Indonesia's capital named world's most polluted city 11/8/2023

Indonesia's capital Jakarta topped the list as the world's most polluted city on Wednesday, having consistently ranked among the 10 most polluted cities globally since May, according to data by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir. ...more

Swiss Re says natural catastrophe insured losses hit $50 bln in H1 11/8/2023

Insured losses stemming from natural catastrophes rose to $50 billion in the first half of 2023, the second highest reading since 2011, reinsurer Swiss Re said on Wednesday. ...more

AI helps airline pilots avoid areas that create polluting contrails 11/8/2023

Aircraft contrails – or clouds of condensation behind planes – have been a familiar sight in skies across the world since the start of the jet age. However, a new experiment by Google and American Airlines suggests they could soon become much rarer, in a small but significant win that could assist the battle to cut aviation emissions. ...more

World’s oldest moss could go extinct as a result of climate crisis 11/8/2023

The world’s oldest moss, found in the Himalayas, may not be able to survive climate breakdown, scientists have said. ...more

G20 Ministers Recommit to Paris Agreement, Agree on Blue Economy Principles 11/8/2023

The Group of 20 (G20) environment and climate ministers “resolve[d] to pursue environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development” in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the objective of achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030, and commitments to address pollution. They also adopted a set of voluntary principles on sustainable and resilient ocean-based economy. ...more

Amazon nations fail to agree on deforestation goal at summit 10/8/2023

Eight Amazon nations agreed to a list of unified environmental policies and measures to bolster regional cooperation at a major rainforest summit in Brazil on Tuesday, but failed to agree on a common goal for ending deforestation. ...more

India succeeds in reducing emissions rate by 33% over 14 years - sources 10/8/2023

India's greenhouse emissions rate dropped by a faster-than-expected 33% in 14 years as renewable energy generation rose and forest cover increased, according to two officials privy to latest assessment made for submission to the United Nations. ...more

Fears over Antarctic sea ice as yearly ozone layer hole forms ‘very early’ 10/8/2023

The hole in the ozone layer has begun to form early this year, prompting warnings that a larger-than-average hole may further warm the Southern Ocean while the level of Antarctic sea ice is at a record low. ...more

July was world’s hottest month on record, climate scientists confirm 10/8/2023

July has been confirmed as the hottest month on record globally after several heatwaves in parts of Europe, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). ...more

Air pollution linked to rise in antibiotic resistance that imperils human health 10/8/2023

Air pollution is helping to drive a rise in antibiotic resistance that poses a significant threat to human health worldwide, a global study suggests. ...more