Feed aggregator

Pantanal waterway project would destroy a ‘paradise on Earth’, scientists warn

The Guardian - Mon, 2024-08-12 16:00

The South American wetland, which falls within Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, would be vulnerable to biome loss and increased wildfires

Dozens of scientists are sounding the alarm that carving a commercial waterway through the world’s largest wetlands could spell the “end of an entire biome”, and leave hundreds of thousands of hectares of land to be devastated by wildfires.

The Pantanal wetland – which falls within Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, covering an area almost half the size of Germany – is facing the proposed construction of a commercial waterway, as well as the expansion of industrial farming and spread of intense wildfires. A cohort of 40 scientists say the waterway development represents an existential threat to the ecosystem: reducing the floodplain, increasing the risk of fires and transforming the area into a landscape that could more easily be farmed.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

Industry push to earn carbon credits from Australia’s native forests would be a blow for nature and the climate

The Conversation - Mon, 2024-08-12 15:56
Australia cannot risk any further declines in its biodiversity resulting from harvesting native forests, or actions that bring further risks to its emissions-reduction goal. David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Brendan Mackey, Director, Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University Heather Keith, Senior Research Fellow in Ecology, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
Categories: Around The Web

Pushing the boundaries: Indian women in a man’s world – in pictures

The Guardian - Mon, 2024-08-12 15:00

A Thousand Thorns is a project by photographer Deepti Asthana documenting women’s changing aspirations in rural India through the story of two young female forest guards in Rajasthan’s Thar desert. Theirs is a scenario playing out in millions of homes – of the fight for equality and independence in a deeply patriarchal society

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

Securities firm leads call for China OECMs

Carbon Pulse - Mon, 2024-08-12 14:08
A Shanghai- and Hong Kong-listed securities firm has issued a call for expressions of interest in Mainland China projects seeking status as Other Effective land-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) as part of the country’s efforts to meet its commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Categories: Around The Web

Australian miners, airline commit A$80 mln to carbon origination fund in first close

Carbon Pulse - Mon, 2024-08-12 12:26
An Australian investment joint venture has launched a carbon credit fund focusing on reforesting agricultural land after securing A$80 million ($52 mln) in its initial close from some of the country’s largest miners and airlines.
Categories: Around The Web

Australian fossil fuel exports ranked second globally for climate damage with ‘no plan’ for reduction

The Guardian - Mon, 2024-08-12 11:17

Coal and gas exports expected to remain roughly at current level until at least 2035 with 4.5% of emissions linked to Australia, report finds

Australia’s coal and gas exports cause more climate damage than those from any other country bar Russia, according to a new study that argues the country is undermining a global agreement to transition away from fossil fuels.

The analysis, commissioned by the University of New South Wales’ Australian Human Rights Institute, found Australia was the third biggest fossil fuel exporter on an energy basis in 2021, trailing only Russia and the US.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

Higher compensation proposed for poor water service

BBC - Mon, 2024-08-12 09:34
Water companies that miss standards should pay customers more compensation, the government proposes.
Categories: Around The Web

Australia’s gas and coal exports taking vast share of remaining carbon budget -report

Carbon Pulse - Mon, 2024-08-12 09:01
Australia’s contribution to global warming and its share of the world’s carbon budget is much higher than it appears and within just over a decade could amount to 77 billion tonnes of CO2e, a report from one of Australia’s leading climate scientists cautions.
Categories: Around The Web

Dug up in Australia, burned around the world – exporting fossil fuels undermines climate targets

The Conversation - Mon, 2024-08-12 06:15
A new report reveals Australia’s fossil fuel exports threaten the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C Bill Hare, Adjunct Professor of Energy, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
Categories: Around The Web

Urban growth is leading to more intense droughts for most of the world’s cities – and Sydney is a case study for areas at risk

The Conversation - Mon, 2024-08-12 06:14
New research underscores the need to counter the effects of urban growth on drought by ensuring cities have enough green spaces to keep them liveable. Ian A. Wright, Associate Professor in Environmental Science, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
Categories: Around The Web

Woman found dead in Grand Canyon after multi-day search

The Guardian - Mon, 2024-08-12 05:42

Discovery of 20-year-old Leticia A Castillo’s body marks third reported death in national park since 31 July

A 20-year old woman was found dead in the Grand Canyon following a multi-day search.

In a statement, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that it had located a body below Twin Overlooks along Desert View Drive on Tuesday. The body was transported to the rim and transferred to the Coconino county medical examiner’s office.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

Startling genome discovery in butterfly project reveals impact of climate change in Europe

The Guardian - Sun, 2024-08-11 19:00

Project to study all 11,000 species of butterflies and moths finds ‘two species in the act of being created from one’

The chalkhill blue has some surprising claims to fame. For a start, it is one of the UK’s most beautiful butterflies, as can be seen as they flutter above the grasslands of southern England in summer.

Then there is their close and unusual relationship with ants. Caterpillars of Lysandra coridon – found across Europe – exude a type of honeydew that is milked by ants and provides them with energy. In return, they are given protection in cells below ground especially created for them by the ants. Chalkhill blues thrive as a result, though their numbers are now coming under threat.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

Mark Rylance among actors calling on Old Vic to cut links with fossil fuel investor

The Guardian - Sun, 2024-08-11 15:00

Paapa Essiedu and Stephen Dillane also sign open letter urging theatre to end Royal Bank of Canada’s support over its shares in fuel and arms

Actors including Mark Rylance, Paapa Essiedu and Stephen Dillane have signed an open letter calling on the Old Vic theatre to cut ties with a major sponsor over its links to fossil fuels, the Observer can reveal.

Signed by dozens of actors, playwrights, directors and other creatives, the letter calls on the historic London theatre to end links with its principal financial partner, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). The contract is up for renewal this year.

Continue reading...
Categories: Around The Web

Pages

Subscribe to Sustainable Engineering Society aggregator