Environment

• Thursday, March 21st 2024 - 09:58 UTC

  Uruguay braces for heavy storm

  

  Classes were suspended in Uruguay for Thursday and other precautions were taken after a red alert was declared following the Weather Bureau's forecast of heavy electrical storms. Such a measure is enacted “when the intensity of a meteorological phenomenon in course or forecast implies an extreme or imminent risk level for the population in general.”

• Wednesday, March 20th 2024 - 19:41 UTC

  One person killed, over 110,000 left without electricity in storm-hit Buenos Aires

  

  One woman was killed and over 110,000 households in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) were left with no electricity on Wednesday morning as heavy rains hit the Argentine capital and its surrounding areas, leading to the delay or cancellation of some 60 passenger flights among other nuisances such as flooded streets.

• Tuesday, March 19th 2024 - 19:54 UTC

  No more petrol stations for the next 5 years in urban Paraguay

  

  Paraguayan President Santiago Peña Tuesday signed a decree whereby the opening of new petrol stations was suspended for the next five years in all of the country's urban areas citing environmental concerns. The measure will thus be in force for the remainder of Peña's term in office and is already in force, it was explained.

• Monday, March 18th 2024 - 08:29 UTC

  Falklands government thanks those involved in the Sea Lion island fire rescue operation

  

  The Falkland Islands government Chief Executive, Andy Keeling in an open statement has thanked all those involved in the response to the Sea Lion Island fire since Friday 8 March.

• Monday, March 18th 2024 - 07:56 UTC

  Rio de Janeiro under unprecedented heat wave

  

  Wind chill factor included, Rio de Janeiro Sunday recorded for the second day in a row temperatures above 60º Celsius, Agencia Brasil reported. The Rio Alert System recorded 62.3ºC at the Guaratiba station, on the city's west side, at 9.55 am, the former Brazilian capital's City Council said.

• Saturday, March 16th 2024 - 12:27 UTC

  Election time in EU; Green Deal measures are to be reviewed to try and quell farmers protests

  

  European Parliament elections are scheduled for next June, so the European Commission faced with growing protests from farmers and their marches on some of the main cities, Berlin, France and Brussels, has in response proposed concessions on climate and environmental measures.

• Thursday, March 14th 2024 - 16:28 UTC

  Argentina: Catamarca court orders halt to lithium extraction following environmental complaint

  

  The Court of Justice in Catamarca (Northern Argentina) has issued a divided ruling ordering a suspension of mining activity in the Salar del Hombre Muerto, impacting lithium production projects. The decision stems from an environmental protection action filed by cacique Román Elías Guitian, urging a comprehensive environmental impact study before new permits are granted.

• Wednesday, March 13th 2024 - 09:50 UTC

  Weather conditions improving for Panama Canal transit but still far from good

  

  Recent rains have led the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to announce an increase in the number of vessels through the interoceanic path from 24 to 27 each day, it was reported. Being the only waterway in the world that uses fresh water to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the 80-kilometer Panamanian route carries 6% of the world's maritime trade.

• Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 19:03 UTC

  Heavy storm leaves one dead, downs trees, and disrupts flights in Buenos Aires

  

  The Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) and parts of the metropolitan areas around it which together make up the so-called AMBA were hit by heavy rains on Tuesday morning- One person was found dead in the Lanús area, five blocks from the CABA limits as residents coped with an orange alert from the National Meteorological Service (SMN) warning of possible thunderstorms and occasional hail.

• Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 11:15 UTC

  Falklands sends more firefighters and FIDF to combat fire at Sea Lion Island

  

  Falkland Islands firefighters continued to fight the fire at Sea Lion island over the weekend. On Monday 11 March additional firefighters have been sent to Sea Lion Island to provide further support. Members of the FIDF, Falkland Islands Defense Force, are also being sent out to provide logistic support for the firefighters.