chile
Credit: Thomas Galler/Unsplash
Wind farm plans in Chile raise environmental concerns
Chile’s ambitious green hydrogen strategy faces opposition as conservationists worry about its impact on the Magallanes region's bird sanctuary and ecosystems.
In short:
- Chile aims to become a top green hydrogen exporter, leveraging the Magallanes region's renewable energy potential.
- Conservationists warn that extensive wind farm development could harm Bahía Lomas, a crucial site for migratory shorebirds.
- The region's diverse ecosystems and endangered bird species are at risk from poorly planned hydrogen projects.
Key quote:
"We value hydrogen as a possible option of decarbonization, we’re just alerting about the way it’s being aggressively promoted and developed, particularly in this region."
— Diego Luna Quevedo, specialist in policy and governance for Manomet Conservation Sciences.
Why this matters:
Advocates for green hydrogen argue that this initiative could position Chile at the forefront of sustainable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering economic growth. However, conservationists are voicing concerns that the construction and operation of green hydrogen facilities could disrupt the local wildlife, particularly the bird populations that the Magallanes region harbors.
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Chile's battle with climate-induced wildfires intensifies
In Chile, unprecedented wildfires, fueled by climate change and El Niño, are ravaging the landscape, marking a new era of environmental challenges.
In short:
- Chile, traditionally prepared for natural disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes, is now facing a new threat: devastating wildfires exacerbated by climate change.
- Recent fires, among the deadliest in over a century, have been driven by extreme heat and drought, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation and response strategies.
- The combination of human activities, climate change, and natural weather patterns like El Niño is creating increasingly dangerous fire conditions in South America.
Key quote:
"The effects of global warming on the weather cannot be ignored anymore."
— Raúl Cordero, climate scientist at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands
Why this matters:
These wildfires in Chile underscore the dire consequences of climate change on health and safety. They serve as a reminder of the growing need for global awareness and action against climate-related disasters, which are becoming more frequent and severe worldwide.
Up to 90% of wildfires we're seeing today are caused by human activity, highlighting a need for human intervention in both climate change and safe outdoor practices.
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Photo by Michael Held on Unsplash
At least 112 dead as authorities struggle to contain forest fires in Chile
People told to evacuate homes as quickly as possible and curfews declared in cities most heavily affected.
In a Chilean forest reserve, the remarkable Darwin’s frog endures
Four emerging filmmakers from Latin America collaborated to film Darwin’s frog and the biologist who studies the endangered species in Chile’s Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve. “Hojarasca: The Hidden Hope” is the Third-Place Winner of the 2023 Yale Environment 360 Film Contest.
Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash
Fast fashion goes to die in the world's largest fog desert. The scale is breathtaking
Some of the developed world's favorite brands lie in discarded heaps in Chile's Atacama desert. How they got there tells the story of modern fast fashion.
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Photo by Paula Porto on Unsplash
More than a decade of megadrought brought a summer of megafires to Chile
As relentless drought dries out subsistence farmers’ wells, vast eucalyptus and pine plantations, remnants of the Pinochet dictatorship, are torching their communities.
Fishing communities create marine refuges to protect Chile’s biodiversity
In Chile’s Valparaíso region, artisanal fishers have created grassroots marine reserves to protect marine biodiversity.
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