Its lower cost has made it popular in commercial food production, but after being blamed for deforestation in Asia, palm oil plantations are now getting a similar rap in Africa. The sheer scale of land required is having an impact…
Category: Environment
Cheetahs, world’s fastest land animal, racing towards extinction
(CNN)Only about 7,100 cheetahs remain in the world and their numbers are quickly dwindling, putting them at risk of extinction, according to new research.
Man dies of cold in Northern BD district Nilphamari
Dhaka – A middle-aged man died of cold-related problems at Darkamarar Bridge village in Domar upazila of Nilphamari district in Northern Bangladesh on Monday night as shivering cold hit the area.
BWP AGM discusses feasibility of rainwater harvesting
Dhaka – The 14th AGM of Bangladesh Water Partnership (BWP), chaired by Dr. Kh. Azharul Haq, President, BWP was held on 17 Dec 2016 at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Framgate, Dhaka.
Nat’l Committee threatens half-day hartal in Dhaka Jan 26
Dhaka – The National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas, Natural Resources and Power-Port will observe a half-day hartal in the capital on January 26 if the government does not cancel the Rampal coal-fired power plant project near the Sundarbans by then.…
No tax on CO2 emissions in China’s new environment law
China has passed a law that levies taxes on pollution, but ignores carbon dioxide, one of the major contributors to global warming, according to the web site of the country’s highest legislative body. The National People’s Congress (NPC) standing committee…
Wild animal death rate rises at Lawachhara: Survey
Wildlife researchers have expressed concerns over the high death rate of wild animals at Lawachhara National Park caused by various reasons, including the movement of locomotives on rail tracks and speedy vehicles on roads in and around the forest.Wild animals…
70,000 improved cookstoves distributed in Bangladesh
Rafiqul Islam, UNB Staff Writer Dhaka – As part of government target to distribute 30 million improved cook stoves by 2030, some 70,000 improved stoves have been installed in the country’s coastal region, aiming to reduce household air pollution and…
Palestine’s Hamas lauds, Israel rejects UN vote against settlements
Palestine’s Hamas movement has welcomed the Security Council vote demanding a halt to Israeli settlements in the occupied territory. Israel rejected the measure, which was approved after the US refrained from vetoing it. Hamas, which governs Gaza, said Saturday the…
5,000 migrants drowned in Mediterranean this year: UN
A total of 5,000 boat migrants drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe this year, the highest annual total yet, the United Nations said on Friday.The latest figures, released by the UN’s refugee agency, include 100 deaths reported on…
Most heavily dammed rivers in US are being restored
By Jenny Rogers Sally Brown knows how to throw a party. On the second floor of an old mill factory in rural New Hampshire, she gathered several friends to watch a dam—her dam—be removed from the Ashuelot River. “It was…
Biosafety Protocol stalled on risk assessment
Further work on biosafety risk assessment which is a key pillar under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has received a setback at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference which ended on 17 December in Cancun, Mexico.The 8th meeting of the Conference…
Farming the cities
Danielle Nierenberg The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines urban agriculture as “the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities” to provide fresh food, generate employment, recycle waste, and strengthen cities’…
Unauthorised bottling of ‘mineral water’ on sharp rise in Khulna
Khulna – Producing and bottling ‘mineral water’ in unhygienic condition has turned into a booming business across Khulna division. Sixteen business entities have been operating fraudulent water treatment and filtration plants throughout the division without having license from the Bangladesh Standards…
For a comprehensive national policy on migration
GreenWatch NewsDesk The Malaysian Migrant Workers Right to Redress Coalition has recently prepared a set of recommendations for the preparation of a comprehensive national poolicy on labour migration in their country. The recommemndations are based on consultations with stakeholders organised…
Corruption driving land grabbing crisis everywhere
Communities around the world are being robbed of the land on which they depend. According to Global Witness data, in 2015, an average of more than three people each week were killed defending their land against theft and the ruinous…
15,000 flee into China as Myanmar’s battles ethnic rebels: UN
Up to 15,000 people may have fled across Myanmar’s border into China in the past month, a United Nations agency has said, as fighting between Myanmar’s army and ethnic armed groups intensifies.Aid access to people affected by conflict in the…
Americans experiencing hot weather more likely to believe in global warming
Americans who experience hot weather are more likely to believe global warming is real, while those in colder climates are more likely to be doubters, said a US study Monday. Researchers looked at US beliefs about climate change on a…
Strengthen the grassroots movement of migrants
On the occasion of the International Migrants Day, the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) gave salute to all migrants and displaced people who continue to work on the ground to defend the rights and promote the wellbeing of the sector. ‘We…
Biodiversity confce plan for benefit sharing of genetiic sequences
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have adopted a decision on sequence information of genetic resources that sets in motion a plan intended to lead to an important decision at their next meeting in two years’ time.The decision…
BD to achieve SDGs well before 2030, says Muhith
Dhaka – Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday said Bangladesh will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) well before the stipulated time of 2030. “I personally think Bangladesh will certainly reach the targets well before 2030, although…
China restricts cars, factories amid latest smog alert
China’s capital and other northern cities have banned half of all vehicles from city streets and ordered factories, schools and construction sites closed in response to a five-day smog red alert.The emergency steps significantly reduced traffic in Beijing on Saturday,…
Forestry resources conservation must for fighting climate change
Proper conservation of forest and its resources is very important for fighting climate change, ensuring nutritional demands coupled with food security, ecological balance and biodiversity in Rajshahi region including its dried Barind tract. Promotion of adequate trees, including fruit, timber…
Migrant deaths worldwide top 7,100 in 2016: IOM
Over 7,100 migrants and refugees have died or remained missing on world migratory routes, according to International Organisation for Migration (IOM).This is the highest yearly number IOM has ever recorded, and represents an average of 20 deaths per day, suggesting…
French cars lead EU list of low CO2 emitters, Ferrari fined
The European Union on Friday said luxury carmakers Ferrari and Aston Martin would receive a fine for exceeding their carbon emission targets, as French cars lead the way in lowering emissions. French car manufacturers Peugeot, Citroen and Renault ranked first,…
6 boats of Rohingyas sent back to Myanmar
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members sent back six boats packed with Rohingyas to Myanmar, following their attempt to seek refuge in Bangladesh after escaping continued persecution of their community on Friday.Deputy commanding Officer of BGB-2 Battalion Major Abu Russell Siddequi…
The Environmental Impact Of Clothing
Christmas is approaching fast, the high streets are alive with shoppers, and presents are mounting up ready to be wrapped. Among the most popular of gifts are clothes; after all, we love to look good. But, do we really need…
Better int’l co-ordination could lead to more benefits from migration
Despite growing economic dynamism in many developing regions, international migration flows are not being diverted towards these new alternative poles but rather are concentrating in advanced economies, according to a new OECD Development Centre report.
Master plan in offing to restore navigability of rivers
The government has formed a high-profile committee to prepare a master plan to restore the navigability of the rivers surrounding Dhaka, including the Buriganga, Turag, Sitalakhya and Balu, and the Karnaphuli of Chittagong port city.Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives…