Environment

• Saturday, June 6th 2015 - 08:31 UTC

  Ramsar convention in Punta del Este calls for healthy wetlands

  

  We join the rest of the world to celebrate World Environment Day from glorious Punta del Este, Uruguay, where we are currently meeting at the 12th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The Contracting Parties have gathered and are very hard at work, to define a new Strategic Plan that will guide our commitment to conserve and wisely use the world’s wetlands, over the next six years from 2016 to 2021.

• Wednesday, June 3rd 2015 - 09:24 UTC

  Falklands advances despite Argentine disruption and blockade efforts, says Acting Governor Sandra Tyler-Haywood

  

  Falkland Islands' Her Honour the Acting Governor delivered on Tuesday his State of the Nation speech to the elected Legislative Assembly underlining progress and expansion achieved in the economy and community development, the UK resolute in defending the rights and wishes of the Falkland Islanders to develop their own natural resources, and despite Argentine disruption and blockade efforts, first oil is expected to be produced in 2019.

• Friday, May 22nd 2015 - 10:21 UTC

  El Niño could again disrupt global food markets later this year

  

  A strong El Niño is likely to increase prices of staple foods such as rice, coffee, sugar and cocoa, say scientists. Forecasters agree that the El Niño effect, which can drive droughts and flooding, is under way in the tropical Pacific, but they say it is too early to say how severe it will be.

• Wednesday, May 20th 2015 - 20:34 UTC

  Research icebreaker Polarstern en route to investigate climate change in Arctic

  

  Research icebreaker Polarstern left its home port in Bremerhaven on Tuesday setting a course for the Arctic. Led by Dr Ilka Peeken from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) a team of 53 researchers from 11 countries will investigate the effects of climate change in the Arctic, from the surface ice floes down to the seafloor

• Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 01:53 UTC

  Monsanto hits back with global campaign: “food is more than just a meal, it's love”

  

  As the seed and chemical maker Monsanto woos Swiss agrochemicals firm Syngenta, the US company is also is trying to win over consumers in key international markets, rolling out social media and marketing campaigns.

• Saturday, May 16th 2015 - 08:41 UTC

  Giant washed-up squid found on NZ beach displayed at Kaikoura aquarium

  

  A local aquarium in New Zealand reported that a giant washed-up squid has been found on a beach at South Bay in Kaikoura. Reportedly, a man—who was out with his dog for a stroll at the beach—accidentally stumbled upon the marine creature with long tentacles.

• Saturday, May 16th 2015 - 08:13 UTC

  Polar Code does not adequately protect Antarctic environment from shipping, says ASOC

  

  The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition voiced its disappointment over the lack of any significant new provisions in Part II of the Polar Code that would adequately protect the Antarctic environment from shipping. The London-based UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday adopted Part II of the Polar Code concerning pollution prevention.

• Wednesday, May 13th 2015 - 08:37 UTC

  IDB 216m dollars loan for Uruguay to support construction of wind farms

  

  The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to support the expansion of renewable energy in Uruguay through two financial packages, totaling 216 million dollars, which were approved for the private sector to finance part of the construction of the Colonia Airas and Valentines wind farms and their related works.

• Tuesday, May 12th 2015 - 08:43 UTC

  Obama approves oil drilling in the Arctic Sea under certain conditions

  

  President Barack Obama's administration on Monday approved petroleum giant Shell's request to begin drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic Sea under certain conditions, despite opposition from environmental groups.

• Monday, May 11th 2015 - 10:33 UTC

  Sei whales found dead in southern Chile: red tide or virus suspected death cause

  

  More than 20 whales were found dead and rotting along a rocky coast of southern Chile, maritime officials said, as they tried to determine what killed them and when. The whales, discovered beached north of the Gulf of Penas, measured about 10 meters long, according to officials with Chile's national fisheries service.