The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
Rich and poor countries criticized a first draft text of a new United Nations climate treaty Monday but grudgingly accepted it as the basis for six months of arduous negotiations. "We ... have some dismay about the way it has been structured," Jonathan Pershing, head of the U.S. delegation at …
The government is going to prepare a master plan to increase the country's forest coverage up to 20 percent in next six years, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday while inaugurating the three-month countrywide 'National Afforestation Movement'. The government is working on the plan to increase the forest coverage by …
As the first responders to the impacts of climate change, local governments play a crucial role in implementing the actions and strategies that will reduce their communities
As the first responders to the impacts of climate change, local governments play a crucial role in implementing the actions and strategies that will reduce their communities
Warm weather in 2007 helped the European Union towards its target of cutting global warming gases under the UN Kyoto Protocol for fighting climate change, but Spain, Italy and Ireland remained way off track. Soaring transport emissions also offset many of the advances made by the 27-nation bloc, EU data …
Tree-munching beetles, malaria-carrying mosquitoes and deer ticks that spread Lyme disease are three living signs that climate change is likely to exact a heavy toll on human health. These pests and others are expanding their ranges in a warming world, which means people who never had to worry about them …
Rich nations as a group are unlikely to reach the deep 2020 cuts in greenhouse gas emissions urged by developing nations as part of a new UN climate treaty, the top US climate envoy said on Friday. China, India and other developing nations say the rich must do most to …
The crisis management plan outlined in this document is part of overall spectrum of drought management plan but is restricted to the management interventions required during the time of Crisis. It does not replace the emergency procedures or contingency action plans already drawn by different agencies, but has been developed …
This report presents an overview of what adaptation to climate change might mean for Europe and Central Asia (ECA). It starts with a discussion of emerging best practice adaptation planning around the world and a review of the latest climate projections. The report then discusses possible actions to improve resilience …
This publication reports on the human and economic losses caused by natural disasters in 2008 with figures based on the EM-DAT database with comparisons to previous years. It asserts that although fewer disasters occurred in 2008, events had a larger impact than usual on human settlements. In 2008 once again, …
bauxite mining Vietnam opens door to China Vietnam has invited a Chinese company to mine a massive bauxite reserve beneath its Central Highlands, despite growing opposition to mining and a deep-rooted suspicion of China. Deputy Industry Minister Le Duong Quang said the state-owned Vietnam National Coal would go ahead with …
Tree-munching beetles, malaria-carrying mosquitoes and deer ticks that spread Lyme disease are three living signs that climate change is likely to exact a heavy toll on human health. These pests and others are expanding their ranges in a warming world, which means people who never had to worry about them …
Global emissions of the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide will jump more than 39 percent by 2030 without new policies and binding pacts to cut global warming pollution, the top U.S. energy forecast agency said on Wednesday. Nearly 200 nations are set to meet late this year in Copenhagen to …
Washington defended its plans to cut its greenhouse gas emissions as among the most ambitious in the world Tuesday as major economies meeting in Paris rallied around a Mexican plan to raise cash to fight climate change. "The United States is proposing to make a seismic change" in toughening policy, …
China won praise for moves to cap its surging greenhouse gas emissions at a meeting of major economies on Tuesday, even as Germany criticised the lack of progress towards a new United Nations climate treaty. "China is very active," French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo told reporters on the second day …
France and Germany suggested on Monday that rich nations should collectively guarantee deep cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020 while giving flexibility to laggards such as the United States to catch up later. France said the idea, floated at talks among 17 top greenhouse gas emitters including China, United States, …
Tens of billions of dollars are likely to be needed to help poor nations curb greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change under a new U.N. treaty, European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said. "Everybody agreed that additional money is needed and without money an agreement in Copenhagen will not …
Hospitals and their emergency vehicles, which are major polluters, must join the fight against climate change, the World Health Organisation said on Friday. "The health sector can contribute a lot to reduce the carbon footprint because the health sector in many countries is the second most important user and energy …
