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'Existential challenge': plastic pollution treaty talks begin

A final round of talks on a treaty to end plastic pollution opened on Monday, with the diplomat chairing the difficult negotiations urging nations to "meet an existential challenge."

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.

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Private firms scour booming Nevada desert for water profits

Beneath a bone-dry Nevada lakebed, close to the dusty desert where the Burning Man festival is held each year, an ambitious water project is reshaping this pocket of the US West.

Japan PM rounds out energy-focused Gulf tour with Qatar visit

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited gas-rich Qatar on Tuesday to wrap up a Gulf tour centred on energy security and cooperation with Tokyo's main suppliers.

What is making 2023 likely the hottest year recorded

Human-made climate change is supercharging natural weather phenomena to drive heatwaves roasting Asia, Europe and North America that could make 2023 the hottest year since records began, scientists say.

Top Indian wildlife official removed after 8 cheetahs die

A top Indian wildlife official has been removed after a scheme to relocate cheetahs from Africa saw eight felines die, raising questions about the high-profile project.

Unforgiving heatwaves hit globe as Europe braces for record highs

Europe braced for record-smashing heat Tuesday as withering heatwaves across the globe showed no signs of easing and Greece battled wildfires that forced people to flee their homes.

Rare Somali wild ass born in Chile zoo

A rare Somali wild ass has been born in a zoo in Chile, the fourth specimen of the critically endangered species to be born in the South American country, the zoo owner said.

Mercury hits new highs as heat waves scorch the globe

Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves and wildfires scorched swathes of the Northern Hemisphere, forcing the evacuation of 1,200 children close to a Greek seaside resort.

Clean energy on agenda of Japan PM's pre-COP28 talks in UAE

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday discussed clean energy cooperation with top officials during a visit to the UAE, host of this year's UN climate talks.

Mercury hits new highs as heatwaves scorch the globe

Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves and wildfires scorched parts of the Northern Hemisphere, forcing the evacuation of 1,200 children close to a Greek seaside resort.

Clean energy on agenda of Japan PM talks in UAE ahead of COP28

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday discussed clean energy cooperation with top officials during a visit to the UAE, host of this year's UN climate talks.

US envoy Kerry calls for 'urgent action' on climate at China talks

US climate envoy John Kerry held four hours of talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Monday, calling for "urgent action" as the two countries revived stalled diplomacy on reducing planet-warming emissions.

Temperature reaches new highs as heatwaves scorch the globe

Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves scorched parts of the Northern Hemisphere, triggering health warnings and fanning wildfires in the latest stark reminder of the effects of global warming.

Japan PM in UAE to pitch green technology ahead of COP28

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in the UAE on Monday to discuss cooperation on clean hydrogen, ammonia and recycled carbon fuels ahead of this year's UN climate talks in Dubai.

Global debt dominates G20 finance talks

G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs opened talks Monday on debt restructuring deals, multilateral bank reform and finance to tackle climate change, as they aim to bolster a sagging global economy.

Scorching heatwaves set to break records around the globe

Unforgiving heat scorched parts of the Northern Hemisphere on Monday, triggering health warnings and fanning wildfires in the latest stark reminder of the effects of global warming.

Scorching heatwave threatens to break top temperatures

Scorching heat across the Northern Hemisphere threatened to break records and whip up wildfires on Monday as the dire consequences of global warming take shape.

Global debt dominates as G20 finance chiefs meet

G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs opened talks on Monday discussing debt restructuring deals, multilateral bank reform and finance to tackle climate change, aiming to bolster a sagging global economy.

US envoy Kerry to urge China to step up efforts on climate

US climate envoy John Kerry was in Beijing on Monday to revive stalled talks and pressure China to step up its efforts to reduce planet-warming emissions.

Canada's Magdalen islands have 'front row' seat to climate change

In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, on the small Magdalen islands, foot paths are caving in, cliffs are receding and the sand dunes are disappearing, leaving homes vulnerable to the lashing waves.

Dangerous heatwaves strike globe as wildfires rage

Scorching weather gripped three continents on Sunday, whipping up wildfires and threatening to topple temperature records as the dire consequences of global warming take shape.

Yemen's stricken oil tanker: defusing a 'ticking time bomb'

A rusting tanker containing more than a million barrels of oil has lain abandoned off the coast of war-torn Yemen since 2015, threatening a major environmental disaster if it breaks up or explodes.

Turkey quake survivors' latest menace -- dust

The excavator tore into the remnants of the damaged building in southeast Turkey, bringing it crashing down into a cloud of dust -- the latest menace facing survivors of the deadly February quake that ravaged the region.

US envoy Kerry heads to China to restart climate talks

US climate envoy John Kerry will head to China on Sunday to meet with his counterpart Xie Zhenhua and restart stalled talks between the world's two biggest emitters of planet-warming gases.

London's new 'super sewer' to end Thames pollution blight

The door of the steel box lift clanks shut and a crane slowly lowers construction workers building London's "super sewer" 40 metres (130 feet) to the bottom of an enormous vertical shaft.

Building workers in torrid Texas say water-break ban is 'a law that kills'

Perched on a platform as he painted an enormous wall, Maynor Alvarez felt cramps in his arms and legs and thought he might vomit. He wanted to come down, but the supervisor's order was clear: "Keep working."

COP28 host UAE and India vow 'successful' climate summit

The United Arab Emirates and India vowed on Saturday to make this year's COP28 conference in Dubai a success, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the Gulf state.

'Hot and dangerous weekend': US bakes under relentless heat dome

Brutally high temperatures threatened tens of millions of Americans Saturday, as numerous cities braced to break records under a relentless heat dome that has baked parts of the country all week.

Acropolis closes at hottest hours amid Greece heatwave

The Athens Acropolis, Greece's top tourist attraction, closed during the hottest hours on Friday and may well close again Saturday as the country wilts under a heatwave.

Delhi river reaches record high in monsoon floods

The river running through India's capital New Delhi has reached a record high due to monsoon floods, authorities said Friday as army engineers were deployed to try to contain the waters.

Panama seizes six tons of illegally traded shark fins

Police in Panama seized more than six tons of shark fins bound for Asia on Thursday, arresting five people in connection to the illegal trade, authorities said.

Record-breaking heat bakes US, Europe, China

Summer has just begun in the Northern Hemisphere but a brutal heat wave is already gripping parts of Europe, China and the United States, where record temperatures expected this weekend are a stark illustration of the dangers of a warming climate.

No 'magic' wand to banish fossil fuels: COP28 president and oil boss

Sultan Al Jaber, Emirates oil executive and president of the most important climate summit since the Paris Agreement in 2015, has a quick answer when asked when the world will stop burning fossil fuels: when there's enough clean energy to replace them.

Zürcher Nachrichten - Nature (English)