NASA satellites show drought may take toll on Congo rainforest
Washington, Apr 24 (IBNS) A new analysis of NASA satellite data shows Africa's Congo rainforest, the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world, has undergone a large-scale decline in greenness over the past decade.
UN seeks sustainable food systems to adapt climate change
New York, Apr 24 (IBNS): Countries need to shift to more sustainable food systems to adapt to the effects of climate change, the Director-General of the United Nations Food and Drug Organization (FAO) Jose Graziano da Silva told a conference in Morocco on Wednesday, warning that the phenomenon has the potential to reshape the planet's food production scenario.
UN marks Mother Earth Day, urges protection of planet
New York, Apr 23 (IBNS): On International Mother Earth Day, the United Nations urged greater efforts to promote sustainable development and use of renewable energy sources, with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealing for worldwide changes in attitude and practice to curb the negative impact of human activity on the planet.
UN urges coordinated action on food security
New York, Apr 23 (IBNS): Overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution are atop the agenda of a United Nations-backed summit on the role of oceans in global food security, livelihoods and economic development which opened on Tuesday in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Ford to increase green content in manufacturing
New Delhi, Apr 21 (IBNS): Ford on Monday announced that its emphasis on environmentally sound manufacturing began at its manufacturing facilities.
4.5 lakh child labours in e-waste activities: Study
New Delhi, Apr 21 (IBNS) In India, about 4.5 lakhs child labours between the age group of 10-14 are observed to be engaged in various e-waste (electronic waste) activities, without adequate protection and safeguards in various yards and recycling workshops, according to the ASSOCHAM recent study on ‘Earth Day’, to be observed on Tuesday.
NASA discovers Earth-size planet in 'habitable zone'
Washington, Apr 18 (IBNS) Using NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered the first Earth-size planet orbiting a star in the "habitable zone" -- the range of distance from a star where liquid water might pool on the surface of an orbiting planet. The discovery of Kepler-186f confirms that planets the size of Earth exist in the habitable zone of stars other than our sun.
Greenpeace demands cancellation of Mahan forest clearance
New Delhi, Apr 16 (IBNS): With another multi-crore scam tainting the UPA government, fresh evidence has surfaced on Wednesday exposing how Environment and Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily favoured Essar by gifting it Rs 52,000-crore worth Ratna oil field, off the Mumbai coast1, Greenpeace said.
Toxic waste spill at Essar's Power Plant in Singrauli
Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, Apr 15 (IBNS): In yet another stark example of massive negligence, the mud wall that lined the fly ash dyke of Essar Energy's Mahan-I (600MW) thermal power plant in Singrauli collapsed leading to fly ash-laden water seeping into Khairahi village, the Greenpeace said on Tuesday.
Ban welcomes report on mitigation of climate change
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the findings of a long-awaited United Nations report on the mitigation of climate change released earlier on Sunday in Berlin and urged all countries "to act swiftly and boldly" to reach a "global, ambitious and legal [climate] agreement in 2015."
Washington: Ban urges action towards climate action
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended on Friday the Climate Leaders' Summit in Washington, D.C., recalling the importance of keeping global warming as a top concern in the development agenda, and urging Governments to reach a universal legal climate deal by the end of the year.
UN warns against rise in greenhouse gas emissions
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): From farming to forestry and fisheries, agriculture greenhouse emissions have nearly doubled over the past 50 years and may increase by another 30 per cent by 2050, according to new estimates out on Friday from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
UN marks Day of human space flight, encourages exploration
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): The necessity for international cooperation in space and the universal utility of duct tape were among insights revealed when the United Nations sent a former astronaut into cyberspace on Friday to inspire young people to explore new frontiers on the anniversary of the first human space flight.
UN launches initiative to promote sustainable energy
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): The United Nations launched on Wednesday the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (2014-2024), an initiative aimed at promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency worldwide, with a forum to take place annually, starting this coming June.
Greenpeace: P&G agrees to clean up palm oil act
New Delhi, Apr 9 (IBNS): Non-governmental environmental organization, Greenpeace International on Wednesday welcomed multinational consumer goods company Procter and Gamble's (P&G) decision to remove forest destruction from its production and provide full traceability for all the palm oil and derivatives it uses.