By Siva Parameswaran More than 200 million people around the world are at risk of exposure to toxic waste, a report has concluded.
Category: Environment
Bumper production of winter vegetables likely in Khulna
Farmers and officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) are expecting a bumper production of winter vegetables in Khulna in the current Rabi season.
Commercial cultivation of orange getting popular in Panchagarh
Commercial cultivation of orange is gaining popularity at different upazilas of the district as the growers are getting bumper production of the aristocrat fruit in recent years.
Wildlife and countryside groups attack progress on nature
The government is failing to deliver a third of its commitments to protect the natural environment, a report says.
Volcanoes remind us of their power
By Simon Redfern Volcanic Mount Sinbung in Sumatra, Indonesia, has sprung to life in a series of massive eruptions over the last few days.
Coal fires green anger at UN climate talks
By Matt McGrath Environmental groups have sharply criticised the Polish government for hosting a coal industry meeting while UN climate talks are held in the country.
Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant begins fuel rod removal
Workers at Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant have begunremoving fuel rods from a storage pond at the Unit 4 reactor building.
Plan taken to protect riverbank from Jamuna erosion
A mega plan has been taken up for development work aimed at protecting the right bank of the Jamuna, one of the mighty rivers in the country, from its erosion and flood stretching from Sirajganj to Kurigram districts.
Balanced fertilization must for retaining soil productivity
Speakers at a farmers’ awareness meeting have underscored the need for soil health management rightly for retaining its productivity.
2013 ‘one of warmest’ on record
This year is likely to be among the top 10 warmest on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
Vrango, an island with a rescue plan
By Steve Vickers The waters off the coast of Sweden contain more than 200,000 islands – popular with tourists during the summer, but largely deserted come winter. Residents and authorities are working to breathe life back into the islands, year-round.
Aid agencies say typhoon shows need for action on climate change
By Matt McGrath The UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has urged countries to take urgent action on climate change, as UN talks enter their second week. The committee, comprising 14 aid agencies, said Typhoon Haiyan was a glimpse of the…
Bangladesh’s Nauman wins Gusi Peace Prize
A Bangladeshi rights activist has been named as one of the winners of a Philippine-based international peace prize this year. AHM Nouman won the ‘Gusi Peace Prize International’ for his contribution “to poverty alleviation and humanitarianism”.
353 hectares brought under onion, green chili cultivation
Some 353 hectares of land have been brought under onion and green chili cultivation in the district in the current season.
T-Aman farming exceeds target in Joypurhat
Farmers of the district are now expecting a bumper production of Transplanted Aman (T-Aman) paddy in the district as they have already exceeded this year’s cultivation target of the crop.
China’s solution for combatting air pollution
From: Kristina Chew, Care2 The air pollution in China has become the stuff of legend, or rather of nightmare. The number of lung cancer cases in the capital of Beijing has increased by more than 50 percent in the past…
Oldest big cat fossil found in Tibet
By James Morgan The oldest big cat fossils ever found – from a previously unknown species “similar to a snow leopard” – have been unearthed in the Himalayas.
Ozone chemicals ban linked to global warming ‘pause’
By Matt McGrath A new study suggests that the ban on ozone depleting chemicals may have also impacted the rise in global temperatures.
Philippines typhoon death toll up as aid arrives
The number of people in the Philippines confirmed dead from Typhoon Haiyan now stands at 3,621, officials say.
Live big cats and hippo teeth among UK border seizures
Eight live big cats, tortoises, hippo teeth and a Rolls Royce upholstered with alligator skin were seized by UK border officials in a record year for endangered animal items.
Kenyans chase down and catch goat-killing cheetahs
Four villagers in north-east Kenya have chased down and captured two cheetahs which were killing their goats.
Emissions of CO2 driving rapid oceans ‘acid trip’
By Matt McGrath The world’s oceans are becoming acidic at an “unprecedented rate” and may be souring more rapidly than at any time in the past 300 million years.
Developing nations bear the brunt of extreme weather
Warsaw – Haiti, the Philippines and Pakistan were the countries that suffered the most due to extreme weather events in 2012, according to the Global Climate Risk Index released yesterday at the UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw, Poland.
Why Typhoon Haiyan caused so much damage
by Richard Harris The deadly typhoon that swept through the Philippines was one of the strongest ever recorded. But storms nearly this powerful are actually common in the eastern Pacific.
Environmentalists want law to restore Chalan Beel
Scientists and development activists have voiced for formulation of a law restricting further encroachment and degradation of wetland, biodiversity and ecosystem of Chalan Beel area.
Experts call on media to focus more on raising TB awareness
Experts at a meeting on Wednesday called on the media to play more effective role in raising awareness about tuberculosis.
Bangladesh’s battle with fake, substandard medicine
Despite a backlash to its recent crackdown on the sale of counterfeit medicines in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, the government has vowed to continue fighting the growing industry of illicit, substandard, counterfeit and life-endangering medicines.
Biodiversity offsetting plans too simplistic, MPs warn
Biodiversity offsetting plans outlined by the government must be strengthened if they are to “properly protect Britain’s wildlife”, MPs have warned.
Typhoon wreaks havoc on agriculture with over a million farmers affected
By Matt McGrath Over one million farmers in the Philippines have been impacted by Typhoon Haiyan according to the UN.
Typhoon prompts ‘fast’ by Philippines climate delegate
By Matt McGrath The head of the Philippines delegation at UN climate talks in Poland has said he will stop eating until participants make “meaningful” progress.