrying out the project.

The Energy Minister says the plant’s commissioning will

coincide with the start of the Organization of Eastern

Caribbean States (OECS) Decade of Action for

Sustainable Energy Development, agreed

upon by the relevant ministers of the

member countries, last February.

The goal, also according to Henderson --- is to ensure that

at least 30 percent of the region’s electricity comes from

renewable sources - by 2035. The goal is supported by

the Caribbean Development Bank, which is focused

on strengthening capacity for this energy use in

---- Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St.

Vincent & the Grenadines, and Dominica.

Geothermal power plants, tap into underground heat

reservoirs, from which, they extract.... steam or hot

water, which drives turbines to generate electricity.

The steam used.. is condensed, and the hot water is

cooled and re-injected underground to maintain the

reservoir’s pressure and sustainability. This

process provides a constant, renewable

source of energy ------ with minimal

environmental impact.

_________________________________________

Microplastics... in the lungs of

wild birds alarmed scientists

by Artem Novikov

March 1st, 11:05pm

(Gazeta.ru)

An international team of scientists from the United States

and China found a high concentration of microplastics in

the lungs of wild birds. The discovery highlighted the

scale of environmental pollution from plastic

particles and their potential threat to the

ecosystem and human health.

The results of the study are published in the

Journal of Hazardous Materials (JHM).

A team of researchers, examined lung samples from 56

wild birds belonging to 51 species that were collected

near Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in China.

Using laser infrared technology and pyrolysis

gas chromatography - mass spectrometry,

the researchers found an average of 221

microplastic particles per appearance

and 416 particles per gram of

lung tissue.

Among the most common types of plastic were

chlorinated polyethylene (used to insulate

pipes and wires) and butadiene rubber

(a synthetic material used in tire

manufacturing).

"Birds help us understand pollution levels and make

informed conservation decisions," said Shane

Dubay, an assistant professor of biology at

the University of Texas and co-author of

the study.

Microplastics that enter the lungs can cause serious

health problems, including heart disease, cancer,

respiratory diseases, and fertility disorders.

Although there are no official standards for the content

of plastic in fabrics, its high concentrations are

alarming to scientists.

Earlier it turned out that most of the birds in the Arctic

and Antarctic, are contaminated with microplastics.

______________________________________________________

Two Forest Defenders Were

Murdered in Honduras

February 28th, 2:32pm

(teleSUR)

Since 2023, at least 30 environmentalists and

Indigenous rights defenders ------- have been

murdered in this Central American country.

On Thursday, Honduran Human Rights Secretary Angelica

Alvarez denounced the murder of environmental activist

Juan Silva, 70, and his son Juan Silva, 20..... in the

mountainous area of Santa Cruz de Soroguara,

in the department of Francisco Morazan.

The two social activists were killed in Las Botijas, Villa de

San Antonio, Comayagua. Alvarez urged the Prosecutor’s

Office to open a thorough and impartial investigation to

identify those responsible - and ensure they are held

accountable for their crimes.

“Environmental defenders --- are heroes of humanity who

protect life itself. We repudiate the violence against

them. Enough is enough!” she said, recalling that

several criminal groups operate in the area of

the crime --- targeting public property and

environmental commons.

Juan Silva had previously reported illegal logging in the

Soroguara protected area. On Wednesday, he and his

son left their community -- to document evidence of

these illegal activities.. apparently, in response to

a request from the Forest Conservation Institute.

When they did not return, their relatives reported their

disappearance, triggering a search involving police

officers, military personnel, and local residents.

This crime, adds to a long list of murders of environmental

activists in Honduras. Over the past four decades, dozens

of Honduran environmental defenders have been killed,

including prominent figures, such as Jeannette

Kawas (1995), Carlos Escaleras (1997),

Berta Caceres (2016), and Juan

Lopez (2024).

The majority of these cases have remained unpunished,

despite some victims having precautionary measures

from the Inter-American Commission on Human

Rights (IACHR).

Since 2023, at least 30 environmentalists & Indigenous

rights defenders --- have been murdered in Honduras,

said the National Commissioner for Human Rights

(CONADEH), which called on the authorities to

ensure justice -- and prevent these crimes

from going unpunished.

Sources: El Libertador – Cholusat

____________________________________________

Haiti to restore degraded

forest ecosystems

February 27th, 11:53am

(Prensa Latina)

The Haitian Environment Ministry - is putting forward a
strategy - to restore degraded forest ecosystems and

strengthen vegetation cover in the Caribbean nation.

In line with this purpose, the Departmental Directorate of

the Northeast of the Environment Ministry received 175

kilograms of mahogany seeds (Swietenia Mahogany),

delivered by the Directorate of Forestry and

Renewable Energy.

These seeds, collected in January.... were transferred to

the Forest and Fruit Germplasm Centre of Ouanaminthe,

where they will undergo a rigorous preparation process

before being used in the reforestation programs of the

aforementioned portfolio.

According to the Haiti Libre digital newspaper, seed

treatment is an essential step - to ensure maximum

germination potential and provide forestry workers

with seeds adapted to local weather conditions.

Native seeds will be given top priority, as they

respond better to climatic stresses and pests.

In June, these mahogany seedlings will be ready

and will actively contribute to the national

reforestation program... of the Pearl

of the Antilles.

_______________________________

Record levels of toxic "eternal
chemicals" found in birds
and shellfish

by Artem Novikov

February 22nd, 11:13pm

(Gazeta.ru)

An international team of scientists from Norway and

Denmark has identified a significant increase in the

concentration of toxic substances PFAS (per - and

polyfluoroalkyl compounds) in the organisms of

migratory birds and shellfish. These chemicals,

known as "eternal" chemicals --- do not

decompose in nature and accumulate

in the environment, posing a threat
to animals and humans.

The results of the study are published in the

Journal of Hazardous Materials (JHM).

PFAS is a group of synthetic chemicals that are widely

used in industry, for example, in the production of ski

lubricants, non-stick coatings (Teflon) and flame

retardants. They are resistant to degradation

and can accumulate in the body, causing

serious health consequences, including

--- cancer, liver damage, hormonal

disorders, and reduced fertility.

The team analyzed liver and blood samples from

25 birds, as well as 30 shellfish collected along

the East Asian-Australasian migration route.

Using a new method of analysis, they found that

the concentration of PFAS in the liver of birds ---

was 180 times higher than in previous studies.

Migratory birds play a key role in ecosystems, but

their populations are rapidly declining. The study

suggests that exposure to PFAS may be a factor

in this reduction.

_____________________________________

Brazil ---- Proposes to Bring a Joint

BRICS Position to Climate Summit

February 21st, 1:23pm

(teleSUR)

On Friday, Brazilian Ambassador, Mauricio Lyrio, said

that his country will suggest to the BRICS emerging

economies forum that it design a joint proposal to

finance the fight against climate change in the

poorest countries.

Starting next week, this proposal will be negotiated in

Brasilia to be presented at the 30th United Nations

Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will

be held in the Amazonian city of Belem, at

the end of the year.

The BRICS group was founded by Brazil, Russia, India,

China, and South Africa and has recently accepted

new members, including Egypt, the United Arab

Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and Saudi

Arabia, although the latter has yet to

formalize its membership.

Diplomat Lyrio stated that Brazil aims to strengthen

climate change-related financing, for the poorest

countries -- especially after what he described

as the “insufficient” outcome of COP29, held

in Baku, in 2024. He emphasized that the

consensus to set climate financing at

$300 billion per year - is “far from

ideal” to contain the global

warming process.

The meeting in Brasilia will be the first BRICS forum of

the year & will serve as a starting point for preparing

the leaders’ summit, scheduled for July 6 and 7 in

Rio de Janeiro.

Beyond concerns about climate change, Lyrio said that

emerging economies will continue discussions that

have been ongoing for years regarding reducing

the costs of trade transactions between

member countries.

In this context, he explained that Brazil will advocate

for mechanisms... that facilitate trade payments in

local currencies and other alternatives. However,

this does not mean that BRICS is discussing the

creation of a common currency — an idea that

led U.S. President Donald Trump to recently

threaten tariffs on emerging economies

that abandon the U.S. dollar.

“That has not been discussed and is not being

discussed,” Lyrio insisted, stressing that the

creation of a new currency - would be “an

overly complex process” and is currently

not on the BRICS agenda.

The meetings in Brasilia are also expected to host

delegates from BRICS-associated states,

including ---- Bolivia, Cuba, Belarus,

Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand,

Uganda, Uzbekistan, & Nigeria.

___________________________________

Wildfires Devastate Argentine Patagonia:

Greenpeace Blames Crisis --- on Lack of

Prevention

February 18th, 6:43pm

(teleSUR)

Since late 2024, wildfires have ravaged a total of 48,688

hectares of forests, plantations, grasslands, and homes

in various regions of Argentine Patagonia, according

to official data released this Tuesday by Greenpeace.

The environmental organization holds both national and

provincial authorities responsible for what it considers

a “lack of prevention” in addressing this crisis.

Hernán Giardini, the coordinator of Greenpeace’s Forest

Campaign in Argentina, stated in remarks --- that “both

the national government and provincial governments

have denied or underestimated the climate crisis,”

which has worsened the situation.

Giardini warned that “ignoring science and cutting

the budget allocated to forest protection and

wildfire prevention - has its consequences.”

The fires have caused devastation in protected areas,

consuming 11,661 hectares to date, in Nahuel Huapi

National Park in Río Negro and 22,131 hectares in

Lanín National Park in Neuquén.

However, Greenpeace warns that the figures for Lanín

could be even more alarming, as no new data has

been published in the last three days.

In the tourist town of El Bolsón, Río Negro, 3,825 hectares

have been lost to the fires. In Chubut province, an active

fire in Trevelin has burned 2,000 hectares, although

four fire hotspots have been contained and one

more extinguished --- resulting in the loss of

8,711 and 90 hectares, respectively.

The situation remains critical and highlights

the urgent need to implement effective

measures ----- to prevent future

environmental disasters

in the region.

_______________________________________

Cuba contributes to research

--- into ecological cement

February 15th, 12:25pm

(Prensa Latina)

The LC3 Experimental Low Carbon Cement Plant,

located in the central province of Villa Clara and

the first of its kind in Cuba, is diversifying its

services..... in the pursuit of developing

this material.

According to Dr José Fernando Martirena, director of

the Research & Development Centre for Structures

& Materials at “Marta Abreu” Central University
of Las Villas (UCLV) and head of the project,

they are also working on material testing,

automation processes ---- and other

construction-related innovations.

The Cuban industry is a world pioneer in the use of

LC3 ecological cement, a type of material capable

of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted

into the atmosphere during the manufacturing

process --- like no other in the world.

According to the latest UN report on this

---- entitled “Low-carbon cement: aligning

environmental goals & housing needs”,

there are currently 22 such plants

around the world, capable of

producing -- over 50 million

tonnes of environmentally

friendly cement last year.

The Cuban plant’s collaboration with foreign

companies ....has contributed to this,

particularly, through the evaluation

of raw materials, the performance

of real industrial tests and the

definition of the technical

parameters for scaling

up production.

Martirena explained: this cement can reduce

the 'environmental impact' of the producing

industries by up to 40%, a very attractive

figure worldwide, in a sector that is

called to reduce pollution.

The Cuban industry, which is affiliated to the

UCLV --- is in contact with European and US

countries, in order to develop this material.

______________________________________

Indonesia to try to curb effects of
rising seas ...........with huge wall

February 5th, 2:04pm

(Prensa Latina)

Indonesia plans to combat the effects of rising sea levels

by building a coastal wall.... 700 kilometres long, a

representative of the government of President

Prabowo Subianto said today.

The special envoy of the Executive for climate and energy,

Hashim Sujono Djojohadikusumo, assured that the project

is approved and will extend from the province of Banten

to East Java in order to protect the rice fields of the

northern coast of the island of Java, the country’s

most populated.

According to the official, many fishermen are concerned

about the problem of rising sea levels... which the

government has identified as a serious danger

since the 1990s.

The plans to build a huge sea wall are not new; Hashim

explained that studies have been carried out since

1994, although the strategy has not materialized

until now.

Such ambitious construction could take one to two decades

and will be integrated with existing flood and tide control

dykes in Tambaklorok, Semarang and Central Java,

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs,

Airlangga Hartarto, said.

_______________________________________

Cambodia significantly reduces

greenhouse gas emissions

January 8th, 2:29pm

(Prensa Latina)

Cambodia has to date achieved a remarkable reduction

in greenhouse gas emissions, both in the energy and

waste sectors, according to an official report

submitted to the United Nations.

Emissions in the energy sector fell from about 500,000

tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) in 2016 to

more than 2.5 million tCO2e in 2022, reflecting the

successful introduction of cleaner energy and

greater energy efficiency, the First Biennial

Transparency Report (BTR1) indicated.

The document, officially submitted to the Secretariat of

the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change (UNFCCC), states that the waste sector also

saw a significant increase in reductions, reaching

about 30,000 tCO2e in 2022, due to advances in

recycling and waste management.

_______________________________________

Global sharks and rays populations

--------- have halved since 1970

December 6th, 4:43pm

(Prensa Latina)

The world's shark and ray population have declined

by more than 50 percent since 1970, a new study

published in Science journal was revealed

on Friday.

The main factor behind their demise is overfishing, which

has wiped out populations of chondrichthyans fishes
(cartilaginous fishes) ..such as sharks, rays, and

chimaeras, over the last 50 years.

In the case of sharks, the threat posed by intentional

fishing and bycatch is compounded by habitat

degradation, climate change, and pollution.

The result is over one-third of chondrichthyans fishes

now face the threat of extinction, a statement by

Australia’s James Cook University noted.

The sequential depletion... of the largest and most

functionally important species -- such as sawfish

and rhino rays, the latter considered the world’s

most threatened marine fish - was followed by

the decline of large manta rays, eagle rays,

angel sharks, hammerhead sharks, and

requiem sharks.

_________________________________________

Caring for soils is a priority

------------ for global survival

December 5th, 11:13am

(Prensa Latina)

As World Soil Day is celebrated this Thursday, experts are urging

people to step up its care, from which over 95% of our food

comes, and the 15 naturally occurring chemical elements

that are essential for plants.

This year’s theme, “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,”

underscores the importance -- of having accurate data and

information about this natural element to understand its

properties and make informed decisions about its

sustainable management, to ensure global

food availability.

Despite climate change and human activities, soils are being

degraded; erosion and poor management are altering the

natural balance of the land, wasting water resources,

and reducing the levels of vitamins and nutrients

in the food we produce (and eat).

Sustainable soil management practices, such as minimum tillage,

crop rotation, organic matter additions, and cover crops, improve

soil's health, reduce erosion and pollution, and increase water

infiltration and retention.

These practices also conserve soil biodiversity, improve fertility,

and contribute to soil-based carbon sequestration, playing a

critical role in fighting climate change.

A report released by the United Nations Convention, to Combat

Desertification and presented at the Conference of the Parties

(COP16) in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday stated that at least

2.6 trillion dollars in investment are required by 2030 -

to restore the over one billion hectares of degraded

land and to enhance global resilience to drought.

_______________________________

Indonesia - plans to implement

oil palm to produce biodiesel

December 2nd, 2:19pm

(Prensa Latina)

Indonesia is set to implement the B40 biodiesel program,

based on the most abundant of its crops, the oil palm,

starting on January 1, 2025.

At the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the Council of Palm Oil Producing

Countries (CPOPC), Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for

Economic Affairs in this nation, highlighted at a press briefing

the usefulness of the initiative.

The program aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2)

emissions by up to 40 million tons annually.

Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil, an essential

ingredient in the manufacture of a wide array of goods, including

food, and the most widely used vegetable oil, globally.

__________________________________________

Ghanaian capital.. at risk of

being submerged in water?

Accra, November 27th, 10:59am

(Prensa Latina)

In a health cure, specialized sources warned today

that this city - the capital of Ghana - could be

submerged by the waters - and recommend

to prioritize the defenses against floods.

The fears of environmental groups are by no means

idle, viewing the hundreds of deaths and damage

caused by floods in several African countries

due to an unusually wet season --- after a

prolonged drought --- unprecedented

in years.

The ''likely'' crisis would be compounded by the

overcrowding of the metropolitan area where

some three million people reside, thousands

of whom migrated to higher ground after

witnessing the increasing frequency

and intensity of storms.

However, the usual migration... from rural areas to the

capital --- a repeatedly phenomenon in developing

countries, increases the risks as these persons

build illegal settlements in low-lying areas
and near rivers.

In addition, there is a history of flooding during the

rainy season... which, without being lethal, is a

warning of what could be coming - in the form

of floods that trigger outbreaks of infectious

stomach and respiratory diseases.. and an

invasion of rats, the usual companions of

these catastrophes.

_________________________________________

COP29: Venezuelan Government

Strengthens Strategies for the

Generation of Clean Energy

in the Country

November 21st, 7pm

(teleSUR)

During the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN

Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29)

held in Azerbaijan, the Minister of People’s Power

for Ecosocialism, José Lorca ------ met with Ajay

Mathur, Director-General of the International

Solar Alliance (ISA).

At the meeting, both discussed the importance

of Venezuela’s --- active participation in this
organization, dedicated to promoting
the use of renewable energies.

Minister Lorca highlighted, that Venezuela is positioned

as one of the countries most committed to training and

technological development in the field of solar energy.

“We are implementing photovoltaic projects --- that

not only improve our electricity service - but also

demonstrate the commitment of the government

of President Nicolás Maduro - and the Sectoral

Vice President of Public Works and Services,

General in Chief Jorge Márquez, to the UN

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),”

he said.

Lorca also emphasized --- that Venezuela’s geographic

location makes it an ideal site for photovoltaic power

generation. “It is essential ---- to diversify our energy

sources in order to face the climate crisis and move

towards a more sustainable future,” he said.

Currently... it is estimated that 80% of the electricity

generation in Venezuela comes from hydroelectric

sources. However, photovoltaic projects are

being developed --- with the objective of

reaching 30% of national generation --

as indicated by Tania Masea, Deputy

Minister for New Sources and

Rational Use of Energy.

____________________________________

COP29: Delegates --- renegotiate new

compensation for developing nations

November 19th, 2:24pm

(africanews)

Money is the key issue at the United Nations climate

talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, where negotiators are

working on a new amount for developing

nations to transition to clean energy,

adapt to climate change and deal

with weather disasters.

Experts put the need close to $1 trillion, while

developing nations have said they'll need

$1.3 trillion in climate finance.

But negotiators are talking about different types of

money -- as well as amounts, involving a complex

package of grants, loans and private investment.

Whatever the form of the finance, Ireland’s

environment minister Eamon Ryan said it

would be “unforgivable” for developed

countries ----- to walk away from

negotiations, without making

a firm commitment toward

developing ones.

“We have to make an agreement here,” he said. "We

do have to provide the finance, particularly for the

developing countries, and to give confidence that

they will not be excluded, that they will be

centre stage.”

Kenya’s special envoy for climate Ali Mohamed said

that most developing nations are in agreement that

funds for climate finance need to be at $1.3 trillion.

That’s a similar figure to one proposed by

independent U.N. experts last week.

“We hope -- that our partners from the developed world

will come up and join us in addressing this challenge

honestly ---- and with commitment,” Mohamed said.

Mohamed said “it is not encouraging that we continue

haggling” - while people continue to die and become

displaced --- due to climate crises around the world.

_________________________________________________

COP29: Oil and Gas Company

Delegates... Outnumber

Social Activists

November 15th, 12:10pm

(teleSUR)

While 1,773 lobbyists represent corporations, only

1,033 people speak on behalf of the 10 most

climate-vulnerable nations.

On Friday, the environmental group “Kick Big Polluters

Out” denounced that the COP29 conference in Baku

hosts 1,773 representatives ---- from the fossil

fuel companies. This number ------- exceeds

the delegations of the most vulnerable

countries, and the staff of nearly all

the states present at the UN

climate conference.

“The 1,773 lobbyists registered in Baku are surpassed

only by the delegations of Azerbaijan (2,229), Brazil

(1,914), & Turkey (1,862),” said Kick Big Polluters

Out, noting that the same situation occurred

during COP28 in Dubai in 2023.

Representatives from fossil fuel companies outnumber

all the delegates from the 10 most climate-vulnerable

nations combined (1,033), highlighting how industry

presence - overshadows those on the frontlines of

the climate crisis, added the environmental

platform.

At COP28 in Dubai - for the first time - attendees were

required to disclose whom they represent, “exposing

many lobbyists who likely attended covertly in

previous years.”

Most of the accredited fossil delegates come from

wealthy countries, representing companies such

as like the French oil giant TotalEnergies, the

Italian gas company Eni, or the Japanese

coal company Sumitomo. Major fossil

energy corporations - such as

Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP,

and Shell.... are also

represented.

“The control of fossil fuel lobbyists over climate

negotiations is like a venomous snake coiling

around the future of our planet. We must

expose their deception, remove them

from these discussions, and hold

them accountable ---- for their

violations - against Earth,”

said Nnimmo Bassey ------

the head of the Health of

Mother Earth Foundation.

On Friday, a group of scientists and experts, including

former UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon, former UN climate

chief Christiana Figueres, and renowned scientist

Johan Rockström ----- called for a fundamental

reform of UN conferences in an open letter.

Among other recommendations, they demanded that

climate summits ensure “equitable representation”

and criticized that, during the last edition, COP28

in Dubai - also held in a gas-rich country, like the

United Arab Emirates - 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists

were accredited.

____________________________________________

COP29: GSLTF Proposes Climate Taxes

on Cryptocurrencies, Plastics, and

the Ultra-Rich

November 14th, 12:24pm

(teleSUR)

The solidarity levies would also affect aviation,

fossil fuels, and financial transactions.

On Thursday, the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force

(GSLTF) published its progress report at COP29,

presenting proposals for new taxes on

cryptocurrencies, plastics, and the

ultra-wealthy -- to help close the

global climate financing gap.

These new “solidarity levies” ..would be used to

financeclimate action and development efforts

and would also affect aviation, fossil fuels,

and financial transactions.

For cryptocurrencies, “considering the high energy

demand of mining” necessary to obtain them, this

coalition of countries and organizations proposes

a tax of US$0.045 per kilowatt-hour, which could

generate US$5.2 billion while also

reducing emissions.

The levy on the plastics sector would apply to the

primary production of polymers at a rate ranging

between US$60 and US$90 per ton, which would

allow for the collection of between US$25 billion

and US$35 billion annually and simultaneously

support actions against pollution from

this material.

Regarding individuals with very high net worth, the

report proposes a coordinated minimum tax of 2%

that would impact billionaires -- which was

recently discussed at the G20 and would

generate between US$200 billion and

US$250 billion -- promoting a fairer

global tax landscape.

The GSLTF also includes other “more specific” options

in its document to tax industries considered “highly

polluting” like aviation, ---- for which - it suggests a

kerosene fuel tax, including a coordinated levy on

private jet fuel, luxury tickets, and frequent fliers,

which would provide between US$19 billion and

US$164 billion annually “depending on design

and scope.”

It also proposes tougher measures on the fossil fuel

sector with “a combination of levies” that would

include new taxes on extraction and on windfall

profits, as well as an increase in the minimum

corporate tax rate for multinationals or a

mixed instrument that would vary

by country.

As for financial transactions ------- options under

consideration include “revitalizing EU efforts”

to design a global tax ------ by mobilizing a

coalition of countries willing to adopt

measures - on stocks, bonds, and

derivatives, while also working

toward global harmonization

of transaction taxes.

This action would include a tax of 0.1 percent on

equity and bond instruments and another of 0.01

percent on derivatives.

Officially led by Kenya, Barbados, and France, the

GSLTF currently includes 17 countries and

associated observer organizations, among

which are Spain, Denmark, the European

Commission, the African Union,

and Senegal.

All members are committed to finding solutions

to generate substantial, fair, and predictable

funding to address urgent global needs.

_____________________________________________

Cuba urges to guarantee funds

to fight climate change

November 14th, 11:40am

(Prensa Latina)

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Thursday

urged world leaders at the COP29 Climate Action

Summit to focus on financing to guarantee

actions to fight climate change.

On X, the head of Cuban diplomacy expressed that it is

time to prioritize the means that will implement what

has been agreed for a reinforced climate action.

Officials and experts from the Cuban Science,

Technology, and Environment Ministry

(CITMA) and the Foreign Ministry

(MINREX) are attending

the meeting.

On the first day, United Nations Secretary-General

Antonio Guterres urged to tear down the walls of

climate finance after acknowledging that no

country is immune to such human-made

challenges.

Guterres warned that the world is in a final countdown

to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius,

and insisted on changing the current order in which

“the rich cause the problem, the poor pay the

highest price.”

COP29 brings together hundreds of representatives

worldwide in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, from

November 11 to 22, to prepare a new financial

plan to develop clean energy and overcome

the effects of extreme weather.

_______________________________________

Pope Francis - tells COP29

to fight to save the planet

November 13th, 10:44am

(Prensa Latina)

Pope Francis sent a message to the Conference of

States Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (COP29), where

he called for greater common efforts to save

the planet.

In the document published by the Holy See press office

and read on Wednesday by the Vatican Secretary of

State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin at the event, which

takes place from November 11 to 22 in Baku,

the capital of Azerbaijan, the Supreme

Pontiff ---- deplores the selfishness

that weighs down this effort.

That selfish attitude of “individual, national and power

groups --- feeds a climate of distrust and division that

does not respond to the needs of an interdependent

world in which we should act and live - as members

of a family that inhabits the same interconnected

global village,” Francis said.

The Pope emphasized that this COP29 takes place “in

a context conditioned by a growing disillusionment

with multilateral institutions, and dangerous

tendencies.... to build walls, while the

preservation of creation is one of

the most urgent issues - of our

time, closely related to the

preservation of peace”.

The Bishop of Rome stressed that ---------- “society is
increasingly globalizing and makes us neighbours,

but it doesn't make us brothers”, while economic

development does not reduce inequality and, on

the contrary, favours the prioritization of profit

and special interests “to the detriment of the

protection of the weakest”.

This negative tendency contributes ---- in an important

way “to the progressive worsening of environmental

problems”, the Pontiff emphasized, adding that “it

is essential to seek a new international financial

architecture centred on the human being, bold,

creative -------- and based on the principles
of equity, justice and solidarity”.

____________________________

High Levels of CO2 To Lead to

Years of Rising Temperatures

October 28th, 10:52am

(teleSUR)

On Monday ---- the World Meteorological Organization

(WMO) reported that greenhouse gas concentrations

broke all previous records again in 2023. The main

constituent of these gases, carbon dioxide (CO2),

increased by 11.4% over the past two decades.

According to the annual report on greenhouse gas

concentrations, published by the UN agency two

weeks before the Climate Summit in Baku, CO2

levels reached 420 parts per million last year,

a 151 percent increase over pre-industrial

levels (before 1750).

Concentrations of methane... were measured at 1,934

parts per billion, and nitrous oxide at 336.9 parts per

billion, the other two gases responsible for global

warming, with levels up by 265 percent and 125

percent from pre-industrial levels, respectively.

“Another year --- another record. This should sound all

the alarms for decision-makers; there is no doubt that

we are very far from meeting the Paris Agreement

goal of keeping global warming well below

2 degrees above pre-industrial levels,”

emphasized the WMO Secretary

Celeste Saulo.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), estimated to contribute about 64

percent to global warming and primarily derived from

fossil fuel burning and cement production, rose by

2.3 parts per million in 2023 compared to 2022 - a

figure higher than the previous year though lower

than the three years before that.

Seventh Year with Highest Emissions

from Wildfires Since 2003

This increase..... was partly influenced by the transition

from the La Niña to the El Niño phenomenon (the latter

associated with rising Pacific Ocean temperatures) ---

and a disastrous wildfire season, with CO2 emissions

16% higher than the average of previous years,

including large forest fires in countries

like Canada and Australia.

Methane and nitrous oxide, produced by natural causes

and human activities.... such as agriculture, livestock

farming, and biomass burning, experienced smaller

concentration increases than in 2022.

The last time Earth experienced a concentration of

carbon dioxide comparable to today’s was three to

five million years ago, when the temperature was

2 to 3 degrees warmer, and sea levels were 10

to 20 centimetres higher than they are today.

The UN’s meteorological agency warns that ------ even if

emissions were quickly reduced to net zero (i.e., offset

by absorption phenomena like those provided by

forests), it would take decades to lower current

temperature levels due to the long-lasting

presence of CO2 in the atmosphere.

A Phenomenon That Could Accelerate

The WMO also warns ---- of the risk that the rise

in the concentrations of gases causing global

warming, could become increasingly intense.

“Wildfires could release more carbon emissions into

the atmosphere, while rising ocean temperatures

could reduce their CO2 absorption capacity,

leading to more CO2 accumulation in the

atmosphere and accelerating global

warming,” noted the WMO Deputy

Secretary, Ko Barrett.

Slightly less than half of carbon dioxide emissions

remain in the atmosphere, about a quarter is

absorbed by the oceans, and around 30%

by land ecosystems.... although - these

percentages vary due to phenomena

like La Niña or El Niño.

___________________________________

U.S. Approves Lithium Mining

Despite Opposition From

Indigenous Peoples

October 25th, 10:15 am

They warned of the potentially devastating impact

on Silver Peak Range’s fragile ecosystems and

sacred sites.

On Thursday, the U.S. government approved a lithium

mine project in Nevada aimed at increasing the

domestic supply of the essential mineral

needed for the US’s energy transition,

despite years of fierce opposition

from environmental groups,

Native American tribes,

& local communities.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management --- granted final

approval to Ioneer Ltd’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron

project -- located about 355 km southeast of Reno

city. The project’s lithium deposit is projected

to be sufficient to power approximately

370,000 electric vehicles annually for

over two decades. Construction is

set to begin in 2025 ------ with

production expected to

start in 2028.

The approval ...concluded a six-year review process,

during which opponents warned of the potentially

devastating impact on the region’s fragile

ecosystem and sacred sites in the

Silver Peak Range, which are

integral ---- to the cultural

heritage of the Western

Shoshone people.

Environmental groups also highlighted the project’s

existential threat to Tiehm’s buckwheat, a rare

wildflower found nowhere else on Earth.

In June, over 100 scientists submitted a letter to the

Bureau of Land Management, expressing concern

that the mine would put Tiehm’s buckwheat

“on a path to extinction.”

“By greenlighting this mine, the Bureau of Land

Management is abandoning its duty to protect

endangered species, like Tiehm’s buckwheat,

and ---- making a mockery of the Endangered

Species Act. We need lithium for the energy

transition --- but it can’t come with a price

tag of extinction,” said Patrick Donnelly,

Great Basin director at the charitable

organization, the Centre for

Biological Diversity.

Water consumption emerged as another significant

environmental concern. According to the online

news website Nevada Current, traditional

ithium mining operations can consume

up to 2 million litres of water, per

metric ton of lithium produced -

jeopardizing already strained

desert aquifers.

Indigenous peoples, including the Fort McDermitt

Paiute and Shoshone Tribe --- have expressed

serious worries about the project’s impact

on their water supplies and sacred

cultural sites.

Beyond water usage, the Institute for Energy Research

noted that lithium mining operations can lead to

significant soil and water contamination, air

pollution from dust... and potential ground-

water contamination from the extraction

chemicals. The mining also generates

extensive waste tailings, containing

toxic substances and heavy metals.

Lithium, a key component of lithium-ion batteries,

is considered essential for electric vehicles and

renewable energy storage systems, both

crucial for transitioning to a clean

energy economy.

The Rhyolite Ridge lithium project --- marks the first

domestic source of lithium permitted by President

Biden’s administration --- which has implemented

measures to support domestic critical minerals’

production, including a US$700 million loan

from the Department of Energy --- to

Ioneer Rhyolite Ridge LLC.

The Silver Peak lithium mine, in Clayton Valley, Nevada,

is the only producing lithium mine in the United States
- although over 100 other sites are under exploration.

The brine evaporation mine has faced scrutiny - for

depleting groundwater aquifers in an increasingly

arid region.

A map from the Centre for Biological Diversity identifies

over 125 lithium extraction projects in the western US

-- seven of which are inactive and the majority -- at

various stages, from exploration to development.

Most proposed mines... are in Nevada, which is

considered a future “Silicon Valley of lithium.”

“Concerned about the risks ------ local residents and

environmentalists have resisted new mines with

tactics from protests to litigation...... but a

government-supported lithium boom

appears to be underway -

regardless,” reported

Energy News Net-

work in July.

Historically, the high costs of environmental
compliance and labour in the US, have

limited domestic lithium production,

with companies often finding it

cheaper to import it from

other countries.

A recent report by Solar Reviews ---- indicated that

production costs in the US, can range from $4,000

to US$12,000 per metric ton of lithium carbonate,

significantly higher than in major exporting

countries like Chile and Argentina.

“U.S. environmental regulations make it much more

expensive to extract lithium here. This is why

companies have traditionally chosen to

mine lithium in countries with fewer

environmental protection, ------

effectively exporting our

environmental impact,

overseas,” according

to the Institute for

Energy Research.

“Because lithium deposits come embedded in other

metals and minerals -- extracting lithium can be

incredibly difficult. More refineries, the plants

where raw lithium.... is processed into a

concentrated form of the metal that

goes into batteries, need to be
built in North America.”

Lithium processing also requires expertise, that is in

short supply in the United States ....and among our

allies,” it added ------ noting that “environmentalist

opponents, have driven mines from our shores.”

__________________________________________

Delegates meet in Colombia ---- to

address global biodiversity crisis

October 21st, 3:39pm

(africanews)

The United Nations Environment Programme, reports

that the planet is facing its most significant loss of

life since the time of the dinosaurs, with

approximately 1 million species of

plants and animals currently

at risk of extinction.

Global environmental leaders, convene on Monday, in

Cali, Colombia, to evaluate the declining biodiversity

worldwide ------ and the pledges made by nations to

safeguard plants, animals, and essential habitats.

Eva Zabey, executive director of the coalition Business

for Nature, calls for a Shift from establishing targets

to implementing tangible actions in the field. "The

biodiversity conference, the COP16, comes at an

absolutely critical moment for us to move from

targets setting to real actions on the ground."

The agreement outlines 23 actions aimed at stopping

and reversing the decline of nature, which includes

protecting 30% of the Earth's surface and 30%

of damaged ecosystems, by the year 2030.

According to Linda Krueger, director of biodiversity at

The Nature Conservancy --- all evidence indicates a

significant decrease in both the abundance and

distribution of species.

"All the evidence shows that there's dramatic decline

in species abundance and distribution. That means

wild species have less room to live, and and they

are declining in numbers. And we also see

rising extinction rates," she said.

During her opening remarks on Sunday, Susana

Muhamad, Colombia’s environment minister

and COP16 president, stated that the

conference presents a chance to

gather insights - from various

civilizations, cultures, and

knowledge.... throughout

history.

She emphasized the goal of creating sustainable and

stable conditions for a new society that will emerge

in response to the ongoing crisis.

The two-week United Nations Biodiversity Conference,

known as COP16, builds on the 2022 meetings

in Montreal ..where 196 nations agreed to a

landmark treaty aimed at safeguarding

biodiversity.

Additional sources • Other agencies

______________________________________

Nobel Prize laureate challenges

effectiveness of Paris climate

agreement

October 12th, 3pm

TASS)

The Paris climate agreement is unlikely to lead to any

tangible results, and humanity will have to look for
another solution for the climate problem, says

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rae Kwon Chung.

The scientist, who spoke at the ‘Nauka 0+’ festival, leads the

Global Energy Award International committee, and acts as

an advisor to the Chairman of the UN High-level Experts

and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP), and

a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change (IPCC), awarded with a Nobel Peace Prize

in 2007.

"I have doubt, that the Paris climate agreement will lead to

any tangible results," he said, speaking at the ‘Nauka 0+’

scientific festival in Moscow. "This agreement was

signed on a voluntary basis. Years later... we see

that these were mere words, with little results,"

the Nobel Prize laureate said.

"The climate continues to change and I think that

we will require a different solution," he added.

The expert called not to accuse governments and

companies of exerting insufficient efforts on

reduction of CO2 emissions.

"Unless... you make a personal contribution to reducing

emissions, then there will be no market for carbon-free

products. This contribution may seem like a sacrifice,

but this it is not. It is an investment in a carbon-free

market, which will ensure the future for the people,

jobs included. ‘Begin with yourself’ is a kind of

social campaign that would allow us to work

together," he believes.

____________________________________

For the first time, a Latin

American ------ wins the
Global Energy Award

July 3rd, 12:48pm

(Prensa Latina)

For the first time, a Latin American won the international

Global Energy Award, the president of the World Energy

Association, Sergey Briliov, announced today.

''It is a victory - that we have a Latin American and

Caribbean winner, since the award was created

in 2003 they had not been presented, I hope to

increase the presence of contestants from

that region. They are welcome,''

said Briliov.

The prize fund is worth 39 million

rubles (almost 450,000 dollars).

According to the results ---- the laureates are professors

from the British University of Sheffield, China’s Zi-Qiang

Zhu, Puerto Rican chemistry professor from Cornell

University in the United States, Hector Abruña,

and from Tsinghua University in China,

Mingao Ouyang.

''I am grateful to receive this award, which means a lot

to my work team. It is necessary to solve the current

challenges,'' Abruña said.

Hector Abruña was presented with the prize in the

category of Non-Conventional Energy ----- for his

contributions in the fields of electrochemistry,

batteries, fuel cells and molecular electronics.

For his part, the governor of Volgograd, Andrei Bocharov,

pointed out that the city is now a centre of development

and commented on regional efforts to solve problems.

The award winners were selected by an international

committee, which includes scientists from

13 countries, including Bolivia.

The award ceremony will traditionally take place within

the framework of the international forum ‘Russian

Energy Week’, which will be held in Moscow

on September 26-28, 2024.

_______________________________

Cuba calls to address

desertification and

drought

June 17th, 11:11am

(Prensa Latina)

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez urged to face

desertification and drought - because of their close

relationship with the preservation of biodiversity

and ecosystems.

On the occasion of Monday’s celebration of the World

Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the

Foreign Minister denounced in X, that the

capitalist system, with its production

and consumption levels, which he

described as both irrational and

unsustainable ---- has caused

the degradation of 40% of

the Earth’s surface.

Officially declared by the United Nations General

Assembly in 1994, the date aims to promote

public awareness on issues related to

desertification, land degradation

and drought.

This year, Desertification and Drought Day

is celebrated with a call to mobilize all

generations to support sustainable

land management.

Desertification is the result of the permanent

degradation of soils, caused by a constant

deforestation of forests, salinization, lack

of water, and overexploitation of aquifers

...which is usually produced by human

economic activity.

_________________________________________

Global call for sustainable

land management

June 17th, 10:47am

(Prensa Latina)

Mobilizing all generations to support sustainable

land management is the central theme of the

Desertification and Drought Day celebrated

today, amid the global effort to combat

this scourge.

Organized through the Federal Ministry for Economic

Cooperation and Development in Bonn, actors

worldwide gather under the motto “United

for the Earth: Our Legacy. Our Future.”

This year coincides... with the 30th anniversary of the

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,

the only global agreement dedicated to sustainable

land management ratified by 196 countries and
the EU.

The date... officially declared by the United Nations

General Assembly in 1994, aims to promote public

awareness of issues related to desertification,

land degradation, and drought.

The executive secretary of the Convention, Ibrahim

Thiaw, warned that by 2050, 10 billion people will

depend on this vital resource and yet, every

second an area equivalent to four football

fields is lost --- due to land degradation.

________________________________________

New eco-industrial parks

to appear in Russia

by Victoria Abramchenko

April 22nd, 9:04pm

(Lenta.ru)

By the end of 2024, Russia will have six new eco-industrial

parks. They will be built as part of the federal project

"Closed-loop Economy", according to the website

of the Russian Environmental Operator (REO).

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko

noted the uniqueness of the project. "There were

industrial parks in Russia, but there were never

any eco-industrial parks. So that it is possible

to gather residents in one place - who will be

engaged in the closed-loop economy, waste

processing, extract useful parts.... ensure

the processing of these useful fractions

and, accordingly, make new products,

new goods," she explained.

The parks will be located in the Stavropol Territory,

Leningrad, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk

and Chelyabinsk regions. Two more parks — in the

Krasnodar and Primorsky Territories - are planned

to be introduced before 2027. According to Denis

Butsaev, General Director of REO, eco-industrial

parks..... will become anchor sites for creating

production clusters for waste disposal and

the production of products from

secondary raw materials.

Earlier it was reported that REO will issue its first green

bonds, the funds from which will go to the creation of

waste management facilities.

________________________________________

Cuba denounces --- climate damage

due to NATO military expenditure

April 8th, 12:56pm

(Prensa Latina)

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said on Monday

that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is the largest

military emitter of Greenhouse Gases in the planet.

On his official X account, he noted that the alliance's goal

of increasing military spending to two percent of its

members' GDP is a serious threat to global efforts

to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Recently, the head of Cuban diplomacy stated on the same

social network that NATO’s military carbon footprint went

from 196 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (C02) in

2021 ------- to 226 million in 2023.

Those numbers exceed the GHG emissions of 80 percent

of the countries of the world, he pointed out.

__________________________________________________

China confirms meeting with Japan

on radioactive water discharge

April 1st, 8:22am

(Prensa Latina)

China confirmed a meeting between Chinese and

Japanese nuclear specialists... regarding the

discharge of radioactive water from the

Fukushima plant ---- into the sea.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, described the

talks as constructive, with the Japanese side explaining

the security of their plan, based on scientific evidence.

On February 28th, Japan began the fourth stage of the

discharge of some 7,800 tons of radioactive water

into the sea.

So far, China has expressed its strong concern about

this issue and, in fact, canceled the import of all

aquatic products from Japan.

Beijing repeatedly insisted on the need for an international

agreement to independently monitor the Japanese plan.

Another spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning,

recently assured that releasing this water into the

ocean “affects the health of all humanity, the

global marine environment and the

international public interest.”

“The precautionary measures taken by China and some

other countries - in response to Japan’s action - are

aimed at protecting food security” and are

“entirely legitimate, reasonable and

necessary,” she added.

Beijing believes that an independent international

monitoring agreement must involve neighbouring

countries and other stakeholders ----- to avoid

irrevocable consequences ----- arising from

the discharge of radioactive water.

___________________________________

The Arctic could run

out of ice in 2030

March 6th, 10:20am

(Prensa Latina)

The Arctic could run out of ice for the first time in 2030,

according to a new study that indicates that such an

event would occur more than 10 years earlier than

previous projections.

It is expected to occur in August or September 2030

under all scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions

to the Earth’s atmosphere.

In addition, the Arctic Ocean could experience frequent

occurrences of ice-free conditions by mid-century

(between 2035 and 2067), as was published

in the paper journal Nature Reviews

Earth & Environment.

“Our study also focuses on the frequency of ice-free

conditions, rather than just when the first ice-free

conditions are reached,” Alexandra Jahn of the

University of Colorado, Boulder, told the

Down To Earth portal.

Arctic sea ice cover, which includes the area, extent

and thickness of sea ice, has declined since the

beginning of satellite observations in 1978.

Such ice-free conditions are likely

the first in at least 80,000 years.

“The transition to an ice-free Arctic means a regime shift

from a perennial sea ice cover to a seasonal sea ice

cover, or from a white summer Arctic to a blue

Arctic,” the researchers wrote.

To quantify the ice-free projections, the scientists

analyzed sea ice on a monthly basis using

climate models.

Previously there was talk of the almost complete

disappearance of sea ice, but now scientists

have agreed to designate the Arctic as ice-

free when the ocean has less than one

million square kilometres of

frozen surface.

Experts also say the Arctic is resilient

and can return to normal.... if the

atmosphere cools.

_____________________________________

Colombia: Global Biodiversity

Summit ---- to Be Hosted

in October

February 29th (teleSUR)

On Wednesday, Colombia’s Minister of Environment

Susana Muhamad announced that the Latin

American country will host the 16th

Conference of Parties to the UN

Convention on Biological

Diversity (COP 16) from

Oct 21 to Nov 1.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the sixth

session of the United Nations Environment Assembly

(UNEA-6) underway in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

"This is an opportunity for Colombia's indigenous

communities to showcase a paradigm shift in

the way the conservation of biodiversity

should be undertaken globally,"

Muhamad said.

The Colombian minister added that COP 16 will be a

mixture of cultural and environmental biodiversity

from Latin American countries.

The launch of the logo of a fresh flower took place

during the official announcement of Colombia's

hosting of the UN biodiversity summit.

A tweet reads, "An everlasting flower, did you know that

the Inírida flower can withstand long floods and

droughts? It is the symbol of resilience!

That is why this flower is the logo of

the COP 16 in Colombia and,

therefore, of Peace

with Nature!"

David Cooper, acting executive secretary of the Secretariat

of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, said that

delegates -- will share experiences, find solutions,
and inspire partnerships toward tackling global

biodiversity loss. He noted, COP 16 would

allow local indigenous communities,

to share their experiences.

According to Cooper, indigenous communities in

13 ecoregions of Colombia and neighbouring

countries will share their knowledge of rare

endemic species with the delegates.

The COP 16 -- will accelerate action and show

progress towards turning the four goals and

23 targets of the biodiversity plan into

nationally driven action.

He said, that the delegates are expected

to demonstrate the alignment of their

National Biodiversity Strategies

and Action Plans with the

Biodiversity Plan.

A tweet reads, "Great meeting with the Chinese Minister of

Ecology and outgoing president of COP15, Huang Runqiu,

during UNEA6. His support and experience will be key

to ensure the success of COP 16 Colombia in Cali

this year."

Cooper revealed that the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary

Body on Implementation, which will take place in Nairobi

from May 21-29, will provide an opportunity to review

progress 5 months before COP 16 gets underway

in Cali, Colombia.

According to Cooper, COP 16 will be the first biodiversity

summit since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal

Global Biodiversity Framework at COP 15 held in

December 2022 in Montreal, Canada.

During COP 16, governments will review the state of

the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global

Biodiversity Framework... develop the monitoring

framework, and advance resource mobilization

for the Global Biodiversity Framework.

In addition, the summit will finalize and operationalize

the multilateral mechanism, for the fair and equitable

sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence

information on genetic resources.

_______________________________

UN --- calls for more funding
for environmental projects

February 28th, 3:09pm

(Prensa Latina)

The planet demands that financial flows be realigned and

business practices be changed in favor of nature, it was

the demand here on Wednesday --- at the 6th United

Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6).

At the opening session of the high-level segment on

strengthening the science-policy interface for

effective implementation of environmental

commitments, UNEP Executive Director

Inger Andersen noted that humanity is

currently financing its ‘own failure’

rather than investing in a ‘better

future by supporting nature’.

Unfortunately, she added, solutions based on environmental

protection are underfunded and receive only 200 billion

dollars globally a year, less than one-third of what is

needed between now and 2030 to meet climate,

biodiversity and land degradation targets.

Given these figures, it is clear that realigning negative

financial flows to nature is the best way to halt and

reverse the loss of nature, and to achieve this we

need to change incentive policies, provide data

on long-term economic losses and change

business practices,’ she said.

The high-level debate on strengthening the science-policy

interface for effective implementation of environmental

commitments ------ is a forum to address the need for

transformational change to address the three

planetary environmental crises: climate

change, the loss of nature and

biodiversity, and pollution.

Participants in the forum will also discuss opportunities

to strengthen science-policy interfaces - as part of

UNEA decision-making.

They will also discuss best practices where scientific

knowledge and evidence have successfully helped

to address environmental challenges.

