Environment

Dubai roads and airport flooded with heavy rains

The United Arab Emirates experienced torrential rainfall and flooding yesterday, in what the government has described as the largest amount of rainfall in the past 75 years. More than 142- millimetres of rain soaked Dubai over just 12 hours. Dubai International Airport, recently crowned the second-busiest airport in the world, diverted planes as its tarmac was under water. The UAE government says the downpours were an exceptional climate event. According […]

17 April, 2024

Environment

Advancing the rights of girls and women promotes justice and is also effective climate action

By Grace M. Jaramillo, University of British Columbia Across the world, climate change disproportionately impacts the lives of girls, yet children are often forgotten in climate policy. I recently led a team of student researchers from the University of British Columbia to better understand why this is the case during field research in the Dominican Republic. Our team talked to 45 people, including key policy decision-makers on social […]

17 April, 2024

Africa

Tanzanian floods kill 60

Nearly 60 people have died since the start of April in heavy rains and flooding that has hit several parts of Tanzania, the government said. The coastal region of the East African country is one of the worst affected, with floods damaging thousands of farms there, Mobhare Matinyi, the government spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday. He told the BBC that so far, 58 deaths have been recorded across […]

15 April, 2024

Africa

El Niño drought leaves Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba only 13% full: a disaster for people and wildlife

By Joshua Matanzima, The University of Queensland Water levels at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe have dropped dramatically because of the latest El Niño drought. The country’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has declared a national disaster. Historian and social scientist Joshua Matanzima grew up at Lake Kariba and has spent the past 10 years researching socioeconomic life there. He discusses the impact of the latest drought on the people of […]

15 April, 2024

Africa

Africa’s wildebeest: those that can’t migrate are becoming genetically weaker – new study

By Joseph Ogutu, University of Hohenheim Wildebeest – large African antelopes with distinctively curved horns – are famous for their great migrations on the grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. One hundred and fifty years ago, they migrated in huge numbers across the continent, in search of grazing and water and to find suitable areas for calving. Migration is crucial to sustain their large populations. But their […]

15 April, 2024

Africa

Analysis of largest elephant surveys ever shows stable population, but disturbing trends

By Jim Tan via Mongabay New research comparing data from the two largest-ever elephant surveys reveals the overall population in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area is stable, but also uncovers some concerning local trends. Elephant numbers in Botswana, home to more elephants than any other country, are stable overall, but declining numbers in areas where hunting is permitted, and increasing numbers in protected areas, suggest underlying […]

11 April, 2024

Environment

Fossil beetles found in a Botswana diamond mine help us to reconstruct the distant past

By Sandiso Mnguni, University of the Witwatersrand When most people think of fossils they probably picture bones. But there’s much more to the global fossil record: plants, shells, minerals and insects. The study of fossil insects is called palaeoentomology. Palaeoentomologists like myself seek out and study fossil insects that were trapped in mud which later became rock sediments, and those found in amber (tree resin). Very few deposits […]

11 April, 2024

Environment

Government to invests millions in National Park upgrades

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism Namibia plans to allocate N$ 40.7 million for upgrades in the Etosha National Park, including renovating entrance gates and sanitation facilities by July 2025. Additionally, N$7.2 million will be invested in upgrading facilities and infrastructure in the Hardap National Park. The improvements, according to Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, are funded through the NamParks V project, a collaborative effort between the government and Germany's […]

10 April, 2024

Environment

Effective climate activism requires honest conversations about its challenges

By Mike DiGirolamo Climate activist Clover Hogan says environmental activists face growing challenges not just from outside their movements, but also from within. She shares how the prevalence of unpaid labor can make young activists’ lives even more difficult in the present while they advocate for a more livable future. Add to that criticism for perceived imperfections over lifestyle choices and infighting between colleagues that can lead some to choose […]

10 April, 2024