The Japan Times

Aluminum recycling in Brazil: Scraping by in a billion-dollar industry

Shirlei Aparecida de Souza uses her foot to crush the empty cold drink cans she collects in the alleys of a poor Sao Paulo neighborhood: a precarious livelihood critical to Brazil's environmental protection goals.

Heat-struck Mediterranean is climate change 'hot spot'

Struck by near-record temperatures and wildfires during this week's heatwave, the Mediterranean region is ranked as a climate-change "hot spot" by scientists.

'Life or death': Arizona heat wave poses lethal threat to homeless

On a sidewalk in Arizona's capital Phoenix, where a record-setting heat wave has prompted warnings for people to limit their time outside, Dana Page struggles to stay hydrated in her tarpaulin shelter.

Kerry says US not dictating climate policy to China

US climate envoy John Kerry said Wednesday that Washington was not dictating climate solutions to China, after President Xi Jinping said Beijing will make its own decisions on how to address global warming.

Extreme heat straining health systems: WHO

The extreme heat in the northern hemisphere is putting an increasing strain on healthcare systems, hitting those least able to cope the hardest, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

Beijing swelters under record-breaking run of extreme heat

Beijingers baked under crippling summer heat on Wednesday as China's capital kept up a record-breaking streak of four weeks of highs above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

Millions hit by extreme heat on three continents

A sustained spell of dangerous heat was impacting the lives of millions of people across three continents on Wednesday as fires raged and health worries mounted.

Extreme heat sparks wildfires, health warnings

Extreme heat was forecast across the globe on Wednesday, as wildfires raged and health warnings were in place in parts of Asia, Europe and North America.

Extreme heat scorches Europe, world

Swathes of Europe baked Tuesday in a heatwave trailed by wildfires and health warnings, as parts of Asia and the United States also suffered under extreme weather.

'It's horrible': Spain sweats through day 2 of heatwave

Spain issued "extreme" danger alerts over scorching temperatures in three regions Tuesday as firefighters said a blaze that had raged for days in the Canary Islands had almost burnt itself out.

Extreme heat scorches Europe

Swathes of Europe baked Tuesday in a heatwave trailed by wildfires and health warnings, as parts of Asia and the United States also suffered under extreme weather.

Kerry says climate change requires 'new definition' of China-US cooperation

Global warming poses a threat to all humankind and requires a new kind of cooperation between China and the United States, US climate envoy John Kerry told Chinese officials on Tuesday.

Record highs scorch the globe as Europe prepares for heatwave peak

More temperature records were expected to tumble on Tuesday as Europe awaited the peak of a punishing heatwave and wildfires scorched swathes of the Northern Hemisphere, forcing the evacuation of 1,200 children close to a Greek seaside resort.

The 'kidneys of Kolkata': Indian wetlands under threat

Wetlands just outside India's Kolkata have for generations provided tonnes of food daily and thousands of jobs as they filter sewage through fish ponds -- but rapid urbanisation is threatening the ecosystem.

Thousands evacuated as typhoon pummels southern China, Vietnam

A quarter million people were evacuated in southern China and Vietnam before a major typhoon roared ashore late Monday bringing fierce winds and rain and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and trains.

Thousands evacuated as typhoon hits southern China, Vietnam

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated in southern China and Vietnam on Monday as a typhoon barrelled towards land.

US climate envoy Kerry holds talks in China

US climate envoy John Kerry held four hours of talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing Monday, reviving stalled diplomacy on reducing planet-warming emissions.

US West and South bake under extended heat wave

Swaths of the United States home to more than 80 million people were under heat warnings or advisories Sunday, as relentless, record-breaking temperatures continued to bake western and southern states.

Marine animal poisonings overwhelm California volunteers

Denise Christ regularly comes across injured wildlife in her work rescuing beached or stranded marine mammals along the California coast.

'Oppressive' heat wave scorches US west and south

Swaths of the United States home to more than 80 million people were under heat warnings or advisories Sunday, as relentless, record-breaking temperatures continued to bake western and southern states.

Heavy rains, flooding leave 37 dead in South Korea

Rescuers battled on Sunday to reach people trapped in a flooded tunnel in South Korea, where at least 37 people have died and nine are missing after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides.

Japan issues heatstroke alerts as temperatures soar

Japan issued heatstroke alerts Sunday to tens of millions of people as near-record high temperatures scorched swathes of the country, while torrential rain pummelled other regions.

Record heatwaves sweep the world, from US to Europe and Asia

Tens of millions of people were battling dangerously high temperatures around the world on Sunday as record heat forecasts hung over parts of the United States, Europe and Asia, in the latest example of the threat from global warming.

Iraq honey production at the mercy of heat and drought

An oppressive heat beats down on the central Iraqi province of Babylon, where drought and rising temperatures are hitting bees and honey production hard.

Heavy rains, flooding leave 33 dead in South Korea

Rescuers battled to reach people trapped in a flooded tunnel Sunday in South Korea, where at least 33 people have died and 10 are missing after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides.

Canada wildfires burn over 10 mn hectares this year

Canadian wildfires have burned more than 10 million hectares (24.7 million acres) this year, a record-breaking figure which will continue to rise in the coming weeks, government data showed Saturday.

Record heatwaves sweep the world from US to Japan via Europe

Record heat is forecast around the world from the United States, where tens of millions are battling dangerously high temperatures, to Europe and Japan, in the latest example of the threat from global warming.

Heavy rains, flooding leave 22 dead in South Korea

At least 22 people have died and 14 more are missing after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in South Korea, officials said Saturday, with thousands more ordered to evacuate their homes.

Southwest US roasts in devastating heat wave

Tens of millions of Americans were facing dangerously high temperatures Friday as a powerful heat wave stretched from California to Texas, with its peak expected this weekend.

Nations call for swift fossil fuel exit to tackle climate change

The world needs an "urgent" exit from fossil fuels as part of efforts to slash planet-heating emissions and rein in global warming, a coalition of countries including EU economies and climate-vulnerable nations said Friday.

First firefighter death in Canada wildfires

A firefighter in western Canada has died battling one of the devastating wildfires that have ravaged the country for weeks, her union announced Friday.

'We cannot work' - why Gulf summer feels even hotter than usual

As much of the world swelters in record temperatures, spare a thought for Issam Genedi, who ekes out a living washing cars in one of the planet's hottest regions, the Gulf.

The Japan Times - Weather (English)

Featured

Global warming makes French reservoir a winter resort for migrating cranes

'I'm out of here': French town waits for flood to recede

Last news