UNEA-6, which will take place until March 1 in the Kenyan

capital, marks the beginning of a new era of multi-

lateralism focused on environmental issues at

the same level of importance as other global

issues such as peace, security and health,

according to the assembly organizers.

Some 5,000 representatives of governments, civil society

and the private sector are attending the global forum,

which will consider a variety of resolutions covering

challenges such as halting desertification,

counteracting air pollution or limiting

chemical pollution.

_________________________________________

UN agency calls to reduce

heavy vehicle pollution

February 24th, 00:30am

(Prensa Latina)

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) called

to take decisive measures to cut pollution generated

by heavy vehicles, especially trucks.

Their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have increased by

30 percent since 2000, according to a report published

on Thursday.

In the document, the head of UNEP’s Sustainable Mobility

Unit, Rob de Jong, emphasized the need to implement

ambitious regulations --- to curb emissions that are

harmful to the environment and human health.

According to the study, heavy-duty vehicles are responsible

for over 40% of nitrogen oxide emissions on the roads, as

well as 60% of PM2.5 particulate matter and 20% of

black carbon, both of which are associated with

heart and lung problems.

The situation is aggravated in developing countries that

depend on imports of used heavy-duty vehicles, often

in precarious and polluting conditions.

The text also warned, that the increase in exports of

such used equipment from industrialized economies

to developing nations --- contributes to increased

pollution in the southern nations.

Although heavy vehicle exports represent a modest 3.6%
of the total value of world trade in automobiles, their
associated CO2 emissions have increased by over
30%, since 2000 ----- with trucks contributing
80 percent of that increase.

CO2 is the main greenhouse gas, the consequence

of which, is global warming... that accelerates

climate change.

The UNEP report, along with the Climate and Clean Air

Coalition, provides the UN’s first global overview of

the scale and regulation of used heavy vehicles.

On their contribution to global air pollution ----- traffic

accidents, fuel consumption and climate emissions,

the research ---- recommends ways to reduce the

harmful aspects ---- for people’s health and

the climate.

_________________________________

Humanity ''celebrates''

World Energy Day

February 14th, 10:10am

(Prensa Latina)

Coinciding with the date of Valentine's Day, humanity

also celebrates World Energy Day, to support

the sustainable use of energy resources

--- in every corner of the planet.

The ephemeris also promotes the use of clean energies

obtained from nature, through the sun and water,

highlighting its favorable impact on

the environment.

This celebration aims to contribute to the achievement of

the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), included in

the UN Agenda 2030, such as ensuring universal

access to affordable and modern energy

sources, expanding the use of

renewable energy sources,

and improving energy

efficiency.

The date was created in 1949 to raise awareness among

the world’s population about the use of alternative and

renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and

biomass, reducing the burning of fossil fuels

like oil, gas, and coal, which cause

global warming.

According to data from the United Nations Environment

Program, more than a third of the world’s population

has no access to advanced forms of energy, while

the 30 most developed countries on the planet

consume more than 60% of this energy daily

and without interruption.

It is estimated that currently 13% of the world’s population,

approximately 1.1 billion people, do not have access

to basic electricity services. Meanwhile, the use of

fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal is estimated

at 80%, while only 2% of renewable energies are

generated, which is why the aim is to reverse

a ''reality'' that harms nature and

the environment.

__________________________________

5.5 Tons of Fukushima Radioactive

Water .....Leak Into the Ocean

February 7th (teleSUR)

On Wednesday, Fukushima Central Television reported that

approximately 5.5 tons of water containing radioactive

materials have leaked from a piece of equipment at

Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

At about 8:53 a.m... workers discovered water leaking from

the outlet of a device used to purify nuclear-contaminated

water during the inspection of the equipment, the local

TV reported, citing the plant's operator Tokyo Electric

Power Company (TEPCO).

The amount of water that leaked, was approximately

5.5 tons, which may contain 22 billion becquerels of

radioactive materials such as cesium and strontium.

Most of the leaked water appeared to have seeped into the

soil, but monitoring of a nearby drainage channel did not

show any significant radiation level changes.TEPCO has

made the area where the water was leaked a no-go area.

Hit by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and an ensuing tsunami

in 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered core

meltdowns that released radiation, resulting in a

level-7 nuclear accident, the highest on the

International Nuclear and Radiological

Event Scale.

The plant has been generating a massive amount of water

tainted with radioactive substances from cooling down

the nuclear fuel in the reactor buildings, which are

now being stored in tanks at the nuclear plant.

In August 2023, Japan started to discharge the Fukushima

wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, despite numerous and

repeated objections by governments and communities,

environmental groups, NGOs and anti-

nuclear movements.

_________________________________________

Venezuela Destroys Illegal Mining

Camps ----- in the Amazon Region

February 7th, 2pm

(teleSUR)

On Tuesday, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB)

informed that six makeshift mining camps set up by

illegal miners were destroyed in the state

of Amazonas.

Previously, on Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas

Maduro launched Operation "Fog 2024" for the

protection of the Amazon region and

its ecosystems.

The facilities destroyed were used "to prey on and

contaminate the environment," said Gen. Domingo

Hernandez, the head of the FANB's Strategic

Operational Command.

Besides the mining camps, the army also destroyed eight

illegal rafts used by criminal groups along the banks of

the Cunucunuma River in Duida-Marahuaca

National Park.

A text reads, "During the Operation Fog 2024, the FANB

found eight mining ponds on the banks of the

Cunucunuma River, in the state of Amazonas,

which were used to predate and contaminate

the environment. They also found and

incinerated six logistics camps."

Venezuela will not tolerate the existence of illegal groups

in its territory "nor the indiscriminate and arbitrary

depredation of the environment," Gen.

Hernandez pointed out.

“The FANB will deploy 20 Quick Reaction Units, which

have the strength and means to dismantle and

destroy illegal mining structures,” he added.

The Operation Fog 2024 is a comprehensive intervention

that will cover all national parks and forest reserves

located in areas important for the security of the

Venezuelan State.

_____________________________________

Chilean scientists warn of

climate change effects

on wheat

January 11th, 11:56am

(Prensa Latina)

Research by Chilean scientists published here today warns

of the negative effects of global warming on the yield of

wheat crops, a cereal of which this country is one of

the largest consumers.

Climate change, associated with phenomena such as El

Niño, are pushing temperatures to record levels and

heat waves have increased from nine to 62 in the

last 10 seasons, and 2024 will be no exception,

the research states.

According to Dr. Anita Arenas, from the Millennium Institute

of Integrative Biology and Talca University, responsible for

the research, these episodes affect both the weight and

quality of wheat grain ------ key to world food security.

One of the main results, he said, was that in response to

the high temperatures, so-called durum wheat suffered

a weight loss of -23.9 percent, the starch content

decreased and the protein level increased.

Arenas indicated that on this last point, further analysis

will be necessary to determine whether the increase

in protein ---- is accompanied by a change in the

gluten composition.

______________________________

Panamanian Farmers Reject

the Indio River Reservoir

January 9th, 6:41pm

(teleSUR)

On Monday, the Farmers for Life Coordinator, the Donoso &

Omar Torrijos Awake Movement, and the Farmers for the

Earth Coordinator agreed to reject the Indio River

reservoir and demanded the closure of

Minera Panama.

The producer organizations rejected the different projects

presented by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), which

insists.. on creating a multipurpose reservoir in the

Indio River to accumulate water and facilitate

the transit of ships through the

interoceanic route.

Panamanian farmers maintain, that water is of utmost

importance for life and that the arguments presented

by the ACP --- are neither sufficient nor convincing.

They also mentioned that the construction of the Indio

River reservoir would generate disastrous

environmental consequences.

At their meeting, the farmers presented a detailed

document containing their joint demands, which

have been substantiated with the support of

the Catholic Church and professionals

from different technical areas.

Among the demands presented are the defense of their

lands, rivers and lives from the threats caused by

large metal mining projects.

The producer organizations also demand that the

Panamanian state immediately create a social

and technical commission for the closure of

Minera Panama.

________________________________________

2023 ----- shatters climate

records in 125,000 years

January 2nd, 12:14pm

(Prensa Latina)

The 2023 year was declared as warmest on Earth in 174

years, and most probably of the last 125,000 years, an

evidence that global warming is surging and affecting

the whole planet much faster.

According to climate experts: “What we’re looking for is

a lot of corroborating evidence that it’s all pointing in

the same direction,” said Chris Smith, a climate

scientist at England’s University of Leeds.

Unrelenting heat waves roasted Phoenix and Argentina.

Wildfires raged in Canada. In Libya, floods killed

thousands of people, noted an article in

the newspaper.

Winter ice cover on the seas around Antarctica reached

record lows, while global temperatures this year not

only broke previous records.

According to June-November analysis, temperatures

reached new highs month after month & December

temperatures remained largely above normal.

Global temperatures have long risen and fallen

around a steady warm trend due to cyclical

factors such as El Niño.

__________________________________

IUCN -------- warns on

danger of extinction

of freshwater fishes

January 2nd, 10:38am

(Prensa Latina)

Climate change threatens a growing number of species,

from freshwater fishes to Atlantic salmon and green

turtles, according to IUCN's Red List of Threatened

Species released today at COP28. The IUCN Red

List now includes 157,190 species, of which

44,016 are threatened with extinction.

“Climate change is menacing the diversity of life our planet

harbours, and undermining nature’s capacity to meet

basic human needs,” said Dr. Grethel Aguilar, IUCN

Director General.

“This IUCN Red List update highlights the strong links

between the climate and biodiversity crises, which

must be tackled jointly. Species declines, are an

example of the havoc being wreaked by climate

change, which we have the power to stop with

urgent, ambitious action to keep warming

below 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

Today’s update.. completes the first comprehensive

assessment of the world’s freshwater fish species,

revealing that 25% (3,086 out of 14,898 assessed

species) are at risk of extinction.

At least 17% of threatened freshwater fish species

are affected by climate change, including

decreasing water levels, rising sea

levels causing seawater to move

up rivers, and shifting seasons.

This compounds threats from pollution, which impacts

57% of freshwater fish species at risk of extinction,

dams and water extraction, which affect 45%,

overfishing, which threatens 25%, and

invasive species and disease, which

harm 33%.

Kathy Hughes, Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish

Specialist Group said: “Freshwater fishes make up more

than half of the world’s known fish species, an

incomprehensible diversity given that fresh

water ecosystems comprise only 1% of

aquatic habitat. These diverse species

are integral to the ecosystem, and

vital to its resilience.

“This is essential to the billions of people who rely upon

freshwater ecosystems, and the millions of people who

rely on their fisheries. Ensuring freshwater ecosystems

are well managed, remain free-flowing with sufficient

water, and good water quality is essential to stop

species declines and maintain food security,

livelihoods and economies in a climate

resilient world.”

Produced by a variety of organizations including WWF, the

World’s Forgotten Fishes details the dazzling diversity of

species and how critically important they are to the

functioning of their ecosystems, other species and

people – with over 200 million relying on them for

food security and 60 million for their livelihoods.

“Freshwater fishes are in freefall with one quarter of

all species now threatened with extinction. This

devastating news - is the clearest sign of the

damage we have done to our rivers, lakes

and wetlands – ecosystems that not only

sustain freshwater fishes and a dazzling

diversity of other wildlife but also

underpin our societies

and economies.

“Out-of-sight and out-of-mind, freshwater fishes have always

been undervalued ---- even though they are critical to the

functioning of their ecosystems --- and provide food for

200 million people and livelihoods - for 60 million. The

shocking state of the World’s Forgotten Fishes must

serve as a wake up call: decision makers must

urgently scale up investment in protecting

and restoring healthy rivers, lakes and

wetlands. This will safeguard our

vanishing freshwater fishes, but

will also enhance water and

food security, reverse

nature loss and

accelerate our

climate action.

“Here at COP28, 38 countries have now joined the

Freshwater Challenge – the most ambitious fresh

water protection and restoration initiative in

history. We need all countries to follow their

lead because reversing the degradation of

freshwater ecosystems will pave the way

to a net-zero, nature-positive, and

resilient future.”

____________________________________

UNEP considers slow progress

in human-nature interaction

January 2nd, 10am

(Prensa Latina)

In spite of more global awareness about the environment

and fossil fuels, there is still little and slow progress in

human interaction with nature and the consumption

of its resources, said UNEP.

With only six years to go before the end of 2030 for

meeting the UNEP Agenda set in 2015 with 17

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - it is

true that global awareness over biodiversity

protection has surged, but unfortunately

efforts to transform global awareness

are lagging behind in terms of speed

and scale.

According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP),

by 2023, three-quarters of the planet’s terrestrial

ecosystem and about 66% of the marine

environment had been significantly

altered by human action.

Over one-third of the world’s land area and nearly 75%

of freshwater resources are now goal-oriented to
crop or livestock production.

Combined with dizzying levels of pollution, natural habitat

degradation and biodiversity loss -- have serious impacts

on communities around the world. In 2023, from 100 to

300 million people were at increased risk of flooding

and hurricanes --- given the loss of coastal habitats.

There were examples of efforts to address these threats,

many communities improved their reconstruction actions

such as Pakistan with the launch of the largest climate

initiative in the country’s history or the United Nations

with its new ¨Early Warning for All¨ global project.

According to UNEP, clean energy made some progress and

although 91% of the world now has access to electricity

such a progress has not been fast or inclusive enough.

Nevertheless, the number of people with power

access ramped up to 675 million since 2015.

Other data pointed to global investment in clean energy

reaching near-record levels of USD$1.7 trillion, so

renewables now account for --- over 28% of

global electricity, growing by nearly 5%.

But nowadays, 2.3 billion people still depend on coal,

kerosene or solid biomass as the main cooking fuel,

so the lack of clean cooking contributes to nearly

3.7 million premature deaths annually, with

women and children being most at risk.

Plus ---- about 80% of the world’s population with

no electricity lives in rural areas, predominantly

in sub-Saharan Africa.

Current studies have shown that reaching these

clean energy targets will require the world to

triple its annual investments by 2030.

_____________________________________

Paraguay: Pasubio Not to

Buy Leather Affecting

Indigenous Lands

December 20th, 5:14pm

(teleSUR)

On Wednesday, Survival International --- celebrated the

decision of the Italian tannery Pasubio, to refrain from

purchasing leather ------whose production is linked to
the deforestation ------ of the ancestral territory of
the Ayoreo Totobiegosode Indigenous people.

In South America, the Ayoreo people is part of the last

Indigenous community voluntarily isolating itself

outside the Amazon Basin.

"We are pleased to know that Pasubio has committed to

boycotting leather from suppliers that threaten the

lives and territories of the Ayoreo people, in

Paraguay. We hope that other companies

will follow their example," Survival

International Director, Caroline

Pearce said, warning that her

organization will monitor to

ensure full compliance

with the commitment.

"We hope that this news.. contributes to speeding up the

very slow process.. of recognizing the territorial rights

of the Ayoreo, which has already lasted thirty years,"

she added.

"The Paraguayan authorities must - once and for all -

respect national and international rights, expel all

ranches from Ayoreo territory, and return the

land to this indigenous people."

Previously, the Pasubio Group communicated its decision

to exclude leather suppliers linked to deforestation in

the Chaco region, where the Ayoreo Totobiegosode

Natural and Cultural Heritage (PNCAT) is located.

Currently, the Ayoreo territory is "an island of forest

surrounded by a sea of deforestation, as the land

around it has been deforested to make room for

livestock farming," explained Survival

International --- and warned that

numerous fires, have been

occurring in that forest

since the beginning

of the year.

"An undetermined number of Ayoreo Totobiegosode

Indigenous people, live without contact in their

forest, and many others - have been forced to

abandon isolation and now live in settled

communities," it added.

In February 2016, the Inter-American Commission

on Human Rights (IACHR) issued precautionary

measures -- demanding that the Paraguayan

State halt deforestation in the Chaco and

protect the Ayoreo Totobiegosode

Indigenous people, from

potential unwanted

contacts.

____________________________________

COP28 Draft Deal Raises Nuclear

Energy as a Climate Solution

December 12th, 12:20pm

(teleSUR)

In the latest draft of the Global Balance presented by the

Climate Summit Presidency (COP28), nuclear energy is

included as one of the options for the planet's

decarbonization.

Greenpeace, Ecologists in Action, and World Wide Fund for

Nature (WWF) denounced that the inclusion of this option

is a response to the growing presence of nuclear

"lobbyists" at climate summits ------- since the

COP26 in Glasgow, with the complicity

of major atomic powers such as the

United States or France.

The presence of pro-nuclear advocates has been "even

more noticeable in Dubai," and it appears that their

"management has been successful," said WWF's

Global Climate and Energy Director -- Manuel

Vidal-Pulgar, who believes that the COP28's

central goal should be to accelerate the

ecological transition.... with a "clear

reference to phasing out

fossil fuels."

In his opinion, nuclear energy is not a viable option for this

transition. Apart from the fact that only 32 countries have

atomic plants, nuclear energy generates hazardous

waste and poses serious security issues, as

demonstrated by past accidents.

"In COP28, there has been talk from the outset about the

need for low-emission technologies to justify the use of

technologies that are not yet proven, are expensive,

or are not ready (such as nuclear fusion), and that

is unacceptable," he lamented.

"Clearly, this is a tremendous mistake," said the Ecologists

in Action's Energy and Climate Director, Javier Andaluz,

who pointed out that the climate impact of a nuclear

power plant throughout its life cycle, is between 6

and 15 times greater than the impact related to

its operation.

"This is a clear concession ------- to the lobbying of large

companies - nuclear power is in the hands of electric

companies," according to Andaluz, who criticized

the high presence of accredited pro-nuclear

advocates in Dubai, to whom "recognition

similar to that of neutral observer

organizations" is being given.

"Nuclear power is not a solution to climate change because

it is slow, taking more than 10 years to build a plant - plus

all the licensing and preliminary studies; it is expensive

and relies on public funds, and there is no private

insurance to cover the plants due to their

hazardous nature," said the Climate

Change Director of Greenpeace

Spain, Pedro Zorrilla.

Any accident at a nuclear plant has "very serious

consequences for health and the environment,"

according to Zorrilla, who added that these

plants are not suitable to support the

deployment needed in renewables

as they cannot provide backup

for wind or solar variability -

turning on or off a nuclear

plant takes several days

or even weeks.

__________________________________

Brazil to host COP30 by 2025

December 11th, 5:21pm

(Prensa Latina)

Brazil, was formally elected on Monday as host country

of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference

(UNFCCC – COP30), scheduled to be held from

November 10 to 21, 2025.

“The decision was made --- by a consensus at the COP28
plenary session in Dubai”, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Brazil´s Foreign Ministry pointed out that, “after the

decision, the Minister of Environment and Climate

Change and head of the Brazilian delegation

Marina Silva formally announced that

COP30 will be held in the city of

Belem,” capital of the northern

Amazonian state of Para.

Silva defended, “a collective construction of an energy

matrix that the planet and humanity demand --- for

its survival.”

________________________________

Initiative to Protect Glaciers

Launched at COP28

December 4th, 1:11pm

(teleSUR)

On Sunday, an initiative to protect the world's glaciers

was launched at the China Pavilion of the COP28

climate change conference.

At the side event of COP28, or the 28th session of the

Conference of the Parties to the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change,

delegates and scientists... shared their

views on the risks of melting glaciers,

and ways to slow down that process.

A project named "Memory of Glaciers: Global

Exploration Initiative" was launched to step

up research and protection of glaciers, as

well as raise public awareness.

Glaciers bear witness to the history of climate change

on the planet, and melting glaciers will bring a series

of risks aside from rising sea levels, delegates said.

Potential risks will include ------- damage to high mountain

ecosystems, increased hazards of landslides and floods,

as well as losses of tourism and cultural assets.

Measures that need to be taken include limiting global

warming through reducing greenhouse gas emissions

and enhancing adaptation strategies which can help

reduce hazardous impacts.

According to the report "Ten New Reflections in Climate

Science" ----- which was prepared by Future Earth,
The Earth League and World Climate Research

Programme, humanity is about to exceed

the limit of 1.5 degrees of global

warming ----- set in the

Paris Agreement.

Therefore, it is essential to reduce as much as possible

the magnitude and time in which the world is above

1.5 degrees to reduce losses, damages, and the

risk of irreversible changes.

______________________________________

Ethiopia to host the largest wind

farm in the Horn of Africa

Dubai, December 4th, 12:43pm

(Prensa Latina)

The Aysha wind energy project, an 18,000-hectare wind

farm considered the largest in the Horn of Africa, will

be built in Ethiopia in conjunction with an Emirati

company, it was announced here.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and the United Arab

Emirates renewable energy project operator AMEA

Power signed an agreement to build the site with

an investment of $600 million, which, according

to the state ministry, represents an important

milestone in the country’s sector.

The project is expected to produce approximately 1.22

terawatt hours of electricity per year, which will

contribute significantly to Ethiopia’s power

generation capacity.

It will also create approximately 2,000 jobs during the

construction and operation phases for the benefit

of the local economy, a joint statement revealed.

The document stated that the agreement demonstrates

Addis Ababa’s unwavering commitment to renewable

energy and its dedication to attracting private

investment in the energy sector.

Ethiopian Electric Power and the Ministry of Finance, are

working together to harness the region’s abundant wind

resources and generate clean, sustainable electricity,

to meet the country’s growing demand for electricity.

___________________________________________

There is real hope out there,

COP28 President al-jaber

says

Dubai, December 4th,

(Prensa Latina)

In the first four days of COP28 we set high standards

for results; there is real hope out there, said the

president of the 28th UN Climate Change

Conference, Sultan Al Jaber.

During a press conference, Al Jaber revealed the hope

expressed by people he has spoken to, that this

meeting, will be a major turning point and not

missing the opportunity to deliver a real and

tangible paradigm shift to correct course

towards the right path of keeping 1.5

degrees Celsius within reach.

December 4, 2023

10:21

“Let’s remember why we are all here. We are all here

because we have issued a very clear call to action.

The UAE takes on this task with humility and

responsibility and fully understands the

urgency of this issue,” he stressed.

He noted that so far at COP28 they were able to bring the

United States and China together in an unprecedented

commitment to reduce methane and other non-carbon

dioxide (CO2) gases across the economy. These

gases are more than 80 times more harmful

than CO2, he warned.

Al Jaber also revealed pride - in having issued the first

declarations on health and food systems, considered

two huge priorities for the presidency’s action

agenda. Three additional statements on

hydrogen, refrigeration and gender,

will be announced in the coming

days, he confirmed.

__________________________________

COP 28: The G77+China

Summit - is Inaugurated

December 2nd, 4:47pm

(teleSUR)

This Saturday, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez

inaugurated in Dubai the historic Summit of Leaders of the

Group of 77 and China, within the framework of COP28.

On his opening speech he highlighted that: "The gap

between the irrationally opulent North - and the

increasingly impoverished South - widens -
with high human costs ---- while the
resources that nature makes
available to us, are
squandered".

It is our responsibility to assert the voice of the peoples

of the South -- and to defend their legitimate interests

and aspirations, Diaz-Canel, president pro tempore

of the organization, posted on his X account.

"In inaugurating the G77-China Leaders Summit in the

context of COP28 -- President Diaz-Canel called for

reflection, concerted action on the basis of what

unites us and respect for our rich diversity, and

together act now - to advance the legitimate

demands of the South," said the Cuban

Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez.

Also, the Website Presidencia Cuba, emphasized that

this is the first time the Group has met at a COP to

agree positions for climate change negotiations.

The COP28 Summit opened in Dubai on Thursday with

the announcement of the creation of the loss and

damage fund ---- to compensate the most

vulnerable countries in the face of

the climate crisis.

The largest global meeting to address climate change

officially endorsed the resolution to operationalize

the fund, It also received financial pledges from

the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the
UK, US and Japan.

______________________________________

Pope Francis spurs: to speed up

the ecological transition ------

after COP28

Dubai, December 2nd, 1:45pm

(Prensa Latina)

On Saturday, Pope Francis requested in his speech sent to

the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28),

as he was unable to attend here for health reasons, his
political willingness...... to speed up the

ecological transition.

In the document, read in that forum by Cardinal Pietro

Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State.... which was

published on Saturday by the Holy See Press

Office, Francis stated that, in that sense,

that COP28 should be a turning point,

as it is now urgent to return to the

right track and give “a sign

of hope.”

The Pope assured that this transition must be efficient,

obligatory and easy to monitor, as well as -- it must

cover the fields of energy efficiency, renewable

sources, the removal of fossil fuels ------- and

education must be directed towards

less dependent lifestyles on

fossil fuels.

“Are we working for a culture of life or a culture of death?”

Pope Francis asked those attending the event ------ which

opened in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on November

30 and will last until December 12, with the presence

of over 150 heads of State and Government.

The Pope underscored that the ambition to produce and

possess --- has turned into an obsession, leading to a

boundless greed -- that has made the environment

the target of unbridled exploitation. Finally, the

senior Catholic authority noted --- “the

disturbed climate is a warning to us

--- to stop such a delirium of

omnipotence.”

___________________________

Lukashenko urges West:

to use money it wastes

on wars.... to better

the environment

December 1st, 1:08pm (TASS)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, has suggested

using the resources that Western countries waste on wars

to address environmental issues around the globe.

"Those speakers who were the first to take the floor, talked

about peace. They were saying -- that the planet must be

kept clean -- and the future of grandchildren taken care

of, while it is their countries that have unleashed and

are waging ------ the worst war on the planet," the

Belarusian leader told the World Climate

Summit in Dubai.

"This is many trillions of dollars. Well, let's use this money to

make and keep the planet clean. Then there will be no

need to go door to door and beg for it."

Lukashenko stressed that "wars are the

main source of filth on our continent."

"Let's put an end to this. The most important thing

is to talk less ----- and do more," Lukashenko said.

He urged the summit participants, especially the leading

countries of the world, to carry "the burden of

historical responsibility."

"First, make a proportionate contribution to solving the

issues of climate security to repair the harm caused

by a centuries-long thoughtless attitude to nature.

Second, step up support for developing countries

and economies in transition. Third, stop paying

lip service to nature conservation and start

acting in the name of preserving life on

Earth," Lukashenko said.

________________________________________

Colombia, Uruguay, and

Ecuador ------- receive

OEI awards

November 28th, 12:11pm

(Prensa Latina)

The Organization of Ibero-American States for Education,

Science, and Culture (OEI) has awarded innovation

prizes to Colombia, Uruguay, and Ecuador.

In a press release, the OEI announced on Tuesday that

among 200 candidates from 14 countries, it selected

CaféLab, Ecofusion, and Pedagogy Without Limits

as the best for “Innovation and the SDGs in

educational centres.”

CaféLab, developed by the Municipal Montessori Educational

Institution-San Francisco Headquarters in Pitalito, Huila,

Colombia, won first place. The project aims to take

advantage of the waste generated by coffee

production to promote entrepreneurship

and reduce pollution.

The second prize has gone in an equal state to two

projects: Ecofusion from Uruguay and Pedagogy

Without Limits, from Ecuador.

The jury has awarded special mentions to other

projects from Cuba, Spain, Honduras, and Peru.

The awards recognize the efforts of schools in the region

to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

of the 2030 Agenda.

This edition awarded 10,000 Euros for the first place

and 5,000 euros for each project in second place.

_____________________________________

Report --------- Climate Crisis, Energy Costs

Fuel £600 Rise in UK Household Food Bill

November 27th, 12:11pm (FNA)

British households’ food bills have been driven up by more

than £600 over the past two years by the global climate

emergency and soaring energy prices, according to

a report warning of further increases to come

in 2024.

Sounding the alarm over the impact from increasing extreme

weather patterns for food production, the Energy and

Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) thinktank said that

global heating ----- is directly contributing to the

cost of living crisis, The Guardian reports.

According to the analysis carried out by researchers from

the universities of Bournemouth, Exeter and Sheffield,

more extreme or unseasonal weather accounted for

a third of all food price inflation in the UK this year.

While energy prices have fallen back this year, it
warned that the impact from the climate
emergency, is increasing.

Tom Lancaster, land analyst at ECIU, said, “Climate change

is playing havoc with global food production, and this is

inevitably feeding through to higher prices at the tills.

Across 2022 and 2023, the climate emergency alone

added the equivalent of six weekly shops to the

average household food bill.”

The cost of the climate crisis rose from £171 in 2022 to £192

in 2023, more than offsetting the effects of falling energy

prices this year and having a greater impact than rising

energy bills, according to analysis.

Official figures show ---- inflation in food and drink prices
peaked at an annual rate of almost 20% earlier this year,
the highest level since the 1970s, amid disruption to
food supplies from weather events and soaring
energy costs for producers.

Food price inflation has fallen back in recent months, but
remains at historical highs of close to 10%. Prices are
also still near record highs after recent storms –
including Storm Babet ----- flooded swathes of
farmland, hitting UK potato and vegetable
harvests in the run-up to Christmas.

In 2022, drought hit production of basic foodstuffs such as
potatoes and onions in the UK, followed by an unusually
wet harvest in 2023, and then the hottest September
on record.

It comes after heatwaves across the Mediterranean, India
& South America this year all had a major impact on food
production and prices. Staples including sugar, rice and
tomatoes were affected by extreme weather, such as
droughts in India, while olive oil rose in price by 50%
after two years of drought and heatwaves in Spain
and other major exporters in southern Europe.

The situation could be worse next year with the El Niño

weather system leading possibly to more severe

weather and further increases in food prices.

Prof Wyn Morgan of Sheffield University, one of the report

authors, said, “Given we expect climate impacts to get

worse, it is likely that climate change will continue to

fuel a cost of living crisis for the foreseeable future.”

Anna Taylor, executive director at the Food Foundation, said

that the government needed to “think more seriously how

households can become more resilient to price volatility”

in the light of the likely impact of the climate crisis.

She called on the government to revive its plans for a

horticulture strategy, that would build production of

fruit and vegetables in the UK and reduce reliance

on crops grown in Southern Europe which is

becoming increasingly vulnerable to

drought and extreme heat as a

result of the climate crisis.

A separate report from the Food Foundation warned that

retailers and hospitality venues in Britain are failing to

create a food environment where healthy choices

are affordable, readily available and appealing.

It found healthy food ----- is already twice as expensive as

unhealthy food per calorie, while the cost of sustainable

alternatives to meat and dairy... can also be high.

Most main meals offered by many pub chains regularly

exceed... 50% of the recommended daily intake for

calories, saturated fat, salt and sugar, according

to the report. Meanwhile, just 1% of food

advertising spend goes towards fruit

and vegetables compared with 9%

on meat and dairy while 21.5% of

buy-one-get-one-free deals are

on meat and dairy compared

with just 4.5% on fruit

and vegetables.

Lancaster said that the dependence of the UK’s current

farming system on volatile oil, gas and fertiliser prices

had created a “perfect storm of extreme weather,

high gas prices and global instability” --- to food

price inflation.

He said, “The good news is that steps to make farming more

sustainable cannot only cut emissions but also make our

food production more resilient to the extremes of

flooding and drought. Government plans --- in

England - to support greener farming with

more hedgerows, improved soil health

and tree planting schemes are

therefore vital to our future

food security.”

__________________________________

Pesticides Found in US Baby Food

November 27th, 11:21am

(teleSUR)

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) published a study

showing that baby food in the United States may still

contain potentially harmful pesticides, but is less

toxic than it was about 30 years ago.

Some 38 percent of conventional, or non-organic, baby food

in the United States, is found to contain toxic pesticides,

the EWG said, adding that at least one pesticide

residue was detected in 22 of the 58

conventional baby foods.

It warned that "babies and young children are particularly

vulnerable to potential health harms from consuming food

that contains residues of agricultural pesticides."

The NGO said it tested products from three popular brands in

the United States -- Beech-Nut, Gerber, and Parent's Choice.

While the findings are alarming, the good news, according to

the EWG, is that the pesticide levels in baby foods have

been decreasing compared to a similar study

conducted in 1995.

In the 1995 study, "an eye-popping 53 percent of 72 baby

food products sampled --------- had residue of at least one
pesticide," and the pesticides discovered were, overall,

far more toxic and dangerous than the ones the

latest tests uncovered.

One toxic pesticide the EWG no longer found in baby food

was the brain-damaging bug killer chlorpyrifos, which

in very small amounts can permanently damage

the health of babies and children.

[Rhondda Records adds:

the article soft soaps on
how much pesticide is
STILL POISONING US

methinks ''someone'' is very
scared of an ''eye-popping''
reaction to this !!!]

______________________________________

Germany Not to Reallocate

COVID-19 Funds for

Climate Actions

November 15th, 6:41pm

(teleSUR)

On Wednesday, Germany's Federal Constitutional Court

annulled the national government's decision... to

reallocate 60 billion euros from a COVID-19

relief fund to be used for measures

combatting climate change.

The law under which the funds were retroactively shifted

to the Climate and Transformation Fund (CTF) at the

beginning of 2022 for the previous year's budget

"does not meet the constitutional requirements

for emergency borrowing," the court ruled.

With its so-called debt brake, Germany has an instrument

that prevents the government from taking on new debt,

except in crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The

court found that transferring the funds for another

purpose circumvents this regulation.

The "de facto unlimited" continued use of emergency-

related credit authorizations in subsequent financial

years ---------- is "inadmissible," the ruling added.

Since the 60 billion euros will now be withdrawn from

Germany's climate fund, financed projects will have

to be covered by other budget resources.

"The Federal Government will pay close attention to this

ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court," Chancellor

Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday. However, the 2024

budget meetings scheduled for Thursday -- are to

take place as planned.

The CTF has a total budget of 211.8 billion euros for the

next four years. The German government wanted to

invest 57.6 billion euros from the fund into green

projects in areas such as transport, buildings

and the switch to renewable energies

in 2024.

Germany is aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2045,

five years ahead of the European Union (EU) target. As

part of this process, Germany wants to achieve an 80

percent share of renewable energies in its electricity

supply by 2030, up from about 53 percent currently.

"This ruling is a bitter setback for climate protection," said

Martin Kaiser, managing director of Greenpeace Germany,

adding that all budgetary leeway must now be used on

the path to climate neutrality, "because we are

already in the midst of the climate crisis."

___________________________

Namibia ------ Launches First Seed

Bank for Biodiversity Protection

November 14th (teleSUR)

On Tuesday, the Environment Investment Fund (EIF), a

Namibian environmental fund, said the country has

launched its first Community Seed Bank in

Kavango West, one of the country's 14

regions ------ to safeguard local seed

varieties to promote biodiversity

and ensure food security.

EIF spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata stated that the main

objective of the seed bank is to protect natural resources

by preventing overexploitation of different seed varieties.

"This proactive intervention not only prevents depletion of

resources, but also ensures seed conservation for the

benefit of future generations. Community seed banks

play a crucial role in collecting, storing and

safeguarding local seeds," he said.

"In times of crop damage or destruction, these banks act as

an emergency seed supply, allowing farmers to access

seed for the next planting season," he added.

According to official reports, beyond preserving seeds, the

project emphasizes a broader goal of protecting natural

resources, promoting environmental sustainability, and

ensuring that Namibia's future generations have

access to diverse and resilient

agricultural resources.

Furthermore, Ndamanomhata highlighted that this initiative

goes beyond financial support, representing a shared

commitment to environmental sustainability and the

preservation of the country's natural heritage.

The EIF was officially launched in 2012 and is currently

funded by a government allocation with the mandate

to tap into local conservation fees and

environmental levies.

These funds will be used to invest in the protection of the

environment, its biological diversity and ecological life-

support functions; and the promotion of sustainable

natural resources use - for economic development

by supporting green & environmental enterprises.

Namibia intends to expand the establishment of such

infrastructure, with plans for upcoming projects in

other regions within the next five years.

While Namibia introduced its inaugural community seed

bank in 2023, neighboring countries such as Zambia,

South Africa, and Zimbabwe have already largely

embraced this practice, with Zimbabwe now

boasting 26 community seed banks.

______________________________________

Bolivian President begins

Green Lungs program

November 11th, 9:53am

(Prensa Latina)

Bolivian President Luis Arce has launched, today, in

the municipality of El Alto, the Pulmones Verdes

(Green Lungs) project by planting the first

tree of a forest of native species to

counter climate change.

The initiative was presented ---- by the Vice Minister of

Coordination and Government Management - Gustavo

Torrico, who initially proposed to start with a certain

amount of trees to generate a small forest in El Alto,

Gabriela Arauco, Director of Public Management in

that government agency, explained.

In an interview granted to Prensa Latina, Arauco said that

the support of other ministries made it possible to
advance towards, a larger and more
ambitious project.

'It will be the first forest with five hectares, five thousand

seedlings, and it will not only be the planting stage, but

the commitment of caring for them, so that these trees

reach the necessary size and give the expected result:

to improve the microclimate, the ecosystem and

increase water levels and forestation in that

environment’, she said.

The director explained to this news agency that the most

important thing is that Pulmones Verdes will provide the

community with access to cleaner air.

Pulmones Verdes promotes an effort to mitigate global

warming, the greenhouse effect, the reduction of

permafrost, the loss of water and the climatic

crisis, and for this the State and the society

of Bolivia receive the support of the youth

of El Alto, as well as public and private

business people.

______________________________________

Deforestation in Brazilian

Amazon drops to 22.3%

November 9th, 4:47pm

(Prensa Latina)

Deforestation rate in Brazil´s Amazon scaled down 22.3%

from August 2022 to July 2023 -- the lowest figure in a

12-month term since 2019, according to official data.

The National Institute for Space Research -- revealed that

about 9,001 square kilometres of the Amazonian forest

was deforested at that stage.

Such statistics were supported by the Real-Time

Deforestation Detection System (DETER) which

produces daily signals of alteration in forest

cover for areas larger than three hectares

(0.03 square kilometres).

Indications occur for totally deforested areas as well as

for those in the process of wild degradation (logging,

mining, burning and others).

DETER is not the official deforestation data, but

an alert on where the problem is occurring.

The devastation in the Amazon increased under the

government of former President Jair Bolsonaro

(2019-2022).

___________________________________________

Luzhsky breeding centre.....

sent 500,000 pine saplings

to the new region

November 8th, 6:54pm

(Komsomolskaya Pravda)

500 thousand pine seedlings were brought to the Donetsk

People's Republic from the Luzhsky Forest selection and

Seed production Centre.

The Leningrad Region, helps the Donetsk People's

Republic restore forests lost during the fighting.

500 thousand pine seedlings were delivered to

the new region of Russia from the Luzhsky

Forest selection and seed Centre.

Seedlings of coniferous trees

were grown in the nursery

for two years. Now their

new home will be

the DPR.

The region participates in the restoration of Donetsk

forests on behalf of Governor Alexander Drozdenko.

The project is supervised by the Committee for

Natural Resources of the Leningrad Region.

"When in April of this year, together with the head of the

DPR, Denis Pushilin, we planted spruce and pine trees

from the Leningrad region at the foot of Saur-Mogila,
I promised that the supply of seedlings would be

regular," said Governor Alexander Drozdenko.

''This is part of our assistance to the Donbass... it's

systematic in nature. Today, the Leningrad Region

continues to work at facilities in Yenakiyevo,

Mariupol, and Makeyevka. We already

perceive the residents of these

localities.... as our own.''

''There is already a "Leningrad Quarter" in Mariupol,

and there will eventually be a "Leningrad Forest"

in the Donbas.''

Alexey Shebalkin, Chairman of the Forestry and Hunting

Committee of the Donetsk People's Republic, said that

the "green" cargo... has successfully arrived at its

destination. This... is the second campaign to

send seedlings from the Leningrad region

in 2023.

Earlier, in April, 70 thousand seedlings of scots pine and

30 thousand seedlings of European spruce were

brought to the Donetsk People's Republic.

According to Governor Alexander Drozdenko, the young

coniferous trees planted on Donetsk's land will help

restore the forests damaged during the fighting.

"Leningrad kids" - in a decade - will turn into 250
hectares of forest.... traces of the war in the
Donetsk People's Republic.

''The April batch of 100 thousand pine and spruce saplings

has already taken root in a new place, including at Saur-

Mogila. Seedlings with a closed root system, were

shipped from the Luzhsky breeding Centre - so

that they could move on the road and adapt

more easily to a new place," the head of

the region noted.

Before taking the seedlings to the DPR, the planting

material... is carefully checked. The best seedlings

with high survival rates are selected for shipment.

________________________________________________

China’s initiative - wins

UN’s most prestigious

environmental prize

October 30th, 2:02pm

(Prensa Latina)

China's Blue Circle initiative has won the United Nations

Environment Program's 2023 Champions of the Earth

award for its innovative marine plastic treatment

technology, Xinhua reported on Monday.

The Blue Circle initiative won the award in the

Entrepreneurial Vision category --- for its

contributions to monitoring the entire

lifecycle... of plastic pollution in

the oceans - comprehensively,

encompassing collection ---

as well as regeneration,
re-manufacturing,

and re-sale.

Over 6,000 individuals and 200 enterprises from East

China’s Zhejiang Province are involved in the project.

To date, it has successfully gathered about 10,700

tons of marine debris.

According to Xinhua, these data, make Blue
Circle China’s great marine plastic waste
collection program.

A study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in the United

Kingdom.... estimated that -- oceans could carry more

plastic than fish - by 2050, leading to more pollution.

The organization, founded in 2010 to accelerate the

transition to a circular economy, pointed out that

such materials take about 1,000 years to

degrade -- which has very negative

impacts on the oceans and

the environment.

[R.R. adds: Well done, China -
we're all gonna die!]

_________________________

Ozone hole over Antarctica grows

-- to one of the largest on record

October 4th, 4:36pm

(Prensa Latina)

The annual ozone hole that forms over Antarctica
has ballooned to near-record size, scientists say.

Measurements from satellite imaging taken on Sept. 16

--- showed that the ozone depletion area had reached

26 million square kilometres — roughly three times

the size of Brazil, according to Copernicus, the

European Union’s Earth observation program.

Every year, an ozone hole forms over the Antarctic due to

the presence of ozone-depleting substances in the

stratosphere and the specific conditions of

the region, according to Copernicus.

The size of the ozone fluctuates from August to October,

typically reaching maximum depletion between mid-

September and mid-October.

This year, the ozone hole got off to an early start and has

grown “rapidly” since mid-August -- “making it one of the

biggest ozone holes on record,” Copernicus Atmosphere

Monitoring Service senior scientist, Antje Inness, said
in a statement. The size of the ozone hole is largely

determined... by the strength of a strong wind

band that flows around the Antarctic area -

a result of the rotation of the Earth and

the oppositional temperature

differences between polar

and moderate latitudes.

Ozone levels usually return to normal by mid-December,

after temperatures high up in the stratosphere rise in

the southern hemisphere, slowing ozone depletion

and weakening the polar vortex, according

to Copernicus.

There is some speculation that the unusual behaviour

of the ozone layer in 2023, is a result of the Tongan

underwater volcano eruption in January 2022.

The immense amount of water vapour that was injected

into the atmosphere likely just started reaching the

south polar region after the end of the 2022

ozone hole, Antje said.

The water vapour could have led to a heightened
formation of polar stratospheric clouds ---
allowing chlorofluorocarbons to react
and accelerate ozone depletion.

The impact of the widespread use of damaging

chlorofluorocarbons in products such as

refrigerators and aerosol tins in the

1970s and 1980s -------- led to the

depletion of the ozone high in

the atmosphere, allowing for

the ozone layer above

Antarctica - to open

up, according to

Copernicus.

_____________________________

The scientist declared
deterioration of all

global ecological
characteristics

September 30th, 1:47pm

(RT.ru)

All global indicators in the field of ecology, except for the

problem of ozone holes, are getting worse, said Viktor

Danilov-Danilyan, a Russian scientist and scientific

director of the Institute of Water Problems of the

Russian Academy of Sciences.

"Absolutely all global environmental characteristics
are deteriorating, except ----- and this is the only

exception ----- that characterizes the state of
the ozone layer," RIA Novosti quotes

Danilov-Danilyan as saying, at

the Altai Economic Forum

"Thread of Nature".

He noted that the situation with the ozone layer is

improving, after the adoption of the Montreal

Protocol --- and the implementation of

its obligations.

The scientist added that the concentration of

greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is

growing in the world, the area of

forests is decreasing, and the

chemical poisoning of soils

...continues.

Earlier, US President, Joe Biden, said that

global warming.... remains the only real

threat to humanity.

_____________________________________

Japanese scientists find ---

microplastics are present

in clouds

September 27th, 9:03pm

(Prensa Latina)

Researchers in Japan have confirmed - microplastics

are present in clouds, where they are likely affecting

the climate in ways that aren't yet fully understood.

In a study published in Environmental Chemistry Letters,

scientists climbed Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama in order

to collect water from the mists that shroud their peaks,

then applied advanced imaging techniques to the

samples to determine their physical and

chemical properties.

The team identified nine different types of polymers and

one type of rubber in the airborne microplastics —

ranging in size from 7.1 to 94.6 micrometres.

What’s more, “hydrophilic” or water-loving polymers were

abundant, suggesting the particles play a significant

role in rapid cloud formation and thus,

climate systems.

“If the issue of ‘plastic air pollution’ is not addressed

proactively, climate change and ecological risks

may become a reality, causing irreversible

and serious environmental damage in

the future,” lead author, Hiroshi

Okochi of Waseda University

warned in a statement

on Wednesday.

Microplastics — defined as plastic particles under 5

millimeters - come from industrial effluent, textiles,

synthetic car tires, personal care products, and

much more.

These tiny fragments have been discovered inside fish

in the deepest recesses of the ocean peppering Arctic

sea ice and blanketing the snows on the Pyrenees

mountains between France and Spain.

But the mechanisms of their transport have remained

unclear, with research on airborne microplastic

transport, in particular, limited.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on

airborne microplastics in cloud water,” the authors

wrote in their paper.

Emerging evidence has linked microplastics to a range of

impacts on heart and lung health, as well as cancers, in

addition to widespread environmental harm.

____________________________________________

South Korea to increase

radiation meters in

the ocean

September 18th, 11:38am

(Prensa Latina)

South Korea will strengthen emergency radiation tests to

ease public concern over the discharge into the ocean

of contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima

nuclear power plant, it was announced.

South Korean Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho

Seung-hwan told a news conference that more

coastal measurement points will be added

for this purpose.

''We chose the points where the released waters are expected

to arrive first, given the ocean currents. We will add more

locations to the list, especially in the East Sea, to

ensure safety further,'' he said.

Cho explained that in addition to the 75 spots in territorial

waters, radiation tests are conducted in 33 more distant

areas, and the ministry plans to increase the number

to nearly 250 by next year.

South Korea began conducting emergency radiation tests in

July on samples from 75 coastal points in the east, west

and south of the country, as well as in the waters off

the southern island of Jeju.

The monitoring began about a month before Tokyo began

discharging treated radioactive water into the sea.

In 2011, Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant was

severely damaged by a strong earthquake and a

subsequent tsunami.

_________________________________

Angola plans to eliminate

refrigerant gases by 2030

September 17th, 9:17am

(Prensa Latina)

Angola plans to eliminate, by 2030, the use of refrigerant

gases belonging to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs),

according to sources from the Ministry

of Environment.

Since 2012 the country began to apply the schedule for the

gradual elimination of these gases, which are harmful
to the ozone layer --- and cause global warming,
in compliance with the Montreal Protocol,

Ivone Pascoal ---- the person in charge

of the issue in the aforementioned

ministry ---- explained to the

Angolan Press Agency.

It is expected that the application of the measure of

not importing these gases and their exclusion from

consumption... will be completed by 2025, leaving

a margin until 2030 for their total disappearance.

Reaching this point, required intense awareness-raising work

on good refrigeration practices, the introduction of new

techniques, and the implementation of rules on the

export, re-export and import of ozone-depleting

substances and equipment, among

other actions.

