Environment

• Monday, July 11th 2016 - 06:07 UTC

  Brazilian army take to the streets in a display of force in anticipation of the Olympic Games

  

  Brazilian soldiers were on the streets last Saturday, checking out spots around the city that will get intense security when the Rio de Janeiro Olympics open in under four weeks. Armored vehicles and trucks carrying troops were accompanied by soldiers decked out in camouflage gear and matching helmets, with rifles slung over their shoulders. The soldiers covered the city, from Copacabana Beach to the central train station and the renovated port area.

• Monday, July 11th 2016 - 05:12 UTC

  Raw sewage and super-bacteria off Rio beaches threaten Olympic water competitions

  

  A group of Brazilian scientists has just discovered a drug-resistant super-bacteria growing off some of Rio de Janeiro’s beaches, with less than a month to go until the 2016 Olympic Games officially commence, which will be hosted by the city from August 5.

• Thursday, July 7th 2016 - 05:56 UTC

  Sub Antarctic volcano eruption ash threatens one of the world's largest penguin colonies

  

  A volcano erupting on a small island in the Sub Antarctic is depositing ash over one of the world's largest penguin colonies. Zavodovski Island is a small island in the South Sandwich archipelago and its volcano Mt Curry has been erupting since March 2016. The island is home to over one million chinstrap penguins -- the largest colony for this species in the world.

• Saturday, July 2nd 2016 - 09:20 UTC

  Antarctic ozone hole is finally starting to heal according to study published in Science

  

  Nearly thirty years after an international treaty banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons, the Antarctic ozone hole is finally starting to heal. By mid to late century, it should be fully recovered.

• Thursday, June 30th 2016 - 15:15 UTC

  Convention on Biological Diversity extended to the Falkland Islands

  

  The United Kingdom ratification to the Convention on Biological Diversity was formally extended to the Falkland Islands on Wednesday (June 29). The CBD is an agreement on environmental management and best practice and originated from the 1992 Rio Conference on environment and development.

• Saturday, June 25th 2016 - 20:30 UTC

  Beijing sinking because of excessive pumping of groundwater: 11cms per year

  

  China’s capital is known for its horrendous smog and occasional sandstorms. Yet one of its major environmental threats lies underground: Beijing is sinking. Excessive pumping of groundwater is causing the geology under the city to collapse, according to a new study using satellite imagery that reveals parts of Beijing – particularly its central business district – are subsiding each year by as much as 11 centimeters.

• Thursday, June 23rd 2016 - 13:22 UTC

  German coalition bans fracking for shale gas indefinitely, but with parliament reassess in 2021

  

  Germany's coalition government agreed this week to ban fracking for shale gas indefinitely after years of fractious talks over the issue, but environmental groups said the ban did not go far enough and vowed to fight the deal. Test drilling will be allowed but only with the permission of the respective state government, officials said.

• Thursday, June 23rd 2016 - 02:56 UTC

  Renewables the focus of EU Energy Week in the Falklands

  

  The Power & Electrical Department hosted an open day last week at their Sand Bay Wind Farm to showcase the work being undertaken by the Falkland Island’s Government (FIG) to utilise and promote renewable energy sources. The open day, which included guided tours and demonstrations, formed part of wider initiatives recently undertaken by FIG to address issues surrounding climate change.

• Wednesday, June 15th 2016 - 19:06 UTC

  Federal Reserve cautious about the future, leaves interest rates unchanged

  

  United States Federal Reserve in a unanimous vote kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday and signaled that it will assess labor market conditions, inflation expectations and financial and international developments before deciding on future actions. The U.S. central bank also lowered its economic growth forecasts for 2016 and 2017 and indicated it would be less aggressive in tightening monetary policy after the end of this year.

• Sunday, June 5th 2016 - 23:22 UTC

  Brewery creates organic six-pack rings to protect sea life

  

  A Florida brewery in the United States has done something bold to try to help the environment: replacing the plastic six-pack rings that can harm sea life with edible ones. Plastic rings, untold numbers of which end up in rivers and oceans, can be fatal to animals like fish, turtles and birds, and Saltwater Brewery thought there had to be a better way.