Latest news with #FriendsoftheEarth
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Environmentalists demand full disclosure of hazardous waste leakages from MSC Elsa 3
Following the sinking of a Liberian cargo ship, MSC Elsa 3, off the Kerala coast, environmentalists are demanding immediate and transparent disclosure of the nature and quantity of the chemicals involved, as well as their impact on the coastal ecosystem and fisheries. They are also calling for urgent measures to protect marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of fisherfolk. Reports indicate that the sunken ship was carrying hazardous materials, including highly reactive calcium carbide, furnace oil, and diesel, which may have leaked into the sea, creating an oil slick. The global network of environmental group, Friends of the Earth (FoE), has expressed concern over the shipwreck of the Liberian cargo ship and the reported spillage of oil and hazardous chemicals off the Kerala coast. 'Reports indicate that floating containers are drifting toward the southern coasts, particularly Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari, raising serious environmental and livelihood concerns,' said Sarath Cheloor National Coordinator, FoE-India. According to the FoE assessments, the sunken commercial ship was carrying 640 containers at the time of the incident, including 13 containers with hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium carbide. The ship was also carrying 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil, which may have leaked into the sea, creating an oil slick.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Plastic nurdles spill: High-level meeting held, short-term survey initiated in Tamil Nadu
A SOP has been issued by the Indian Coast Guard to Kerala and Tamil Nadu on how to carry out the clean up. "We are following the SOP and ensuring adequate protection for personnel engaged in clean up. As such the plastic nurdles are not hazardous to humans, but pose a significant threat to the environment," a senior official said and added that a long-term impact assessment study will be done by an accredited agency. Meanwhile, officials claim that the possibility of plastic nurdles spill entering the Gulf of Mannar is thin as the INCOIS ocean wave data shows the waves are carrying the spill in a straight line towards the west coast of Sri Lanka. "Even if it enters the Gulf of Mannar, the quality may not be significant enough to cause considerable damage." Meanwhile, a team from Gujarat is expected to arrive in Kanniyakumari to salvage the containers. Sarath Cheloor, National Coordinator of Friends of the Earth demanded full disclosure and accountability, contending that full details on the nature and quantum of cargo in the ship is not available. "According to available information, the sunken commercial ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containers with hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium carbide. Calcium Carbide is highly reactive with seawater, with disastrous impacts to the ecology. The ship was also carrying 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil, which may have leaked into the sea, creating an oil slick." According to the 1992 International Civil Liability Convention, strict liability must be imposed on the ship owner for any pollution and resultant impact, except in cases of war, civil unrest, or natural disasters.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Drivers warned over growing problem after grim roadside find: 'Big issue'
Conservationists are urging Australian drivers to take greater care on roads after yet another koala was struck and killed in the country's southeast. Koala populations are dwindling across much of the country, and while Victoria's are more stable than in New South Wales, where koalas are listed as endangered, the animals still face growing pressure. In Victoria alone, around 8,000 to 10,000 hectares of blue gum plantations are logged each year, displacing an estimated 42,500 koalas. This leads to overcrowding, increased mortality from road crossings, and vulnerability to bushfires. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Anthony Amis from the environment group Friends of the Earth says road deaths are a major problem, particularly in the Strzelecki Ranges, where the koala population is highly unique. "Koalas killed by cars is a big issue in the South Gippsland and Strzelecki region," he said, noting his team is working to identify collision hotspots in a bid to protect local colonies. "The main ones appear to centre on Meeniyan," Anthony added. What makes South Gippsland's "special" koalas especially important is their genetic diversity, which could play a key role in the species' long-term survival. A 2011 study found Strzelecki koalas are "genetically distinct" from other populations, and later research showed they have more genetic variation than koalas in other areas. Dr Carolyn Hogg from the University of Sydney said South Gippsland koalas have "the highest genetic diversity of all Victorian populations" and share similarities with southern NSW. She