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Main points of the $300 billion climate deal

The deal reached at UN climate talks in Azerbaijan ramps up the money that wealthy historic emitters will provide to help poorer nations transition to cleaner energy and adapt to global warming.

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.

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$Support for Trump, questions for Harris in pro-fracking Pennsylvania$

Support for Trump, questions for Harris in pro-fracking Pennsylvania

For Pennsylvania farmer George Wherry, 85, fracking for natural gas under his otherwise bucolic fields means greater economic "freedom" -- one of the many reasons he'll be voting for Donald Trump in November.

Brazil urges EU to suspend 'punitive' anti-deforestation law

Brazil said Thursday it has urged the EU to suspend the implementation of a ban on imports of products driving deforestation, describing the new rules as "punitive".

UK military urged to stop using bearskin hats on cost grounds

Animal rights group PETA on Thursday renewed its call for soldiers outside Buckingham Palace to stop wearing real bearskin hats after UK government figures revealed they now cost more than £2,000 ($2,600) each.

Floods hit millions in West and Central Africa

Parts of Central and West Africa have seen heavy flooding over an unusually intense rainy season, unleashing a humanitarian crisis in which hundreds have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Teresa Ribera, the Spanish climate expert tipped to become EU commissioner

Spain's ecological transition minister Teresa Ribera, who is poised to become a European Union commissioner, is a longtime environmentalist known for her negotiating skills and climate expertise.

Prayers for birth in most populous nation India

Each year 25 million babies are born in India, the world's most populous nation, but for desperate childless couples wanting to be parents, prayers at a sacred Hindu well offer hope.

Chile arrests ex-firefighter with 'hero' motive over deadly blaze

Chilean police on Monday arrested a former fireman for allegedly contributing to a massive blaze that killed 137 people and destroyed thousands of homes in February because he wanted to be a "hero" by helping put it out.

Smoke from Brazil fires clouds major cities, neighboring countries

Smoke from intense wildfires in the Amazon rainforest and other parts of Brazil was choking major cities, like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on Monday, and wafting into neighboring countries.

US statewide bans on plastic bags reduced beach pollution: analysis

Statewide bans on plastic bags in the United States have led to significant reductions in the number of bags found on beaches and waterways, according to a scientific analysis published Monday.

China's Hellobike looks to say hello to Europe

Chinese bicycle-sharing giant Hellobike plans to expand to Europe, its management said Monday, with its point of entry likely to be Paris.

Greenpeace sounds alarm on microplastics ingested by Hong Kong wildlife

Microplastic particles turned up in the vast majority of waste samples taken from Hong Kong wildlife in a Greenpeace study, the group said Monday, suggesting that animals still ingest plastics even if they are not feeding in urban areas.

Drought sinks longest Polish river to record-low level

Poland's longest river, the Vistula, on Sunday hit a record-low water level in the capital because of drought, the national weather agency said.

Super Typhoon Yagi hits Vietnam after leaving deadly trail

Super Typhoon Yagi uprooted thousands of trees and swept ships and boats out to sea, killing one person, as it made landfall in northern Vietnam on Saturday, after leaving at least 23 dead through southern China and the Philippines.

Visiting Papua New Guinea, pope says natural resources must benefit all

Pope Francis visited Papua New Guinea Saturday, where he called for vast natural resources to benefit the "entire community" -- a politically charged demand in a nation where many believe their riches are being stolen or squandered.

Pope tells Papua New Guinea leaders natural resources must benefit all

Pope Francis told Papua New Guinea's leaders Saturday that vast natural resources must benefit the "entire community", a politically charged call in a nation where many believe riches are being squandered or stolen.

June-August 2024 were hottest ever recorded: EU monitor

The 2024 northern summer saw the highest global temperatures ever recorded, beating last year's record and making this year likely Earth's hottest ever, the EU's climate monitor said Friday.

US bat decline triggered pesticide surge and over 1,000 infant deaths: study

A collapse in North America's bat population led to a surge in pesticide use by farmers as an alternative way to protect their crops -- in turn triggering a rise in infant mortalities, a study revealed Thursday.

Brazil braces for more fires amid extreme low humidity

More than a thousand Brazilian municipalities were on alert Thursday due to very low humidity -- in some cases comparable to that of the Sahara desert -- as the country is gripped by a historic drought that has fueled major wildfires.

South Korea sees highest average summer temperature on record

South Korea experienced its highest average summertime temperature since such records began half a century ago, nearly two degrees higher than the historic average, the weather agency said Thursday.

Japanese island eradicates rabbit-killing mongoose

Japan has wiped out all mongooses on a subtropical island, officials said, after the animals ignored the venomous snakes they were brought in to hunt and preyed on endangered local rabbits instead.

UK conservationists and eBay team up against plant poaching

UK conservationists on Wednesday announced a collaboration with e-commerce giant eBay to combat the illegal plant trade, which is threatening the existence of some species.

Eco-friendly French cargo ship revives sail power

A French ship navigating past New York City to harbor laden with Champagne, Cognac and jam under sail might recall a long-forgotten age of wind navigation.

Namibia's drought cull of more than 700 wildlife under way

A Namibian government cull of more than 700 wildlife to cope with its worst drought in decades is under way, with nearly 160 animals already killed, the environment ministry said Tuesday.

Ex-Volkswagen CEO denies charges in 'dieselgate' trial

Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn denied the charges against him as his "dieselgate" trial began, his lawyer said Tuesday, nine years after the scandal first plunged the German auto titan into crisis.

UK announces record green energy auction

The UK on Tuesday said it had awarded a record 131 new green infrastructure projects in a single auction, including plans for Europe's two biggest offshore windfarms.

India launches flood warning systems at Himalayan glacial lakes

India is setting up high-tech warning systems at nearly 200 Himalayan glacial lakes at risk of bursting their banks, a deadly threat exacerbated by climate change, disaster officials said Tuesday.

Ex-Volkswagen CEO goes on trial over 'dieselgate'

Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn went on trial Tuesday for his role in the "dieselgate" scandal, nine years after the saga first plunged the German auto titan into crisis.

Larry the Downing Street cat gets 'Russian' rival

Larry the Downing Street cat is facing a challenge to his position as the British government's chief mouser -- a cute "Russian" kitten.

US climate envoy John Podesta to visit China this week

US climate envoy John Podesta will visit China this week for talks with counterpart Liu Zhenmin, state media said Tuesday, ahead of the COP29 summit in Baku in November.

'Queen of Trash' in dock in Sweden's biggest toxic waste scandal

Eleven people go on trial in Sweden on Tuesday accused of illegally dumping toxic waste in the country's biggest-ever environmental crime case.

Swaths of China, Japan log record summer temperatures

Swaths of China logged the hottest August on record last month, the weather service said, as Japanese authorities announced that this summer had been the joint warmest since records began.

Swathes of China, Japan log record summer temperatures

Swathes of China logged the hottest August on record last month, the weather service said, as Japanese authorities announced that 2024 had been its warmest summer since records began.

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