Dhaka, Apr 19 (UNB) – More than 160 countries have so far confirmed that they will sign the Paris Agreement on climate change on April 22, the first day that the agreement will be open for signature. “Next Friday will…
Category: Environment
Climate change may boost spread of Zika, other viruses
As Europe and the United States brace for the likely arrival of the Zika virus from Latin America this summer, experts warn global warming may accelerate the spread of mosquito-borne disease. Rising temperatures are a threat in more ways than…
3rd fire in Chandpai of Sundarbans in 3 weeks
Another fire broke out at Abdullah Shila in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans in Sharankhola upazila on Monday morning, endangering its ecosystem.
India’s smog-choked capital imposes driving restrictions
New Delhi on Friday imposed driving restrictions that will take around a million cars off its roads for the second time this year, seeking to improve air quality in the world’s most polluted capital. The Delhi government first introduced the…
Pope visits refugees in Greece
Pope Francis has arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos to show support for refugees who are trying to reach northern Europe.The Pope is heading to a detention camp holding more than 3,000 people, some of whom may face deportation…
Warming threatens the great barrier reef even more than we thought
The iconic reef depends on protective pulses of warm water to boost its heat tolerance. Climate change may eliminate these “practice runs.” This panoramic image reveals coral bleaching at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef in March 2016. The…
Partial demolition of two tilted Ctg bldgs ordered
Chittagong –The Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has instructed owners to partially demolish two of the nine buildings that got tilted during Wednesday’s earthquake in the port city. A three-member probe body, formed by the CDA, came up with the directive…
Fire again in the Sundarbans, Chandpai range
Dhaka – Nearly two weeks into a fire incident that occured in the Sundabans, another fire erupted at Abdullah Shila in Chandpai range of the world’s largest mangrove forest in Sharankhola upazila on Wednesday morning, unb news agency has reported.
Bangladeshi maids abused in Middle East
Dozens of Bangladeshi maids lured with the promise of a good job in the Middle East are being tortured and raped by their employers.Around six months ago, a woman from Kurigram who went to Saudi Arabia as a housemaid, was…
Heat disrupts people’s life, livelihood in Rajshahi
Rajshahi Correspondent Normal livelihood of the region, particularly of the vast barind tract, is being affected badly due to the ongoing sultry weather that is being experienced by the people in the current month. An uneasy situation is prevailing everywhere.…
Heatwave shuts more than 250 Malaysian schools
More than 250 Malaysian schools were closed on Monday due to a heatwave brought on by the El Nino weather phenomenon which is severely affecting food production and causing chronic water shortages in many countries. Authorities ordered schools in the…
Drought threatens California despite El Nino
Last winter, El Nino-driven storms dumped much-needed snow and rain over California, boosting reservoir levels and fueling hopes the parched state’s four-year drought might end. But despite the brief respite, experts say the record drought is here to stay. The…
Hot spell across Bangladesh continues
Dhaka – A hot spell has been sweeping across the country, including capital Dhaka, over the last couple of days following the storms and rains caused by a nor’wester. The situation is worse in rural areas, particularly in the northern…
NASA: Global warming now changing how Earth wobbles
Washington – Global warming is shifting the way the Earth wobbles on its polar axis, a new NASA study finds. Melting ice sheets, especially in Greenland, are changing the distribution of weight on Earth. And that has caused both the…
Green building’s LEED credit promotes sustainable forestry
The green building movement – from architects and builders to specifiers and planners – can now benefit from an expanded range of responsibly sourced timber and forest products eligible for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Another deadline expires for Capital’s tanneries to relocate
Dhaka – Though the extended deadline for the relocation of tanneries from the city’s Hazaribagh area expires on Sunday, no sign was seen on Saturday to move those to the designated leather industrial park in Savar. Industry insiders said it…
Mild hot spell over parts of Bangladesh to remain 3 more days
The mild hot spell scorching Rajshahi and Khulna divisions may continue for three more days, the Met Office has forecast. Weathermen said on Friday rainstorm may take place in Mymensingh, Khulna and some places in Sylhet in this period. The…
Genetic control is no answer to Zika
Chennai, India – The arrival of Zika, seemingly out of nowhere, on the global health scene and hitting media headlines around the world almost daily, as well as the appearance of Yellow Fever virus for the first time in China…
Banshkhali people say, cancel power plant project or face siege
The Committee to Protect Homestead and Graveyard here on Friday threatened to lay a siege to the Banshkhali upazila administration on Sunday if the government does not cancel the Gandamara coal-fired power plant by 6pm on Saturday.
BBC Bangla program on dying BD rivers begins Saturday
Dhaka – The threat of extinction of Bangladesh rivers is the subject of ‘Amar Nodi’ (My River), a special content that will be on BBC Bangla from April 9 and April 16 on radio, online and social media, unb news…
Papua New Guinea 1st to have climate plan under Paris deal
By Eliza Northrop Washington DC – On March 29, Papua New Guinea became the first country to formally submit the final version of its national climate action plan (called a “Nationally Determined Contribution,” or NDC) under the Paris Agreement. The…
DoE fines four factories Tk 1.4cr
Dhaka – As part of its anti-pollution drive, the Department of Environment has fined four factories a total of Tk 1.40 crore for harming the environment in Dhaka and Narayanganj.
Over 120 nations to sign climate deal in April: France
More than 120 countries have said they are ready to sign the UN’s accord to fight global warming, French ecology minister Segolene Royal said Wednesday. Royal said the strength of support meant the climate deal clinched in Paris last year…
20mn drink arsenic-laced water in Bangladesh – 43,000 die a year
Dhaka – The Bangladesh government is failing to adequately respond to naturally occurring arsenic in drinking water across large areas of rural Bangladesh, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Approximately 20 years after initially coming to international…
Dhaka still a habitat for 200 bird species
Dhaka – Though the figure may sound surprising in the first instance, ornithologists say some 200 bird species still choose Dhaka city as their abode unb saff writer Faisal reported.
Pollution woes to keep 40 percent of cars off Mexico City roads
The environmental authorities in Mexico City will keep 40 percent of cars off the roads on Wednesday because of extremely high pollution levels, officials said. “The Greater Capital Area Environmental Commission (CAME) is activating extraordinary measures due to high ozone…
Cities need more ‘living green’, concludes Int’l confce
The importance of ‘living green’ was brought to the attention of sixteen countries at an International Green City Conference this month. Becoming the greenest city in the world, using plants to manage stormwater threats, how to implement greening and change…
Compostable plastic bags carry goods and hopes for the future
PresseBox – nova-Institute publishes the first comprehensive market study on the consumption of biodegradable and compostable plastic products in Europe: 100,000 tonnes in 2015, market demand could grow to beyond 300,000 tonnes in 2020. Compostable plastic bags dominate the market…
Climate change could cost global economy US$24 trillion
Jessica Cheam A new report by the London School of Economics and Political Science is the first comprehensive study to use an economic model to put a number on the “climate value at risk”. A new report published on Monday…
EU to support reintegration of undocumented migrants after return
Dhaka – The European Union (EU) has offered cooperation to Bangladesh in designing a special programme for the reintegration of returnees as Bangladesh wants a ‘return and reintegration package’ for its ‘irregular’ migrants living in European countries, UNB news agency…