Environment

Wednesday, December 13th 2023 - 10:06 UTC
New attempt to thwart trading of grains and oilseeds grown in South America's cleared forest land

Mercosur and the European Union failed to sign the much-expected and long-awaited free trade and cooperation agreement during the South American block summit in Rio do Janeiro, mainly because of discrepancies over forestry and agricultural land. Brazilian President Lula da Silva said he was committed to signing the agreement with the EU, and will “not give up” until achieved but further hurdles could be in the way.
Wednesday, December 13th 2023 - 06:03 UTC
COP conferences may prove vital, but in days to come

By Gwynne Dyer

The key debate on the last day of the COP28 climate summit at the United Arab Emirates was about whether the conference should endorse a resolution to “phase out” fossil fuels — or, in a less ambitious formulation, phase them “down” (but not out).
Wednesday, December 6th 2023 - 10:30 UTC
Falklands will proceed with Phase Three of Sand Bay Wind Farm

Following approval from the Executive Council on Monday 27 November, the Falkland Islands Government will be able to proceed with “in principle approval” for Phase Three of the Sand Bay Wind Farm.
Tuesday, December 5th 2023 - 10:40 UTC
RRS Sir David Attenborough meets mega iceberg A23a drifting towards South Georgia

Scientists aboard the Falklands flagged RRS Sir David Attenborough collected samples of seawater around the A23a mega iceberg, the largest iceberg in the world. New video footage shows the enormous iceberg, some 3,900km2 and 400m tall, twice the size of Greater London stretching out into the distance beyond the research vessel.
Monday, December 4th 2023 - 10:42 UTC
France to donate € 500 million to Brazil's Amazon Fund

French President Emmanuel Macron Saturday pledged € 500 million over the next three years to Brazil's Amazon Fund, while the United Kingdom announced an additional £ 35 million (around € 40.78 million) in addition to the £ 80 million (€ 93.22 million) it had already announced in May, Agencia Brasil reported.
Monday, December 4th 2023 - 10:26 UTC
Oil companies' pledge deemed insufficient at COP28

While 50 leading oil companies and more than 100 countries committed at the Conference of Parties (COP28) to reducing their methane emissions and up their energy efficiency, experts and activists claim these measures address the visible effects, but not the root of the problem.
Monday, December 4th 2023 - 08:20 UTC
UK leads action to protect rainforests committing £85 million funding at COP28

The UK announced a multi-million pound package of measures to protect the world’s rainforests, encourage investment in clean energy technologies, and help developing countries cut their carbon emissions.
Saturday, December 2nd 2023 - 20:46 UTC
Some thoughts on climate change at the start of COP28 in Qatar

By Gwynne Dyer - At the opening of the COP28 global climate summit in Qatar, here are some thoughts about the state of climate science. I have interviewed at least sixty leading climate scientists in a dozen countries over the past three years.
Wednesday, November 29th 2023 - 14:19 UTC
US grain exports threatened by insufficient draft along the Mississippi for barges

As has happened with the mighty Paraná River in the heartland of South America, with the Amazon in northern South America, and even with the Panama Canal, all of them suffering lack of rainfall to keep basins flowing with sufficient water levels, now has come the turn of the Mississippi with insufficient draft for the vessels and barges involved in transporting US grains.
Wednesday, November 29th 2023 - 14:12 UTC
Using a new AI tool to track the life cycle of icebergs in Antarctica

Researchers are using a new AI tool to detect icebergs in the Southern Ocean. This is the first step towards scientists being able to track the complete life cycle of most icebergs across Antarctica from satellite data. The study published in the journal Remote Sensing of the Environment points out a report from the British Antarctic Survey.