Environmental nonsense’: Here’s why France wants to ban bottled water

Paris: France has various schemes in place to lessen plastic usage, but the proposed bill would go further still. A French politician has called for a ban on small plastic water bottles, calling them “completely absurd” and “environmental nonsense”. Pierre Cazeneuve, who belongs to President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, submitted a proposed law this week […]

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Italy: Marmolada glacier could disappear by 2040, say experts

Celina Ali Islamabad: The Marmolada glacier, the largest and most symbolic of the Dolomites, could melt completely by 2040 owing to rising average temperatures, experts have said. Italian scientists who are monitoring glaciers and the impact of climate emergency, and who took part in a campaign launched by environmentalist group Legambiente, the international commission for […]

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A greener getaway? Danish capital tests climate reward scheme for tourists

Copenhagen: Tourists visiting Copenhagen this summer are encouraged to participate in unusual kinds of vacation fun, including plucking floating trash from the Danish capital’s waterways, cycling to museums instead of going by car, or volunteering at an urban garden. All these activities are part of a new, four-week pilot project called CopenPay that rewards tourists […]

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Govt to spend €11.1 million on rehabilitating Portugal’s rivers, streams

Newswire Lisbon: Portugal’s AD government pledged this week to spend €11.1 million rehabilitating 10 rivers and streams “from the north to the south of the country,” covering 214 kms. According to information provided by the press office of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, the projects include restoration work on the River Tua (in […]

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EU prepares for COP29 showdown with China over climate aid

Zia Weise Brussels: The European Union plans to pressure emerging economies such as China to contribute funding for climate action in developing nations at global negotiations in November, according to POLITICO. Financing is at the center of this year’s United Nations climate conference, known as COP29, with developing countries clamoring for a significant increase in […]

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China’s marine protection offers valuable experience, wisdom for global ocean governance

Global Times “Today, I brought a small item for my friends from the press,” Guo Fang, vice minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said as she displayed a scarf at a press conference where a white paper titled Marine Eco-Environmental Protection in China was issued. She explained that the scarf was actually made […]

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Sherry Rehman elected chair of Senate panel on climate change

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Senator Sherry Rehman was this week unanimously elected as the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change. Her nomination by Senator Qurratulain Marri was seconded by Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani. In her acceptance speech, Senator Sherry Rehman expressed gratitude to her colleagues for their support and confidence in her leadership. […]

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In Greece, locals push back as wave of construction alters their islands

Athens: With a deluge of foreign visitors fuelling seemingly non-stop development on the once pristine Greek islands, local residents and officials are beginning to fight back, moving to curb a wave of construction that has started to cause water shortages and is altering cultural identity. Tourism is crucial in Greece, accounting for one-fifth of the […]

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Portugal ‘needs to lead’ to combat deforestation

Newswire Lisbon: The environmental organizations Zero and ANP/WWF, DECO – Consumer Protection, and the TROCA Platform, of Fair International Trade, say they are concerned about the possibility that European legislation to combat global deforestation and the climate and biodiversity crises “may come to be subverted.” At issue is the European Regulation for Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), […]

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Climate change requires US and China to cooperate not compete, experts warn

Newswire Islamabad: China and the US need to move beyond their perennial squabbles and chest thumping to address existential global problems, drawing on their collective creativity, financial expertise and manufacturing prowess, experts warned this week at a Harvard University conference on US-China relations. Few expect the deep distrust between the two countries to abate any […]

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Europe has ambition to be the first climate-neutral continent: Ambassador Dr Riina Kionka

Celina Ali Islamabad: Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan Dr Riina Kionka said this week that Europe has the ambition to be the first climate-neutral continent. She was addressing a large gathering at the Jinnah Convention Center here on to participate in “EuroVillage,” organized by the European Union and its Member States. This year’s […]

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China-funded mega solarization project inaugurated in Balochistan

Gwadar Pro Quetta: Balochistan Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki inaugurated the China-funded mega solarization project this week, aimed at converting various public department buildings, including educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and civic departments, to renewable energy sources. The China-funded project will provide clean, affordable, and uninterrupted power supply to the government departments. With […]

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Pakistan must invest in climate resilience to survive: Bilawal Bhutto

