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World approves UN rules for carbon trading between nations at COP29

New rules allowing wealthy polluting countries to buy carbon-cutting "offsets" from developing nations were agreed at UN climate talks Saturday, in a move already raising fears they will be used to greenwash climate targets.

Push to salvage climate talks after poor nations bristle at cash

Key nations raced Saturday to salvage UN climate talks after the poorest countries pushed back angrily for more than $300 billion a year in help from historic wealthy emitters.

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Greece battles fierce wildfires amid heatwave

Greece on Sunday battled three wildfires across the country which forced hundreds to evacuate, as higher temperatures raised concern over more blazes.

Canada considers extending timeline for oil industry emission targets

Canada, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, is considering pushing back its greenhouse gas reduction timeline for its oil industry, the environment minister told media Saturday.

More than 20 killed in south Iran floods: state media

Flooding in southern Iran has killed at least 21 people and left others missing following heavy rainfall in the largely arid country, state media reported on Saturday.

Italy's famous Po Valley rice paddies decimated by drought

The roar of Dario Vicini's motorcycle cuts through the silence as he drives across his rice paddy to survey the destruction wrought by Italy's worst drought in 70 years.

Photo triggered Amazon murders of journalist, guide: AG

The murders in June of British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the Amazon were likely sparked when they sought to photograph a boat belonging to their killers, the Attorney General's office said Friday.

Brazil buzzing over potential of its native bees

Brazilian part-time beekeeper Luiz Lustosa lifts the lid on a wooden hive. The reaction is instant, and angry, as thousands of bees envelop him in a buzzing cloud.

Rhino orphans get new South African home

Moving home is stressful for anyone -- and rhinoceroses are no exception.

Storks give up migrating to live on landfill in Spain

At a sprawling landfill near Madrid, hundreds of white storks dodge garbage trucks as they look for scraps of food among the mountains of multicoloured garbage bags.

Climate change drives Europe towards record fire year

The fires that have torched through Europe are on course to make 2022 a record year for forest loss on the continent, as scientists warn climate change is already contributing to ever fiercer blazes.

Europe fires already worse than in all 2021: monitor

The wildfires that ripped through swathes of Europe in recent weeks have already burned a larger area of land than was lost to blazes in all of 2021, the EU's satellite monitoring service said Thursday.

Firefighters gain upper hand in Athens suburbs wildfire

Greek firefighters on Wednesday gained the upper hand in a battle against a wildfire raging for a second day in mountainside suburbs north of Athens that had earlier forced hundreds of people to flee, an official said.

Human food waste 'threat' to polar bears: report

The invasion of a remote Russian village by dozens of ravenous polar bears three years ago captured headlines around the world, with images of groups of animals gorging on rubbish in an open garbage dump.

World's first bioplastic vinyl record launched in the UK

A British firm says it has produced the world's first bioplastic vinyl record, which it hopes will reduce the need for highly toxic PVC.

French fires coming under control as heat drops

Firefighters battling twin fires in southwest France said Wednesday the blazes were being brought under control thanks to improved weather conditions, but had not been stopped completely.

Hundreds evacuated as blaze engulfs Athens suburbs

Hundreds of people were evacuated early Wednesday as firefighters deployed planes and helicopters to fight a surging wildfire in mountainside suburbs north of Athens for a second day.

Britons desperate to cool off as mercury hits historic 40C

Runways melted, people struggled to sleep and the queen's guard used desk fans as they sweltered in heavy ceremonial uniforms as Britain hit record temperatures on Tuesday.

UK breaches 40C for first time, heat records tumble in France

A heatwave fuelling ferocious wildfires in Europe pushed temperatures in Britain over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time on Tuesday after regional heat records tumbled in France.

Europe heat sparks harmful ozone pollution, 'extreme' fire risk

Europe's searing heatwave is generating very high levels of harmful ozone pollution, the region's atmospheric monitoring service warned Tuesday, adding that large areas of western Europe also face "extreme" danger of wildfires.

Europe burns as heatwave set to break UK temperature record

A fierce heatwave sweeping western Europe was on Tuesday set to smash Britain's all-time temperature record, as swathes of the continent wilted under a scorching sun which has fed ferocious wildfires and stretched emergency services.

