Environment
Mission 2025 group urges governments to set more ambitious climate goals
Some of the world's biggest companies, finance houses, cities and regions have joined forces to urge governments to increase their climate ambition ahead of a February 2025 deadline to deliver their emission-cutting plans to the United Nations. The group has signed up to a coalition named Mission 2025. It is… Read
Global fossil fuel use, emissions hit records in 2023, report says
Global fossil fuel consumption and energy emissions hit all-time highs in 2023, even as fossil fuels' share of the global energy mix decreased slightly on the year, the industry's Statistical Review of World Energy report said on Thursday. Growing demand for fossil fuel despite the scaling up of renewables could… Read
Study details huge emissions resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has directly caused or paved the way to the emission of 175 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, a joint report says. The report, published by Ukraine's environment ministry and climate NGOs, said their estimate included both emissions that had been released and… Read
Climate change is causing marine ‘coldwaves’ too, killing wildlife
The effects of ocean warming are profound and well-documented. But sometimes changes in the patterns of winds and ocean currents cause seawater to suddenly cool, instead. Surface temperatures can plummet rapidly — by 10ºC or more over a day or two. When these conditions persist for several days or weeks, the… Read
How global warming is reshaping winter life in Canada
As we begin to emerge out of yet another mild winter, Canadians are once again being reminded of just how acutely global warming has changed Canada’s winter climate. The impacts of this mild winter were felt across the country and touched all aspects of winter culture. From melting ice castles at… Read
From New York to Jakarta, land in many coastal cities sinking faster than sea levels are rising
Sea level rise has already put coastal cities on notice thanks to increasing storm surges and even sunny day flooding at high tide. These challenges will continue to grow because global projections point to a mean sea level rise of at least one foot above year-2000 levels by the end of this century. However,… Read
Japan has a big plastic waste problem
Since the first synthetic plastic was invented in 1907, an explosion in the world’s population and increased consumerism over the last century have led to a massive demand for — and the production of — plastic. We’re beginning to grapple with just what to do with all this plastic now… Read
The Sahara Desert used to be a green savannah – new research explains why
Algeria’s Tassili N’Ajjer plateau is Africa’s largest national park. Among its vast sandstone formations is perhaps the world’s largest art museum. Over 15,000 etchings and paintings are exhibited there, some as much as 11,000 years old according to scientific dating techniques, representing a unique ethnological and climatological record of the region. Curiously,… Read
Genetically modified crops aren’t a solution to climate change, despite what biotech industry says
The European Commission launched a proposal in July to deregulate a large number of plants manufactured using new genetic techniques. Despite extraordinary attempts by the Spanish presidency to force a breakthrough, EU members have not yet reached a consensus on this plan. But if the proposal were to be approved, these plants… Read
Kanazawa's urban Japanese gardens look to the future, water, well-being and youth
In recent months, both the Japanese and international press have extensively covered the Jingu Gaien Redevelopment Project. People have recently protested at the redevelopment site, concerned about the future of this historic urban green space and the potential negative environmental impacts of the project. The controversy around this project illustrates… Read
