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Plastic pollution talks must not fail: UN environment chief

Talks to agree the world's first treaty to curb plastic pollution cannot fail and must tackle both production and consumption, the UN's environment chief told AFP on Monday.

Indian author Ghosh wins top Dutch prize

Acclaimed Indian author Amitav Ghosh has won the coveted Dutch Erasmus Prize for his writings on climate change and its impact on humanity, especially on the Indian subcontinent.

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Raw sewage pumped into England's largest lake due to fault

Raw sewage was pumped into Windermere, England's largest and best-known lake, over a 10-hour period after a fault caused pumps to stop working, according to documents seen by the BBC and reported Wednesday.

Canadian oil sands city evacuated as wildfire draws near

Thousands of residents of Fort McMurray, a city in Canada's major oil-producing region, fled as an out-of-control wildfire drew near and thick smoke filled the skies.

'Sowing peace'? Colombia program for war criminals stokes debate

Once confined to jail over the killings of hundreds under his watch, former Colombian general Henry Torres now spends his days planting trees and otherwise free.

Amazonian chief at UN to combat traditional knowledge piracy

The leader of the Brazilian Amazon's Huni Kui people remains hopeful that a planned United Nations treaty will advance the fight against biopiracy: the pillaging of traditional knowledge and genetic resources.

PM Sunak warns UK must boost food production

The UK needs to reduce its reliance on imports of fruit and vegetables, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told farmers on Tuesday, as he sought to make food security a top priority against climate and geopolitical threats.

Repression grips remote Russian region months after shock protests

Since a Russian court in January sent his older brother, environmental activist Fail Alsynov, to prison for four years, Idel says he has lived in "fear of the unknown".

More evacuated as early wildfires sweep western Canada

One of the year's first major wildfires in Canada closed in Monday on the British Columbia town of Fort Nelson, as thousands of people across the nation were forced to flee advancing blazes.

In US national parks, a historical wound begins to heal

When Raeshaun Ramon first donned the distinctive green and gray uniform of a US National Park Service ranger, he feared his Native American tribe would judge him for his choice.

Identity crisis: Climate destroying wonders that gave US parks their names

Glacier National Park's ice fortress is crumbling. The giant trees of Sequoia National Park are ablaze. And even the tenacious cacti of Saguaro National Park are struggling to endure a decades-long drought.

Nepal's 'Everest Man' claims record 29th summit

Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa reached the top of Mount Everest for the 29th time Sunday, breaking his own record for the most summits of the world's highest mountain.

Rescue operations continue in flooded southern Brazil despite new rain

Emergency workers continued search and rescue operations in flood-stricken southern Brazil on Saturday despite a new burst of torrential rains, as the death toll continued to climb.

Musk says Tesla charger network will grow, days after layoffs

Tesla boss Elon Musk said Friday the electric vehicle manufacturer would invest over $500 million this year to install new superchargers, just days after a report of massive layoffs in this branch of the company.

Nepali climbers open Everest summit for the season

Ten Nepali climbers reached the top of Mount Everest late Friday from its southern approach, opening the route for hundreds of summit hopefuls.

Biden's clean energy tax credits likely to remain 'law of the land': Brainard

Most of Joe Biden's clean energy tax credits are now law and are unlikely to be reversed by Donald Trump if he wins November's presidential election, a senior administration official said Friday.

In south Brazil, race to deliver aid ahead of new storms

Teams raced against the clock Thursday to deliver aid to flood-stricken communities in southern Brazil before the arrival of new storms forecast to batter the region once again.

School's out: how climate change threatens education

Record-breaking heat last month that prompted governments in Asia to close schools offers fresh evidence of how climate change is threatening the education of millions of children.

Malaysia plans to introduce 'orangutan diplomacy': minister

Malaysia intends to gift orangutans to palm oil-purchasing countries as part of an initiative similar to China's panda diplomacy, the commodities minister said on Wednesday.

'A blessing': Rains refill Iraq's drought-hit reservoirs

The reservoir behind the massive Darbandikhan dam, tucked between the rolling mountains of northeastern Iraq, is almost full again after four successive years of drought and severe water shortages.

Brazil's football giants rally to help victims of deadly flooding

Brazil's football giants -- including Neymar, Vinicius Junior and Ronaldinho -- are rallying behind a fundraising effort for victims of devastating floods that have killed at least 85 people in the south of the country.

No letup yet for flood-battered southern Brazil

The rains may have abated, but floodwaters continued their assault on southern Brazil Monday, with hundreds of municipalities in ruins amid fears that food and drinking water may soon run out.

EU election could force sharp turn in electric car policy

A change at the top of European institutions could herald a change in the 2035 target to phase out sales of internal combustion engine cars even though the automotive industry is already well down the road towards transitioning to electric vehicles.

Flood-hit Kenya and Tanzania buffeted by tropical cyclone

Coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania were buffeted by heavy rains and high winds from a tropical cyclone on Saturday, adding to the chaos caused by deadly floods that have ravaged the region.

Flood-hit Kenya and Tanzania on alert as cyclone nears

Kenya and Tanzania were on alert on Saturday for a cyclone heading towards their Indian Ocean coastlines, threatening to pile on more misery after deadly floods that have ravaged the region.

In southern Brazil, flood victims cope with total loss

When Claudio Almiro finally abandoned his ruined home in flood-ravaged southern Brazil, he found himself slogging through waist-deep water.

Dams strain as water, death toll, keep rising in south Brazil

The death toll from floods and mudslides triggered by torrential storms in southern Brazil climbed to 39 Friday, officials said, as they warned of worse to come.

Kenya, Tanzania brace for cyclone as heavy rains persist

Kenya and Tanzania were bracing Thursday for a cyclone on the heels of torrential rains that have devastated East Africa, killing more than 350 people and forcing tens of thousands from their homes.

Banks slow to limit coal financing: NGO

Banks lent almost $470 billion to the coal industry between 2021 and 2023, according to a study published Thursday by German environmental group Urgewald, which criticised the scale of financing amid rising global temperatures.

Wind energy giant Vestas swings to loss, sees geopolitical headwinds

Vestas, the world's number one wind turbine maker, said Thursday it swung to a 75-million-euro ($80-million) loss in the first quarter and warned "geopolitical volatility" would continue to cause uncertainty.

French govt to 'fight' TotalEnergies New York listing

France will "fight" to keep oil and gas giant TotalEnergies from shifting its main stock market listing to New York, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Thursday.

Mass fish die-off in Vietnam as heatwave roasts Southeast Asia

Hundreds of thousands of fish have died in a reservoir in southern Vietnam's Dong Nai province, with locals and media reports suggesting a brutal heatwave and the lake's management are to blame.

US lawmakers accuses oil giants of climate 'doublespeak'

The oil industry's public relations strategy has evolved from climate science denial to "disinformation and doublespeak" to counter meaningful environmental policies, US congressional Democrats said in a report Tuesday.

No more dirty diesel for Paris Olympic sites

French sports venues preparing for this year's Paris Olympics are set to ditch their diesel generators in favour of power grid connections as part of efforts to cut the carbon emissions linked to the Games.

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