However, the challenge remains, as the country sets out to

reduce the consumption of substances that contribute to

global warming until 2050, in compliance with the Kigali

Amendment --- an agreement that provides for a
phased reduction in the consumption of

hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

until that year.

____________________________________________________________

Zakharova: ammunition with

uranium ...makes Ukraine

uninhabitable land

August 24th, 10:21pm

(RT.ru)

Supplies of depleted uranium ammunition, from the West,

have already led to radiation contamination of Ukrainian

territory...... which is turning into uninhabitable land.

This is stated in an article by the official representative

of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova,

published on Komsomolskaya Pravda's website.

"The threat that Russia has repeatedly warned the

Ukrainian population about, is also confirmed on

Ukrainian territory," the diplomat said.

According to her, radiation contamination of

the soil, is already taking place in Ukraine.

Zakharova also said that the Ukrainians

should demand the export of depleted

uranium shells.

_____________________________________

Japan’s residents - intend to file

lawsuit: over discharge of nuke

water from Fukushima NPP

August 23rd, 3:56pm (TASS)

Residents from the Fukushima, Miyagi and Ibaraki

prefectures, which are located on the Pacific

Coast of Japan, intend to file a lawsuit

against the state, on September 8,

demanding that the treated water

from the Fukushima 1 Nuclear

Power Plant (NPP) not be

discharged, Kyodo news

agency reported

on Wednesday.

The lawsuit will include the Tokyo Electric

Power (TEPCO) company, which operates

the nuclear power plant.

According to the plaintiffs, the discharged water would mean

the spread of destructive substances and would inflict harm

on the region's residents. Local fishermen are among those

who intend to launch the legal action, Kyodo added.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said earlier that the

discharge of water that was used to cool the reactors at

the plant would begin on August 24, barring any

obstacles in terms of the weather or

sea conditions.

According to the Kyodo news agency, in the 2023 fiscal

year (ending on March 31, 2024) as many as 31.2

metric tons of wastewater will be released into

the ocean. The overall concentration of

tritium in it would be about

5 trillion becquerels.

In March 2011, a tsunami caused damage to power supply

and cooling systems at the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power

Plant, which caused a nuclear fuel meltdown in three

reactors, accompanied by explosions and the

emission of radiation into the atmosphere.

Vast territories were contaminated,

forcing the evacuation of tens of

thousands of people.

The reactors used water for cooling, and storing this water

has become problematic due to its large volume — over

1.25 million tons.

In April, 2021, the Japanese government authorized the

discharge of a large amount of this water, which is

said to be mostly cleared of radioactive

substances, but still contains tritium,

a radioactive hydrogen isotope.

TEPCO underscored --- that the tritium content in the water

is being brought to one fortieth of the minimum allowable

standard set by the International Commission on

Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the

government of Japan, and one

seventh of the level allowed

by the World Health

Organization for

drinking water.

Despite this, Tokyo’s plans have drawn sharp criticism from a

number of countries, mainly Russia and China. Japan plans

to discharge the water in stages over a 30-year period.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) intends

to monitor the process on a continuous basis. In the

past few years, IAEA specialists have carried out

several inspections at the nuclear facility.

_____________________________________________

Environmentalists celebrate

Referendum victory

in Ecuador

August 21st, 3:39pm

(Prensa Latina)

Different environmental and social sectors in Ecuador

are celebrating today the "yes" vote in this Sunday's

referendum and they consider this result ------ as an

historic milestone in the South American nation.

For Ivone Ramos, member of the Accion Ecologica movement,

with the consultations that seek to leave the Yasuni National

Park oil underground and stop mining activity in the Andean

Choco, direct democracy has been achieved -she said- it is

an historic event, a great hope, she stressed.

For his part, Inti Arcos, member of the Commonwealth

of the Andean Choco, recalled that all mining in the

Andean Chocó --- is illegal.

Even large mining projects are illegal because

they violate the rights of people and nature.

The popular consultation clearly states that

we do not want any type of mining, he said.

During a press conference held on Monday, Freddy

Larreategui, lawyer for the Quito without Mining

Collective, said they will remain vigilant and

will wait for the official results... to put

pressure, so that they are respected.

All concessions granted or to be granted must

be eliminated --- immediately, he demanded.

The jurist denounced that there are currently 12

concessions granted - and eight in process - in
the Andean Choco; but none of them will be
able to be exploited or developed.

We will present all judicial and

constitutional actions.

We will go wherever we have to go to ensure

that the results and Quito people’s will are

respected, he warned.

_________________________________________

Venezuela Controls

Illegal Mining in

Orinoco

August 16th (teleSUR)

On Wednesday, commander of the Bolivarian National Armed

Forces (FANB) Gen. Domingo Hernandez announced that

over 500 soldiers are traveling to the Alto Orinoco

region to continue the operation against

illegal mining.

The FANB soldiers... will go to the western edge of

the Yapacana National Park "to fight for territorial

integrity and national sovereignty, and against

criminal groups that rape the environment,"

he said, adding that "environmental

protection is everyone's task, it is

a duty and a constitutional right".

The Bolivarian soldiers... continue to evacuate illegal

miners from the Yapacana National Park, dismantle

illegal facilities, and destroy environmentally

damaging equipment.

Eight months ago, the FANB began Operation Autana,

which allowed the eviction of thousands of illegal

miners from a protected natural area located on

the border with Colombia and Brazil. Those

who left there voluntarily were relocated

to other states.

So far, the FANB has detected 40 mining camps and

evacuated over 8,000 people who voluntarily

withdrew from the area --- as reported by

TeleSur correspondent Madelein Garcia.

Illegal mining has caused irreversible damage to Amazon

ecosystems due to the use of mercury to extract gold

and other minerals. Another form of illegal mining

consists of using artisan rafts that inject

mercury ------ to suck minerals from

the riverbed.

In an operation to fly over the Atabapo River, on the border

between Colombia and Venezuela, FANB troops detected

11 of these boats in less than a nautical mile. After being

detected, these vessels ----- fled to Colombian territory,

where irregular armed groups offer them protection.

___________________________________

Environmental commitments

from the Amazon Summit

stand out in Brazil

August 12th, 11:15am

(Prensa Latina)

The various environmental commitments that emanated

from the IV Amazon Summit, which held sessions for

two days in Belém, capital of the northern state of

Pará, stood out in Brazil in the week ending today.

The countries participating in the meeting, released a joint

communiqué with final considerations in which they also

request advantages for sustainable forest products in

the markets of developed nations.

“We reinforce our understanding - that preferential access

for forest products in the markets of developed countries

will be an important lever for the economic development

of developing countries,” the text indicates.

It reiterates commitments aimed at preserving forests,

reducing the causes of deforestation and forest

degradation, as well as conserving and

valuing biodiversity.

The signatories also expressed their concern about the

non-compliance of developed countries with respect to

the 100 billion dollars a year --- pledged for climate

finance in developing countries.

In this regard, the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula

da Silva, host of the forum, defended the feasibility of

international financing for sustainable projects in

the biome.

“We cannot accept a green neocolonialism that, under

the pretext of protecting the environment, imposes

trade barriers and discriminatory measures and

does not consider our regulatory frameworks

and domestic policies,” Lula said at the end

of the meeting.

For the head of state, “what we need is to make a leap

in quality and long-term financing without conditions,

for green infrastructure & industrialization projects.”

He announced that in the Brazilian presidency of the G20

(a group made up of the finance ministers and heads of

central banks of the 19 largest economies in the world

plus the EU), to begin on December 1, “we will place

sustainable development and the reduction of

inequalities ----- at the centre of the

international agenda”.

He warned they only have seven years to achieve the Goals

of the 2030 Agenda and it is “time for our countries to come

together. It is time to wake up to the urgency of the problem

of climate change.”

He remarked that the adopted joint declaration will be “the

first step towards a common position already at COP28

this year (in the UAE), with a view to COP30.”

The summit in Belém involved, in addition to the countries of

the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (Brazil, Bolivia,

Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela),

others that have large tracts of preserved tropical forests,

such as the cases of Indonesia, the Congo and the

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

___________________________________

We Cannot Accept --- a

Green Neocolonialism:

Brazilian President

August 9th (teleSUR)

During the Amazon Summit on Wednesday, Brazilian

President, Lula da Silva, stated --- that developing

nations cannot accept "green neocolonialism."

"It's not Brazil, Colombia, or Venezuela that need the money.

It's nature itself. It requires rich nations to pay their share

to rectify the damage caused over 200 years of industrial

development," Lula remarked as he concluded the

meeting in the city of Belem.

He emphasized that Amazonian countries, along with the

Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo,

and Indonesia --- will convey a clear message to

wealthier nations during the United Nations

Climate Change Conference (COP28)

scheduled for November in Dubai.

"We will tell them that if they wish to preserve what they

demand from our forests -- it's necessary to contribute

funds not only for safeguarding the treetops but also

for supporting the people beneath those trees who

want to work and study," he expressed.

Lula urged developing nations -- not to "accept a green

neocolonialism that, under the guise of environmental

protection, imposes trade barriers and discriminatory

measures, disregarding domestic policies and laws."

These statements... indirectly refer to the environmental

demands that Europeans attempt to impose in the Free

Trade Agreement (FTA) - between the European Union

(EU) and MERCOSUR, an integration bloc comprising

Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

As a result of the EU protectionist measures, negotiations

for this free trade agreement have - once again - come to

a standstill.

Lula recalled that the colonial era bequeathed to countries

with tropical rainforests "a predatory economic model"

built upon the irrational exploitation of natural

resources and the systematic exclusion of

Indigenous peoples.

A tweet reads "75 percent of the uranium exported from Niger

to France was used in French nuclear power plants. In its

northern region alone, Brazil potentially has around

300,000 tons of uranium. The Bolivian president

warned --- that the U.S. and the EU seek to

control the Amazon."

"The effects of colonialism continue to be felt in our nations

to this day," Lula emphasized during the meeting of the

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), an

organization that includes Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia,

Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

"One cannot discuss tropical forests and climate change

without addressing the historical responsibility of

developed countries --- which have been the

biggest squanderers of natural resources,

and the largest contributors to planetary

pollution over the centuries," Lula said.

"The top 10 percent of the world's population holds over

75 percent of the wealth --- and emits nearly half of all

carbon released into the atmosphere," the Brazilian

president recalled.

teleSUR English

@telesurenglish

#Brazil |

Rodrigues Alves Forest - Zoobotanical Garden of the Amazon,

the meeting place of the Peoples of the Earth that will march

today towards the Amazon Summit. At the end of the march,

they will deliver their demands to the political leaders of the

Pan-Amazon nations.

_________________________________________

Strengthening Sovereignty

to Protect the Amazon:

VP Rodriguez

August 8th (teleSUR)

On Tuesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called

upon the nations that comprise the Amazon Cooperation

Treaty Organization (ACTO) to establish a collaborative

action plan --- to safeguard the Amazon forests and
their natural resources.

"Through hard work, effort, and a concrete action plan

ready for implementation, let's unite in reforestation,

sanitation, and restoration of the Amazon.... for the

well-being of our Indigenous peoples," he tweeted,

displaying optimism ---- and asserting that the

Amazon countries are "heading towards

a new humanity."

Due to an ear infection, the Bolivarian leader could not

personally attend the 4th ACTO Presidential Summit

in the city of Belem, in the state of Para. However,

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez

attended this high-level meeting.

She presented a specific action plan for the preservation

of life and the rights of nature, with the main points

as follows:

Establish an ACTO task force as a

coordinating body among the

region's countries.

Develop a comprehensive reforestation plan

to map critical areas in the Amazon basin

and promote sustainable practices as

sovereign and ecological economic

alternatives.

Establish a seed bank and research

centre to preserve regional

biodiversity.

Eliminate illegal mining activities.

Launch an Amazonian satellite

into orbit for region monitoring.

Define an ecological and sovereign sustainable

development plan that respects the rights

of nature.

Strengthen the ACTO institutional capacity.

Rodriguez also emphasized that the Amazon

countries... are obliged to reinforce their

sovereignty --- if they wish to preserve

"the environmental soul of the planet."

"There is no other path. We must be frank... There are

grave threats we cannot evade: the voracity of

transnational pharmaceutical and food

empires, the outsourcing of state

functions, and the aspirations

of NATO --- that target the

commercialization of

the Amazon basin,"

she stated.

"What is at stake here is a profound debate between

an international economic order and a sustainable

development model that ensures a true balance

among land, oceans, and the atmosphere,"

Rodriguez added, recalling that the

Venezuelan message is

"unity, unity, unity."

"The organization must serve the political, economic,

and territorial sovereignty of the countries that
form the OTCA," she advocated.

__________________________________

Water temperature in world's

oceans has reached new

record values

August 5th, 12:15am

(Izvestia.ru)

Another temperature record was set in the world's oceans.

This was reported on Friday, August 4th, by the AFP news

agency... citing data from the European Union's (EU)
Earth observation program, Copernicus.

On this day, the surface of the oceans warmed up to

+20.96 degrees, exceeding the indicators of March

2016 (+20.95 degrees).

Earlier, on July 19, Copernicus experts presented a forecast

according to which July 2023 on the planet may become

the hottest in history. It was noted that, since spring,

the oceans have been overheating, and the speed

of this phenomenon... is very surprising to

scientists around the world.

On July 31, Igor Shkradyuk, coordinator of the industrial

greening program at the Centre for Wildlife Protection,

told Izvestia ...about the warm current across the

Pacific Ocean — El Nino. It is associated with a

strong climate cycle, which repeats with a

period of about 10 years, warming the

ocean waters.

Earlier, on July 4, the World Meteorological Organization

announced that for the first time in seven years, El Nino

conditions were established in the tropical Pacific

Ocean, which creates prerequisites, for a likely

sharp increase in global temperatures ---- and

destructive weather and climate conditions.

It was noted that the probability of

continuing El Nino in the second

half of 2023 --- is 90%.

In addition, in June, a study was published in

which scientists concluded that over the

decade 2013-2022.... warming caused

by human activity accelerated at a

dangerous pace - and the planet

became hotter by 0.2 degrees.

______________________________________

Until the end of the year, humanity will

--- live on credit from the environment

August 3rd, 2023

(source --- France 24

translated by InoTV)

By August 2, 2023, humanity had used the resources

that the planet creates throughout the year, reports

France 24. For the remaining 151 days, the world's

population will live in a state of ecological deficit

--- experts estimate. They blame our profligate
lifestyles, especially in the rich countries.

Since yesterday morning, humanity has been living on credit.
We have already used up all the resources that the Earth can

produce in a year. In other words, for the remaining 151

days of 2023 ------ humanity will live in a state of

ecological deficit.

Matthis Wakkernagel, co-founder

of the Global Habitat Network:

''We can calculate how much will be restored in a particular
country, then add up these figures for the whole world. We
can also calculate consumption -- in each country. There

are also statistics that show the amount of consumption

of potatoes, milk and meat. So... we can take stock and
identify the capacities needed to produce the products.''

''In 1970, all the world's resources were used up by the end of

December. Throughout the 1980s-in November. In the 1990s-

in October. This year, the line was crossed on August 2nd.

The reason is our way of life, especially in rich countries.

Greenhouse gas emissions, from the use of oil and coal

- strongly affect the equilibrium. Oceans that are being
destroyed by overfishing; forests --- unable to absorb

everything. Especially.... since the Amazon forests

were cut down under the rule of Jair Bolsonaro.''

''The situation has stabilized for five years, but it is not

changing. But... to meet the goal set by the Inter-

governmental Panel on Climate Change --- to

reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by 43%

by 2030 - it would be worth delaying the

moment of Land depletion, by 19 days

each year, over the next seven years.''

_______________________________________

Beijing Reports Heaviest

Rainfall in 140 Years

August 2nd, 3:16pm

(teleSUR)

On Wednesday, the Chinese authorities confirmed

that Beijing has recorded its heaviest rainfall over

the past few days since records began

140 years ago.

The city logged 744.8 millimetres of rain, the maximum

amount of precipitation recorded during the rainstorm,

between 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Wednesday at

the Wangjiayuan reservoir in Changping District,

the Beijing Meteorological Service said.

The Chinese capital has experienced spells of torrential

rain brought by Typhoon Doksuri since the start of the

weekend, which had caused 11 fatalities, as of

Tuesday morning.

The authorities lifted the red alert for floods on

Wednesday morning... as the water flow in

major rivers fell below the warning mark.

Previously, some parts of the Fangshan District suffered from

flood and geological disasters caused by recent rainstorms

in the capital city. A rescue team comprised of firefighters,

medical workers and volunteers set out to evacuate

people afflicted by floods in Pinggezhuang Village

of Liulihe Town, on Wednesday.

The Chinese Finance Ministry has earmarked about

US$14 million to support post-disaster

reconstruction in Beijing and in the

neighbouring Hebei Province.

It was also confirmed that central budget funds

will be used to support the reconstruction of

infrastructure and public services.

____________________________

Fishermen Stage New Protest

Against Japanese Nuclear

Wastewater

July 27th, 7:24pm

(teleSUR)

On Wednesday afternoon, South Korean fishermen staged a

maritime rally in the southern coastal county of Boseong

to protest against Japan's planned release of nuclear-

contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima
power plant, into the ocean.

Over 100 fishing boats set out from a port of the county,

plowing their way through glittering blue waves with

banners attached on the sides, that read "Oppose

Fukushima nuclear-contaminated wastewater

discharge into the ocean," and "The ocean

is not a dumping ground for nuclear-

contaminated wastewater."

The long line of boats circled around in southern waters,

and 12 of them sailed toward two vessels at the centre

of the circle. From the two vessels, 120 boxes with a

mark symbolizing nuclear pollutants were thrown

into the sea --- to represent Japan's radioactive

wastewater discharge, while fishermen from

the 12 boats pulled up the boxes from the

sea ----- and delivered them back to the

two vessels.

"It was a performance - showing that South Korean people

collect the nuclear-contaminated wastewater, released

by Japan, and return it back to Japan," said Kim

Young-chul, executive chief of the Federation

of Korean Fishermen's Associations.

"The fishing boats circled around to show that if Japan

discharges Fukushima nuclear-contaminated waste-

water into the sea, South Korean vessels will

surround the wastewater and make it no

longer flow into other countries,"

he added.

"The ocean is the home of our lives. I have lived all my life

with gratitude to the ocean, which is like family and a

friend, and also my workplace...If Japan discharges

Fukushima nuclear-contaminated wastewater, it

will become a sea of death. Fishermen will
also be dead."

Right before the maritime demonstration, the fishermen

held a separate rally on land in protest of the nuclear-

contaminated wastewater dumping plan.

They chanted the slogan "The Japanese government should

immediately retract its plan to dump Fukushima nuclear-

contaminated wastewater into the ocean," wearing a

red band around their heads with the slogan

"Protect our right to life."

_____________________

The Canada Wildfire

Carbon Emissions...

Exceed 1 Bln Tonnes

July 27th, 3pm

(teleSUR)

Liu Zhihua, a researcher from the Institute of Applied

Ecology, said that the massive carbon dioxide

emissions from the raging wildfires in

Canada ---- have exceeded

one billion tonnes.

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and

nitrous oxide emitted by the wildfires in Canada have a

noticeable impact on global warming and the wildfires

have evolved into a global environmental event,

said Liu.

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre

(CIFFC), as of July 26, there were 4,774 fires across the

country, and the cumulative fire area has exceeded

121,000 square kilometres.

The researchers conducted a rapid assessment of

greenhouse gas emissions from the wildfires,

based on remote sensing observations.

It is estimated that as of July 26 local time, the wildfires

in Canada have directly emitted about one billion tonnes

of carbon dioxide.

The greenhouse effect of methane and nitrous oxide

emissions is about 110 million tonnes of carbon

dioxide equivalent -- and the total greenhouse

gas emissions are about 1.11 billion tonnes

of carbon dioxide equivalent.

This number has exceeded Japan's energy-related carbon

dioxide emissions of 1.067 billion tonnes in 2021,

according to data cited from the Global

Carbon Project.

In addition to affecting the climate, the wildfires in Canada

also released air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, organic

aerosols, and black carbon, which harm human health.

In June, the air quality in New York, Chicago, and other

places in the United States deteriorated significantly.

These air pollutants are also transported over long

distances worldwide under westerly circulation,

affecting areas in Europe, North Africa,

and Asia.

The wildfires have also wreaked havoc on forest ecosystems.

The rapidly burning wildfires led to extensive vegetation

destruction and biodiversity loss, depriving animals

of habitats and food sources.

_______________________________

Iran: Hamoun Lake

and Wetlands Face

Existential Risk

July 27th, 2:21pm

(teleSUR)

On Wednesday, an Iranian environmental official warned

that the Hamoun Lake and Wetlands near the common

border in southeastern Iran with Afghanistan could

dry up completely, leading to an "environmental

and humanitarian disaster."

Mojtaba Zoljoudi, deputy for the marine environment and

wetlands, of the Iranian Department of Environment,

called on environmental officials & the international
community in Afghanistan to help revive the lake

and wetlands, regardless of political issues.

Zoljoudi said the lake's survival depends on the floodwaters

flowing into it from upstream rivers, including the Farah and
Helmand, in Afghanistan.

However, he said the lake has dried up completely due to a

"diversion in the Helmand River's route, construction of

numerous dams on the Farah River and Afghanistan's

failure to uphold the historical and natural rights of

the ecosystem."

Zoljoudi added that the sandstorms in the southeastern

Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, have sent

thousands of people to hospitals over the past weeks,

noting ------ that the storms even affected parts
of Afghanistan.

During the past months, high-ranking Iranian officials have

called on the Taliban to allow an average of 820 million

cubic metres of water per year, to Iran, from the

Helmand River under a 1973 water-sharing

pact between Tehran and Kabul.

The Taliban government said it is

committed to the 1973

treaty and does not

cause trouble for

its neighbour.

The Helmand River originates in the Hindu Kush Mountains

near Afghanistan's capital Kabul and runs over 1,100 km

south before flowing into Hamoun Lake and Wetlands.

The lake and wetlands --- are a vital source of water

and food for the people of Sistan and Baluchestan.

__________________________________

July heat waves: due

to ''climate change''

by Elsy Fors Garzon

July 26th, 11:13am

(Prensa Latina)

The heat waves experienced to date in China, Europe

and North America, and which will increase, are

largely generated.. by the effects of climate

change, said a report by World Weather

Attribution (WWA ).

“North America, Europe & China have experienced heat

waves more frequently in recent years, as a result of

global warming, caused by human activities,” the

text underlines.

Extreme temperature events in these areas during the

month of July would have been extremely rare, were

it not for human-induced climate change, the

report says.

The heat waves - were 2.5 degrees Celsius warmer

in southern Europe, two degrees warmer, in North

America and about one degree in China in today’s

climate -- than they would have been without the

climate change exacerbated by the malpractice

of humans.

“Unless the world quickly stops burning fossil fuels, these

events will become even more common and the planet

will experience even hotter and longer-lasting heat

waves,” the text emphasizes.

This phenomenon would occur every two to five

years in a world that is two degrees warmer

than the pre-industrial climate, the

WWA warned.

_________________________________

Venezuela to Set Special Plan to
Decontaminate Lake Maracaibo

July 25th, 2:38pm (teleSUR)

On Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced

a special plan to decontaminate Lake Maracaibo, which has

been affected by the cumulative effect of oil spills, the

confluence of solid waste and the proliferation of

a bacterium called verdigris.

"I have prepared a special care, decontamination and

recovery plan for Lake Maracaibo. Public Service

Minister Nestor Reverolwill be in charge of its

implementation," he said, at an event to

mark the bicentennial of the Naval

Battle of Lake Maracaibo.

This plan was prepared with the support of scientists,

technicians and the ministers of environment, oil,

fishing and aquaculture, and electric power.

Maduro asked Zulia Governor, Manuel Rosales, and the

Maracaibo Mayor, Rafael Ramirez, for "all the support"

for the development of this plan, for which Venezuela

will seek financing amid the U.S. Sanctions

and blockade.

The Bolivarian leader also announced the construction of a

33-hectare park, that will be able to provide services to
1.4 million people... in the eastern and western parts
of Maracaibo, the capital city of the Zulia state.

This facility, which will be called Ana Maria Campos, in

honour of a heroine in the war of independence, will

have five lagoons, 14 sports fields, walkways, a

special space for pets and an area for children

with disabilities.

"We are going to reforest the areas to the west and east
of Maracaibo, to have the protection of the trees...
It will be a monumental park," Maduro said, and
promised to hand over the first eight hectares
of the park, in December.

_________________________________

On the Uruguayan Coast
over 300 Penguins
Appear - Dead

July 22nd, 2023

(teleSUR)

On Friday, the SOS Fauna Marina NGO confirmed that over 300

Magellanic penguins appeared dead on the Uruguayan coast

in the last week. This occurred during their annual migration

from Argentine Patagonia to Brazil, where the penguins seek

food and warmer waters for the winter.

“Food scarcity - as a consequence of the overfishing of the

South Atlantic and the effects of climate change on ocean

currents could be the causes of the catastrophe,” SOS

Fauna Marina environmentalist, Richard Tesore, said,

adding that most of the penguins were very skinny.

“They had no food in their stomachs, not a layer of fat.

To make such a long trip, it is essential to eat a lot of

calories and have a large layer of fat on the body,

which acts as a thermal insulator and protects

the animals from low temperatures. The

animals died of hypothermia caused

by lack of food,” he said.

For many years, the Uruguayan coasts have witnessed

the appearance of lifeless penguins. In the last three

years, however, this event has intensified.

Tesore commented that when he began his work as an

environmentalist, more than 30 years ago, penguins

used to die... from accidentally ingesting

plastic materials.

“On this occasion, the massive deaths show the scarcity

of food. The overexploitation of the fishing resource -
is noticeable - and it affects the birds as well”,
he explained.

Additionally, global warming began to alter marine currents

in the 1990s -- which has influenced some species of fish

to no longer reach the waters near the Uruguayan coast.

Among them is "manila," a species that penguins

feed on.

Throughout this week, the Uruguayan Environmental Ministry

performed necropsies on the Magellanic penguins. After

forensic investigations, the authorities determined

that their deaths are not related to bird flu.

In the last month, citizens found over 20 dead turtles on the

Uruguayan coast. Dead dolphins were also detected on

the coasts of Canelones, Maldonado and Rocha.

______________________________________

South Koreans -- Hold

Rally Against Japan's

Wastewater Discharge

July 21st, 1:22pm

(teleSUR)

On Friday, South Korean fishermen held a maritime protest

rally --- against Japan's planned discharge of wastewater

from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.

A group of local fishermen gathered on the seashore of the

southwestern coastal county of Jangheung, carrying a

rally called "flower bier" about 200 meters along the

coast to protest against the contaminated water

release plan.

"The flower bier is used for a traditionalritual to carry coffins

when people die. We marched with the flower bier to say

that if the Fukushima nuclear wastewater is released

into the ocean, all humankind will die," said Kim

Young-chul, executive chief of the Federation

of Korean Fishermen's Associations.

The placard of "oppose discharging Fukushima nuclear

contaminated water" was attached to both sides of

the bier carried by the fishermen.

The same placards were also hung on the sides of about

30 fishing boats that staged a maritime demonstration

in waters off the county --- for some half an hour.

"I'd like to ask questions to the Japanese government. Why is

it seeking to release the contaminated water into the ocean

if the water is really safe as Japan claimed? Why is it

seeking to dump it --- through a one-kilometre-long

tunnel after dilution, if the water is safe enough

to drink?" Kim said, noting that if it is a really

safe and drinkable water, Japan can just

choose to use it inside its territory for

agricultural, industrial and

drinking purposes.

Japan has been pushing for dumping the contaminated

wastewater this summer from the Fukushima Daiichi

nuclear power plant, which was hit by a massive

earthquake and an ensuing tsunami, in

March 2011.

The move has aroused strong opposition --- and doubts

from domestic fishing groups, neighbouring countries

and the South Pacific island countries, as well as the

international community.

________________________________

''Mexico'' - to hold first

Youth Climate Summit

Tlaxcala 2023

by Alina Ramos Martin

July 21st, 10:04am

(Prensa Latina)

Young Mexicans aged 18 to 35 will be a fundamental part

of the First Youth Climate Summit ---- Tlaxcala 2023,

tomorrow Saturday, in the Gallery of the Palace

of Culture of that state.

Hilda Margarita Castro, young ambassador for the climate of

Mexico in the EU, said that this first event is a space
created from youths and for youths, in view of the

need to ''position'' this social sector at a local
level and propose inclusive and scientific
climate policies.

Likewise, this position will be presented at the Latin

American Youth Climate Summit, as these meetings

aim to give continuity and follow-up to Mexico’s

climate commitments and obligations.

Mainly the contributions determined at a national level,

strengthen the capacities and knowledge of youth on

climate change, create a legitimate representation
of youth based on data and dialogue, and
influence public policies and
climate projects.

________________________________

Climate Change --- Affects the

Resilience of Boreal Forests

July 19th, 12:44pm

(teleSUR)

Earlier this week, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire

Centre confirmed that there were 888 active wildfires

nationwide and the number of out-of-control wildfires

was 586. So far this year, the number of wildfires

reached 4,152, devouring about 100,000

square km of land.

Paul Beckwith, a climate system scientist, warned that

the boreal forests in Canada's wildfire region will likely

not regrow... if the climate there has changed.

"We can't assume that when a forest burns down it will be

replaced over time by another forest," he said, explaining

that if the annual temperatures have changed and the

precipitation in that region, has also changed and

reduced, the region where the forests used to be

will become savanna, mostly grasslands with

the odd, isolated trees, or just

pure grasslands.

Formerly an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa,

Beckwith studies abrupt climate system changes related

to oceans, biosphere, air temperatures, the lithosphere

and cryosphere.

"We haven't seen fires like this before in Canada for an awful

long time. Maybe ever," Beckwith said, adding that wildfires

in Canada are exceptional by any measure and this

wouldn't be happening, without the heat waves

and the lack of moisture.

A boreal forest is a wet and cold adapted forest which gets

lots of rain and sunlight. But now Canada has warmed at

over double the rate than the rest of the planet.

Typically the return time of large fires in a boreal forest is

about 50 to 100 years and forest fires are a part of the

lifecycle of the boreal forests.

If a fire ignites in July or August, it's generally out in the fall,

because as the weather gets colder, there's more rainfall.

So the fire is there left alone to burn if it's not interfering

with infrastructure, towns, roads, and rail, etc. It just

burns itself out. But when there are too many at

any one time, it really overstretches

firefighting resources.

"The problem is that when you get these fires igniting in the

remote areas in the spring, do you really want to let them

burn all summer? We've got to do firefighting differently

in this country, for sure," Beckwith said.

The problem with the forest burning, is that the forests are

a huge sink of carbon. And when they burn that carbon is

released rapidly to the atmosphere-ocean system. And

you also lose the carbon sink and the forests no

longer exist to absorb all of that carbon.

_____________________________________

G20 meeting on energy
transitions ---- takes
place in Goa, India

by Luis Linares Petrov

July 19th, 10:05am

(Prensa Latina)

At least 100 delegates are participating in the fourth G20

meeting on energy transitions that began in Goa, a state

in southern India, and will last the next two days.

Priority areas are discussed with a view to global

cooperation towards the development of clean

and sustainable energy, according to a

government source.

Topics such as addressing technological gaps, low-cost

financing, energy security, and diversified supply

chains will be discussed by representatives

of the bloc’s nations, international

organizations, and experts.

The meeting will also promote analysis of energy

efficiency, low-carbon industrial transitions and

responsible consumption, fuels for the future

and universal access to clean energy

through fair, affordable and

inclusive channels.

The event will build on deliberations from previous

meetings in Bangalore, Gandhinagar, and Mumbai

in order to identify and promote best practices,

policies and innovative approaches.

As a result of the analysis, the draft statement will

be drawn up to be delivered to the ministers of

the sector for its consolidation and

subsequent approval.

__________________________________

Demand for Cooling to Increase

Due to Global Temperature Rise

July 24th (teleSUR)

Countries like New Zealand, Canada, and Britain, will likely

see the greatest relative increase in the number of days

that cooling will be needed each year, as global

temperatures rise.

Researchers from the University of Oxford simulated likely

temperatures around the world under 1.5 and 2 degrees

of global warming to estimate the demand for cooling

in different countries.

The study, led by Jesus Miranda, and published in Nature

Sustainability, shows that New Zealand is in the top 10

countries tying third, with a nearly 24 percent relative

increase in cooling demand days as the world moves

from 1.5 to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

The 2015 Paris Agreement recognized --- that 1.5 degrees

above pre-industrial levels is a critical threshold beyond

which the world enters "dangerous climate change,"

which will be experienced through more intense

and frequent extreme events, like storm-

induced flooding and also manifests

on hotter days... that cause

heat stress.

This study, measures the absolute and relative increase in

cooling demands due to hotter weather, using a measure

called "Cooling Demand Days." It shows that even a

small increase in average global temperature...

affects heat exposure and cooling demand.

"New Zealand is not prepared for this impact. Climate and

energy policies need to build resilience to a hotter local

climate and the inevitability of heat stress," said Bruce

Glavovic, professor of the School of People,

Environment and Planning in

Massey University.

The cross-party agreement is necessary to enact robust

legislation, with enabling policies and resourcing, to

reduce climate-compounded impacts and risk, he

said, adding increasing heat stress and cooling

demand, adds to the litany of climate-

compounded challenges in New

Zealand as it navigates the

aftermath of multiple

flood disasters.

Nick Cradock-Henry, principal scientist of GNS Science, said

as a mid-latitude nation, many of New Zealand's systems of

production & distribution, and urban and rural populations

are traditionally unprepared for high temperatures, and

large-scale adaptation to heat resilience presents

a novel, complex challenge.

This will affect the country's largest urban populations not

only through higher temperatures but placing additional

demand on electricity supplies, potentially straining

the already fragile infrastructure.

These findings also pose additional adaptation challenges

for the primary industries, which rely on cool storage.

Some 60 percent of New Zealand's food production,

or by-products are exported in a refrigerated state,

he said, adding that this presents an acute risk
for cold chains.... which are likely to face
higher energy demands and costs.

________________________________________

Experts Criticize IAEA Report

on Fukushima Nuclear

Wastewater

July 11th, 3:14pm

(teleSUR)

On Tuesday, a Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) expert panelist has

criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

for ignoring its own principle of justification in its report

on Japan's planned dump of nuclear wastewater into

the Pacific Ocean.

The IAEA final report released last week claimed that the

plan "is in conformity with the agreed international

standards." However, the report was criticized

by Arjun Makhijani, president of the Institute

for Energy and Environmental Research,

the Fiji Times reported.

The IAEA report noted, that justification is a

fundamental principle for the international

standards of radiation protection.

"The IAEA has abandoned its responsibility to review the

justification of actions, even though it is part of the

fundamental safety principles," Makhijani said,

adding that he has raised his concerns with

the IAEA as part of the PIF expert panel.

The IAEA said in the report that the controlled, gradual

release as planned by the Tokyo Electric Power

Company (TEPCO) would have a "negligible

radiological impact on people and

the environment."

"The IAEA is refusing to acknowledge its responsibility, and

basically abandoning the countries of the Pacific region to

whatever mercies the government of Japan might offer
them," he said.

The TEPCO has yet to confirm a start date for dumping

the wastewater as Japan aims to start to do so around

this summer. The IAEA is set to meet with Pacific

leaders next week.

The PIF independent scientific experts and the IAEA

held the second technical dialogue on Fukushima

wastewater last month.

During the meeting, the PIF experts said that the lack

of TEPCO research into Fukushima nuclear waste-

water discharge on marine species, which are

more common to the Pacific Forum nations,

left them unable to provide an informed

decision to PIF members on a priority

gap around the ecosystem and

food security impacts.

______________________________

''Climate Change'' to Reduce

Grain Harvest in Germany

July 5th, 1pm

(teleSUR)

June was the second sunniest month since records

began, in this European country, the National

Meteorological Service said.

On Tuesday, the German Farmers' Association (DBV)

said that this year's grain harvest in Germany is

expected to be well below the average for

2018 to 2022 and well below the

previous year's result.

"In many parts of the country, the long drought in May and

June caused significant damage to stocks. Agriculture is

already clearly feeling the effects of climate change.

The increase in extreme weather events is causing

yields to decline and fluctuate," DBV President

Joachim Rukwied said.

This past June was the second sunniest month since records

began. The persistent summer heat reached oppressively

hot levels, Germany's National Meteorological Service

(DWD) said.

German farmers are hoping for "summer-like and hopefully

often dry weather conditions" for the upcoming harvest.

However, in order for corn, potatoes and sugar beets

to make up for the delay in growth from the early

summer, sufficient precipitation will also be

needed in the coming weeks.

Weather forecasts are indicating heavy showers

and thunderstorms at slightly lower

temperatures for next week.

"The distribution and amount of precipitation are still very

uncertain, so it is also unclear whether the drought will

be dampened in the particularly affected regions,"

a DWD spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Farmers in Europe's largest economy are also troubled by

new legislation. Besides the challenges of climate

change for agriculture, the "across-the-board

reduction targets for crop protection

proposed by Brussels would lead

to further yield declines,"

Rukwied warned.

The European Commission aims to reduce the use

and risk of chemical and hazardous pesticides

in the European Union by 50 percent by 2030.

To achieve this -- among other things -- new rules have

been adopted to simplify the approval or authorization

of biological plant protection products containing

microorganisms.

"The use and risk of crop protection products must

be significantly reduced in order to protect the

environment and biodiversity - and thus also

safeguard our livelihoods for the future,"

German Minister of Agriculture Cem

Oezdemir said at the beginning of

the year.

_________________________________

IAEA Greenlights -------- Japan's

Nuclear Wastewater Discharge

July 4th, 2023 (teleSUR)

On Tuesday, Rafael Grossi, the director of the International

Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met with Japanese Prime

Minister Fumio Kishida, to deliver the IAEA final

assessment report on the Advanced Liquid

Processing System (ALPS) proposed in

the Japanese discharge plan.

He defended the "reliability" of the Japanese plan to process

and discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima

nuclear power plant into the sea.

The IAEA holds that the process devised by Japan "meets

international safety standards" ..and will have "negligible

radiological impact" on human health or the environment.

Nevertheless, the Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jiangha

stated that the IAEA report, does not necessarily greenlight

the Japanese plan to discharge nuclear-tainted water from

the Fukushima nuclear plant ----- into the Pacific Ocean.

Following the ocean discharge decision announced in April

2021 and the official plan released in July 2022, the

Japanese government repeatedly declared that it

would not delay the discharge long before the

IAEA task force completed the assessment

and issued the final report, leaving the

international community with a

serious question mark over

Japan's sincerity... the

embassy told a press

conference held

in Tokyo.

The Chinese diplomat pointed out that the IAEA, in terms of

functional authorization, is mandated to promote the safe,

secure and peaceful uses of nuclear technology, but is

not the appropriate body to assess the long-term

effects of nuclear-contaminated water - on the

marine environment and marine life's health.

Adding, that Japan limited the mandate of the IAEA task

force and does not accept evaluation on other disposal

options, it stated --- the IAEA report cannot prove the

legitimacy and legality of Japan's ocean discharge

plan, nor can it absolve Japan of its moral

responsibility and obligations under

international law.

Wu called on the Japanese government to revoke its wrong

decision -- of dumping wastewater into the ocean, urging

it to face up to the legitimate and reasonable concerns

both at home and abroad - and fulfill its obligations

under international law.

Japan should seek disposal of nuclear-contaminated water

in a scientific, safe, and transparent manner and accept

strict international supervision, he added.

The Chinese embassy also elaborated on the huge risks that

the discharge might bring to the global marine environment

and human health and Japan's deliberate confusion about

the tritium content in contaminated water from the

crippled power plant and the amount of tritium

contained in the normal cooling water

discharged from other nuclear

power plants.

______________________________

One quarter of world's population

predicted in struggle for survival

July 4th, 3:20pm

(Lenta.ru)

Global warming can cause significant damage to the

inhabitants of the Asian region. Due to the large-

scale melting of glaciers, in the Ginkudush

Himalayan region, about 2 billion people

may be on the edge of survival,

Bloomberg predicted.

Due to the increase in average temperatures in the region,

up to 80% of the glacial mass of the mountain system in

Central Asia may melt. If this happens, a quarter of the

world's population will face a serious deterioration in

living conditions.

In terms of its consequences, the melting of mountain

glaciers may be larger than the floods in Pakistan

that occurred in June 2022. Then, the damage

from natural disasters to the local economy

was estimated at more than $ 30 billion,

and a total of eight million people

lost their homes.

Previously Head of the Office of the High Commissioner

(OHCHR) the UN's Volker Turk has predicted the threat

of starvation for another 80 million people around the

world... amid global warming. Because of natural

disasters, agricultural land and livestock can

be affected, which can cause food

shortages in the world.

__________________________________________

G-77 plus China meeting on

environment opens in Cuba

by Ileana Ferrer Fonte

July 4th, 1:12pm

(Prensa Latina)

Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman welcomed the

meeting of top authorities and ministers of environment,

science, technology, and innovation from the Group

of 77 (G-77) plus China on Tuesday.

The meeting, which is taking place at the Hotel Nacional de

Cuba, is part of the 14th Convention on Environment and

Development, whose debates will focus on the impact

of climate change on biodiversity, the economy,

society, food security, and health, with severe

consequences --- that require the attention
and cooperation of this integration bloc.

Venezuelan Science and Technology Minister Gabriela

Jiménez noted the side effects of global warming on

the most vulnerable sectors --- such as indigenous

communities, women, and young people in Latin

America, a region severely affected by this

process; and called on them to become

protagonists of actions ----- to

preserve nature.

The G-77 plus China should seek alternatives to promote

infrastructures and programs that will allow the member

countries to face the challenges posed by the

consequences of climate change by using

science, technology, and innovation, and

the support of financial institutions and

the private sector, Jiménez added.

Cuba is hosting this meeting as the pro tempore president of

the G-77 plus China. The aim is to adopt a final declaration

to fight climate change, land degradation, and pollution,

and protect biodiversity.

The Convention on Environment and Development also

..includes the 18th Conference of Directors of Ibero-

America Meteorological Services, in the presence

of renowned prominent figures of this scientific

discipline in the region and representatives

of international agencies.

It would also promote unity, solidarity, and international

cooperation and materialize projects from the South to

support a recovery of ecosystems after the Covid-19

pandemic, taking into account ----- their needs

and specifications.

_______________________________________

10 Illegal Mining Camps
Are Dismantled in the
Brazilian Amazon

Published July 3rd
(teleSUR)

Justice Minister Dino said that there has been a
"continuous operation" against illegal mining
since January, resulting in the destruction
of 323 camps.

On Monday, the Brazilian Federal Police announced that it
had destroyed ten illegal mining camps during a four-day
operation in the Amazon basin.

The operation focused on - an "environmental devastation
scenario" equivalent to 118 football fields, located in the
Campos Amazonicos National Park and the Tenharim
Marmelos Indigenous Land, in the northern state
of Rondonia.

The Police stated that two hydraulic excavators,
11drainage motors, 4 power generators, and
8 vehicles were destroyed, with a total
value of US$1.6million,but no arrests
were reported.

Twenty federal officers, eight officials from the Chico
Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Preservation, and
two aircraft from this organization, participated
in the operation.

During the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro's government
(2019-2023), illegal mining experienced significant
expansion throughout the entire Amazon region,
contaminating rivers with mercury and
threatening the livelihoods of
Indigenous peoples.

Two weeks ago, Justice Minister Flavio Dino declared that
there has been a "continuous operation" against illegal
mining since January, resulting in the destruction of
323 camps and the blocking of approximately
US$400 million from accounts linked to
this activity.

The Yanomami ethnic reserve has been one of the main
fronts in this fight, with 200 camps dismantled and
nearly 20,000 miners expelled, in the first three
months of the year.

______________________________________

Japan Ratifies Decision to Dump

Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater

July 3rd, 4:14pm (teleSUR)

On Monday, Japan's government spokesman Matsuno

Hirokazu, said that his country will not change the

plan to start releasing water from the crippled

Fukushima nuclear power plant into the

Pacific Ocean, during this summer.

Previously, the leader of the Komeito party, which governs

in coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),

asked the Japanese government to delay the

discharge of water.

"It may be better to avoid the bathing season. We should

not cause unnecessary concern to the population, so

it is something to be considered," Komeito leader

Natsuo Yamaguchi said.

Nevertheless, the release of contaminated water - will

severely impact various parts of the Pacific, including

countries of the Association of Southeast Asian

Nations (ASEAN) which depend on fisheries,

both for domestic consumption and export,

said Neow Choo Seong, the deputy chair-

man of the Diplomacy Bureau.... at the

Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).

The contamination of the fisheries sector would be

especially harmful ------- not only in terms of harm
done to human health as a result of exposure,

especially via seafood, contaminated

with heavy metals, but also, would

harm the region economically, as

tourists would stay away, over

negative perceptions and real

risks.... while exports of
seafood would grind
to a stop, he
warned.

"There is no limit to the movement of ocean currents plus

the marine life that constantly migrates, this radioactive

wastewater may spread to the neighboring countries

and wider sea waters across the region, including

those global major seafood exporting countries

like China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Hence, it

will certainly contaminate the marine life,

and food chain, and pose a long-term

threat to our public health,"

Neow said.

He suggested that Malaysia should use its voice and

leverage within ASEAN as well as other multilateral

platforms such as the United Nations to raise the

issue and make it clear to Japan that many

nations are against its unilateral move

and the lack of transparency

surrounding it.

"The lack of transparency over this unilateral decision has

raised concerns among the international community and

strong reactions from the neighboring countries,

international organizations, civil societies, as

well as the fishermen communities in the

region," he said.

"As one of ASEAN founding members, Malaysia can play a

leading role through this regional platform, as well as

other multilateral platforms, such as the United

Nations to voice our concern and urge Japan

not to go ahead, until it is proven to be safe

environmentally and scientifically,"

he added.

Japan ---- plans to dump some 1.3 million tons of waste
water from its Fukushima power plant which suffered

catastrophic damage during an earthquake in 2011.
It has built an underwater tunnel stretching from
its coast, into the Pacific, for the purpose.

Neow also urged Japan to drop its hypocritical approach

to the issue, urging Japan to "lead by example" and

use the wastewater for its own domestic

consumption -- if it is indeed as safe

as claimed.

_______________________________

New Zealand: Plastic Produce

Bags Banned From July 1

June 30th, 11:20am

(teleSUR)

Official statements show that New Zealand's major

supermarkets have been preparing for the second

phase of the national plastics ban, starting from

Saturday (July 1), which will see the phase-out

of more single-use plastics.

According to the Ministry for Environment, this round

of the national ban targets single-use and hard-to-

recycle items, is expected to stop 150 million

produce bags from ending up in landfills

each year.

Official data shows that those plastics will be taken off

the shelves from Saturday, and those businesses not

complying with the new regulation could be fined
up to 100,000 NZ dollars (60,853 U.S. dollars).

Last October, single-use plastic cotton buds, drink

stirrers and most plastic meat trays were banned

from sale or manufacture in the first phase-out.

According to the Ministry for Environment's website,

the second round --- will ban plastic produce bags

and stickers, plates, bowls, cutlery, and straws.

According to the nation’s three-year phase-out plan,

other PVC and polystyrene food and beverage

packaging will be banned, from mid-2025.

Official data shows that, on average, every year

each New Zealander sends about 750 kg of

waste to landfill.

"Stopping the sale of these plastic products will reduce
waste to landfill, improve our recycling systems and
encourage reusable or environmentally responsible

alternatives," Environment Minister, David Parker,

said last September.

