The Japan Times

Host Qatar's World Cup 'carbon neutral' claims under fire

Organisers have promised a carbon neutral World Cup next month in Qatar but environmental groups are warning that the tournament will be far more polluting than advertised.

Climate change may boost Arctic 'virus spillover' risk

A warming climate could bring viruses in the Arctic into contact with new environments and hosts, increasing the risk of "viral spillover", according to research published Wednesday.

Warming waters 'key culprit' in Alaska crab mass die-off

Climate change is a prime suspect in a mass die-off of Alaska's snow crabs, experts say, after the state took the unprecedented step of canceling their harvest this season to save the species.

Gold mining threatens 'forest giraffe' in DR Congo

Gold mining in a Democratic Republic of Congo national park is threatening the okapi, a stripy-legged relative of the giraffe, civil society groups warned on Tuesday.

Qatar inaugurates solar plant as World Cup approaches

Gas-rich Qatar inaugurated Tuesday its first solar power plant stretching across the desert, a vast site planned to provide up to 10 percent of the tiny Gulf nation's energy supply.

Senegal not giving up on oil and gas

The new offshore gas terminal appears through the morning mist cloaking the Atlantic Ocean near Saint Louis, where Senegal meets Mauritania.

French PM threatens to force workers back as energy strikes continue

France's prime minister warned striking oil industry workers Sunday that the government might once again use its requisition powers to force workers back to their posts to ease fuel shortages.

Protesters march in Paris as French refinery strikes continue

Three weeks into a refinery strike that has caused fuel shortages across the country, tens of thousands of protesters marched in Paris on Sunday, adding to a growing picture of defiance and anger about inflation.

One dead, two missing as Crete hit by major flooding

A man was found dead and two people were missing on Saturday after torrential rain brought major flooding to the Greek island of Crete, emergency workers said.

Scientists scour global waters testing ocean plankton and pollution

After a near two-year "Microbiome" mission around the world, scientists said on Saturday they had gathered thousands of samples of marine micro-organisms in a bid to better understand ocean plankton and pollution.

Low water level on Mississippi River hurts US grain shipping

A lack of rainfall in the central United States has brought the mighty Mississippi River to its lowest depth in years, causing headaches for shippers and squeezing farmers who rely on the busy waterway to take their product to the Gulf of Mexico.

Eco-activists throw soup over Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' in London

Environmental protesters on Friday threw tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painting at the London's National Gallery, in the latest "direct-action" stunt targeting works of art.

Protecting wildlife along the US-Mexico border

The border wall snaking along the US-Mexican border was built to keep migrants out -- but conservationists say the towering metal barrier also stops wildlife from moving between natural habitats.

Floods force evacuations in Australia

Thousands were warned to flee their homes in southeastern Australia on Friday to escape surging floodwaters threatening towns across three separate states.

G20 meets amid Ukraine war, US-Saudi tensions

The G20 held talks in Washington on Thursday, but Russia's presence in the club made any consensus unlikely despite the multiple crises facing the world.

Severe storms swell Iguazu falls to 10 times normal flow

The famed Iguazu waterfalls on the border between Argentina and Brazil have registered 10 times their usual water volume after heavy rains, authorities said, closing one of the site's main tourist walkways for safety reasons.

Wildlife populations plunge 69% since 1970: WWF

Wild populations of monitored animal species have plummeted nearly 70 percent in the last 50 years, according to a landmark assessment released Thursday that highlights "devastating" losses to nature due to human activity.

UK told to change behaviour to meet climate targets

Britain's approach to changing public travel, heating and food habits is "inadequate" to meet its net zero and environment targets, a parliamentary committee warned Wednesday.

Climate unease leaves Aussie mines scrambling for staff

Australia's world-beating mining firms are flush with cash and desperate for staff but green-minded workers are shunning the high-paying sector, causing serious staff shortages, the government warned Wednesday.

