COP30: Calls for tropical forest protection at next climate change conference
There are calls for the next climate change conference, COP30, to focus on saving tropical forests.It comes after a new report shows they disappeared faster than ever last year.However, the study also highlighted how governments and communities are finding ways to help these environments and make a positive difference.In South East Asia, area of forest loss slowed down in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, thanks to organisations working together.
What did scientists find?
Tropical rainforests, like the Amazon, are sometimes called the 'lungs of the planet' because they absorb and store carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas which scientists think help cause rising global temperatures.They also produce oxygen, which living creatures animals need for survival.As a result, rainforests are seen as one of the best tools against climate change.But when researchers looked at satellite data they found that the world's tropical forests disappeared faster than ever recorded last year.Their report estimates that an area the size of eighteen football pitches were lost every minute.Fires were the main cause, overtaking land being cleared for farming, for the first time.Record breaking heat levels also led to more drought as well as the increased risk of fire. Experts say that burning forests release rather than store carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that plays a major role in global warming.
How are countries making a positive difference?
The research also showed positive news from South East Asia.Here, countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia have managed to reduce forest loss, despite difficult conditions.Elizabeth Goldman, co-director of the Global Forest Watch project, explained that this was the result of an effort by governments and communities working together to enforce "no burning" laws.Other countries, including Brazil, have seen success in the past with similar approaches.The researchers also agree that this year's UN climate summit COP30 - which is being hosted in the Amazon in Brazil - will be important for sharing and promoting forest protection schemes.One idea being worked on is looking at rewarding those countries which maintain tropical forests financially, to help them keep their forests standing, rather than chopping them down.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Earthquake of magnitude 5.7 strikes Seram, Indonesia, GFZ says
June 4 (Reuters) - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Seram, Indonesia on Wednesday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), GFZ said.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Unlikely treatment linked with longer survival in breast cancer study
A recent U.S. study has found that estrogen creams, often used to treat menopause symptoms, are not only safe for older women diagnosed with breast cancer but may also be linked with longer survival. The research, presented at the ASCO meeting, found that the use of the hormone creams by postmenopausal breast cancer survivors was associated with a lower risk of disease progression, recurrence, or death, rather than an increased risk as had been feared. These findings contradict previous concerns that such creams might stimulate breast cancer cells that use hormones to grow. Vaginal estrogen creams are commonly used to treat menopause symptoms, including vaginal dryness, discomfort, and pain during intercourse. However, many breast cancer survivors avoid these products. Researchers reviewed national database records on 18,620 female breast cancer patients aged 65 and older who were diagnosed between 2010-2017, including 800 who used vaginal estrogen creams. After accounting for patients' race, cancer stage, treatments and other factors, the researchers saw a statistically significant increase in overall survival among patients who used vaginal estrogen. The cream users also had a significant increase in breast cancer-specific survival, the interval from diagnosis to death from breast cancer. On average, estrogen cream users had a 47 per cent lower risk of dying from breast cancer and a 44 per cent lower risk of death from any cause during the study period, compared to non-users. Even in patients whose tumours were known to use hormones for growth, estrogen cream use was associated with a 38 per cent lower risk of death from any cause. Main symptoms of breast cancer in women NHS Estrogen cream users with hormone-positive breast cancer also had a lower risk of death from breast cancer, but that difference was not statistically significant. Use of the creams for more than seven years appeared to confer an additional survival benefit. 'These findings add to a rising contemporary paradigm shift that local hormone therapy is not associated with increased risk to overall or breast cancer-specific survival, which has important clinical implications,' the researchers said.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Bill Nye the Science Guy sparks fan frenzy as throwback photos resurface
He taught a generation about chemical reactions, gravity, and the power of asking 'why?' But now, the internet is reacting to something else entirely: Bill Nye's surprisingly swoon-worthy younger years. A viral TikTok has sent social media into a frenzy after one user posted a 'thirst edit' of the beloved science educator, showcasing clips and photos of a younger Nye in his signature bow tie, glasses, and lab coat - with just enough smolder to ignite a new wave of fans. The video has racked up millions of views and likes, as users rush to the comments to express their shock and appreciation for the former PBS star's retro good looks. For those who grew up reciting the 'Bill! Bill! Bill!' chant, it may come as a surprise that the star of Bill Nye the Science Guy, which originally aired in 1993, has become an unlikely internet heartthrob. But this isn't Nye's first time in the spotlight - and certainly not his last. While TikTok is rediscovering his 90s charm, the real Bill Nye has stayed busy with far more than viral fame. In recent years, Nye has continued to champion science education, frequently visiting schools across the U.S. and speaking with students about everything from climate change to critical thinking. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the highest civilian honor in the U.S. - and remains a prominent advocate for environmental policy, regularly appearing on television and at public events to speak out against climate denial. These days, Nye is also the CEO of The Planetary Society, a nonprofit focused on space exploration. So yes, he's still saving the planet - just with fewer slow-motion science experiments and more policy briefs. Still, the internet couldn't help but pause their regularly scheduled scrolling to appreciate science's original heartthrob. 'Bill Nye the fine guy,' one TikTok user joked under the edit. 'WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH HIS GAME,' another commented. Though many users couldn't get over the absurdity of someone making a thirst edit of pictures of Bill Nye. One person commented: 'Never in my 28 years did I expect to see Bill Nye like this.' 'A Bill Nye edit was NOT on my bingo card for 2025,' another user said. 'Guys we can't be serious,' one user commented followed by laughing emojis. 'We used to watch this guy in elementary school.' Sadly for fans, Bill is currently married to Liza Mundy - a journalist and writer. The pair wed as part of a quiet ceremony in May 2022.