____________________________________

Ethiopian President launches

Green Legacy Initiative

by Yasiel Betancourt Clavijo

June 24th, 12:08pm

(Prensa Latina)

Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde arrived today
in the city of Hawassa, Sidama region (south), to
launch the second phase of the Green Legacy
Initiative, a reforestation program against
climate change.

Zewde was accompanied by Agriculture Minister Girma

Amente, Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa,

among other senior officials... and they were

received by the region’s chief administrator,

Desta Ledamo, state TV station Fana

Broadcasting Corporate reported.

The second stage of the initiative also known as Green

Legacy was launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

on June 8 and began with six billion trees planted

across the country. It is expected to reach 25

billion, a figure similar to that recorded in

its first phase.

Ahmed revealed that it is themed “Plant our future today”

and recalled that this initiative is the local approach to

tackling climate change and environmental

degradation, as well as creating

job opportunities.

Similarly, Green Legacy is a means to enable food

security by planting edible seedlings, he wrote

on his Twitter account.

That reforestation program to combat climate change

in the African country, whose first edition was in

2019, aims to address environmental

challenges by promoting a

green culture.

According to official reports, more than four billion,

five billion and six billion seedlings were planted

across the country in 2019, 2020 and 2021,

respectively, including 353 million in one

day in the first year, considered a

world record.

________________________________

Paris Climate Summit Ends

with Disappointing Results

June 23rd, 5:14pm (teleSUR)

On Friday --- President Emmanuel Macron's "Summit for a

New Global Financing Pact" concluded by disappointing

the expectations of developing countries.

The high-level meeting failed to reach even a deal for a

tax on the greenhouse gas emissions produced from

international shipping.

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

promised "more inclusive changes" but did not specify

mechanisms to convert poor countries’ debts - into

financing for projects aimed at mitigating the

consequences of global climate change.

At the closing of the high-level meeting, Macron strove to

present the existence of "a new consensus" to guide

the reform of international financial institutions and

the work of the 2023 United Nations Climate

Change Conference (COP28). The concrete

results of the Paris Summit, however,

would seem to indicate otherwise.

Although he said that he supported the tax on

thegreenhouse gas emissions produced from

international shipping, the French president

implicitly acknowledged, that he had not

gained the go-ahead from some of the

big players in that business.

Macron transferred the treatment of this matter to the

International Maritime Organization (IMO), whose

next meeting is scheduled for July.

Nor did the Paris Summit..... achieve the support of China, the

United States, Germany and Japan for the implementation of

the tax, which has only been supported by some 22

countries and the European Commission, so far.

Regarding debt relief for the poorest countries, WB President

Ajay Banga said that his institution will work on designing a

mechanism to suspend repayment of debts in the event

that a country suffers a natural catastrophe.

Meanwhile, the IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva committed

to "a more inclusive change". The only concrete result in

this matter, however, was a debt restructuring

agreement for Zambia.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed

skepticism about the new commitments --- as

developed countries have so far failed to

deliver on their pledges to allocate

US$100 billion a year to finance

climate-related actions in

developing countries.

He also noted that the aspirations of the countries of

the South "will not materialize" as long as global

governance regimes and institutions...
remain the same.

________________________________

Japan ----- Gets Ready to Dump

Nuclear Water Into the Ocean

June 23rd (teleSUR)

Despite ongoing opposition.. from both home and abroad,

Japan has been rushing to carry out its plan of dumping

radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima

Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean,

raising growing anger in the global community.

Tokyo Electric Power Company(TEPCO), the plant's operator,

began trialing the equipment for discharging the nuclear-

contaminated water into the Pacific on June 12. The

test run of the discharge facility is expected to

finish on June 26. The nuclear wastewater

release led by the Japanese government

seems to have entered the countdown.

WORLDWIDE FURY

"Nuclear-contaminated water must not be discharged into the

sea. It is a crime, a crime against all living things on earth!"

shouted Tatsuko Okawara... outside the Fukushima

refectural Government Office, where a mass rally

was held last week to voice strong opposition

to the Japanese government's wastewater

dumping move.

"The mountains and rivers will never return to the past, and

the radiation will not disappear easily. But this country puts

making money first --- compared to life and love," the

Fukushima resident, from Tamura city, reciting a

line from a puppet show she created, unveiling

the hidden truth behind the government's

relentless push.

Among the nearly 100 protesters who gathered for parades,

rallies and petitions on Tuesday was Chiyo Oda, one of the

rally's organizers, and co-representative of Koreumi, a

Japanese citizens' conference to condemn further

ocean pollution.

"The government says every day that the trial operation will

end soon, making everyone feel that the ocean discharge

is a fact, and wants us... to give up. But it is wrong to

discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the

sea, and there are still places for the water

storage tanks, so it has not reached the

point where it must be discharged,"

she said.

Masuko Eiichi, from the prefecture's Koriyama city, also

criticized the discharge plan at the gathering, saying,

"These storage tanks for nuclear-contaminated water can be

stored for a long time as long as the government and TEPCO

want to. But they have chosen the cheapest way to deal

with them, by discharging the wastewater into the sea."

Regarding the government referring to the diluted nuclear-

contaminated water as "treated water," Sakurai from

Niigata Prefecture, said it is a fraud, to confuse the

public. According to Eiichi, nuclear-contaminated

water can be diluted, but the total amount of

nuclear pollutants discharged.....

remains unchanged.

"Moreover, there are not only the radioactive element tritium

in the water but also 57 kinds of radioactive substances

such as cesium and strontium that cannot be removed,"

he added.

In the petition submitted to the Fukushima prefectural

government, the participants said, "In the absence of

a quantitative determination of all radioactive

substances in the contaminated water ---

discharging the water into the sea will

cause many radioactive substances

to spread to the entire Pacific

Ocean through the coastal

waters of Fukushima, and

then -- pollute the global

marine environment."

Countries in the region have also expressed their vehement

opposition to the discharge plan. In South Korea, thousands

of fishermen took to the streets to protest against Japan's

disposal plan on June 12, when the test run of the

discharge facility started. They rallied, near the

parliamentary building in Seoul -- holding signs

that read "Desperately oppose the Fukushima

radioactive contaminated water discharge

into the sea" and "SOS!! Pacific Ocean!"

During the 53rd regular United Nations Human Rights Council

session on Thursday, a Chinese representative urged Japan

to earnestly address the international community's

legitimate concerns.

The representative emphasized that Japan's unilateral

decision violates its obligations under the United

Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Japan has yet to provide convincing

evidence regarding the

discharge's safety.

Earlier this month, Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson,

Maria Zakharova criticized Japan for failing to demonstrate

the desired level of openness on the wastewater disposal.

Given Japan's history in nuclear safety, she said that

Russia could not allow the situation to develop

without proper scrutiny.

WIDESPREAD PANIC

According to a Research View survey of 1,000 South Korean

adults conducted last month, 85.4% of the respondents
opposed Japan's contaminated water discharge, and

72% said they would reduce the consumption of

marine products, if the wastewater is
released into the ocean.

On rising worry about Japanese fishery products ahead of

the planned discharge this summer, local media reported

South Korea's import of Japanese seafood --- plummeted

for the second consecutive month.

The import of Japanese seafood, including live, refrigerated

and frozen fish as well as shellfish, dropped 30.6 % over

the year to 2,129 tons in May, after sinking 26.0% in

April, Yonhap news agency said Monday, citing

data from the Korea Customs Service.

On fears that Japan would push ahead with its discharge

plan, salt demand in South Korea has soared over the

past months.

Online transactions of salt products increased by 817%
between June 7-13 ---- compared to the same period a

week earlier, according to online price comparison

service provider, Danawa.

Offline sales of salt also surged. As reported by the Korea

Herald... data from South Korea's largest supermarket

chain E-mart revealed that its salt sales from June 1

to 14 increased by 55.6% compared to last year,

while sea salt sales jumped 118.5 percent.

A statement issued by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) on

Tuesday --- confirmed the second technical dialogue on

Fukushima wastewater was held on June 9 between

the PIF independent scientific experts and the

International Atomic Energy Agency.

Experts expressed concerns... about TEPCO's need for more

research on the impact of water discharge from Fukushima

on marine species in the Pacific region. This prevented

them from providing informed decisions to PIF

members regarding the impact on the

surrounding ecosystem and

food security.

HARM TO LIVELIHOODS

Amid Japan's reckless discharge push, local fishery industry

and seafood businesses, whose livelihoods are at stake,

reiterated their opposition and grave concern.

Masanobu Sakamoto, president of the national federation of

fisheries cooperatives - known as JF Zengyoren - handed

over a request: opposing the release plan to Japanese

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry

Yasutoshi Nishimura.

Sakamoto said the federation's opposition to the discharge

would not change, and the government should take full

responsibility. However, despite the fishery workers'

concerns, Nishimura reportedly maintained

that the release is ''unavoidable''.

Earlier Tuesday, local seafood business owners in Fukushima

questioned government officials during a study session at

Iwaki city's central wholesale fish market, demanding a

sufficient explanation about the discharge.

An attendant in the sector said the government and TEPCO

should think closely about why people are skeptical about

the safety of marine products caught in waters near the

plant. Another participant said fish stores would face

questions from consumers about the safety of

seafood, according to the NHK.

Koji Suzuki, head of a fishery company who organized the

session, said he opposes the plan. Stakeholders in the

industry, who continue to wait for an explanation of

the release plan, need additional information that

can be shared... with the customers who doubt

the safety of seafood.

In a recent interview in Suva, Fiji --- Kalinga Seneviratne, a

visiting lecturer at the University of the South Pacific, said

Japan should respect the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone

Treaty, inked by PIF members in 1985, which explicitly

prohibits activities such as testing, manufacturing,

and stationing nuclear explosive devices and

dumping nuclear waste within the zone.

"The contamination will also affect the South Pacific Nuclear

Free Zone Treaty areas when it eventually flows there. Also,

since fish stocks are migratory, contaminated fish could be

caught within the treaty area," he said.

"If Japan wants to protect a rules-based order, they need to

subscribe to the principles of these rules and respect the

wishes of the people in the Pacific who argue the treaty

is there ------- to stop something like this happening,"

Seneviratne said. "Japan, should refrain from

contaminating the sea with nuclear waste."

_________________________________

Gustavo Petro Calls for

Marshall Plan Against

Climate Change

June 22nd (teleSUR)

On Thursday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro demanded

the implementation of a "Marshall Plan" to finance the fight

against the consequences of global climate change.

"The climate crisis cannot be solved by the market, because

the market has created it," he said during the Summit for a

New Global Financial Pact, currently taking place in Paris.

Directly addressing the European Commission President

Ursula von der Leyen -------- Petro assured that Brussels'

environmental measures, including the establishment

of pollution tariffs, rely too much on the

private sector.

"The investment to fight the climate crisis amounts to

hundreds of billions... and 'the capital' is guided by

profitability," Petro emphasized, casting doubt on

the ability of market mechanisms ---- to solve a

global public problem such as climate change.

While the Colombian leader acknowledged that "there is no

time to wage war on capital," he emphasized that decision

-makers must acknowledge ------ that businesses have

limitations.. in providing the necessary resources

to address the consequences of climate change.

That's why Petro asked world leaders to establish something

similar to a new "Marshall Plan." which would enable

financing actions against global warming through

resources generated by a tax on financial

transactions and special debt issues

for climate investments.

"It would be about exchanging debt for climate action,"

Petro said, pointing out that these new financing

options presuppose a profound change in multi-

lateral institutions, such as the World Bank

(WB) and the International Monetary

Fund (IMF).

"States must reclaim their authority not to decree the end

of markets, but to recognize the limitations of markets in

the fight against climate change," the Colombian

President said, insisting on a need for genuine

dialogue ---- between developed and

developing countries.

________________________________________

Global Financing Summit
to Address Climate-
Related Issues

June 22nd (teleSUR)

Paris Summit participants are expected to lay the

groundwork for funding action against growing

inequality, poverty, and climate change.

On Thursday, world leaders arrive in Paris to participate

in the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, whose

stated goal is to build a new contract between the

countries of the North and the South to address

global climate change.

The discussions are expected to jointly lay the foundation for

a new global financing system capable of responding to

new challenges, particularly those related to fighting

inequality, climate change & protecting biodiversity.

RESPOND TO EXISTING CONCERNS

In a policy brief published in May, United Nations Secretary

Guterres said that the existing international financial

system, created in 1945 after World War II, has

proven "totally unsuitable in the face of a

world characterized by relentless

climate change" --- and other

challenges --- illustrating

the urgency of reforms.

For Stephanie Segal, a researcher at the Centre for Strategic

and International Studies, climate issues became a "catch-

all" term during the Spring Meetings of the International

Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in April.

Climate-related issues are "increasingly recognized

as central to the evolution of MDBs (multilateral

development banks)," she said.

Eight years after adopting the Paris Agreement, France

expects to build a new Paris consensus for "a more

united international financial system" to combine

the efforts of climate action and reforms of the

international financial system.

Noting that "there is today a trust... that is crumbling, if

not more, between the North and the South" at COP27

in Egypt last November, French President Emmanuel

Macron ....called for financial solidarity for

climate justice.

Later, while attending the G20 summit in Bali, Macron

announced an intention to hold an international

conference "on the new financing pact with

the South."

"We are entering the era of the climate emergency,"

he said. "Today, nothing in our international

financial rules takes these criteria

into account."

CALL FOR ACTION

To jointly address climate-related issues, the summit in Paris

covers the following areas: overhauling the international

financial architecture, restoring confidence, forging

partnerships for strategies --- innovating with

instruments and financing, ensuring more

reliable information and data, and

creating a conducive

environment..... for

the private sector.

The summit is expected to help outline the steps needed to

reform the financial system and combat the high levels of

debt that hold governments down when implementing

ambitious climate action.

It comes before a flurry of international meetings, including

the G20 summit in New Delhi in September, the annual

meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Marrakech,

Morocco in October and the COP28 scheduled for the

end of the year in Dubai.

France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine

Colonna, said earlier, that the summit would aim to

facilitate the access of vulnerable countries to

the financing they need to address the

consequences of ongoing and

future crises.

"We will take a major step, as we will start by establishing

a new consensus," Macron was quoted as saying on the

official site of the summit. "The fight against poverty,

the decarbonization of our economy in order to

achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and the

protection of biodiversity, are

closely intertwined."

"We, therefore, need to agree together on the best means

to address these challenges in the poor and emerging

countries of the developing world, when it comes to

the amount of investment --- to comprehensive

reform of infrastructure like the World Bank,

the IMF, and public and private funds, and

how to set a new process in motion,"

Macron said.

__________________________________________

The EU and NATO considered it
impossible to cooperate with
the Russian Federation

on climate change

June 21st, 5pm

(Izvestia.ru)

The European Union (EU) and NATO believe that it is

impossible to cooperate with Russia on climate

change.. due to the conflict in Ukraine. This

was announced on Wednesday, June 21,

by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep

Borrel & NATO Secretary General

Jens Stoltenberg.

"One of the consequences of the [conflict] is that it is difficult

to sit at the table with Russia and discuss climate change,"

Stoltenberg said --- at a ''forum'' organized by the
German Marshall Fund --- a US ''think tank''.

At the same time, according to the NATO Secretary

General, Russia has not been focused on solving

climate problems..... before.

Borrel, in turn, added that, at the moment, there is

no cooperation in the field of climate with Russia.

Earlier, on June 8, researchers concluded that over the

decade 2013-2022 warming caused by human activity

accelerated at a dangerous pace --- and the planet

became hotter by 0.2 degrees. This increase is

explained... by greenhouse gas emissions,

which also hit historical highs in the

designated period.

Earlier, on May 22, climatologist Alexey Kokorin said that

global temperatures could reach record highs in 2025 or

2026. He clarified that if a powerful volcanic eruption

occurs on the planet, record hot temperatures may

not happen. Ash entering the stratosphere, will

lead to an anti-greenhouse effect and global

cooling, the expert added.

____________________________

Wildlife Agencies -- Call for

Protecting Marine Species

in Kenya

June 20th, 1:08pm
(teleSUR)

On Monday -- three wildlife agencies called for increased

security to reduce harmful human activities threatening

already vulnerable marine species along the

Kenyan coast.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Kenya

Wildlife Service, and Wildlife Research and Training

Institute, which released the findings from a first-in

-30-year survey --- conducted on marine species

along the 600-km Kenyan coastline in March,

cited harmful human activities ---- as the

biggest threats to seagrass beds on

which dugong and turtles feed.

IFAW Africa Director, James Isiche, said the results from

the survey are critical in gauging the health and status

of marine life and the interventions needed to keep

them alive and thriving.

"The existence of marine species and their habitat, though

often overlooked, is critical to the survival of the human

population," Isiche said.

Kenya's marine waters host more than 35 species of

marine mammals, five species of marine turtles -- all

listed as endangered or critically endangered -- and

105 species of bony fishes, including sharks

and rays.

The aerial survey aimed to establish the level of conservation

efforts needed for marine species found in Kenyan territorial

waters. It also sought to identify the threats facing these

species and their distribution across the coast to help

inform appropriate conservation and

management measures.

Significant species of concern, were dugongs, humpback

dolphins, whale sharks, and other whale species ---

threatened by degradation and habitat loss from

harmful human activity. This includes... the

construction of seaports and increased

fisheries activities. Climate change

also has a significant effect on

the survival of these species.

The survey also revealed that dolphins, listed as critically

endangered in East Africa, are Kenya's most dominant

yet most vulnerable and threatened marine

megafauna species.

These activities include the clearing of coastal forests for

salt pans and construction of shrimp farms, sand mining

resulting in massive soil erosion, and inshore silt loads,

and the extraction of mangroves for building materials

and firewood.

Accidental capture and their targeted exploitation for food

and medicine also threaten the critically endangered

dugong. Only two were sighted during the survey

compared to groups of up to 500 individuals

seen in the 1960s.

Sharks and rays are also declining because of overfishing

and the rising global demand for shark products such

as fins, meat, skin, cartilage, gill plates and liver.

The agencies called for stringent law enforcement measures

to eradicate dangerous fishing gear, such as gill nets that

kill dugongs. They also recommended engaging with

small-scale fishing communities to implement

marine conservation's best practices and

sustainable fishing techniques.

______________________________________________

Researchers urge swift actions: on
rapid Arctic, Antarctic change

by Pavel López Lazo

June 17th, 8:52am

(Prensa Latina)

Polar scientists are presently calling for an urgent

intensification of national and international

research and observational capabilities,

in view of the rapid Arctic and

Antarctic changes.

Sea ice is reducing globally at an unprecedented rate,

with serious implications for not only Earth’s polar

environments and inhabitants but also global

weather and climate.

In particular, Antarctic sea ice has declined since 2016

at a rate not observed since the beginning of satellite

records in the 1970s --- a phenomenon that is

concerning the scientific community... and

one that is currently not well understood.

Such a phenomenon raises deep concern about the

changed state of the Antarctic sea ice floe within

the broader Earth system. As the winter season

draws near, its extent remains at historic lows.

Meanwhile, the Arctic could thaw completely before 2050,

regardless of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios,

with a strong anthropogenic influence as a major cause

of melting in the region.

After analyzing the influence of three factors: natural, GHG

and anthropogenic aerosols (small particles thrown into

the atmosphere by human activities), experts stressed

--- that it is not the natural particles from volcanic

emissions, for example, nor the artificial ones

---- that are responsible for the inexorable

melting of the Arctic.

_______________________________________

Ethiopia’s green economy at

International Grains Council

by Ileana Ferrer Fonte

June 14th, 2:35pm

(Prensa Latina)

Ethiopia's Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE)

strategy, reportedly, was the spotlight at the

International Grains Council Conference

held in London, capital of the UK,

on Wednesday.

Beyene Gebremeskel, Deputy Head of Mission of the

Ethiopian Embassy in London --- highlighted Addis

Ababa’s policy and action responses to climate

change, the integration of climate change

mitigation in the 10-year development

plan, and smallholder farmers-

focused initiatives.

Gebremeskel, quoted by Fana Broadcasting Corporate,

noted the Green Legacy Initiative launched by Prime

Minister Abiy Ahmed that resulted in the planting of

25 billion seedlings in the first four years and the

beginning of the second round with 25 billion

seedlings in the coming four years.

He stressed the importance of support from the

international community in terms of finance

and investment, technology, and crisis

mitigation emergency contributions,

to complement the national efforts.

Under the theme “Achieving food security for importers

in volatile world markets,” representatives of exporters

plus importers’ partner institutions, and government

officials, attended the Conference.

____________________________

Sana’a: Saudis Seeking

to Turn Yemen into

Toxic Waste Dump

June 10th, 4pm (FNA)

The Yemeni National Salvation Government has condemned

Saudi attempts to dump untreated hazardous waste on the

ground or off the shores of the conflict-stricken Arab

nation, warning that Riyadh is trying to turn Yemen

into a toxic waste dump.

The Yemeni Ministry of Fisheries in a statement on Friday

pointed to the environmental pollution, injuries, and

adverse health risks that could arise as a result of

any agreement between the Saudi Nuclear and

Radiological Regulatory Commission and the

so-called Yemeni Presidential Leadership

Council, led by Rashad Al-Alimi,

concerning nuclear radiation

resulting from toxic waste,

presstv reported.

It highlighted that the matter “portends a great environmental

disaster due to the impact of Saudi waste that has been and

will be buried in desert regions and other areas” in Yemen.

The ministry also pointed to “the continued dumping of toxic

and chemical waste by foreign ships off the coast of Yemen”,

noting that the “radiation recently detected in the Red Sea

and the Arabian Sea waters has caused the death of a high

number of fish and culminated in the destruction of coral

reefs and the marine environment in the provinces of

Aden, Abyan, Al-Mahra, and Hadhramaut.”

“The Saudi regime has turned Yemen, since the beginning of

its aggression [in March 2015] --- into a testing ground for all

internationally prohibited weapons, including cluster
bombs, incendiary munitions, & nuclear ammunition.
Saudi Arabia and its allies have employed such
munitions in Yemen with support from the
United States, Israel and certain
Western governments,”
it added.

The statement emphasized that attempts to turn Yemen

into a dumping ground for toxic waste amount to a

“crime against humanity”, calling on the

international community --- to take

immediate action to stop them.

It called for urgent measures to be taken to protect the

Yemeni environment and population from such waste.

Saudi Arabia launched a brutal war of aggression against

Yemen in March 2015, enlisting the assistance of some

of its allies, including the United Arab Emirates.

The war, which has enjoyed generous arms, logistical, and

political support from the United States and several other

Western governments, has sought to restore power in

Yemen to the former Riyadh- and Washington-

friendly government.

The former Yemeni government’s President Abd Rabbuh

Mansur Hadi resigned from the presidency in late 2014

and later fled to Riyadh amid a political conflict with

Ansarullah. The movement has been running

Yemen’s affairs in the absence of a

functioning administration.

The war has, meanwhile, killed tens of thousands of Yemenis

and turned all Yemen, into the scene of the world’s worst

humanitarian crisis.

______________________________________________

UN chief calls for restoring

balance of the oceans

by Pavel López Lazo

June 8th, 4:10pm

(Prensa Latina)

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on Thursday,

called on the international community -- to work to restore

the balance & vitality of the oceans & marine ecosystems.

The message comes on the occasion of World Oceans Day,

which aims to reflect on the significance of the oceans and

the efforts needed to restore life and sustainability to their

natural wealth.

“The ocean is the foundation of life. It supplies the air we

breathe and food we eat. It regulates our climate and

weather. The ocean is our planet´s greatest

reservoir of biodiversity,” said Guterres.

However, he warned that marine biodiversity is also under

attack from overfishing, over-exploitation and ocean

acidification, fish stocks are being depleted, and

coastal waters have been polluted ---- with

chemicals, plastics and human waste.

“Over a third of fish stocks are being exploited at

unsustainable levels. We are polluting our

coastal waters with chemicals, plastics

and human waste,” Guterres stated.

An estimated 90% of large fish stocks

are depleted, and 50% of coral reefs

are destroyed.

______________________________________

Half of DPR forests

destroyed or mined

— official

May 29th, 12:34pm (DAN)

About 50% of woodland in the Donetsk People’s Republic has

been destroyed or mined during hostilities, said chairman of

the DPR State Forestry Committee Alexey Shebalkov. “The

Republic’s forest coverage in relation to land area... is 7%

(195,000 hectares of forest overall),” Shebalkov told the

Donetsk News Agency.

“According to our earlier estimates, at least 20,000 hectares

of woodland were completely destroyed in fighting, and
another 70,000 hectares are accessible in principle -

but we don’t know what happened: some forests
might have been destroyed, and some, mined.
Mine clearance operations will be
needed anyway.”

The ongoing fighting - endangers the forests

in the Slavyansk and Krasny Liman districts.

They are largely coniferous forests; the fire

danger period is about to begin --- so wild

fires are possible, amid the hostilities,

he said.

Earlier reports, said the Donetsk People’s Republic

authorities, planned reforestation of 300 hectares

in 2023-2025.

_______________________________________

Brazil To Host the COP30

Climate Summit in 2025

May 26th, 6:07pm

(teleSUR)

President Lula wants everyone to know, how

the Amazonian rivers, jungles, and fauna are.

On Friday, Brazilian President Lula da Silva announced

that the United Nations confirmed Brazil as the host

of the COP30 Climate Summit, to be held in 2025.

He also mentioned that COP30 will take place in Belem do

Para, a city near the mouth of the Amazon River into the

Atlantic Ocean, and considered the confirmation

received from the United Nations as

"extraordinary news" for

the country.

“I already participated in a COP in Egypt and in another

in Copenhagen. In all of them, the attendees talked

about the Amazon, but without ever having been

there," Lula said.

"I always thought: why not hold a COP in the Amazon so

that everyone gets to know the Amazon and see what

the Amazonian rivers, jungles and fauna are like,"

he added.

Brazil had been chosen by the UN as the host of the
COP25 in 2019, but the far-right President Jair

Bolsonaro (2019-2023), who assumed the

presidency that same year, declined to

take charge of organizing the event,

which was ultimately held in Spain.

During his administration, the former Capitan promoted

aggressive development policies in the Amazon and

dismantled all environmental oversight agencies,

which Lula has begun to strengthen again,
since taking office in January.

Furthermore, Lula has resumed programs to protect the

Amazon and combat the climate crisis that existed

before Bolsonaro came to power. Lula reinforced

the Environment Ministry and created a new

ministry specifically focused on

indigenous peoples.

__________________________________

Venezuela Releases 20,000 Turtles

for Species Conservation

May 26th (teleSUR)

On Friday, Venezuela's Environment Ministry announced

that 20,000 Arrau turtle hatchlings were released in the

state of Amazonas, as part of a plan for conserving

endangered species.

The turtles were taken to their habitat in an area called

"Cuba Island," which serves as a wildlife refuge and

protective zone for this species, also known as

the "Orinoco turtle."

The release event was led by the Amazonas Governor

Miguel Rodriguez, the Environment Regional Director

Doralbis Lara, and other members of the ministry.

"The conservation of the species, has led to the

reproduction of Arrau turtles in shelters.. until

they reach a size that ensures their survival

against potential natural predators and
can be returned to their habitats,"
the Environment Ministry said.

The existence of the Arrau turtle is highly threatened, with

humans being its greatest predator, as they are trafficked

without authorization for their meat consumption and the

trade of their shells for artisanal crafts.

Last Sunday, Environment Minister Josue Lorca also

announced that over 300 Orinoco caimans will be

released in the state of Apure.

He also mentioned that in the Laguna de la Restinga National

Park, located in the state of Nueva Esparta, another 350

seahorses would be returned to their habitat.

_________________________________

Rwanda Marks Biodiversity Day

With a Call to Protect Nature

May 22nd (teleSUR)

On Monday, Rwanda celebrates the International Day

for Biological Diversity, with a call on the public to

reconnect with nature and prioritize biodiversity.

The event, organized by the Environment Ministry in Kigali,

featured discussions about the implementation of the

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

adopted last December --- as part of efforts to
halt and reverse nature loss.

Speaking at the event, Rwandan Environment Minister Jeanne

d'Arc Mujawamariya said the country's development agenda

recognizes the central role that biodiversity plays in terms

of supporting national economic growth.

"We cannot develop our nation unless we put the environment

at the heart of everything we do," Mujawamariya said - and

warned against cutting down trees.

"We need to reverse this trend, and educate future

generations to understand the importance of

biodiversity in everything we do..... for a

brighter future."

The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)

highlighted that Rwanda's biodiversity plays a critical

role in ecosystem services - such as ensuring water

provision, air for breathing, controlling soil erosion

and flooding, as well as climate change mitigation.

"Biodiversity is part of our lives. Growing up, I was

surrounded by nature and this helped build my

passion --- for protecting the environment
and understanding the importance of

biodiversity. I encourage us all ---

to reconnect with nature -- and

prioritize biodiversity," REMA

Director Juliet Kabera, said.

The International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated

this year under the theme "From agreement to action:

Build Back Biodiversity" to remind nations that

biodiversity is essential to ecosystem

functioning and services delivery.

____________________________________

Brazil: Amazon Rainforest

Deforestation Fell 67.9%

In April

May 12th, 3:55am

(teleSUR)

The Brazilian Institute for Space Studies (INPE) reported

on Friday, that deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon

rainforest fell 67.9 percent in April ---- compared
to the same month in 2022.

April last year, 1,026 square kilometres of rainforest were

lost in the Amazon region, however, this year the figure

is 329 square kilometres, the institute indicated.

In the first four months of the year, there was a 41
percent drop in the year-on-year comparison of

deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

The area deforested in the Brazilian part of the world's

largest rainforest in the first four months of the year

was 1,173 square kilometres, INPE data indicate.

April's result is the first month with a reduction in Amazon

deforestation in Brazil, since President Luiz Inácio Lula

da Silva took office.

President Lula da Silva.. has stepped up the crackdown

on environmental crime, including the use of the police

force against illegal mining on indigenous lands.

The main states most affected by the devastation of the

rainforest are Amazonas (north), Pará (north), and Mato

Grosso (west).

Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon soared by almost 60%

in the 4 years of Jair Bolsonaro's government (2019-2022)

compared to the previous four-year term.

_________________________________________

Developed Nations Should

Deliver Climate Justice:

Guterres

May 4th (teleSUR)

Developed countries, which are major contributors to the

emission of planet-warming gases like methane and

carbon dioxide, should honour their financial

commitment to helping Africa adapt to the

unfolding climate crisis, United Nations

Secretary Antonio Guterres said

on Wednesday.

Guterres, who is on an official visit to Kenya, said at a media

briefing in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that the industrial

north has a moral obligation to help African countries

become climate resilient.

"Developed countries must deliver on the US$100 billion a

year promised to developing countries and the loss and

damage fund agreed in Sharm el-Sheikh," Guterres

said --- adding that delivering climate justice in

Africa is crucial for global peace, growth,

and stability.

While reiterating that the transition to a green and resilient

future, is urgent in Africa, Guterres called on developed

nations and industry: to support the continent's quest

for decarbonizing key economic sectors like energy.

The UN chief hailed Kenyan President William Ruto's

commitment to a 100 percent transition to clean

energy by 2030, adding that the African Union's

ambitious Green Stimulus Program will

reinvigorate climate response in

the continent.

Guterres noted that South Africa's Just Energy Transition

Partnership, and Egypt and Nigeria's energy transition

plans were bold moves toward low carbon transition

in Africa.

The UN chief disclosed that he has proposed a Climate

Solidarity Pact --- in which developed countries lend

financial and technical support to help emerging

economies in Africa and beyond, hasten their

transition to green energy.

Guterres observed that despite its minimal contribution to

greenhouse gas emissions, Africa continues to bear the

brunt of climate disasters... like floods and droughts.

The climate-induced drought crisis engulfing the Horn of

Africa region is a wake-up call for governments, donors,

and the private sector to back community-based

resilient programs.

Guterres said 50 percent of climate financing in Africa

should be channeled toward adaptation projects to

enable communities to withstand climate-related

shocks like hunger and water scarcity.

++++++++++++++++

teleSUR English

@telesurenglish

The Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Antonio

Guterres warned the Security Council (UNSC) that the rise

in sea level generated by climate change threatens entire

communities on the planet and is especially serious to

almost 900 million people living in low-lying areas

______________________________

Media: EU attempts to replace

Russian gas with wind power

failed

April 25th, 12:51pm

https://en.news-front.info/

Against the backdrop of a gradual refusal to purchase Russian

gas, European countries decided to try to replace fuel supplies

with wind energy. This is facilitated by the fact that EU

member states are simultaneously trying to reduce
carbon emissions in the atmosphere in order to
fight global warming. However, the attempt
failed. This was stated by Bloomberg
analyst Mathis.

The European Union fails to overcome dependence on Russian

gas with the help of offshore wind farms. Bloomberg analyst

Will Mathis writes about this.

The EU countries have decided to stop buying Russian gas.

In addition, they are trying to reduce carbon emissions in

the atmosphere - in order to fight global warming.

About a year ago, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands

and Denmark issued a declaration accelerating the

construction of offshore wind farms to increase

capacity to 65 gigawatts by 2030 – about five

times more than today. Britain also decided

to build wind turbines to increase

generation by 50 gigawatts.

However, European leaders

realized that the plan failed.

“European efforts to rapidly build offshore wind farms, which

should help reduce dependence on Russian natural gas and

reduce global warming emissions, are failing, as developers

struggle to implement the projects,” the publication says.

________________________________________________________

Russian scientists propose

method.... to improve

soil fertility

by Luis Linares Petrov

April 11th, 9:26am

(Prensa Latina)

Scientists from the Tyumen State University have proposed the

use of biochar obtained from organic waste to improve soil

properties and fertility, RIA Novosti reported.

“Since the introduction of biochar-based improvers in the soil

has a positive effect on its fertility, it is possible to reduce

the amount of accumulated organic waste and at the

same time increase crop yields” --- said the head of

the technologies laboratory from the university,

Ivan Shanenkov.

According to the researchers, the results will ensure

environmental cleanup for agricultural enterprises

as a partial replacement for mineral fertilizers.

“We obtained the biochar from organic waste ---- which was

used as an additive in increasing the yield of cereal crops,”

Shanenkov added. He said that --- as a result of thermal

processing in an oxygen-free environment --- organic

waste.. such as sawdust, straw and pine nut shells,

are converted into a highly porous carbon material.

“In our country, biochar is mainly woody and is used mainly as

a fuel resource. We propose to consider it as an independent

fertilizer for agricultural land, or as part of compositions with

other types of soil improvers”, Konstantin Ponomarev, a

scientist at the laboratory, explained.

According to Russia’s environmental safety strategy, by 2025

the volume of waste production and consumption is

expected to exceed 30 billion tons.

The Tyumen State University participates in the Priority-2030

state strategic academic leadership program and the report

is produced within the framework of the Ecosystems of the

Future project.

__________________________________________

Brazil Proposes - Summit of Amazon

Countries To Debate Climate Action

April 10th (teleSUR)

The Brazilian government has scheduled a meeting in Belem

for early August to revive the Amazon Cooperation Treaty

Organization (ACTO), which brings together countries

that make up the Amazon, as reported by

Brasil 247, a partner of TV BRICS.

The meeting will contribute to define a single position for the

region, on development and fighting the climate crisis in

international forums.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants to use the position

to be agreed at the ACTO meeting to define the line of his

speech at the opening of the United Nations General

Assembly in September.

The resumption of ACTO -- is one of Lula's goals in his third

government. This body can be used to unify the discourse

of the Amazon countries --- and attract investment to the

region... within the policies of combating deforestation,

protecting indigenous peoples and development, with

the aim of strengthening the position in front of

international organizations and developed

countries, which are the ones most

pressing for action in the region.

_________________________________

Biden - broke his promise

not to touch oil in Alaska

April 7th, 12:12pm

https://en.news-front.info/

The US is starting to produce oil in Alaska. They have already

brought equipment and people there. This is a prime example

of an American president not keeping his campaign promises.

American environmentalists are simply shocked at the betrayal

of their elected representative. Why did Biden, an ardent

supporter of the green agenda, defect to oil? And what

role do Russia and the European Union play in it?

It’s only been a few weeks since Joe Biden’s administration

approved the $8 billion Willow development and oil drilling

in Alaska’s National Oil Refuge. This happened for the

first time in twenty years.

But oil giant ConocoPhillips has already begun assembling

equipment here and transporting workers and provisions

to this largest stretch of unspoilt wilderness in the

country, 250 miles beyond the Arctic Circle, writes

the New York Times. More than two dozen yellow

dump trucks are already waiting in the snow-

covered tundra at the northernmost tip of

the United States on a glistening patch

of ice.

The project has the potential to produce around 600 million

barrels of oil over 30 years. To do so, ConocoPhillips will

drill wells in three sections of the field, the minimum

volume that the company estimates... makes it

economically viable. It is a highly controversial

project that has been fiercely fought by

environmental activists.

The US is already the second largest emitter after China (it

emits around 5.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide

into the atmosphere every year). And burning that

much oil in a new field could emit 9.2 million

metric tons of carbon dioxide into the

atmosphere annually, the equivalent

of nearly two million new cars on

the roads.

The approval of mining in Alaska immediately sparked a wave

of outrage inside the US – among environmentalists and other

Biden supporters alike. After all, the American president has

radically changed his original position. In the 2020 election,

one of his key pledges was that no new oil fields would

come on stream in the country.

Biden got all environmentalists on his side with such a tough

“green agenda”. However, on 13 March, in a surprise move,

the US approved a bill allowing drilling in Alaska as part of

the Willow Field.

“The start of drilling at sites in Alaska is a massive blow to

Biden’s image. He was betting the campaign on a ‘green

agenda’ and now that promise is being broken,” says

Artem Deyev, head of analysis at AMarkets.

Why did Biden go against himself, not even frightened by the

criticism of his own supporters? What was he afraid of?

There are two main theories. The first, is that the U.S. economy

cannot absorb oil shortages and high oil prices - and the states

need more oil for themselves. The second is that the US wants

to increase its oil exports even more, to become a stronger

exporter in the world in order to keep the same Europe in

check, and at the same time to make even more money

from the raw material.

“Sanctions against Russia have hit the US oil and gas industry.

Their refineries consumed either Venezuelan oil or Russian

Urals. But both countries are under sanctions, so there is

not enough crude, and the attempt to restore relations

with Caracas has failed: Venezuela would love to

supply oil to the US again, but it is technically

impossible as the industry is virtually ruined.

Buying oil from Russia to bypass its sanctions means losing its

reputation. And then there are the OPEC+ cuts in production.

Quotations are rising, which will have a direct impact on the

rising cost of fuel in the US. And the country’s strategic oil

reserves have long been unloaded and need to be

replenished,” explained Deyev.

Meanwhile, world oil prices are rising, but OPEC+ does not listen

to the US and cuts production at will in order to keep black gold

expensive – around $90 a barrel. And there is nothing

Washington can do – and it is really pissed off.

Adding to the problem of rising gasoline prices inside the US,

for which Americans may not re-elect Biden, is the problem

of inflation, the rate of which promises to accelerate again

from such a situation. In other words, the USA is trying to

win back oil.

Finally, against the backdrop of these difficulties also in the USA

green energy has been relegated to the back burner (the EU

has long since given up and switched even to coal).

The West admits without a word that the transition to green

energy will take a long time. “During this transition time, oil

products will remain in demand on the world market.. and

are likely to be quite expensive, judging by the measures

the OPEC+ countries are taking.. to achieve this,” says

Vladimir Chernov, analyst at Freedom Finance Global.

It is worth realising that development of the Alaska field is just

starting from scratch and it is projected to take 6 years before

the first oil from this project reaches the market. This clearly

speaks to the US expectation that in six years oil will be in

extremely high demand in the US market, and secondly,

it will be expensive, because producing oil from

scratch in a challenging environment like

Alaska, is very expensive.

The statistics scream inexorably that the US needs more

oil, and they are short of it. First, US drilling activity has

been stagnant for more than six months and shale oil

production has gone down because of rising

production costs, Chernov notes.

Secondly, US oil inventories are decreasing. In March this year

they fell by 4.35 million barrels and strategic reserves to their

lowest level since 1983. “Last year the US actively released

strategic oil reserves, which helped reduce domestic fuel

prices slightly, but only slightly, by about one or two

dollars per gallon,” Chernov says.

Finally, America is increasing exports to the EU --- to replace

Russian energy supplies. And, to all appearances, the US

plans to increase these exports and earn even more from

them. While the US used to be both an oil importer and

exporter, at the beginning of 2023, the US became a

net oil exporter for the first time. They supply up to

2 million barrels per day to other countries.

“Most likely, the US tactics now will not just be about energy

neutrality, but about increasing oil exports, primarily to EU

countries, so they need to increase production as well,”

Chernov believes.

Although Deyev believes that the US itself needs this oil first and

foremost – to solve its problems with fuel prices and reserves.

“What cannot be done to keep the economy from collapsing:

oil is the foundation of the modern economic system,

without it - one can forget about development,”

the expert believes.

“The Biden administration’s decision -- confirms only one thing:

the world is facing a lack of resources amid sanctions against

Russia. Because of that, unpopular projects, which were

previously banned, have to be initiated. It was easier

and better for the environment to buy oil from other

countries than to produce it at home. It is also not

for nothing that the UK has recently approved a

project to frack and extract oil in its territory

in this way. It is extremely unpopular in

England, but they have to restart it, as

the island also needs oil,” concludes

the interlocutor.

Olga Samofalova, VZGLYAD

___________________________________

Mexican Environmental Activist Is

Found Dead In Michoacan State

April 5th, 1:38pm

(teleSUR)

On Tuesday, Mexican authorities confirmed that Eustacio Alcala,

an Indigenous activist who opposed mining activities, was

found dead in a hilly area in the San Juan Huizontla

community in the Michoacan state.

"Alcala's body had several gunshot wounds," the Attorney

General’s Office (FGE) lamented and promised to

investigate this murder thoroughly.

On Saturday, Alcala was transporting three nuns in his truck

when armed men ordered him to stop the vehicle and

detained him and the women. Hours later, the nuns

were released. Alcala, however, remained

missing for three days.

This activist had successfully prevented the opening of an iron

mine that would contaminate the water resources of the San

Juan Huitzontla community, where drug cartels usually

extort mining companies and kill activists.

Mexico is the most dangerous country in the world for

environmental activists. The Global Witness non-

governmental organization registered that - at

least 54 activists were killed in this country

in 2021.

Environmental activists Antonio Diaz and Ricardo Lagunes

have been missing since January. The van in which they

used to travel --- was found riddled with bullets near
where Alcala’s body appeared.

In February, activist Alfredo Cisneros, who opposed cartels-

related violence and illegal logging of pine and fir forests

in the Michoacan state, was also shot dead in the

Sicuicho Indigenous town.

____________________________________

Russian environmentalists condemn

UK decision to send depleted

uranium shells to Kiev

March 27th, 2:59pm (TASS)

Great Britain’s plans to supply depleted uranium (DU) weapons

to Ukraine will lead to mass health problems among the

civilian population, as DU shells are chemical weapons,

an environmental commission under Russia’s Civic

Chamber said in a statement on Monday.

"The Commission on Ecology and Environmental Protection of

the Russian Civic Chamber categorically condemns the

decision by the British government to supply depleted

uranium shells to Ukraine. Their use causes major

uranium oxide contamination to the environment,"

the commission said, referring to research

showing that such contamination may

lead to mass incidences of disease

in both military personnel

and civilians.

Among other things, the commission cited the WHO World Health

Report 2001, mentioning the radiological and chemical toxicity o

f depleted uranium. In-depth research into workplace exposure

to DU showed that the critical organs most prone to toxicity

from DU munitions are the kidneys and the lungs, while

young children could receive greater DU exposure

from contaminated soil when playing within a

conflict zone, according to the document.

In December 2008, 141 countries voted for a UN General

Assembly resolution urging additional research into the

effects of munitions containing DU by 2010, but this

never took place for various reasons, primarily of

a political nature, the commission said.

The environmentalists likened this to the use of Agent Orange, a

chemical herbicide and defoliant, by the US Army in Vietnam.

"The use of that chemical affected over 3 million people,

with more than 1 million people under 18... left

incapacitated, and suffering from hereditary

diseases," the commission emphasized.

A British Defense Ministry official, Baroness Annabel Goldie, said

in a written response to a question by a member of the House of

Lords last week that the United Kingdom would supply Ukraine

with shells containing DU, which she said are more effective

in destroying armoured vehicles.

____________________________________

Norway Reaffirms Commitment

to Brazilian Amazon Rainforest

March 23rd, 5:50pm (teleSUR)

President Lula da Silva reactivated the "Amazon Fund"

that oversees some US$1 billion contributed by

Norway and Germany.

On Wednesday, the Norwegian government reaffirmed its

environmental commitment to the Brazilian Amazon

region and announced that it will help in seeking

additional resources from other donors --- to

maintain the world's largest rainforest

and jungle.

The announcement was made during a meeting between

Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva and her

Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide at which

they analyzed details of the Amazon Fund, a

mechanism in which Norway has been
the main collaborator.

After the meeting, Silva announced that a package of 14

sustainable development projects, which had been

frozen during the Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro,

now will have priority.

"We are continuing support and we are also trying to mobilize

other donors to come in because we think this has been a

very successful model," the Norwegian minister said,

adding that his county is "very happy" to work with

President Lula da Silva.

The projects include efforts to halt deforestation in the

Amazon, to push forward with bioeconomic activities

and to provide food security and protection to

Indigenous peoples.

Silva said that the issues linked to climate change.. are

also a priority for the Lula administration, adding that

Brazil must look to clean energy sources.

The Amazon Fund was created in 2008 and operated until

2019 ----, when the Bolsonaro administration decided to

deactivate it ..amid a campaign to implement policies

to push for increased mining and other economic

activities in the region.

On his first day as Brazilian president, Lula overturned those

policies and ordered the reactivation of the Amazon Fund,

to which he now wants to attract the United States,

China and France, among other big

economic powers.

Currently, the Amazon Fund oversees some US$1 billion

contributed by Norway and Germany and expectations

are that the U.S. will join the effort with an initial

donation of US$50 million.

______________________________

Russia plans to ban the
import of plastic goods

March 21st, 1:21am

(RT.ru)

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade

proposes to introduce a ban on the import

of disposable plastic tableware to Russia.

This is reported by the newspaper

"Izvestia" with reference to sources.

It is noted that there are only 28 products

in the list. They are offered to replace

them, with products made of a

biodegradable analogue, eg,

glass, paper and wood.

_____________________________

CARICOM praises work on

ocean biodiversity treaty

by Pavel López Lazo

March 10th, 5:53pm

(Prensa Latina)

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Friday heaped

praise on the work done by the organization's experts

in the just-agreed international treaty on Marine

Biodiversity, beyond national jurisdictions,

crucial to address climate change.

Our experts not only participated in discussions, but

also facilitated the debate on the most important

areas, CARICOM stressed.

It included representatives of the region’s Permanent

Missions to the United Nations --- and experts who

were supported by scientists and legal experts

from the region’s institutions.

Among others, CARICOM mentioned the Ambassador of

Belize Janine Coye Felson who is responsible for the

bloc’s area-based management tools and was also

called upon by the conference chair to facilitate

the group on marine genetic resources.

Our joint efforts to successfully negotiate this Treaty

are examples of what we can do, when we are

united, Felson stressed.

Known as the High Seas Treaty, this legal instrument will

place 30% of the world’s oceans in protected areas,

allocate more money for preservation and
cover access to and the use of,
marine genetic resources.

