Zürcher Nachrichten

Featured

Climate finance's 'new era' shows new political realities

Rich countries' promise of $300 billion a year in climate finance brought fury at talks in Baku from poor nations that found it too paltry, but it also shows a shift in global political realities.

Concern as climate talks stalls on fossil fuels pledge

The failure of UN climate negotiations to double down on a global pledge to move away from planet-heating fossil fuels on Sunday was decried by experts as a "worrying" setback to global progress on curbing warming.

Last news

Energy-hungry Singapore eyes deserts, forest for renewables

With huge data centres set to drive up already outsized energy demand, the tiny city-state of Singapore is looking to Australia's deserts and Malaysia's rainforests for clean power.

Australia tackles poor Great Barrier Reef water quality

Australia on Friday launched a multi-million dollar effort to stop pesticide runoff and other water quality issues on the Great Barrier Reef, the latest effort to save the ailing natural wonder.

Portugal seeks EU help as wildfire threatens UNESCO-listed forest

Portugal on Wednesday appealed to EU partners for assistance in fighting a wildfire on the Atlantic island of Madeira that has raged for a week and threatened a UNESCO-listed forest.

Record-breaking Nepali teen eyes final 8,000-metre peak

At just 18 years old, Nepali mountaineer Nima Rinji Sherpa is on the brink of a remarkable achievement.

Australia approves world's 'largest' solar hub

Australia on Wednesday approved plans for a massive solar and battery farm that would export energy to Singapore, a project dubbed the "largest solar precinct in the world".

Tesla faces lower-rate EU tariffs on China-made EVs

The European Commission announced plans Tuesday to impose an extra nine-percent tariff on Tesla's China-made electric cars, much lower than what Chinese firms face unless Beijing compromises in a trade row.

Oil spill hits beaches on Venezuela's northwest coast

An oil spill has dumped black sludge on beaches along Venezuela's northwestern coast and affected fishing in the area, residents and environmental activists said Monday.

Brazil fishermen turn to mobile app to combat pollution scourge

Brazilian activist and fisherman Alexandre Anderson uses one hand to steer his boat, and the other to film an oil stain spreading over Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay.

Indonesia leader reshuffles cabinet weeks before leaving office

Indonesian President Joko Widodo reshuffled his cabinet on Monday just weeks before he steps down in an effort to ease the transition to his successor, Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, his office said.

Apes to stay at home as Malaysia tweaks 'orangutan diplomacy'

Malaysia is inviting countries that buy its palm oil to adopt orangutans but leave them in their natural habitat, local media reported, tweaking a plan that originally sought to send some abroad.

Trump's strategy on climate? Amplify myths about Harris

An unrelentingly bitter US presidential race, defined by name-calling, attack ads and stunted campaigning, has so far left little space for discussion about climate change, despite the world experiencing unprecedented heat and disasters.

'It's scary': Israeli frontline city in dark over port blast risks

The smell of fuel wafts from storage tanks to Dovi Sonny's apartment -- a long-time irritant, and now a major worry after Hezbollah revealed that the facility in northern Israel was in its sights.

Greenland court extends whale activist Watson's detention

A Greenland court on Thursday ordered US-Canadian anti-whaling activist Paul Watson to be kept in custody until September 5 pending a decision on his possible extradition to Japan.

Japan cancels flights and trains as another typhoon approaches

Hundreds of Japanese flights and trains were cancelled Thursday in the middle of a major holiday week as another typhoon roared towards the archipelago.

Scorching heat magnifies housing crunch for Hong Kong's elderly

Even with two electric fans whirring, retired janitor Chun Loi was sweating profusely in her windowless, one-room flat that swelters during Hong Kong's humid summer.

Uganda garbage landslide death toll rises to 30

Six more bodies, including those of two children, were recovered on Wednesday from the site of a massive garbage landslide in the Ugandan capital Kampala, bringing the death toll so far to 30, police said.

Greece counts cost as firefighters master fires around Athens

Greece on Wednesday counted the cost of devastating fires outside Athens that claimed one life, forced thousands to flee their homes and took three days to control.

Climate change fuelled deadly India landslides, say scientists

Climate change played a key factor in torrential rains in India that triggered catastrophic landslides killing at least 200 people last month, a group of scientists said Wednesday.

Argentine lithium a boon for some, doom for others

Anahi Jorge, 23, works for a lithium extraction company in Argentina, earning four times the salary of a local government worker in her village of Susques.

Mediterranean Sea temperatures match 2023 records

The temperatures of the Mediterranean Sea in recent days have reached heat records set last summer, the main Spanish maritime research centre told AFP Tuesday, with marine heatwaves in some places exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.

Greek firefighters calm deadly Athens inferno

Greek emergency services fought back Tuesday against a massive wildfire that scorched the Athens suburbs, killing a woman, causing widespread damage and sending thousands of people fleeing from their homes.

Mercedes-Benz Korea discloses EV battery makers after fire

Mercedes-Benz Korea released the names of its electric vehicle battery suppliers on Tuesday, bowing to public outrage after one of its cars burst into flame in a parking lot earlier this month.

Greece battles deadly wildfire for third day

Greek emergency services battled a massive wildfire threatening Athens for a third day Tuesday after thousands spent a night away from their homes.

Anti-whaling activist Watson to face Greenland detention hearing

American-Canadian anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, arrested in July in Greenland, will face a judge Thursday who will rule on his continued detention as a possible extradition requested by Japan looms.

In Colombia, hungry beetle larvae combat trash buildup

In the far-flung Colombian highlands, beetles are the secret weapon in an innovative project to combat the ever-growing problem of trash buildup.

Waste into gold: Oyster shells repurposed as magic 'Seawool'

Growing up on Taiwan's west coast where mollusc farming is popular, Eddie Wang saw discarded oyster shells transformed from waste to function -- a memory that inspired him to create a unique and environmentally friendly fabric called "Seawool".

Greece wildfires force hundreds to evacuate

Greece on Sunday was battling a spate of wildfires which have forced the evacuation of hundreds of people, as experts warn of more extreme weather conditions to come next week.

Greece battling wildfires amid high winds

Greece was battling several wildfires on Sunday, with smoke covering parts of the capital Athens in a haze, amid warnings for extreme weather conditions for the rest of the week.

19 dead after Uganda rubbish dump landslide

Nineteen people including five children are confirmed dead after a landslide at a huge garbage dump in the Ugandan capital Kampala, a senior official said on Sunday, amid claims the site was a disaster waiting to happen.

Death toll from Uganda rubbish dump collapse reaches 18

The death toll from a landslide at a vast garbage dump in the Ugandan capital Kampala has risen to 18, police said on Sunday, amid claims the site was a disaster waiting to happen.

Thousands protest in Serbian capital against lithium mine

Thousands hit the streets in Serbia's capital Belgrade Saturday to protest the rebooting of a controversial lithium mine set to serve as a vital source to power Europe's green energy transition.

North Korea moving thousands of flood victims to capital: KCNA

North Korea will move more than 15,000 flood victims to the capital, state media said Saturday, as leader Kim Jong Un insisted recovery efforts would be "based on self-reliance" despite offers of aid from abroad.

Zürcher Nachrichten - Nature (English)