Latest News
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US Energy Council Chief: Future Offshore Wind Projects Unlikely
U.S. Interior Secretary and Energy Council Chief Doug Burgum has said that it is not likely that there will be future offshore wind projects built in the country under the current Trump administration.During the Gastech conference in Milan, Burgum said the renewable power from offshore wind is ‘just too expensive and not reliable enough’.“We are taking a deep look. There are five projects that are under construction and we’re taking a look at each of those,” Burgum said.When it comes to the solar power, and future projects, Burgum noted that for such projects, solar panels will have be produced by the U.S. itself,He also said during the Gastech conference in Milan that if there was to be a future for solar power in the United States, panels have to be made by the U.S. itself or its allies, and not China, due to reported ‘kill switches’ installed in the equipment supplied by the country.
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US appellate court pauses on climate rule challenges
Court documents show that a federal appeals court said on Friday it would suspend its consideration of the legal challenges against U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission climate regulations until Wall Street regulators decide whether they will change them or defend them in court. The SEC, under former president Joe Biden adopted rules that required publicly traded companies, led by Republican states, to inform investors about climate risks, emissions, and spending. Republican-led state and an industry group immediately challenged this in court. In March, under Republican President Donald Trump the SEC decided to stop defending this rule. The U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, issued an order Friday saying that the legal challenges would be put on hold to encourage judicial economy because the SEC refused to defend its rule in court, or to say if it intended to modify the rule or scrap it entirely. The order stated that it was the responsibility of the SEC to decide whether the Final Rules would be rescinded or repealed. It also noted that the SEC already had stayed the regulations’ effective date while the legal challenge was ongoing, so a delayed court ruling would not harm. The SEC didn't immediately respond to requests for comment, but in July the agency informed the court that it had no intention of reconsidering the rule and asked the court to continue the case anyway. Reporting by Douglas Gillison, Washington; Editing and proofreading by David Gregorio
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US EPA proposes to end mandatory greenhouse gas reporting
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule on Friday to end the mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by 8,000 facilities. This program, the EPA said, was burdensome for businesses but left the public in the dark about the environmental impact. The agency stated that mandatory collection of GHG emission data is unnecessary as it "is not directly related to potential regulations and has no significant impact on improving the health and environment of humans." KEY QUOTE The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, according to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, is nothing but bureaucratic red-tape that doesn't improve air quality. BACKGROUND The rule is a response to an executive order that was issued on the first day of President Donald Trump's presidency. It aims to remove barriers to releasing more U.S. Energy, especially fossil fuels. This is just the latest in a long line of regulatory rollbacks that have undone previous U.S. attempts to combat climate changes. Earlier this year, the EPA revealed plans to repeal its "endangerment findings" which allowed it to regulate greenhouse gases from stationary and vehicle sources. The proposal, if finalized, would eliminate reporting obligations for all large facilities, fuel and industrial gas providers, and CO2 injector sites. The Trump administration also announced that it would pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which requires all countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Key Context The Trump administration also took steps to stop the collection of environmental databases by the EPA and other federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA's satellites that monitor greenhouse gases. DETAILS Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, 47 categories of sources covering 8,000 suppliers and facilities are required to calculate their greenhouse gas emission and submit it annually. The agency will continue to require the submission of data on methane emissions for large oil-and-gas operations that are subject to a charge for waste emissions. (Reporting and editing by Richard Chang; Valerie Volcovici)
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NATO launches "Eastern Sentry" to strengthen eastern flank following Russian drone incursion
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that NATO launched on Friday an operation called Eastern Sentry in response to Russian drones entering Polish airspace this week. Rutte said at a NATO press conference in Brussels that "we must make it clear to the world our determination and our capability to defend our territories." He said this while standing next to NATO's top commander U.S. Air Force general Alexus Grynkewich. Rutte stated that NATO was still assessing possible intentions behind the incursion. This led to Polish and NATO allies shooting down drones, the first such action NATO has taken since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He said that the Russian action was "reckless" and "inacceptable", regardless of whether it was intentional. Russia claimed that its forces were attacking Ukraine when the drones entered the country and they had no intention of hitting any targets in Poland. Warsaw rejected this explanation and said the incursion had been a deliberate attack. FLEXIBLE RESPONSE ALONG EASTERN FLANC Grynkewich stated that Eastern Sentry is designed to be a flexible, integrated operation for bolstering defences along NATO’s entire Eastern flank. This extends from the Baltic States in the north all the way down to Romania and Bulgaria. He said, "Poland's citizens and those from the Alliance in general should feel assured of our swift response this week as well as our important announcement today." NATO has already deployed thousands of troops in Eastern Europe. The number of additional troops involved in this new operation was not specified. The announcement listed a modest amount of new military assets, including two F-16 fighters and a Danish frigate, three Rafale jet fighters from France, and four Eurofighter aircraft from Germany. Grynkewich, however, said that the new operation also aimed to adopt a more flexible strategy to defend the eastern flank in general rather than having static forces dedicated to a specific area. He said: "We will adjust our posture across the eastern flank in a way that keeps the enemy off-guard, while also responding to specific threats when we see them emerge." Reporting by Andrew Gray, Bart Meijer; Writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, John Irish, Editing by GV de Clercq Alexandra Hudson, Aidan Lewis
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EU countries delay deal on new climate goal, diplomats say
Three EU diplomats said on Friday that the European Union has shelved its plans to adopt a new target for climate change next week after France and Germany resisted plans to reach a quick agreement. The countries are discussing a legally binding target of reducing net EU greenhouse gas emission by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040. A portion of this will be covered by purchasing foreign carbon credits. According to the European Commission, this will provide investors with certainty and help Europe reach net zero emissions in 2050. Climate change has caused Europe to become the fastest-warming continental in the world, unleashing deadly wildfires and record-breaking heatwaves. The EU is divided on how ambitious it should be when tackling global climate change, while also trying to increase defense spending and support struggling industry. On September 18, EU ministers were to have approved the 2040 target for climate change. Three EU diplomats have said that the ambassadors of EU countries cancelled this plan at a Friday meeting. The ministers said that next week they will discuss the goal of 2040, but any agreement will be discussed with EU leaders before the discussion is concluded. The diplomats asked to remain anonymous when discussing the closed-door discussion. If the EU fails to reach a deal by next week, it could miss the mid-September deadline set by the U.N. for all countries to submit their new climate plans in preparation for the COP30 summit on climate change scheduled for November. Diplomats have said that Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands all support the 90 percent reduction in emissions target. France, Poland, and Italy, among others, have rejected the goal and asked that it be taken up with the heads of government at their next meeting in October. This could make it more difficult to reach an agreement. EU leaders make decisions in a unanimous manner, unlike ministers. Diplomats are discussing ways to convince sceptical nations, such as covering a larger share of the climate goal with carbon credits or tying a deal to other EU laws, like the carbon border tax or the 2035 phase-out of combustion engine cars. A spokesperson for the Environment Ministry said that Germany supports the goal of cutting emissions by 90%, but believes it is important to have discussions among the government leaders prior to a final deal. (Reporting and additional reporting by Holger Hanen in Berlin.)
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Poland contradicts Trump by saying that the Russian drone incursions were not a mistake.
