Climate Change

The United States Treasury has not contributed funds to the African Development Bank’s low-income country fund, citing too much focus on climate change and other issues. Abidjan's AfDB is Africa's largest development lender. In December, the AfDB raised $11 billion at a London conference for the African Development Fund. It was not clear if the United States had contributed any money to the African Development Fund (ADF), one of the top five state donors for the AfDB. A spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury said that the administration of President Donald Trump will continue to hold international financial institutions accountable to...

Binding Solutions, a British company, has signed a deal with a Japanese trading house to convert iron ore from Western Australia's Pilbara region in low-carbon pellets. The privately-held company claims that its technology reduces energy and CO2 emission in the production iron ore pellets when compared with the established method. Binding Solutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mitsui Iron Ore Development for the production of cold-agglomerated Pellets, according to a press release. These pellets are made using less energy than conventional pellets. The company's CEO Jon Stewart stated that the progress made by the company in working with MIOD...

A U.S. Federal Court ruled on Friday that the Department of Energy violated the law by forming a climate science advisory group. This could put its upcoming final proposal to?repeal an important climate regulation in danger. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has issued a judgement that the Trump administration's creation of a Climate Working Group comprised of five climate skeptics violates the law?that governs the way federal advisory committees operate. Key Context Last year, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Union of Concerned Scientists filed a lawsuit against the Department of Energy for convening a working...

A U.S. Federal Court ruled on Friday that the Department of Energy had violated the law when it created a climate science advisor group. This could potentially put its upcoming final proposal to'repeal' a key climate regulation in danger. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has issued a judgement that says the Trump administration's creation of a Climate Working Group comprised of five climate skeptics violates the federal law governing advisory committees. The Department of Energy did not respond immediately to a comment request. Key Context Last year, the Environmental Defense Fund and Union of Concerned Scientists...

The historic Windsor Castle, home of Britain's King Charles, will be the site of the first ever film premier at a palace. The filming of "Finding Harmony : A King's Vision", filmed over seven months in 2017, will be shown next month on Amazon Prime. It is described as a personal look at the 77-year old monarch's environmental activism, and his philosophy. Charles is shown reflecting on his experiences. From being ridiculed for speaking to plants, to his hope that the sustainability vision he has embraced in many projects around the world will save the planet. Charles says, "It comes...

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that U.S. officials ordered this month national parks to remove hundreds of signs and displays about the mistreatment by settlers of Native Americans, as well as climate change. This is part of Donald Trump's effort to change public spaces and museums, which rights activists say could reverse decades of social progress. Last week, the National Park Service removed an exhibition on slavery from Philadelphia's?historical site, in accordance with Trump’s claims of "anti-American ideologies" at historical and cultural institutions. The Post reported citing documents that Trump administration officials had ordered that this month signs in...

The Washington Post reported?on Tuesday? that U.S. officials ordered this month national parks to remove hundreds of signs and displays relating to the'mistreatment of Native Americans in the past by settlers', as well as the - climate change and - environmental protection. This is part of Donald Trump's effort to change public spaces and museums, which rights activists say could reverse decades of social progress. Last week, the National Park Service removed an exhibit about slavery from a Philadelphia historical site, in accordance with Trump's claims, which were rejected by civil right groups. The Post?reported citing documents that Trump administration...

Enosis capital, a credit fund, has signed an agreement with AXA XL to have the insurance company provide vital cover for a $3 billion wave of debt for nature' deals. The first deal is expected to be in the next 6 to 9 months. Debt-for nature swaps are designed to help countries with lower incomes spend more money on ecosystems that are under threat, such as coral reefs or rainforests. They do this by substituting expensive government bonds for cheaper alternatives. Belize, Barbados, and Ecuador's Galapagos Islands are examples of places that have seen their popularity grow. But there has...

