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COP29 president blames rich countries for 'imperfect' deal

The tough-fought finance deal at UN climate negotiations was "imperfect", the Azerbaijan COP29 leadership has admitted, seeking to blame richer countries for an outcome slammed by poorer nations as insulting.

California vows to step in if Trump kills US EV tax credit

California will revive its own subsidy programs for electric vehicles if Donald Trump guts US federal tax breaks for such cars, the state's governor said Monday.

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Record heat, forest fires in Colombia's Amazon in January

January of this year was the hottest month in the Colombian Amazon in a decade, leading to an increase in forest fires in the southeastern region and very likely impacting air quality in the capital Bogota, according to an Environment Ministry report seen by AFP Friday.

Hippos and humans learning to live in peace in DR Congo

Just how do you calm down a rampaging hippopotamus? Or even a herd of angry hippos.

Round-the-clock care for Peru's oil-stained sea birds

Hand fed fish and given gentle yet rigorous baths, penguins and other sea birds are slowly regaining their strength at a Peruvian zoo after a major oil spill that claimed many of their friends.

Oil everywhere: Ecuador Amazonians seethe over new spill

There is oil in the water, on the rocks and in the sand where children normally play on the banks of the Coca River in Ecuador.

Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon hits January record

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon set a new record for January just three weeks into the year, according to data released Wednesday, a worrying sign of the surging destruction of the world's biggest rainforest.

Brussels weathers backlash over calling gas and nuclear sustainable

The European Commission on Wednesday defied angry dissent from EU governments and protests from green campaigners to give a sustainable finance label to investments in both gas and nuclear power.

Brussels labels gas and nuclear as sustainable investments

The European Commission on Wednesday defied protests from green campaigners and dissent in its own ranks to give a sustainable finance label to investments in both gas and nuclear power.

Hybrid car sales catch up to diesel in Europe

Hybrid car sales reached a milestone in Europe last year as they grabbed the same market share as diesel vehicles, while electric models gained more ground, industry data showed on Wednesday.

EU presses on with green label for gas, nuclear

The EU will face the fury of opponents to nuclear and gas energy on Wednesday when it proposes new criteria for a "green label" for investment projects intended to help fight climate change.

Wildlife rebounds in divided Cyprus 'dead zone'

In a long-abandoned village in the UN buffer zone that divides Cyprus, an endangered curly-horned wild sheep offers hope not only for wildlife but that bitter ethnic divisions might slowly be healed.

Eighteen dead, 46 injured as flooding hits Ecuador capital

The heaviest flooding to hit Ecuador in two decades has killed at least 18 people in Quito, washing away cars, damaging homes and sweeping away volleyball players and spectators on a sports field, officials said Tuesday.

Investors agree $10 billion for controversial Uganda oil project

Chinese and French oil giants finally sealed a $10-billion deal Tuesday to unlock Uganda's energy resources and build a vast regional oil pipeline, a mega-project that has incensed environmental groups.

Oil spill pollutes nature reserve in Ecuadoran Amazon

An oil spill in eastern Ecuador has reached a nature reserve and polluted a river that supplies water to indigenous communities, the country's environmental ministry said Monday.

France limits visitors to save beloved Marseille beach

French authorities said Monday they would begin testing limited daily permits to visit one of the most pristine coves near the Mediterranean city of Marseille, where summer crowds have sharply increased erosion risks.

Magical but messy: Rome scares off its starlings

As the sun sets over central Rome, five figures in white overalls move under the trees. They wave speakers emitting a mix of sharp cries, and the birds rise into the air.

Oil spill 'nail in the coffin' for Covid-hit Thai beach businesses

Oil washing up on a beach on Thailand's east coast could be the "nail in the coffin" for pandemic-hit hotels and restaurants, local hospitality businesses said Saturday.

Ailing whale found near Athens returns to deeper waters

An ailing young whale found near the coast of Athens in a rare sighting has returned to deeper waters after receiving medication, Greek officials said on Saturday.

Judge cancels major US oil and gas exploration sale

A judge on Thursday canceled the sale of oil and gas exploration leases of some 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico, after environmental groups sued the Biden administration citing major concerns.

Australia pumps cash into Great Barrier Reef protection

Australia unveiled a billion-dollar package to protect the climate-ravaged Great Barrier Reef on Friday, hoping to prevent the vast network of corals from being removed from UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Japan to help with Bill Gates' next-gen nuclear power project

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said Thursday it will work with Japan's atomic energy agency to provide technical assistance to a US start-up run by Bill Gates that is building a next-generation nuclear reactor in Wyoming.

Thailand rushes to contain oil spill after undersea leak

Thailand's navy and pollution experts battled Thursday to clear up an oil spill close to pristine holiday beaches, after an undersea pipeline leaked up to 50 tonnes of crude.

Los Angeles set to ban oil drilling in city

Los Angeles looks set to ban oil drilling in the city after councillors voted Wednesday to stop the construction of new wells and wind down those already operating.

'Small' oil leak off Peru coast amid crude spill cleanup

A "relatively small" oil leak has been registered at a refinery off the Peruvian coast just 10 days after a major crude spill that workers are still battling to clean up, authorities said Wednesday.

New oil leak off Peru coast amid crude spill cleanup

A fresh oil leak has occurred off the coast of Peru -- already cleaning up after a major crude spill 10 days earlier -- during work on an underwater refinery pipeline, the government said Wednesday.

Traditional fishermen in despair over Peru oil spill

Hundreds of traditional fisherman living just outside the Peruvian capital fear their livelihoods are ruined following an oil spill caused by a volcanic eruption thousands of miles away.

Serbia backs out of controversial Rio Tinto lithium mine: PM

Serbian authorities have abandoned plans to build a controversial lithium mine, the prime minister said Thursday, following weeks of protests against the project set to be built by Rio Tinto.

Rare baby elephant twins born in Kenya

An elephant in Kenya has given birth to twins, an extremely rare event, conservationists said Thursday.

'Remarkable' giant coral reef found off Tahiti

Scientists have discovered a vast reef of "pristine" rose-shaped corals apparently unharmed by climate change in deep water off the coast of Tahiti, UNESCO announced Thursday.

ExxonMobil targets 'net zero' emissions at operations by 2050

ExxonMobil pledged Tuesday to reach "net zero" greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 2050, but stopped short of extending the promise to products it sells throughout the global economy.

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