'Shocking' report lists devastation to Australia wildlife

Australia's unique wildlife is being devastated by bushfires, drought, habitat loss and global warming, a government report said Tuesday, warning that more species were headed for extinction.

'Shocking' report says Australia wildlife in retreat

Australia's unique wildlife is in retreat as it reels from bushfires, drought, human activity and global warming, according to a "shocking" government report Tuesday that prompted calls for dramatic change.

Europe burns as heatwave breaks temperature records

A fierce heatwave in western Europe on Monday left much of the continent wilting under a scorching sun, smashing temperature records and feeding ferocious forest wildfires.

Britain, France face hottest day as Europe fires rage

Britain and France went on heatwave alert on Monday facing record temperatures as southwest Europe wilted under a scorching sun and ferocious wildfires devoured more forests.

Malaysia seizes animal parts worth $18 mn

Malaysian customs officials said Monday they seized a stash of rare animal parts worth $18 million thought to have come from Africa, including elephant tusks, rhino horns and pangolin scales.

Britain, France brace for hottest day as Europe fires rage

Britain and France went on heatwave alert on Monday bracing for record temperatures as southwest Europe wilted under a scorching sun and ferocious wildfires devoured more forests.

MPs question deterrent effect of UK's Rwanda migrant policy

British MPs on Monday told the government there was "no clear evidence" that its controversial policy to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda would stop Channel crossings in small boats.

Britain, France brace for temperature records as Europe fires rage

Britain and France went on high alert on Monday, bracing for record temperatures from a punishing heatwave as deadly wildfires raging in parts of southwest Europe showed no sign of abating.

France on alert as forest fires rage in scorching southwest Europe

France was on high alert on Monday as the peak of a punishing heatwave gripped the country, while wildfires raging in parts of southwest Europe showed no sign of abating.

Iran arrests several after protests at drying lake

Iranian police have arrested several people for disturbing security after they protested the drying up of a lake once regarded as the Middle East's largest, official media said Sunday.

US won't 'walk away' from Middle East, Biden tells Arab leaders

US President Joe Biden told Arab leaders on Saturday that Washington would remain fully engaged in the Middle East and would not cede influence to other world powers.

Morocco firefighters battle infernos as villagers flee

Hundreds of Moroccan firefighters and soldiers battled late Thursday to put out at least four infernos ripping through forests in the north of the kingdom, officials said.

California wildfire threat to Yosemite giant sequoias 'almost gone'

The wildfire threat to the world's largest trees in California has almost passed, with the blaze now spreading away from giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park, a forestry official said Thursday.

Vulnerable Pacific islands call for 'urgent, immediate' action on climate

Vulnerable Pacific islands demanded "urgent, immediate" global action on climate change Thursday, while stressing a commitment to democracy and the "rules-based" international order in the face of growing Chinese regional influence.

Western Europe heatwave to peak in Spain

The heatwave sweeping across southwestern Europe is expected to peak Thursday in Spain, with blistering temperatures already fueling wildfires across the Iberian Peninsula and France.

Race to find Brazil Amazon species before they disappear

In a remote part of the Brazilian Amazon, a scientific expedition is cataloguing species. Time is of the essence.

Desert-grown superfood puts 'healthy' burgers on UAE menus

A hardy plant grown using salt water is thriving in the UAE's desert farms and helping create "healthy" burgers, showing sustainable agriculture's potential in the toughest conditions.

Saving Guatemala's poisonous 'Sleeping Child' lizard

With its sharp claws, scaly skin and venomous bite, Guatemala's "Sleeping Child" lizard has earned itself few human friends.

Western Europe wilts under second heatwave in weeks

Firefighters battled wildfires in Spain and Portugal Tuesday as Western Europe faced its second heatwave in weeks which threatened glaciers in the Alps and worsened drought conditions.

Indonesian islanders sue cement giant Holcim over climate damage

Residents of Pulau Pari, an Indonesian island threatened by rising sea levels, are suing cement giant Holcim over its carbon dioxide emissions, a Swiss charity said on Tuesday.

Zürcher Nachrichten - Nature (English)