Mexico City, Oct 7 (AP/UNB) – Tropical Storm Nate gained force as it sped toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula Friday after drenching Central America in the rain that was blamed for at least 21 deaths. Forecasters said it was likely to…
Category: Climate
Back-to-back hurricanes take heavy toll on the Caribbean
By António Guterres UN, Oct 4 (IPS) – As you know, we are coming off a jam-packed High-level week and the opening of the General Assembly. Some of the most important speeches during that period came from leaders of Caribbean…
Making an economic case for climate action
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, Oct 2 (IPS) – Having faced a year of record temperatures and devastating hurricanes, the United States stands more to lose if it doesn’t take steps to reduce the risk and impact of climate change, according…
Iran nuclear deal could win the Nobel Peace Prize
By Mikael Holter The main facilitators of the 2015 accord on Iran’s nuclear program, slammed as the worst deal ever by U.S. President Donald Trump, could be among the top contenders for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, according to researchers…
‘Yarn Bank’ helping BD’s ethnic women to earn more
GreenWatch Dhaka with Rafiqul Islam, UNB Staff Writer Dhaka, Sept 29 – A community-based ‘Yarn Bank’ has been helping ethnic women of Bangladesh’s hill district of Bandarban improve their livelihood as loans from the bank help the invest more and…
Bangladesh needs to shore up its flood defence
By Mahfuzur Rahman Dhaka, Sep 20 (IPS) – Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country with floods hitting almost every year, leaving a trail of destruction despite having early warning systems. Now experts say it is time for the delta nation to…
Maria destroys Puerto Rico homes, knocks out power
San Juan, Sep 21 (AP/UNB) — The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in more than 80 years destroyed hundreds of homes, knocked out power across the entire island and turned some streets into raging rivers Wednesday in an onslaught…
PM for deeper south-south understanding to go far fast
New York, Sept 21 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has underscored the need for promoting a deeper understanding and broader exchange within the South aiming to go far and fast.
Bring climate justice to forefront of global pacts: PM
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the developed country leaders to bring their historical responsibilities and the issue of climate justice to the forefront of a robust and effective legally binding agreement to address the issues of climate change.…
17000 farmers to get rehabilitation facilities in Rajshahi
Rajshahi – A total of 17486 flood-hit farmers in Rajshahi will get rehabilitation facilities for recovering their losses. They will get seeds and fertilizer for the cultivation of 1 Bigha land, officers of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) of Rajshahi…
Asian cities’ endless summer
Hans Joachim Schellnhuber and Bambang Susantono Potsdam/Manila – It’s monsoon season in Asia – marking an end to months of scorching temperatures. But the extreme heat will return, with cities facing particularly brutal conditions. Already, Asia’s urban areas experience twice…
The weather report is climate science too
Dawn Stover If you turned to any cable news channel lately, you probably saw in-depth coverage of the hurricane du jour. A sombre meteorologist pointed to a map depicting the storm’s predicted path, then cut away to the latest satellite…
Sea is rough Maritime ports to hoist signal 3
Dhaka, Sept 17 – Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal no three.
Int’l Ozone Day Saturday
Dhaka, Sept 15 – The International Ozone Day will be observed here on Saturday as elsewhere in the world for creating awareness about the depletion of the ozone layer and its adverse effects on this planet’s environment. Since 1995, the…
World’s poor ‘paying the price’ for global crises: UN
Dhaka, Sept 15 (UNB) – People living in poverty around the world are facing increasing multiple threats, including climate change and the global economic crisis, but the political will to tackle the issues is lacking, a United Nations human rights…
Cities flushed with raw sewage as Hurricanes stress systems
By Jennifer A Dlouhy and Ari Natter Hurricane Harvey took aim at one of the nation’s most industrial regions, releasing a stream of toxic pollutants from chemical plants, refineries and Superfund sites in Texas. But when its bigger sister Irma…
Europe leaders view Irma-devastated Carribbean islands
Philipsburg, Sep 13 (AP/UNB) — France’s president and the Dutch king visited Caribbean territories Tuesday that were hammered by Hurricane Irma, bringing in much-needed food, water and medical supplies amid accusations that European governments were unprepared, slow to react and…
Alert: Nature is on the verge of bankruptcy
By Baher Kamal Rome, Sep 12 (IPS) – Pressures on global land resources are now greater than ever, as a rapidly increasing population coupled with rising levels of consumption is placing ever-larger demands on the world’s land-based natural capital, warns…
More Co2 in atmosphere produces food crops short of nutrients
Atmospheric CO2 levels of 550 parts per million (ppm), expected to become the global norm by 2050, will shrink the protein, iron and zinc content in wheat and rice, putting 50 million more Indians at risk of deficiency.
How farmers save agriculture by fighting back drought
By Geoffrey Kamadi As sub-Saharan Africa’s climate changes, small-scale farmers are increasingly looking to innovative ways of dealing with agricultural challenges. And in some instances, the techniques they adopt are helping to combat climate change, too.
Floods – hurricanes – droughts… when climate sets the agenda
By Baher Kamal Rome, Sep 11(IPS) – When officials and experts from all over the world started the first-ever environmental summit hosted by China, they were already aware that climate and weather-related disasters were already seriously beginning to set the…
Capital Dhaka paralysed by heavy downpour
“Have to go to Dhanmondi 32 from Shankar. Where is the launch or speedboat terminal?”- says a Facebook post from a netizen of Dhaka city! After a second straight morning of heavy downpour, Dhaka City seems to have transformed into…
Hurricane Irna literally pulling ocean away from shoreline
s a meteorologist, there are things you learn in textbooks that you may never see in person. You know they happen theoretically, but the chances of seeing the most extraordinary weather phenomena are slim to none. This is one of…
Capacity development for climate compatible development
By Juliane Nier, Rachel Phillips and Russell Cook Accelerating the shift to climate compatible development is CDKN’s business and improving the lives of the most climate-affected people is our mission. A multi-year, £130 million programme funded by the British and…
10 things to know about the future of water and sanitation
Nathaniel Mason and Miriam Denis Le Sève The world is transforming in many different ways. These shifts – from climate change, o migration, to new technology and urbanisation – will have a significant impact on the management of water resources…
Irma hits west coast of Florida
Hurricane Irma is blasting up the west coast of Florida and is now bearing down on the city of Tampa. Irma made landfall on Marco Island off Florida’s west coast with winds of up to 120mph (192km/h), but has since…
Hurricane force wind gusts batter islands in Florida’s south
Wind gusts close to hurricane force are battering islands in Florida’s south as Hurricane Irma is due to hit the mainland in the coming hours. Water levels are already rising on the coast of the US state where a huge…
Deadly quake – hurricane serve severe blow to Mexico
One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in Mexico and a raging hurricane dealt a devastating one-two punch to the country, killing at least 61 people as workers scrambled to respond to the twin national emergencies. The 8.1 quake…
Irma lashes Cuba with strong winds, heavy rain
Hurricane Irma is lashing Cuba with strong winds and heavy rain after devastating several Caribbean islands. The category five storm made landfall on the Camaguey Archipelago, off the north-eastern coast. But the Bahamas have largely been spared after Irma changed…
Over 5m told to flee Florida coast Irma onslaught
Miami, Sep 09 (AP/UNB) — Irma trained its sights on Florida and officials warned more than 5 million people that time was running out Friday and ordered them to evacuate ahead of the deadly hurricane as it followed a path…