Environment

• Saturday, December 13th 2014 - 04:07 UTC

  Argentina purchases four Russian multipurpose polar Supply-class tugs

  

  Argentina's ministry of Defense has signed an agreement for the purchase of four Russian-built multipurpose polar tugs, class NEFTEGAZ, at a total cost of just over eight million dollars.

• Friday, December 12th 2014 - 08:59 UTC

  Plastic litter in oceans estimated in 269.000 tons, say US scientists

  

  Plastic pollution is pervasive in Earth's oceans: plastic shopping bags, bottles, toys, action figures, bottle caps, pacifiers, tooth brushes, boots, buckets, deodorant roller balls, umbrella handles, fishing gear, toilet seats and so much more.

• Monday, December 8th 2014 - 11:09 UTC

  Ten months of 2014 the hottest on record; land surface temperature up 2 Celsius degrees

  

  Despite the record early snowfall in parts of the United States in recent weeks, 2014 is shaping up to be the hottest year on record and according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, the first ten months of this year have been the hottest since record keeping began more than 130 years ago.

• Wednesday, December 3rd 2014 - 22:31 UTC

  Chile holds first Mayors climate change forum with UK support

  

  Chile's first Mayors Climate Change Forum, a local government-led initiative focused on cities, local territories and climate change took place in late November with the support of the British Embassy in Santiago.

• Thursday, November 27th 2014 - 06:50 UTC

  Antarctica sea ice thicker than anticipated reveals an autonomous sub

  

  A novel autonomous sub has acquired the first detailed, high-resolution 3D maps of Antarctic sea ice. Released from a ship, the vehicle crisscrossed the underside of the floes, using upward-looking sonar to measure their shape.

• Tuesday, November 25th 2014 - 22:59 UTC

  Falklands experience in energy projects attracts strong interest in Latam conference and Chile

  

  The Falkland Islands experience in implementing energy projects, both conventional and wind farms was shared with the attendants of the recent RELACCX (Renewable Energy Latin America and Caribbean Conference and Exhibition) event, held in Puerto Rico, and where Falklands' engineer Glenn Ross was an invited speaker.

• Monday, November 24th 2014 - 07:31 UTC

  IMO adopts Polar Code which comes into force in 2017; environmental groups unsatisfied

  

  The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted the Polar Code aimed at regulating shipping in Polar Regions. Several environmental groups have criticized the measures for not going far enough to protect the Arctic and Antarctic environments, arguing that while the new code is a positive step forward, it is insufficient to properly protect Polar environments from the anticipated increased levels of shipping activity.

• Monday, November 24th 2014 - 07:03 UTC

  Peru investigating the death of 500 sea lions found on a northern beach

  

  Peru is investigating the deaths of some 500 sea lions found on a beach on its northern coastline. The local governor has accused fishermen of poisoning the mammals, which usually come close to the shore looking for food.

• Wednesday, November 19th 2014 - 07:51 UTC

  Greenpeace condemns Japan’s rush to resume Antarctic whaling

  

  Greenpeace on Tuesday condemned the Government of Japan's rush to resume Antarctic whaling and called on them to abide by world opinion and the clearly expressed desires of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

• Tuesday, November 18th 2014 - 08:04 UTC

  G20 agrees on growth, climate change and taxes, but Putin leaves pressed on Ukraine

  

  Leaders from the G20 group of nations agreed on Sunday to boost flagging global growth, tackle climate change and crack down on tax avoidance but ties between the West and Russia plummeted to a new low over the crisis in Ukraine.