Environment

Thursday, January 16th 2020 - 08:51 UTC
Secret operation in Australia to save prehistoric species “dinosaur trees”

A secret operation by specialist firefighters has saved the world's last stand of Wollemi Pines, a pre-historic species known as “dinosaur trees”, from Australia's unprecedented bushfires, officials said.
Thursday, January 16th 2020 - 08:47 UTC
Past decade the hottest on record, but higher temperatures can be expected

The past decade has been the hottest on record, the UN said on Wednesday warning that the higher temperatures were expected to fuel numerous extreme weather events in 2020 and beyond.
Thursday, January 16th 2020 - 08:28 UTC
“Contaminated drinking water” in Rio: run on bottled-water in supermarkets

Widespread complaints over foul-smelling drinking water in Rio de Janeiro have triggered a run on supermarket bottled water, though the public utility denied any health risk on Wednesday.
Wednesday, January 15th 2020 - 09:34 UTC
Australian Open tennis qualifying disrupted by poor air quality as smoke blankets Melbourne

Australian Open qualifying was disrupted for a second successive day due to poor air quality on Wednesday as smoke from bushfires continued to blanket Melbourne in an acrid haze. Organizers of the year's first Grand Slam said practice had been suspended at Melbourne Park until 11am and qualifiers would not get under way until 1pm.
Wednesday, January 15th 2020 - 09:11 UTC
Australia fires’ smoke expected to circle the world, NASA satellites confirm

The vast clouds of smoke from Australia's historic bush fires are expected to circle the Earth and return to the country, Nasa says. The US agency said satellites have been monitoring the movement of the smoke high in the atmosphere as it swirled east towards South America and beyond.
Tuesday, January 14th 2020 - 09:51 UTC
Last year, the warmest on record for the world's oceans long term trend

Last year was the warmest year on record for the world's oceans, part of a long-term warming trend, according to a study released on Monday. “If you look at the ocean heat content, 2019 is by far the hottest, 2018 is second, 2017 is third, 2015 is fourth, and then 2016 is fifth,” said Kevin E. Trenberth, a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, NCAR, and an author on the study.
Tuesday, January 14th 2020 - 09:50 UTC
Chile's oil company ENAP faces sanctions for hydro-fracking in Tierra del Fuego

$The country’s environmental superintendent (the SMA) said ENAP had failed to follow protocols in its permits for so-called “hydro-fracking” activities$

Chile’s environmental regulator on Monday charged state oil company ENAP with improper fracking in Tierra del Fuego, a wild, largely unpopulated region at the southern fringe of the South American continent.
Tuesday, January 14th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Venice, from severe flooding to almost dry canals in two months

Low tides have left canals in Venice almost dry, just two months after severe flooding left much of the Italian city under water. Boats have been seen almost beached as water levels dip drastically.
Monday, January 13th 2020 - 09:56 UTC
Bush fires scorching Australia threaten PM Scott Morrison political survival

After weeks of criticism over the handling of the bushfires scorching Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday he will propose a national review into the response to the disaster, as the fires claimed another firefighter's life.
Monday, January 13th 2020 - 08:51 UTC
Prolific Galapagos giant tortoise Diego is credited for saving his species from extinction

Prolific Galapagos giant tortoise Diego is being released back into the wild after being credited by authorities with almost single handedly saving his species from extinction. The 100-year-old tortoise, who was recruited along with 14 other adults for a captive breeding program, will be returned to his native island of Espanola in March, the Galapagos National Parks service (PNG) said on Friday.