Environment

• Friday, December 4th 2009 - 15:36 UTC

  Ozone hole protecting Antarctic from global warming, says SCAR

  

  The ozone hole may be boosting the risk of skin cancer, but it's also protecting Antarctica from global warming, international researchers claim in an assessment of Antarctic climate change from the geological past to the present.

• Friday, December 4th 2009 - 09:21 UTC

  China attacks water pollution and plans massive investments

  

  China will invest 13 billion US dollars in the next three years in projects to improve the quality of water faced with serious contamination problems, reported “China Daily”. Most of the money will go to sewage systems, water purifying and rainwater harvesting according to Deputy Environment minister Wu Xiaoqing.

• Wednesday, December 2nd 2009 - 12:26 UTC

  Brazil's powerhouse bank

  

  With his slicked-back hair, neatly trimmed, close-cropped beard, and impeccably pressed suits, Luciano Coutinho looks like any other obscure Brazilian banker.
  But he is anything but an average banking man.

• Wednesday, December 2nd 2009 - 12:15 UTC

  MSC's toothfish certification proposal criticised

  

  Scientists and environmental groups criticised the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) last week for proposing the certification of Ross Sea Antarctic toothfish. The certification is being recommended by UK-based Moody Marine, the organisation chosen by Ross Sea fishers and accepted by the MSC.

• Saturday, November 28th 2009 - 05:19 UTC

  Coconut ban in Rio beaches, but what about cans and bottles?

  

  One of the enduring images of Rio's beaches -- coconuts opened to yield their milk -- is about to become a thing of the past. The environment secretariat of the host city of the 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games says the big green fruit is an unhygienic eyesore and is banning its sale from December first.

• Friday, November 27th 2009 - 11:39 UTC

  Amazon region call on rich nations to fund preservation of forests

  

  Nine nations in the Amazon region have called on rich countries to provide poorer nations with the funds to preserve forests. The nations, meeting in Manaus, Brazil, also discussed supporting a 40% reduction in global emissions by 2020.

• Friday, November 27th 2009 - 11:32 UTC

  Irish company plans to invest 1.6 billion USD in wind farms in Chile

  

  Irish energy firm Mainstream Renewable Power hopes to invest 1.6 billion US dollars in coming years to extend its Chilean wind farm operations. The firm is currently exploring the feasibility of building nine new wind farms across the country, local executive Jose Ignacio Escobar revealed this week.

• Friday, November 27th 2009 - 11:16 UTC

  Norway opens world’s first osmotic power plant prototype

  

  Norwegian renewable energy giant Statkraft has switched on the world's first osmotic power plant prototype - using a technology which produces electricity from a process which mixes fresh water and salty sea water.

• Friday, November 27th 2009 - 11:12 UTC

  El Niño Cranks Up The Heat This Summer

  

  Summer is coming to Chile in less than a month and climatologists predict thermometers will be rising more than usual due to El Niño, the warm ocean current that wreaks havoc on the climates of countries along the Pacific Ocean.

• Thursday, November 26th 2009 - 07:51 UTC

  Argentina contracts icebreaker for Antarctic 2009/2010 campaign

  

  Argentina’s Ministry of Defence announced the contract of an icebreaker and a helicopter for the coming 2009/2010 Antarctic campaign. The news was published in the government’s official bulletin and involves almost 8 million US dollars.