said further analysis could uncover even more genetic differences. Dr Stephen Phillips, who has studied the region extensively, said the strongest concentration of these genes is found between Jumbuk, Churchill and Morwell. Aussie drivers warned over worrying nationwide shift on roads Government rejects call to protect 'special' koala population Incredible two-year change on property amid critical fight for species "I'd like to see the Strzeleckis recognised for what they are, and their potential role for the genetic recovery of koalas in Victoria," he said. "It would be lovely for the [state] government to fully recognise the uniqueness and special nature of this population, and to work as hard as they can to ensure its long-term survival." Genetic diversity is crucial for the survival of any species because it helps populations adapt to changing environments, resist diseases, and avoid the risks of inbreeding. In the case of South Gippsland's koalas, their higher genetic diversity means they may be more resilient than other populations across Victoria and Australia. This makes them especially valuable for conservation efforts, as they could help strengthen the overall gene pool if other populations continue to decline. Nationwide, koala populations declined by about 30 per cent between 2018 and 2021, according to the Australian Koala Foundation. The largest drops were recorded in NSW and the ACT (41 per cent), followed by Queensland (37 per cent), South Australia (31 per cent), and Victoria (16 per cent). The 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires were a key factor in this decline, but habitat loss, disease and road trauma continue to take a toll. Anthony said dozens of koala road deaths are reported to his team annually in South Gippsland — but the true figure is likely much higher. "About 30 a year are reported on our Facebook group, but there's probably a lot more that are never reported," he said. Experts warn that in areas where koala populations are relatively stable, like South Gippsland, now is the time for action. Protecting the region's roads, maintaining habitat corridors, and preserving its uniquely diverse gene pool could prove critical in the broader fight to save Australia's koalas. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Euronews
13-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Shell threatened with a new climate lawsuit in the Netherlands
Shell has been threatened with another round of legal action in the Netherlands for continuing to develop oil and gas projects around the world. In a letter sent to Shell today, NGO Milieudefensie accuses the company of breaching its legal duty of care under Dutch law by not dramatically reducing its investments in fossil fuels and not putting in place what it considers an adequate climate strategy for the coming decades. It plans to take Shell to court if these issues are not addressed. 'We as a society can no longer accept that a company like Shell determines our future without us having any say in it,' says Milieudefensie director Donald Pols. The action builds on another lawsuit that Milieudefensie - the Dutch arm of Friends of the Earth - is still embroiled in with Shell over its climate targets up to 2030. Last year, Shell managed to overturn a landmark climate judgment by a Dutch court, which in 2021 had ordered it to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by the end of the decade. It had been the first such ruling against a company in the world. Milieudefensie appealed and the case is now at the Dutch Supreme Court. But although the appeal court refused to set a specific legal climate goal it did rule that Shell has a 'special responsibility' to cut its emissions as a big oil company. And it said it was 'reasonable to expect oil and gas companies to take into account the negative consequences of a further expansion of the supply of fossil fuels for the energy transition also when investing in the production of fossil fuels. Shell's planned investments in new oil and gas fields may be at odds with this.' Milieudefensie is seizing on this statement to justify its latest legal threat. It notes that, despite increasing its volume of renewables, Shell is still planning to develop hundreds of new oil and gas fields. The company has projects already under construction in North America, the Middle East and Africa and, according to a new report by Milieudefensie and Global Witness, it owns or partly owns another 700 undeveloped assets. In a report to investors in March, Shell said it planned to increase production and sales of fossil fuels until well into the 2030s. The International Energy Agency has warned against investments in any new fossil fuel extraction to enable a transition to a clean energy system, and stressed that companies should not wait for a drop in demand to reduce their supply. Pols said legal action was the only way to make this happen: 'Shell will not stop of its own accord.' Milieudefensie plans to ask the court to order Shell to stop investing in new oil and gas fields. And it wants the company to be ordered to set greenhouse gas emission targets for the years after 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise under 1.5C. Shell has been approached for comment. However the NGO faces legal roadblocks in pursuing this case. After the 2021 court ruling, Shell moved its headquarters from The Hague to the UK. And it could be difficult for Dutch courts to enforce an order for Shell's legal development activities outside the Netherlands. Roger Cox, lawyer for Milieudefensie, said he was confident Dutch courts would have jurisdiction because Shell is registered in the Netherlands and harm is being caused to Dutch society. And he said a ruling in Milieudefensie's favour could be implemented through enforcement treaties with other countries around the world. 