Wood heating could be worse than thought for rural air, study suggests 16/12/2024

We think of cities as the places with the worst air pollution, but studies are increasingly highlighting severe air pollution in rural towns and villages, mainly from wood heating. However, government measurement networks mainly focus on cities, overlooking the air breathed by the 20-30% of people in the UK and Europe that live in the countryside. ...more

Discovery of six rare Mekong giant catfish in Cambodia raises hopes for endangered species 16/12/2024

Six critically endangered Mekong giant catfish — one of the largest and rarest freshwater fish in the world — have been caught and released in Cambodia, reviving hopes for the survival of the species. ...more

Hamdan Bin Zayed Issues a Decree To Issue a Policy to Protect Soil from Degradation in The Emirate Of Abu Dhabi 13/12/2024

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), issued Decree No. (6) of 2024 regarding the issuance of a policy to protect soil from degradation in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. ...more

EU not buckling to pressure over car CO2 rules, climate chief says 13/12/2024

The European Commission is not considering changing Europe's policies to cut CO2 emissions from cars, despite a push from the EU's biggest political group to weaken the laws, the bloc's climate policy chief told Reuters on Thursday. ...more

China tightens rules to curb methane emissions from coal mines 13/12/2024

China will impose tougher curbs on the amount of methane released during coal extraction in an effort to reduce emissions of the powerful climate-warming gas, the environment ministry said on Thursday. ...more

Canada sets new 45–50% emissions reduction goal for 2035 13/12/2024

Canada will aim to cut emissions by 45–50% below 2005 levels by 2035, the environment ministry announced on Thursday, setting a new transitory target before the Paris Agreement's 2050 goal of net-zero emissions. ...more

‘Forever chemical’ found in mineral water from several European countries 13/12/2024

Mineral water from several European nations has been found for the first time to be contaminated with TFA, a type of PFAS “forever chemical” that is a reproductive toxicant accumulating at alarming levels across the globe. ...more

EU's largest political group pushes to weaken combustion engine ban 12/12/2024

The European Parliament's biggest political group is mounting a campaign to weaken the EU's main policies for cutting CO2 emissions from cars, a draft position paper seen by Reuters showed. ...more

Climate Hazards Will Slash 7% Off Corporate Earnings Annually by 2035, Research Warns 12/12/2024

Businesses must act now to address growing climate risks or face steep financial losses, according to two new reports released today by the World Economic Forum. Companies that delay could see up to 7% of annual earnings wiped out by 2035—an impact akin to COVID-19-level disruptions every two years. ...more

Britain leads the world in cracking down on climate activism, study finds 12/12/2024

British police arrest environmental protesters at nearly three times the global average rate, research has found, revealing the country as a world leader in the legal crackdown on climate activism. ...more