Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Climate Activists Block Dutch Motorway Over Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Climate Activists Block Dutch Motorway

Police used water cannons, and activists plan to keep blocking until subsidies end. Protesters had umbrellas and waterproof gear. They want to speed up the shift to renewable energy by addressing subsidies. Climate change activists staged a prominent demonstration in The Hague on Saturday, obstructing a major motorway in protest against Dutch subsidies for fossil … Read more

KU workshop urges to address climate-related challenges

KU
  • Pakistan’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is almost zero.
  • Authorities concerned should take serious measures to avoid pollution.
  • Speakers highlighted importance of public awareness to prevent pollution.

KARACHI: To avoid the dire consequences of environmental pollution and challenges related to climate change we have to design and implement strict policies as well as make sure that proper investment has been allocated to address these problems.

Even though Pakistan’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is almost zero we have been affected a lot by climate change in the recent past. We have to take serious measures to avoid the consequences of pollution and climate change.

These views were expressed by the vice chancellor of the University of Karachi Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi while addressing the one-day workshop on ‘analysis of pollution and climate change’, which was organized by the KU department of chemistry.

The event was held under the “Pak-UK Education Gateway Mobility Partnership Grant for Faculty” at the department’s auditorium. This workshop aimed to foster academic and research collaborations in the field of pollution and climate change with local and international partners.

The KU VC Prof Dr Khalid Iraqi shared that the West and developed nations had realized the situation and worked on the policies and framework to control the impact of pollution and climate change. He said that the West has adopted alternative energy sources to reduce air pollution and due to the implementation of effective policies and massive investment, they are not facing environmental pollution like we used to face regularly.

He further said that it is our responsibility to save our country from the dire consequences of environmental pollution, and as a nation, we have to play our role to eliminate environmental pollution.

On this occasion, KU VC Prof  Dr Khalid Iraqi highlighted the importance of public awareness and actions required to prevent pollution and ultimately climate change.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the KU department of chemistry Prof Dr Rehana Saeed informed that Greenfield University of the United Kingdom and six different partner universities including the National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology and NED University of Engineering and Technology, and Okara University have contributed to organized the event to highlight the issue.

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Germany: Greta Thunberg had not been arrested

Greta
  • Greta Thunberg was temporarily held by police at a rally.
  • She had been released after an ID check.
  • Police clarified that Ms. Thunberg had not been arrested.

Greta Thunberg, a climate activist, was temporarily held by police at a rally in western Germany.

She was demonstrating with campaigners to prevent the demolition of the abandoned community of Lützerath for the construction of a coal mine.

Police clarified that Ms. Thunberg had not been arrested, and later said she had been released after an ID check.

According to police, the Swedish activist was apprehended as a group “rushed towards the ledge” of the Garzweiler 2 mine.

Activists claim that coal combustion hampers Germany’s efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

The administration has promised to move the phase-out of coal in North Rhine-Westphalia, the state where the mine is located, to 2030. The national goal is 2038.

The dirtiest type of coal is lignite, and the area around Lützerath produces 25 million tonnes of it each year.

The government claims that expanding the mine is necessary to meet German energy demand while dealing with the disruption of Russian gas.

Protest organizers estimated that 35,000 people showed up on Saturday, while police estimated that the number was closer to 15,000 people.

Over the weekend, police reported they were able to remove all activists from the town.

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Likelihood of drought increased 20 times due to climate change: study revealed

climate change

Climate change increased by 20 times the likelihood of the drought that spanned three continents this summer. If not for human-caused climate change, this type of drought would only occur once every 400 years. With an extra 0.8 degrees C warming, it will occur every year in the Northern Hemisphere. According to a recent study, … Read more

UK sea level rise speeding up

  • Since 1900, sea levels have risen by approximately 16.5cm (6.5 ins). Sea levels are now rising at a rate of 3-5.2mm per year, more than double the rate of increase seen in the early twentieth century.
  • According to scientists, flooding threatens approximately 500,000 homes. Climate change and sea level rise are affecting the UK coastline, according to a new report by the Met Office.
  • The UK climate in 2021 will be “unremarkable” by modern standards, but 30 years ago it will be exceptional. This is due to climate change, which is causing higher temperatures to become the norm.

The Met Office’s annual look at the UK’s climate and weather reveals that sea levels are rising much faster than a century ago.

According to the State of the Climate report, higher temperatures are the new normal for Britain.

Conservationists warn that spring is arriving earlier than usual, and that plant and animal life are not evolving quickly enough to adapt to climate change.

The report emphasises the ways in which climate change is affecting the United Kingdom once more.

It also stated that the UK is warming at a slightly faster rate than the global average.

