To drive, or not to drive: Germans rethink love of cars 21/3/2022

Many Germans would support a car-free day a week to reduce dependence on Russian oil and gas imports, a poll showed on Friday, as soaring petrol and diesel prices squeeze both households and Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government. ...more

South African court orders government to clean up air in coal belt 21/3/2022

A South African court on Friday upheld a complaint by activists that poor air quality in the coal belt is a breach of constitutional rights, giving the environment minister a year to enforce a clean air plan drawn up a decade ago. ...more

Netherlands ramps up plan for doubling offshore wind capacity by 2030 21/3/2022

The Netherlands will significantly ramp up the building of offshore wind farms in coming years, doubling the planned capacity by 2030, in a bid to meet climate goals and reduce its dependence on Russian gas. ...more

Great Barrier Reef hit by bleaching as UNESCO weighs "in danger" listing 18/3/2022

The Great Barrier Reef has been hit by bleaching due to heat stress, the Australian agency that manages the reef said on Friday, ahead of a visit by United Nations officials reviewing whether the reef should be listed as being "in danger". ...more

High energy costs intensify debate over Europe's carbon plan 18/3/2022

A European Union plan to charge fuel suppliers for the CO2 emitted by cars and heating buildings is emerging as the most contentious element in a raft of climate change policies the bloc's member states are negotiating this year. ...more

Swiss Re cuts fossil fuel cover for oil, gas to protect climate 18/3/2022

Swiss Re, the world's second biggest reinsurer said it would no longer insure most new oil and gas projects following mounting pressure on big business to do more to help the world cap global warming. ...more

Brazilian biologists "frightened" at amount of microplastics in Rio marine life 18/3/2022

Biologists in Rio de Janeiro studying the presence of microplastics in marine life off the coast of Brazil's postcard city have found that the impact of plastic pollution is far worse than they had feared. ...more

Fast melting alpine permafrost is bad news for Earth 18/3/2022

Melting permafrost will play a major role in shaping Earth’s future. Recent research published in Nature Communications has established that alpine permafrost will melt much faster than arctic permafrost under current conditions. ...more

World far short of climate goals during 'decade of action' -report 17/3/2022

Climate action promised by countries would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9% in this decade - far short of the global goal of cutting emissions by nearly half by 2030, a new analysis shows. ...more

Europe seeks breakthrough on climate change plans amid energy crisis 17/3/2022

EU environment ministers will assess their progress on negotiating a raft of new climate change policies on Thursday, with countries divided over whether soaring energy prices should speed up or slow down their green agenda. ...more