Poland rejected Donald Trump's suggestion that Russian drone incursions in its airspace may have been an error, a rare contradiction from one of Washington’s closest European allies. Poland, supported by aircraft from NATO allies, shot down drones on Wednesday that violated its airspace. This is the first time an alliance member has fired during the Russian war in Ukraine. Russia claimed that its forces were attacking Ukraine at the moment and had no intention of hitting any targets in Poland. Trump told Washington reporters on Thursday that it could have been an accident. Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, responded on X. "We too would wish that the drone strike on Poland was a miscalculation." It wasn't. "We know it." Trump told Fox News in an interview on Friday that he was losing patience with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Germany announced on Friday that it had increased air patrols over Poland after European leaders strongly condemned Russia over the incident. It also summoned Russia's ambassador. On Poland's initiative, the United Nations Security Council would meet Friday to discuss this incident. NATO's top military officials, including its chief, Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich (a U.S. Air Force General), were scheduled to hold a joint press conference on Friday afternoon. Questions about European Defence It is rare for Warsaw to directly contradict Trump. This shows the alarm of Europe at Trump's willingness, in this case, to accept Moscow's version of events. Poland is one of the closest U.S. ally in Europe. The Trump administration has praised Poland for its commitment to greater European military expenditures. Warsaw has described the drone incursions by Russia as an attempt to test the response capabilities of Poland and NATO. The incident this week has raised concerns about NATO's readiness for drone attacks, and the safety of civil aviation in Europe. The European leaders claim that this is yet another demonstration of Moscow's lack of interest in a peace agreement in Ukraine. This comes weeks after Trump met with President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and retracted his demand for Russia to accept a ceasefire immediately. Trump has repeatedly given Moscow deadlines to reach a ceasefire, or else face new sanctions. But he's backed down. This week, European officials are in Washington to coordinate sanctions against Russia with the U.S. government. Previously, such announcements of sanctions were made in tandem. However, this hasn't happened since Trump took office. The U.S. Treasury urged allies in the Group of Seven (G7) and European Union to impose "meaningful" tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods to stop their purchases of Russian crude oil. A G7 emergency finance meeting was convened to discuss ways to increase pressure on Moscow and end the conflict in Ukraine. The EU member states have agreed to extend by six months the existing travel bans, and to freeze bank accounts for individuals and companies in response to the Russian invasion. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said that peace negotiations had been halted and "the Europeans" were hindering the peace process. The French announced that they would be deploying three Rafale jet fighters to Poland to protect their airspace, and the Germans said they would increase their commitment to NATO's eastern borders. RUSSIA AND BELARUS HOLD MILITARY ACTIVITIES On Friday, Russia and Belarus began a joint military drill that had been planned for years. The drills took place in both countries as well as in the Baltic Sea and Barents Sea. Peskov dismissed concerns about the exercise abroad, saying that Western European countries suffered from "emotional overload" and that Russia was not a threat. Local Ukrainian prosecutors reported that Russia continued to attack Ukraine and killed three people in Sumy, a region located in northern Ukraine. The regional governor reported that Ukrainian drones had attacked the port of Primorsk in Russia's northwest, setting a fire to both a vessel as well as a pumping station. This was the first drone attack on a major oil and fuel terminal in the country. (Additional reporting from Anna Koper in Warsaw; Anastasiia Melenko in Kyiv; John Irish and Michel Rose, in Paris; Andrea Shalal, in Washington; William James and Marktrevelyan, in London. Writing by Timothy Heritage. Editing by Peter Graff.
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Russia unveils monument for Ukraine war dead near St Petersburg
On Friday, hundreds of people, including Russian soldiers' relatives, gathered in front of St Petersburg to unveil a memorial for those killed in Ukraine. It was the first time such a memorial had been erected so close to one of Russia’s two largest cities. "A monument is one way to immortalize history." "Now we have a brand new history," Anna Krasnova said, after seeing the statue of two soldiers with guns unveiled at Kudrovo in a commuter city of 60,000. She said that her husband is fighting there and that her brother's name is missing in action. The memorial is unique in its proximity to Moscow and St Petersburg. Similar monuments were erected throughout Russia in the provinces. At the dedication ceremony, Alexander Drozdenko said, "The memory of our people is the most valuable asset we have." "Our cause will prevail, our enemy will be defeated, and we will win." The inscription on the monument, which is located above the figures, does not mention a date nor the location of the battles it honors. The inscription reads: "To the Heroes of the SMO", which is an acronym for Special Military Operation (the official term used by the Kremlin for this conflict). Kirill Drantsov, another spectator, stated that the monument would remind young people how to serve their country. We will not have to explain to anyone why and how we love and defend the Motherland. (Reporting in Kudrovo, writing by Lucy Papachristou).
