A quarter of all Russian forests could be left to burn – Some regions in Siberia underreporting extent of forest fires for ‘political reasons’

By Olga Gertcyk29 May 2016 (Siberian Times) – A quarter of all Russian forests, 89% of stocks in Sakha Republic, could be left to burn, even though they are essential to fight global warming. These vast tracts of forest have been labelled ‘distant and hard-to-reach territories’, and as such it is officially permitted not to […]

New Zealand emissions reductions go up in smoke as generators keep coal-fueled power plant burning

Mr February4 May 2016 (Hot Topic) – The decision to keep the Huntly coal thermal power station open for another four years is not only contrary to all New Zealand’s commitments and climate targets, it also sends the Ministry for the Environment’s projections of stabilising energy emissions to 2020 up in a cloud of coal […]

Last stand for Europe’s remaining ancient forest as loggers prepare to move in – ‘An environmental coup is being staged here’

By Arthur Neslen18 May 2016 Białowieża, Poland (The Guardian) – Europe’s last primeval forest is facing what campaigners call its last stand as loggers prepare to start clear-cutting trees, following the dismissal of dozens of scientists and conservation experts opposed to the plan. Poland’s new far right government says logging is needed because more than […]

300 economists urge leaders to reject tax havens – ‘While all countries are hit by tax dodging, poor countries are proportionately the biggest losers’

By Danica Kirka9 May 2016 (AP) – Hundreds of economists urged world leaders Monday to end the era of tax havens, arguing they only benefit rich individuals and multinational corporations and serve to increase inequality. The 300 economists, in a letter coordinated by activist group Oxfam, say poorer countries are hit hardest by tax dodging. […]

Time to rethink Nestlé water permit in San Bernardino Mountains

By Gary Earney2 May 2016 (Press Enterprise) – The United States Forest Service is proposing to issue Nestlé Waters North America a new five-year special use permit to continue water extractions from Strawberry Creek in the San Bernardino Mountains next to Rimforest, on public land owned by you. In my professional opinion, that may damage […]

Kenya burns 105 tons of elephant ivory to protest poaching, largest stockpile ever burned – ‘Kenya is making a statement that for us ivory is worthless unless it is on our elephants’

By Tom Odula30 April 2016 NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Kenya’s president set fire Saturday to 105 tons of elephant ivory and more than 1 ton of rhino horn, believed to be the largest stockpile ever destroyed, in a dramatic statement by this East African country against the trade in ivory and products from endangered species. […]

Scientists now have a platform for grading climate journalism

By Daniel Nethery 26 April 2016 (The Guardian) – The internet represents an extraordinary opportunity for democracy. Never before has it been possible for people from all over the world to access the latest information and collectively seek solutions to the challenges which face our planet, and not a moment too soon: the year 2015 […]

Test finds Chernobyl residue in Belarus milk 10 times higher than food safety limits – ‘There is no protection of the population from radiation exposure’

By Yuras Karmanau25 April 2016 GUBAREVICHI, Belarus (AP) – On the edge of Belarus’ Chernobyl exclusion zone, down the road from the signs warning “Stop! Radiation,” a dairy farmer offers his visitors a glass of freshly drawn milk. Associated Press reporters politely decline the drink but pass on a bottled sample to a laboratory, which […]

Australia coalition government proposes 1.2GW coal plant to power the Carmichael coal mine, using climate funds – ‘It boggles my mind’

By Sophie Vorrath 19 April 2016 (RenewEconomy) – The Turnbull Coalition government has kicked off its informal re-election campaign by repeating its desire to build a massive coal fired power station in north Queensland, only this time it proposes to use climate funds to help pay for the project. In confirmation that little has changed […]

Politics and the fracturing of shared reality – U.S. Republicans didn’t always deny global warming

By Adam Frank 12 April 2016 (NPR) – You don’t need me to tell you how unusual this primary season has been. Every day, more news sites offer more commentary seeking to explain how American politics reached its current, seemly surreal state. But here at 13.7, our goal is to offer commentary on places where […]

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial