Teen climate activist <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/we-cant-wait-for-people-like-me-to-grow-up-and-be-the-ones-in-charge-climate-activist-greta-warns-212059&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjUmsybvebhAhXBOY8KHWszCWwQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1SkHm3NAyVIEgwu9SJUp4A">Greta Thunberg</a> met a cross-party group of British MPs on Tuesday including opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, as environmental protesters staged a ninth day of demonstrations in London.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/young-swedish-activist-greta-thunberg-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize-203378&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjUmsybvebhAhXBOY8KHWszCWwQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0lSvtHR9Yr1owJSHmr00jS">The Swedish activist</a>, who is due to address the protests in Westminster later on Tuesday, met Corbyn along with Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and others in parliament.

"We just want people to listen to the science," the 16-year-old told those assembled for a roundtable discussion on climate change.

Organisers of the meeting pointedly left a place empty for Prime Minister Theresa May, who was reportedly invited but chairing a cabinet meeting in Downing Street at the time.

They said there was no response to their invitation. May's official spokesman said he was "not aware" of the request.

The UK Student Climate Network, an environmentalist group, said the meeting with the Westminster leaders had seen an agreement reached "on some important first steps they can take together to tackle the climate crisis."

"We need to keep the pressure up to ensure actions, not just words," it said on Twitter.

Thunberg has inspired tens of thousands of children worldwide to boycott classes to draw attention to climate change after starting a solitary solo protest last year.

Meanwhile, she has been visiting European capitals pressing for politicians to take the issue more seriously.

Thunberg travelled to Britain over the weekend to support fellow activists who have been causing gridlock in parts of central London since last Monday with sit-in protests.

Addressing the ongoing demonstrations organised by the Extinction Rebellion group on Sunday, she declared: "the struggle has barely begun. It's only the beginning."

On Tuesday, protesters carrying flags and banners marched to drums and chants from their makeshift camp at Marble Arch in central London to rally outside parliament on the first day MPs are back after an Easter break.&nbsp;

Police have arrested more than a thousand activists since they began their protests last week, and on Tuesday announced 71 people will face charges over their actions.

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg met a cross-party group of British MPs on Tuesday including opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, as environmental protesters staged a ninth day of demonstrations in London.

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg met a cross-party group of British MPs on Tuesday including opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, as environmental protesters staged a ninth day of demonstrations in London. The Swedish activist, who is due to address the protests in Westminster later on Tuesday, met Corbyn along with Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and others in parliament. "We just want people to listen to the science," the 16-year-old told those assembled for a roundtable discussion on climate change. Organisers of the meeting pointedly left a place empty for Prime Minister Theresa May, who was reportedly invited but chairing a cabinet meeting in Downing Street at the time. They said there was no response to their invitation. May's official spokesman said he was "not aware" of the request. The UK Student Climate Network, an environmentalist group, said the meeting with the Westminster leaders had seen an agreement reached "on some important first steps they can take together to tackle the climate crisis." "We need to keep the pressure up to ensure actions, not just words," it said on Twitter. Thunberg has inspired tens of thousands of children worldwide to boycott classes to draw attention to climate change after starting a solitary solo protest last year. Meanwhile, she has been visiting European capitals pressing for politicians to take the issue more seriously. Thunberg travelled to Britain over the weekend to support fellow activists who have been causing gridlock in parts of central London since last Monday with sit-in protests. Addressing the ongoing demonstrations organised by the Extinction Rebellion group on Sunday, she declared: "the struggle has barely begun. It's only the beginning." On Tuesday, protesters carrying flags and banners marched to drums and chants from their makeshift camp at Marble Arch in central London to rally outside parliament on the first day MPs are back after an Easter break. Police have arrested more than a thousand activists since they began their protests last week, and on Tuesday announced 71 people will face charges over their actions.

Teen activist Greta Thunberg meets UK MPs as climate protests continue

Earth Day 2019 is being observed in Latin America and around the world and something people everywhere will notice: it's getting hotter.

