The Independent presents the first in an exclusive series from Socotra, an island paradise under threat from a neo-colonial takeover, the vagaries of Yemen’s war and the spectre of climate change Legend has it the otherworldly dragon’s-blood tree first grew on the spot where two brothers, Darsa and Samha, fought ... Read More »
Air pollution inequality widens between rich and poor nations
Rich cities have improved, but pollution in poorer countries is still rising and kills 7 million people a year globally, WHO data reveals Pollution inequality between the world’s rich and poor is widening, according to the latest global data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) which shows that 7 million ... Read More »
More than 95% of Earth’s population breathing dangerously polluted air, finds study
Annual deaths from poor air have increased by 20 per cent since 1990 More than 95 per cent of the world’s population are breathing dangerously polluted air, with those in developing countries at considerably greater risk, facing a double whammy of breathing unsafe air both inside the home and out. ... Read More »
Climate change could trigger volcanic eruptions across the world, warn scientists
Melting of ice on volcanoes can increase risk of landslides and destabilise magma ‘plumbing system’ inside, say researchers Besides having a disastrous impact on sea levels and weather, a warming climate could also trigger catastrophic volcanic eruptions across the planet Volcanic eruptions alter the climate by spewing smoke and ash ... Read More »
Climate change could force more than 140 million people from their homes by 2050, major new report finds
Experts warn of ‘looming human crisis’ as millions are driven to migrate within national borders due to water scarcity, sea-level rise and storm surges Millions of people in the developing world will be forced from their homes by climate change in the coming decades, according to a major new report ... Read More »
Arctic reaches end of warmest winter weather on record
Winter at the top of the world wimped out this year. The Arctic just finished its warmest winter on record. And sea ice hit record lows for this time of year, with plenty of open water where ocean water normally freezes into thick sheets of ice, new U.S. weather data ... Read More »
Greenpeace appeals to Thai PM to tackle air pollution ‘crisis’
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Environment group Greenpeace on Thursday called on Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to tackle an air pollution “crisis” in Bangkok, weeks after a pollution agency said the city’s air quality had hit dangerous levels. Air pollution has been under the spotlight in Bangkok, one of the ... Read More »
Climate change diet: Arctic sea ice thins, so do polar bears
ANCHORAGE, Alaska: Some polar bears in the Arctic are shedding pounds during the time they should be beefing up, a new study shows. It’s the climate change diet and scientists say it’s not good. They blame global warming for the dwindling ice cover on the Arctic Ocean that bears need ... Read More »
Mayon volcano explosive eruption looms; danger zone widened
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned disaster risk reduction and local government officials to brace for an explosive eruption of Mayon Volcano in the coming days. Phivolcs’ warning came as Mayon spewed a huge column of ash at 12:45 p.m. last Monday, ... Read More »
Japanese volcano eruption: Soldier killed and 11 injured at winter resort as rocks rain down and avalanche traps skiers
One man was killed and at least 11 people injured, some critically, when rocks from an erupting volcano rained down on skiers at a mountain resort in central Japan on Tuesday and an avalanche soon after the eruption engulfed about a dozen skiers. Six of those trapped were members ... Read More »