Latest news with #climate change
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Humans nearly went extinct 1 million years ago, but we don't know why
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. A study published in 2023 suggests that nearly 1 million years ago, humanity almost ceased to exist. This potential mass extinction event was discovered by researchers when they began analyzing the genetic data of 3,145 modern humans. The researchers suggest that the ancient population may have been reduced to roughly 1,200 humans. Overall, the researchers believe that there could have been a bottleneck somewhere between 930,000 to 813,000 years ago, which led to a 98.7% reduction of humans on Earth. Unfortunately, narrowing down the exact cause of this bottleneck is still impossible, but it's likely climate changes could have been at the root of the event. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 Scientists suspect that when the world transitioned to the middle of the Pleistocene period, and the Earth cooled dramatically, it could have led to prolonged cold periods that killed off most humans. Combine that with droughts and widespread famine, and it would have been a recipe for a mass extinction event capable of wiping out humans. The researchers posit that humans may have been driven into smaller, more isolated communities, where they found themselves competing with each other for survival in the increasingly dangerous and challenging environment. Sadly, fossils from this point in time are scarce, making it hard to uncover information about the event or exactly how close humans came to being extinct. The findings also suggest that around 813,000 years ago, more hospitable climates may have been a big part of what allowed human populations to skyrocket once more. The researchers claim that as the conditions improved, humans may have branched out again, and the bottleneck may have faded. While these findings raise a lot of interesting questions, it's hard to verify all of the claims with the current data that's available. Hopefully new discoveries, like those of extinct human species, will give us more information about that time period and human evolution as a whole. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's minister urges stronger public-private partnerships for Arab green transition
Egypt's Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad has called for deeper collaboration between governments and the private sector across the Arab world to accelerate the region's transition to a green economy, warning that ongoing conflicts must not obscure pressing sustainability challenges such as food and water security. Speaking at the opening session of the Arab Sustainability Expo, held in Cairo from 18–20 May, Fouad emphasized that the gathering represented more than just a digital platform or institutional effort. 'This is a strong signal that the Arab ambition for a better future remains alive,' she said. The event, held under the auspices of the Arab League and organized by the Sustainability Partners Coalition, convened government leaders, private sector stakeholders, and international organizations to advance regional integration on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 'Sustainability is not just environmental—it also involves integrating social and economic dimensions,' Fouad noted, highlighting how rapid digitization and the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. She underscored the need to align environmental goals with economic incentives to attract private investment. Fouad cited Egypt's updated investment law, which offers targeted incentives across four key green sectors: renewable energy, green hydrogen, waste management, and alternatives to single-use plastic bags. During a panel titled 'Effective Partnerships for a Sustainable Future,' Fouad called for reducing bureaucratic hurdles and rebranding the environment as an investment opportunity. She pointed to Egypt's renewable energy sector as a model of success, referencing the introduction of feed-in tariffs in 2015 and subsequent regulatory adjustments that have boosted private sector participation. Fouad also detailed Egypt's progress in securing climate finance, with $470m mobilized for clean energy projects through global mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and Global Environment Facility. To streamline green investments, the Environment Ministry has established a dedicated Environmental and Climate Investment Unit to coordinate between funding sources and stakeholders. The ministry has also launched a national climate investment platform, highlighting 62 project opportunities spanning small, medium, and large-scale initiatives in partnership with local banks. Fouad noted that Egypt's first climate finance initiative, launched in 2019, provided technical support through the Central Bank of Egypt to train domestic banks on distinguishing between sustainable development and climate-related investments. She added that Egypt's national climate strategy to 2050 and a corresponding 2030 action plan prioritize integrated projects across energy, water, and agriculture to enhance resilience and attract blended finance. The Arab Sustainability Expo serves as a regional platform for showcasing innovative solutions and best practices in green technologies, environmental governance, and inclusive development. The forum includes participation from Arab ministers, major financial institutions, and leading companies from Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Skiing body FIS signs Azerbaijan to five-year sponsor deal for world championships