UN Secretary-General (UNSG), António Guterres,
said in a statement that this is a breakthrough
after nearly 20 years of negotiations.

____________________________________

Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon

reached record high in February

by Ana Luisa Brown

March 3rd, 2:31pm

(Prensa Latina)

The accumulated deforestation alerts in the Brazilian Legal

Amazon was 291 square kilometres (km²) in February, the

highest mark for the month in the entire historical series,

started in 2015, it was announced today.

The data released by the Institute for Space Research (INPE)

are supported by the Real-Time Deforestation Detection

System (Detener), which produces daily signals of

alteration in forest cover for areas larger than

three hectares (0.03 km²).

Such indications occur for totally deforested areas as well

as for those in the process of wild degradation (logging,

mining, burning and others).

The Deter is not the official deforestation data,

but an alert on where the problem is occurring.

The Legal Amazon corresponds to 59 percent of the national

territory and includes the total area of eight states (Acre,

Amapá, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia,

Roraima and Tocantins) and part of Maranhão.

The G1 portal assures that since December, January,

February and March are rainy months in most of the

states that are part of the biome, deforestation

rates are typically lower during these months.

However, last month experts pointed out that INPE’s numbers

for this year should be interpreted with caution, as January

registered high cloud cover and a consequent drop in the

period’s figures, now reflected in a rise in February.

‘The escalation in the area deforested in the first

days of February should be viewed with caution.

Marco Astrini, Executive Sec. of the Climate Observatory

believes that the current administration of President Luiz

Inácio Lula da Silva adopted correct measures against

deforestation, but the ‘work of rebuilding, putting the

house in order is slower, more difficult than the

destruction of the previous government’ of

the defeated president Jair Bolsonaro.

________________________________________

Endangered dolphin population

increases in China

by Alina Ramos Martin

March 1st 1:26pm

(Prensa Latina)

The population of the finless porpoise, a dolphin endemic

to the Yangtze River, increased to 1,249 and the new

animals are larger, a study by China's Ministry of

Agriculture and Rural Affairs confirmed.

According to the research, the recovery of this species

followed the fishing ban adopted in 2021 and there

are now specimens in different provinces.

Along with the ban, many invasive plants disappeared and

docks along the Yangtze river were dismantled, which

contributed to clean water and ensured the

dolphin’s food source.

However, experts are calling for increased measures to

protect the animal and address the difficulties they

face in their habitat due to human activities

and shipping.

The finless porpoise is believed to be the last surviving

mammal in the Yangtze, after the baiji was declared

extinct in 2007.

_____________________________________________

China Adds Sites to Wetlands of

International Importance List

February 2nd (teleSUR)

Wetlands can purify water and provide food and shelter

to migratory birds. They are among the Earth's top

stores of carbon.

On Thursday, the Chinese National Forestry and Grassland

Administration (NFGA) announced that 18 wetlands in

China were designated in 2022 as Wetlands of

International Importance under the Ramsar

Convention on Wetlands.

The 18 new sites include Beijing Wild Duck Lake Wetland, the

nine turns and 18 bends on the Greater Khingan Range, and

Baima Lake Wetland in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province. Following

the expansion, the number of Wetlands of International

Importance hit 82 in China, covering a surface area of

7.647 million hectares, the fourth largest in the world.

February 2nd marks the World Wetlands Day, which is the date

of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971 in the

Iranian city of Ramsar. The Ramsar Convention is an

agreement dedicated to the conservation and

rational use of wetland ecosystems.

This year's theme of World Wetlands Day is "It's Time for

Wetlands Restoration," highlighting the urgent need to

prioritize wetland restoration. On Thursday, the

NFGA released the results of the monitoring

of the ecological status of wetlands in

China in 2022.

The results show that the ecological status of the Wetlands of

International Importance in China is generally stable, the total

wetland area has increased compared with the previous year,

there is a good trend in water quality, and the water supply

status remains stable. China's wetland biodiversity has

been enriched, with 2,391 plant species recorded.

During the 2016-2020 period, China allocated about US$1.47

billion --- to carry out 53 wetland protection and restoration

projects, and over 2,000 wetland ecological compensation

projects, projects to return farmland to wetlands, as well

as wetland protection and restoration subsidy projects.

The restoration of 467,400 hectares of degraded

wetlands has been achieved, and 202,600

hectares of new wetlands were added.

Over the past decade, China has added or restored more than

800,000 hectares of wetlands. China's first specialized law

on wetland protection took effect in June 2022. China

became a party to the Ramsar Convention in 1992.

So far, more than 2,400 wetlands around the world have been

designated as Wetlands of International Importance, also

known as Ramsar Sites. Wetlands include natural and

artificial water bodies on land..... like rivers, lakes,

swamps, rice paddies, and some coastal areas.

Known as the "kidneys of the Earth" and a reservoir of

biodiversity, they can purify water and provide food

and shelter to migratory birds. They are among the

Earth's top stores of carbon, whose existence

contributes to global efforts to reduce

carbon emissions.

_____________________________________________

Colombia to Protect Santa Marta's

Cienaga Grande Wetland

Colombia, 2023.

February 2nd (teleSUR)

This coastal ecosystem was declared a Ramsar wetland of

international importance in 1998 and a UNESCO Biosphere

Reserve in 2000.

On Wednesday, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad
presented the management plan for the Santa Marta's

Cienaga Grande, the Colombian largest complex of

coastal wetlands.

This plan contemplates an investment of US$8 million for the

recovery of an ecosystem whose environmental goods and

services directly benefit over 25,000 people in the

surrounding region.

To preserve this wetland complex, the National Environmental

System will work together with local communities on projects

related to issues such as economic reconversion, ecological

restoration, and the reestablishment of connections

through channels.

To achieve these goals, the Inter-American Development Bank

(IDB) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF)... will provide

financing. These announcements were made.. in connection

with World Wetlands Day, which is celebrated
every year, on February the 2nd.

During the last decades, the Santa Marta's Cienaga Grande

has been seriously affected in its ability to sustain fishing

production, from which, thousands of low-income

families benefit.

A tweet reads, "We present to you the majestic Cienaga

Grande de Santa Marta, the first site in the country

included in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

of International Importance."

"It's not just a matter of saving the ecosystem," said

Muhamad, who explained that the administration of

President Gustavo Petro... also seeks to provide

economic opportunities for local families so

that they can dignify their way of life

and culture.

Currently, there are 28 monitoring stations in the Santa

Marta's Cienaga Grande --- which was declared a

Ramsar wetland of international importance

in 1998 and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

in 2000.

Through these stations, environmental scientists and

technicians permanently evaluate the quality of

water, a resource that nourishes an important

fauna of fish, crustaceans, mollusks,

mammals, reptiles, amphibians,

and birds.

_________________________________________

Planet Earth could lose

10% of biodiversity

by 2050

by Pavel López Lazo

January 1st, 9:56am

(Prensa Latina)

A new study indicates that the Earth is in danger

of losing 10% of its biodiversity by 2050, due to

climate change and poor land use.

Recently published by the scientific journal Science

Advances, the research referred to the cascading

extinctions of animals and plants on the planet,

which could lead to the loss of up to 27% of

biodiversity by 2100.

This means that, if a certain species becomes extinct,

a predator species of the extinct one could disappear
as it runs out of food.

The same thing... will happen to plants, because, if

pollinating insects become extinct... due to harsh

heat, they will also disappear because there will

be no insect to pollinate them. This study

proves, once again, that all species

depend, in some way, on others.

The benefits of a rich biodiversity, lead to a balanced

equilibrium of ecosystems and their respective food

chains, noted Science Advances, so their resources

are maximized where energy waste is minimal and

if biological diversity is limited, there will not be a

healthy ecosystem ------- with very detrimental

repercussions for the planet.

Having a rich variety of flora and fauna means great

productivity - and improves the possibility of taking

advantage of all the resources it provides.

__________________________________

Germany is starting

to use coal -- again

December 22nd, 3:44pm
https://en.news-front.info/

Germany is restoring the performance of some coal-

fired power plants. It is reported by Bloomberg.

The German government --- has decided to return to fossil

fuels, despite the promise to achieve its climate goals.

Due to the economic situation in the country, the

government is trying to prevent a rapid rise

in energy prices.

The agency reports that the volume of electricity

consumed in the third quarter was 13.3 percent

more than in the same period a year ago.

Despite the current situation, the country is not

backing down, on its pledge to phase out coal

by 2030. But now the priority of the country’s

authorities is aimed at supplying electricity

to its citizens.

“We don’t stop sticking to our climate goals, but when

we were faced with the challenge of keeping the

lights on or cutting back on carbon emissions,

we chose light,” says the International

Energy Agency.

_________________________________________

Kazakhstan and Russia have

potential -- to work together

on decarbonization projects

December 22nd, 11:52am (TASS)

Kazakhstan proposes a joint project with Russia,

to decarbonize the economy and hopes to solve

various environmental problems together,

Ambassador to Moscow, Ermek

Kosherbaev, told TASS in

an interview.

The environmental issue requires balanced, joint

solutions, because the countries have similar

problems: high levels of air, water and soil

pollution and the buildup of radiation

and industrial waste, the

diplomat said.

"We could jointly work on projects to decarbonize

the economy. Kazakhstan, like Russia, is an

energy-consuming country -- where up to

60% of electricity is generated through

burning coal," Kosherbaev noted.

Scarce forests are another problem where Russia can

help Kazakhstan, the Ambassador said. Kazakhstan

is implementing a state program to plant up to two
billion trees, by 2025, he noted. "We need help

growing and preserving these forests," the

diplomat stressed.

There is also a problem of a lack of fresh water.

Kazakhstan’s water security - largely depends

on the hydrological and ecological condition

of cross-border rivers flowing in Russia. In

particular, the catastrophic shallowing &

pollution of the Ural river threatens the

health of residents in the border

regions of both countries, the

diplomat noted.

"I hope that together we will be able to find ways of

solving these problems - and preserve a clean and

comfortable environment for future generations,"

the Ambassador added.

_______________________________________________

Brazilian indigenous leader

denounces effects of

climate change

by Martin Hacthoun

November 13th, 10:10am

(Prensa Latina)

Climate change deeply affects the lives of indigenous

peoples due to fires, floods and other similar

phenomena, warned here, today, Ze

Bajaga Apurin --- the leader of a

Brazilian indigenous community.

''In the past, the rainy season was very regular, but

today it is different --- a situation that also occurs

with floods,'' Bajaga Apurina who is also general

coordinator of the Indigenous Organization

and Community Federation of Pura said.

Now we can’t work all day in the fields, because of

the high temperatures, he said, in an interview

with the Egyptian daily Al Ahram.

Wearing his traditional feathered attire, Bajaga Apurina

said it was for these reasons that he decided to

attend the 27th Conference of the Parties to

the United Nations Framework Convention

on Climate Change, which is being held

in this city, located in the north-

western Sinai Peninsula.

''We are here to bring a message to all governments

and businessmen: what they are doing is not only

endangering indigenous peoples, but the entire

planet and all living beings,'' he stressed.

___________________________________

Rwanda Reduced 126,000 Tons

of Carbon Emissions: in 9 Years

November 10th, 2022

(teleSUR)

At least 47,000 hectares of forests and agro-forestry

were planted while 31,000 hectares of watershed

and water bodies have been protected.

Rwanda has cut 126,000 tonnes of carbon emissions

over the last nine years owing to strategic climate

resilience investments made across the country,

official data released during Finance Day at the

27th session of the Conference of the Parties

(COP27) in Egypt showed.

The data on green investments released by the

Rwanda Green Fund showed that since 2013,

funding worth US$247 million... has been

mobilized for strategic climate resilient

investments. The funding was invested

in 46 green projects across the country

that helped to cut carbon emissions.

At least 47,000 hectares of forests and agro-forestry

were planted while 31,000 hectares of watershed

and water bodies have been protected.

Over 88,000 households were given access to off-grid

clean energy while 120,000 people were supported
to cope with the effects of climate change,
according to the data.

Rwanda needs an estimated US$11 billion
to mitigate, and adapt to climate change
effects up to 2030, Rwanda's Economic
Planning Minister Claudine Uwera said.

"COP27 is an opportunity to engage development

partners, to meet the remaining financing of

US$6.5 billion to accelerate momentum to

deliver on Rwanda's climate agenda,"

she added.

Jeanne D'arc Mujawamariya, Rwandan Environment

Minister called on rich nations to deliver on the US

$100 billion per annum pledge. Since 2009, the

pledge of US$100 billion ------- by developed

countries every year, by 2020, to support
developing countries ----- to cope with
climate change, is yet to be met.

During the Finance Day heads of governments and

activists called for immediate and innovative

solutions to drive the global climate finance

landscape to complement public finance.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said

- questioning whether Africa is ready to

make use of climate finance, should

not be used as an excuse to

justify inaction.

____________________________________________

Seychelles to Protect
100% of Mangroves
& Seagrass in 2023

Says President At COP27

November 8th,

Seychelles News
Agency (Victoria)

Seychelles will move to 100 percent protection of all

its mangroves and seagrass meadows, in 2023,

adding to the already 32 percent protection

of its ocean and 50 percent of its forest,

President Wavel Ramkalawan said

on Monday.

Ramkalawan made the announcement in his

statement.. at the high-level segment for

heads of state and government in the

27th Conference of the Parties

(COP27) --- taking place in

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

"Like other islands - we contribute less to the

destruction of the planet, yet we suffer the

most. For example, the carbon emissions

of Seychelles are very low and we clean

up through our mangroves & seagrass

meadows, thus making us a zero

contributor.. to the destruction

of the planet, yet our islands

are disappearing and our

coasts are being

destroyed,"

he said.

Seychelles has one of the most biologically diverse

marine ecosystems on the planet while the carbon

ecosystems cover over two million hectares, with

seagrass beds accounting for 99 percent of the

blue carbon extent.

The other carbon ecosystem in the island nation

is mangrove forests with more than 80 percent

located within the Aldabra atoll.

Ramkalawan took the opportunity to express

Seychelles' support and solidarity -- with all

nations that have experienced the terrible

effects of climate change, lately.

The head of state of Seychelles, an archipelago

in the western Indian Ocean, asked if the

Conference of the Parties is a counting

game or a real countdown to saving

the planet.

"I pray that we leave Egypt with good decisions and

pledges, that will be followed by concrete actions

--- instead of another set of empty promises,"

he said.

Ramkalawan reiterated the need for the Multi

Vulnerability Index (MVI) to be the new order

as "SIDS [Small Island Developing States]

are vulnerable and we need access to

concessionary funding, in order to

defend ourselves against climate

change, while fulfilling the SDGs

[Sustainable Development Goals]

to give our people a better life."

"Industrialised nations must pay greater attention

to the Damage and Loss agenda. We, the oceanic

states that receive the harsh effects of your

activities, have to be assisted in repairing

the damage you cause to us," he added.

Ramkalawan said that Seychelles is playing

a leadership role... and building strong

partnerships... however small the

island nation is.

He spoke about the Ocean Race Summit the

island nation hosted to discuss the urgency

of saving the ocean.

"Later... we offered the venue for the first European

Blue Invest Forum outside Europe to put emphasis

on financing the Blue Economy and late last

month we welcomed Prince Albert of

Monaco and the Monaco research

expedition in the search for

resilient corals, plus we

are active in promoting

the Great Blue Wall

project," he said.

"Let us be good partners, let us give our youth

a better planet and may we leave Egypt with

enhanced hope and commitment: to save

our one and only blue planet,"

Ramkalawan concluded.

______________________________

China launches promotion

of bamboo as a substitute

for plastic

by Alina Ramos Martin

November 7th, 11am

(Prensa Latina)

China and the International Bamboo and Rattan

Organization (Inbar) launched an initiative that

seeks to promote the use of the first resource

as a substitute for plastic, including durable

types such as PVC.

The project aims to formulate policies at national,

regional and global levels, identifying industries

and coordinating standards for trade in
bamboo products.

It calls for scientific research, expanding
technological innovation and defining

standards in the development of this

area, promoting the expansion of
the marketing, advertising and

consumption of this plant as
a durable material -------- in

construction, decoration,

furniture, paper making,

and disposable items.

The initiative is expected to serve as a roadmap

to progress in mitigating plastic pollution and

the effects of climate change.

China and Inbar prepared it as part of measures

aimed at strengthening global partnerships and

achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development.

The parties presented the program during the opening

of the 2nd Bamboo and Rattan World Congress (BARC

2022), which is ongoing in Beijing until tomorrow with
the attendance of representatives from governments,
research institutes, international organizations, non-

governmental organizations and private sectors.

This meeting is seeking to create new platforms to

support producers and achieve carbon neutrality,

including high-level dialogues between

policymakers, parallel sessions and

a small exhibition of goods.

______________________________

New UN Weather Report

'A Chronicle of Chaos'

- UN Chief

Monday, November 7th, 2022

Pan-African News Wire

The world's only international

daily Pan-African News source

UN News Service

The latest report from the UN World Meteorological

Organization (WMO), released on Sunday, shows

that the last 8 years have been the warmest

on record ------ fueled by ever-rising

greenhouse gas concentrations.

The provisional 2022 State of the Global Climate study

outlines the increasingly dramatic signs of the

climate emergency, which include a doubling

of the rate of sea level rise since 1993, to a

new record high this year; and indications

of unprecedented glacier melting on the

European Alps.

The full 2022 report is due to be released in the Spring

of 2023, but the provisional study was brought out

ahead of COP27, the UN climate conference,

raising awareness of the huge scale of the

problems that world leaders must tackle,

if they are to have any hope of getting

the climate crisis under control.

"The greater the warming, the worse the impacts",

said WMO chief Petter Taalas, who launched the

report.... at an event held in Sharm El-Sheikh,

Egypt, the venue for this year's conference.

"We have such high levels of carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere now that the lower 1.5 degree of the

Paris Agreement is barely within reach. It's

already too late for many glaciers and the

melting will continue for hundreds, if

not thousands of years, with major

implications for water security".

Critical conditions in all parts of the world

The report is a dizzying catalogue of worrying climate

events, taking place against a backdrop of record

levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous

oxide - the three main greenhouse gases that

contribute to global warming - which is

currently estimated to be around

1.15 degrees Celsius above

pre-industrial levels.

Throughout the alps --- an average thickness loss of

between three and over four metres was recorded,

whilst in Switzerland, all snow melted during the

summer season, the first time this has

happened in recorded history; since

the beginning of the century, the

volume of glacier ice in the

country, has dropped by

more than a third.

The increasing ice melt worldwide has led to sea

levels rising... over the last 30 years, at rapidly

increasing rates. The rate of ocean warming

has been exceptionally high over the past

two decades; marine heatwaves... are

becoming more frequent, and these

warming rates are expected to

continue in the future.

The study, details the effects of both droughts and

excessive rains. Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia are

facing crop failure and food insecurity, because of

another season of below-average rains, whilst

more than a third of Pakistan was flooded in

July and August, as a result of record-

breaking rain, displacing almost

eight million people.

The southern Africa region, was battered by a series

of cyclones over two months at the start of the year,

hitting Madagascar hardest with torrential rain and

devastating floods, and in September, Hurricane

Ian caused extensive damage and loss of life

in Cuba and southwest Florida.

Large parts of Europe sweltered in repeated episodes

of extreme heat: the UK saw a new national record

on July 19th, when the temperature topped more

than 40°C for the first time. This was

accompanied by a persistent and

damaging drought and wildfires.

Early warnings for all

In a statement released on Sunday, the UN

Secretary-General, António Guterres,

described the WMO report as a

"chronicle of climate chaos,"

detailing the catastrophic

speed of climate change,

which is devastating

lives and livelihoods

on every continent.

Faced with the inevitability of continued climate

shocks and extreme weather across the world,

Mr. Guterres is to launch an action plan at

COP27 to achieve Early Warnings for All

in the next five years.

The UN chief explained that these early warning systems

are necessary, to protect people and communities

everywhere. "We must answer the planet's

distress signal with action, ambitious,

credible climate action," he argued.

"COP27 must be the place - and

now must be the time."

______________________________________

Scientific Plan for Nature-

Based Climate Solutions

October 13th, 2:23pm (FNA)

Agricultural engineering professor, Ben Runkle, has

co-authored a leading ecosystem scientists and

policy experts report --- calling for a scientific

approach to nature-based climate solutions

in the United States.

The report is the result of dozens of scientists and

policy experts --- gathering in Washington, DC, in

June, to confront the consequences of climate

change and ensure a scientific footing for

nature-based climate solutions.

The report reviews the current knowledge in the field

and offers a multidisciplinary plan for the science,

tools and technologies needed to support a

policy that will mitigate the effects of

climate change.

The researchers are calling for a roughly $1 billion

investment in science and infrastructure

development to ensure nature-based

climate solutions are robust and

credible, that ground-based

experiments & monitoring,

inform rigorously bench-

marked maps, model

predictions and also

protocol evaluations.

"Although... the investment necessary to generate this

information is not small, it is a fraction of the amount

already allocated, to implement nature-based

solutions," Runkle said. "Investing in sound

science to predict, monitor and verify the

benefits of these strategies is

fundamental to ensuring

their success."

Nature-based climate solutions include reforestation,

as well as climate-smart agriculture, and wetland

restoration. They harness natural processes to

reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the

atmosphere and slow climate change.

These approaches have substantial and growing

support from bipartisan lawmakers, the private

sector and conservation-minded organizations,

but the scientific evidence to support their

effectiveness is not fully developed.

The authors identify critical gaps in the science needed..

to support large-scale implementations of nature-based

climate solutions and chart a research agenda to

address these gaps. They also provide a set of

principles to guide future assessments of the

effectiveness and viability of nature-

based climate solutions.

Among the numerous strategies for achieving the

overall goal, Runkle's research group focuses on

ecosystem-scale measurement. They use

micrometeorological flux towers to

measure basic atmospheric

conditions.

The measurements will enable the team to enhance

and expand ground-based monitoring networks

and distributed experiments.

This effort includes: • Creating robust datasets against

which models, mapping tools and monitoring protocols

can be evaluated and compared. • Creating networks

of distributed field trials and experiments to evaluate

emerging or understudied strategies for nature-based

climate solutions. • Enhancing existing environmental

observation networks with more representative sites

and data. • Creating a national soil-carbon-

monitoring network.

"Essentially we can use the many agricultural fields of

Arkansas... as test-beds for research under real-world

management conditions," Runkle said. "This provides

a quicker and more thorough understanding of how

field and farm management can be used to boost

sustainability outcomes -- quicker because we

don't have to work first in a greenhouse and

then an experimental farm."

Runkle has already started. He recently received $1

million from the USDA Climate Smart Agriculture

Initiative, a project led by USA Rice and Ducks

Unlimited. The award is part of $80 million in
funding from US Department of Agriculture

to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions

associated with rice production.

The grant was one of 70 announced in September,

totaling a $2.8 billion investment.. in the creation
of Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities
by the USDA.

US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Isbell

Farms in central Arkansas on Sept. 16 to highlight

the project. Runkle has collaborated with the

Isbells for several years, focused on making

rice production more sustainable and

climate friendly.

________________________________________

$10.1 billion to be allocated to

environmental programs for

2023-2025: Russian minister

October 7th, 3:46pm (TASS)

Funding for environmental protection, natural

resources reproduction and use and forestry

development programs... will amount to

628 bln rubles ($10.1 bln) ..over the

next three years, Russian Minister

of Natural Resources Alexander

Kozlov said on Friday.

"The Environment Protection state programs - 320 bln

[rubles] ($5.1 bln) --- for the three-year period. We
have such positions here as hydrometeorology,

environmental supervision, Arctic research

and hunting, and such federal projects as

Clean Country, Clean Air, Integrated

System of Solid Communal Waste

Management, and Preservation

of Lake Baikal, Biodiversity

and Eco-tourism," the

Minister said.

Funding for the state program... of natural resources

reproduction and use, will amount to 156 bln rubles

($2.5 bln) in the three years to come, and 152 bln

rubles ($2.45 bln) will be provided for the state

program of forestry development,

Kozlov added.

__________________________________

Microplastics are

now discovered
in plant leaves

September 12th, 10:37pm

(Lenta.ru)

The University of Presov in Slovakia said that in the

studied samples of plant leaves, scientists, for
the first time, found traces of microplastics.

The findings are published
in the journal BioRisk.

Plants from the genus of villi (Dipsacus) have

characteristic leaves growing in pairs on

several tiers --- which forms a kind of

receptacle that collects water and

attracts insects into it.

In the samples taken, experts found fragments and

fibres of multi-coloured microplastics -- some of

which were up to 2.4 millimetres long. No third

-party sources of pollution around the territory

were recorded, so the plastic got into the

flowers from the polluted atmosphere,

the researchers say.

Another suggestion is that it could have been

introduced by snails from the soil or from

other plants.

In the future, experts plan to thoroughly study the

impact of microplastics on ecosystems of flora

and insects. In addition, they suggest using

villi as bioindicators of environmental

pollution.

In June 2022, the University of Canterbury

announced the first detection of micro-

plastics in fresh snow.. in Antarctica.

______________________________________________

Many Ways Nature

Nurtures Human

Well-Being

August 7th, 10:31am (FNA)

A systematic review of 301 academic articles,

on "cultural ecosystem services" has enabled
researchers to identify how the nonmaterial

contributions from nature, are linked to and

significantly affect, human well-being.

They identified 227 unique pathways through which

human interaction with nature - positively or

negatively - affects well-being. These were

then used to isolate 16 distinct underlying

mechanisms, or types of connection,

through which people experience

these effects.

The comprehensive review brings together observations

from a fragmented field of research, which could be

of great use to policymakers --- looking to benefit

society through the careful use and protection

of the intangible benefits of nature.

Do you ever feel the need for a bit of fresh air... to

energize yourself, or to spend time in the garden

to relax? Aside from clean water, food & useful

raw materials, nature provides many other

benefits, that we might overlook, or find

hard to grasp and quantify.

Research into cultural ecosystem services (CESs) the

nonmaterial benefits we receive from nature, aims to

better understand these contributions, whether they

emerge through recreation and social experiences,

or nature's spiritual value and our sense of place.

Hundreds of CESs studies have explored the

connections between nature and human

well-being. However -- they have often

used different methods and measure

-ments -- or focused on different

demographics and places.

This fragmentation makes it difficult to identify

overarching patterns or commonalities, on

how these intangible contributions really

affect human well-being. Better under-

standing them could aid real-world

decision-making --- about the

environment, which could

benefit individuals and

the wider society.

To try to get a "big-picture" view, graduate student

Lam Huynh, from the Graduate Program in

Sustainability Science at the University

of Tokyo, and team... conducted a

systematic literature review of

301 academic articles.

After a critical reading, they were able to identify

hundreds of links. "We identified 227 unique

linkages between a single CES (such as

recreation or aesthetic value), and a

single constituent of human well-

being (such as connectedness,

spirituality, or health).

''We knew that there are many linkages, but we were

surprised ---- to find quite so many of them," said
Huynh. "Then, through further critical reading,
we could identify major commonalities."

In particular, they identified 16 distinct underlying

"mechanisms," or types of connection, which

refer to the different ways that people's

interaction with nature... affects
their well-being.

For example, there can be positive interactions through

"cohesive," "creative" and "formative" mechanisms,

but also, negative interactions, through "irritative"

and "destructive" mechanisms. Previous studies

had identified some of these mechanisms, but

10 were newly defined --- including the more

negative effects, clearly showing that our

well-being is linked to the intangible

aspects of nature, in many more

ways than previously thought.

According to the paper, the negative contributions

to human well-being came mainly through the

degradation or loss of CESs, and through

ecosystem "disservices" ------ such as

annoyance at wildlife noise, which

can affect some people's mental

health, in particular.

However, on the other hand, the highest positive

contributions of CESs, were to both mental and

physical health, which were generated mainly

through: recreation, tourism and

aesthetic value.

"It is particularly interesting to note that the identified

pathways and mechanisms, rather than affecting

human well-being independently, often interact

strongly," explained co-author, Alexandros

Gasparatos, associate professor at the

Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI)
at the University of Tokyo.

"This can create negative trade-offs in some contexts,

but also important positive synergies that can be

leveraged, to provide multiple benefits to

human well-being."

Despite the comprehensiveness of the review, the

researchers acknowledge that there may still be

more links, that have not yet been identified,

especially as the review revealed gaps in

the current research landscape.

"We hypothesize... that missing pathways and

mechanisms could be present in ecosystem

-dependent communities, and, especially,

traditional and Indigenous communities,

considering their very unique relations

with nature," said Gasparatos.

"Another of the knowledge gaps we identified --- is

that the existing literature on these nonmaterial

dimensions of human-nature relationships

--- mainly focuses... on the well-being of

individuals, rather than on collective

(community) well-being,"

explained Huynh.

"This significant gap hinders our capacity to identify

possible synergies and trade-offs in ecosystem

management research and practice."

The team has now received a grant, to explore the

effects of CESs provision to human well-being in

the urban spaces of Tokyo. "This project is a

logical follow-up, to test whether and how

some of the identified pathways and

mechanisms unfold in reality and

...intersect with human well-

being," said Gasparatos.

The researchers hope that this study and similar efforts,

will make it possible to apply the key findings from this

complex and diverse body of knowledge, to enable a

real-world impact.

Professor Kensuke Fukushi from IFI, and study co-

author, summarized their hope that: "an improved

understanding of nature's many connections to

human well-being & the underlying processes

mediating them, can help policymakers to

design appropriate interventions. Such

coordinated actions - could leverage

the positive contributions of these

connections - & become another

avenue to protect and manage

ecosystems sustainably."

________________________________

EU Climate Plan Doomed

Unless Anti-Russia

Sanctions Lifted:

Lawmaker

July 10th, 10:29am

(al Manar)

The controversial EU green transition plan, also known

as Fit for 55, which was designed to reduce the bloc’s

greenhouse gas emissions by 55%... by 2030, is

unfeasible --- unless sanctions against Russia

are lifted, EU lawmaker, Roman Haider,

told Sputnik.

“They don’t know how to save their unrealistic

and dangerous, Fit for 55 strategy --- without

canceling the sanctions against Russia,”
Haider considered.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament backed EU

regulations designating nuclear and gas energy: as

environmentally sustainable economic activities,

saying that private investment in gas and

nuclear projects... may play a role in
the green transition process.

Massively harmful to the environment

Haider indicated that the European Parliament

decision signaled that EU governments are

facing a stark reality, recognizing that

more time and more realistic goals

are required to transform the

energy infrastructure

in Europe.

“This package is a massive threat to businesses in

Europe. It makes Europe even more dependent
on imports and drives the price spiral further

upwards. It destroys jobs, promotes the

impoverishment of Europeans --- and is

massively harmful to the environment.

In short, Fit for 55 - is a serious threat

to Europe,” the EU lawmaker warned.

He also stressed that to achieve carbon neutrality

by 2040.. and meet the goals of the Paris climate

agreement, Austria would have to cut emissions,

by 95% over the next 18 years, as a recent study

shows that the country’s CO2 emissions in 2021

reached 1990 levels.

Source: Agencies (edited by

Al-Manar English Website)

______________________________

Colombians Reject Judicial

Authorization for Fracking

July 8th, 2022

(teleSUR)

The decision disregards the risk of serious and

irreversible damage that this experimental

technique represents --- for the human

environment, health, and integrity.

On Thursday, Colombian environmental defenders

rejected a decision whereby the Council of State

facilitates oil exploitation through hydraulic

fracturing (fracking).

"The decision disregards the environmental

precautionary principle -- and the risk of

serious and irreversible damage that

this experimental technique

represents: for the human

environment, health, and

integrity" ...the Fracking

Free Colombia Alliance

(ACLF) stressed.

“Fracking is dangerous, in the context of the

climate crisis and openly inconsistent with

the international commitments acquired

by Colombia,” it recalled.

The ACLF also recalled, that the implementation

of this technique will increase risks to the lives

of environmental defenders and Indigenous

peoples in Magdalena Medio, "a territory

that has suffered oil exploitation and

armed violence, for more than

a century."

The Colombian debate about fracking's environmental

and social consequences intensified during the

administration of President Juan Manuel

Santos (2010-2018), who signed a

decree that opened the doors to

the use of fracking in so-called

"unconventional deposits''.

Later, despite the social rejection of the pollution and

violence associated with the operations of fracking

companies, the far-right President Ivan Duque
implemented this exploitation practice,

arguing that it would contribute to

the country's energy security.

During the last electoral campaign, the Historical

Pact candidate Gustavo Petro openly took a

position against hydraulic fracturing.

On Thursday, ratifying his political promises,

the President-elect Petro said "there will be

no fracking in Colombia."

________________________________

Did you know...?

Among Europe’s dirtiest: ‘Green’

biomass power plant in Yorkshire

burning ‘renewable’ wood emits

MORE CO2 than UK’s coal

– report

October 9th, 5:45pm (RT)

A supposedly “carbon neutral” Drax biomass power

plant is the UK’s leading source of CO2 emissions

--- and belches out more harmful carbon and

particulate matter, than some of Europe’s

dirtiest coal plants, according to a

new report.

Renewable energy firm Drax describes its plant in North

Yorkshire as a “purely renewable” facility, boasting that

it has slashed its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, by

90% since 2012. The plant burns biomass – pellets

of compressed wood – and received £832 million

($1.13 billion) in direct government subsidies

last year, on top of an estimated £258
million ($351 million) in carbon
tax breaks.

Yet the energy generated at Drax... is far from green, a

new report by environmental think tank Ember claims.

While the UK and EU consider biomass power “carbon

neutral,” this assessment is based on the assumption

that biomass emissions are offset by the planting of

new trees.

This forest regrowth takes time, and the European

Academies’ Sciences Advisory Council (EASAC)

reported earlier this year that switching plants

from coal to biomass – as was the case at

Drax’ Yorkshire facility – would not cause

any drop in emissions for at least three

to five decades.

“Such technology is not effective in mitigating climate

change and may even increase the risk of dangerous

climate change,” the EASAC stated.

In the UK, wood burning plants like Drax’ currently spew

out more CO2 than coal plants, including coal used in

steel production. Drax is the country’s top emitter

.......releasing 13.3 million tons of CO2 into the

atmosphere per year ---- compared to the

entire coal sector’s yearly emissions

of 10 million tons.

Data shows that Drax is Europe’s third-worst emitter

of CO2, behind Germany's Neurath and Poland’s

BeÅ‚chatów coal plants. It is also Europe’s 4th

-worst emitter of PM10 particulate matter,

coming in behind three coal plants in

Poland and Romania. It is the only

biomass facility... to rank in

Europe’s top ten CO2 and

PM10 emissions lists.

A Drax spokesman responded to Ember’s report by

describing the think tank’s figures as “inaccurate

and completely at odds with what the world’s

leading climate scientists at the UN IPCC

say, about sustainable biomass being
crucial to delivering global

climate targets.”

The company says that its carbon emissions are

“biologically sequestered,” meaning they are

technically counted as zero under the

previously-mentioned EU and UK

assumptions of forest regrowth.

However, critics suggest that the scientific
consensus on “sustainable” biomass...
may soon change.

“Recent science demonstrates that burning forest

biomass for power is unlikely to be carbon

neutral – and there’s a real risk that it’s

responsible for significant emissions,”

Ember Chief Operating Officer
Phil MacDonald stated.

“Before the government spends more taxpayer

money on biomass.. we should make sure we

know we’re getting the emissions reductions

that we’re paying for.”

_________________________________

Gazprom and Aeroflot behind

Russia's first green aviation fuel

September 24th, 12:30pm (Prensa Latina)

The Russian companies Gazprom Oil and Aeroflot

reported the signing of a deal to create the first

production of aviation fuel with a minimal

carbon footprint... from agro-forestry

systems.

The oil company explained that the use of such a

green resource can reduce up greenhouse gas

emissions in the sector up to 80 percent,

TASS news agency reported.

The deal between the Russian firms... provides for

the development of various efficient formulations

of aviation fuel. In this case, the fuel is to be

adjusted to various types of aircraft and

it will be certified in accordance with

Russian and international aviation

safety standards.

'In our country and around the world there is a potentially

high demand from the aviation industry for green fuel,

taking into account the task of reducing the carbon

intensity of air traffic,' Gazprom Oil head

Alexander Diukov noted.

He explained that the main research platform for the new

product, will be the Gazprom Neft Industrial Innovation

Technology Centre in Saint Petersburg.

According to Diukov, the partnership with Russia's largest

airline will make the process of developing this aviation

fuel more efficient.

According to Aeroflot CEO Mikhail Poluboyarinov, ecology

is becoming one of the most important issues in aviation,

and its relevance increased under the influence of the

Covid-19 pandemic.

___________________________________________

FAO launches tools to encourage

soil organic carbon sequestration

September 9th, 12:45pm (Prensa Latina)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the

United Nations, on Wednesday, launched

two practical instruments designed to

encourage soil organic carbon

(SOC) maintenance and

sequestration.

The two products unveiled today, part of the RECSOIL

initiative, are a global map illustrating how much
and where, CO2 can be sequestered by soils...
the GSOCseq, and a technical manual of
good practices, to sequester and
maintain SOC stocks in soils.

'We must look for innovative ways... to transform our agri-

food systems.. to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and

sustainable. Healthy soils are critical to achieving this,'

FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, told the opening

session of the ninth Global Soil Partnership (GSP)

Plenary Assembly.

While soils and soil health are well-rooted in the global

agenda, tangible impacts remain an important

challenge 'for better production, better

nutrition, a better environment and

a better life for all, leaving no
one behind,' Qu said.

___________________________________________

UN chief calls for bold action

to curb biodiversity crisis

August 31st, 12:51pm (Prensa Latina)

UN Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres,

on Monday, warned about the threatening loss

of biodiversity and called for greater actions

to prevent further damage.

In remarks to a high-level virtual meeting to develop

a new global framework to address biodiversity

loss... Guterres underlined the need for

commitment, ambition and credibility.

'As people and livestock encroach further into wild

habitats, we run the risk of unleashing terrifying

new pandemics,' he warned.

He also urged Governments to shift the 'perverse

subsidies' that destroy healthy soils, pollute our

water and empty the oceans of fish.

We must incentivize actions to sustain nature and also

establish larger and better managed conservation

areas to safeguard species, functioning

ecosystems and carbon stocks - for

current and future generations.

Likewise, he laid stress on the need to empower the

leadership of indigenous peoples and local

communities whose lands encompass

much of the world's remaining

biodiversity.

One million species are at risk of extinction:

this is wiping out options for society, from

medicines to food, passing over crucial

solutions for mitigating and adapting

to climate changes, Guterres said.

Humanity is now waging an absurd and self-destructive

war on nature, and peace must be declared as soon as

possible, only courageous action on the ground, can

curb the biodiversity crisis, he added.

__________________________________

UN chief warns - about

global temperature rise

September 7th, 12:31pm (Prensa Latina)

The planet is dangerously close to reaching the

internationally agreed threshold of 1.5 degrees

Celsius of temperature increase, the UN

Secretary-General (UNSG) António

Guterres, warned on Monday.

We must act decisively now --- in order to avoid a

climate catastrophe. There is no longer time for

delays, and no room for excuses, Guterres

posted on Twitter.

He shared a link to the interactive atlas containing

information from the most recent report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC). The digital tool enables flexible

spatial and temporal analysis... of a

large part of information checked

and projected on this issue,
in upcoming years.

According to IPCC, human-induced climate change

is widespread and rapidly intensifying, while

several trends are irreversible, at least

during present period, and directly

affect the happening of many

extreme weather events.

Scientists also observed changes throughout the

Earth's climate system, in the atmosphere,

oceans, ice floes, and the ground.

Many of these transformations are unprecedented,

and others, such as the continuing sea level rise,
are already 'irreversible' for centuries or
millenniain the future, according
to the IPCC report.

On Monday, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina

Mohammed called for courageous measures
for a global economy with zero emissions
of harmful gases by 2050, and to limit

increased temperature levels.

The world is going through a season of wildfires

and floods, which mainly affects fragile and

vulnerable populations in rich and poor

countries, she stressed.

____________________________

Era of leaded petrol
worldwide, is over

August 31st, 12:52pm (Prensa Latina)

As the service stations in Algeria stopped providing leaded

petrol in July, the use of this highly polluting fuel ended

globally, international organizations reported. Since

1922, the use of tetraethyllead as a petrol additive

to improve engine performance, has been a

catastrophe for the environment and for

public health. 2021 has marked the

end of leaded petrol worldwide,

after it's contaminated the air,

dust, soil drinking water and

food crops, for the better

part of a century... as

reported by the UN´s

official website.

Plus... leaded petrol caused heart disease, stroke and

cancer. It also affects the development of the human

brain, especially harming children, with studies

suggesting it reduced 5-10 IQ points... so the

UN Environment Program (UNEP) began its

campaign to eliminate lead in petrol

in 2002.

Banning the use of leaded petrol has been estimated
to prevent over 1.2 million premature deaths per
year, increase IQ points among children, save

US$2.45 trillion for the global economy,
and decrease crime rates.

'The successful enforcement of the ban on leaded petrol,

is a huge milestone for global health & our environment,'

said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

'Overcoming a century of deaths and illnesses....

that affected hundreds of millions and degraded

the environment worldwide, we are invigorated

to change humanity's trajectory for the better,

through an accelerated transition to clean

vehicles and electric mobility.'

Experts said, while the world has eliminated the largest

source of lead pollution, bold actions are still needed

to curb it from other sources, such as paints,

batteries, and household items.

____________________________________

Activists peacefully take over

Ministry of Petroleum in Norway

August 23rd 5:20pm (Prensa Latina)

A group of activists took over the Norwegian Ministry

of Oil and Energy today, as part of environmental

actions in various parts of the country...

for 10 days.

These are members of the Extinction Rebellion group,

which blocked the main entrance to the ministerial

headquarters and called for the cessation of

hydrocarbon exploitation.

Norway is the main producer in Western Europe

and pumps about four million barrels daily.

In addition to a hundred protesters on the outskirts of

the building with banners and messages in the palms

of their hands, 17 people took to lobbying the

Ministry to demand from its head, Tina Bru,

the cessation of all activity in the sector.

The police, meanwhile, informed the NRK television station

they would not suppress the protests for the moment,

although they invited them to withdraw, in the
next 20 minutes.

'For decades we have written letters, we have spoken, we

have demonstrated. They let us talk, but they are not

listening,' young Hanna Kristina Jakobsen said,

over a megaphone, to the crowd.

That is why we now do peaceful civil disobedience.

We are desperate, added the 22-year-old woman.

The issue is a point of debate for the September 13th

elections, in which a centre-left opposition is

expected to defeat the conservative-

led coalition.

Minister Bru said that, while she shares concerns
about climate change, protesters use what she
called undemocratic methods, that will not

deliver results.

We will never be successful in fighting climate change

if we scrap democracy along the way, she said, in

a statement.

______________________________________

Activists from the international

environmental movement

Extinction Rebellion
plan to begin weeks-
long protests in London.

SEE MORE... INCLUDING

LIVE UP-TO-DATE NEWS

at https://sputniknews.com/uk/

_________________________

July was the hottest month

on record in 142 years

August 16th, 9:47am (Prensa Latina)

Since weather records began in 1880, the month of

July 2021, was the hottest on a global scale, it

was known today.

According to the data published by the U.S. Office of

the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration,

worldwide, the combined temperature of the land

and ocean surface, was 0.93 degrees Celsius

above the 20th century average of

15.8 degrees.

This means one tenth of a degree higher than the

previous record set in July 2016, which was then

tied in 2019 and 2020, making July 2021 the

hottest recorded in 142 years, the report

from that entity pointed out.

It also indicated that in the northern hemisphere, the

temperature on the earth's surface was the highest

ever, with 1.54 degrees Celsius above the average,

surpassing the previous record set in 2012.

Added to this is that the sea ice cover in the Arctic for

July 2021 was the 4th smallest in the 43-year record

according to an analysis by the external link of the

National Snow and Ice Data Centre of the US. Only

July 2012, 2019 and 2020, had a lesser extension.

Those data could place 2021 among the 10 hottest years

on record in the world, according to the Global Annual

Temperature Rankings Outlook.

Recently, a study published in Science Advances journal,

pointed out that the Earth could become more volatile as

temperatures continue to rise, due to global warming, a

paleoclimatic research on extreme phenomena warns.

Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

in the US, examined the last 66 million years during the

Cenozoic era, which began shortly after the extinction

of dinosaurs, and discovered a warming turn in

climate fluctuations.

The finding confirmed the occurrence of more warming

episodes lasting thousands of years than cooling ones,

due to the release of carbon dioxide into the

atmosphere by volcanoes, among other

factors, the article said.

It also revealed that this process ended about five million

years ago, and ice layers began to form in the northern

hemisphere and, with the current melting of the Arctic

..it suggests a greater amplification of human-induced

global warming.

_____________________________

Ocean Current System That Affects

‘Large Part of World’s Climate’ on

Brink of Collapse, Study Says

by Andrei Dergalin

August 12th, 6:54pm (Sputnik)

The study postulates that the current system in question

has suffered "an almost complete loss of stability, over

the last century."

The ocean current system known as the Atlantic

Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC),

which includes the Gulf Stream, may be on

the brink of collapse, Live Science reports

-- citing a new study.

The AMOC, is “responsible for moderating large parts of

the world's climate” as its currents transport water from

the tropics to the north, while bringing cold water from

the north, back south.

Now, the new study warns that AMOC has suffered "an

almost complete loss of stability over the last century."

According to the media outlet, the collapse of this system

would have a "disastrous impact on global weather

systems," with possible consequences, including:

rising sea levels in the Atlantic, "greater cooling

and more powerful storms across the Northern

Hemisphere," and “severe disruption to the

rain that billions of people rely upon to

grow crops in Africa, South America

and India."

Time to Hit the Brakes: Urgent Action Needed

to Prevent ‘Runaway Climate Change’,

Says UN Report

"The findings support the assessment that the AMOC decline

is not just a fluctuation or a linear response to increasing

temperatures but likely means the approaching of a

critical threshold beyond which the circulation

system could collapse," said Niklas Boers,

researcher at the Potsdam Institute for

Climate Impact Research, and
author of the study.

The study reportedly seeks to resolve a debate among scientists

working on the subject about whether the weakening of the

AMOC means its circulation will slow down – "but in a
way that humans can reduce through lowering carbon

emissions," or if the system is "about to flip to a

permanently weaker form, that could not be

reversed for hundreds of years."

"The difference is crucial," Boers said, arguing that the latter

would mean "the AMOC has approached its critical

threshold, beyond which a substantial and, in

practice, likely irreversible, transition to
the weak mode, could occur."

___________________________________

'Code Red for Humanity':

Bombshell UN Climate

Change Report Shows

Global Warming

Accelerating

August 9th, 1:11pm (FNA)

We ignored the warnings, and now it's too late: global

heating has arrived with a vengeance and will see

Earth's average temperature, reach 1.5 degrees

Celsius above preindustrial levels around 2030,

a decade earlier than projected only three

years ago, according to a landmark UN

assessment published on Monday.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

bombshell – landing 90 days before a key climate

summit desperate to keep 1.5C in play – says the

threshold will be breached around 2050, no

matter how aggressively humanity draws

down carbon pollution, France

24 reported.

Years in the making, the sobering report approved by

195 nations shines a harsh spotlight on governments

dithering in the face of mounting evidence --- that

climate change is an existential threat.

Nature itself has underscored their negligence.

With only 1.1C of warming so far, an unbroken cascade

of deadly, unprecedented weather disasters bulked up

by climate change has swept the world this summer,

from asphalt-melting heatwaves in Canada, to

rainstorms turning China's city streets into

rivers, to untameable wildfires sweeping

Greece and California.

