GoodPlanet.info Dépêches

Russia 'drills into' Antarctic subglacial lake

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:11:55 GMT

A Russian team has succeeded in drilling through four kilometres (2.5 miles) of ice to the surface of a mythical subglacial Antarctic lake which could hold as yet unknown life forms, reports said Monday.

Scientists cautious over Russia's Antarctic lake drilling

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:58:47 GMT

Experts on Monday raised questions over the scientific benefit and environmental impact of Russia's feat in drilling into a virgin lake under Antarctica's icesheet.

Belgian battery can power 1,400 homes

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:44:41 GMT

Chemicals giant Solvay hailed Monday the successful entry into service in Flanders of what it said was the largest fuel cell of its type in the world.

Thai police arrest rare wildlife 'butchers'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:36:10 GMT

Thai police busted a grisly exotic wildlife slaughterhouse in Bangkok when officers caught four men in the act of chopping up a tiger in a residential home, officials said Monday.

India's panel price crash could spark solar revolution

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:03:03 GMT

SOLAR power has always had a reputation for being expensive, but not for much longer. In India, electricity from solar is now cheaper than that from diesel generators. The news - which will boost India's "Solar Mission" to install 20,000 megawatts of solar power by 2022 - could have implications for other developing nations too.

Price of gorilla permit increases to $750/day

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:45:24 GMT

Rwanda has raised the price of a permit to see mountain gorillas to $750 per day starting June 1, 2012, up from $500.

Warming Seas and Corals: A New Conundrum

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:44:25 GMT

As many readers know, considerable fear surrounds the future of the world’s coral reefs. Catastrophic declines have already occurred in some places, usually as a result of climate change combined with human activity like the dumping of sewage.

Environment agency becomes crunch issue in Rio talks

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:55:50 GMT

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is emerging as a hot issue in preparations for June's Rio conference, styled as a once-in-a-generation chance to restore a sick planet to good health.

China water project to 'begin operating in 2013'

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:33:36 GMT

A massive project to divert water from China's south to its drought-prone north -- which has seen hundreds of thousands of people relocated -- will become partly operational next year, state media reported.

World powers 'plan anti-carbon tax talks'

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:16:59 GMT

India, Russia, the United States, China and other countries will meet in Moscow this month to decide whether to retaliate against the EU's decision to impose a carbon tax on air travel, a report says.

US and Spain discuss cleanup of nuclear radiation

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:57:22 GMT

The United States is offering technical assistance to Spain to clean up land contaminated by radiation from undetonated nuclear bombs that accidentally fell on the area in 1966, the US State Department announced Saturday.

Greenpeace chief warns of 'perfect storm' of crises

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:22:34 GMT

The head of environmental pressure group Greenpeace warned Friday the world faced a "perfect storm" of crises and was heading for what he termed a crisis of "epic proportions."

China bans airlines from paying EU carbon charges

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:15:55 GMT

China said Monday it has banned its airlines from complying with an EU scheme to impose charges on carbon emissions opposed by more than two dozen countries including India, Russia and the United States.

Government Online Mining Database to Increase Transparency

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:05:04 GMT

The launch of Sierra Leone’s first online mining database in West Africa comes with a promise to increase transparency and accountability in the country’s rich natural resource sector.

Less Summer Arctic Sea Ice Cover Means Colder, Snowier Winters in Central Europe

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:22:38 GMT

Even if the current weather situation may seem to speak against it, the probability of cold winters with much snow in Central Europe rises when the Arctic is covered by less sea ice in summer. Scientists of the Research Unit Potsdam of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association have decrypted a mechanism in which a shrinking summertime sea ice cover changes the air pressure zones in the Arctic atmosphere and impacts our European winter weather.

Panama is first to benefit from fund to tackle biopiracy

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:55:32 GMT

The Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF) — has announced its first beneficiary: a project exploring Panama's natural resources for use in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.

Scientists snare 'superprawn' off New Zealand

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:53:31 GMT

Scientists have captured a "supergiant" crustacean in waters seven kilometres (4.5 miles) deep off New Zealand, measuring 10 times the normal size of related species.

India's air the worst, says annual study

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:49:34 GMT

India has the worst air quality in the world, poorer even than its neighbour China, according to an annual survey based at Yale and Columbia universities in the United States.

Indian PM says lack of collective will on climate change

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:28:47 GMT

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday that "a lack of collective will" was hampering efforts to forge a common global front against the threat of climate change.

Rare Sumatran rhino pregnancy offers hope to species

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:21:31 GMT

A Sumatran rhino which is 10-months pregnant is receiving special medical care after suffering two miscarriages, a conservationist said Thursday, fuelling hope for the critically-endangered species.