GENEVA (AP) — Skiing's governing body signed the oil- and gas-rich state of Azerbaijan on Tuesday as its first global sponsor of world championships which face challenges from changing climate. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation said the five-year deal with Azerbaijan's tourism agency through the 2030 season also includes the World Cup in some disciplines, including aerials, ski cross and snowboard cross. Advertisement 'Above and beyond marketing rights, the core element of the strategic partnership is to promote and develop Azerbaijan's status as a world-class winter sports destination,' FIS said in a statement. The value of the sponsorship was not detailed. Azerbaijan has previously used its fossil fuels revenue to invest in soccer sponsorship with UEFA and Spanish club Atletico Madrid, and hosting Formula 1 races. The state led since 2003 by President Ilham Aliyev hosted the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015 and twice bid for the Summer Games, of 2016 and 2020. Baku was not accepted as an official candidate by the International Olympic Committee. Advertisement FIS president Johan Eliasch is a long-time advocate for the environment, including in his campaign for the IOC presidential election in March that highlighted climate change. 'The urgency and scale of this challenge is increasingly real to people across the world, and they are desperately seeking practical and trustworthy leadership,' Eliasch wrote in his manifesto that claimed '80% of people around the world want more climate action.' FIS acknowledged in November 'winter sports and tourism face a bleak future because of climate change' when the Switzerland-based governing body announced a working partnership with the United Nations weather agency in Geneva. Azerbaijan 'is home to several ski resorts,' FIS said on Tuesday, and cited the Shahdag venue as a 'paradise for skiers and snowboarders, at more than 2,300 meters above sea level.' Advertisement 'We are inviting the world to take another look and discover our country as a wonderful place of stunning mountain ranges and snow,' the chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Fuad Naghiyev, said in the FIS statement. Eliasch added the Azerbaijan partnership "ticks all the boxes. It brings value to the entire range of our disciplines, to further the development of snow sports across all levels — from recreational to elite — and takes us into a new exciting growth market.' Azerbaijan has competed at each Winter Games since 1998 though has never won a medal. It sent two athletes to the 2022 Beijing Olympics, both in figure skating, and none in the six snow sports organized by FIS. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Skiing body FIS signs Azerbaijan to five-year sponsor deal for world championships
GENEVA (AP) — Skiing's governing body signed the oil- and gas-rich state of Azerbaijan on Tuesday as its first global sponsor of world championships which face challenges from changing climate . The International Ski and Snowboard Federation said the five-year deal with Azerbaijan's tourism agency through the 2030 season also includes the World Cup in some disciplines, including aerials, ski cross and snowboard cross. 'Above and beyond marketing rights, the core element of the strategic partnership is to promote and develop Azerbaijan's status as a world-class winter sports destination,' FIS said in a statement. The value of the sponsorship was not detailed. Azerbaijan has previously used its fossil fuels revenue to invest in soccer sponsorship with UEFA and Spanish club Atletico Madrid, and hosting Formula 1 races. The state led since 2003 by President Ilham Aliyev hosted the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015 and twice bid for the Summer Games, of 2016 and 2020. Baku was not accepted as an official candidate by the International Olympic Committee. FIS president Johan Eliasch is a long-time advocate for the environment, including in his campaign for the IOC presidential election in March that highlighted climate change. 'The urgency and scale of this challenge is increasingly real to people across the world, and they are desperately seeking practical and trustworthy leadership,' Eliasch wrote in his manifesto that claimed '80% of people around the world want more climate action.' FIS acknowledged in November 'winter sports and tourism face a bleak future because of climate change' when the Switzerland-based governing body announced a working partnership with the United Nations weather agency in Geneva. Azerbaijan 'is home to several ski resorts,' FIS said on Tuesday, and cited the Shahdag venue as a 'paradise for skiers and snowboarders, at more than 2,300 meters above sea level.' 'We are inviting the world to take another look and discover our country as a wonderful place of stunning mountain ranges and snow,' the chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Fuad Naghiyev, said in the FIS statement. Eliasch added the Azerbaijan partnership 'ticks all the boxes. It brings value to the entire range of our disciplines, to further the development of snow sports across all levels — from recreational to elite — and takes us into a new exciting growth market.' Azerbaijan has competed at each Winter Games since 1998 though has never won a medal . It sent two athletes to the 2022 Beijing Olympics, both in figure skating, and none in the six snow sports organized by FIS. ___ AP sports:
