Typhoon Gaemi Causes Floods, Flight Cancellations, and School Closures in Philippines
Heavy rain from Typhoon Gaemi flooded the Philippine capital Manila and nearby cities, forcing authorities to shut schools, offices, and cancel flights and declare a state of calamity in a region that is home to 13 million people.
The storm, which is strengthening as it gusts towards Taiwan, did not make landfall in the Philippines but has intensified seasonal monsoon rains, causing landslides and flooding over the past few days.
Jul 24, 2024
India Ranks Third in Global Forest Area Gains
India gained 2,66,000 hectares of forest area annually from 2010 to 2020, securing the third spot among the top 10 countries with the most significant forest area gains during this period, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation.
As per the report, China led the world with the maximum forest area gain of 19,37,000 hectares, followed by Australia with 4,46,000 hectares, and India. Other countries in the top 10 include Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy and Romania.
The UN agency praised India for its efforts in restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry through innovative approaches. This includes the development of a new national policy aimed at better-supporting agroforestry in the country.
Azerbaijan's COP29 Climate Finance Action Fund
Azerbaijan, hosting COP29 from November 11 to 22, 2024, announced the creation of a Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF). This fund will be raised from fossil fuel producers to support green projects in developing countries and help member nations meet the 1.5°C temperature target. The CFAF aims to mobilise both public and private sectors, with Azerbaijan as the founding contributor. It plans to attract $1 billion and secure at least 10 contributing countries.
The fund will be headquartered in Baku, with an independent audit committee providing quarterly reports. A working group of international financial experts will help develop the fund's management and funding mechanisms.
Jul 23, 2024
India's Chief Economic Advisor Calls Out Rich Nations' Climate Hypocrisy
India's Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran criticised developed countries for their 'double standards' on climate action, highlighting the G7's commitment to ending the use of unabated coal power plants only in the first half of the 2030s, despite their high carbon emissions.
In the annual economic survey, Nageswaran said it is morally wrong to ask developing countries to abandon their aspirations for better living standards to allow developed countries to maintain their lifestyles in cleaner environments and cooler climates.
He argued that economic growth would empower developing countries to better address climate change.
Nageswaran said that the UN convention on climate change and its Paris Agreement mandate that developed countries provide resources and take the lead in mobilising finance to tackle the global problem.
Jul 22, 2024
Scientists Discover New Plant Species in Arunachal Pradesh
Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new plant species from a wildlife sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.
'Phlogacanthus Sudhansusekharii', the plant species discovered from Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Papum Pare district, belongs to the family 'Acanthaceae' and the 'Phlogacanthus' genus.
The species is named to honour Dr. Sudhansu Sekhar Dash, a scientist at the BSI, for his significant contribution to plant and ecological research in the Indian Himalayan region.
Jul 20, 2024
New Flower Fly Species Discovered in Kerala
Researchers of the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab (SERL) of Christ College, Irinjalakuda, reported two species of flower flies for the first time from Kerala.
'Mesembrius bengalensis' and 'M. Quadrivittatus' were discovered from the Kole wetlands and Vilagan Kunnu hillocks of Thrissur district, Kerala.
+91-85588-96644