NASA images show climate change impact in LatAm

Multiple forms of malnutrition, especially those related to unhealthy diets and reduced activity, are important risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that claim more than 70 per cent of global deaths (41 million) annually.

Indian statistics in this regard are quite disturbing — about 5.8 million die from NCDs each year. Our own national family health survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16, showed that only one out of 10 of India’s children (6-23-month age group) eats a diverse minimum acceptable diet.

The same survey also highlights that the number of obese people have doubled in India. Obesity promotes onset and progression of NCDs like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature death.

In addition, multiple forms of pollution, threatening our quantity and quality of life, are further adding to this menace.&nbsp;

Reports indicate that the deteriorating air quality and escalating environmental degradation is reducing India’s average life expectancy by 1.7 years. India’s toxic air claimed 1.24 million lives in 2017 (12.5 per cent of total deaths recorded in the year).

A big part of environmental degradation in the form of adverse climate change is also attributable to food systems. A Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg has become a big name in the climate change talks because of her unbridled passion, focus and dedication to raising awareness across nations and also compel decision makers for action.

She warns policymakers of dire consequences and urges to act now, as if our houses are on fire. What we eat, what we waste and what we demand for, also drives the climate change process.&nbsp;

In fact, a looming question is how will food systems nutritiously and sustainably feed 8.5 billion people by 2030?

Climate change, on one hand, has been projected to reduce yields of staples (by upto 10 per cent for every 1-degree rise in temperature). On the other hand, excess Co2 in the environment is and will be causing the dilution effect, which means more yield, but with decreased micronutrient content. This double whammy leads to exacerbation of hidden hunger and may produce nutritionally insecure unhealthy masses.

Climate change will affect the poorest and vulnerable people the most. This may push us further away from our vision of Ayushman Swastha Suposhit Bharat and stall our attainment of sustainable development goals.

Our fragmented health systems are not in the best shape so far; these challenges will thus only add to their burden. &nbsp;

Another related aspect is the huge loss of biodiversity. When we compare with the 1960s, food supplies have become more homogenous. 
 
Most countries grow around 12 of the same commodities. This decline in diversity of the diets also presents risks of climate change adaptation. If we’re growing less food and a lot of the same types of species, we’re not diversifying and spreading the risk out.

Further, besides the number of species that we’re growing and the number of species available in the overall food supply, we’re also seeing a decline in varieties within those species.

For example, globally about 500 varieties of cabbage existed in earlier times, which have been reduced to 20 in the current era.

We must recognise that there are several stakeholders in this value chain - right from farmers/sufferers to consumers/sufferers. So we can leave no stone unturned. Subsidies to healthier products, using taxation and other financial legal levers to nudge and steer people towards healthier food choices, are all ways to promote stronger safer and more nutritious food environment.&nbsp;

Recent studies show that both for human and planetary health, one must consume more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and lesser meat and meat products.&nbsp;

This will help raise demand for natural whole foods instead of currently catered (overpowering,omnipresent) ultra-processed junk food high in added sugars, salt or bad fats, which are neither good for us or nature and should be selectively phased out from our food systems.&nbsp;

Guidance programmes and documents to leverage work done should be created. Crowdsourcing of available resources to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues related to food systems’ transformation and climate change, should be underway.&nbsp;

Responsive and responsible leadership is urgently sought from all sectors to secure inclusive, sustainable, efficient, nutritious and resilient food systems. &nbsp;

History has proved that initiatives turn into historic successes only when they become participatory people’s movement (Jan Andolan). This will need sustained awareness generation, capacity building efforts and empowerment to take charge of health, nutrition and environment.&nbsp;

Since this space requires coordinated multi-sectoral action, leadership is of prime importance. Endeavours to support better research, high quality customised educational programmes, newer tailor made academic ventures and capacity building exercises to take on and tackle these mammoth problems, are the need of the hour. &nbsp;

We need accelerated action to fix the seemingly far, but actually portending problems urgently. We must transform our short sightedness to unified vision for ultimately achieving public health and nutrition security along with ensuring planetary health.&nbsp;

Let us hope we collectively add voice and power to this mission and act before it’s too late or irreversible. On days like this Earth Day dedicated to advocate for conserving environment, we need to engage and create multisectoral dialogues around influencing and integrating interdependent factors like nutrition security and public health.