"This report is a reality check," said Valerie Masson-

Delmotte, who co-led hundreds of scientists in

reviewing a mountain of published

climate science.

"It has been clear for decades that the Earth's climate is

changing, and the role of human influence on the

climate system is undisputed," Delmotte added.

Indeed, all but a tiny fraction of warming so far is

"unequivocally caused by human activities", the

IPCC concluded for the first time in its three-

decade history.

The world must brace itself for worse – potentially

much worse – to come, the report made clear.

Even if the 1.5C target humanity is now poised to

overshoot, is miraculously achieved, it would

still generate heatwaves, rainfall, drought

and other extreme weather

"unprecedented.... in the

observational record",

it concluded.

At slightly higher levels of global heating, what is today

once-a-century coastal flooding will happen every

year by 2100, fuelled by storms gorged with

extra moisture and rising seas.

"This report should send a shiver down the spine of

everyone who reads it," said Dave Reay, director
of the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute at
the University of Edinburgh, who was not

among the authors.

"In the unblinking delivery style of the IPCC, it sets out

where we are now and where we are headed (on)

climate change: in a hole, and still digging,"

Reay added.

Another looming danger is "tipping points", invisible

thresholds – triggered by rising temperatures – for

irreversible changes in Earth's climate system.

Disintegrating ice sheets holding enough water to raise

seas a dozen metres; the melting of permafrost laden

with double the carbon in the atmosphere; the

transition of the Amazon from tropical forest

to savannah – these potential catastrophes

"cannot be ruled out", the report cautions.

Our natural allies in the fight against climate change,

meanwhile, are suffering battle fatigue.

Since about 1960, forests, soil and oceans have

steadily absorbed 56 percent of all the CO2

humanity has chucked into the atmosphere

– even as those emissions have increased

by half.

But these carbon sinks are becoming saturated,

according to the IPCC, and the percentage
of human-induced carbon they soak up is

likely to decline as the century unfolds.

The IPCC "report, is a code red for humanity",

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

"The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence

is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions from

fossil fuel burning and deforestation are

choking our planet and putting billions

of people at immediate risk," he said.

The report does offer a sliver of hope

for keeping the 1.5C goal alive.

The IPPC projected the increase in global surface

temperature for five emissions scenarios –

ranging from wildly optimistic to outright

reckless – and identifies best estimates

for 20-year periods with mid-points of

2030, 2050 and 2090.

By mid-century, the 1.5C threshold will be breached

across the board – by a 10th of a degree along the

most ambitious pathway, and by nearly a full

degree at the opposite extreme.

But under the most optimistic storyline, Earth's surface

will have cooled a notch, to 1.4C, by the century's end.

The other long-term trajectories, however,

do not look promising.

Temperature increases, by 2090, range from a

hugely challenging 1.8C to a catastrophic 4.4C.

The report's authors were at pains to emphasise

that the 1.5C goal is not all-or-nothing.

"It is important politically, but it is not a cliff edge

where everything will suddenly become very

catastrophic," said lead author Amanda

Maycock, director of the Institute for

Climate and Atmospheric Sciences

at the University of Leeds.

Ed Hawkins, a professor of climate science at the

University of Reading and a lead author, said

that "every bit of warming matters".

"The consequences get worse and worse as we

get warmer and warmer. Every tonne of CO2

matters," Hawkins added.

Part 2 of the IPCC assessment – on impacts –

shows how climate change will fundamentally

reshape life on Earth in the coming decades,

according to a draft seen by AFP.

It is slated for publication in February. Part 3,

to be released in March, focuses on ways

to reduce carbon in the atmosphere.

The focus now will shift to the political arena,

where a non-stop series of ministerial and

summit meetings, including a critical G20

in October, will lead up to the COP26 UN

climate conference in Glasgow, hosted

by Britain.

Countries do not see eye-to-eye on many

basic issues, beginning with the 1.5C goal.

China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Russia are

lukewarm on it, US special presidential Envoy

for Climate John Kerry told the New Yorker

last week.

Rich countries, meanwhile, have badly missed a

deadline to provide funding for developing

nations to green their economies and

adapt to climate change already in

the pipeline.

"The new IPCC report is not a drill but the final

warning that the bubble of empty promises is

about to burst," said Saleemul Huq, director

of the International Centre for Climate

Change and Development, in Dhaka.

"It's suicidal, and economically irrational,

to keep procrastinating," Huq added.

_____________________________________

UK's COP26 Head Warns of

Global 'Catastrophe', From

Climate Breakdown: Unless

Measures are Taken NOW

August 8th, 11:30am (Sputnik)

The UK president of the COP26 Climate Change

Conference, Alok Sharma, has warned that the

world is... on the brink of a "catastrophe"

from climate breakdown, calling for

urgent actions.

The remark, made in an interview with The Observer,

came ahead of a report by the Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world's

leading authority on climate science, set to

be released on Monday. The paper... on

how close the world is to a potentially

irreversible disaster due to extreme

weather, will be "the starkest

warning yet, that human

behaviour is alarmingly

accelerating global

warming", the

official said.

"I don't think we’re out of time but I think we're getting

dangerously close to when we might be out of time.

We will see [from the IPCC] a very, very clear

warning: that unless we act now, we will,

unfortunately, be out of time", Sharma

said late on Saturday, noting the

consequences of failure, will

be "catastrophic".

The UK minister in charge of the flagman UN climate talks

noted that the impact of global warming was already

evident across the world, citing deadly flooding in

Europe and China, as well as wildfires and

record high temperatures registered in

parts of the world.

Because of climate change, more sea ice is being lost

each summer than is being replenished in winters.

Less sea ice coverage also means that less sun-

light will be reflected off the surface of the
ocean in a process known as the albedo
effect. The oceans... will absorb more
heat, further fueling global warming.

"I don't think there's any other word for it. You're seeing

on a daily basis, what is happening across the world.

Last year was the hottest on record, the last decade

was the hottest decade on record", Sharma added.

Commenting on the upcoming reports, the official said

that the paper would urge the international community

— governments, businesses and individuals — to

push for stronger action on greenhouse gas

emissions at the COP26.

"This [IPCC report] is going to be a wake-up call, for anyone

who hasn't yet understood why this next decade has to be

absolutely decisive in terms of climate action. We will
also get a pretty clear understanding that human
activity is driving climate change at alarming
rates", he said.

The COP26 is set to take place in the Scottish city of Glasgow

from 31 October to 12 November, gathering representatives

from some 200 countries. The event, which was cancelled

last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will seek to

speed up the implementation of the ground-breaking

2016 Paris Agreement that aims at cutting carbon

emissions and promote green transition.

___________________________________

Leaked report reveals US

oil companies’ conspiracy

July 3rd, 6:27pm (PressTV)

A leaked report has revealed how some "shadow groups"

are undermining government efforts to reduce green-

house gas emissions causing global warming.

The report, which was prepared by some of the world’s top

climate scientists, blames disinformation and lobbying

campaigns funded by big energy companies -- such

as Exxon Mobil -- as a major setback in the fight

against global warming, according to Politico

on Friday.

In the report, which began emerging last week, the Inter-

governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) whose

job is to examine the state and validity of climate

research and studies across the globe, blamed

think tanks, foundations, trade associations

and other third-party groups -- funded by

major energy companies, for spreading

“contrarian” information -- that misled

the public, and undermined efforts to

implement climate policies... needed

to stop global warming phenomena.

“Rhetoric on climate change & the undermining of science

have contributed to misperceptions of the scientific

consensus, uncertainty, unduly discounted risk

and urgency, dissent, and - most importantly -

polarized public support, delaying any
mitigation and adaptative action,
particularly in the US,” the
leaked IPCC report

pointed out.

In a related development, a British television broadcaster

aired a video showing a top Exxon Mobil lobbyist

admitting that the wealthy global energy giant

gives financial support to "shadow groups"

that engage in disinformation campaigns

around climate science, a tactic that

allowed the oil company to avoid

direct scrutiny.

The revelations have prompted some Democratic lawmakers

in the United States to step up efforts to force all major oil

companies to disclose their money payment to research

and study groups that follow an anti-environmental

agenda, seeking to undermine climate action by

distorting the facts and realities proved in

climate science studies and research

...about the damaging effect and

detrimental impact... of burning

fossil fuels. on climate change

and global warming.

____________________________________

Extinction Rebellion Activists

March Through Falmouth,

Cornwall on 2nd Day

of G7 Summit

June 12th, 11:07am GMT (Sputnik)

The environmental movement earlier promised to

organise several major events in Cornwall over

the weekend to demand that governments,

corporations, and the media pay more

attention to climate issues across

the globe.

Sputnik is live from Falmouth, Cornwall, where

environmental activists from the Extinction

Rebellion are organising a rally to march

through the town on the second day of

the 47th G7 summit, urging global

leaders to act against

climate change.

Previously, XR members held a rally in the city of

St Ives, blocking roads and accusing politicians

of failing "to respect the global climate

commitments they made in Paris

in 2015".

Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More!

https://sputniknews.com/uk/202106121083

132718-extinction-rebellion-activists-march

-through-falmouth-cornwall-on-2nd-day-

of-g7-summit/

_______________________________

UNGA President
urges to create
sustainable economy

to preserve oceans

June 2nd 12:55pm (Prensa Latina)

The President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA)

Volkan Bozkir on Tuesday called to create a

sustainable economy capable of

preserving the oceans.

Speaking on this Tuesday´s high-level debate on

Sustainable Development Goal number 14
(SDG14) of the 2030 Agenda for the
preservation and sustainable

use of the oceans... Bozkir
urged drawing up stronger

policies... in favour of
marine ecosystems.

He recognized some countries and cities´ stances

prioritizing coastal & marine areas over tourism,

as well as their efforts to address illegal fishing

and the regulation of maritime transport and

resource extraction.

Peter Thomson, UNGA´s Special Envoy for the oceans,

underlined the significance of complying with SDG14

and for this reason he called for setting up a

'sustainable blue economy'.

Similarly, Thomson referred to consequences of marine

pollution by plastic waste in a world dependent on
such a material, for which, he advocated out-
laying on more infrastructure, for
recycling systems.

Oceans provide food, livelihoods and protection to more

than one billion people, worldwide; while the value of

economic activities related to the oceans,
exceeds US$1.5 trillion a year.

___________________________________________

‘Incredibly poisonous’ pesticide

banned by EU --- may receive

approval for use in Scottish
salmon farms

May 27th, 3pm (RT)

A pesticide that has been partially banned by the

European Union and blamed for decimating bee

populations is expected to receive approval for

use in Scottish salmon farms, according

to reports.

The Scottish fish farming industry plans to deploy

imidacloprid, an insecticide, in order to kill sea

lice that can fester among caged salmon. The

chemical is used in a “water filtration”

system developed by fish farm

biotech company Benchmark,

which is reportedly seeking

to trial its CleanTreat

product in Scotland.

The system is designed to remove chemicals

from fish farm treatment water, but its use of

imidacloprid, raises serious red flags.

According to US government scientists, imidacloprid

is “very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.”

And earlier this month, the European Union’s top

court upheld the bloc’s partial ban on three

insecticides, which are developed by Bayer

CropScience. Restrictions were placed on

the use of the chemical in 2013 after it was

determined that imidacloprid was harming

bee colonies.

Despite the issues associated with the chemical, the

Scottish government is reportedly paving the way

for its use in salmon farms. In emails first revealed

by investigative news outlet The Ferret, officials

express willingness to help CleanTreat clear

environmental regulations so that it can be

cleared for approval.

In one message, Annabel Turpie, director of Marine

Scotland, the Scottish government agency that

manages fisheries, made reference to offering

“support” to help Benchmark “navigate Clean

Treat through the system.” She added that

there was an expectation that CleanTreat

would begin tests at a fish farm assuming

that it received the regulatory greenlight.

The initiative already has experts worried. A professor

of biology at the University of Sussex, Dave Goulson,

told the Guardian that imidacloprid was “incredibly

toxic to insects and other invertebrates.” He said

that it only takes “a billionth of a gram to harm

aquatic life,” meaning that even tiny traces of

the chemical have a serious impact on

marine life.

The CleanTreat system claims to filter imidacloprid from

water, but the professor said that samples need to be

tested at an independent laboratory.

A spokesperson for the Scottish government insisted

that all aquaculture farms are regulated and must

meet “strict guidelines to ensure environmental

effects are assessed and managed safely,”

adding that the government is committed

to promoting economic innovation

across all sectors, including

fish farming.

Benchmark said - in a statement - that CleanTreat is “an

award-winning and validated water-purification system”

and claimed that its sea-lice solution, which contains

imidacloprid, is currently used in Norway... but that

there are no trials for it in Scotland.

Think your friends would be interested?

Share this story!

_________________________________

Germans, Japanese and

Marylanders poisoned
by the US military

April 26th, 10:25am (PressTV)

by Pat Elder

PFAS in fire-fighting foams used on US bases worldwide

are contaminating the environment and endangering

public health. The Pentagon denies wrongdoing.

Günther Schneider, a farmer from Binsfeld, Germany has

photos that show what the stream flowing through the

village of Binsfeld looks like as aqueous film-forming

foam, is released from a fire suppression system, in

hangars on the Spangdahlem Airbase - like a fluffy

white ribbon. All around in the meadows, shreds
of foam remain like huge snowballs... The toxic

substances used in fire-fighting foams on base

have contaminated the sewer water, ground

water, surface water, and the air, both on

and off the base. The foam contains the

highly toxic per-and poly fluoroalkyl

substances, (PFAS).

Throughout the world, the US military has taught soldiers to

practice putting out super-hot petroleum-based fires using

these deadly foams on military installations. They dug one-

meter-deep craters that were 30 to 60 metres in diameter,

and they filled them with jet fuel. They ignited the fuel

before extinguishing the flames with the PFAS-laden

foams. The toxic “forever chemicals” were allowed

to leach into the groundwater and pour into sewer

systems to contaminate the environment.

The groundwater monitoring program of the state of Rhineland-

Palatinate in the vicinity of the Spangdahlem Air Base found

PFAS at concentrations of 1,935 parts per trillion, (ppt). The

drainage system in Spangdahlem is still spreading the

chemicals. Some US states, like New Jersey, limit two

varieties of the PFAS found in the poisoned German

ground at 14 parts per trillion for Perfluorooctanoic

acid (PFOA) and 13 parts per trillion forPerfluoro-

octanesulfonic acid (PFOS). There are about

8,000 types of PFAS --- and they’re all
believed to be dangerous.

The chemicals - in the tiniest amounts - are known to contribute

to testicular, liver, breast, and kidney cancers, as well as

abnormalities in the developing fetus - and a host of

childhood diseases - ranging from Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder to childhood asthma. Most

of the PFAS in our bodies comes from the food

we eat, especially fish.

Alexander S. Neu, a member of Die Linke (The Left) in the

German Bundestag, along with other Die Linke members

of the parliament, have questioned the responsibility for

the assumption of environmental damage caused by US

troops in Germany. When Wittlich-Land town - close to
the sprawling NATO Spangdahlem base - tried to sue

the US military for poisoning the town’s sewer system

and croplands, with PFAS... where the contaminated

sludge was spread, it discovered it was not allowed

to sue the Americans in court. The poisonous sludge

grows poisonous crops. Today, the town incinerates

the substances at great environmental and financial

cost. The PFAS in the sludge, doesn’t burn.

Incineration sprinkles tiny toxic particles of

PFAS onto the homes and fields downwind.

A German Brown Trout caught in Spanger Bach Creek,

near Spangdahlem was found to contain 82,000 parts

per trillion of PFAS. Public health scientists around

the world have been warning people not to

consume more than 1 ppt of the

poisons daily.

Last year, 9,000 kilometres away, a fire suppression system

at an aircraft hangar discharged143,830 litres of the deadly

firefighting foam from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in

Okinawa. Carcinogenic clouds of foam soared 30 metres

into the sky, settling on children at a nearby playground.

Toshio Takahashia, an Okinawan environmental activist,

reported immediately after the incident that frothy foam

could be seen pouring from several sewer pipes coming

from the Marine Corps base, into a a small stream. The

deadly bubbles flow to the Hira River through Ginowan

City into the East China Sea, poisoning water and fish

along the way.

Tomohiro Yara, a representative of the National Diet from

Okinawa, reflected the attitude of the Okinawan public

when he said, “The US government should take full

responsibility for cleaning up soil and water at any

military base abroad. We must protect the

environment for everyone on the planet.”

Swordtail, pearl danio, guppy, and tilapia caught near

the base all contained more than 100,000 ppt of PFAS.

David Steele, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Air Station,

Futenma Okinawa, told the Okinawan people, “When it rains

it will subside.” Sadly, these are “forever chemicals” and

will poison people and the environment for many

generations to come. The Americans accept no

responsibility for their criminality, because

they don’t have to.

Imperial subjects worldwide need only watch this video of a

suppression system at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard

Base, in Knoxville, Tennessee to witness the criminal

assault on future generations in that state. One tea-

spoon of this foam is enough to poison the drinking

water reservoir of a large, modern city.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK8IIRZ4Q80

The US military has known these chemicals are poisonous

since the 1970’s. They have contaminated huge swaths of

the earth while using them, and they will continue to use

them, until they are forced to stop. Much of the world

has moved beyond the toxic fire-fighting foams and

has begun using extraordinarily capable flourine

free foams, while the US military sticks to its

killer chemicals.

The American military is not only at war against many of the

world’s peoples, but it is also at war against its own people.

It is a war of poisons. Rather than being fought with bombs

and bullets --- it is fought with an arsenal of toxins. The

American military is on a mission (we’re still trying to

figure out exactly what it is) --- and everything is

subservient to it. Fetal abnormalities, altered

DNA, a host of cancers and childhood

diseases, are no less a threat to

humanity, than the American

missiles hurled from afar

to burn human flesh.

Truths conveyed here are largely unmarketable and

unpalatable in the United States of America. The

American people must learn to seek truth in

media that may not include outlets like the

New York Times or CNN.

Like Günther, Alexander, Toshio, and Tomohiro, I’m also

a subject of the American empire. I have no rights or

protections from the abuses of the American

overlords, beyond those of my German

and Japanese brethren.

The Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland (Pax

River) reported last week that groundwater at Pax

River’s Webster Outlying Field, contains 84,757

ppt of PFOS. The toxins were detected at

Building 8076, also known as Fire

Station 3. The level of toxicity is

1,200 times the 70 ppt federal

non-mandatory advisory.

The groundwater and the surface water from the small

naval installation drain into St. Inigoes Creek, a short

distance to the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

I live on the beach 1,800 feet across a deep saltwater

creek from the area where PFAS was routinely

released into the environment, over

many years.

Webster Field is located 12 miles southwest of Pax

River, in St. Mary’s County, MD, about 75 miles

south of Washington.

Webster Field occupies the peninsula between St. Inigoes

Creek and the St. Mary’s River, a tributary of the Potomac

River. The Webster Outlying Field annex, is home to the

Naval Air Warfare Centre Aircraft Division, along with

Coast Guard Station St. Inigoes, and a component

of the Maryland Army National Guard.

Building 8076 is adjacent to the aqueous film-forming foam

(AFFF) Crash Truck Maintenance Area where trucks using

foams containing PFAS were regularly tested. The site is

less than 200 feet from St. Inigoes Creek --- right across

from my family. The practice - according to the Navy -

was discontinued in the 1990’s, although the damage

continues. The high PFAS levels recently reported

are a testament to the staying power of the

so-called “forever chemicals.”

==========

Firehouse 3 Webster Field

Highest Readings

PFOS 84,756.77

PFOA 2,816.04

PFBS 4,804.83

==========

In February, 2020 I tested the water on my beach on St. Inigoes

Creek in St. Mary’s City for PFAS. The results I published --

shocked the community. The water was shown to contain

a total of 1,894.3 ppt of PFAS with 1,544.4 ppt of PFOS.

275 people packed into the Lexington Park Library,

in early March, 2020, immediately before the

pandemic, to hear the navy dismiss their

concerns and defend its use of PFAS.

Many were more concerned with the quality of the waters in the

creeks and the rivers and the Chesapeake Bay than the drinking

water. They had many unanswered questions for the navy. They

were worried about contaminated seafood.

The results I received, were generated by the University of

Michigan’s Biological Laboratory, using EPA method 537.1.

The Navy has only addressed PFOS, PFOA, and PFBS. It

fails to address the levels of 11 other types of harmful

PFAS found in St. Inigoes Creek: PFHxA, PFHpA,

PFHxS, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFTrDA,

PFTA, N-MeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA.

Instead, Patrick Gordon, NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs

Officer, questioned the “veracity & accuracy” of my results.

This is pretty much a full-court press, and I don’t stand

much of a chance, while trying to warn the public. The

Navy wants to be left alone. The Maryland Department

of the Environment doesn’t give a damn, and neither do
St. Mary’s County & Maryland health departments. The
five conservative Republican County Commissioners
aren’t leading a charge. Senators Cardin and Van
Hollen and Rep. Hoyer, have been largely silent.

The watermen see a threat to their livelihood. My neighbors

say if it’s this bad, the authorities would have taken care of

it by now.

It’s a lonely, frightening business, telling the
truth in the land of the free and the brave.

In response to the findings of high levels of the fire-fighting

toxins at my beach last year, Ira May, who oversees federal

site cleanups for Maryland Department of the Environment,

told the Bay Journal that contamination in the creek, “if it

exists...” could have another source. The chemicals are

often found in landfills, he noted, as well as in biosolids

and at sites where civilian fire departments sprayed

foam. “So, there are multiple potential sources,”

May said. “We’re just at the beginning of

looking at all of those.”

It appears the state’s top environmental official was covering

for the military. The nearest firehouse is five miles away,

while the closest landfill is 11 miles away. My beach is

1,800 feet from the deadly foam releases.

Fate and Transport of PFAS

It’s important to come to an understanding of the fate and

transport of PFAS. The science isn’t settled. I found

1,544 ppt of PFOS, while the Webster Field

groundwater on the facility had

84,000 ppt of PFOS.

Our beach sits on a cove north-northeast of the base while

the prevailing winds blow from the south-southwest -- that

is, from the base to our beach. The foams gather with the

tide on many days. Sometimes the foam is a foot high

and becomes airborne. If the waves are too high,
the foam dissipates.

Oysters, crabs, rockfish, anyone?

Within about 1-2 hours of high tide, the foams dissolve into

water, like dish detergent bubbles left alone in the sink.

Sometimes we can see the line of foam begin to form..

as it hits the shelf of the creek. For approximately 125

metres the water in front of our house is about 1 - 1.5

metres deep at low tide. Then, suddenly, it drops to

6-8 metres. That’s where the foams begin to build

and move toward the beach. This is 20-30 years

after the Navy says they stopped releasing the

materials into the ground.

There are other factors to consider regarding the fate and

transport of various PFAS in water. For starters, PFOS is

the great PFAS swimmer and can travel for miles in

groundwater and in surface water. The Germans

and the Japanese know a lot about PFOS levels

in their rivers near NATO and US bases. They

know how poisoned their fish have become.

PFOA, on the other hand, seems to be more stationary and

tends to contaminate the land, agricultural produce, beef,

and poultry. PFOS moves in the water, as is evidenced

in the University of Michigan results of the water in

St. Inigoes Creek.

After my water results were discredited by the state I tested

the seafood from the creek for PFAS. Oysters were found

to have 2,070 ppt; crabs had 6,650 ppt; and a rockfish

was contaminated with 23,100 ppt of the substances.

There’s been no official response and no mea culpa

from the military.

This stuff is poison. The Environmental Working Group says

we ought to keep the consumption of these chemicals under

1 ppt daily in our drinking water. More importantly, the

European Food Safety Authority says 86% of the

PFAS in humans is from the food we consume,

especially the seafood.

The state of Michigan tested 2,841 fish, for various PFAS

chemicals and found the average fish contained 93,000

ppt of PFOS alone. Meanwhile, the state limits drinking

water to 16 ppt of PFOS - while people are free to

consume fish with thousands of times more of

the toxins.

The 23,100 ppt found in our St. Mary’s City, Maryland rockfish

may seem low compared to the Michigan average, but Webster

Field is not a major airbase and cannot service the Navy’s

large fighters, like the F-35. Larger installations typically

have higher PFAS levels. A single F-35 may cost more

than $100 million and the Pentagon wants to make

sure they’re not destroyed in a hangar fire or a

training exercise, so they make a judgement

that the value of the jet fighter is greater

than the value of a baby in the womb.

======================

“It is a curious situation.. that the sea, from which life
first arose should now be threatened by the activities
of one form of that life. But the sea, though changed
in a sinister way, will continue to exist; the
threat is, rather, to life itself.”

Rachel Carson, The Sea Around Us

_______________________________

Extinction Rebellion Blocks

Roads Across UK in May

Day Climate Protests

May 2nd, 11:35am (FNA)

Extinction Rebellion protesters blocked traffic

across the UK to urge the government to take

tougher action on climate change.

More than 200 activists, including nurses, teachers

and students, sat alone in front of traffic in towns

and cities ranging from Bangor in Northern

Ireland to Canterbury in Kent, The

Independent reported.

The group described the “Rebellion of One” demonstrations

held at 11am on Saturday, to mark 2 years since parliament's

declaration of a climate emergency, as "multiple courageous

acts of nonviolent civil disobedience".

Several protesters were arrested, including GP Sarah Benn,

who said she obstructed a local road in Birmingham to

protest "the woeful inertia of our elected leaders in

taking the action needed to protect us and future

generations from its effects".

Ten of the 40 protesters in London were arrested, according

to Extinction Rebellion (XR). One man glued himself to

Westminster Bridge, while Morgan Trowland, a 68-

year-old civil engineer from Hackney, East

London, glued himself to Tower Bridge.

Trowland said, "I'm terrified that billions will die because of the

climate crisis, humans and non-humans, adding, "I'm freaking

out that many people are accepting this, or feel powerless to

change the course. I want to show onlookers that we each

have phenomenal power."

Each of the protesters wore signs bearing messages such as,

“I am terrified for my grandson’s future because of the

climate crisis.”

Andrea Muntiu, a 36-year-old nurse, who blocked traffic in her

home town of Ipswich, said, "People may wonder what a nurse

is doing, sitting in the road with a placard. They may wonder...

what impact this will have on my career, or whether I'll get in

trouble with the police."

"I am aware of the risks but I feel I have a moral duty to warn

people about the catastrophic consequences of the climate

crisis. Floods, hunger, drought, pandemics, species

extinction and social collapse will all be a reality if

we don’t act, and the children of this country and

of this world will be the first and most affected,"

Muntiu said.

“We cannot let this happen. We can still change things, we can

demand the government acts now and safeguards what we

have," Muntiu added.

And Fiona Prior, a 58 year-old retired primary school teacher

who blocked traffic in Carlisle, said, “I am terrified for the

future of my 6-year old grandson. What should I tell him?

That I stood back and did nothing or that nana Fi did

everything she possibly could to make the changes

happen?”

XR claimed that the government was more concerned about

creating positive headlines by announcing tougher targets

instead of taking real action.

"We are seeing today that people are scared and frustrated

at the refusal of this government to accept the severity of

the crisis," said XR Spokesperson Gully Bujak.

"The government needs to commission a national citizens’

assembly on climate and ecological justice, because even

if politicians are scared to face the truth, ordinary people

are ready for action," Bujak added.

May Day also saw several “Kill The Bill” demonstrations

against proposed legislation which would give police

more powers to restrict protests and make it an

offence to “intentionally or recklessly cause

public nuisance”.

The government says... the Police, Crime, Sentencing and

Courts Bill is necessary to prevent widespread disruption

caused by the XR protests of 2019 and last summer’s

Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

____________________________

China launches spacecraft

capable of clearing up

space debris

April 27th,, 12:14 (RT)

China has launched a 30kg (66lb) prototype robot

capable of catching dangerous space debris and

destroying it as well as looking deep into space

and observing celestial bodies for potential

space mining.

On Tuesday, a Chinese space-mining start-up saw

its unmanned spacecraft launched into low orbit

on China National Space Administration’s Long

March 6 rocket, the state-run Xinhua news

agency reported.

The NEO-01 robot... which was developed by Shenzhen

-based Origin Space, can scoop up debris left by other

satellites in a net before burning it with its electric

propulsion system. With thousands of satellites

having been launched and older ones

becoming redundant, the decay and

breakup of spacecraft can present

a real danger to operations in

space.

Origin Space, if successful, will become the first

Chinese commercial company to demonstrate

the ability to clean up space junk.

Origin Space’s craft can also look deep into space...

to analyze small celestial bodies, potentially paving

the way for more technological development in the

field of space mining. The company hopes to
launch more satellites capable of observing

asteroids & other bodies with the intention
of commencing its mining by 2045, its co-
founder, Su Meng, noted, in an interview
with Chinese media, earlier this month.

China intends to become a major space
power by 2030, and hopes to catch up
with the leaders, Russia and the US.

If you like this story, share it with a friend!

__________________________________________________

Beijing tells Japanese politicians,

to drink Fukushima’s wastewater

to prove it’s safe, before they

dump it into the ocean

April 15th,, 10:24am (RT)

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has called on

politicians in Tokyo to use Fukushima’s

wastewater for drinking, cooking,

washing clothes, or irrigation

- in order to prove it is safe

enough to be discharged

into the ocean.

Speaking on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry

spokesman, Zhao Lijian, reinforced Beijing’s

opposition to Tokyo’s decision to dump

over one million tons of “treated”
nuclear waste-water into
the ocean.

“Japan’s claims that the safety of nuclear wastewater

relies only on unilaterally obtained data, which is

completely unconvincing… The Tokyo Electric

Power Company, which is responsible for

operating the Fukushima nuclear power

plant, has tampered with data and

concealed the news,” the spokes
-man claimed, insisting that

international agencies be

called upon.

Zhao said Japanese politicians are at the centre

of the coverup, and demanded they prove the

water’s safety.

The spokesman added that, as pointed out by a

German marine science institute, the Fukushima

coast has one of the strongest ocean currents
in the world. “Within 57 days from the date
of discharge, radioactive substances will

spread to most of the Pacific Ocean,

and spread to the global waters in

10 years,” Zhao stated.

On Monday, Tokyo announced it would be releasing

the wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant,

which went into meltdown in 2011 into the ocean

“in around two years” as capacity to store the

liquid runs out. The plan, which had been

widely rumored to be Tokyo’s preferred

option, was met with condemnation
by Japan’s neighbours.

In 2020, Greenpeace claimed that the supposedly

treated water, still contains: “dangerous levels of

carbon-14,” a radioactive substance that has the

“potential to damage human DNA.” More than a

million tons of wastewater, containing radio-

active tritium, has accumulated since

the meltdown.

Like this story?

Share it with a friend!

__________________________

European leaders ask US to

reduce polluting emissions

April 13th (Prensa Latina)

European parliamentarians, managers and

union leaders urged the United States to

cut greenhouse gas emissions by half

compared to 2005.

Continental authorities and industrial representatives

sent an open letter to President Joe Biden asking him

for a transatlantic alliance to combat climate change

and achieve a 'just and sustainable transition'

towards an economy with low carbon

dioxide emissions.

This request, comes a week before a summit between

environmental leaders and the president of the United

States, & is headed by the head of the environmental

committee of the European Parliament, Pascal Canfin.

According to the letter, the countries of the bloc and

the United States together account for a quarter of

the world's carbon dioxide emissions.

The European Union agreed, last year, to cut pollutant

flows by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Executives from companies, such as the French auto-

maker Renault and the German energy company E.ON

backed the letter, that expresses European concerns

about the cost of jobs, if the reduction of emissions

is achieved.

Statistics from global organizations rank the US in

second place, by country, in terms of polluting

emissions into the atmosphere.

Germany tops the list in Europe, due to its great

dependence on coal, and generates emissions

equivalent to a quarter of the continental total.

__________________________________

Amazon Lost 17 Percent to

Deforestation in 2020
- Report

April 7th, (teleSUR)

Brazil accounts for 65 percent of the loss,

followed by Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia.

The primary forest loss in Bolivia,

Ecuador, and Peru reached

unprecedented levels

last year.

The environmental organization Amazon

Conservation reported on Wednesday --

that the South American rainforest lost

17 percent of its area to deforestation

in 2020, representing 2.3 million

hectares devastated across

nine countries.

The study found that "a common phenomenon

observed in the satellite imagery through

August -- was that rainforest areas were

first deforested and then later burned

-- causing major fires due to the

abundant recently-cut

biomass."

This data explains why agricultural practices are

a significant cause of deforestation in the region.

According to Amazon satellite monitoring project

(MAAP) Matt Finer, "the primary cause of

deforestation across the Amazon

appears to be agriculture and

cattle-related, ranging from:

''larger-scale'' operations in

Brazil to the accumulation

of smaller-scale clearings

throughout the western

Amazon."

__________________________

'Guilt is Strangling': Young 'PlogMan' in

India Has Been Waking Up Pre-Dawn
for 7 Years, Here's Why

by Radhika Parashar

15.03.2021 (Sputnik)

Last week, in the city of Faridabad in India’s Haryana state, a

pregnant cow died on a busy road. Upon evaluation, it was

revealed that the cow had grazed on 71 kilograms of

garbage – with the plastic, iron nails, and glass

pieces it had consumed injuring it internally.

The sad case highlighted how unsorted

waste is choking India.

Meet Vivek Gurav who lives in Pune city in Maharashtra and is

famous by the name of “PlogMan” on social media. At 25 years

of age, Gurav is a software engineer by profession, but before

and after his nine-to-five job, the young techie jogs or walks

around Pune, cleaning its streets and disposing off garbage

littering the roads.

Talking to Sputnik, the public speaker revealed that he, along

with a bunch of his friends, has “adopted” a small river named

Indrayani to keep its water and banks from getting strangled

with garbage. The Indrayani River flows just 4.2 kilometres

before joining into a larger water body, and not too long ago,

like Delhi’s Yamuna River, Indrayani also began to froth with

toxins on its banks.

“The river Indrayani near my college was a place where I went for

a daily walk with my friends in the evening. We observed people

who carelessly dumped a lot of trash and plastic in the river

body as well as surrounding areas. Me and my friends

initially blamed the local body and government for all

these actions. But I personally felt it was the moral

duty of citizens including me to follow cleanliness

norms and keep the city clean. That was the

moment I felt a very close belonging to

nature”, Gurav said while recollecting

how dead fish were seen floating
in the water as stray animals

consumed them, as well

as the polluted water.

Gurav believes that it takes a sudden epiphany for youngsters

to decide for a lifetime of giving back to nature and

the environment.

“I appealed to my friends to join me in cleaning Indrayani. Initially

some were quite resistant, some people even ridiculed the idea,

completely dismissing it, but I took up this challenge and started

the cleanup journey solo four years ago. In some time, a few of

my friends started supporting me and we adopted the River

Indrayani for a mega cleanup mission”, the engineer and

environmental enthusiast added.

The efforts of Gurav and his friends have been going on for seven

years now and on a routine basis they clean the river region and

areas around it in Pune. The river is healthier and safer for

animals now, the techie adds.

“After my college days we took up the charge to not only clean

rivers but all the public spaces in the city. For the last seven

years, I have been waking up at five in the morning, and

randomly taking on a jogging route, on which I pick-up

trash as well for around 45 minutes. The realisation of

knowing that you’ve done your little bit to benefit the

air around you and survival resources for the stray

animals – sleep comes sooner and deeper”, Gurav

said, with a shy smile.

Recently, a rather touching video from the Himalayan valley

of Jammu and Kashmir in India created a buzz around

environmental conservation on social media. The

video showed some foreigners collecting roadside

trash in the market area of Lalchowk in Srinagar city.

Locals who shared the footage on their social media handles

acknowledged that the video testified to how their own

negligence towards maintaining cleanliness in public

spaces has ruined the beauty of their city.

In recent years, the roadside garbage situation in cities in India

has been overshadowed by ignorance despite numerous

incidents like the death of stray animals crying for

immediate attention.

In 2017, a survey, co-researched by Chintan, the Delhi Environment

Department and German NGO GIZ, claimed that India's capital Delhi,

inhabited by over 30 million residents, generates over 9,100 metric

tonnes of garbage on average each year. The report also said that

nearly 76 percent Delhiites wrongly believe that glass and metal

are biodegradable, dump it on the roadside, and need more

education on the subject.

While several individuals like Gurav, NGOs, and government

programmes like the Swachh Bharat (clean India) mission

are working on cleaning India, the new trend of “plogging”

is seemingly picking up pace in the country. The term

“plogging” was coined in Sweden in 2016 and defines

the activity of “picking trash while jogging”.

“Youngsters are getting more sensitive about environment

conservation in India, for sure. I am the founder of a

community called Pune Ploggers, which is a group

of individuals like me who all pick-up trash while

jogging or walking.

“We have more than 4,000 ploggers across India and we are now

setting up city-wise communities. Collection of more than 250

tonnes of waste in the last one year is a remarkable

achievement due to the efforts of this community.

With over 280 plogging drives across 22 cities in

India, our community of environment enthusiasts

has grown exponentially”, Gurav said.

The PlogMan from Pune has appealed to all potential climate

activists in India to work every day towards passing on a

greener and cleaner planet to the generations to come.

“Go zero-waste, avoid littering, manage household waste, use

green alternatives for all the daily essentials, and buy only

what we really need could be some simple changes we

can add to all our lifestyles”, Gurav added.

The climate enthusiast noted that while India is emerging as a

leader in sustainable practices like solar and electric ways of

producing energy, Indians are far from fixing the real problem

- accepting the crisis.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ambient air

pollution causes 4.2 million deaths every year. 91% of the

world's population lives in places where air quality

exceeds the WHO guidelines' limits.

Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan, and India

make for the world’s five most polluted countries,

according to a report by the World

Population Review.

______________________________

Post-Brexit 'Loophole'

Lets UK Keep Sending

Plastic Waste to Poorer

Countries, Report Says

12.01.2021 (Sputnik)

The United Kingdom is facing a backlash
from environmentalists over a post-Brexit
"loophole" that allows it to ship plastic
waste to developing countries --- in
disregard of its previous pledges,
The Guardian reported Tuesday.

From January 1, the European Union banned exports

of non-recyclable plastic waste to countries outside

the Organisation for Economic Co-operation

and Development.

The UK, which left the EU’s single market and customs

union on December 31, will continue the practice,

despite Tory commitments that post-Brexit

regulations would not undermine

environmental standards, the

British newspaper said.

The country, which is the 2nd-biggest producer of plastic

waste after the United States, will now reportedly export

plastic waste, under a procedure of prior informed

consent, in accordance with which the importer

can agree or disagree to take in

such shipments.

Greenpeace political campaigner Sam Chetan-Welsh,

quoted by the newspaper, slammed the UK

government for creating a "loophole to
allow the dumping of our plastic trash

on environments and communities"

in poorer countries, arguing that

"this is not leadership, it’s failing

to do the bare minimum."

_____________________________

Biden’s climate advisor has ties

to oil and gas industry: Report

November 21st, 2020 (Press TV)

US President-elect Joe Biden’s senior advisor on climate change

has faced strong criticism from environmental advocates over

his ties with the oil and gas industry, according to a report.

Cedric Richmond, a Louisiana congressman who has played a

key role in Biden’s presidential campaign, was named as a

senior adviser to the president-elect and will become

director of the White House Office of Public

Engagement, The Guardian reported.

Richmond will advise Biden on climate change --- and help

advance the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic.

At a press conference this week, Richmond – who has

represented a south Louisiana district for 10 years –

announced that he would resign from Congress

to assume his new position.

“I look forward to changing not only Louisiana but the

entire south and empowering its citizens,” he said.

The Democrat has been under criticism from both local

constituents and climate activists for receiving

generous donations from the oil, gas and

chemical industries.

He has also exhibited a degree of indifference to local air

pollution, with his congressional district being home

to seven of the 10 most air-polluted census tracts

in the US.

Richmond pledged greater public engagement

to address the issue.

Some advocates said while they were worried about

Richmond’s track record on the climate, they were

cautiously optimistic about his new appointment.

“I think he’s in a position now to be able to better serve the

constituents of his district,” said Robert Taylor, president

of the Concerned Citizens of St John Parish, a community

group in one of the most polluted parts of the region.

“I’m happy to see him get the appointment, I just hope he

uses it to help us,” he told the paper. Taylor added: “I

would like to see him hold these chemical plants

accountable because they are getting away

with murder.”

Biden has signaled his intent to put climate change on top

of his administration's policy agenda. However, concerns

persist about the degree to which the Democrat is willing

to challenge the power of the fossil fuel industry.

Apart from Richmond, environmental activists are worried

about Ernest Moniz, another individual with ties to the oil

and gas industry who is widely speculated to have been

picked to lead the Department of Energy.

Moniz was Secretary of Energy in the administration of

former President Barack Obama from 2013 through to

2017 and played a critical role in mustering support

for the controversial use of fracking to produce

natural gas.

Moniz is currently a director of Southern Company, the

second-highest carbon-polluting energy company

in America.

During the 2020 campaign, Biden unequivocally rejected

calls to ban fracking, which experts say is harmful to the

environment and people’s health.

___________________________________________

Obsession with consumerism will
destroy the world of our children
by Ken Livingstone
December 24th, 2018.

Ken Livingstone is an English politician, he served as
the Mayor of London between 2000 and 2008. He is
also a former MP and a former member of the
Labour Party.

Amid growing climate change concerns, what politicians
fear most, is not standing up to the coal and oil
industries, but having to tell the people that
they need to buy and consume less.

As two hundred nations gathered in Poland to discuss
climate change, the opening comments of David
Attenborough, went global across the
world’s media.

“Right now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global
scale, our greatest threat, in thousands of years…
climate change… If we don’t take action,
the collapse of our civilisations, and
the extinction of much of the natural
world, is on the horizon… Leaders
of the world, you must lead. The
continuation of civilisations and
the natural world, upon which,
we depend, is in your hands,”
said Attenborough.

He went on to recommend that ordinary people make a
change every day by using public transport and other
measures to reduce carbon emissions.

Yet, for all Attenborough’s warnings, we have seen the
election of a climate change denier to the White
House, in the form of Donald Trump, and the
recent election of a Brazilian president
who also denies climate change.

So, what is the truth?

The simple fact is that the twenty warmest years in
our history have been in the last twenty-two years
and the four warmest years have been the last
four years on our planet.

Scientists are now warning that we need to increase
our actions to tackle climate change by at least five
times, merely to stop the increase in temperature
going above 1.5 centigrade.

It’s not just temperatures that threaten our existence.

Since 1970, we have wiped out 60 percent of birds,
mammals, reptiles and fish across our planet. This
information comes from a World Wildlife Fund
report, which drew on the evidence of 59
scientists around the world.

The report warns that the rapid increase in the waste
of food and other resources is wiping out the web of
life ,on which our society depends, for clean air and
water. The director of science and conservation at
the WWF, Mike Barrett, warned that we “are
sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff.”

He pointed out that a similar 60 percent wiping out of
the human population, would be the equivalent of
killing every human in Europe, China, Africa and
the Americas. He went on to warn, that nature
is not just nice to have, but it is our life
support system.

The simple fact is, we are running out of time and,
unless we find ways to restore our eco systems
and tackle climate change, we face the prospect
of humanity’s extinction, by the end of
the century.

. Since the dawn of civilisation, we have destroyed
eighty-three percent of all mammals and half of
all plants, and it could take millions of years
for the world to recover.

The WWF report pointed out that the main cause of wildlife
loss is the destruction of natural habitats, mainly to create
new farmland. Three quarters of all the land on our planet
has now been affected by our activities. Here in Britain,
we have seen the loss of most of our wildlife, and we
have less biodiversity, than 189 other nations.

Although politicians at their conferences keep agreeing
to limit the rise in the earth’s temperature to 2 degrees
centigrade and, if possible, just 1.5 degrees by the end
of this century. This would still mean the destruction
of all our coral reefs, which play a vital part in
sustaining the population of fish. There will
also be rising sea levels and increasing,
violent weather events.

This year’s storms have devastated South Korea, Vietnam,
the Philippines and Tonga. Hurricanes also caused wide-
spread damage in the USA and wildfires erupted in
California, Canada and Greece, claiming many
lives. In Kerala, India nearly one and a half
million people were forced out of their
homes by violent floods, which also
occurred in East Africa and Japan.

In the last one hundred years the amount of carbon dioxide
in our atmosphere has gone up by a third. The increase in
greenhouse gas emissions has doubled since 1971,
mainly caused by industrial activity.

The UK’s Met Office [national weather service] has warned
that rising sea levels and climate change threaten over
one and a half million homes --- with the prospect of
farmland being turned into marshes and beaches
washed away, by the end of the century.

The UK Climate Projections recent report predicted the sea
around our shores will have risen by between three and
four feet by the end of the century, putting 1.7 million
homes at risk.

Many coastal towns will have to be abandoned, with large
parts of the counties of Kent, Somerset and Essex, being
submerged under the sea. The worst example is that the
sea could now extend so far into Britain, that it could
overwhelm the city of Cambridge.

The rise in sea level would leave 100,000 coastal homes
and other buildings at risk, with another 100,000
vulnerable to collapse from landslides.

The report warns that, unless we reduce our emissions,
the temperature will have risen by 4 degrees centigrade
by the end of the century, with melting glaciers and
ice caps overwhelming the Thames Barrier and
flooding London.

But it’s not just here in London that we are at risk. Houston,
Shanghai and Jakarta, are increasingly vulnerable to
storms and flooding. The charity Christian Aid
warned in its recent report that city planners
are failing to prepare for what is coming.

Most of our biggest cities are built close
to the coast or by large rivers and all
are now at risk.

In 2015, 195 countries meeting in France agreed to
keep global warming below two degrees. But the
US has now announced it intends to withdraw
from this agreement, and here in Britain, one
of the first actions of the newly elected Tory
government, back in 2010, was to reduce
funding for green energy and it has now
unleashed a new strategy: for a vast
increase in fracking across
the country.

Even the Tory MP Zac Goldsmith has warned his
government, of the risk of a political backlash.
The fracking - near Blackpool - caused several
minor earthquakes which forced the company,
Cuadrilla, to halt operations, after a 0.8
magnitude tremor.

In 2017, we saw fifteen deadly weather disasters:
heatwaves, floods and droughts. If I think back
to the 1960s, there would be one or two violent
weather events in the year: now, it’s become
a regular part of our news coverage.

In September, Indonesia was struck by a tsunami
and an earthquake that killed thousands and left
many missing. Given the thousands of lives lost
this year, with just a one degree increase, I
dread to think how many more are going
to die, even if we cap the increase at
1.5 centigrade.

Even to meet that target, carbon emissions have to
be cut by forty-five percent, by 2030, but they’re
still going up and most of the difficult decisions
- that should have been taken at the Poland
conference - have been deferred to the
next meeting.

Although the US has a climate change denying president,
latest opinion polls show that 80% of Americans believe
climate change is happening, including a majority
of Republicans.

Nicholas Stern, who cooperated with me when I was mayor
of London and is author of a landmark report on climate
change economics, said: “It is clear that the progress
we are making is inadequate, given the scale and
urgency of the risks we face… a much more
attractive clean and efficient path for
economic development and poverty
reduction, is in our hands.”

It was 26 years ago - in 1992 - that the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change was signed, binding
governments to a commitment to reduce the level
of carbon emissions. Yet now, a quarter of a
century on, even if we achieve the target
set by those governments, the world’s
temperature will increase by more
than three degrees centigrade.

It’s not just that politicians lack the courage to stand up to
the coal and oil industries, but what they fear most, is
having to tell all of us, that we need to buy and
consume less. A third of all the food used in
Europe and North America ends up wasted
and thrown away. More and more of the
things we buy, are just left in our cup-
boards and drawers, until they are,
eventually, thrown out.

