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Politicians avoid discussing climate change during Indian elections
As India’s general elections approach, voters are facing climate-related hardships that politicians largely ignore.
In short:
- Extreme heat and drought in Maharashtra state have left farmers struggling, with no substantial political focus on environmental issues.
- Increased cyclones along India’s eastern coasts have caused significant damage and deaths, with locals frustrated by unfulfilled political promises.
- Floods in Assam state are worsening, leaving residents on river islands vulnerable and dissatisfied with political inaction.
Key quote:
“Politicians are only talking about religion and caste. No one is talking about the environment or farmers' issues.”
— Vaibhav Maske, farmer in Maharashtra
Why this matters:
Ignoring climate change in political discourse undermines efforts to address its severe impacts on health, livelihoods, and regional stability. Effective policies are needed to protect communities from increasingly extreme weather events. Read more: Sabah Usmani on making cities healthy and just.
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New ideas shed light on addressing climate issues
Environmental scientist Hannah Ritchie discusses how technological advances could lead to a more sustainable future in the face of climate challenges.
In short:
- Clean energy technology is making strides, providing a hopeful outlook for sustainable development.
- The environmental impact of livestock farming highlights the importance of finding solutions for food production that align with sustainability goals.
- The politics of implementing large-scale climate initiatives remain complex and challenging, but progress in technology is opening doors to potential solutions.
Key quote:
"These are tractable problems. They’re not easy problems. They’re really, really difficult to tackle, but they’re tractable."
— Hannah Ritchie, lead researcher at Our World in Data.
Why this matters:
Innovations in clean energy and agriculture will play a significant role in shaping a sustainable future, but the road ahead will require cooperation, determination, and effective policy. Read more: The global food system is failing small-scale farmers — here’s how to fix it.
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Newsletter
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EU's farming funding heavily favors animal agriculture, study finds
A recent study reveals the European Union's agricultural subsidies disproportionately favor animal farming over plant cultivation, posing environmental challenges.
In short:
- The EU's Common Agriculture Policy allocates four times more public money to animal farming than to plants, impacting climate goals.
- Livestock farming's inefficiency is spotlighted by its higher land use for protein production compared to plants.
- Despite reforms, a significant portion of subsidies still supports environmentally harmful practices.
Key quote:
"We're incentivizing the worst-case scenario."
— Paul Behrens, environmental change researcher at Leiden University
Why this matters:
The emphasis on animal agriculture plays a significant role in influencing climate change, primarily due to its substantial greenhouse gas emissions, land and water use, and contribution to deforestation. This sector is one of the largest contributors to environmental issues that affect climate change.
As the plant-based and cell-cultured "meat" industry grows, policymakers are increasingly looking to influence labelling — which could shape consumer acceptance.
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Newsletter
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Navigating the complex waters of ocean protection and profit
The United Nations High Seas Treaty aims to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, focusing on areas beyond national jurisdiction, yet its effectiveness is debated.
In short:
- The treaty creates Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to regulate activities like fishing and drilling but faces criticism for not fully prohibiting them.
- It seeks equitable sharing of ocean resources and a regulated ocean economy, aiming to balance profit with conservation.
- Critics argue that current MPA guidelines allow exploitative activities, questioning the true conservation value of these areas.
Key quote:
“The most important thing we take from the oceans is our existence. If you like to breathe, you’ll listen up.”
— Sylvia Earle, marine biologist and explorer
Why this matters:
The future of the world's oceans—and by extension, our planet—is at a critical juncture, with our ocean's role in climate regulation and biodiversity conservation at odds with unchecked exploitation. In the decades following the establishment of Marine Protected Areas, conservation goals and commercial interests remain at odds.
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Credit: Christian Ostrosky/Flickr
Argentina's wetlands under threat from new development projects
In Argentina's Paraná delta, known as "Earth's fourth lung," the push for luxury real estate threatens the region's diverse ecosystems and local communities, with private interests prioritizing spas and helipads over environmental and social health.
In short:
- The Paraná delta, a vital environmental and biological reservoir, faces severe threats from overdevelopment, including habitat destruction and pollution.
- Real estate developers are displacing local communities and altering the landscape with luxury homes and gated communities, impacting traditional livelihoods.
- Efforts to protect these wetlands are hampered by stalled legislation in Congress, reflecting a broader undervaluing of wetlands by society and political interests.
Key quote:
"We are the fourth lung of the world. Our delta gives oxygen to the planet, but today, they are damaging it terribly."
— Juan Carlos García, islander and descendant of the Indigenous Guaraní people
Why this matters:
The ongoing conflict in the Paraná delta serves as a microcosm of global environmental challenges, underscoring the need for sustainable development practices that consider health outcomes and preserve ecological integrity. We are reminded once again that in the battle for environmental conservation, "victories" are seldom permanent and forever subject to the politics of the moment.
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Credit: NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center/Flickr
Utah introduces new regulations for mineral extraction at the Great Salt Lake
A recent bill passed by the Utah Legislature introduces significant changes to the regulation of mineral extraction at the Great Salt Lake, aiming to address the lake's declining water levels.
In short:
- The bill, known as HB 453, introduces more stringent water use regulations to protect the Great Salt Lake from further decline.
- It increases the severance tax on mineral extraction and requires companies to report water usage and salinity levels.
- Despite some environmental groups' concerns, the legislation is seen as a crucial step towards sustainable management of the lake's resources.
Key quote:
“This is a good step forward, a necessary step forward, but we can’t let it distract us from the fact that they (state leaders) are not getting water to the lake, and this bill does not get water to the lake.”
— Chandler Rosenberg, deputy director of the Great Basin Water Network
Why this matters:
Advocates tout this as a potential shift in Utah's traditionally industry-friendly stance towards resource allocation and extractive development in the Great Salt Lake Basin. Critics contend that the legislation gives regulatory certainty to industry and does nothing to solve the ongoing western water crisis.
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Why are farmers protesting across the EU and what can the bloc do about it?
Food producers say increasing costs, tiny margins and climate policies leave livelihoods in peril.
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