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan must invest in climate resilience for its survival, prime ministerial hopeful Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in a wide-ranging interview. He said he had been ready to quit the government while he was foreign minister because there were no new climate-resilience projects in the federal budget following devastating floods that killed more […]

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On the climate change front, it’s not all doom and gloom

David Dodwell I have always believed there is a simple, one-line aspiration behind meeting the target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050: make electricity clean, then electrify everything. The International Energy Agency’s “Electricity 2024” report, released last week, suggests strong progress. It describes a declining role for fossil fuels, and predicts that all additional […]

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Pakistan has a large number of birds species: High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri

Canberra: Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said this week that Pakistan has a large number of birds species. “Pakistan has over 700 species of birds. Look at this beautiful Blue Throat, captured at Marala Headworks on the Chenab River near Sialkot,” he posted on X with a bird’s picture. The Blue Throat […]

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High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri appreciates Margalla Hills National Park

Canberra: Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri this week appreciated the Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad. “Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad, Pakistan is the 4th largest urban park in the world. It has an area of 42,961.7 acres,” he post on X with a picture. Meanwhile the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) amid […]

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Pakistan, Australia working together to reduce impact of Climate Change: High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri

Canberra: Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said this week that Pakistan and Australia for working together to reduce the impact of Climate Change. “Pakistan and Australia are working together for reducing the impact of Climate Change. Lahore has recently experienced several episodes of flooding due to heavy rains. This study will be […]

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Sherry Rehman urges quick climate action, accountability at COP28

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman this week urged immediate climate action and accountability of developed nations, em­phasising the two main drivers of the climate crisis — “inaction” and “injustice”. This call was made during her address at the COP28 Pakistan pavilion in Dubai. “I feel strongly that there are two […]

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UK climate study will accelerate green finance in Pakistan

Celina Ali Islamabad: British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, this week launched a landmark study to identify and prioritise critical initiatives to mobilise private sector climate financing in Pakistan. The study’s climate finance analysis includes several ‘roadmaps to action’ to support the Government of Pakistan’s ambitions for climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience. The study […]

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Sherry Rehman proposes Pakistan’s public-private forum for sustainable investments

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Senator Sherry Rehman this week emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change and its profound impact on Pakistan’s capacity to achieve both public and private sector goals. She stated, “Climate Change is a ticking bomb for Pakistan, as is the population. It impacts our capacity to achieve goals in both the public […]

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What New Delhi can learn from Beijing in curbing hazardous smog

Global Times Recently, the BBC reported that the “Indian capital lags behind Beijing in the battle to breathe.” The article highlights that a range of “command-and-control measures” helped Beijing clean up its air, while Delhi’s battle against air pollution stumbles due to inadequate planning, wrongly designed policies, and partisan politics. On Monday, following the Diwali […]

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CLEW Guide – Italy moves on green transition, but fossil ties remain tight

Newswire Rome: Italy has taken significant steps in its green transition over the past decade, but the current government under prime minister Giorgia Meloni has also put a focus on making the country a “gas hub” in the Mediterranean Sea, demonstrating its still deep ties to fossil fuels. Researchers and NGOs have criticised the country’s […]

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Jo Moir reiterates UK unwavering commitment to climate change issue

Celina Ali Islamabad: Jo Moir, the Development Director for Pakistan at the British High Commission, has reiterated the United Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to addressing the critical issue of climate change. In an interview, she emphasized the UK’s dedication to supporting Pakistan’s climate resilience initiatives. She underscored the vital importance of international collaboration and cooperation in […]

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Pakistan, Denmark hold inaugural meeting on ‘Green Framework Engagement’

Celina Ali Islamabad: To kick-start the implementation of the “Green Framework Engagement” between Pakistan and Denmark, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this week, hosted the inaugural meeting of the “joint committee”. From Pakistan’s side, it was chaired by Ambassador Syed Haider Shah, Additional Secretary (UN&ED). The Danish side was led by Ambassador Jakob Linulf, Embassy […]

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British High Commissioner Jane Marriott for empowering youth to tackle climate change

Abida Shaheen Islamabad: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott this week stressed the need for empowering the youth to tackle challenges, including climate change, being faced by Pakistan. The UK high commissioner was speaking at an event organised by the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) to celebrate the International Youth Day. The event marked the […]

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