Future generations are looking up to us for taking steps to ensure a healthy happy future for them. Let’s not disappoint them or ourselves.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-time-to-clear-the-polluted-air-2741838">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

Multiple forms of malnutrition, especially those related to unhealthy diets and reduced activity, are important risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that claim more than 70 per cent of global deaths (41 million) annually.

Multiple forms of malnutrition, especially those related to unhealthy diets and reduced activity, are important risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that claim more than 70 per cent of global deaths (41 million) annually. Indian statistics in this regard are quite disturbing — about 5.8 million die from NCDs each year. Our own national family health survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16, showed that only one out of 10 of India’s children (6-23-month age group) eats a diverse minimum acceptable diet. The same survey also highlights that the number of obese people have doubled in India. Obesity promotes onset and progression of NCDs like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature death. In addition, multiple forms of pollution, threatening our quantity and quality of life, are further adding to this menace. Reports indicate that the deteriorating air quality and escalating environmental degradation is reducing India’s average life expectancy by 1.7 years. India’s toxic air claimed 1.24 million lives in 2017 (12.5 per cent of total deaths recorded in the year). A big part of environmental degradation in the form of adverse climate change is also attributable to food systems. A Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg has become a big name in the climate change talks because of her unbridled passion, focus and dedication to raising awareness across nations and also compel decision makers for action. She warns policymakers of dire consequences and urges to act now, as if our houses are on fire. What we eat, what we waste and what we demand for, also drives the climate change process. In fact, a looming question is how will food systems nutritiously and sustainably feed 8.5 billion people by 2030? Climate change, on one hand, has been projected to reduce yields of staples (by upto 10 per cent for every 1-degree rise in temperature). On the other hand, excess Co2 in the environment is and will be causing the dilution effect, which means more yield, but with decreased micronutrient content. This double whammy leads to exacerbation of hidden hunger and may produce nutritionally insecure unhealthy masses. Climate change will affect the poorest and vulnerable people the most. This may push us further away from our vision of Ayushman Swastha Suposhit Bharat and stall our attainment of sustainable development goals. Our fragmented health systems are not in the best shape so far; these challenges will thus only add to their burden. Another related aspect is the huge loss of biodiversity. When we compare with the 1960s, food supplies have become more homogenous. Most countries grow around 12 of the same commodities. This decline in diversity of the diets also presents risks of climate change adaptation. If we’re growing less food and a lot of the same types of species, we’re not diversifying and spreading the risk out. Further, besides the number of species that we’re growing and the number of species available in the overall food supply, we’re also seeing a decline in varieties within those species. For example, globally about 500 varieties of cabbage existed in earlier times, which have been reduced to 20 in the current era. We must recognise that there are several stakeholders in this value chain - right from farmers/sufferers to consumers/sufferers. So we can leave no stone unturned. Subsidies to healthier products, using taxation and other financial legal levers to nudge and steer people towards healthier food choices, are all ways to promote stronger safer and more nutritious food environment. Recent studies show that both for human and planetary health, one must consume more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and lesser meat and meat products. This will help raise demand for natural whole foods instead of currently catered (overpowering,omnipresent) ultra-processed junk food high in added sugars, salt or bad fats, which are neither good for us or nature and should be selectively phased out from our food systems. Guidance programmes and documents to leverage work done should be created. Crowdsourcing of available resources to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues related to food systems’ transformation and climate change, should be underway. Responsive and responsible leadership is urgently sought from all sectors to secure inclusive, sustainable, efficient, nutritious and resilient food systems. History has proved that initiatives turn into historic successes only when they become participatory people’s movement (Jan Andolan). This will need sustained awareness generation, capacity building efforts and empowerment to take charge of health, nutrition and environment. Since this space requires coordinated multi-sectoral action, leadership is of prime importance. Endeavours to support better research, high quality customised educational programmes, newer tailor made academic ventures and capacity building exercises to take on and tackle these mammoth problems, are the need of the hour. We need accelerated action to fix the seemingly far, but actually portending problems urgently. We must transform our short sightedness to unified vision for ultimately achieving public health and nutrition security along with ensuring planetary health. Let us hope we collectively add voice and power to this mission and act before it’s too late or irreversible. On days like this Earth Day dedicated to advocate for conserving environment, we need to engage and create multisectoral dialogues around influencing and integrating interdependent factors like nutrition security and public health. Future generations are looking up to us for taking steps to ensure a healthy happy future for them. Let’s not disappoint them or ourselves. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

World Earth Day 2019: Time to clear the polluted air

Some of London's busiest streets re-opened Monday for the first time in a week as climate change protesters regrouped and plotted a new course after police made more than 1,000 arrests.

The so-called Extinction Rebellion took over the heart of the UK capital in a bid to focus global attention on rising temperatures and sea levels caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

The grassroots group was established last year in Britain by academics and has used social media to become one of the fastest-growing environmental movements worldwide.

But it has abandoned four of five main protests sites in response to more forceful police response and an outcry from local businesses that claimed a heavy loss in sales.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also warned Sunday that protests were starting to overstretch the police and limiting their ability to respond to daily crime.

"It simply isn’t right to put Londoners’ safety at risk like this," Khan said.

'Die-in'

Extinction Rebellion organisers retreated by Monday to Marble Arch -- a monument on the edge of Hyde Park that allows limited protests to continue without disrupting traffic.

The site has been sanctioned by the police.

About 100 activists also lay day down under the gigantic skeleton of a blue whale hanging from the ceiling of the main hall of London's Natural History Museum for a self-described "die-in".

Extinction Rebellion tweeted that the action was meant to deliver a warning about an oncoming "sixth mass extinction".

The police said they had made 1,065 arrests and charged 53 people since the first protests took over a bridge and renowned London intersections such as Piccadilly and Oxford Circus.

"We remain in frequent contact with the organisers to ensure that the serious disruption to Londoners is brought to a close as soon as possible and that only lawful and peaceful protests continue," a police statement said.

The London campaign has no formal leaders and its future plan remain unclear.

Some organisers want to engage in formal talks with the London mayor and the UK government.

The group's list of demands includes a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to a net level of zero by 2025 and a halt to biodiversity loss.

It also wants the UK government to "create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice".

But it said Monday that strategic issues were still under discussion -- and that it may yet decide to resume the street blockades.

"A proposal has been circulated for entering a 'negotiations' phase," a statement said.

"Despite being presented otherwise in the media, this idea remains only a proposal," it added.

"Where we go with Phase Two is up to us."

Some of London's busiest streets re-opened Monday for the first time in a week as climate change protesters regrouped and plotted a new course after police made more than 1,000 arrests.

Some of London's busiest streets re-opened Monday for the first time in a week as climate change protesters regrouped and plotted a new course after police made more than 1,000 arrests. The so-called Extinction Rebellion took over the heart of the UK capital in a bid to focus global attention on rising temperatures and sea levels caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The grassroots group was established last year in Britain by academics and has used social media to become one of the fastest-growing environmental movements worldwide. But it has abandoned four of five main protests sites in response to more forceful police response and an outcry from local businesses that claimed a heavy loss in sales. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also warned Sunday that protests were starting to overstretch the police and limiting their ability to respond to daily crime. "It simply isn’t right to put Londoners’ safety at risk like this," Khan said. 'Die-in' Extinction Rebellion organisers retreated by Monday to Marble Arch -- a monument on the edge of Hyde Park that allows limited protests to continue without disrupting traffic. The site has been sanctioned by the police. About 100 activists also lay day down under the gigantic skeleton of a blue whale hanging from the ceiling of the main hall of London's Natural History Museum for a self-described "die-in". Extinction Rebellion tweeted that the action was meant to deliver a warning about an oncoming "sixth mass extinction". The police said they had made 1,065 arrests and charged 53 people since the first protests took over a bridge and renowned London intersections such as Piccadilly and Oxford Circus. "We remain in frequent contact with the organisers to ensure that the serious disruption to Londoners is brought to a close as soon as possible and that only lawful and peaceful protests continue," a police statement said. The London campaign has no formal leaders and its future plan remain unclear. Some organisers want to engage in formal talks with the London mayor and the UK government. The group's list of demands includes a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to a net level of zero by 2025 and a halt to biodiversity loss. It also wants the UK government to "create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice". But it said Monday that strategic issues were still under discussion -- and that it may yet decide to resume the street blockades. "A proposal has been circulated for entering a 'negotiations' phase," a statement said. "Despite being presented otherwise in the media, this idea remains only a proposal," it added. "Where we go with Phase Two is up to us."

Climate change protesters halt London street blockade

A group of next-generation activists protested against climate change in London and cities across the UK today.Watch full video to know more.

climate change protests enter Day 5

Climate change protesters continued their demonstration across London on Friday. The Extinction Rebellion group has set up camps at major points in the UK capital including Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge and Westminster.

Activists keep up climate protests in London

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has a simple wish for the future, she just wants everything fixed.

Sixteen-year-old Thunberg spoke to Reuters underneath a stage in Rome's Piazza del Popolo on Friday before she addressed thousands of Italian youth on the climate crisis.

"I think what I want for the future is just that we fix everything and that we fix the climate and the ecological crisis so that everyone lives in peace, I guess, very naive," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

Thunberg has inspired a movement of children against global warming but she says her fight is also seen in small changes she has made in her personal life. She no longer takes planes or goes shopping.

"I do many small things just to change my habit like I have become vegan, I have stopped flying, I have shop-stopped and small things like that," she said, patiently straining to hear questions over the noise of the speakers above.

The teenager has come in for some criticism with some saying she is stealing the limelight away from her cause.

"I mean I don't enjoy attention but I enjoy making a difference," she said saying she tries to make sure the climate crisis is always the focus.

But she warned the world did not have enough time to wait until she was grown up to change things, time was running out and politicians need to act now to save the planet.

"When I am grown up when I am old enough to become a politician, I mean it will be too late to act because we need to act now," she said.

"We can't wait for people like me to grow up and become the ones in charge," she warned.

Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize, has addressed the United Nations Climate Conference and spoken at the European Parliament. But asked if she had plans to address the United Nations in New York, she said:

"I guess I would have to take a boat if I were to go to North America, so that would take a while."

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has a simple wish for the future, she just wants everything fixed. Sixteen-year-old Thunberg spoke to Reuters underneath a stage in Rome's Piazza del Popolo on Friday before she addressed thousands of Italian youth on the climate crisis.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has a simple wish for the future, she just wants everything fixed. Sixteen-year-old Thunberg spoke to Reuters underneath a stage in Rome's Piazza del Popolo on Friday before she addressed thousands of Italian youth on the climate crisis. "I think what I want for the future is just that we fix everything and that we fix the climate and the ecological crisis so that everyone lives in peace, I guess, very naive," she said, shrugging her shoulders. Thunberg has inspired a movement of children against global warming but she says her fight is also seen in small changes she has made in her personal life. She no longer takes planes or goes shopping. "I do many small things just to change my habit like I have become vegan, I have stopped flying, I have shop-stopped and small things like that," she said, patiently straining to hear questions over the noise of the speakers above. The teenager has come in for some criticism with some saying she is stealing the limelight away from her cause. "I mean I don't enjoy attention but I enjoy making a difference," she said saying she tries to make sure the climate crisis is always the focus. But she warned the world did not have enough time to wait until she was grown up to change things, time was running out and politicians need to act now to save the planet. "When I am grown up when I am old enough to become a politician, I mean it will be too late to act because we need to act now," she said. "We can't wait for people like me to grow up and become the ones in charge," she warned. Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize, has addressed the United Nations Climate Conference and spoken at the European Parliament. But asked if she had plans to address the United Nations in New York, she said: "I guess I would have to take a boat if I were to go to North America, so that would take a while."