I grew up in that post-war world where nothing was wasted
and our pleasure came from the time we spent with our
friends and family, but, over these last fifty years, the
Western world has switched to an obsession with
shopping and consumption and we spend less
time with our friends and our family. We can
either go back to that world without waste,
or we are going to destroy the world of
our children.

(Source - RT)

_____________________________________________

Japan finds itself
buried in plastic waste
after China stops
importing world’s trash
21st of October, 2018, at 4:11am

Nations across the globe are beginning to suffer from
waste build-up, after China stopped importing
recyclable garbage this year. Japan has
become the latest country reporting
severe recycling industry overload.

China’s ban on imports of 24 types of solid waste materials,
such as soda bottles, mixed paper, recycled steel and
newsprint, has impacted the recycling chain across
the globe. Japan, which, last year, exported about
half its 1.5 million tons of annual plastic waste,
is now piled, higher and deeper, in its own
garbage, with many local governments
struggling to cope with the problem.

About a quarter of 102 local governments surveyed
reported seeing accumulated plastic waste, which
in some cases overreached sanitary norms, the
Environment Ministry data showed, this week.

At least 34 municipalities noted that they are failing to
find new destinations to outsource their plastic, after
the domestic costs of processing waste, shot up.

China’s refusal to accept more garbage is overstretching
the Japanese recycling industry, with 34.9 percent of
companies limiting or considering restricting the
quantities of plastics they can accept. To deal
with the problem, the Japanese ministry said
it will expand domestic capacity to process
plastic waste. The government also wants
to introduce measures to prevent illegal
dumping and to expand the use of
bioplastics, which are
biodegradable.

A similar problem was reported this weekend in the UK,
which last year exported roughly two-thirds of its
recyclables. The Local Government Association
(LGA) blamed the Chinese ban for the change
in councils’ recycling methods, which are
forcing the local authorities to add an
extra £500,000 a year, in costs.

“It’s clear that the ban by China on imported waste, which
could, soon, be implemented by other countries, could
have a marked impact on councils’ ability to recycle,”
said Martin Tett, the LGA's environment spokesman.

China, which over the last 25 years was taking in 45 percent
of cumulative plastic imports, without a doubt made a huge
impact on the global recycling system. While many Chinese
companies relocated their operations to Malaysia, the Asian
country does not have the capacity to replace China, and,
this week, imposed a three-month ban on imports. We
"will do our very best to ensure that Malaysia not be
the plastic rubbish bin of developed countries,"
Science, Technology and Environment and
Climate Change minister Yeo Bee Yin said.

Vietnam, which once welcomed foreign shipments, is also
finding it hard to cope with recyclables, imposing a new
temporary ban on imports, between June & October.

Thailand, the other world destination of plastic
goods, reportedly, will ban imports, by 2021.

The closure of Asian countries to plastic, will also
affect the US, which, in the first six months of
this year, exported its recycling to Thailand,
Malaysia and Vietnam.

__________________________________________________

Clock is ticking: Planet
has only TWELVE years to
avert global climate chaos,
UN warns
October 8th, at 11:59am

The world’s nations should unite in an “unprecedented”
effort --- to curb the global rise of temperatures by a
larger-than-agreed margin, a UN climate-change
panel said. This would limit the damage
caused by industrialization.

The consequences of global climate change will be less
severe for our planet, if countries across the world
managed to curb the rising of temperatures to
1.5 º C above pre-industrial levels, instead of
the 2º C benchmark targeted today, the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) said on Monday.

Reaching this objective is possible, the study noted, but
will require revolutionary changes to power generation
methods and the phasing out of fossil fuels, coal in
particular. A major transformation will also be
required to the transportation network, as
well as to human lifestyles, especially
when it comes to growing food.

The half-degree difference could stop the almost complete
eradication of corals and would ease pressure on the
Arctic, which is seeing a steady meltdown. Sea level
rises would be 10 cm lower, with a 1.5º C rise
compared to 2º C by 2100. “Every extra bit
of warming matters, especially since a
warming of 1.5ºC or higher, increases
the risk associated with long-lasting
or irreversible changes, such as the
loss of some ecosystems,” said
Hans-Otto Pörtner, Co-Chair of
IPCC Working Group II.

“Limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared with 2°C
would reduce challenging impacts on ecosystems,
human health and well-being, making it easier to
achieve the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals,” Priyardarshi
Shukla, Co-Chair of IPCC WG III
#ipcc #sr15

''Our top-level politicians should
make tackling climate change
their utmost priority,
before it's too late''
(Op-Ed by Ken Livingstone)
https://on.rt.com/9fll

The report, based on more than 6,000 scientific works,
noted that consequences such as water scarcity,
extreme weather, the spread of diseases and
food shortages will be less severe at 1.5 º C
rather than 2 ºC. If humanity passes the
1.5º C threshold, humans will need to
rely on technologies to remove
carbon from the atmosphere.

However, “the effectiveness of such techniques
is unproven at large scale and some may carry
significant risks for sustainable development,”
the report notes.

Monday’s report is a follow-up to the 2015 Paris Climate
Change Agreement, under which 195 nations pledged
to hold global temperatures “well below” 2º C above
pre-industrial levels. Whether or not the goal is still
attainable, remains questionable, after President
Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement,
claiming it was unfair to his country.

So far, the planet has witnessed a 1º C rise in temperature
compared to pre-industrial levels. National commitments
to cut emissions will not limit global warming to 1.5 º C,
the report warns, stressing that 1.5 º C warming will be
witnessed, sometime between 2030 and 2052, if the
current trends continue.

(Source - RT)

________________________________________________________

Fantastic news
from Wales –

the Planning Inspectorate has rejected plans
for an opencast coal mine at Nant Llesg
near Merthyr Tydfil.

This historic victory comes after years of tireless
campaigning by the local community campaign
United Valleys Action Group, alongside our
local group in Merthyr and the team at
Friends of the Earth Cymru.

If given the go-ahead, the mine would have seen
6 million tonnes of coal extracted over the next
14 years – causing huge harm to local residents,
wrecking our beautiful countryside, and
contributing to runaway climate change.

But yesterday’s decision is a true testament to
what we can achieve together when we put
our minds to it. Alyson Austin, from the
local group, summed it up perfectly:

"Words can't express how pleased and relieved we
are, that communities in Rhymney, Pontlottyn
and Fochriw, have been spared this
horrendous experience – they
deserve this outcome."

__________________________________________________

Ukrainian chemical factory
triggers ecological disaster
in Crimea
September 6th, at 11:41am

The work of the Crimean Titanium factory was suspended
for two weeks, because of emissions of sulfur dioxide. A
state of ecological disaster was declared, in the town
of Armyansk.

More than 4,000 children are being evacuated, schools in
the town of Armyansk, were closed for two weeks, as a
result of the accident. Emissions of harmful substances
into the atmosphere occurred, due to the negligence of
both the owner of the factory and the local authorities.

Crimean Titanium belongs to Ukrainian oligarch, Dmitry
Firtash. Accidents have occurred at the factory before
too, although they were on a smaller scale.

"The emission of chemicals into the atmosphere, led to
an increase in atmospheric air temperatures. They also
resulted in the sustainable absence of precipitation,
and a lower water level in the acid storage facility,"
Deputy Prime Minister of Crimea, Igor
Mikhailichenko, said.

This term 'acid storage facility' designates a diked part
of Sivash Lake, also known as the "Rotten Lake." The
owner of the factory continued with the dangerous
production, knowing that there was not enough
water to neutralize acid, and did not report
the emergency to the authorities.

As for the local authorities, supervisory bodies seem to
have ignored the fact that there was no water running
on the blocked North-Crimean channel to the factory.
The authorities were supposed to close the factory,
but they turned a blind eye on the problem and
preferred to let the chips fall, where they may.

Residents of Armyansk started complaining on August 23,
but the authorities set up a commission only on Aug. 28.
At first, most of the patients were diagnosed with ARVI
(acute respiratory viral infection), but they later
developed allergic conjunctivitis, allergic
pharyngitis and Quincke's edema.

Meanwhile, the head of the Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, continues
to say that people's lives are out of danger and there is no
threat to their health, although it was Aksenov, who
ordered children to be evacuated from the
affected region of the peninsula.

Crimean Titanium is the largest producer of titanium dioxide
in Eastern Europe. The company also produces red iron
oxide pigment, mineral fertilizers, sulfuric acid,
aluminum sulfate, liquid sodium glass, and
iron vitriol.

(Source - Pravda.Ru)

____________________________________________________________

China builds an
‘Ecological Civilization’
while the world burns
August 31st, 2018
by Denis Etler

Like the Soviet Union in the 1930s with its accelerated push
to industrialize, China in the 1990s and 2000s threw caution
to the winds, and industrialized at break neck speed. The
Soviets realized, that if they didn’t rapidly industrialize,
the Western capitalists, both of the liberal and fascist
variety, would direct all their fire at the first worker’s
state and try to destroy it. That Soviet drive to
industrialize had many negative consequences,
but if they hadn’t done so, the Nazi onslaught
in 1941, may well have succeeded.

Such a result would have been an unprecedented disaster for
the entire world. Instead, the Soviet Union was able to repel
and defeat German imperialism, a victory of unparalleled
importance. The industrial foundation laid down by the
Soviet Union prior to and during, WW2, allowed for a
swift recovery from the devastation visited upon
her. After the war, the Soviet Union become a
bastion of peace and socialism, serving as
a bulwark --- against the spread of US
imperialism and a steadfast ally of
newly emerging nations fighting
for liberation from European
colonialism.

With the demise of the USSR and the collapse of the Soviet
bloc - in the late 1980s and 90s - China found itself in the
cross-hairs of US imperialism. While disputes with the
USSR had protected the PRC from attempts by the US
to destabilize and sabotage her, once the Soviet
Union was no more, China became the next
target. The Chinese leadership realized it
had to quickly industrialize, under the
new conditions of US global
hegemony.

Like the Soviets before them, China threw caution to the
winds --- and put all her efforts into a vast program of
industrialization, come hell or high water. As a result,
China experienced severe environmental damage.

The Chinese people saw their country surge ahead
to become an industrial power, the factory to the
world, and they put up with environmental
degradation and pollution.

But, many soon realized that the path taken, while
expedient, was unsustainable. With the advent of
XJP, corrective measures were taken, which are
turning things around, and setting China on a
course of sustainable development, towards
an ecological civilization. John Bachtell,
national chair of the Communist Party
USA, has written an incisive essay,
that recounts the history of China’s
industrialization, its trials and
travails, and its new march
- towards sustainability.

In remarks to the CPC leadership in 2013, President Xi Jinping
said, “We will never again seek economic growth, at the cost
of the environment.”

More recently, Xi stressed “To protect the ecological environment
is to protect [the] productive forces. To improve the ecological
environment is to develop the productive forces. A good
ecological environment is the most just public product,
one that most fully promotes the well-being of all
the people.”

China has committed to a sustainable path and building an
“ecological civilization” as a national strategy, since the
17th CPC Congress, in 2007. The goal is, to form “an
energy and resource efficient, environmentally
friendly structure of industries, pattern of
growth, and mode of consumption.”

The concept of “ecological civilization construction” was
added to the CPC constitution, during the 18th CPC
Congress, in 2012. It was placed on a par with
“economic, political, cultural and
social progress.”

The adoption of several reforms, in 2015, to accelerate
the process, addresses many of the country’s major
environmental issues. “The proposals cover
the protection of natural resource rights; the
establishment of a national parks system;
better, stricter systems for the protection
of arable land, and water resources
management; the establishment of
a green financing system; and the
improvement of environmental
compensation mechanisms.”

Only an eco-socialist oriented society can move with such
unity, purpose and speed, toward sustainability. It helps,
that government and CPC leaders are deeply committed
to building the ecological civilization and driving the
process, including President Xi and Premier
Li Keqiang.

Consequently, the CPC initiated a “war on pollution” just like
its “war on poverty”, which will be eliminated entirely, in the
next 3-5 years. With an overall economic slowdown, the
priority has moved from quantity to quality: in
production, environmental protection, and
becoming a global leader in the fight
against the climate crisis.

A law passed in 2014 to reduce CO2 emissions from coal
power plants, has resulted in a 14 percent reduction, as
of June 2018.

New measures adopted in May 2018 will result in the
“comprehensive recycling” of hard waste materials.

China is one of a few countries to pass laws and
develop a strategy to create a circular economy
(reuse, recycling and remanufacturing).

The ministry of Ecology & the Environment has identified
9 million sources of pollution, 7.4 million of them, being
from industrial sources.

China is doubling the previous target for solar power
production, by 2020, and is the largest producer of
solar panels, in the world.

________________________________________________________

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Email

Campaigners accuse government
of silencing opposition to fracking
Friday, August 16th, 2018.
by Will Stone

Environmental campaigners accused the government today
of silencing public opposition to fracking by removing
questions about the unpopular practice from its
quarterly opinion poll.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
has announced that it will be reducing the frequency with
which it surveys public opinion on fracking,
to once a year.

Its decision to omit fracking questions from the quarterly poll
was revealed in the department's latest public attitude
tracker on energy.

However, Green Party MEP Keith Taylor accused
the department of trying to silence criticism.

He said: “Ministers have been asking the public whether
they support fracking on a quarterly basis, for over
four years.

“But, despite a huge PR push, opposition has always
outstripped support, which has never exceeded 30%
and long languished below 20%.

“How have the Conservatives responded to such a
consistent rejection of the climate-destructive
industry?

“By stopping asking what we think so often, and
giving fracking the green light, in the meantime.”

The government said that, following analysis of data,
it found “there is little change over the years” in
public opinion on certain questions, including
fracking, from one season to another.

Other topics removed from its quarterly poll include
trust in energy suppliers, knowledge of radioactive
waste and support or opposition to nuclear energy.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Tony Bosworth said:

“The government’s very own survey, consistently
showed climbing support for renewable energy,
while support for fracking was really low.

“Perhaps, having recently tried to change planning rules
so that fracking companies could drill more easily,
they were just scared of a record bad survey
result for them this time, so have stopped
even asking, any more.”

Greenpeace UK energy campaigner Nina Schrank added:

“The government needs to catch up with the electorate,
who can already see that our future is renewable.”

Fracking company Ineos, was granted permission by
the government's planning inspectorate, yesterday,
to launch the first shale gas exploration scheme
in Derbyshire.

(Source - Morning Star)

_______________________________________________________

Global Tree Cover Has Increased
7 Percent Since 1982,Says Study
August 10th, 2018

Prensa Latina - A team of US researchers has found that
new global tree growth over the past 35 years, has more
than offset global tree cover losses.

In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group
describes using satellite data to track forest growth
and losses over the past 35 years and what they
found by doing so.

There has been a growing consensus in recent years
that because humans cut down so many trees (most
particularly in the rainforests) that global tree cover
is shrinking. In this new effort, the researchers have
found that not to be the case. They contend that
global tree cover, is actually increasing.

The researchers report that most of the new tree cover
occurred in places that had previously been barren,
such as in deserts, tundra areas, on mountains,
in cities and in other non-vegetated land.

They further report that much of the new growth came
about due to efforts by humans (such as reforestation
efforts in China, and parts of Africa) and because of
global warming, warmer temperatures have raised
timberlines in some mountainous regions, and
allowed forests to creep into tundra areas.

Other areas of new tree growth resulted from large farm
abandonments in places like Russia and the U.S. The
researchers report that their calculations showed
that human activities have directly caused
approximately 60 percent of new global
tree growth.

They suggest their technique for monitoring tree cover
could be used to predict tree cover changes in the
future, due to global warming.

___________________________________________________

The bloody slaughter
goes on and on
by Peter Frost
Friday, August 3rd, 2018

A sad PETER FROST discovers that despite
a little good news, the slaughter of whales
still continues.

It seems incredible, and very sad, that every year
we have to return to the subject of the bloody
slaughter of whales and other sea mammals.

Japan, Iceland, and Norway still think it is OK to
ignore worldwide public opinion, and even the
increasing anti-whaling views of their own
populations.

One bit of recent news cheered me up a little.
Holiday giant Thomas Cook has announced
it will stop selling trips to aquariums and
animal parks that keep killer whales,
orcas, in captivity.

The tourism giant said it had made the decision
because more than 90 per cent of its customers
were concerned about animal welfare, hence
they will no longer sell tickets to SeaWorld
in Florida and Loro Parque in Tenerife.

“When so many of our customers are so clear in
their view, I could not allow our business to
ignore them,” Peter Fankhauser CEO of
Thomas Cook said.

Less good news has just arrived with the return of
the Icelandic whaling fleet after killing a very rare,
threatened - and supposedly legally protected -
blue whale.

The Icelanders rushed to find DNA evidence
that it was only a blue whale hybrid.

After viewing the photographic evidence of the dead
whale being winched aboard the ship, most experts
agreed --- the corpse had all the features of the
largest animal that has ever existed on Earth.
Mottled blue skin, black baleen, tiny hooked
dorsal fin — a blue whale.

The Icelandic fleet had resumed its whale hunt in June,
after a three-year break -- caused by the Tokyo
government being unhappy with the standard
of the meat Iceland was seeking to sell
to Japan.

Others suggested that the real reason was that
the demand for whale meat in Japan, was
falling dramatically.

This year Iceland set itself a target of 191 fin whales
and early reports suggest it has met this target.
Most meat will be heading for the sushi bars of
Japan, the Icelanders hope, but the
international freight shipping
market - and many ports -
refuse to have anything
to do with this bloody
trade.

A recent poll by Iceland itself, shows that, even in Iceland,
support for whaling continues to drop. Only 34 per cent
of Icelanders now support continued commercial
whaling, while another 34 per cent of Icelanders
say they are opposed to whaling - 31 per cent
say they are neutral.

As recently as five years ago a solid majority of Icelanders
supported whaling. A 2013 poll found that 60 per cent of
Icelanders supported it, while only 18% opposed it.

Another whaling nation, Norway, hasn’t just continued
whaling, but has angered environmentalists, by
provocatively announcing a 28 per cent
increase of its annual whaling quota
to 1,278 whales.

This, despite the fact that, in recent years, Norway’s
whalers have failed to catch the quotas set by Oslo
- and the number of whaling ships has plummeted.

The Norwegian government hopes that, by raising the
quota, more whalers will join the fleet — there were
just 11 Norwegian whaling ships in 2017 and that
was just half of the previous year’s number.

Norway, says it only hunts the minke whale,
which it kills, using explosive harpoons.

In both Norway and Iceland few people actually eat
whale any longer. In Iceland most is consumed by
tourists curious to sample the exotic, if
contentious, novelty.

Most of the Icelandic whale meat is sold to Japan
but over the last few years the Icelandic whalers
have had great difficulty finding ships or transit
ports prepared to handle the bloody cargo.

Which brings us to Japan itself. When three Japanese
whaling vessels returned to port from a controversial
trip to Antarctica earlier this year they had caught
333 minke whales. Tokyo claims the slaughter is
for scientific purposes.

Japan is a signatory to the International Whaling
Commission moratorium on whale hunting, but
makes use of a loophole, that allows the
mammals to be killed for scientific
research.

Commercial hunting of whales was banned in 1986, but
Japan would like to see it permitted once more. Tokyo
makes no secret of the fact that slaughtered whales
often end up being eaten.

After tiny samples go to the laboratory, the rest ends up on
Japan’s dining tables, or feeding Japan’s many lap dogs.

Tokyo’s insistence on continuing with whale hunts, draws
regular protests worldwide and Japanese ships have
clashed at sea, in the past, with animal rights
campaigners. This season there appear to
have been no such protests at sea.

The most recent hunt killed 120 pregnant female whales
among the 333 total. The International Whaling
Commission said that, apart from the pregnant
whales, another 114 were immature.

The Japanese proudly displayed pictures of the
slaughtered pregnant whales, each slit open
to reveal a fully developed foetus.

In 2014, the International Court of Justice ruled that
the annual whale slaughter programme was for
commercial purposes, which is illegal.

The Japanese government scrapped the illegal
whaling programme and began a new one in
2015, described as having a scientific
purpose, but, again, it is clearly just a
cover, to continue whaling for profit.

Even in Japan, eating whale becomes less and less
popular. Much of the whale harvest ends up in
expensive treats for pet dogs. Still, Japan’s
legendary pride won’t let it fall in to line
with the rest of the world and ban the
slaughter of whales forever.

Only a continued political campaign, against Iceland,
Norway and, most of all, Japan, will end this murder
forever. Are you playing your part, in saving
the whale?

(Source - Morning Star)

___________________________________________________

Pope Francis tells top oil executives
world ‘must convert to clean fuel’
May 9th, at 9:56am

Pope Francis, addressing top oil company executives,
has said that the world must convert to clean fuel,
Reuters reports.

“Civilization requires energy but energy use must not
destroy civilization,” he told the group at the end of
a two-day conference in the Vatican on Saturday.

He also noted that climate change was a challenge of
“epochal proportions,” saying that the world needs to
come up with an energy mix that combats pollution,
eliminates poverty, and promotes social justice.

The pope wrote a major document on protecting
the environment from global warming, in 2015.

(Source - RT)

___________________________________________________

What’s killing the world’s bees?
New study claims a
surprising culprit
December 30th, 2017

Scientists have found what they believe to be the
strongest factor leading to the worryingly steep
decline of bumblebees… fungicides.

The discovery has now been added to the growing list
of threats that could potentially lead to the extinction
of the essential pollinators. The revelation that
common fungicides are having the strongest
impact on the insects came as a surprise,
as they typically affect mold and mildew,
but appear to be killing bees, by making
them more susceptible to the nosema
parasite, or by exacerbating the
toxicity of other pesticides.

The discovery was made during a landscape-scale study,
published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society
B, which used machine learning technology to analyze
24 different factors and how they impacted four
bumblebee species.

The study collected ‘subjects’ from 284 sites across 40
US states and tested them against various factors like
latitude, elevation, habitat type and damage, human
population and pesticide use.

For context, about 75 percent of the world’s crops are
fertilized by pollinators. The widespread decline of
bees has been attributed to a number of factors
including pesticides, destruction of habitats,
disease and climate change, but until now
it was unclear which was the most
decisive factor.

The unexpected culprit behind bee decline means
“people have not been looking in all the places
they probably should,” according to lead author
of the study, Cornell University’s Scott McArt.

“We threw everything but the kitchen sink at this analysis
and the ‘winner’ was fungicides,” McArt said to UMass.
“It turns out that fungicide use is the best predictor of
bumblebees getting sick and being lost from sites
across the U.S.”

“I was definitely surprised,” said McArt, to The Guardian,
as “fungicides have been largely overlooked,” until now.

Going forward, McArt says researchers will have to carry
out “much more work on fungicides and their role in bee
declines”, if humanity is to make any progress
in regenerating the dying species.

Common systemic pesticide sprays are used worldwide
to manage landscapes, and are often found in nectar
and pollen. Another recent study, published in the
same journal, found chemicals are causing severe
nutritional stress on honey bees, affecting their
survival rates by a whopping fifty percent.

The Canadian government recently failed to protect bees
after rejecting a plea by environmentalists to completely
ban the use of insecticides, instead opting to continue
their use of neonicotinoids, promising to consider
limiting the use of pesticides by March 2018.

(Sources - Stephane Mahe / Reuters / RT)

______________________________________

Menominee Tribe in US
Fights to Defend Sacred Site
From Mining by Canada Company
October 20th at 6:31pm

Sputnik - The plans of Canada’s exploration company to mine
gold, zinc, copper and other minerals in the US Midwest region
threatens sacred sites of the Menominee Indian Tribe and the
Great Lakes’ ecosystem, tribe Chair Gary Besaw told Sputnik.

Besaw came to the Annual Convention of the National Congress
of American Indians (NCAI) in Wisconsin to attract the public’s
attention to the issue of the US federal government breaking
its obligations and promises to the tribe.

"The Canadian company [Aquila Resources Inc.’s] is looking at
developing a mine on the interstate boundary river between the
states of Wisconsin and upper Michigan. They are looking at
doing it on the upper Michigan side of the river," Besaw said.
"The footprint of that mine is on ancestral Menominee burial
sites, mounds, raised garden beds. There is a whole village
seen there, and this proposed mine would destroy them.
This area is up near our tribal nation's creation story."

Besaw explained that at one time that area was the Menominee
Indian Tribe’s ancestral territory, and the Menominee people had
moved away when they had ceded that territory, through treaty,
to the US government. So, while the natives are not there now,
their ancestral remains and the mounds are there and have
been there.

"We are trying to protect not only those cultural sites but also
protect the Menominee River ecosystem and the whole Great
lakes system," he said. "After they take all of the material out,
all of the gold, silver, copper everything they want out of there
of value, what remains is almost like talcum powder, pulverized
residual that they put in big slurry ponds. When this sulfide
mixes & is exposed to air and water it creates sulfuric acid."

"The sulfuric acid over time gets into the groundwater and that
sulfuric acid dissolves other toxins and they find their way,
being only 50 yards from Menominee River, into the
Menominee River that then drains into the Great
Lakes," the tribal leader added. "We have a
responsibility through our creation story
for protecting that area, as well as these
waters, as Menominee people."

Besaw noted that the proposed Back Forty Mine
project is an open pit metallic sulfide mine.

"It's on a 580-acre parcel with the actual hole being probably
750 feet, what we consider when we try to get a visual 2.5
Statue of Liberties deep," he added. "We do a lot of football
here, and a football field is about 100 yards, so we say it's
about five by seven football fields across. It's that big and
it's only 150 feet or 50 yards from the Menominee River."

In order for the company to go ahead with the project, it requires
four permits, and it has already received three, including the
Mining permit, the Air Use Permit, and the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. It only needs
to get the final wetlands permit.

"The wetlands permit, they've put in all of their materials and the
Michigan Department of Environmental quality is now reviewing
to see if it's administratively complete meaning that it has all
the components necessary for it to be called a complete
application," Besaw said. "After that, it will be going
for review and public comment but that part has
not started yet, until we know that it's
administratively complete."

Besaw went on to explain that the tribe is concerned that the
federal government made an agreement with the state of
Michigan to allow them authority over what's called the
Clean Water Act dredge and fill permits.

The chair stressed that they believe that some of their
treaty and Trust obligations "somehow have been
diminished or somehow put in limbo."

"The state is saying we do not have to follow those protections
because we never signed a treaty with you, Michigan never
signed a treaty with you, the federal government did. And
when we talk about the federal government they say
since we delegated the dredge and fill authority to
the state, now it's a state action," he explained.

"I can assure you, Menominee will fight to defend what we
believe is our rights and what really should happen," he
stressed.

Besaw also noted that this is not the only instance
when the treaty obligations get diminished.

"As the healthcare plan changes and they look at delegating
more power to the states, the same issue applies, there are
treaty obligations," he said. "The federal government has
made and promised for this land we’re standing on to the
tribes and our concern is they will diminish much of those
treaty obligations again, when the states now have the
authority to make determinations on funding for health-
care needs, so that might be a version of the same issue
of that I am speaking of, regarding the back forty mine."

The chair also pointed out that while Menominee is
land rich and resource-rich, it has high poverty
rates and high unemployment.

The US federal government recognizes 567 Indian nations
in 33 states, including 229 in Alaska. Native American
tribes are further recognized by their respective state
governments, according to the NCAI.

Established in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians
is the oldest and largest non-profit organization representing
US native tribes and the interests of tribal governments
and communities.

READ MORE: Native American Tribes Set to
Continue Fight Against Keystone XL Pipeline

___________________________________________________________

Neonicotinoid pesticides found in
75% of honey worldwide: study
October 7th, 2017

Xinhua - About three-quarters of the world's honey is
contaminated with neonicotinoids, currently the most
widely used class of insecticides worldwide, a new
study has found.

However, researchers of the study, published in Friday's
issue of the U.S. journal Science, were quick to point out
that the concentrations detected are below the amount
authorized for human consumption.

Widespread application of neonicotinoids has been identified
as a key factor responsible for a global decline in pollinators,
particularly bees.

Edward Mitchell of the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland
and colleagues tested 198 honey samples from all continents
except Antarctica, as well as numerous isolated islands.

They measured the concentrations of five commonly used
neonicotinoids: acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid,
thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam.

"Overall, 75% of all honey samples contained quantifiable
amounts of at least one neonicotinoid," the study wrote.

Of these contaminated samples, 30% contained a single
neonicotinoid, 45% contained two or more, and 10%
contained four or five, it found.

In addition, multiple contaminations were most frequent in
North America, Asia, and Europe --- and least frequent in
South America and Oceania.

"Our results confirm the exposure of bees to neonicotinoids
in their food throughout the world," it said.

Chris Connolly, reader in neurobiology at the University of
Dundee, who wrote a perspectives article published
alongside the research in Science, described the
findings as "alarming."

Connolly noted the levels of these chemicals detected in
honey "are unlikely to be a hazard to human health" and
"also not likely to be lethal to bees."

"However, the levels detected are sufficient to affect bee
brain function and may hinder their ability to forage on,
and pollinate, our crops and our native plants," he said.

"Clearly, the use of neonicotinoids needs to be controlled."

____________________________________________________________

     Global Competition to
Fight Marine Plastic
August 4th

Some 8 million tonnes of plastic end up each year
in the oceans, increasing pollution and economic
damage, this is the starting point of the global
competition opened today urging university
students to submit solutions.

According to the United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP), young people with their innovative ideas
could help mitigate the damage.

UNEP, Think Beyond Plastic & Marine Plastics Innovation
Challenge are promoting the competition, the winners of
which will attend the Sixth International Marine Debris
Conference in San Diego, California, in 2018, and gain
free mentorship to help them develop their ideas.

The deadline for entries is 6 October 2017 and to
participate, students need to be enrolled in a
graduate or postgraduate program as of
June 2017.

They must also be supported by a faculty member,
& submit an entry in one or more of the categories:
engineering and design, communication,
the economy, prediction and recovery.

In the field of engineering and design they must submit
innovations in materials, manufacturing processes,
packaging design and related fields that result in
a measurable reduction in marine plastic.

In the communication field they must submit multimedia
products, mobile apps, and innovative storytelling that
raise awareness and inspire public action against
marine plastics.

In economics they must include innovative methodologies
to assess the economic impact of plastic pollution and/or
develop new financial and business models to address
market failures.

In the prediction and recovery fields they have to include
the development of analytic tools (algorithms, models,
hotspot identification) to better capture and monitor
data about plastic pollution and propose solutions.

One winner in each category will be announced at the
Sixth International Marine Debris Conference in San
Diego, California, which will run from March 12th to
March 16th, 2018.

(Source - Prensa Latina)

_____________________________________________

Humans Have Produced 8,3 Billion
Metric Tonnes of Plastic Since 1950
July 20th 2017

Humans have produced 8,3 billion metric tonnes
of plastic by 2015, most of which now resides
in landfills or the sea, according to research
published in Science Advances magazine.

The research analyzed the historical production of
this synthetic material worldwide, its use and
destination since 1950 (when it began to be
conducted on a large scale) up until two
years ago.

The researchers estimated that the weight of all
global plastic is about 822,000 times as heavy
as Eiffel Towers (Paris, France), 35,000 Empire
State buildings (New York, United States),
1 billion elephants, or 80 million
blue whales.

Out of the eight billion tons of plastic, about half
has been made in the past 13 years & six billion
finished up as waste.

Out of the waste, only nine percent was recycled,
12 percent incinerated and the remaining 79 %
accumulated in landfills or in ecosystems
around the world.

For specialists, if these current trends continue,
roughly 12 billion metric tonnes of plastic waste
will be in landfills - or what the study describes
as the ''natural environment''. by 2050.

Global production of plastics, mostly used for
disposable articles, increased from two million
metric tonnes in 1950 to more than 400 million
metric tonnes in 2015, the research, published
today, informs us.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!!

(Source - Prensa Latina)

_____________________________________________

$340mn gold seam discovered on
‘sacred’ NZ mountain, activists
form human chain to stop mining
July 19th

A newly-discovered seam of gold on New Zealand’s
North Island has sparked a bitter stand-off between
a mining company and environmental activists.
Locals are concerned about the impact the
mining will have on their “sacred” mountain.

New Talisman Gold Mines announced that it had
discovered the 8,500kg (18,739 lbs) seam at its
Dubbo site in the Karangahake Gorge between
the Coromandel and Kaimai mountain ranges
earlier this month – and after examining
samples from the site, chief executive
Matthew Hill is expecting a major windfall.

"The grades that have come out show 21 grams a
tonne which is in today's terms one of the top 5
or certainly one of the top ten in the world," he
said, according to Radio NZ. The seam is
roughly valued at $340mn at time of writing.

However, fearing the scenic gorge will be ruined by
the firm’s activities, the conservation group Protect
Karangahake is now taking steps to fight back
against New Talisman’s bid to mine to the area.

The miner’s trucks and walkers are forced to share
one narrow access road to the popular tourist
spot, a fact that has angered some locals.

Ruby Jane Powell, a member of Protect Karangahake
told the Guardian: “It is a really popular recreation
area. In general, our culture and economy is inter-
linked with the eco-tourism and outdoor aspect of
life in the Coromandel, and mining threatens that.”

Protect Karangahake shut down operations for an hour
and a half by forming a human chain on the road to the
mine on Monday. The group is now preparing a further
series of measures, to disrupt the mining operation
going forward.

“It was a very peaceful process, we watched dawn on
the mountain, we sang songs," Duncan Shearer,
chairman of Protect Karangahake, told Stuff.

"We are there as witnesses to what is going on,” Shearer
added. “We're not some sort of silent presence, we're
in their faces as much as possible."

Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty told The Guardian
that the New Zealand government was “hell bent” on
allowing mining companies access to such areas,
regardless of how locals feel.

“This is public land which has been set aside to protect
its ecological values and for recreation. It is a sacred
mountain to the indigenous people of the area and
local residents are actively & peacefully opposing
the initial development of the mining activity on
the mountain,” she said.

Hill, however, believes the environmental
impacts of the mining, will be small.

"The footprint above surface where disturbances occur
is very small – less than 0.4 hectares [2.5 acres]. It has
been closed off since 1995, and was only opened for
12 months,” Hill said, as cited by Radio NZ.

"Most, if not 95 percent of our disturbances occur deep
underground & will not be noticed at the surface level.”

(Source - RT)

______________________________________________

Convention on Environment
in Cuba, Ratifies Actions
July 8th

The 11th International Convention on Environment and
Development has reaffirmed Cuba''s actions in favor of
the environment to deal with climate change and other
pressing problems, Granma newspaper reported.

According to the daily, the president of the Environmental
Agency, Maritza Garcia, said after conclusion of the event
that the five-day meeting reaffirmed the achievement of a
better and rational use of our natural resources and the
importance of using integrated scientific results.

The meeting also emphasized the need to strengthen the
environmental policy and law, and citizens' awareness,
said Garcia, who is also president of the organizing
committee for the Convention.

According to Garcia, it is urgent to undertake transcendental
changes today, more than ever, and the only alternative is to
build fairer societies, putting the progress of science and
technology at the service of the defense of the planet
and human dignity.

The meeting, which ended yesterday at Havana's Conference
Centre, under the motto: United & integrated for prosperous
and sustainable development, brought together 1,289
participants from 31 countries, the newspaper said.

The program included six congresses, three symposiums and
two colloquiums, as well as a tribute to the renowned Cuban
researcher, Gilberto Silva Taboada, on the occasion of his
90th birthday, in November.

(Source - Prensa Latina)

_______________________________________________

New World Record: Indian State
Plants Nearly 66 Million Trees
in One Day
July 4th

The Indian State of Madhya Pradesh set a new
Guinness world record for reforestation, by
planting 67 million trees, in 12 hours.

More than 1.5 million government officials, students,
homemakers and others planted a total of 66,750,000
tree saplings in the central Indian state in a plantation
area encompassing 24 districts of Narmada river basin.

The previous record was set in July 2016 by another
Indian state, Uttar Pradesh, when 800,000 volunteers
planted nearly fifty million trees, in just 24 hours...

Different nurseries from around Madhya Pradesh,
supplied 24 varieties of plants for the new record.

"I am greatly indebted to all who are planting trees today,"
State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who took
part in the planting, said. "We will be contributing
significantly in saving nature. By participating in
a plantation, people are contributing their bit
to climate change initiatives and saving the
environment," India.com reported.

"I am overwhelmed to witness the enthusiasm of
volunteers planting trees at Amarkantak," he
later wrote on Twitter.

Chouhad also posted to the social media platform
saying, "By planting trees we are not only serving
Madhya Pradesh, but the world at large," Indian
Express reports.

The massive planting effort is part of a $6.2-billion
government initiative aimed at making India more
green, as New Delhi made a pledge at the Paris
Climate Change Conference to increase forest
coverage by 235 million acres, by 2030.

Similar reforestation efforts are underway in other
Indian states --- to help drive public awareness.
Maharashtra’s campaign seeks to plant forty
million trees this year, while Kerala planted
more than 10 million trees, in June alone.

______________________________________________

Monsanto hit: California to add
glyphosate to its cancer-
causing chemicals list
June 27th, 2017

The state of California has moved ahead in its ongoing
legal battle with agribusiness giant Monsanto,
announcing it is putting glyphosate, a key
ingredient of the firm’s popular weed
killer Roundup, on a list of cancer-
causing chemicals
.
The notice on the herbicide’s inclusion onto the list of
chemicals "known to the state to cause cancer for
purposes of Proposition 65 [Safe Drinking Water
and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986]" was
published by California’s Office of
Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment (OEHHA) after
a failure by Monsanto to
block the listing in a
trial court.

The inclusion into the list, to be enforced starting from July 7,
will mean Monsanto and other companies selling products
in which the herbicide is one of the components, will have
one year before they are obliged to put a warning label
on the packages.

The company argues that the chemical, which has been on
the market since 1974, does not provoke cancer and its
labelling as a carcinogen would be a blow to its
already tainted image.

Commenting on California's regulator decision, Monsanto's
vice president of global strategy, Scott Partridge has vowed
to “continue to aggressively challenge” what he called an
“improper decision” by the OEHHA.

"This is not the final step in the process, and it has no bearing
on the merits of the case,” Partridge commented to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Monsanto’s opponents welcomed the decision,
saying it makes the state "the national leader in protecting
people from cancer-causing pesticides," Reuters reported,
citing a senior scientist at the Centre for Biological
Diversity, Nathan Donley.

In adding glyphosate to the carcinogen list, California acts in
line with the World Health Organization's International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC). The respective IARC report on
the issue of glyphosate’s properties, in which it was dubbed
“a probable carcinogen” came out in 2015, having sparked
fierce debates on whether and to what extent, to restrict
the use of Monsanto's product.

Although some European countries opposed the renewal of
the license for the weed-killer at the time, it was extended
for another 18 months, last July.

Meanwhile, California health authorities are still looking into
the effects of glyphosate on human health, studying some
1,300 public comments submitted to OEHHA on the issue.

"We're reviewing those comments," OEHHA spokesman, Sam
Delson said, as cited by AP, adding that whether the chemical
poses a substantial danger to a person’s health, remains to
be seen.

"We can't say for sure," he said.

In recent years, Monsanto and some of its products have
become a target of widespread criticism, with thousands
of environmental activists around the globe marching
against the corporation, every year.

Earlier this month, more than 1 million people signed an online
petition demanding the EU ban glyphosate. The EU is currently
mulling whether to renew the license for the controversial
herbicide produced by Monsanto, and is set to formally
decide on the matter, in December.

(Source - RT)

______________________________________________

China Exclusive: Qinghai
runs 7 days straight - on
renewable energy alone
June 19th 2017

Xinhua - Northwest China's Qinghai Province has started
a seven-day program to run solely on renewable energy.

From June 17 to 23, Qinghai will use renewable energy alone,
supplied by wind, solar & hydro power stations, according
to Han Ti, vice manager of the provincial grid company.
The province is home to 5.8 million people.

Han said the grid would not completely shut down coal-fired
power plants in the province, because it would be too costly
to do so. Rather, coal-fired electricity would be transmitted
to neighbouring provinces.

During the seven-day period, electricity consumption in the
plateau province, bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region,
will be fully covered by clean energy, he said.

Located at the source of China's major rivers,
Qinghai has strong hydro-power and
solar supplies.

By May this year, the Qinghai power grid had a total
installed capacity of 23.45 million kilowatts, about
82.8% supplied by hydro, solar and wind power.

"This is the first time in China that a province runs solely on
renewable energy for a long period of time. We believe it
will raise awareness on cutting emissions, and promote
the development of clean energy nationwide," Han said.

According to the provincial 13th Five-Year Plan, Qinghai plans
to expand its solar and wind capacity to 35 million kilowatts
by 2020.

By then, Qinghai will be able to supply 110 billion kilowatt hours
of clean electricity every year to central & eastern parts of China.

China's enthusiasm for clean energy is pushing
the global transition toward a low-carbon future.

China plans to invest 2.5 trillion yuan (368 billion U.S. dollars)
in renewable energy projects during the 2016-2020 period,
creating over 13 million jobs in the sector, according
to the National Energy Administration.

_________________________________________________

UN Calls for Combating
Desertification and Drought
on World Day
June 17th at 11:43am

On World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the UN
urges the international community to prioritize attention to
phenomena that have a serious impact on humanity.

In December 1994, the General Assembly chose this date to raise
awareness of land damage and to promote the implementation
of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,
a body that has 195 member countries.

This year's date tackles the link of land degradation to immigration
flows, and is held in Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso.

According to the UN, desertification is land degradation in arid,
semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, caused mainly by human
activity and climate change.

The UN said that the phenomenon is caused by the vulnerability
of ecosystems in dry lands, which cover one-third of the world's
surface, and also by overharvesting or the wrong use of lands,
while poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing
and poor irrigation systems, damage the soil's productivity.

Some 250 million people are directly damaged by desertification,
while nearly one billion people, which represents 15 percent of
the world's population, live in risk areas, in over 100 countries.

(Source - Prensa Latina)

_______________________________________________

Pope Francis: Environment
is a Collective Good
June 5th at 11:45am

Pope Francisco called today in a message through his Twitter
account, to never forget that the environment is a collective
good, the patrimony of all humanity and the responsibility
of everyone.

The Sovereign Pontiff referred to World Environment Day,
which is celebrated today throughout the world, as a way
of sensitizing people to the need to live in harmony with
nature, to ensure sustainable development and the
future of humanity.

'Connecting people to nature' is the motto chosen by the
United Nations for this year's day, with a view to a more
friendly and constructive relationship between
humans and the environment.

The purpose is to encourage us to 'go outside and go into
nature to appreciate its beauty and reflect on how we are
an integral part and how much we depend on it,' the
world body highlights.

Francis is a passionate defender of the environment, one of
the most important themes of the preaching of his pontificate
to which he dedicated the encyclical 'Laudato si' ('Praise be
to you'), a phrase of the 'Canticle of the Creatures' of St.
Francis of Assisi, considered as the first ecologist to
manifest in history.

(Source - Prensa Latina)

_____________________________________

Indonesian Borneo is finished:
Pollution now at epic proportions
by Andre Vltchek
May 28th, 2017

How destructive can man get, how ruthless, in
his quest to secure maximum profit, even as
he endangers the very survival of our planet?

The tropical forests of Kalimantan (known as Borneo
in Malaysia), the third largest island in the world,
have almost totally disappeared. Coalmines are
savagely scarring the hills; the rivers are
polluted, and countless species are
endangered or extinct.

It is all a terrible sight, whether you see it from the air
or when driving (or walking) through the devastation
that is taking place on the ground. The soil is black;
it is often saturated with chemicals. Dead stubs of
trees are accusatively pointing towards the sky.
Many wonderful creatures, big and small, who
used to proudly inhabit this tropical paradise,
are now hiding in the depth of what remains
of one of the largest tropical jungles on earth.

Engines are constantly roaring everywhere; massive
equipment is continually cutting through something
pure, or digging and finally transporting what has
already been extracted, killed, or taken down
mercilessly.

Ms. Mira Lubis, Senior Lecturer at Tanjungpura
University, Pontianak in Western Kalimantan,
summarizes the situation honestly but brutally:

“I think we, the people of Borneo, have lost our
sovereignty over our own space & resources,
under the pressure of global capitalism...
Apparently, we just became poor ---
despite all the wealth that we have.”

One morning I looked from my hotel window in the city
of Samarinda (East Kalimantan), spotting an enormous
coal barge. It was sitting right in front of me, stubbornly,
under the bridge (one of only two bridges connecting
two shores of this steamy city of 850,000). The barge
was too big to move, as the current appeared to be
too strong. One push boat and one tugboat were
trying to move it against the torrent, in vain.

I went downstairs and encountered a frustrated
Mr. Jailani, a shipping manager employed by a
coal company.

“They were supposed to use a pilot boat, but there is
none in sight,” he lamented. “This happens so often.
Coal barges have already hit this bridge on at least
three occasions.”

Coalmines were exactly what I was looking for, but he
dismissed my questions with a polite but firm answer:

“You can never make it to the mines. They are off-limits.
Guards are everywhere, and you’d have to have special
permit to enter the area. And there is not much to see,
anyway. Our company was recently awarded a prize
for environmental consciousness.”

I went to Sambutan, a mining town a 40-minute drive
from Samarinda. At some point, continuous and
depressing urban sprawl gave way to a fully
devastated landscape. Some images were
striking: a man, alone, with a metal bar,
singlehandedly crumbling the entire
side of a mountain, supposedly in
order to sell stone for a local
construction site.

Nearby, in a makeshift stall, a couple and a child were
selling fruit. I asked them about the mountain and the
man: they replied with a certain amount of admiration:

“We are selling coconuts here for almost two years. For
as long as we are here, he has been here as well. He is
a real daredevil. What he is doing is so dangerous,
but he never stumbles, never falls.”

Before Makroman town, we turn left, soon leaving the main
road behind. Wherever one looks, the entire landscape is
ruined: mountains mutilated beyond recognition, forests
gone, and huge tracts of land “cleared.”

Despite what I already witnessed in all corners of Indonesia
for years, I’m still not prepared for what soon opens in front
of my eyes:- the endless and horrifying sprawl of natural
calamity: dozens of sq kilometers of dust, noise and mud.

I try to avoid 100-ton trucks which almost run my car off
the path. They're transporting coal. I see filthy processing
plants. I see old, rusty equipment scattered all around
the area.

Suddenly I realize that I’m “there,” in the middle of the
notorious ‘PT CEM’ (Cahaya Energi Mandiri), a giant
Indonesian-South Korean coalmining joint venture.

I’m not supposed to be here, and to see all this with my own
eyes. But I’m entering the mining area with a car equipped
with local license plates. It is right before 1pm – the end of
lunch hour. Checkpoints are unattended. I step on the gas,
and dash in. Guards will soon return, but it will be too late
to stop me. My rented car is already cutting through dirt
and dust, progressing towards its goal.

PT CEM has operated in this area since 2008, and it counts
on mining concessions covering approximately 1,600
hectares, in the area of Sungai Siring, Samarinda.

In Indonesia, the images of natural disasters like this one
are hardly ever publicized. Mining in Papua, Kalimantan,
Sumatra, and elsewhere brings in billions of dollars
annually, into both government coffers and into
the deep pockets of corrupt individuals. This
country, with the fourth-largest population
on earth, is producing very little, but is
extracting in an unbridled manner all
that is still available above and
below the ground.

National mass media is fully subservient to
both local and foreign business interests.

The native population is stuck with low-paying jobs &
almost no benefits. The environment is “changing,”
pollution is reaching epic proportions, but there is
very little awareness, even among the poorest of
the poor, of the dreadfulness of the situation.