Teams of snowmakers are racing against the clock to meet the competition requirements for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, within ever-shorter cold windows. Climate change is reshaping the limits of technology. Organisers at Italy's Alpine venues are increasingly relying on artificially-produced snow to compensate for the declining and less predictable natural snowfall. This means that months of preparation can be squeezed into short periods of subzero temperatures, leaving less room for error. In order to accommodate the Olympic competition in Milano - Cortina, resorts like Livigno, Bormio and Antholz-Anterselva, which are already established, have added reservoirs, pumps and snow...

EPA reportedly removes a climate page that mentions "human-caused" Data preservation and tracking changes are a priority for groups The future of climate reporting is in the air By David Sherfinski The administration has removed all references to climate justice and environmental change from government resources. It even deleted or blocked access to data and information which could contradict or undermine his agenda. The implications of this are huge - and they could be even more severe during his remaining term. There is a perception among some that scientists who don't support the agenda will be muzzled, and that findings...

According to a recent data analysis, cancer-related deaths among U.S. adult under 50 years of age have declined for all leading cancers except colorectal. This cancer is now the most common cause, moving up from fifth place during the early 1990s. Researchers from the American Cancer Society noted that colorectal cancer has surpassed its original prediction of becoming the leading cause of cancer death in the age group under 50 by 2040. The analysis published in JAMA?found that from 1990 to 2023, the last year for which there are data available, nearly 1.3 millions people in the U.S. died of...

Microsoft and Indigo Carbon have agreed to purchase a record amount of?2,85 million soil carbon credits related to regenerative farming in the United States. The tech giant is aiming to be "carbon-negative" by 2030, despite the rising emissions associated with AI. Microsoft, the world's largest buyer of carbon credits, did not reveal the price of the 12-year deal. However, someone with knowledge of it said that the credits Indigo Carbon sells are priced between $60 and $80 per ton, which would put the value of the deal anywhere from $171 million to $228 million. Regenerative farming includes a variety of...

The Patagonia forest fires destroyed an area twice as large as Buenos Aires. This has sparked criticism about the austerity measures taken by President Javier Milei, which have reduced aid resources significantly. On Thursday, the government announced that it would declare an 'emergency' in the southern provinces? of Chubut, Rio Negro and La Pampa. Wildfires are common in Patagonia during the summer months, but the current fires have breached Los Alerces National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its alerce trees, which can live more than 3,600 years, ?making them the world's second-longest-living tree species. Forest fires are...

The fires that raged near Concepcion, a city in southern Chile, were putting out by Wednesday morning. Cloudy skies and humid air brought cooler temperatures to coastal areas after extreme heat for days. The smoke plumes lingered and it was expected that the death toll would rise, as the police and state coroner continued to search for bodies inside apartment blocks damaged by fire. Residents began to clear debris and rebuild with the help of neighbors and volunteers. Carlos Lopez, city councillor of nearby Cobquecura gathered money, nails and wood as well as cement and other construction materials. With the...

Authorities in Chile said that at least 19 people have died as a result of wildfires. The government has carried out?mass-evacuations and is fighting nearly two dozen fires, which are exacerbated by high winds and intense heat. Luis Cordero said, "At a Monday morning news briefing, while the weather conditions over night helped to control some fires but the largest ones were still active and adverse conditions are expected all day." Cordero stated that the forecast for today was?high temperatures, and that the main concern was the possibility of new fires erupting?all over the region. Extreme heat warnings were issued...

Early on Sunday, Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two areas in the southern part of the country as wildfires forced?least?20,000 people from their homes and killed at least 16 others. CONAF, the Chilean forestry agency, reported that 24 fires were active in Chile as of Sunday morning. The largest of these was located in Nuble?and Bio Bio regions, where the government had declared an emergency. These regions are located about 500 km south of Santiago, the capital. "I have declared a catastrophe in Nuble and Biobio due to the ongoing serious wildfires." Boric stated on...

