Environment

• Wednesday, July 3rd 2019 - 09:05 UTC

  Glyphosate case: US Judge lowers damage award against Bayer

  

  A U.S. judge on Tuesday said he would reduce a US$80 million damage award against Bayer AG to US$50 million or less in the case of a man who blamed his cancer on glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco said the jury's US$75 million punitive damages award to plaintiff Edwin Hardeman in March could not stand.

• Wednesday, July 3rd 2019 - 08:29 UTC

  Greenpeace on campaign against deep sea mining, at least until more information on the ecosystem is available

  

  Greenpeace ship sets sail on Thursday to study an ecosystem beneath the Atlantic Ocean thought to hold clues to the origins of life to press its case for a ban on deep-sea mining, as talks in Jamaica seek to agree on rules of deep-sea mineral exploitation.

• Tuesday, July 2nd 2019 - 09:55 UTC

  Loss of Antarctica's sea ice cover, particularly since 2014, baffles scientists

  

  After mysteriously expanding for decades, Antarctica's sea ice cover melted by an area four times greater than France in just a few years and now stands at a record low, according to a study published on Monday.

• Tuesday, July 2nd 2019 - 09:03 UTC

  Deluge of ice pellets up to two meters deep from a hail storm covers Mexican city

  

  A freak hailstorm struck Guadalajara, one of Mexico's most populous cities, shocking residents and trapping vehicles in a deluge of ice pellets up to 2 meters deep.

• Monday, July 1st 2019 - 19:16 UTC

  Japan resumes commercial whaling in defiance of international criticism

  

  Five Japanese whaling vessels have set sail for the country's first commercial hunt in decades, in defiance of international criticism. The whaling ships have a permit to catch 227 minkes, Bryde's and sei whales this year in Japanese waters.

• Monday, July 1st 2019 - 18:40 UTC

  New Acting Executive Director for IAATO

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) confirmed the appointment of Dr. Terry Shaller as Acting Executive Director of IAATO. Mark van der Hulst, Chair of IAATO’s Executive Committee, said, “Terry will lead the Secretariat and work with the Executive Committee to further IAATO’s mission to advocate and promote safe, environmentally responsible private-sector travel to Antarctica.

• Monday, July 1st 2019 - 09:53 UTC

  Climate related devastation striking the world on a weekly basis, warns Guterres

  

  United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said climate-related devastation was striking the planet on a weekly basis and warned on Sunday that urgent action must be taken to avoid a catastrophe.

• Saturday, June 29th 2019 - 09:40 UTC

  Europe “roasting” under a sweltering heat wave

  

  Europe was bracing itself for a sweltering Saturday as the heat wave continued across the continent. The Meteo-France weather service lifted its red warning but forecast a “very hot day” across a large central band of the country with the mercury expected to rise to 42 degrees Celsius in some parts.

• Friday, June 28th 2019 - 19:46 UTC

  Environmentalists urge G20 to press Japan to end its whaling program

  

  Environmentalists from around the world urged global leaders at the G20 summit on Friday not to “turn a blind eye” to what they called a “cruel assault on whales” planned by host Japan when it restarts commercial whaling next week.

• Friday, June 28th 2019 - 07:38 UTC

  Bolsonaro says Germany has much to learn from Brazil on deforestation; NGOs ask EU to halt Mercosur talks

  

  President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday Germany has “a lot to learn” from Brazil when it comes to the environment, hitting back at criticism over deforestation in the Amazon. Bolsonaro made the remarks in Japan on the eve of the G20 summit, where German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday she would seek “straight talk” with the Brazilian leader over destruction of the rainforest.