Civil society groups and academics urged governments Thursday to take actual steps toward fulfilling a stalled pledge to end deforestation before this year's UN climate summit in the Brazilian Amazon. "In 2025, governments must take bold action to get on track," the coalition of nearly 40 non-governmental organisations, think-tanks and forest research bodies said in a document outlining policy proposals.
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Jordan, one of the world's driest countries, signed an agreement on Sunday with French-led investors to build one of the world's largest desalination plants. In 2013, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians signed a memorandum of understanding on that project, which included plans to build a desalination plant at the Red Sea.
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes near the Tibet-Nepal border, killing at least nine people. It causes building collapses and shakes regions across Bihar and North India. The quake's epicentre is in Tibet, about 93 km from Lobuche, Nepal. Two aftershocks were also recorded.
A village in the Philippines' capital region initiated a unique mosquito bounty plan amid a dengue outbreak. Residents are rewarded with cash for capturing mosquitoes, dead or alive. With an alarming rise in dengue cases, the initiative aims to combat the spread of the disease and incentivize proactive community involvement in mosquito control.
Japan has set new decarbonization targets, aiming to cut emissions by 60 per cent by 2035 and 73 per cent by 2040 from 2013 levels. The updated energy plan boosts renewables to 40-50 per cent by 2040 while reviving nuclear power, targeting 20 per cent of energy supply. However, nuclear expansion faces safety concerns and slow regulatory processes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is monitoring plant restarts, including at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, amid local opposition.
Untreated sewage discharge in Pune's Mula-Mutha River resulted in mass fish deaths near Naik Island, blamed on the Naidu Water Purification Project. Residents criticize the Pune Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board for failing to address the pollution. This event poses significant health risks and disrupts the river's ecological balance.
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake, deemed 'unusual' by scientists, struck India's eastern coast. The epicenter was 91 kilometers deep beneath the Bay of Bengal, causing tremors in Odisha, West Bengal, and Bangladesh. Experts from various institutions aim to study this rare seismic activity to understand potential hidden faults and future risks.
A winter drought is ravaging crops in Pakistan's breadbasket, farmers said Thursday, with the region parched by a 40 percent drop in rainfall. Sindh, Pakistan's most urbanised province located in the south, witnessed rainfall 52 percent below normal levels according to the PMD, while Balochistan in the west saw a 45 percent drop.
Australian birds are changing shape due to rising temperatures. Over 100 species show smaller bodies and larger beaks, aiding heat dissipation. Long-term warming increases beak size, but short-term heatwaves cause both body and beak shrinkage, possibly due to food scarcity. While adaptation is evident, its impact on survival remains uncertain, raising concerns about species unable to adapt.
The Supreme Court has emphasized the crucial role of waste segregation at source for the environment, highlighting non-compliance with the 2016 Solid Waste Management Rules across NCR states. The Court has mandated NCR states to file comprehensive affidavits on waste management by March while planning to assess best practices and impacts on waste-to-energy projects.
A surprise heatwave hit Central Asia in March, a new study published Friday showed, putting in danger crops and water supply in a largely rural region already heavily affected by the impacts of climate change. "Hotter March temperatures are impacting agriculture harvests and access to water in Central Asia, as well as people's health," said Friederike Otto, co-head of World Weather Attribution.