The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) is proposing a total ban on the production, importation and exportation of products containing mercury, says Dr Gerald Sawula, the NEMA Deputy Executive Director. The move will protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury which is currently being used …
The Department of Factories and Boilers has issued an order to a plastic printing unit at the Kusharkode Industrial Estate, Nedumangad, to stop functioning. Following media reports that four personnel of the Fire and Rescue Services developed uneasiness after a gas leak at the Green Plastic Printers on Monday, Factories …
US lawmakers are to decide whether to ban personal care products containing microbeads – minuscule pieces of plastic considered harmful to the environment – after proposed legislation was approved by a bipartisan committee. Microbeads, typically under 5mm in size, are used as abrasive exfoliants in products such as toothpastes and …
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has reserved verdict on a batch of petitions seeking a directive to pay compensation to the Endosulfan victims in Kasaragod, who have already been identified. The verdict was reserved by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice K Vinod Chandran. It had …
Notwithstanding the efforts by the district endosulfan relief enforcement committee to sort out issues, the victims from Dakshina Kannada will go ahead with their protest in Bengaluru on Wednesday against delay in payment of monthly stipend from the government. The protest would be staged at the Freedom Park. Earlier, the …
This report illustrates linkages between environment and gender in the five main areas of work of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC): agriculture, forests, seas and fishing, hazardous chemicals, and climate change. For each topic a case is presented with the objective to provide the reader with illustrations of …
The Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI) has begun the process required to ratify and rapidly implement the Minamata Convention on mercury to protect human life and the environment against mercury poisoning. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is under the Ministry, has therefore led a national stakeholder’s …
A Bill further to amend the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. This Act may be called the Environment Law (Amendment) Act, 2015. It is a draft of the proposed amendment in Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The proposed amendments …
Zambia's environmental management authority on Monday ordered Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) owned by Vedanta Resources to dispose of copper concentrates it imported from Chile because they had high levels of arsenic, a toxic substance. Zambia's environmental authority said KCM must submit a full programme for sending the material back to …
A new legislation has been passed by the California State Senate to ban the sale of personal care products containing plastic microbeads on Friday, Sept 4. The amended bill would prohibit the use of microbeads due to officials found it harmful on the marine life and human health by polluting …
Up to 1 in 3 prepubescent children in East China has been exposed to excessive amounts of a chemical widely used in plastic production that can lead to early puberty, according to research. A study has found that nearly 20 percent of children tested in a recent study had been …
Everyday cosmetic and cleaning products contain huge quantities of plastic particles, which are released to the environment and could be harmful to marine life, according to a new study. Research at Plymouth University has shown almost 100,000 tiny ‘microbeads’ – each a fraction of a millimetre in diameter – could …
The New Zealand government is preparing to completely ban two substances with known risks to both the environment and human health, Environment Minister Nick Smith said on Wednesday. "The government has proposed new regulations banning the import of new bulk hydrochlorofluorocarbons and asbestos-containing products," Smith said in a published speech …
A Canadian biotech company claims to have developed a commercial-scale biodegradable replacement for the harmful synthetic microbeads found in many beauty products. TerraVerdae BioWorks, announced today (Monday 24 August) it had carried out a 10,000 litre production run for its microbead replacement, which it developed with funding from Innovate UK. …
The usage of hazardous polythene bags goes unabated across the city despite the prohibition of the same. Given the enormity of hazards polythene could contribute to the environment, the high court had ordered for a blanket ban over the usage of poly bags in Srinagar way back in 2006. However, …
EU member states have agreed to ban a toxic substance widely found in clothing because it poses an “unacceptable risk” to the environment. Countries unanimously voted in favour of extending existing restrictions on nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) to imports of clothing and other textile products. The measure is intended to protect …
The Ministry of Education released a regulation on Monday urging manufacturers of school uniforms to follow national quality standards and grant more autonomy to students and parents in choosing and buying the clothes. Manufacturers of primary and secondary school uniforms must follow national quality standards, and schools must make sure …
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on Wednesday signed a bill into law that bans the manufacturing and sale of personal care products containing tiny plastic beads that are known to pollute waterways. The law makes Wisconsin one of seven states including Illinois and New Jersey to ban the tiny pieces of …
Eric Chen Zixiang uses zebrafish embryos to help cosmetic and food firms find out whether their products contain harmful substances The melamine scandal on the mainland in 2008 saw six babies die and 300,000 fall ill after drinking milk powder tainted with an industrial chemical. That, along with the use …
The naturally forming element antimony is used as a flame retardant in textiles and plastics but advocacy groups want better oversight from US government An advocacy and research organisation, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), is hoping to educate the public about the toxin antimony, push manufacturers to stop using it …