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Gold nears all-time high as markets eye Fed rate reduction
Gold prices increased on Friday and remained close to the record highs set earlier in the week. Signs of a weakening U.S. labour market reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve would deliver its first rate reduction of the year, next week. As of 9:19 am EDT (1319 GMT), spot gold was up by 0.4% to $3,649.54 an ounce. This is still close to the all-time high set on Tuesday of $3,673.95. This week, the metal is up 1.8% and on track for a fourth straight weekly gain. U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery were up 0.4% to $3,688.10. Daniel Pavilonis is a senior market analyst at RJO Futures. He said that metals are rising because of the longer-term risk of inflation. The recent data that showed a surge in jobless claims last week, while consumer prices rose at their fastest rate in seven months, in August, have shifted expectations in the direction of higher rates. Investors are prioritizing signs that the labor market is weaker than inflation when determining rate expectations. Fed fund futures fully reflect a 25 basis-point cut during the Fed's meeting on September 17, though expectations of a 50-bps increase have eased. UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said: "Given the tailwinds, and after the recent increase in ETF flows (exchange-traded funds), we expect gold to reach $3,900/oz mid next year." Investors value the yellow metal as a hedge to inflation and uncertainty. It has increased 39% this year. China's central banks has asked the public for feedback on its plans to streamline gold import and export regulations by streamlining licensing. Other metals rose as well. Spot silver rose by 1.3%, to $42.08 an ounce. This is a record high for the 14 years. Platinum was up 1.4%, to $1,396.71, and palladium jumped 2.2%, to $1,214.70. All three metals are set to gain weekly. (Reporting and editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri, Sherin Elizabeth Varighese and Sarah Qureshi in Bengaluru).
Colombia's peace opened wildlife to discovery, but new violence irritates progress
For more than five years as violent conflict raved through Colombia's highlands and jungles, wildlife thrived.
From brilliantly colored orchids to tiger-striped frogs, scientists have actually revealed a wealth of new animal and plant types in the years since a 2016 peace deal saw most rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) lay down their weapons. The accord made it safe to go into numerous parts of the country, typically pristinely preserved amid the conflict.
Peace, it turned out, used a boon for nature research study. Researchers have found roughly triple the number of new plant types in Colombia each year considering that the peace treaty as they did before the deal, according to a brand-new analysis by Colombian botanist Oscar Alejandro Perez-Escobar shared exclusively with Reuters.
But the FARC offer did not end Colombia's conflict. Though the accord opened numerous areas of Colombia up for science, other armed groups - consisting of former FARC fighters who declined the peace deal - and criminal offense gangs filled the vacuum in some areas and brought restored dangers for both researchers and wildlife. Although deforestation fell to a 23-year low last year, it is growing again in 2024 as severe drought fed wildfires, and illegal logging, mining and roadbuilding ruined the jungle. And for environmentalists, Colombia is now the world's most dangerous location-- with 79 killed in 2015, the most ever in one nation in a single year, according to not-for-profit International Witness.
The analysis of some 14,000 Colombian plant types taped at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew revealed that scientists have published approximately 178 brand-new finds in the years considering that the peace deal. That compares with 53 typically in the years before the accord.
The analysis, which has not been peer-reviewed, also represented the imbalance in between the couple of years of information given that 2016 as compared to centuries of prior species discovery.
While the analysis reveals a jump in publications after the peace deal, it does not show the accord was the cause, Perez-Escobar said.
He recalled his first exploration after the peace offer, traveling with a team of scientists from 16 countries through a. mountainous community as Colombian soldiers safeguarded their relocations. in 2018.
I was excited, however likewise anxious, said Perez-Escobar, who. works for Kew Gardens in Britain. Delighted of the potential customers of. discovering brand-new types ... however likewise worried because of the threat. it represented going there.. That expedition became part of a wave of biodiversity research in. Colombia's previous rebel strongholds, which scientists had. steered clear of for worry of kidnapping or death at the hands of. the FARC. On the trek high above the treeline into the. mountainous Paramo ecosystem, he spotted small yellow-and-brown. flowers - a brand-new species of orchid. A paramo is a very damp,. cold and frequently foggy alpine meadow high up in the Andes. Since then, Perez-Escobar working in partnership with local. organizations has actually assisted to determine two new blooming plants in. a cloud forest and in 2015 the first recognized polymorphic orchid. in its genus of 1,200 species, meaning it flowers 2 different. kinds of flowers on the very same plant.
CROCODILES, DRONES & & DEFORESTATION
As a biology trainee in the 1990s, botanist Mauricio. Diazgranados would collect plants in the mountains an hour's. drive from Bogota.