The Met Office forecasted climate and weather events for 2021, including severe storms such as Storm Arwen, which caused widespread flooding.

Since 1900, sea levels have risen by approximately 16.5cm (6.5 ins), but the Met Office reports that the rate of rise is increasing. They are now rising at a rate of 3-5.2mm per year, which is more than double the rate of increase seen in the early twentieth century.

This exposes more of the coast to powerful storm surges and winds, causing damage to the environment and homes. According to scientists, flooding threatens approximately 500,000 homes.

Dr Svetlana Jevrejeva of the National Oceanographic Centre explains that extreme sea levels during Storm Arwen last November were only avoided because it hit during a lower-than-usual tide.

While the coastline is always changing, she believes that climate change and sea level rise are exacerbating those changes.

“The scale, rate, and impact will change dramatically very soon,” she explains.

According to the report, while the UK climate in 2021 will be “unremarkable” by modern standards, it will be exceptional 30 years ago. This is due to climate change, which is causing higher temperatures to become the norm.

Since the industrial revolution about 200 years ago, our planet has warmed by 1.1 degrees Celsius. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this is caused by greenhouse gases emitted by human activity. The global temperature is expected to rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius over the next 20 years.

“Although 1 degree Celsius of warming may not seem like much, it has resulted in maximum temperatures like the 32.2 degrees Celsius we saw in 2021 becoming the norm rather than the exception. This is especially striking in light of the UK’s recent record-breaking heat “According to Mike Kendon of the Met Office’s National Climate Information Centre.

Climate change is also bringing spring earlier, affecting plants and animals as well as farmers.

Early-blooming species were even earlier last year, but late-blooming species were delayed due to unusually cold temperatures in April, according to the Met Office.

And, according to Professor Tim Sparks of the Woodland Trust, September and October were warmer than average, delaying autumn and causing trees to lose their leaves later than usual.

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Climate activists are outraged after Drake’s 14-minute private jet flight

Drake

Climate activists are criticising Canadian rapper Drake for a recent trip. A Twitter account called Celebrity Jets tracked the One Dance singer’s 14-minute private flight from Toronto to Hamilton, landing him in hot water online. Canadians will complain about climate change then pay thousands to go to the next Drake concert, acting like he isn’t … Read more

UN chief says humanity facing ‘collective suicide’ due to climate crisis

UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke to ministers from 40 nations. He warned that natural disasters like wildfires and heat waves could lead to humanity’s “collective suicide”. The World Bank and other development banks were accused of inadequate funding for addressing climate change. According to The Guardian, the UN secretary-general expressed concern that natural disasters like … Read more

Niemeier sorry for taking Watson out of Wimbledon

Niemeier

Promising German Jule Niemeier took Heather Watson out of Wimbledon’s fourth cycle. Apologized for disheartening the group by thumping a home number one. Niemeier, 22, utilized her enormous serve and talented net play to incredible impact, showing up totally quiet in spite of the Center Court. “I can barely handle it. I need to say … Read more

Verstappen disregards boos from Silverstone swarm

Verstappen

Formula One top dog Max Verstappen disregarded boos from the group. In the wake of qualifying on the first line at the British Grand Prix on Saturday. Adversaries Mercedes approached fans to show more regard. Verstappen and Mercedes’ home #1 and seven-times title holder Lewis Hamilton crashed at Silverstone last year, with the Briton winning. … Read more

Turkey battles wildfire in Marmaris for third day

The blaze is being blamed on arson by the authorities. 29 people have been impacted by the flames, with two receiving medical attention in a hospital. Forestry and Agriculture Minister warned media that “high temperatures and wind” will continue. In the same region as last year’s worst flames in the nation’s history, Turkish firemen were … Read more

Developing countries left ‘disappointed’ at climate talks

Developing countries express disappointment at lack of progress in assisting vulnerable countries cope with effects of global warming. Developed nations want dedicated finance infrastructure to assist impoverished countries. Poor countries want the issue discussed at the COP27 summit in Sharm el-Sheik in November.   BONN (Germany) — As climate talks in Germany came to a … Read more

Australian govt pledges to a more aggressive emission target

australian

Bowen stated that the government will use the initiative to generate more jobs using renewable energy. Albanese told reporters in Canberra that the new target marked the end of the “climate wars. The new Australian government promises to reduce carbon emissions by 43 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. The new Australian government has committed … Read more

As the labour market tightens, employment in Australia rises in May

May

Net employment surged 60,600 in May from April when it edged up just 4,000. That far surpassed market forecasts of a 25,000 rise and brought gains for the year to 386,100. The jobless rate held at 3.9% in May, but only because the participation rate unexpectedly jumped to a record high. The Reserve Bank of … Read more

