Panama’s sloths harbor potential drugs 31/1/2014

Sloths may be slow, apparently boring animals, but their hair is fast becoming an intriguing avenue for scientists seeking new drugs, including antibiotics and cancer-fighting compounds. ...more

US cities sign up for major carbon cuts 31/1/2014

The mayors of 10 major US cities have committed to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings as part of a programme that could save $1bn a year. ...more

Great Barrier Reef authority approves dredging and dumping to expand port 31/1/2014

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has approved the dumping of 3m cubic metres of dredging spoil proposed as part of the expansion of a coal port. ...more

China stands out for its greenness in a new environmental ranking 31/1/2014

China is the world’s biggest polluter, so it is no surprise that it fares poorly on some measures of pollution in a new global index of environmental performance. The shock is that it also stands out for its world-beating greenness in other areas on the same index. ...more

Nearly 1,800 tonnes of waste collected by UAE environment group in 2013 30/1/2014

Almost 1,800 tonnes of recyclable waste was collected last year by the Emirates Environment Group. ...more

EU backs 6.5 billion euro deal to help end over-fishing 30/1/2014

EU diplomats backed a 6.5 billion euro ($8.9 billion) deal to help fishermen adapt to new rules, ending years of debate over reforms of the European Union's fishing policy aimed at ending decades of over-fishing. ...more

China smog fears spur call for ban on New Year fireworks 30/1/2014

Warnings of heavy smog over central and eastern China this week have prompted the country's weather forecaster to call for a ban on the fireworks traditionally let off at Lunar New Year, state media said on Wednesday. ...more

67 people cited for crimes against the environment in Costa Rica 30/1/2014

Officials from Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) issued citations to 67 people for crimes against the environment in a two-week operation, according to the organization’s control and protection unit. ...more

European bat population bounces back from the brink: study 30/1/2014

Europe's bat population is vulnerable, but conservation policies have boosted it by more than 40 percent after years of decline, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said on Thursday. ...more

Iraq's environment, water supply in severe decline - report 29/1/2014

Iraq is losing between 5 and 8 percent of its gross domestic product to environmental degradation each year, while the amount of water available per person has dropped by more than half since the late 1970s, according to a new government study. ...more