'We can't wait for people like me to grow up and be the ones in charge,' climate activist Greta warns

Justin Bieber may have announced his break from music a few weeks back, but looks like the singer is back in action. And has even roped in Leonardo Di Caprio for his new song! DiCaprio and Bieber are part of huge ensemble behind new song 'Earth' which is headlined by comedian rapper Lil Dicky.&nbsp;

The rapper has unveiled a star-studded music video featuring singers Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus and DiCaprio makes an appearance at the end of the video.&nbsp;

It`s not only a song but also a short film, a music-led initiative to raise awareness for climate change and an extravagant Earth Day celebration.

The 31-year-old recruited over 30 artistes to appear in the six-minute animated masterpiece.&nbsp;The group of A-listers, which includes Bieber, Sia, Grande, Miley, Ed Sheeran and more, lend their voices to anything and everything climate change-related. To name a few: Halsey as a lion cub and Meghan Trainor as India.&nbsp;

He gave fans a preview of the highly anticipated music video during an episode of&nbsp; 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pvuN_WvF1to" width="560"></iframe>

The rapper and comedian turned to the live audience and passionately spoke about the "environmental crisis going on right now" before sneaking in a story about how cool actor Leonardo DiCaprio is.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwbEbFEFOJ4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Thank you to @lildickygram and all the artists that came together to make “Earth” happen. Net profits from the song, video, and merchandise will go to many @leonardodicapriofdn partners on the frontlines of implementing solutions to climate change. Link in bio to watch. #WeLoveTheEarth ---- The @leonardodicapriofdn partners that will benefit from this collaboration include: @sharkconservationfund, @100isNow, @globalgreengrants, the Quick Response Fund for Nature, and the Carbon Cycle Institute.</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leonardodicaprio/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Leonardo DiCaprio</a> (@leonardodicaprio) on <time datetime="2019-04-19T04:01:18+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 18, 2019 at 9:01pm PDT</time>
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"I went to his house and we played pickle ball," Lil Dicky said. "One thing I can tell you is that guy cares so much about the planet. He gets really worked up talking about it."

Lil Dicky has teamed up with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (established by the Oscar-winner in 1998 to protect existing ecosystems and restore balance to those already impacted by climate change) to raise cash for a good cause.

Net profits earned from the song, the short film-esque music video and Earth-related merchandise will be distributed to select non-profits identified by LDF as being on the front lines of implementing solutions to climate change.

(With agency inputs)

Justin Bieber may have announced his break from music a few weeks back, but looks like the singer is back in action. And has even roped in Leonardo Di Caprio for his new song!

Justin Bieber may have announced his break from music a few weeks back, but looks like the singer is back in action. And has even roped in Leonardo Di Caprio for his new song! DiCaprio and Bieber are part of huge ensemble behind new song 'Earth' which is headlined by comedian rapper Lil Dicky. The rapper has unveiled a star-studded music video featuring singers Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus and DiCaprio makes an appearance at the end of the video. It`s not only a song but also a short film, a music-led initiative to raise awareness for climate change and an extravagant Earth Day celebration. The 31-year-old recruited over 30 artistes to appear in the six-minute animated masterpiece. The group of A-listers, which includes Bieber, Sia, Grande, Miley, Ed Sheeran and more, lend their voices to anything and everything climate change-related. To name a few: Halsey as a lion cub and Meghan Trainor as India. He gave fans a preview of the highly anticipated music video during an episode of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'. The rapper and comedian turned to the live audience and passionately spoke about the "environmental crisis going on right now" before sneaking in a story about how cool actor Leonardo DiCaprio is. View this post on Instagram Thank you to @lildickygram and all the artists that came together to make “Earth” happen. Net profits from the song, video, and merchandise will go to many @leonardodicapriofdn partners on the frontlines of implementing solutions to climate change. Link in bio to watch. #WeLoveTheEarth ---- The @leonardodicapriofdn partners that will benefit from this collaboration include: @sharkconservationfund, @100isNow, @globalgreengrants, the Quick Response Fund for Nature, and the Carbon Cycle Institute. A post shared by Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio) on Apr 18, 2019 at 9:01pm PDT × "I went to his house and we played pickle ball," Lil Dicky said. "One thing I can tell you is that guy cares so much about the planet. He gets really worked up talking about it." Lil Dicky has teamed up with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (established by the Oscar-winner in 1998 to protect existing ecosystems and restore balance to those already impacted by climate change) to raise cash for a good cause. Net profits earned from the song, the short film-esque music video and Earth-related merchandise will be distributed to select non-profits identified by LDF as being on the front lines of implementing solutions to climate change. (With agency inputs)

