Latest in Environment Highlight
Latest in Environment
Cairo most polluted city on Earth, report
Egypt faces black clouds annually following harvesting rice season
Hambach: the battle between a forest and a coal mine threatens Germany’s environmental image
Hambach Forest in western Germany has become a symbol of resistance to coal mining, but its days may well be numbered. Can protesters save Germany’s green image as an environmental and climate champion?Hambach forest in western Germany looks like an idyllic spot, with a community of some 150 people living in tree houses and walking …
The frozen tears of New Zealand’s ebbing glaciers
As the planet heats up, scientists warn the dramatic seams of ice that have inspired ancient legends, Victorian explorers and modern tourists alike could all but vanish.Once, there was a goddess called Hine Hukatere who loved to climb the high peaks of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. But one day she decided to visit the beach, …
In Nepal, puppets teach eco-friendly farming methods
Pesticides, deforestation and monocultures are wreaking havoc for Nepalese farmers, causing landslides and degrading the soil. Activists are using puppetry to make a change.Project aim: Helping Nepalese farmers prepare for the effects of climate change. Project implementation: Farmers in the landslide-stricken Arghakhanchi region are switching to farming that protects the soil by planting trees with …
MIIC, Environment Ministry, WB agree on boosting cooperation, setting strategy for air quality in big cities
Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr held a joint meeting with Minister of Environment Yasmine Found and World Bank (WB) mission representatives headed by Kreg Misnert, first economic environmental specialist at the WB, in the presence of Dahlia Lotayef, lead environmental specialist in the Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice at the WB Group. …
Did Monsanto know its weed killer could be deadly to people?
After a gardener was awarded $289 million for cancer he said was a result of exposure to Roundup weed killer, Monsanto still denies the health risks of glyphosate — in everything from kids’ cereal to the air we breathe.It’s been a tough week for agrochemical giant Monsanto and its flagship weed killer, Roundup. In a …
More hot years ahead, study says
While an extreme heat wave sweeps the globe this summer, a forecast by researchers brings little hope for cooling in the near future. There’s a high chance it will be “anomalously warm” until at least 2022, they say.Sweating a lot this summer? You might have to learn to cope with the heat: Scientists say another …
Fouad announces Ministry of Environment’s plan for countering air pollution waves
Air pollution responsible for death of over 43,000 people in Egypt in 2012, says WHO
Butterflies flourishing in hot summer but face problems ahead
The good news: while many animals, including us humans, are suffering in extremely high temperatures, most butterflies are currently doing well. The bad news: they’ll run into problems soon. Here’s why.You’ve probably heard about it by now: insects are dying off. And not just a few of them here and there; many species are in …
Fouad discusses preparations of Egypt’s presidency of COP14 with Mexican ambassador
MoE conducted a campaign for cleaning Al-Gifton Island in Red Sea
Nazis and fairytales: Germany’s forests are full of hidden history
Steeped in myth and legend, the forest has long held deep meaning and been a source of fascination. How did the woods become so symbolic for so many, from the romantics and the Nazis to modern environmentalists?Few places in Germany are as brimming with tales of mythical beings as Reinhardswald. The woodland is at the …
Ministry of Environment team rescues green turtle, return it to its environment
Green turtles face danger of extinction globally for different reasons including global warming
Domino effect could heat up Earth by 5 degrees Celsius — despite Paris climate deal
Even if the Paris Agreement is successfully implemented, the planet could still heat up by 5 degrees Celsius, scientists warn. This “hothouse” climate would make parts of the world uninhabitable.A joint study by international climate scientists from Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Australia presents a bleak prognosis: Even if the goals of the Paris climate agreement …
Government to increase waste collection fees: environment minister
Egypt among lowest countries expending on cleaning, says Fouad
Ministry of Environment prepares for ‘black cloud’
Egypt faces black cloud every year following rice harvesting season
Brace yourself for more record heat
Current high temperatures in the northern hemisphere are set to continue. Climate change means we’re likely to experience very hot summers more often — even though we’re already struggling with health consequences now.Europe is in the throes of a heat wave, and it’s not letting up — on the contrary. More hot air is coming …
Earth Overshoot Day: Time for a radical rethink
Humanity has already used up more resources this year than our planet can regenerate. Each year, Earth Overshoot Day comes earlier. It’s time to radically rethink our consumption patterns and economic system, many say.As of Wednesday, August 1, 2018, we have officially used up all of the Earth’s resources for the year — and there …
Is Africa becoming the world’s dumping ground for dirty diesel vehicles?
