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Two missing after deadly spring snowstorm wreaks havoc in the Alps

Two people were still missing in Italy on Friday after unusually heavy spring storm across the Alps dumped more than a metre of snow in some areas, shutting ski areas, halting transport and leaving at least one person dead.

Vietnam ups wind, solar targets as energy demand soars

Vietnam has dramatically increased its wind and solar targets as it looks to up its energy production by 2030 to meet soaring demand, according to a revised version of its national power plan.

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Wine consumption falls heavily into the red

Worldwide consumption of wine fell in 2024 to its lowest level in more than 60 years, the main trade body said Tuesday, raising concerns about new risks from US tariffs.

Iraq sandstorm closes airports, puts 3,700 people in hospital

A sandstorm swept through Iraq, filling the air with choking dust that closed airports and put more than 3,700 people in hospital with breathing difficulties, the health ministry said Tuesday.

'Slow travel' start-up launches cross-Channel crossings by sail

The crossing may be "a bit choppy", Captain Andrew Simons warns a dozen of his passengers waiting in the French port of Boulogne to cross the Channel with only wind to get them to England.

Bogota ends one year of climate-induced water rationing

Residents in Colombia's biggest city Bogota won a much-desired reprieve from year-long water rationing Friday, with authorities announcing tough climate-induced cuts will end.

Papua New Guinea lifts ban on forest carbon credits

Papua New Guinea will "immediately" lift a ban on forest carbon credit schemes, the Pacific nation's climate minister told AFP on Thursday, opening up its vast wilderness to offset global emissions.

AI tool aims to help conserve Japan's cherry trees

Japan's famed cherry trees are getting old, but a new AI tool that assesses photos of the delicate pink and white flowers could help preserve them for future generations.

World's 'exceptional' heat streak lengthens into March

Global temperatures hovered at historic highs in March, Europe's climate monitor said on Tuesday, prolonging an unprecedented heat streak that has pushed the bounds of scientific explanation.

Once-dying Mexican river delta slowly nursed back to life

In a drought-hit Mexican border region at the center of growing competition with the United States for water, conservationists are working to bring a once-dying river delta back to life.

Clean streets vs business woes: pollution charge divides Londoners

For Londoner Beau Boka-Batesa, air quality has drastically improved in the British capital following the rollout and expansion of a contested car pollution toll two years ago.

Torrential rains kill dozens in DR Congo capital

Heavy downpours in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa have killed around 30 people while wreaking havoc across the central African megacity, an official told AFP on Sunday.

Nations divided ahead of decisive week for shipping emissions

Members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are divided over whether to approve a carbon tax on international shipping, ahead of a meeting starting on Monday to finalise emissions-reduction measures.

Crops under threat as surprise March heatwave hits Central Asia: study

A surprise heatwave hit Central Asia in March, a new study published Friday showed, putting in danger crops and water supply in a largely rural region already heavily affected by the impacts of climate change.

Australia sweats through hottest 12 months on record: official data

Australia has just sweltered through its hottest 12 months on record, a weather official said Thursday, a period of drenching floods, tropical cyclones and mass coral bleaching.

Clouds and conspiracies: concerns over push to make rain

Can countries control the clouds? And should they?

Rain offers respite to South Korea firefighters as death toll rises

Overnight rain helped douse some of South Korea's worst-ever wildfires, authorities said Friday, as the death toll from the unprecedented blazes raging for nearly a week reached 28.

Rain gives some respite to South Korea firefighters as death toll rises

Overnight rain helped douse some of South Korea's worst-ever wildfires, authorities said Friday, as the death toll from the unprecedented blazes raging for nearly a week reached 28.

Why has Mexico's water debt opened new battle line with US?

Mexico's water debt to the United States under a decades-old supply treaty has opened a new battlefront between the two countries, in addition to US President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs.

Parisians back 'garden roads' scheme in record low turnout

Residents of Paris have backed a scheme to pedestrianise and create green spaces on hundreds of roads in the French capital in a consultative vote marked by a record low turnout, according to results published on Monday.

In US Northwest, South Cascade is where glacier science grew up

For nearly 70 years scientists have been probing, measuring, drilling and generally getting to know South Cascade Glacier in the US Northwest, developing and honing skills now used worldwide.

US refuses water request for Mexico in new battleline

The United States said Thursday it refused a request by Mexico for water due to shortfalls in sharing by its southern neighbor, as President Donald Trump ramps up a battle on another front.

Greenpeace $660mn damages ruling shocks global NGOs

Civil society groups on Thursday condemned a US court order that Greenpeace pay over $660 million in damages to an oil pipeline company as a chilling attack on climate action around the globe.

'It was beautiful': Mount Kenya's glaciers melting away

Charles Kibaki Muchiri traced the water trickling across the surface of the Lewis Glacier with his fingers, illustrating how quickly climate change is melting the huge ice blocks off of Africa's second-highest mountain.

Ice park threatened by climate change finds an ally in US silver mine

America's ice-climbing epicenter was facing a bleak future, with climate change endangering its water supply, until an unlikely savior came to its rescue: a nearby silver mine.

Trump admin moves to fire hundreds of government scientists

The Trump administration plans to lay off hundreds of scientists and researchers from the US federal government as part of drastic cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lawmakers warned Tuesday.

Colombian influencer puts the pizzazz into recycling

Colombian influencer Sara Samaniego braids her long straight hair, checks her make-up in a mirror, places her phone in the center of a ring light and flashes a big smile for the camera.

'More and faster': UN calls to shrink buildings' carbon footprint

Countries must move rapidly to slash CO2 emissions from homes, offices, shops and other buildings -- a sector that accounts for a third of global greenhouse gas pollution, the United Nations said Monday.

At least 40 killed in weekend US tornadoes

At least 40 people were killed and dozens more injured by tornadoes and violent storms that ravaged the central and southern United States at the weekend, local authorities said.

Wind-powered mast to cut emissions sets sail to Canada

A pioneering rigid shipping mast has set off on its first journey, harnessing the wind to propel a cargo ship from England to Canada and using less fuel to help reduce emissions.

Greece rides a weather 'rollercoaster'

Greece is riding a weather "rollercoaster", with weekend temperatures spiking to a record high for March, just ahead of a forecast bout of snow and frost, meteorologists said on Sunday.

At least 33 dead as tornadoes ravage central US

At least 33 people were killed and dozens more injured Saturday when tornadoes and violent storms raked across the central United States, officials said.

At least 27 dead as tornadoes ravage central US

At least 27 people were killed and dozens more injured Saturday when tornadoes and violent storms raked across the central United States, officials said.

Major storm in central US leaves at least 18 dead

At least 18 people were dead and dozens injured after tornadoes raked across the central United States, officials said Saturday.

The Japan Times - Weather (English)