Rapper Lil Dicky ropes in 30 stars including Justin Bieber and Leonardo DiCaprio for his new song 'Earth'

New Zealand scientists say the world's fattest parrot, the critically endangered kakapo, has enjoyed a record-breaking breeding season, with climate change possibly aiding the species' unique mating spree.

Kakapow! Rare world's fattest parrot has record breeding season

Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg brought her campaign to the Vatican on Wednesday and met Pope Francis. She held up a small sign reading 'Join the Climate Strike'.

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg meets Pope Francis

Authorities in London removed two climate change <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-pledges-14-billion-injection-against-climate-change-199565">activists sitting on the roof of a train</a> and another glued to the window to pressure politicians to take more radical measures to protect the environment.

Police officers used harnesses and ropes to bring down the man and woman sat on top of the Docklands Light Railway train at Canary Wharf station.

Mark Ovland, another protester from Bristol used superglue to attach himself to the window of the same train and was also physically removed by authorities.

The group has been&nbsp;demanding the government declare a climate and ecological emergency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 and create a citizen's assembly of members of the public to lead on decisions to address climate change.

Several young and old, were arrested and dragged down Oxford Circus on Wednesday as their protest blockade continued for the third day today.

The Extinction Rebellion group has ratcheted up its protests in recent weeks, blocking Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and Waterloo Bridge, smashing a door at the Shell building and shocking lawmakers with a semi-nude protest in parliament.

Nearly 300 people have been arrested so far this week after campaigners blocked some of the capital's most iconic locations, many camping in tents on the streets.

The group advocates non-violent civil disobedience to force governments to reduce carbon emissions and avert what it says is a global climate crisis that will bring starvation, floods, wildfires and social collapse.

Authorities in London removed two climate change activists sitting on the roof of a train and another glued to the window to pressure politicians to take more radical measures to protect the environment.

Authorities in London removed two climate change activists sitting on the roof of a train and another glued to the window to pressure politicians to take more radical measures to protect the environment. Police officers used harnesses and ropes to bring down the man and woman sat on top of the Docklands Light Railway train at Canary Wharf station. Mark Ovland, another protester from Bristol used superglue to attach himself to the window of the same train and was also physically removed by authorities. The group has been demanding the government declare a climate and ecological emergency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 and create a citizen's assembly of members of the public to lead on decisions to address climate change. Several young and old, were arrested and dragged down Oxford Circus on Wednesday as their protest blockade continued for the third day today. The Extinction Rebellion group has ratcheted up its protests in recent weeks, blocking Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and Waterloo Bridge, smashing a door at the Shell building and shocking lawmakers with a semi-nude protest in parliament. Nearly 300 people have been arrested so far this week after campaigners blocked some of the capital's most iconic locations, many camping in tents on the streets. The group advocates non-violent civil disobedience to force governments to reduce carbon emissions and avert what it says is a global climate crisis that will bring starvation, floods, wildfires and social collapse.

Authorities clamp down on climate change protesters in London

Watch Gravitas full segment and know what has been the most trending and important stories of the day. Watch this video to know more.

Watch: WION Gravitas, 15th April, 2019

More than 100 people have been arrested in ongoing climate change protests in London that brought parts of the British capital to a standstill, police said Tuesday.

