Latest News
Many still missing after dam collapses at Brazilian mine. -
Thursday's disaster at the Samarco iron ore mine flooded nearby villages with mud and debris, destroying homes and killing at least four people. Mine operations have shut down, and the cause of the collapse is under investigation. Agence France-Presse
Climate change may push 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030. -
The World Bank is calling for immediate action to lower greenhouse gas emissions while reducing poverty. Its new report (which defines extreme poverty as living on less than $1.90 a day) says poorest countries are more vulnerable to climate-related threats like natural disasters, surging food prices, and increased disease prevalence. Quartz
This year could be one degree Celsius warmer than the long-term average. -
If the trend continues for the next few months, it would make 2015 the first year on record to surpass that threshold. The unhappy milestone would put global temperatures halfway to the two-degree target. BBC
The laws of physics are nonnegotiable.
—Michel Jarraud, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization, says atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide above 400 parts per million could become a “permanent reality.” A new report finds concentrations hit a record high of 397.7 ppm in 2014.
Scotland has approved plans for world's largest floating wind farm. -
After the pilot project's completion in 2017, five 6-megawatt turbines will be anchored off the country's northeastern coast. Thought to be more cost-effective than your typical offshore turbine, the five floaters will generate enough electricity to power nearly 20,000 homes. The Guardian
The United Kingdom says we need to eat more insects. -
To curb emissions from the livestock industry and reduce agricultural land use, the nation’s waste agency says alternative sources of protein are in order—and bugs should be on the menu for both people and animals. But first, the agency says, the Western world will need to overcome the “yuck factor.” The Guardian