Environment-News-The Economic Times - Seite 2 
World far off track to meet climate goals: UN
The UN estimated Tuesday that nations' carbon-cutting pledges imply a far-from-sufficient 10-percent emissions cut by 2035, cautioning that it was unable to provide a robust global overview after most countries failed to submit their plans on time. The estimate also incorporated a pledge by China, the world's biggest polluter, to reduce emissions by 7-10 percent by 2035, its first absolute national target.
Beneath England's countryside, the Millennium Seed Bank safeguards over 2.5 billion wild plant seeds, a vital archive against extinction. This 25-year-old facility, opened by King Charles III, actively works to restore global ecosystems. Researchers are developing advanced methods to preserve plant diversity, crucial for a growing world facing environmental challenges.
Scientists hope underwater fiber-optic cables can help save endangered orcas
Scientists are transforming miles of underwater fiber-optic cables into a vast listening network to monitor endangered orcas in the Salish Sea. This innovative Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology aims to capture whale vocalizations, providing crucial data on their response to ship traffic, food scarcity, and climate change, potentially revolutionizing ocean conservation efforts worldwide.
Asia’s CCS plans could add 25 billion tonnes of extra emissions by 2050, risking the Paris Agreement’s warming limit goal: Report
A Climate Analytics report warns that deploying carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Asian countries could add 25 billion tonnes of extra GHG emissions by 2050, jeopardizing the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal. This "risky technology" pushes economies into costly fossil fuel dependence, despite its poor track record and the availability of cheaper, less risky renewable alternatives.
Historic milestone for India-born cheetah at Kuno: 'Mukhi' becomes adult on Monday- why it matters
India's cheetah reintroduction program will achieve a historic milestone as Mukhi, an India-born cub, reaches adulthood at Kuno National Park on Monday. Her survival, despite siblings' deaths, underscores the project's success, with Kuno's cub survival rate exceeding 61%. Officials plan to expand the gene pool, proving cheetahs can thrive and reproduce in Indian conditions.
EU proposes new one-year delay to anti-deforestation rules
The European Union is considering a second one-year delay to its anti-deforestation law, now potentially pushing implementation to 2026. Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall cited concerns about the readiness of the IT system needed to support the law. This decision follows opposition from businesses and trading partners, despite the EU's recent free trade agreement with Indonesia.
Wild elephants are dying like never before in Kerala
Sri Lanka to ban predatory pet fish to protect ecosystems
Sri Lanka will ban four species of predatory ornamental fish including Piranhas that have escaped into rivers and lakes, devastating native species and threatening fragile freshwater ecosystems, the fisheries minister said Wednesday. Snakeheads, which can grow to over three feet (one metre), were rapidly multiplying in a lake in the northwestern part of the island, threatening the native species.
Fossil fuels harm health from 'cradle to grave': report
The extraction, transportation and burning of planet-heating fossil fuels have a huge impact on people's health that starts before they are born and lasts until they die, a report warned Tuesday. - Poorest often hit hardest - Aside from the health impacts of extracting and burning fossil fuels, transporting them can also pose a threat, such as gas pipe lines leaking into water systems or mass oil spills.
Ozone layer on track to return to 1980s levels by mid-century, says WMO report
A new WMO report indicates the Earth's ozone layer is recovering, projected to reach 1980s levels by mid-century, thanks to the Montreal Protocol's success in phasing out ozone-depleting substances. The 2024 Antarctic ozone hole is smaller than recent years, signaling initial recovery. Continued monitoring of stratospheric ozone and related substances remains crucial for complete healing.
Bulgarian mussel farmers face risk, and chance, in hotter sea
Faced with rising Black Sea temperatures that suffocate his mussels, Bulgarian farmer Nayden Stanev has been forced to change his ways -- shifting his seeding schedule and harvesting at cooler depths. But the warmer waters are still a threat to Black Sea mussel farmers.
Australia approves world-first vaccine to save koalas from chlamydia
A groundbreaking vaccine has been approved in Australia to combat chlamydia in koalas, a disease causing significant infertility and mortality in the endangered species. Developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast, the single-dose vaccine has shown to reduce disease symptoms and mortality rates.
How to use 8 arms? Octopuses tend to explore with their front limbs
Research reveals that octopuses, unlike humans, don't favor a dominant arm. However, they exhibit a preference for using their front four arms for tasks like exploring, while the rear arms are more frequently employed for movement. This study, conducted in the wild, highlights the versatile capabilities and redundancy of octopus limbs in their natural environment.
Study warns US emissions progress may flatline
After years of steady decline, US greenhouse gas emissions risk leveling off under Trump administration policies that promote fossil fuels and restrict renewables, according to an analysis released Wednesday. Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has pursued an agenda centered on boosting fossil fuels and restricting renewables.
Fossil energy 'significant' driver of climate-fuelled heatwaves: Study
Fossil fuel and cement producers have contributed "significantly" to the growing number and intensity of climate-change-driven heatwaves, according to a study published on Wednesday in Nature. "We also show that emissions associated with the largest producers of fossil fuels and cement contribute significantly to heatwaves," Quilcaille told AFP. Emissions from just one of these carbon majors would have been enough to cause events deemed 10,000 times more likely, they found.