Environment
EnvironmentOpen Letter on Climate Change (*)
We address this letter to political and business leaders and to the wider public. This year has seen outbreaks of extreme weather in many regions of the world. No-one can say with certainty that events such as the flooding in Pakistan, the unprecedented weather episodes in some parts of the US , the heat-wave and drought in Russia, or the floods and landslides in Northern China, were influenced by climate change. Yet they constitute a stark warning. Extreme weather events will grow in frequency and intensity as the world warms.
Brazil to auction patches of Amazon forest to held combat illegal logging
Brazilian Government is to auction one million hectares of Amazon forest in an attempt to reduce the demand for illegal logging.
Humpback whale breaks record travel distance: 10.000 km from Brazil to Madagascar
A female humpback whale has broken the world record for longest distance ever travelled by a mammal, covering more than 9,800 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean while searching for a mate, according to a new study published in the journal Biology Letters.
“Disaster risk” and potential economic losses in 17 Latam countries
Latin America and the Caribbean face potentially crippling economic and social costs from natural disasters and need to do more to reduce risks and prepare government finances to respond to eventual catastrophes, says a new set of indicators by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Indigenous group protests blamed for dip in tourism on Chile’s Easter Islands
Due to the on-going land disputes by indigenous Rapa Nui groups, tourism activity has decreased on Chile’s Easter Island, said Edgar Hereveri, vice president of the island’s chamber of tourism.
Argentine Law Protecting Glaciers will not affect mine project says Barrick Gold
Argentina recently passed an initiative to protect glacier sites, restricting mining activity in glacial regions, particularly along the Andes Mountain and its 3,100-mile border with Chile.
Penguin Appeal to help finance a census of Falkland Islands seabirds
Often described as the penguin capital of the world, the Falkland Islands will be undertaking a census of penguin breeding sites throughout the Islands. It will provide essential information on their breeding colonies to determine action for the future protection of the seabirds.
Chevron given green light for exploratory drilling off Shetland Islands
Oil firm Chevron has received government consent to drill an exploration well to evaluate a controversial prospect off Shetland. The deep-water Lagavulin prospect is 160 miles north of the islands.
Fossil of giant penguin, double the size of an Emperor, found in Peru
The fossil of a giant penguin that lived 36 million years ago has been discovered in Peru. Scientists say the find shows that key features of the plumage were present quite early on in penguin evolution.
Improved animal breeds and feed helps reduce “carbon hoof-print”, say FAO experts
Soaring carbon emissions from a meat-hungry developing world could be cut back substantially by improving animal breeds and feed, according to a study. Demand for livestock products is predicted to double by 2050 as a result of growing populations, urbanisation and better income in the developing world, leading to rise in emissions from the industry.
