Latest news with #Conventions
Skift
09-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
New York City Cuts Tourism Forecast by 3 Million Visitors
The cut comes just two months after the city forecasted a record number of visitors and shows how quickly sentiment turned. New York City has cut its 2024 tourism forecast by 3 million visitors, citing growing negative sentiment toward the U.S. The city had anticipated a full rebound to pre-pandemic visitor levels this year, but just two months after issuing an optimistic February forecast, NYC Tourism + Conventions revised
ITV News
02-05-2025
- ITV News
Laws banning snares and other animal traps come into force in Guernsey
New laws aimed at protecting animals in Guernsey have come into force. The Animal Welfare (Guernsey) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 places restrictions on snares, glue traps and lamping - the practice of using bright lights to dazzle hunted animals. The changes also give greater enforcement powers for animal welfare investigations. Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Committee, said: 'The Ordinance will have a notably positive effect on the lives of Guernsey's animals, aligning with legislative advancements elsewhere in recognition of animal sentience and helping fulfil our international Conventions and trade agreement obligations.' The proposals were put forward by the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure and got approved by the island's assembly in July 2024. What are the new laws? As of 1st May 2025, it is an offence to: use, sell, or be in possession of snares or gin/leg-hold traps to capture or kill animals; use glue traps, for instance rodent glue boards, except if carried out by a pest controller licensed by the States Veterinary Office; use artificial lighting or illuminating devices to capture, take, control or slaughter animals. Night vision devices are still allowed and using lights to identify or capture animals for environmental or scientific purposes is permitted under licence. Certain stunning and slaughtering devices that do not meet humane standards for culling birds and small mammals are also prohibited. The laws also prevent the farming of animals for fur, feathers and down or hides and skin as a primary product. The production of foie gras by force-feeding and using wild animals in circuses is also banned. Insect traps are still allowed, however they must be set up in a way that won't lead to larger animals becoming caught in them.
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India highlights plastic phase-out resolution
Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday recalled that India introduced a resolution on single-use plastics at the fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly of the UNEP which was held in 2019, in a move that brought the issue of plastic pollution to the centre of global discourse. Speaking at the Conference of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, in Geneva, Yadav highlighted that the effective execution of the BRS Conventions relies significantly on access to finance, technology transfer, capacity-building, technical assistance, and strengthened international cooperation. At the ministerial roundtable on 'Means of Implementation', the minister outlined India's integrated approach to implementing the conventions through national legislation such as the Environment (Protection) Act, the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, and the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016, which are supported by sustained investments in institutional and technical infrastructure. On the sidelines of the COPs, Yadav participated in a consultation meeting organized by Norway on the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution. He apprised participants of India's domestic initiatives such as the ban on identified single-use plastic items and the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging. 'India remains steadfast in its commitment to multilateral environmental cooperation and will continue to advocate for the interests of developing countries while ensuring equitable, science-based, and sustainable solutions for the planet,' a statement from environment ministry said. During a bilateral meeting with Katrin Schneeberger, director of the federal office for the environment, Switzerland, Yadav discussed matters related to the development of a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution, and India's support for the establishment of a Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals and Waste, as mandated by UNEA resolutions. HT reported on December 1 last year that the 5th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution in Busan failed to agree on developing a treaty, pushing talks to another INC session in 2025. 'Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. The text still has have made tangible moves and I hope the committee can agree to use the draft text as starting point and basis of negotiation,' said Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chair of INC 5. Some developing nations including India and China opposed curbing primary polymer production, seeking instead to focus on plastic waste management. The High-Level Segment, on the theme of 'Make visible the invisible: Sound management of chemicals and wastes', of the BRS COPs features ministerial roundtables and interactive dialogues focused on collaborative global action.
Arab News
30-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan urges simpler climate finance for vulnerable nations at Geneva forum
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Environment Minister Musadik Malik on Wednesday urged the international community to ease access to climate finance for vulnerable nations, saying Pakistan contributes less than one percent to global emissions but remains among the hardest hit by climate change. Speaking in Geneva at a UN Capital Development Fund session on the sidelines of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, Malik said developing countries like Pakistan face mounting climate threats despite minimal emissions and need more support from global financial institutions. The BRS conventions are multilateral environmental agreements which focus on hazardous chemicals and waste management. 'Pakistan is among the countries most severely affected by climate change,' the Pakistani minister said, according to an official statement, adding this was despite the fact that it 'contributes less than one percent to global carbon emissions.' 'The federal minister emphasized the need to simplify climate finance support,' the statement continued. Malik reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty aimed at limiting global warming to below 2°C. He said Pakistan was actively pursuing its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with a focus on green growth, renewable energy and sustainable water systems. Pakistan has faced recurring heatwaves, droughts and devastating floods. In 2022, unprecedented monsoon rains left a third of the country submerged, killing about 1,700 people and leading to over $35 billion in infrastructure damage. Pakistan also played a leading role in establishing the global loss and damage fund for climate-hit countries, though the mechanism has yet to become fully functional. 'Global development is not possible without climate justice,' Malik said, as he appealed for effective cooperation from international financial institutions for developing countries.
