Environment

Thursday, April 26th 2018 - 08:41 UTC
Major companies launch “UK Plastics Pact” to eliminate plastic packaging by 2025

Dozens of companies have signed up to efforts to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic packaging by 2025, it has been announced. Under the “UK Plastics Pact”, the businesses have also agreed targets to make 100% of their plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable and to ensure 70% is effectively recycled or composted.
Thursday, April 26th 2018 - 08:26 UTC
“World Penguin Day”: funny on land and graceful and rapid in the sea

April 25th is “World Penguin Day”, undoubtedly the world’s most popular bird – think of Happy Feet, March of the Penguins, Pingu just to name a few uses in popular culture. These charismatic flightless birds are funny to watch on land but are graceful and rapid in water. They occur only in the seas of the Southern hemisphere; there are seventeen species of penguin ranging from the Galapagos to Antarctica.
Wednesday, April 25th 2018 - 09:06 UTC
Tons of frozen micro-plastics found trapped in the floating ice of the Arctic

Record levels of micro-plastics have been found trapped inside sea ice floating in the Arctic. Ice cores gathered across the Arctic Ocean reveal micro-plastics at concentrations two to three times higher than previously recorded. As sea ice melts with climate change, the plastic will be released back into the water, with unknown effects on wildlife, say German scientists.
Saturday, April 21st 2018 - 06:57 UTC
What is Earth Day, and what is it meant to accomplish?

A message from Earth Network president, Kathleen Rogers - Close to 48 years ago, on 22 April 1970, millions of people took to the streets to protest the negative impacts of 150 years of industrial development.
Thursday, April 19th 2018 - 08:12 UTC
Drilling near the mouth of the Amazon banned by Brazil's environmental regulator

The public prosecutor’s office in the northern state of Amapá recommended on Wednesday that Brazil’s environmental regulator Ibama deny French major Total a license to drill for oil near the mouth of the Amazon.
Wednesday, April 18th 2018 - 07:56 UTC
IMF semi-annual report warns of choppy waters ahead: protectionism and trade wars

While the world economy continues to show broad-based momentum, a new report released on Tuesday by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is warning that there may be choppy seas ahead, caused by increasing protectionism or tit-for-tat trade wars.
Monday, April 16th 2018 - 08:53 UTC
Ambitious IMO strategy to reduce shipping emissions 50% bu 2050

Nations meeting at the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London have adopted an initial strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, setting out a vision to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping and phase them out, as soon as possible in this century.
Monday, April 16th 2018 - 08:40 UTC
UK earmarks £61.4 million to fight the rising tide of plastic pollution in oceans

The UK Government has earmarked a £61.4 million war chest to fight the rising tide of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Theresa May announced the fund ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London this week.
Friday, April 13th 2018 - 08:44 UTC
New Zealand bans new offshore exploration and targets a clean energy future

Permits for offshore oil and gas exploration will no longer be issued by the New Zealand Government as part of its commitment to a clean energy future. The move will not affect existing permits for exploration or extraction, meaning the industry is likely to continue in the nation for several more decades.
Thursday, April 12th 2018 - 08:42 UTC
Global shipping industry discussing in London a cap to emissions

Countries are meeting in an attempt to agree cuts to greenhouse gases from the global shipping industry, amid pressure on the sector to help tackle climate change. Shipping, like aviation, is not directly included in the Paris Agreement, the international deal on global warming which was secured in the French capital in 2015 and commits countries to avoiding “dangerous” climate change.