Latest news with #FutureEarth
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Forest blaze 'under control' as Scottish wildfires continue
Firefighters remain at the scene of wildfires that have been burning over the weekend in parts of Scotland. A blaze began in the Glen Trool area of the Galloway Forest Park on Thursday, which then spread to Loch Doon in East Ayrshire. The Scottish government said the fire was now "under control", after its resilience room met on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, in the Highlands Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews have been tackling a wildfire in Stac Pollaidh, at Inverpolly Forest near Ullapool. Justice Secretary Angela Constance, praised emergency services for their work at the Galloway blaze. "I am extremely grateful to all the first responders who have been working hard to control this fire," she said. "I am reassured to hear that so far there has been no damage to properties or mature woodland." Helicopters had been deployed to water-bomb the fire over the weekend. Five groups of walkers were located on the hills on Friday night, but were moved away from the area. A fire engine remained at the scene overnight on Sunday, while another was despatched on Monday morning. In the Highlands, five fire engines were at the scene of the blaze on Monday and people have been advised to stay away from the area. The A835, which was closed at the junction for Achiltibuie and the junction for Badnagyle due to the wildfire, has now re-opened. Rising temperatures across the UK have led to wildfire warnings being put in place for several parts of the country. Together with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, the SFRS urged people to avoid lighting fires outdoors across all areas of Scotland. Ms Constance added: "As we continue to see a period of warm and dry weather, it's essential that all of us act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors so we can keep the number of wildfires at an absolute minimum." Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. Firefighters tackle large blaze on Aberdeen hill Evacuations as wildfire spreads north through forest
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Forest blaze 'under control' as Scottish wildfires continue
Firefighters remain at the scene of wildfires that have been burning over the weekend in parts of Scotland.A blaze began in the Glen Trool area of the Galloway Forest Park on Thursday, which then spread to Loch Doon in East Scottish government said the fire was now "under control", after its resilience room met on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, in the Highlands Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews have been tackling a wildfire in Stac Pollaidh, at Inverpolly Forest near Ullapool. Justice Secretary Angela Constance, praised emergency services for their work at the Galloway blaze."I am extremely grateful to all the first responders who have been working hard to control this fire," she said."I am reassured to hear that so far there has been no damage to properties or mature woodland."Helicopters had been deployed to water-bomb the fire over the groups of walkers were located on the hills on Friday night, but were moved away from the area.A fire engine remained at the scene overnight on Sunday, while another was despatched on Monday morning. In the Highlands, five fire engines were at the scene of the blaze on Monday and people have been advised to stay away from the temperatures across the UK have led to wildfire warnings being put in place for several parts of the with the Scottish Wildfire Forum, the SFRS urged people to avoid lighting fires outdoors across all areas of Constance added: "As we continue to see a period of warm and dry weather, it's essential that all of us act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors so we can keep the number of wildfires at an absolute minimum." Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists at Antarctic base rocked by alleged assault
A group of scientists due to work together for months in a remote Antarctic research station has been rocked after a member of the team was accused of assault. About 10 researchers typically stay at the South African-run station, which sits about 170km (about 105 miles) from the edge of the ice shelf and is difficult to reach. But a spokesperson for the South African government told the BBC "there was an assault" at the base, following earlier allegations of inappropriate behaviour from inside the camp. In a further message seen by the BBC, the South African environment ministry said it was responding to the concerns with "utmost urgency". South Africa's Sunday Times, which was first to report the story, said members of the team had pleaded to be rescued. The ministry also said that those in the team had been subject to "a number of evaluations that include background checks, reference checks, medical assessment as well as a psychometric evaluation by qualified professionals", which all members had cleared. The Sanae IV research base is located more than 4,000km from mainland South Africa and harsh weather conditions mean scientists can be cut off there for much of the year. South African research expeditions have been taking place to Antarctica since 1959. Normally, the expeditions run without incident despite the challenging conditions. But on Sunday, the South African Sunday Times reported that one member of the team had sent an email warning of "deeply disturbing behaviour" by a colleague. A South African government spokesperson told the BBC that the alleged assault was triggered by "a dispute over a task the team leader wanted the