ROME, Mar 16 2019 (IPS) – Friday, Mar. 15 saw hundreds of thousands of young people across the world take to the streets to join the climate strike. “We are demonstrating today for our planet and for our future. This is…
Category: Climate
Global Compact for safe orderly migration -Objectives
Global Compact for safe, orderly migration – Objectives Collect and utilize accurate and disaggregated data as a basis for evidence-based policies Minimize the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their country of origin Provide accurate and…
No way to defend ourselves against climate change
PARAMARIBO, Feb 21 2019 (IPS) – Two of the most prominent women in the Caribbean nation of Suriname are speaking out about developed countries that release large volumes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. First Lady Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring and Speaker of…
A quarter of eligible countries haven’t accessed Green Fund
Interesting findings surface in the evaluation of Green Fund’s readiness programme Kathmandu/New Delhi, 8 March (Prerna Bomzan and Indrajit Bose) – At the 22nd Board meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) held in Songdo, South Korea from 26-28 February,…
Untimely rain damages raw bricks in Satkhira brick kilns
Satkhira, Mar 2 – Untimely rain for last four days in the district damaged huge raw-bricks that were stacked up in the open fields for drying causing massive loss to more than one-hundred brick kilns. Saying that more than two-hundred…
The unbearable unrealism of the present
by Paul Mason What characterises the present moment in history is a pervasive sense of unrealism among elites. Official discourses are no longer used as guides to action, laws are not applied and regulations are ignored. The ultimate symbol of…
Hailstorm kills ‘several thousand birds’ in Narail
Narail, Feb 27 (UNB) – Several thousand birds, mostly migratory birds, were killed in ‘Anurima Eco Park’ at Panipara village of Kalia upazila in hailstorm accompanying rain that ripped through the country in last three days. Erfan Ahmed, the managing director…
Two killed, houses razed in BD localised Nor’Westers
Dhaka, Feb 26 – An elderly man was killed in hailstorm in Satkhira while another man died in a lightning strike in Brahmanbaria as localised storms struck during transition of season on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Zamshed Ali,…
Taking the lead in fight against climate change
PARIS, Feb 22 2019 (IPS) – As the grandchild of Jamaican citizens who moved to Great Britain, Monique Taffe says she inherited a tradition of recycling and learned not to be part of the “throwaway culture”, as some environmentalists have labelled…
Govt to give compensation to fire victims: Quader
Dhaka, Feb 21 (UNB) –Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the government will provide compensation to the victims of Chawkbazar fire. Investigation will be carried out into the incident and necessary legal measures would be taken…
Scientist who popularized term ‘global warming’ dies at 87
New York, Feb 19 (AP/UNB) — A scientist who raised early alarms about climate change and popularized the term “global warming” has died. Wallace Smith Broecker was 87. The longtime Columbia University professor and researcher died Monday at a New…
Breaking Germany’s Coal Addiction
by Johan Rockström, Owen Gaffney Berlin – Germany is about to break its coal addiction. Last year, the government created a 28-member “coal commission” – comprising scientists, politicians, environmental campaigners, trade unions, and utilities representatives – with the unenviable mandate…
Rain damages a huge quantity of Ekushey book fair books
Dhaka, Feb 17 (UNB) – An early morning shower on Sunday caught the book publishers at the Amar Ekushey book fair off-guarded as it damaged huge books at the fair venue. Jalal Ahmed, member secretary of the book fair…
Hasina wants richer sections all over to fight climate change
Munich, Feb 17 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has underscored the ‘will’ of the richer segments of societies – everywhere – to act ambitiously against climate change as there are enormous amount of science, technology, innovation and finance to…
Geoengineering is a dangerous distraction
Carroll Muffett Washington, DC – As concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide surpass 400 parts per million, the costs of the climate crisis – in terms of economic losses, environmental impacts, and human lives – continue to rise. Last October, the…
How devastating is climate change for world peace, security?
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 13 2019 (IPS) – When the Security Council, the most powerful body at the United Nations, met last month to discuss the growing new threats to world peace and security, the discussion veered away from international terrorism, nuclear…
Only immediate climate action can save the future
by John Scales Avery Only immediate climate action can save the future. If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon. A new book. I have…
Climate change may destroy Sundarbans tigers in 50 years
Dhaka, Feb 14 (UNB) – A new study has warned that the Sundarbans’ famed ‘Royal Bengal Tigers’ could be gone within 50 years, especially from the Bangladeshi part, because of constant rise in sea levels and climate change. The study…
Towards a common food policy for the EU
The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) has released a new report: “Towards A Common Food Policy for the EU”. The report maps out a single, time-bound vision for reforming European food systems, realigning the various sectoral…
Desertification: The right to life, liberty, and land
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 7 2019 (IPS) – Sustainable land management is becoming more important than ever as rates of emissions, deforestation, and water scarcity continue to increase. But what if you don’t have rights to the land?While the impact of agriculture…
Indian nationals warned of ‘fake embassy calls’
bahrain – February 06, 2019 Some recent incidents have come to the notice of the Embassy of India in the Kingdom wherein a fake person/agency is making hoax phone calls to Indian nationals on false grounds regarding passport and consular…
Transboundary climate adaptation with river basin orgs
Submitted by Christina Leb On Wed, 01/30/2019; co-authors: Sonja Köppel Water, climate, and finance know no borders. This brings both challenges and opportunities. When it comes to freshwater, a majority of the world’s surface water flows in transboundary basins, spanning…
A-2oC temperature rise could melt half the Himalaya glaciers
Dhaka, Feb 04 – A Two-degree C temperature rise could melt half of the laciers in Hindu Kush Himalaya region, destabilizing Asia’s rivers, according to a new study. The comprehensive study of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, known as…
Making communities drought resilient
GEORGETOWN, Feb 1 2019 (IPS) – The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD’s) Drought Initiative is in full swing with dozens of countries signing up to plan their drought programme. The Drought Initiative involves taking action on national drought…
Bringing greener pastures back home
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 22 2019 (IPS) – One month on since the Global Compact for Migration was approved, civil society has highlighted the need to turn words into action, supporting those who have been displaced or forced to migrate as…
Heavy rain, flooding causes 12 deaths in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Jan 31 (AP/UNB) — Saudi Arabia says 12 people have died and more than 170 have been injured this week due to flooding from heavy rain in the northwest. The Civil Defense says Thursday that 10 people died…
10 Latin American city Mayors commit to share of Paris Deal
Cities will develop Climate Action Plans that deliver on the objectives of the Paris Agreement, with support from C40 Cities and the UK government.Pledge made at meeting of city officials in Quito, Ecuador. Quito, Ecuador 29 January — Buenos Aires;…
Mild cold wave starts sweeping across Bangladesh
Dhaka, Jan 29 – The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Tuesday forecast mild cold wave in late Magh is likely to sweep over the western parts of the country in the next 72 hours. The mild cold wave may be…
Big emitters in Bd asked to go for rapid mitigation of GHGs
Dhaka, Jan 26 (UNB) – Bangladesh has said big emitters must go for rapid mitigation of GHGs apart from providing financial resources and ensuring technology transfer to the vulnerable countries for their adaptation efforts. “This would be the most effective…
COP24: Sum and substance of climate diplomacy
NEW DELHI, Jan 23 2019 (IPS) – As I was attending the 24th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—to create a rulebook to operationalise the Paris Agreement—in Katowice, Poland, it dawned on me, like…