Environment

US states reach agreement to save dwindling Colorado River

The US government announced Monday that several western states have reached an historic agreement to conserve water from the dwindling Colorado River, which is threatened by a quarter century of drought and worsening climate conditions.. The Bureau of Reclamation, the federal government department that manages water resources, threatened last month to impose mandatory cuts that would see these three states hit with a uniform percentage reduction.

Mon, May 22, 2023 1 mins read

Environment

France unveils new, more ambitious emissions-cutting plan

The French government unveiled a plan on Monday to accelerate cuts to its greenhouse gas emissions, targeting a reduction of 50 percent by 2030 compared with 1990 levels.. The United States has committed to cut greenhouse gases 50-52 percent by 2030 below 2005 levels, while Germany has set a 65 percent reduction target compared to 1990.

Mon, May 22, 2023 2 mins read

Environment

More than 23,000 still out of homes after Italy floods

More than 23,000 people in northeast Italy were still displaced Monday almost one week after heavy rains sparked widespread flooding and left 14 people dead, officials said.. Six months of rain fell in just 36 hours early last week, causing almost two dozen rivers to burst their banks, transforming streets into rivers and submerging huge tracts of farmland.

Mon, May 22, 2023 1 mins read

Environment

Climate: 'dangerous heat' could afflict billions by 2100

Current policies to limit global warming will expose more than a fifth of humanity to extreme and potentially life-threatening heat by century's end, researchers warned Monday.. But scenarios even worse than the 2.7C world that would result from current policies cannot be excluded either, the authors warn.

Mon, May 22, 2023 3 mins read

Environment

Private mission with Saudi astronauts docks with ISS

A SpaceX capsule carrying two Saudi astronauts docked with the International Space Station on Monday, as part of a private mission chartered by Axiom Space.. This mission, named Ax-2, is the second fully private mission to visit the Space Station, following a first in April 2022.

Mon, May 22, 2023 1 mins read

Environment

Weeds grow at London's Chelsea Flower Show

Nettles, dandelions, brambles: weeds -- once considered a scourge -- are taking pride of place at London's Chelsea Flower Show as gardeners concern themselves more than ever with biodiversity and sustainable development.. Here again, weeds have their place, including dandelions and clover.

Mon, May 22, 2023 3 mins read

Environment

EU's next food fight: regulating gene-edited crops

Extreme weather caused by climate change has damaged food production across Europe.. In April, French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau expressed his concerns over what he called Europe's "delay", arguing there should be a push to allow biotechnology that gives Europe the tools to deal with climate change by producing more resistant seeds.

Mon, May 22, 2023 3 mins read

Environment

New Zealand sheep outnumber people less than 5 to 1, a record low

New Zealand's sheep outnumber people by fewer than five to one, official figures showed Monday, clipping their lead over humans to the lowest level since the 1850s.. "The ratio of sheep to people dropped below five to one in 2022, for the first time since the 1850s, when national sheep numbers were first recorded," said Stats NZ analyst Jason Attewell.

Mon, May 22, 2023 1 mins read

Environment

Early warning systems send disaster deaths plunging: UN

Weather-related disasters have surged over the past 50 years, causing swelling economic damage even as early warning systems have meant dramatically fewer deaths, the United Nations said Monday.. - Surging economic losses - WMO meanwhile warned that while deaths have plunged, the economic losses incurred when weather, climate and water extremes hit have soared.

Mon, May 22, 2023 3 mins read

Environment

Against the stream: Iraq artist battles to save boating tradition

Young Iraqis row a flotilla of traditional wooden boats down the Tigris river in Baghdad, celebrating an ancient nautical heritage in the now drought-stricken country.. The flotilla on the Tigris in Baghdad was a landmark event in Salim's efforts -- 18 of the boats took to the water on a spring afternoon as part of a cultural festival.

Sun, May 21, 2023 3 mins read