Subarctic boreal forest, vital for the planet, is at risk
It burns, it drifts, it falls victim to insects.. But the forest is also at risk of falling victim to another phenomenon brought on by higher temperatures: insect infestations.
Environment
Let the court decide: Vanuatu's climate push raises hopes
Seeking to speed up global efforts against climate change, Vanuatu is leading efforts to get the International Court of Justice involved, a move praised by activists at UN talks.. Let judges inspire our leaders to act and let justice be done," Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate said at the COP27 meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Sun-soaked North Africa pushes for cheap energy
Solar panels glint in the sun on a Tunisian lagoon, part of a long-delayed drive to harness the North African country's vast renewable energy potential.. But last year green sources accounted for only 2.8 percent of the country's energy mix and the rest came from natural gas, according to the state Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG).
GMO skeptics still distrust big agriculture's climate pitch
As a changing climate intensifies extreme weather, agricultural multinationals are hyping the ability of genetically modified crops to boost yields when facing drought, heat or even heavy rainfall.. "It's a strategy to mitigate climate change," said Smith. jum-jmb/caw/bbk
Brazil will regain its climate 'leadership': ex-minister
Brazil will protect the Amazon "with its own efforts" without waiting for international funding, the former environment minister of incoming President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Saturday at UN climate talks. . Credited with curbing deforestation in the 2000s, Marina Silva outlined key environmental priorities for the new president, who will visit the climate talks next week in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Climate activists take to the trees to save German village
After the last farmer packed up and left in October, climate activists are the only people left in the village of Luetzerath, Germany, which sits above a rich vein of coal.. "If RWE extracts all the coal under Luetzerath, Germany will certainly violate the Paris (climate) accord because of the emissions from the mine.
At COP27, hundreds march behind hunger striker's sister
Chants of "free them all" and "no climate justice without human rights" rang out between the halls of COP27 Saturday, in the largest protest since the UN climate summit began.. Behind her on Saturday -- winding between halls inside which world leaders negotiated over the climate crisis -- hundreds of protesters demanded urgent action towards climate justice and human rights, an AFP correspondent said.
A thirsty COP27 climate summit plagued by glitches
Wheelchair struggles, scarce drinking water, $15 sandwiches and hotel price-gouging at the COP27 climate summit have sparked anger and forced host country Egypt into damage-control mode, participants at the two-week meet said.. "People already under stress" should not "have to look for water all the time", said one climate COP veteran from an NGO. Exorbitant food prices, including sandwiches going for up to $15, have been especially problematic for those on tight budgets.
'Like the Moon': Astronauts flock to Spanish isle to train
Kneeling on the edge of a deep crater, astronaut Alexander Gerst uses a chisel to collect a sample of volcanic rock which he carefully puts inside a white plastic bag.. Trainees learn how to identify rock samples and collect them, do on-the-spot DNA analysis of microorganisms, and communicate their findings back to mission control.
UK cops flak over carbon-neutral pledges
As world leaders and environmental experts meet at the COP27 climate change talks in Egypt, last year's host Britain is under scrutiny about its commitment to tackling global warming.. Nevertheless, ministers have come under fire from environmental pressure groups and the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC), a UK body which advises the government.
