12 October – The first 20 years of this century have seen a “staggering” rise in climate disasters, UN researchers said on Monday, while also maintaining that “almost all nations” have failed to prevent a “wave of death and illness”…
Category: Environment
Provide ‘decisive leadership’ on climate action: UN chief
12 October – With nations striving to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impacts, efforts must focus on decarbonizing the global economy and building a more inclusive and resilient future, the UN Secretary-General said on Monday.
‘Don’t undermine local NGOs in Rohingya response’
Speakers at a conference has the urged the United Nations (UN) not to undermine the local NGOs regarding the humanitarian response to Rohingya camps.
Citizens’ movement to protect wetlands in Jammu & Kashmir
• Jammu & Kashmir’s wetlands provide habitat for migratory birds and act as buffer zones during floods. • Now, a citizen’s movement to revive these wetlands and water bodies has gained momentum.
Mayors Explore how COVID-19 will Redefine Urban Cities
By Samira Sadeque UNITED NATIONS, Oct 8 2020 (IPS) – The coronavirus pandemic has the potential to bring about positive changes for cities, and give leaders the opportunity to make long-term, transformative changes as a result, according to renowned architect…
Savar, Dhaka, Oct 08 – The Department of Environment (DoE) on Wednesday fined eight tanneries at Savar Tannery Industrial Estate Tk 21lakh for polluting the environment.
Tensions high at Rohingya camps after violence
Cox’s Bazar, Oct 08 – Tensions heightened at Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps following a fierce clash at Ukhiya camp on Tuesday that left four people dead.
KSA visa, Iqama valid for Bangladeshi expats until Oct 31
The government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has extended the validity of visa and Iqama (work permit) for Bangladeshi expatriate workers and professionals until October 31 without any charge to help them return to their workplaces smoothly.
4 Rohingyas killed, 20 injured in clash at Cox’s Bazar camp
Cox’s Bazar, Oct 06 – Four Rohingyas were killed and 20 others injured in a turf war at a camp in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya on Tuesday night.
Popularise Bangladesh’s waterways: Experts tell govt
Dhaka, Oct 03 – Speakers at a discussion meeting in the capital on Saturday said most government measures taken to protect rivers and strengthen the river transport sector are positive but slow in implementation.
We Need Nature, Biodiversity if We Want a Sustainable Future
By Samira Sadeque UNITED NATIONS, Oct 1 2020 (IPS) – “Investing in nature is investing in a sustainable future,” was one of the key messages from yesterday’s first-ever United Nations Summit on Biodiversity where world leaders and experts agreed on…
Increase storage capacity of water bodies: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called for enhancing surface water by increasing the storage capacity of water bodies across the country, aiming to protect the biodiversity, boost fish production and ensure safe water for all.
Stranded migrants need dignified return: UN body
The UN Committee on Migrant Workers has called on governments to take immediate action to address the inhumane conditions of migrant workers stranded in detention camps and ensure their orderly, safe and dignified return to their home countries.
$100 bln corporate bailout for US Fossil Fuel Industry
“Big Oil’s $100 Billion Bender: How The U.S. Government Provided a Safety Net for the Flagging Fossil Fuel Industry”, says one report from Friends of the Earth US, Public Citizen, and BailoutWatch.
PM Hasina seeks check on human actions to save other species
Dhaka, Oct 01 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said if the current actions of humans keep going on unchecked it will not only cause the extinction of other species, but also move towards ultimate extinction of itself.
Moving Nature to the Heart of Decision-Making
By Ana María Hernández Salgar BOGOTA, Colombia, Sep 30 2020 (IPS) – This week, Heads of State and Government from 64 countries announced one of the strongest pledges yet to reverse the loss of biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people…
Decade-Old pledge to Biodiversity Misses Almost All Targets
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, Sep 30 2020 (IPS) – The coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed the lives of over one million people worldwide and destabilized the global economy, also upended the UN’s ambitious socio-economic goals, including the eradication of…
Peoples’ response to the High-Level Summit on Biodiversity
More than 100 organizations from around the world, the majority from the global South, have signed a letter raising critical points about the UN Summit on Biodiversity (30 September 2020), the biodiversity crisis and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
India agree to resolve water-sharing issues
Bangladesh and India on Tuesday agreed to resolve the water-sharing issues of common rivers, including Teesta treaty, and bring down border killings to a zero level, says Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Tk 338-cr Bangladesh project for digital land zoning
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved four projects involving Tk 796 crore, including a Tk 338-crore scheme, to make mouza and plot-based national digital land zoning.
UN officials discuss roadmap to preserve the natural world
28 September 2020 – Top UN officials working to preserve the natural world are urging “action now” ahead of a crucial biodiversity summit this week, where world leaders will reaffirm their commitment to the cause.
World Rivers Day 2020: Celebrating Rivers across the world
September 26, 2020 SANDRP The World Rivers Day (WRD) is celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of September. The event strives to highlight the invaluable ecological, hydrological services and cultural, recreational values offered by the rivers. Indeed, the most of…
Implement the Teesta Project expanding its coverage: IFC
Dhaka, Sept 26: The Teesta in Bangladesh has practically turned into a dead river because of excessive siltation for being deprived of its natural flow for decades. The absence of flow causes damage to the environment and sufferings to the…
Bending the Biodiversity Loss Curve Requires big Change
By Jamison Ervin The UN will be hosting the first-ever Biodiversity Summit – remotely – on September 30. UNITED NATIONS, Sep 23 2020 (IPS) – A spate of reports on biodiversity – the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystems,…
Air pollution in cities takes a toll on bees
by Mohit M. Rao • A study shows that air pollution causes behavioural, physiological and genetic changes in wild bees. • Pollutant impact on bees is observed even in areas well-within the current national standards for Particulate Matter pollution. •…
What Would the Buddha Do?
By David Loy Maybe every modern generation feels confronted by some crisis that will affect the fate of the world, but unless your head is buried in the sand (or some Buddhist equivalent) it’s impossible to be ignorant of the…
Rohingya issue: Dhaka to reach out to world leaders at UNGA
Bangladesh will bring the unresolved Rohingya crisis before the global leaders on Saturday apparently reminding everybody of the failure to find a durable solution to the crisis amid Myanmar’s non-fulfilment of repatriation pledge, officials said.
EU for UN’s technical, protection survey of Bhasan Char camp
Dhaka, Sept 25 – European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink has laid emphasis on visits by UN technical and humanitarian protection teams to Bhasan Char though Rohingya leaders recently expressed satisfaction over the situation there.
Migrant workers crowd Biman, Saudi Airlines booths for ticket
Saudi expatriates gathered in front of Biman and Saudi Airline offices in the city on Thursday for having their air tickets confirmed to go back to Saudi Arabia.
PM’s financial support to mosque AC blast victims’ families
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has provided a total of Tk 1.75 crore as financial assistance for 35 families of the victims of Narayanganj mosque blasts.