‘Girls’ education is a climate solution’: Malala Yousafzai joins climate protest

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by a Pakistani Taliban gunman in 2012. She went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in education. Millions of girls lose access to schools as a result of climate-related events such as drought and floods. STOCKHOLM: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai told Reuters … Read more

COP27 to initiate attempts to accomplish climate pledges: Egypt’s Foreign Minister

climate

The World Economic Forum in Davos will see the launch of initiatives in collaboration with diverse parties with the goal of meeting climate pledges, according to Egypt’s foreign minister and designated summit president. Egypt’s strategy for COP27, which the country will host in November, according to Sameh Shoukry, is based on the need to focus … Read more

UK looks to climate action with Australia’s new PM

boris johson

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, congratulated Anthony Albanese on his election as Australia’s new leader on Saturday, promising to cooperate on trade, military connections, and climate change. “Our countries have a long history and a bright future together,” Johnson said in a message to the Labor party leader, according to Downing Street. Johnson shares … Read more

Pollution continues to harm millions

According to a research, one in every six fatalities in 2019 was caused by air, chemical, or water pollution. According to the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, pollution caused nine million deaths globally in 2019, a statistic that has remained constant since 2015. More than 90% of pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income … Read more

Trump was curious If China makes man-made hurricane Gun

trump

Trump was curious If China makes man-made hurricane Gun Close to the start of Donald Trump’s time in office, the then-president had a squeezing question for his public safety associates and organization authorities: Does China have the mysterious innovation — a weapon, even — to make enormous, man-made typhoons and afterward send off them at … Read more

DiCaprio better keep his mouth shut instead of talking nonsense’; Brazil President

DiCaprio better keep his mouth shut instead of talking nonsense’; Brazil President Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has exploded at Leonardo DiCaprio, saying it would be better for the entertainer to “keep his mouth shut” after he took a stand in opposition to the natural significance of the Amazon. The rainforest has supported serious deforestation since … Read more

Humphrey Symposium speaker hopes for ‘inspiration to act’ climate change

climate change

BATAVIA: Peter Boyd, founder, and CEO of Time4Good Group has addressed many groups and audiences on themes like climate change and sustainability, which he addressed at Genesee Group School on Thursday. “What I wish to get throughout is the simplicity of the issue and the complexity of the options … but additionally inspiration to behave … … Read more

Australia declares ‘mass bleaching’ at Great Barrier Reef

australia

SYDNEY: Australia’s spectacular Great Barrier Reef is suffering “mass bleaching” as corals lose their colour under the stress of warmer seas, authorities said Friday, in a blow widely blamed on climate change. The world’s largest coral reef system, stretching for more than 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) along the northeast coast of Australia, is showing the effects of the heat, … Read more

China backpedals on climate promises as economy slows

china

BEIJING: When China’s President Xi Jinping issued his traditional Lunar New Year wishes from the country’s coal heartland in January, the subtext was clear: Beijing is not ready to kick its coal addiction, despite promises to slash emissions. The ink had barely dried on the hard-fought deal struck at last year’s United Nations climate conference … Read more

China’s shift to consumption-led growth can aid green goals

china

China rebounded strongly from the pandemic, but growth is losing momentum while remaining overly dependent on support from investment and exports. This imperils the nation’s long-sought transition to sustained high-quality growth that’s balanced, inclusive and green. While China’s many challenges have no easy answer, the key message of the IMF’s annual Article IV review of … Read more

China govt to help run coal power plants at full capacity

china

BEIJING: China will help its coal-fired power plants run at full capacity, the government has announced, raising further alarm about the fate of Beijing’s climate pledges. Swathes of the world’s second-biggest economy were paralysed last year because of power shortages, partly caused by a drop in coal supply as global prices of the fossil fuel … Read more

Climate change and poverty: the perfect storm

climate change

We often hear that climate change disproportionately impacts the poor and the scenarios are worrisome. For example, climate change will lead to up to a 300 per cent increase in extreme poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) by 2030. Beneath this alarming headline, we know that climate-related losses will fluctuate across time and … Read more

Not yet on track: Climate threat demands more ambitious global action

Climate

In 1785, Robert Burns reflected on how humanity has come to dominate our planet: “I’m truly sorry man’s dominion, has broken nature’s social union,” he wrote. The Scottish poet’s words still ring true two centuries later. Man-made climate change threatens our planet’s ecosystem and the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. From the IMF … Read more

IMF continues to change to confront global challenges

global

WASHINGTON: The world is changing. From Covid-19 and climate change to digitalisation and diverging demographics, the IMF’s member countries are confronting new challenges. The impacts of these challenges are being felt unevenly across countries and will inevitably play out in their balance of payments, potentially undermining global economic stability. It is therefore important that the … Read more