Global Eco Watch: Major ecological happenings of the week (December 29, 2019 – January 5, 2020)
Down To Earth brings you the top happenings in the world of global ecology
Powerful winds of change: Mapping the offshore sector
Europe is the leader in offshore wind projects, but Asia and the United States plan to enter the sector in a big way in the next two decades
International Monetary Fund, pension funds and climate: The heat is on
The most vulnerable need protection from the volatility of climate and market
UNFCCC Pre-COP: Restoring faith needs proactive agenda on loss and damage
Loss and damage offers the process of the UN body an opportunity to signal desperately needed empathy with the most vulnerable
TV weathercasters who are shifting public opinion on the climate crisis
Meteorologists’s reports help viewers understand what is happening and why it’s important – and they’re having an impact &…
Solar power to drive renewable energy investments to $2.6 trn by 2019 end: Report
Capacity investment in renewable energy in developing countries ($147.1 billion) outweighed those in developed countries ($125.8 billion) in 2018 …
Introvert? You may just be bad at recognising faces
Some are 'super-recognisers' of faces, some struggle. Scientists now put their mind to why so
Sustainable land management key to controlling degradation, achieving neutrality
The benefits of action against land degradation through sustainable management are seven times higher than its cost in 15 years
In-Depth: 69th session of WHO Regional Committee for Africa
The sixty-ninth session of World Health Organisation's Regional Committee for Africa in Brazzaville (August 19-23 2019) helped turn a much-needed …
'Generic industry makes poor-quality drugs for nations with lax regulations'
Katherine Eban, author of Bottle of Lies, is an investigative journalist whose articles on pharmaceutical counterfeiting, gun trafficking and …
Urban expansion ate into 35 million ha forests between 1992 and 2015: Study
The study argues that urbanisation can cause indirect loss of forest, by encouraging agricultural expansion in forested areas
Scientific researchers must maintain integrity
These soldiers of science must understand that they may not have taken the Hippocratic Oath to serve patients, but their research determines the …
Climate proxies can effectively mobilise public action and tackle climate change
These proxies work for everyone as people use them based on their age-group, understanding and even geographical location
Researchers discover new tree species in Tanzania mountains
Mischogyne iddi trees have larger leaves and range between 13 and 45 centimetre in diametre
Engineering this fungi may produce eco-friendly alternative to synthetic dyes
Lab-cultured Rhodosporidium toruloides produces 86 grams indigoidine per litre
New laser-based technique to replace pressure’s 400-year-old measuring standard
The fixed-length optical cavity sensor is 100 times faster, mercury-free and has a higher resolution — compared to standard mercury manometres
What is the summer solstice? An astronomer explains
It brings the longest day and shortest night of the year for the 88 per cent of Earth’s people who live in the Northern Hemisphere
Researchers produce kerosene from sunlight, CO2 and water
The technology can be useful for the transport sector, especially for aviation and shipping, that will remain dependent on liquid fuels for long …
Human brains distinctively attuned to musical tones: Study
Certain brain regions in humans show stronger preference for sounds with pitch than macaque monkey brains
Somalia records third-driest rainy season in 39 years
The main rainy season (April-June) has been below average in the country since late 2015
Africa needs early warnings for all to combat extreme weather, save lives: WMO
About 60% of African continent not currently covered by early warning services; Accurate & timely weather, water & climate information needed
MENA economies face stagnant growth & rising debt amidst regional conflict, World Bank warns
Report highlights growing burden of debt, particularly among oil-importing countries
Undue detainments, confiscations & restrictions: Shut out of normal participation at WTO, civil societies claim
Write to director general about WTO’s failure to ensure safety and rights of participants
One of the major gaps in our weather observational system is over the oceans: Elena Manaenkova
Former WMO Deputy Secretary General, Elena Manaenkova speaks to Down To Earth about extreme weather, the global cryosphere and emissions on World …
WMO highlights socioeconomic impacts of 2023 weather, and climate hazards, intertwined with inequality crisis
Extreme weather events hit many parts of the world in 2023, affecting water and food security as well as human welfare, report by …