The Big Lie: Scandal in US as Fat Bear Week uncovers ballot stuffing

A hugely popular web poll to find the fattest bear in an Alaskan national park has become the target of rampant ballot stuffing, according to organizers who said they had pounced to protect US democracy from another hammer blow.

Hurricane Julia slams Nicaragua, menaces Central America

Hurricane Julia raked across Nicaragua Sunday, lashing the country with winds and heavy rain and bringing potentially life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides to much of Central America.

Hurricane Julia makes landfall on Nicaraguan coast

Hurricane Julia touched down on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast early Sunday morning, the US National Hurricane Center said, carrying with it the threat of flash flooding and mudslides across Central America.

Julia becomes hurricane as it closes in on Central America

Former tropical storm Julia turned into a hurricane Saturday as it swirled towards Central America, where it is expected to make landfall along Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, weather forecasters said.

Why more Americans are flocking to Florida, even as hurricanes intensify

There's nothing in the world that would convince Cape Coral resident Kenneth Lowe to leave -- not even having to empty his home of flood water a week after Hurricane Ian pummeled the city.

UK climate protesters undeterred despite govt threats

Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman had a stark warning this week for direct-action protesters who use "guerilla tactics" to bring "chaos and misery" to the public.

Sydney smashes annual rainfall records

Australia's most populous city Sydney smashed a 70-year annual rainfall record Thursday after a year marked by devastating east coast floods.

Ursa Major: Voting starts in Fat Bear Week

Americans are weighing their options this week and deciding where to cast their ballot in the only contest that really matters: Fat Bear Week.

Climate change made 2022 drought 'at least 20 times likelier'

Human-caused climate change made this summer's drought across the Northern Hemisphere at least 20 times more likely, according to a rapid analysis released Wednesday that warns such extreme dry periods will become increasingly common with global heating.

Greenpeace blasts 'dangerous' Saudi site for Asian Winter Games

Environmental campaign group Greenpeace on Wednesday denounced as "dangerous" a massive ski resort under construction in northwest Saudi Arabia that this week was named host of the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

Spore the merrier: Boom in mushrooms grown on Belgian beer

In Belgium, a country reputed for its beer, mushrooms nourished on a byproduct from the brew are doing booming business.

Africa sounds caution on net zero goal ahead of COP27

Africa needs time and money to wean itself off fossil fuels in order to achieve net zero without jeopardising its future, its representatives are warning ahead of next month's climate talks.

Singapore makes biggest seizure of rhino horn

Singapore authorities have made their biggest ever seizure of rhino horn with a US$830,000 haul confiscated from a smuggler arriving from South Africa, officials said Wednesday.

Nobel Peace Prize could sound alarm over Ukraine war or climate

As speculation mounts ahead of Friday's much-anticipated Nobel Peace Prize announcement, observers suggest the committee may sound the alarm over the war in Ukraine or climate change.

Filipinos fishing on frontline of China's battle for disputed sea

Filipino fisherman Mariel Villamonte had spent years plying the turquoise waters of Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea for snapper and grouper -- until a Chinese coast guard vessel water cannoned his boat.

Argentine scientists worried after spate of whale deaths

A string of whale deaths in recent days in southern Argentina have worried scientists, who think a micro-algae could be to blame.

Study eyes US cooperation with Pakistan amid China rise

The United States needs to keep engaging Pakistan despite lingering distrust over Afghanistan, with investment and climate cooperation key to reducing the South Asian nation's growing reliance on China, a study group recommended Tuesday.

Plastic gobbling enzymes in worm spit may help ease pollution

Enzymes found in the saliva of wax worms can degrade one of the most common forms of plastic waste, according to research published Tuesday that could open up new ways of dealing with plastic pollution.

Australia lists small wallaby, snake among new endangered species

Australia's government vowed to stop plant and animal extinctions Tuesday as it listed the grey snake and a small wallaby among 15 new threatened species.

Rubbish reform: changes to waste management could slash emissions

Reforms to the way that societies collect and treat their waste could slash global emissions of plant-heating methane, a new report said Monday, noting that simple measures like composting were a climate solution "staring us in the face".

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