'It doesn't matter where Shell is,' says Cox. 'The international assets of Shell - be they fossil assets, bank accounts, whatever - will give us a lot more grip on their equity.' Sjoukje van Oosterhout, head of research at Milieudefensie, says a positive ruling in this case would have big repercussions for Shell but would also give a 'very clear signal' to governments, financial institutions and insurance companies. 'The impact of this case could really be enormous.' The world's best banana growing areas are at risk from the climate crisis, a new report warns. Latin America and the Caribbean currently export around 80 per cent of bananas globally, filling supermarket shelves with the world's favourite fruit. But 60 per cent of the region's most suitable banana growing areas could be lost by 2080 due to rising temperatures and extreme weather, according to research from international development charity Christian Aid. 'Climate change is impacting banana farmers around the world, who are battling daily with unpredictable weather patterns, scorching sun, floods, hurricanes, and increased pests and diseases,' says Anna Pierides, Fairtrade Foundation's senior sustainable sourcing manager for bananas. The banana is beloved globally, but is of special importance to some of the world's poorest people. More than 400 million people rely on bananas for 15 to 27 per cent of their daily calories, making it the fourth most important food crop after wheat, rice and maize. 'Climate change has been killing our crops. This means there is no income because we cannot sell anything,' says Aurelia Pop Xo, a 53-year-old banana grower in Guatemala. 'What is happening is that my plantation has been dying. So, what has been happening, is death.' The climate crisis is hitting banana plantations in myriad ways. Bananas need a temperature range of between 15-35°C to thrive, but are also very sensitive to water shortages, the report states. Storms are a big problem as they shred leaves, making it harder for the crop to photosynthesise. Fungal infections are also an increasing threat due to rising temperatures, with one such disease, Fusarium Tropical Race 4, causing the loss of entire plantations. 'Without systemic change, we risk witnessing the devastation of the Cavendish banana [the dominant variety] to Fusarium Tropical Race 4, a fungal infection that attacks the roots of plants and can lead to the complete loss of farms and plantations,' explains Holly Woodward-Davey, project coordinator at Banana Link, which works across the banana supply chain. 'The disease is now found in key supplier countries of European supermarkets, such as Colombia and Peru.' For Aurelia in Guatemala, the greatest threat her community faces is the high heat, which has struck for two years in a row, leaving her banana trees 'folding down and dying'. 'In the past, there was a prediction that this would happen in the future, but it has come earlier, and this is because we are not taking care of our motherland, our ecosystems, and this is very worrying for our kids and especially for our grandkids,' she adds. Christian Aid, food campaigners and experts are calling for action at different levels to protect the popular fruit and those who cultivate it. To tackle the issue at its root, richer, polluting nations must urgently reduce their carbon emissions, the development agency says. As part of the Paris Agreement, countries will this year submit new national climate action plans, which will update their emissions reduction targets, notes Osai Ojigho, director of policy and campaigns at Christian Aid. 'This is a huge opportunity for countries to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy whilst also ensuring climate finance reaches people in desperate need of it,' she says. 'World leaders must not slip up.' Christian Aid is also calling for banana growers and agricultural communities to receive targeted support from international climate finance to adapt to the changing climate. Meanwhile, consumers are being urged to help by choosing Fairtrade produce, which ensures a greater amount is paid to farmers. 'The UK has among the highest per capita consumption of bananas in Europe, yet our legacy of low supermarket prices only serves to devalue bananas,' argues Pierides. 