On the way out from the mining site, three men (sub-
contractors of PT CEM) are trying to fix their broken
truck. “The pay here is very low. Our basic salary
consists of US$115 per month, which is below the
official minimum wage. We have no health
insurance, and no housing allowances.”

In nearby Makroman, Ms. Suwarti, a housewife
married to a farmer, explains:

“We have two lots, each with 200 square metres,
producing bananas and other crops --- but the
mining company wanted to use it. They offered
compensation of only US$110. If we’d refused,
the company would still grab and use the land,
but would give us no compensation. After all
the coal was extracted from our plot, they
filled the pit --- but now nothing can grow
there, anymore. The land is ruined. We
were very angry, but what could small
people like us do?”

It is like this all over the area, all over Kalimantan,
all over the entire Indonesian archipelago.

Mr. Yhenda Permana, director of LNG-producing
company PT Badak NGL, based in Kalimantan, says:

“I’m very sad to see the destruction of Kalimantan. If
we look from above, the island is already ‘bald,’ dotted
with black toxic lakes. They burn the forest, even with
orangutans still living there. Local people do it, but
who is behind them? Protected forests are also
logged out and burned. Afterwards, in most
cases, palm oil is planted.”

One of the national forests I visited, symbolically named ‘
Bukit Soeharto’ (Suharto’s Hill) is almost gone. I ask an
old local lady, Ms. Halbi, who is selling basic goods at
the side of the road, whether there is any respect for
native protected forests on this island:

“We are allowed to grow some plants here. Even I do.
Pepper & dragon fruit. It is not our land, but nobody
does anything to stop us.”

Stubs & stubs, everywhere, ‘replacing’ magnificent
trees, in what used to be often described as
“the lungs of planet Earth.”

Ms. Windrati Kaliman, former lecturer at INSTIPER
(Plantation Technology Institute) Yogyakarta, has
her own theory on this:

“Massive deforestation accelerated after ‘de-centralization.’
Now local governments are free to give permits for logging.
Rainforest is being converted into palm oil plantations &
mines. In theory, protected forests and parks cannot be
used for logging, but in reality they are:- In Kalimantan,
but also in Aceh, Riau & many other parts of the country.”

It is not only trees that are disappearing, and not
only people who are living in increasing misery.

The legendary Borneo orangutan is almost extinct. And
so are bears, countless species of birds, and insects.

In Samboja Orangutan Sanctuary & Rehabilitation Centre,
Mr. Andreas (a caretaker), can barely hide his outrage:

“You can't imagine what is being done to these intelligent
and fascinating apes. This one – we rescued him from a
timber plant. Just for fun, they had him chained under
a generator, for years. As a result, he lost his hearing
and suffers from brain damage. It is very common in
Kalimantan to hunt for female orangutans, shave
them and sell them for sex to desperate forestry
workers. It is like rape, like a horrible slavery.
Remember, these apes have 97% the same
DNA as humans, and, like humans, they
have 4 types of blood.”

I travelled through several parts of Indonesian Kalimantan,
around Samarinda and Balikpapan, as well as Pontianak.
I testify that I saw those “black lakes and rivers,” as well
as countless open pits, and palm oil plantations, almost
everywhere. I flew over hundreds of kilometers of hellish
wastelands. I listened to people suffering from cancer,
from respiratory diseases, but above all, from
hopelessness.

As Mr. Yhenda Permana concluded: “Can you imagine:
this once stunningly beautiful island with deep native
forests and thousands of living creatures, is now
converted & ‘dedicated’ to only 1 crop: palm oil?”

The tragedy is not only devastating Kalimantan, but almost
the whole of Indonesia. This is what has been happening
to this country with a deep and ancient culture and
enormous natural beauty, ever since the 1965
US-sponsored coup, and a re-introduction of
this savage capitalism, feudalism, and
unrestrained corruption.

(Originally article appeared in RT)

___________________________

Greenpeace:
Gulf of Mexico
Coasts are
Contaminated
(source - Prensa Latina)

The coasts off the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea
and the Yucatan Peninsula, are contaminated by
plaguicides, because of the agricultural model
in Mexico, the environmental organization,
Greenpeace, declares in an alert.

Aleira Lara, an expert from the agriculture program
of Greenpeace, urges the governors of Campeche,
Yucatan and Quintana Roo, to let people know
of any plans they have, to take care of the
natural areas under their protection.

Lara states that the remains of plaguicides and
fertilizers are located at 300 and 500 metres off
the coasts of the 3 Mexican states, provoking
damaging affects to the sea's biomass, cliff
areas and fish.

In the Agreement for Sustainability of the Yucatan
Peninsula, Greenpeace demands that ecological,
sustainable agriculture, should be included.

__________________________________

Scientists
Turn Sewage
into Crude Oil

Prensa Latina - US scientists have developed a
technique that can turn sewage into biocrude
oil.. in a matter of minutes, the Pacific North-
west National Laboratory (PNNL) announces.

The technique is called hydrothermal liquefaction,
and mimics the geological conditions required to
create crude oil. What takes Nature millions of
years to do, can now be achieved in a few
minutes, PNNL says.

By using hydrothermal liquefaction, human waste
can be turned into simpler chemical compounds.
The material is pressurized to 1,200 Kg per sq.
inch, and then goes into a reactor system,
operating at about 350 degrees Celsius.

In a few minutes a material similar to petroleum
is created, but with a small amount of water &
oxygen mixed in. This biocrude can be refined
using normal petroleum refining techniques.

___________________________________

Cuba Only Country
in the World to Achieve
Sustainable Development

Cuba has been declared, this week, the only
country in the world to achieve sustainable
development, according to a report which
the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) publishes
every two years.

The WWF document, presented in Beijing, China,
noted that, if things continue as they are now,
humanity will need to use natural resources &
energy, equivalent to two Earths --- by 2050.

This is a vicious circle, as poor countries produce
much lower per capita damage, to nature, but as
they develop (and China and India are following
this trend) the rate rises to unsustainable levels
for the planet.

And, within this panorama, Cuba stands out
for its favorable indicators, and although the
text clarifies that this does not mean that the
tiny Caribbean nation is perfect; it's the only
country that complies with those conditions.

The WWF has played a key role in fostering
an international environmental movement,
combining growth and development -- and
Cuba's currently the most evident example.

On several occasions, the UN Development
Program (UNDP) has recognized that Cuba
is a benchmark for the continent regarding
the integration of policies and actions for
sustainable development.

UNDP's deputy resident representative in
Cuba, Claudio Tomasi, told Prensa Latina
that the country's development scheme
combines its economic approach, with
a social and environmental component
through comprehensive programs, that
save effort & funds; with higher results.

__________________________________

Historic deal reached
on a New Marine
Sanctuary in
Antarctica!

24 countries and the EU, agree to create
the world’s largest marine reserve in the
Antarctic Ocean by the frozen continent.

A deal to make Ross Sea, in Antarctica,
the world’s first large-scale marine park
in international waters, was reached on
Friday, Oct. 28th, in Hobart, Australia.

The agreement comes after years of diplomatic
wrangling and high-level talks between the US
and Russia --- which have rejected the idea in
the past.

The new marine reserve is located south of New
Zealand, in a vast pristine area, which is cold &
largely untouched by humans. The reserve will
cover 1.55 million square kilometers.

Some 1.12 million square kilometers of the reserve
will be a no-fishing zone. The Ross Sea one of the
world's most ecologically important oceans.

Decisions on Antarctica need unanimous support
among a 25-member commission, involving the
US, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, New
Zealand and the EU, a hurdle which had
left past efforts unsuccessful.

This week, in a rare show of unity, the 24
countries and the European Union,
agreed on the deal !

“To get them all to align - especially in the
context of divergent economic interests -
is quite a challenge,” said Evan Bloom, a
director at the US State Department and
leader of the US delegation at the event.

“This decision is very important not just for
the Antarctic --- but for efforts to promote
world marine conservation,” Bloom said.

In a statement, US Secretary of State John Kerry
said it “will safeguard one of the last unspoiled
ocean wilderness areas on the planet -- home
to unparalleled marine biodiversity & thriving
communities of penguins, seals, whales,
seabirds, and fish.”

Scientists & activists have described the
agreement, as a historic milestone in the
global efforts to protect marine diversity.
The sanctuary will cover more than 12%
of the Southern Ocean.

The Southern Ocean around Antarctica is one
of the most diverse, fragile, & poorly studied
ocean ecosystems on Earth.

The Antarctic Ross Sea is home to over 10,000
species -- including most of earth’s penguins,
whales, seabirds, giant squid, and Antarctic
tooth fish -- and is one of the world’s most
ecologically-important marine areas, and
the healthiest remaining marine
ecosystem on the planet.

___________________________________

Globally averaged
concentration of CO2
reaches alarming
level in 2015: WMO

Globally averaged concentration of carbon dioxide
(CO2)in the atmosphere reached the symbolic
milestone of 400 parts per million for the first
time in 2015 and surged again to new records
in 2016 on the back of the powerful El Nino
event, according to a report released by the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
on October 24th.

WMO released its annual "Greenhouse Gas
Bulletin" ahead of the United Nations climate
change negotiations in Marrakech, Morocco,
to be held from November 7 to 18, providing
a scientific base for decision-making.

The report said CO2 levels had previously reached
the 400 ppm barrier for certain months of the year
& in certain locations but never before on a global
average basis, for the entire year. Monitoring
systems predict that CO2 concentrations will
stay above 400 ppm for the whole of 2016 and
not dip below that level for many generations.

The growth spurt in CO2 was fueled by the El Nino
event, which started in 2015 & had a strong impact
well into 2016. This triggered droughts in tropical
regions and reduced the capacity of "sinks" like
forests, vegetation & the oceans, to absorb CO2.

These sinks currently absorb about half of CO2
emissions but there is a risk that they may
become saturated, which would increase
the fraction of emitted carbon dioxide
staying in the atmosphere, states
the report.

"The year 2015 ushered in a new era of optimism
and climate action with the Paris climate change
agreement. But it also makes history as marking
a new era of climate change reality, with record
high greenhouse gas concentrations,"said WMO
Secretary-General Petteri Taalas."The El Nino
event's disappeared. Climate change has not."

The report highlighted there was a 37% increase in
radiative forcing; the warming effect on our climate
- because of long-lived greenhouse gases, such as
carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide (N2O)
- from industrial, agricultural and domestic
activities, between 1990 and 2015.

In 2015, globally averaged CO2 levels
were 144% of pre-industrial levels.

In 2015, global annual average
CO2 concentrations, reached
400.0 ppm.

______________________________________

Experts push for
strong measures
to save Ozone Layer

They made the call during the opening technical
session of the 28th Meeting of Parties to the
Montreal Protocol (MOP28), in Rwanda's
capital, Kigali.

The Montreal Protocol treaty is a global agreement
that protects the ozone layer, by phasing out the
production of substances responsible for ozone
depletion and climate change.

It was first signed on September 16, 1987, and is
widely considered to be one of the most-effective
multilateral environment treaties ever negotiated.
It's the only treaty in the United Nations system
to which every country is a signatory.

The UN Environment Program, says that
HFC emissions are growing at about 7%
per year. If the current mix of HFCs is
unchanged, increasing demand may
result in HFC emissions of up to 8.8
gigatons of CO2 equivalent a year,
by 2050.

_______________________________

‘By 2050 half the forms of
life we know, will be gone’
– conservation biologist

Humanity should start saving nature and switch to
80% renewables by 2030, otherwise the Earth will
keep losing species, and within 33 years around
800,000 forms of life will be gone, conservation
biologist Reese Halter, underlines.

Humans have changed the Earth so much that
some scientists think we have entered a new
geological age.

According to a report in the Science Magazine, the
Earth is now in the anthropocene epoch. Millions of
years from now our impact on Earth will be found in
rocks - just like we see fossils of plants and animals
which lived years ago - except this time, scientists
of the future, will find radioactive elements from
nuclear bombs, and fossilized plastic.

Reese Halter: "First of all, imagine you’re back on
the football field. Each year in America - America
alone - we throw away the equivalent of one foot-
ball field, 100 miles deep. That is the first thing.
The second thing is, we’ve entered the age of
climate instability. That means, from burning
subsidized climate-altering fossil fuels, our
food security is in jeopardy.

"The third thing that is striking, is we’re losing
species a thousand times faster than in the last
65 million years. At this rate within 33 years, by
mid-century, that means 800,000 forms of life,
or half of everything we know, will be gone.
The only way we can reverse this, is to do
things: save nature now, our life support
system, and we do this, by switching to
80% renewables, by 2030.

"It is a WWIII mentality. In America we have the
technology; we have the blueprint. We lack the
political will just right now. But in the next short
while we will, because it is a matter of survival."

"As I said, we’re taking 160% more than mother
Earth can sustain, with 7.4 billion people. The
way to do it --- is to pull it back to 90%. If we
were a big bathtub, the ring would read:
toxicity, toxicity, toxicity.

"We’ve got to peel that back -- because
what we do to the Earth, we do to
ourselves."

Taken from RT interview

_______________________________

ENJOYING THE HEATWAVE?

Global Warning as Rapid Temperature Rise
Steers Humanity Toward Catastrophe

Global warming, rising at an unprecedented pace, is
threatening the Earth, and humanity’s place upon it
with disaster, according to Gavin Schmidt, director
of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

Beginning in October 2015, each month has set a new
heat record --- and July has been the warmest month
since global temperature observation began in 1880.

The speed of rising temperatures is much higher than
in the last millennium, according to data obtained by
the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), demonstrating that warming rates over the
past 100 years are about 10 times faster than the
century that preceded it.

"In the last 30 years we've really moved into
exceptional territory. It's unprecedented in 1,000
years. There's no period that has the trend seen
in the 20th century, in terms of the inclination (of
temperatures)," Schmidt told the Guardian.

For the next 100 years the prognosis isn't
good... According to NASA, the pace of
increasing temperatures will be at least
20 times faster than the historical average.

Last year, the international community agreed
to a 1.5 degree Celsius limit at a landmark Paris
climate accord. As Schmidt pointed out, keeping
temperatures within this limit will require rapid
& significant cuts in carbon dioxide emissions,
a global economic shift that --- given current
attitudes & habits, is arguably an impossible
goal. But, according to climate scientists,
exceeding the temperature limit set at
the Paris talks will bring dire outcomes.

Sea level increases as a result of melting polar ice,
drought, and other severe weather conditions, will
lead to catastrophe for island nations & developing
countries. Finding a way to shift the dependence of
the developed world away from fossil fuels is of the
utmost importance, according to climate experts.

__________________________________________

New Study Shows
Controversial Pesticide
Linked to Massive Bee
Die-Off

A new study published this week shows that
pesticides called neonicotinoids, or neonics,
are probably linked to the decline of wild bee
populations.

Published in the Nature Communications journal,
the study examines the wild bee population relative
to the use of the controversial neonicotinoids in the
18-year span of 1994-2011. Researchers discovered
that extinction rates for bees, parallel the use of the
pesticide on plants -- and this is found throughout
the country.

One of the co-authors, Dr. Nick Isaac:

"The negative effects reported previously, do
scale up to long-term, large-scale multi-species
impacts that are harmful. Neonicotinoids are
harmful -- we can be very confident about that
-- and our mean correlation is three times more
negative for foragers, than for non-foragers."

The 34 species analyzed in the study, saw a 10%
population drop across the board, with 5 of the
species seeing a decrease of 20% or more, and
the most-impacted group seeing a 30% drop.
Researchers say this indicates that half of
the population decline could be attributed
to the use of neonics.

"Historically, if you just have oilseed rape, many
bees tend to benefit from that because it is this
enormous foraging resource all over the country
-side," said Dr. Ben Woodcock, lead author of
the study. "But this correlation study suggests
that once it’s treated with neonicotinoids up to
85%, then they are starting to be exposed and
it's starting to have these detrimental impacts
on them."

"Our results suggest that sub-lethal effects of
neonicotinoids could scale up to cause losses
of bee biodiversity. Restrictions on the use of
neonicotinoids may cut population declines."

Friends of the Earth (FOE) environmental group
have launched a petition calling on the Ace and
True Value hardware companies to stop carrying
the pesticides, as consumers grow ever more
conscious of their devastating impact.

FOE said, "If these garden retailers don't act fast,
they'll lose customers. A new poll shows that 66
percent of Americans prefer to shop at Lowe's
and Home Depot, because they've committed
to stop selling bee-killing pesticides."

In a separate study, the group found that toxic
chemical use is declining in the US, with 23%
of plants in the nation testing positive for the
chemicals, a decline from 50% two years ago.
FOE credits the drop in numbers, to hardware
stores stopping selling products that contain
harmful pesticides, including neonicotinoids.

"It's nice to see the use of long-term data to look
at trends in pesticide impacts over a longer time
scale." said Dara Stanley, plant ecology lecturer
at the National University of Ireland Galway...

"That is something that has been missing in the
debate on bees and pesticides so far, and there
have been many calls to look at the effects
over time."

_________________________________________

The BIG lie about Jeremy
Corbyn is that there was
NO economic plan
- there was!

Below are just 8 0f the 10 pledges:

ENERGY PLEDGES

1) My over-arching commitment will be for
Britain to take the lead in developing the
clean Energy Economy of the future.

2) As leader I would establish an Energy
Commission to draft a fundamental
shift in UK energy thinking.

3) The Commission will be tasked to produce
a route-map into tomorrow’s ‘smart energy’
systems that will:

• Deliver more, but consume less

• Use clean energy before dirty

• Put energy saving before
more consumption

• Use smart technologies to run localised
storage, balancing & distribution mechanisms,

• Shift the costs of grid access and grid
balancing from clean energy across to dirty

• Be open, democratic, sustainable and
accountable (in ways that today’s market
is not).

4) The Commission to be charged with bringing
new partners into energy policy making. These
will include:- local authorities, communities,
energy co-operatives, & ‘smart’ technology
companies, that are already working on
tomorrow’s ‘virtual’ power systems and
new energy thinking.

5) As leader I will conduct a root & branch
review of energy market subsidies;
moving away from the notion of everlasting
hand-outs; instead, using public support as
‘transition funding’ that transforms Britain’s
energy infrastructure.

6) I will expect the energy industry, not the
public, to meet the costs of their own clean-up.

7) I will look to re-define the roles of Ofgem,
the National Grid and the Competition and
Markets Authority, to promote a genuinely
open, competitive and sustainable energy
market; one in which there are more players
and clean energy choices than we have today.

8) I will examine ways to allow communities
to be owners of local energy systems, with
the right (as in other parts of Europe) to have
first use of energy they generate themselves.

Go here --- for the complete plan:

http://unionsforenergydemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads
/2015/09/Jeremy-Corbyn-Environment-plan-Aug-2015.pdf

_______________________________

EU approves imports
of genetically modified
Monsanto soybeans

The European Commission has approved the
import & processing of Monsanto’s Roundup
Ready 2 Xtend soybeans, after debates over
glyphosate herbicide’s safety, delayed the
introduction of the genetically modified
soybean variety, for months.

“Today the Commission authorized three GMOs for
food/feed uses (soybean MON 87708 x MON 89788,
soybean MON 87705 x MON 89788 & soybean FG 72)
--- all of which have gone through a comprehensive
authorization procedure, including a favorable
scientific assessment by EFSA,” the European
Commission statement reads.

Following the Commission’s approval Monsanto’s
GMO soybeans are now authorized for use in the
feed of animals and in human food --- but not for
planting in the EU. The authorization is now valid
for 10 years but the EU warns that “any products
produced from these GMOs will be subject to the
EU’s strict labeling and traceability rules.”

Although Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans are
tolerant to glyphosate and dicamba herbicides,
the use of dicamba herbicide over the Roundup
Ready 2 Xtend soybeans remains in a late stage
of the Environmental Protection Agency review
and is not currently approved by the EPA.

Dicamba was first approved in 1967 & has been
linked to high rates of cancer & birth defects in
the families of food growers say the government
and other scientific studies. Consumer, health,
environmental, and farmer advocates, have
all fiercely opposed the new Xtend system,
over health and environmental concerns.

Europe is the second largest soybean customer as
it relies on soybeans to meet demand for meat and
dairy products. The entire bloc produces less than
1 million tons of soya a year, yet imports around
35 million tons, according to the World Wide
Fund for Nature.

_____________________________________

France has banned
plastic bags?

While some countries like France have opted
for a ban, others like Ireland and the UK have
introduced plastic bag charges in an effort
to minimize their use.

It is estimated that 100 billion plastic grocery
bags are used across Europe per year, with 8
billion ending up as litter.

Environmental Danger

Depending on the type of plastic, these bags
have been estimated to take between 100 &
500 years to decompose in the environment,
where they pose a great risk to wildlife.

According to a study published in the peer-
reviewed journal, PLUS ONE, in December
2014, there are a minimum of 5.25 trillion
pieces of plastic in the world's oceans.

Because plastic takes so long to decompose,
much longer than an animal does, one piece
can kill several living creatures.

In Sept 2015 Australian scientists estimated
that as many as nine in ten seabirds have
plastic in their gut, & that increasing rates
of ingestion mean that this figure will reach
99 percent of all species by 2050 --- unless
there is more effective waste management.

Health Risk: Scientists warn that people
are ingesting plastic by eating ocean fish.

___________________________________________

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:
India to Build Roads
of Plastic

The government of Maharashtra state in India
has decided to kill two birds with one stone.
Plastic waste now will be used with asphalt
to improve roads’ durability and reduce soil
pollution at the same time.

Plastic bags & pouches, bin linings, household
goods, bottles and bottle caps in Maharashtra,
get a second chance to serve a good purpose
as the state government plans to use plastic
waste along with asphalt, to build roads.

Delhi's Central Road Research Institute studies
revealed, that plastic waste added to asphalt
makes road building cheaper & better quality.

Added in small doses, 5-10% of the weight of
the asphalt (3-6 kg of plastic for every 100 kg
of tar), it helps to improve stability, strength,
fatigue life and other desirable properties of
the road material.

"Such roads will have higher resistance to
deformation and water induced damage,
increase their durability & strength, and
ultimately, dispose of plastic waste in a
larger amount to save pollution," say the
recommendations of the institute to the
Maharashtra government, adding:- "The
use of waste plastic thus contributes to
the construction of green roads."

As a survey conducted by the Central
Pollution Control Board in 2015 says:
the plastic waste generated in 60 of
India's cities, is estimated at over
15,300 tons a day and over 6,100
tons remain uncollected,
as litter.

____________________________________

World's biodiversity drops
below "safe" levels: study

Xinhua - Changes in land use have caused global
biodiversity to fall below what's considered to be
"safe" levels & threatens efforts toward long-term
sustainable development, a new study reveals.

The study, published in the US journal Science,
studied 2.38 million records of 39,100+ species
at 18,600 sites ---- to estimate how biodiversity
in every square kilometre of land has changed
---- since humans modified the habitat.

For 58.1% of the world's land surface, where
71.4% of the human population live, the level
of biodiversity loss is substantial enough to
question the ability of these ecosystems to
support human societies, it found.

The loss due to changes in land use puts levels
of biodiversity, beyond the recently proposed
planetary boundaries: an international frame-
work that defines a safe operating space for
humanity.

"This is the first time we've quantified the effect
of habitat loss on biodiversity, globally, in such
detail and we've found that across most of the
world, biodiversity loss is no longer within the
safe limit suggested by ecologists," the lead
researcher, Tim Newbold, from University
College, London, says, in a statement.

"We know biodiversity loss affects ecosystem
functioning, but how it does this, isn't entirely
clear. What we do know, is that in many parts
of the world, we are approaching a situation
where human intervention might be needed
to sustain ecosystem functioning," he says.

The study found that grasslands, savannas
and shrublands were most affected by bio-
diversity loss, followed closely by many of
the world's forests and woodlands.

It suggests the ability of biodiversity in
these areas to support key ecosystem
functions, such as the growth of living
organisms and nutrient cycling, has
become increasingly uncertain.

The researchers also found that biodiversity
hotspots - those that have seen habitat loss
in the past, but have a lot of species only
found in that area - are now threatened...
& show high levels of biodiversity decline.

Some high biodiversity areas, eg Amazonia
- that haven't seen land use change - have
higher levels of biodiversity ---- and more
scope for proactive conservation.

"The greatest changes have happened in the
places where most people live, which might
affect physical & psychological well-being.

To address this, we would have to preserve
the remaining areas of natural vegetation &
restore human-used land," adds Dr Newbold.

________________________________________

Expansion of
Transgenic Seeds
   Stopped in Guatemala

Prensa Latina - Indigenous communities, ancestral
authorities and social organizations celebrate today
in Guatemala, the suspension by the Constitutional
Court (CC) of the agreement giving a green light to
the expansion of genetically modified seeds.

This victory, which had much to do with the work
of the Winaq deputy, Amilcar Pop, is seen by wide
sectors, as an important step in defending the
natural resources and autochthonous seeds
of the indigenous peoples of this country.

The CC of Guatemala notified, on June 17th,
the provisional suspension of Decree 6-2014
Protocol of Nagoya (Japan, 2010), dealing
with Access to genetic resources and the
equitable distribution of the benefits
arising from its use.

This treaty is questioned by civil organizations
and the ancestral authorities --- because of the
procedure used in its approval, in Guatemala's
Congress --- as a matter of national urgency.

Also, the treaty did not gain the two thirds of
the vote required by the Political Constitution
(1985) and the organic law of the legislative
power:-  despite which, it was implemented.

The Nagoya Protocol, legitimised after 6 years
of negotiations within the context of the 10th
Conference of the Parts of the agreement on
Biologic Diversity, pretends to promote new
biotechnology for food production & genetic
modification, as a benefit for natives and
creoles.

This ruling -- by Guatemala's CC -- forces
the National Council of Protected Areas
to now suspend all actions oriented to
compliance, on Guatemalan territory.

________________________

One Third of 'Dead Zones'
in World’s Oceans
Around United States
- Kerry

Roughly a third of all 'dead zones' in the
world’s oceans, are in or around the US,
Secretary of State, John Kerry, reveals.

Sputnik - One third of the 400 "dead zones"
in the world’s oceans depleted of oxygen,
are in or around the US, Kerry informs a
classroom discussion in Silver Spring,
Maryland.

"We have 166 dead zones in the United
States. The largest dead zone of all is
about 5,000 square miles down in the
Gulf of Mexico, where the Mississippi
River comes out," Kerry said on Wed-
nesday in remarks published by the
US Department of State.

"There are now over 400 dead zones on a
global basis and they’ve gone up every
single decade, for the last decades.
What does that tell you? It tells you
that we’re not solving the problem;
it’s getting worse, not better,"
Kerry explained.

Which sea is the most heavily polluted in
Europe? The North sea ---- around the UK.

________________________________

Plant-based motor oil
introduced in Iran

The fresh brand was reportedly synthesized
with the use of environmentally friendly
extracts from plants.

The new class of bio-based oil is said to improve
engine performance and increase motor age,
plus making it run cleaner.

It will, additionally, reduce sedimentation in the
motor, which causes gradual engine power loss.

Officials, who attended the unveiling ceremony,
hail the company’s latest effort as a step toward
to a healthy environment, Iranian reports say.

Studies show bio-based oils cause a reduction
of at least 80% in greenhouse gas emissions --
compared to similar petrol-based synthetic oils.

A US report in 2013 said 40%+ of the pollution
in US waterways ---- came from used motor oil.

__________________________________

BRICS bank approves
first loans, $811mn
investment in renew-
able energy projects

The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) has
approved its first package of loans worth some
$811 million. The four projects in Brazil, China,
South Africa and India, are all in the renewal
energy development sphere.

The decision to approve the first loans, which
are to be handed out in tranches, was passed
by the NDB, at the board of governors on the
sidelines of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank spring meetings in
Washington DC, RIA reports.

The NDB decided to provide $300 million to Brazil,
$81 million to China, $250 million to India & $180
million to South Africa. The bank estimates that
renewable energy field projects with a combined
capacity of 2.37MW, can help reduce the amount
of harmful emissions by 4 million tons annually.

“There are many more new projects in the pipeline
including projects from Russia. They're at various
stages of consideration or appraisal,” the NDB
spokesperson says.

The ministers also discussed creating a credit
rating agency of their own, to tackle western
dominance in this sphere.

“Deliberations were held on the efficacy
of establishing a New Development Bank
Institute and BRICS rating agency,” the
Indian media releases said:

“It was decided that a technical working
group, will examine the issues in detail.”

The New Development Bank created by Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa, started
its operations in July, 2015, with an initial
authorized capital of $100 billion.

The goals of the bank --- with its headquarters
in Shanghai, is to fund infrastructure projects
in the emerging economies, for sustainable
development.

________________________________

Whey To Go! UK Homes
to Be Powered By Cheese

Protein from cheese residue, like the stuff used in
energy supplements ---- will be used to power the
UK's gas grid and a creamery factory in the north
of England. The plant in Cumbria will be the first
in Europe to turn cheese waste into bio-methane.

Clearfleau, the firm behind the project, is
to use bio-methane gas to power 40% of all
homes in the local area; the remaining gas
will go back to power the creamery itself.

Lake District Biogas will run the First Milk
Aspatria plant for 20 years and will be the
first Anaerobic Digestion (AD) dairy plant
in Europe to put bio-methane in the gas
grid ----- generated by cheese.

________________________________

China proposes
$50 trillion
global renewable
energy network

The company running China’s power grid is proposing
a $50 trillion global electricity network --- to tackle
pollution and climate change. If it goes ahead, the
network would use advanced renewable solar
& wind technology, and be operating by 2050.

Beijing’s network will be the world’s biggest
infrastructure project, if given the green light.

The State Grid has signed a memorandum
of understanding, already, with Russia's
energy grid Rosseti, Korea’s Electric
Power and SoftBank Group of Japan.

According to State Grid’s Chair, Liu Zhenya,
the planet is facing "three major challenges",
which are:- energy scarcity, environmental
pollution and climate change.

Liu adds that smart grids, ultra-high voltage (UHV)
grids and clean energy are the only way to a green
low carbon, economical, efficient and open energy
system, with sustainable supplies.

Liu adds that the global network, could boost the
share of clean energy to 80% of world consumption
--- displacing fossil fuels as the main energy source.

"China is already the biggest country in the world
for wind, solar power generation & also UHV grids.
And it has scale, so we can learn many things from
China's success. Also, by interconnecting, we can
help each other on supply and demand," SoftBank
CEO, Masayoshi Son, tells the Global Times.

"It's a brilliant plan. It might encounter difficulties
during construction --- but it is possible,"  Xue
Jiancong, spokesperson for China Merchants
New Energy Group, a leading renewable
energy company, tells NBC News.

The major barriers for the project “are institutional,
not technical,” the former US energy official David
Sandalow, tells the Wall Street Journal. “It is an
open question, whether national governments
will be open to such a revolutionary idea,”
he adds.

__________________________

TEPCO Starts
to Freeze Soil
at Fukushima
Nuclear Plant

Prensa Latina - Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)
started work on Thursday to freeze soil around
the disaster-crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear
power plant, in an operation to slow the pace
of increase in radioactive water there.

The measure is expected to reduce the amount
of groundwater flowing into the facilities every
day to about 50 tons, from 100+ tons, currently.

TEPCO required a Nuclear Regulation Authority
permit that took two years, since the directors
feared environmental damage.

To freeze the soil, special coolant under 30
degrees centigrade, is circulated through
pipes driven into the ground around the 4
reactors at the plant -- which was heavily
damaged in the March 2011 earthquake
and tsunami.

TEPCO experts explain that the Nuclear
Regulation Authority has approved the
operational start of frozen soil shields
-- on condition that the work is done
in stages and results will start
showing in 45 days.

______________________________

We’re #1! Carbon dioxide
is at its highest rate --
in 66 million years

After February’s most abnormally warm month
on record, a new study in National Geoscience
shows humans are releasing carbon dioxide at
a rate 10 times faster than at any time in the
past 66 million years.

Carbon dioxide is necessary for the Earth, but the
study by Richard Zeebe of the University of Hawaii
at Manoa, Andy Ridgwell of the University of Bristol,
and James C. Zachos of the University of California
Santa Cruz, explains that “The Palaeocene–Eocene
Thermal Maximum (PETM), is known, at present, to
have had the highest carbon release rates of the
past 66 million years.”

The PETM refers to a period 56 million years ago,
when ''something'' caused the concentration of
atmospheric carbon dioxide, to spike at levels
higher than today’s.

This caused Earth to warm, its oceans to acidify,
& a mass extinction of animal and plant species.

This is important, because the PETM took place
over a long period of time.

Zeebe's team gathered their information on
the PETM by examining a deep core of ocean
sediment from the New Jersey coast... which
was used to analyze ratios between isotopes
of carbon & oxygen, and could consequently
determine how atmospheric carbon dioxide
levels have influenced temperatures.

Scott Wing, a paleobiologist and curator at
the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
in Washington, told Mashable:

“If the rate of PETM carbon addition was a
tenth of our rate, then the future will likely
be much more extreme than the PETM, in
many ways.”

Mashable reports that the PETM is believed
to have lasted more than 4,000 years, with
a maximum emission rate of 1.1 billion tons
a year. Today, emission rates are estimated
to be closer to 10 billion tons per year.

So what does this mean for planet Earth?
Well, it’s hard to say, because the PETM
occurred very slowly, and there is no
analogue to be drawn between today’s
high carbon dioxide emission rates,
and those of the PETM.

“... Unfortunately, because we’re doing it
so fast, our conclusion is that the rate
of acidification will be much more
severe in the future, and also that
the effects on the calcifiers are
likely to be more severe than
what we see during PETM,”
Zeebe told Mashable.

________________________________

Tory inaction on emissions
‘insults people dying from
air pollution,’ say
green lawyers

Green campaigners are suing the government for
failing to meet EU air pollution limits in UK cities.

Environmental law group ClientEarth issued a fresh
legal challenge on March 18th, after accusing the
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
(Defra), of delaying stricter pollution laws.

The government is legally required to meet EU
targets on the toxic gas NO2, which is thought
to kill about 25,000 people in the UK each year.

ClientEarth have asked the High Court to now
urgently review Defra’s plans to tackle the gas
- which is emitted from vehicles, and industry.

A lawyer for the group says the court could force
the government to rewrite its policies to counter
pollution.

“The plan they came up with [in Dec 2015],
was just not good enough. It was a plan for
a plan... These are classic delaying tactics.
Meanwhile, thousands of people are dying,”
ClientEarth lawyer Alan Andrews says.

“Government has been delaying for years.
This challenge will force a full legal
examination of Defra’s plans.”

ClientEarth’s case concerns 15 cities &
regions across the UK, including London,
Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.

Scottish and Welsh ministers, the Mayor of
London, and the Department for Transport,
will also be served with papers.

The group claimed victory last April, when the
UK Supreme Court, ruled the government had
failed to meet EU pollution limits.

Alan Andrews, a lawyer from ClientEarth, says
the government plans, were an insult to those
dying from air pollution.

“As the government can’t be trusted to deal with
toxic air pollution, we are now asking the court
to intervene, and make sure it is taking action,”
he says.

“It is a disgrace that we have had to take further
legal action, to force the government to protect
our health.

“The government’s plans were an insult to those
being made sick and dying from air pollution and
failed to consider strong measures ----- to get the
worst-polluting diesel vehicles out of our towns
and city centres."

In January, London exceeded its EU air pollution
limits for the entire year in just 8 days, according
to London Air Quality Network.

High levels of toxic gas are emitted from diesel
exhaust fumes. A new study says that exposure
to the fumes, can significantly impact people
with asthma.

Researchers at Imperial College, London, have
found that both during and after a 2-hour walk
along the city’s busy Oxford Street, volunteers
experienced increased asthmatic symptoms
including reduced lung capacity and
inflammation in the lungs.

_____________________________________

‘Climate Emergency’:
Scientists Stunned by
February Temperature
Records

Experts warn that we may be nearing a tipping
point that could trigger a massive, apocalyptic
temperature increase.

This weekend NASA released data showing
that February 2016 was not only the hottest
February in recorded history, but soared so
far past all previous records, as to cause
scientists to describe it as "an ominous
milestone in our march towards an
ever-warmer planet."

The average global surface temperature for
February was 1.35°C warmer than the average
for the month, as measured from 1951 to 1980.

The previous record, 1.14°C above the 1951-1980
baseline, was set one month earlier, in Jan. 2016.

According to meteorologists Bob Henson & Dr.
Jeff Masters, founder of the popular Weather
Underground meteorological website, NASA's
report is a "bombshell."

The meteorologists worry that Earth may
have passed a critical tipping point, with
"February 2016 soaring past all rivals, as
the warmest seasonally adjusted month
in 100 + years, of global record-keeping."

Stefan Rahmstorf, of Potsdam Institute
of Climate Impact Research, Germany,
describes the development by using
cataclysmic terminology.

"We are in a state of climate emergency now,"
says Rahmstorf, adding, "the new figures are
quite stunning --- and what we are seeing, is
completely unprecedented."

Generally, scientists caution against highlighting
a one or two month temperature spike, particularly
in an El Niño climate cycle, as Earth is experiencing
this year. However, the climate data reported, is so
extraordinary, many scientists believe it warrants
serious alarm.

Temperatures reported in February 2016 exceed
even the "super" El Niño of Feb. 1998 -- by 0.47°C.

Climatologists believe this string of monthly
temperature records will continue, with record
readings in the months and years to come, due
to an increased concentration of carbon in the
global atmosphere, that, in turn, will drive
higher longer-term temperatures.

What many scientists fear, beyond a gradual rise
in temperatures, is reaching a tipping point, a full-
scale melting of the polar ice caps --- which would
release methane, a powerful greenhouse gas with
roughly 80 times the impact on world temperature
as carbon dioxide.

If the ice caps melt, scientists speculate that it
could trigger a rapid, potentially apocalyptic
temperature hike.

____________________________________

Pope Francis Calls to Address
One of the Greatest Crises

Prensa Latina - "We can no longer remain silent
before one of the greatest environmental crises
in world history", pope Francis said on Monday,
15th of February, during a mass held in Chiapas,
Mexico, before indigenous communities.

Francis criticized the irresponsible use
and abuse of natural resources.

"We grew up thinking we were the world's
owners and were authorized to plunder it,
he emphasized.

The Pope presided over the mass in the
main indigenous languages of Chiapas:
Tzeltal, Tzotzil and Chol. The liturgy
included readings, prayers and
hymns in those languages.

Francis said indigenous communities have
much to teach mankind, as they know how
to relate harmoniously with nature.

He denounced how, in a systematic and
organized way, indigenous peoples have
been misunderstood and excluded from
society, over the course of history.

"Some have considered your values,
culture and traditions to be inferior",
he emphasised. "Others, intoxicated
by power, money and market trends,
have stolen your lands, or have
contaminated them."

_________________________________

‘Cut antibiotics use
in livestock to avert
superbug catastrophe’
– UK health review

Urgent cuts must be made in the use of antibiotics
in livestock farming, as misuse of the drugs, risks
sparking a global public health crisis, a UK-
government commissioned review says.

World governments need to reach internationally
agreed targets, to reduce the use of antibiotics --
if medicine is to retain its effectiveness in killing
bacteria.

The review, led by former Goldman Sachs chief
economist Jim O’Neill, suggests countries follow
the lead set by Denmark and the Netherlands.

Denmark uses an average of less than 50mg of
antibiotics a year per kilogram of livestock – a
figure O’Neill says “may be a good starting
point for such a target.”

“Denmark has shown that a very productive farming
industry can be sustained alongside relatively low
levels of antibiotic use,” the review says.

In many countries the majority of antibiotics are
used in livestock, not in humans, the study finds.

In the United States for example, over 70%
of medically important antibiotics are used
on animals, while humans use 30%.

“This creates a big resistance risk for everyone,”
O’Neill says. “It’s time for policy makers to act
on this.”

Infectious disease expert and Wellcome Trust
director, Jeremy Farrar, says urgent action is
needed, to combat a future crisis.

“We can now be certain that the health of live-
stock animals, and how we care for them, is
inextricably linked to our own health and the
effectiveness of medicines we rely on every
day,” he says in a statement.

“We need international governments, policy
makers and the agricultural industry to coor-
dinate their actions, and set tangible targets
for the reduction, & better use of, antibiotics
in animals.”

The review’s recommendations come amid
global alarm over the discovery in China of
a gene dubbed MCR-1, that makes bacteria
resistant to even the strongest antibiotic.

Professor Timothy Walsh of the University of
Cardiff’s Institute of Infection & Immunity told
the BBC last month, that the world is on the
cusp of the “post-antibiotic era.”

“All the key players are now in place to make
the post-antibiotic world a reality,” he said.

“If MCR-1 becomes global, which is a case of
when not if, & the gene aligns itself with other
antibiotic resistance genes, which is inevitable,
then we will have very likely reached the start
of the post-antibiotic era.

“At that point if a patient is seriously ill, say
with E. coli, then there is virtually nothing
you can do,” he adds.

______________________________

Putin wants Russia
to become world's biggest
exporter of Non-GMO food

Russia could become the world's largest supplier of
ecologically clean & high-quality organic food, said
President Vladimir Putin on thursday. He also called
on the country to become completely self-sufficient
in food production by 2020.

"We are not only able to feed ourselves, taking into
account our lands, water resources. Russia is able
to become the largest world supplier of healthy,
ecologically clean and high-quality food --- which
the Western producers have long lost: especially
given the fact that demand for such products in
the world market, is steadily growing," said
Putin, addressing the Russian Parliament.

According to the President, Russia is now an
exporter, not an importer, of food.

"10 years ago, we imported almost half of our food
from abroad and were dependent on imports. Now
Russia is among the exporters. Last year, Russian
exports of agricultural products totalled almost
$20 billion - a quarter more than the revenue from
the sale of arms, or one-third of the revenue from
gas exports," he said.

Putin said all this makes Russia fully capable
of supplying the domestic market with home-
grown food by 2020.

In September, the Kremlin decided against
producing food products with genetically
modified organisms (GMOs).

Russia imposed an embargo on the supply
of products from the EU & US, in response
to Western sanctions. When Turkey shot
down a Russian Su-24 bomber, Russia's
authorities banned fruit, vegetables, &
poultry from Turkey, as from Jan. 1st.

__________________________________________________

Chernobyl memories fade?
Kiev turns blind eye... to
disaster-risk in nuclear
deal with US

The coup-imposed government in Kiev has
resurrected a contract with a US company
to supply fuel to Ukraine’s nuclear power
plants, despite the fact that using US fuel
rods was banned in 2012, because of a
dangerous incompatibility.

In April 2014, shortly after the armed coup, Kiev
signed a new deal with the US’s leading nuclear
fuel producer, Westinghouse Electric Company,
instead of the Russian TVEL company that has
been supplying fuel rods to Ukraine for years.

Ukraine’s 4 nuclear power plants constitute a
huge part of the country's energy system. The
country’s 15 nuclear reactors produce at least
50% (over 13 megawatts) of all electric power
generation in Ukraine.

All nuclear fuel for Ukrainian reactors (worth
hundreds of millions of dollars a year) has been
produced in Russia, which also recycles
Ukraine’s nuclear waste.

Moreover, Russia’s Rosatom state-owned nuclear
monopoly is currently constructing a nuclear fuel
fabrication plant in Ukraine, where nuclear fuel rods
will be assembled using uranium enriched in Russia.

Ukraine has relied on Russia in all atomic
matters – but since the coup the US has
muscled in on the relationship.

The Westinghouse Electric Company has been
trying to ‘ease’ the former Soviet-bloc country's
energy reliance on Russia and enter the market
in Eastern Europe for over a decade.

Back in 2012, the then US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton attempted to convince Czech leaders to pick
Westinghouse as a first nuclear fuel supply partner
instead of Russia, which would create thousands of
new jobs in the US.

Westinghouse has tried supplying nuclear fuel to
Energoatom nuclear power generating company,
in Ukraine before...

In 2005, six experimental Westinghouse
fuel assemblies, adopted for use in USSR-
developed reactors, were tried at the South
Ukraine plant in one reactor, together with
Russian fuel rods.

Though nuclear engineers were skeptical of
the pilot probe, the government of ex president
Viktor Yushchenko signed a deal in 2008 with
Westinghouse on fuel rod supply, despite the
fact that American nuclear fuel is significantly
more expensive and technologically different.

Russian nuclear fuel rods are hexagonal in
section, while US fuel assemblies are square.

Despite experts' fears, 42 fuel assemblies were
loaded into three reactors at the South Ukraine
nuclear power plant for a standard three-year
period of commercial operation.

When, in 2012, the time came to replace the
fuel assemblies, Ukrainian nuclear engineers
found that Westinghouse assemblies deformed
during exploitation and got stuck in the core.

Energoatom accused Westinghouse of producing
poorly engineered assemblies, and Westinghouse
countered, by accusing the Ukrainian engineers
of installing the rods badly.

After this, the use of US nuclear fuel was banned
in Ukraine, while the fuel rods were returned to
the producer ‘to get fixed’, and Russian experts
were summoned to help with the repair of the
equipment, produced in the USSR.

Energoatom Company lost approx. $175 million.

Similar problems with Westinghouse fuel assemblies
occurred at a number of other USSR-constructed
nuclear power plants: NPP Krško in Slovenia, NPP
Loviisa in Finland and NPP Temelin in the Czech
Republic.

All these countries opted to return to time-proved fuel
assemblies produced by Russia’s TVEL Company.

Now Ukraine appears to be ready to fall into the
same trap twice.

The coup-imposed Kiev regime has renewed the
2008 nuclear fuel deal till 2020, to replace 25%
of the Russian-made fuel rods, with an option to
“provide more if needed,” reported AP in April -
all for the sole purpose of ‘diversifying’ supply.

What happened back in 2012 at Zaporozhskaya
NPP could have ended with another Chernobyl,
because having unextractable fuel assemblies
loaded means a potential loss of control over
the fission processes inside the reactor.

But the new Kiev authorities, supported by
Washington, are making every effort to cut
Ukraine’s ties with Russia, so moving from
Russian nuclear fuel to US assemblies is
attractive to A. Yatsenyuk’s coup regime,
despite the 2012 incident.

Worse, Westinghouse won’t recycle its fuel rods
when they ‘burn out’, so Ukraine will spend even
more budget money to prepare special storage
facilities for nuclear waste.

Westinghouse has its eyes on a bigger prize...

“This move by Westinghouse is really to secure
not just a fuel contract, which will go on for many
years, but to put its foot in the door to build a fuel
fabrication plant in eastern Ukraine. And that’s
what’s most important and that’s what they’re
after,” John Large, an independent nuclear
analyst from London, tells RT news.

Experts warn that nuclear power plants
should not undergo such drastic transitions.

“A nuclear reactor demands a coherent structure
of operations. The active reactor core is the most
dangerous when it comes to the impact it may have
on people and the environment. All reactors differ in
smallest details, and toying around with them leads
to no good,” Evgeny Akimov of the International
Union of Nuclear Energy Veterans warns.

If something goes wrong, Kiev may find
they face all the consequences alone.

“As far as I know, Westinghouse signs contracts
in which the company bears no responsibility, so
the burden will lie with Ukraine,” states Rafael
Arutyunyan, nuclear security expert & professor
at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

Kiev’s actions are being dictated by politics
and corruption rather than risks, even when
the severe consequences may affect not just
Ukraine, but the entire European continent.

When the Chernobyl tragedy occurred in 1986,
it was by pure coincidence that Ukraine’s wind
direction, usually directed to Europe, changed,
sending most radioactive fallout in the direction
of Russia and Belarus.

In this over-politicized case, European capitals
would do well to understand how the wind blows.