As wildfires raged in the southern part of the country, the Chilean president Gabriel Boric declared a catastrophe early on Sunday. At least 20,000 people were forced to flee. CONAF, the Chilean forestry agency reports that 24 fires are active in Chile as of Sunday morning. The largest of these is located in Nuble?and Bio Bio where the government has declared an emergency. These regions are located?about 500km south of Santiago. "As a result of the'serious and ongoing wildfires in Nuble and Biobio, I have declared a catastrophe for the two?regions. Boric stated on a X post that "all resources...

Scientists have created the most detailed map of the terrain beneath the vast ice sheets covering Antarctica. They discovered an exuberant landscape with mountains, canyons valleys, and plains. Researchers used high-resolution satellite images and a technique called ice flow perturbation analysis to map the entire continent, including parts that had never been explored before. A better understanding of the subglacial landscape could help forecast the climate-related retreat in Antarctica's Ice Sheet. Research has shown that rough terrain, such as jagged mountaintops and hillsides, can slow the retreat. The study, published in the journal Science, was led by Robert Bingham, a...

Restoration projects in Brazil have increased 160% since 2020 Wildfire-fueled deforestation breaks records Restoring soil with seed is a cost-effective alternative By Andre Cabette Fabio Oliveira, a seed collector from Mato Grosso is among the?more that 700 members of the Xingu Seeds Network who are working to recover forests and savannas in this major agricultural state. After the Brazilian government committed to restore 12,000,000 hectares of natural areas (or 30,000,000 acres) by 2030, as part of its climate goals in the 2015 Paris Agreement, forest restoration is now taking hold. This is thanks to the support of civil society, businesses,...

Chile is creating a national park to protect unique ecosystems and endangered wildlife at the very edge of the map. The proposed?Cape Froward National Park would cover approximately 150,000 hectares of forest, peatlands and glaciers, as well as coastlines facing the Strait of Magellan. Benjamin Caceres is the wildlife coordinator for Rewilding Chile. He said that humans must regulate their activities, including tourism and industry, to protect fragile ecosystems. "These are resilient places that create refuges for endangered species and maintain balance." Rewilding?Chile is a foundation founded by Douglas Tompkins who was a philanthropist, and the founder of North?Face, an...

In the midst of the bustle and noise in a posh coffee shop located on Sao Paulo’s Oscar Freire Avenue a barista prepares an unusual espresso. The shot is extra creamy with a cocoa nib aroma, but lacks the acidity that distinguishes coffees made from arabica beans. This premium espresso is 100% robusta, a bean that has been criticized in the coffee industry as a cheap filler more suited to instant coffee. Marco Kerkmeester said that the coffee has a lot more chocolatey notes and makes a great crema. He also noted the appeal of a variety cheekily labelled "0%...

Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva fought tears while global diplomats applauded for several minutes Saturday at the closing plenary session of the COP30 climate summit. She told the delegates in the Amazon rainforest town of Belem that "we've made modest progress, even if it was modest." Then she raised her fist defiantly above her head. "The courage to face the climate crisis is a result of persistence and collective efforts." The Brazilian hosts were able to release their frustrations in the tense room where many nations expressed their displeasure with a deal which failed to mention fossil-fuels, even though they...

Brazil's president Luiz inacio Lula da Silva said that the G20 climate summit in South Africa, and the COP30 summit in Brazil, show that multilateralism remains alive despite attempts by U.S. Donald Trump to dismantle. "Trump is trying to preach against multilateralism and to reinforce unilateralism. "I think multilateralism is going to win," he said to reporters at the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg. Lula said that Trump's absence from the summit "didn't really matter" to him. "The G20 is still strong." "We need to put the decisions we made into action," he said. He added that he was...

Brazil's COP30 summit was forced to face a crucial day on Saturday after all-night discussions to break an impasse. The European Union had blocked a deal that it felt would not advance efforts to curb greenhouse gases, which are driving global climate changes. The two-week climate conference, billed as an opportunity to demonstrate that nations could still unite to combat climate change in the absence of the United States, was supposed to end on Friday. However the standoff forced the negotiators to work overtime. The Brazilian presidency tried to reach a compromise over a deal which most of the 200...