'With the increasing effects of climate change and rising costs, we must make sure banana farmers aren't left paying the price for our low-cost fruit.' Seeking out organic bananas also helps counter the high use of chemical fertilisers in the production of the fruit, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and can damage local ecosystems. 'The climate crisis and the associated biodiversity crisis demand a rethink of industrial food production systems, which depend on the use of increasing amounts of harmful chemicals,' says Woodward-Davey. The ubiquitous curvy yellow fruit that springs to mind when we think of bananas is actually only one variety of the species: the Cavendish. It is named after William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire in England, who received a shipment of them from Mauritius in 1834 and proceeded to have his gardener cultivate them in the greenhouses of his stately home, Chatsworth House. The cultivars were shipped around the world, and became the top banana in the 1950s when Panama disease devastated the Gros Michel ('Big Mike') variety which formerly held that position. It was initially assumed that Cavendish cultivars were more resistant to the disease, but recent outbreaks of Panama disease TR4 in the Caribbean and elsewhere have upended that hope. Since Cavendish bananas are unable to reproduce sexually and are propagated via identical clones, their genetic diversity is very low, rendering them vulnerable to disease. With climate change exacerbating the spread of TR4, experts like Sally Musungu - an environmental researcher with the Schlumberger Foundation - think we 'urgently need to move beyond the Cavendish and explore the rich genetic diversity within banana species'. 'Fortunately, a rich pool of genetic diversity exists within banana species, including hundreds of under-researched varieties with potentially valuable climate-resilient traits,' she says. 'By exploring this genetic diversity and leveraging emerging tools such as gene editing, we can accelerate the development of new banana varieties that can better serve farmers and adapt to future climate conditions.'
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Two Britons to challenge UK's ‘weak' response to climate crisis in European court
Two men who say they are being failed by the UK's flawed response to climate breakdown are taking their case to Europe's top human rights court. Doug Paulley and Kevin Jordan say their lives have been ruined by the rising temperatures and extreme weather caused by the climate crisis, and that the government's response fails to respect their human rights. UK courts have so far rejected their efforts at forcing the government to rethink its approach, and so they are taking their case to the European court of human rights (ECHR), where they will try to convince judges that their fundamental rights are being violated. Paulley, who has multiple disabilities exacerbated by rising temperatures, and Jordan, whose seaside home was demolished after severe storms and rising sea level put it at risk of being washed away, say the UK's approach to the changing climate is flawed. Adopted in 2023, the UK's third national adaptation programme (Nap3) sets out the government's climate adaptation objectives, along with its plans and policies for protecting communities in the UK from the impacts of climate change such as extreme heat, flooding and coastal erosion. Paulley and Jordan, along with Friends of the Earth, the third claimant in the case, argue that it fails to consider the impact of climate change on marginalised groups, set out lawful 'adaptation objectives' or adequately assess risks to the delivery of its plans. They launched a judicial review of Nap3, but last year the high court rejected their arguments and, in March, the court of appeal refused their application to challenge the ruling. Now they are turning to the ECHR. In their submission to the ECHR, they will argue that the UK is out of compliance with human rights requirements in how it currently plans for and implements climate adaptation under the Climate Change Act. In a move that may bolster their case, last week the UK's statutory climate watchdog, the Climate Change Committee, issued a scathing assessment of the UK's climate change preparedness. It judged current plans to protect people, land and infrastructure against extreme weather to be inadequate in the face of the increasingly severe flooding, droughts and heatwaves now affecting the country. Paulley said: 'I'm very hopeful that the ECHR will now take up this important case. Disabled people, who are disproportionately threatened by the impacts of climate change, have been badly let down by this weak and ineffective adaptation programme.' Jordan said: 'Millions of homes across the country are already under threat from the impacts of climate change, and without an adaptation plan that's fit for purpose many, many more will be put at risk. 'I know what it's like to lose your home to climate change and will continue to campaign for a vastly improved set of adaptation policies that offers proper protection to our lives and communities.' The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it could not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