I could see the helicopters shooting at the guerrillas and. the guerrillas fighting back, said Diazgranados who now works. as science director of the New York Botanical Garden.
At one point, he worked as a volunteer park ranger in the. Sumapaz location where the FARC as soon as kept its head office. He said. he was as soon as apprehended by rebels on suspicion of spying however. handled to leave during the night and get away.
Diazgranados later helped to organize dozens of science. explorations into previously unsafe areas under Colombia BIO,. a government program introduced to better understand the country's. wilds after the peace deal. He still has actually cardboard boxes filled. with dried plant samples that he believes are brand-new types but has. yet to describe in publication.
While the dispute may have assisted to shelter Colombia's. wildlife for years, it is the country's place and geography. that helped it to grow into what it is today.
Located near the warm band of the Equator where North and. South America satisfy, the nation includes beaches, tropical. rain forests and 3 distinct chains of the Andes that soar. from deep valleys to more than 5,000 meters (17,000 feet). The. variety of these environments has encouraged more species to. evolve over time. Colombia topped a list this year of countries thought to have. the most undiscovered plant types, according to a study led by. Kew Gardens scientists that was released in August.
It is not only the peace offer that is driving more. discoveries, Diazgranados said. More trained scientists are. investigating Colombia than ever, he stated, including some turning. away from neighboring Venezuela in the middle of the financial and political. crisis there. Researchers at Colombia's state-run Alexander von Humboldt. Biological Resources Research study Institute have actually found lots of new. species including beetles, frogs, a spider and a caecilian - a. rare group of legless amphibians that live underground. It can. take several years for a types discover to be confirmed as new.
They were unattainable areas, however also locations with huge. information and natural wealth, said Jhon Cesar Neita, who. curates Humboldt's entomology and invertebrate collection, about. former FARC-held locations that opened to research.
Everybody researchers wished to go.. Scientists with the Wildlife Preservation Society (WCS) have. likewise tape-recorded another 10 amphibian finds, including a. green-brown striped rain frog to be called for Colombia's peace. offer: Pristimantis pactumpacis.
After the peace offer, WCS researchers were able to use. drones to count eastern Colombia's critically endangered Orinoco. crocodiles in an area formerly too unsafe, stated WCS. Colombia's clinical director, German Forero.
But after more than 100 individuals were reported killed in. violence associated to armed groups in the location this year, Forero. said, WCS staff presently can not take a trip back to where the. Orinoco crocodile lives.
LOSING GAINS. Colombia has put the security problem in focus at this year's U.N. Biodiversity Conference, COP16, picking the style Peace with. Nature for the occasion being kept in the southwestern Colombian. city of Cali. More than 10,000 soldiers, police and U.N. guards. are mobilized to protect the top, while delegates from nearly. 200 countries go over how best to maintain nature worldwide.
There is presently intense fighting in between the equipped. groups in some of the most biodiverse parts of the country,. according to sources within the Colombian military. In the. Pacific province of Choco, home to verdant jungle and. famously wet weather condition, the ELN rebels are fighting the Clan del. Golfo criminal activity gang, while competing FARC dissident groups face off. in numerous Amazon provinces.
Along with continuing violence by armed groups, Colombia is. now likewise at risk of fast ecological decrease, scientists. warned. Logging has actually jumped 40% in the very first 3 months. of this year, according to government information.
Environment Minister Susana Muhamad in April blamed a group. of former FARC fighters called the Estado Mayor Central for the. forest clearing in the Amazon rain forest, stating it obstructs. outsiders from going into locations it controls while pressing. residents to cooperate. It's unpleasant, the mental pressure that the armed. groups are exerting on the neighborhoods, Muhamad said in an. April statement. In this case, they are putting nature in the. middle of the conflict.
The faction of the recently splintered EMC led by Alexander. Diaz Mendoza, better understood by his nom de guerre Calarca Cordoba,. stated in a declaration the group has no participation in. logging and deals with communities to improve sustainable. practices. The group stated it obstructs entry in order to prevent. federal government efforts to financialize the forest through products. like green bonds.
(source: Reuters)