As emission regulations become stronger for new vehicles in industrialized countries, cars as old as 25 years no longer able to meet emission standards are being exported to Africa. Air quality is suffering as a result.Any child playing at the Uhuru garden — a recreation park in the middle of the Kenyan capital Nairobi — …
What’s lurking in the German forest?
Germans are passionate about their forests. They really are. In a way that some non-Germans find hard to comprehend. Tamsin Walker trekked to the woods to try and tap into the source.When I called a friend the other day, a German friend that is, she didn’t pick up, but wrote me a message. It simply …
How working a year in nature can shape you for a lifetime
Youth in Germany have the opportunity to carry out a “voluntary ecological year” after finishing high school — and their experiences often last a lifetime. DW’s Karin Jäger joined them for a day.In Germany, students who have completed compulsory education and are under 27 have the opportunity to spend a year doing voluntary work in …
How to prevent cooling from warming up the world
Air conditioners and other cooling devices are critical for millions of people worldwide, particularly with rising temperatures. But while these appliances can save lives, they’re also big contributors to global warming.On hot days, many of us automatically turn on the air conditioner or reach for a cold drink from the fridge without thinking twice about …
Our Beautiful Planet: Tanzania’s crimson ‘stone animal’ lake
Bright-red Lake Natron in Tanzania may not look inviting enough to take a dip – and that’s a good thing: its water is extremely alkaline. The caustic lake has another strange quality: it appears to turn animals to stone.The scarlet waters of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania are eye-catching enough by themselves. But when coupled …
The global heat wave that’s been killing us
A heat wave is ravaging countries around the world. Although many celebrate sunny days, wildfires, wasted crops and health problems are some of the many disastrous consequences hot weather can have.Most of us enjoy sunny days and complain on rainy ones — yet behind the clear skies lies a less pleasant reality. Since June 2018, …
Protecting the cotton-top tamarin and its Colombian habitat
The cotton-top tamarin is famous for its distinctive appearance but the animal is under threat. A long-running project aims to save it and its habitat in the tropical forests of Colombia.Project goal: The overall aim of the project is to designate the cotton-top tamarin as a “flagship” species, as part of an overall plan to …
AI could help us protect the environment — or destroy it
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve exponentially. With environmental concerns ever more at the forefront, experts are turning to AI to find sustainable solutions. But the technology also presents risks.Today, we can pull out our smart phones and use various apps to enhance our everyday lives. Digital assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri are …
The Burmese python and the fight for the Florida Everglades
The Florida Everglades are famous throughout the world, with alligators perhaps their most well-known inhabitants. However, there’s a new predator in town — and it is wreaking havoc on this remarkable ecosystem.At a coffee shop in Davie, Florida, I’m waiting for wildlife biologist Ian Bartoszek. He causes a huge stir as he walks in with …
Domestic pigs help protect Serbia’s forests
While in many countries, pigs are brought up in confined spaces, Serbia has a long tradition of rearing the animals in the forest. Efforts are underway to ensure this ecologically friendly tradition doesn’t die out.Project aim: The use of traditional agricultural practices to prevent biodiversity loss and improve water management Project size: 17,000 hectares of …
Barbecuing sustainably: How not to burn rainforests in our grills
A lot of our BBQ charcoal comes from tropical forests, and this can contribute to deforestation, a survey has found. But there are alternatives for more environmentally friendly grilling. How good are they?”You aren’t a vegetarian, are you?” Mario Sacilotto asks me. He seems kind of worried. The German entrepeneur with Italian roots is definitely …
Can bird watching help save Colombia’s forests?
Colombia teems with birds, but until recently fighting between the government and guerilla groups scared visitors away. Now, former war zones are fast becoming bird-watching hotspots. And that could help preserve them.Until recently, the Farallones National Park was a key hideout for Colombia’s FARC rebels. But as the guns fall silent and Colombia transitions out …
Dip in China’s CO2 emissions sparks cautious optimism
China’s CO2 emissions decreased steadily from 2014 to 2016, a new study finds. Great news, right? Well, sort of. According to the researchers, the trend could be permanent. But it’s not time to celebrate yet.China is the world’s top CO2-emitting nation: its carbon dioxide emissions have grown enormously over recent previous decades, and now make …