Drought (Photo by icon0.com from Pexels)

Climate stress and coronavirus gang up on world’s vulnerable

WNM | Apr 4, 2020 at 12:20 AM

From Italy to India, Vietnam to Kenya, countries around the world are reeling from a double whammy of erratic weather – in many cases linked to climate change – and a deadly pandemic, both of which threaten lives and jobs.

EU presses on with tighter 2030 climate target despite pandemic

WNM | Apr 3, 2020 at 12:10 AM

April 2 (WNM/Reuters/Kate Abnett) – The EU executive kick-started its plan to set a tougher 2030 emissions target, a move that could help maintain the bloc’s focus on climate change despite pressure to soften its green ambitions in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The European Commission began a public consultation to gather views until June […]

eiffel-tower-975004_1920 (Nuno Lopes from Pixabay)

Coronavirus lockdowns give Europe’s cities cleaner air

WNM | Mar 30, 2020 at 11:49 AM

Air pollution has decreased in urban areas across Europe during lockdowns to combat the coronavirus, new satellite images showed, but campaigners warned city-dwellers were still more vulnerable to the epidemic.

Climate change set to make extreme heat more common – and costly

WNM | Mar 29, 2020 at 12:20 AM

The number of people worldwide struggling with extreme heat and humidity by the end of the century could be more than four times as many as today if planet-warming emissions continue to rise, hiking economic losses and health costs, scientists have warned.

Coronavirus redraws battle lines on airline emissions

WNM | Mar 28, 2020 at 12:10 AM

European airlines crippled by the coronavirus have demanded lasting relief from environmental taxes – in a move that pits their immediate survival against longer-term emissions goals.

Poland says virus fallout makes it tough to hit EU climate goal

WNM | Mar 27, 2020 at 12:05 AM

Poland, which relies heavily on coal-fired power stations, will find it even more difficult to achieve the European Union’s climate goals because of the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the economy and companies, the government said.

central-park (JodesJ from Pixabay)

As coronavirus forces lockdowns, parks lift spirits in cities

WNM | Mar 25, 2020 at 12:20 AM

As the coronavirus outbreak shutters gyms, malls and swimming pools, residents from Los Angeles to Bangkok are heading to parks and open spaces during lockdowns, highlighting their vital role in protecting health and wellbeing, urban experts said.

Water is an under-used weapon in climate change fight

WNM | Mar 24, 2020 at 12:10 AM

Using water more efficiently in everything from daily life to agriculture and industry would help reduce planet-warming emissions and curb climate change – a potential benefit that has yet to be widely recognised, the United Nations said.