Nature
The Cook Islands open Pacific Island Forum with announcement of world’s largest marine park
Country is joined by neighbour New Caledonia in pledging projected areas which will together cover 2.5 million square kilometres of ocean.
Photo of the week #32 – Climate change, drought and declining zebra populations
This week’s photo of the week, the zebra population facing extinction from climate change and drought.
The United States of Climate Change #3: The Montana hunters targeting big changes in the US climate debate
Todd Tanner, founder of the Conservation Hawks tells RTCC why changes in the Montana landscape have spurred him on to start a grass roots climate action movement among the United States 37 million hunters.
Photo of the week #31 – Conservation threats for the world’s smallest sea turtle
This week’s photo of the week, the Olive Ridley turtle faces multiple threats such as poaching and fishing.
Adaptation focus: How ecosystem based solutions are bearing fruit in Xai Xai, Mozambique
Dr Richard Munang from the UNEP explains how Ecosystem-based Adaptation can help people and communities cope with the negative effects of climate change.
Australia’s acute water shortages mapped
Projected Australian water shortages suggest governments of future will have to ration water between mining, agriculture and major cities.
Arctic spill would create inaccessible ‘oil sandwich’ in ice impossible to clean, says UK polar expert
A leading polar expert has told RTCC an offshore oil spill in the region would be almost impossible to clean up and could affect vast areas of the ocean
Photo of the week #30 – Deforestation and the Amazon’s blue-headed Parrot
The Amazon’s blue-headed Parrot is becoming increasingly vulnerable to deforestation across central and southern America.
Response to George Monbiot: The valuation of nature and ecosystem services is not privatization
The idea of placing a value on the environment to encourage its protection has become increasingly popular, but critics say it amounts to little more than the privatisation.
Russian government tells Greenpeace it will “balance economy and ecology” in the Arctic
Head of campaign group meets Russian Environment Minister to present its fears over arctic industrialisation.
Comment: Why it’s important we give the REDD mechanism a chance
REDD+ aims to deploy market forces to combat deforestation and land degradation. But is it working, and should we really put a price on trees and forests? Tara O’Shea from the Code REDD scheme argues it’s the best way forward.
Arctic could be ice-free in summer by end of the decade, according to European Space Agency
Images from polar satellite suggest sea ice in the Arctic could be disappearing at a rate 50% higher than previously predicted.
Photo of the week #29: The Galapagos islands’ unique position for monitoring climate change
The Galapagos Islands are home to some unusual inhabitants threatened by climate change but the isle’s unique placement to study global environmental change is less well known.
Photo of the week #28: Thailand’s famous and endangered water lilies
This week’s IUCN photo of the week is of a water lily, which relies heavily on clean water and healthy ecosystems to flourish
LANDSAT at 40: NASA’s Earth as Art gallery
40 years of the LANDSAT satellite celebrated in five iconic pictures. NASA’s prized satellite has been a key tool for climate scientists revealing deforestation patterns and the gradual disappearance of polar ice.
The price of climate change: How to temper volatile food prices
Severe weather variability has affected harvests around the world but the many of the tools to enhance food security are within our grasp.
RTCC Q&A: Why Shell’s Arctic adventure could have implications for us all
With Shell’s drilling rigs weeks away from entering the Arctic, RTCC takes a look at some of the potential implications of drilling in the region.
London Olympics art display breathes new life into importance of urban forestry
New art installation in London’s Russell Square highlights the important role of trees in keeping cities clean and free from pollution
Photo of the week #27: Jaguars under threat
This week’s photo of the week takes a look at the leopard species, which may not always be with us in a changing climate.
NASA reports “extreme melt” of Greenland ice sheet underway but climate change link unconfirmed
Indian/NASA collaboration reveals 97% of ice surface area has begun to melt, more than double the usual extent during summer. However, more data required to attribute melting to climate change.