Environment

• Sunday, September 17th 2017 - 08:38 UTC

  UNWTO newly-formed Disaster Recovery Working Group for the Affected States in the Caribbean.

  

  The program was formed to meet the needs of member states that have been recently impacted by powerful natural disasters such as hurricanes, tropical storms and earthquakes .Speaking at a special meeting of the newly convened recovery program, Secretary General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai said, “We cannot just stand still – it is not right.

• Saturday, September 16th 2017 - 08:12 UTC

  Falklands promotes the Weather Observation Website to improve forecasting

  

  The Falkland Islands government is calling for individuals' weather observations to be uploaded to the Met Office system thus helping with improving forecasting and in formal weather modeling.

• Saturday, September 16th 2017 - 07:53 UTC

  Preservation of the Ozone Layer: 30th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol

  

  The United Nations’ International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is celebrated on the 16th September every year. Commemorating the 1987 signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the day advocates activities that create awareness on topics related to climate change and ozone depletion.

• Thursday, September 14th 2017 - 07:20 UTC

  Falklands Offshore Minerals Environmental Legislation Consultation

  

  The Falkland Islands Department of Mineral Resources is carrying out a public consultation on a range of proposed legislative measures applying to the offshore oil and gas industry.

• Monday, September 11th 2017 - 06:22 UTC

  Chile creates a marine protected area around Easter Island

  

  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet officially created a 740,000-square kilometer marine reserve around remote Easter Island, a move that will protect dozens of species found nowhere else. The move follows five years of efforts by environmental organizations and the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island, famous for its extreme isolation and mysterious stone statues known as Moai.

• Sunday, September 10th 2017 - 12:53 UTC

  Update regarding Irma’s impact over the Caribbean Islands.

  

  Assessments are still coming in from the impact of Hurricane Irma on a number of Caribbean countries in the northern Leeward Islands and the northern Caribbean with warnings and watches still in place for a few countries in Irma’s path. Additionally, due to the projected path of Hurricane Jose, a category 4 storm, tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings have been issued for some countries in the northern Leeward Islands.

• Sunday, September 10th 2017 - 09:19 UTC

  UK's response to Hurricane Irma has been “found waiting”; several Caribbean islands devastated

  

  Britain's response to Hurricane Irma has been “found wanting”, the heads of two parliamentary committees have said. Many of those affected in the UK's overseas territories in the Caribbean are still in “grave need”, Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat and Labour MP Stephen Twigg said.The UK has stepped up its relief effort, with three RAF aid flights sent to the area.

• Sunday, September 10th 2017 - 08:25 UTC

  Hurricane Irma forces the evacuation of 6.4 million people in Florida

  

  Hurricane Irma’s leading edge swirled toward Florida state with 195 km/h winds Saturday on a projected new track that could expose Tampa — not Miami — to a direct hit. Tampa has not taken a head-on blow from a major hurricane in nearly a century.

• Friday, September 8th 2017 - 17:06 UTC

  Strongest earthquake in a century rocks Mexico

  

  An earthquake of magnitude 8.1 struck off the southern coast of Mexico late on Thursday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, killing at least 61 people and triggering small tsunami waves but no major destruction.

• Friday, September 8th 2017 - 09:47 UTC

  UK declares state of emergency in several Caribbean Overseas Territories hit by hurricane Irma

  

  A state of emergency has been declared in a British Overseas Territory hit by Hurricane Irma. British Virgin Islands governor Gus Jaspert said there were reports of casualties and fatalities, and help had been requested from the UK. He said radio and other communication channels were extremely limited.