team to do – a weather dependant task that required a schedule change". Incidents in Antarctica are rare, but not unprecedented. In 2018 there were reports of a stabbing at the Russian-operated Bellingshausen research station. Psychologists point to the effect that isolation can have on human behaviour. "One thing we know from these rare occurrences, when something bad happens in enforced isolation or capsule working, is that it's often the small things, tiny things that can blow up into conflict," said Craig Jackson, professor of workplace health psychology at Birmingham City University. "So issues about hierarchy, about workload allocation, even small things about leisure time or rations or food portions can rapidly flare up to become something much larger than they typically are," he told the BBC. Additional reporting by Ed Habershon and Miho Tanaka Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Scientists at Antarctic Sanae IV base rocked by alleged assault
A group of scientists due to work together for months in a remote Antarctic research station has been rocked after a member of the team was accused of 10 researchers typically stay at the South African-run station, which sits about 170km (about 105 miles) from the edge of the ice shelf and is difficult to a spokesperson for the South African government told the BBC "there was an assault" at the base, following earlier allegations of inappropriate behaviour from inside the a further message seen by the BBC, the South African environment ministry said it was responding to the concerns with "utmost urgency". South Africa's Sunday Times, which was first to report the story, said members of the team had pleaded to be ministry also said that those in the team had been subject to "a number of evaluations that include background checks, reference checks, medical assessment as well as a psychometric evaluation by qualified professionals", which all members had Sanae IV research base is located more than 4,000km from mainland South Africa and harsh weather conditions mean scientists can be cut off there for much of the year. South African research expeditions have been taking place to Antarctica since 1959. Normally, the expeditions run without incident despite the challenging conditions. But on Sunday, the South African Sunday Times reported that one member of the team had sent an email warning of "deeply disturbing behaviour" by a colleague.A South African government spokesperson told the BBC that the alleged assault was triggered by "a dispute over a task the team leader wanted the team to do – a weather dependant task that required a schedule change".Incidents in Antarctica are rare, but not unprecedented. In 2018 there were reports of a stabbing at the Russian-operated Bellingshausen research point to the effect that isolation can have on human behaviour."One thing we know from these rare occurrences, when something bad happens in enforced isolation or capsule working, is that it's often the small things, tiny things that can blow up into conflict," said Craig Jackson, professor of workplace health psychology at Birmingham City University."So issues about hierarchy, about workload allocation, even small things about leisure time or rations or food portions can rapidly flare up to become something much larger than they typically are," he told the BBC. Additional reporting by Ed Habershon and Miho Tanaka Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.
BBC News
16-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Peterborough's 2040 carbon target needs £8.8bn investment
A council said it needs an investment of £8.8bn to help meet its 2040 net zero carbon emissions City Council is starting the second phase of a project aimed to accelerate its carbon reduction and achieve that target to try to tackle climate council produced a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) in December 2022, which models the current and future energy demands of the a council climate change and environment scrutiny meeting, phase two of the LAEP was presented to the committee, with an aim to procure a partner to deliver city-wide transformative net zero projects. 'Is it achievable?' It is hoped that this will bring investment and drive forward carbon reduction at scale and pace, the council Local Democracy Reporting Service said the meeting heard the council's carbon emissions had reduced by 28.6% since 2018-19, when the unitary authority declared a climate Phase Two aimed to build on the experience of other councils, including Bristol City Council which has procured a 20-year commercial partnership to deliver net zero projects across the city. At the meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Ann Shaheed asked how confident the Labour-led council was that it could attract a similar amount of Swinburne, climate change manager at the council, said: "What we are proposing here has very little financial risk. This is just an outline of what we propose to do with much more information to be brought forward for councillors in time."It's not necessarily an additional £8.8bn; it is just that as a city we already invest significantly into our energy systems."The Peterborough economy actually has quite a significant value and the £8.8bn number doesn't look as scary when you look at it over a period of decades."Labour councillor Zameer Ali asked if the project was realistically Swinburne said: "That is why we'd like to spend the next few months exploring that question. It has been achievable across Bristol."If it is achievable, then we'll be in a good position to be one of the first fast followers come this time next year." Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