Demonstrators started blocking off a bridge and major central road junctions on Monday at the start of a civil disobedience campaign that also saw action in other parts of Europe.

The <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-yellow-vest-protesters-rally-in-central-london-189913&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiKxvaMmtThAhWJPY8KHW6OCdEQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2hAexN7la3Y8wniOzxZFDt">protests</a> were organised by the campaign group Extinction Rebellion, which was established last year in Britain by academics and has become one of the world's fastest-growing environmental movements.

London's Metropolitan Police said that by early Tuesday 113 adults had been arrested.

The figure includes three men and two women who were arrested at the UK offices of energy giant Royal Dutch Shell on suspicion of criminal damage. Campaigners daubed graffiti and smashed a window at the Shell Centre building.

The majority arrested were seized for breaching public order laws and obstructing a highway.

The protest saw more than a thousand people block off central London's Waterloo Bridge and lay trees in pots along its length. Later, people set up camps in Hyde Park in preparation for further demonstrations throughout the week.

- Police restrictions - 
The police have ordered the protesters to confine themselves to a zone within Marble Arch, a space at the junction of Hyde Park, the Oxford Street main shopping thoroughfare and the Park Lane street of plush hotels.

"The information and intelligence available at this time means that that Met (police) feels this action is necessary in order to prevent the demonstrations from causing ongoing serious disruption," the police said.

The group wants to governments to declare a climate and ecological emergency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025, halt biodiversity loss and be led by new "citizens' assemblies on climate and ecological justice".

Spokesman James Fox said the group had attempted to maintain a blockade overnight at four sites in central London before the police came to impose the new restriction.

People were arrested "mostly at Waterloo Bridge where the police came to try to stop everyone, but there were too many of us", he told AFP.

Fox said the protesters attached themselves to vehicles and to each other using bicycle locks.

"We have no intention of leaving until the government listens to us," he said.

"Many of us are willing to sacrifice our liberty for the cause."

More than 100 people have been arrested in ongoing climate change protests in London that brought parts of the British capital to a standstill, police said Tuesday.

More than 100 people have been arrested in ongoing climate change protests in London that brought parts of the British capital to a standstill, police said Tuesday. Demonstrators started blocking off a bridge and major central road junctions on Monday at the start of a civil disobedience campaign that also saw action in other parts of Europe. The protests were organised by the campaign group Extinction Rebellion, which was established last year in Britain by academics and has become one of the world's fastest-growing environmental movements. London's Metropolitan Police said that by early Tuesday 113 adults had been arrested. The figure includes three men and two women who were arrested at the UK offices of energy giant Royal Dutch Shell on suspicion of criminal damage. Campaigners daubed graffiti and smashed a window at the Shell Centre building. The majority arrested were seized for breaching public order laws and obstructing a highway. The protest saw more than a thousand people block off central London's Waterloo Bridge and lay trees in pots along its length. Later, people set up camps in Hyde Park in preparation for further demonstrations throughout the week. - Police restrictions - The police have ordered the protesters to confine themselves to a zone within Marble Arch, a space at the junction of Hyde Park, the Oxford Street main shopping thoroughfare and the Park Lane street of plush hotels. "The information and intelligence available at this time means that that Met (police) feels this action is necessary in order to prevent the demonstrations from causing ongoing serious disruption," the police said. The group wants to governments to declare a climate and ecological emergency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025, halt biodiversity loss and be led by new "citizens' assemblies on climate and ecological justice". Spokesman James Fox said the group had attempted to maintain a blockade overnight at four sites in central London before the police came to impose the new restriction. People were arrested "mostly at Waterloo Bridge where the police came to try to stop everyone, but there were too many of us", he told AFP. Fox said the protesters attached themselves to vehicles and to each other using bicycle locks. "We have no intention of leaving until the government listens to us," he said. "Many of us are willing to sacrifice our liberty for the cause."

More than 100 arrested at London climate protests

As sea waters slowly rose around his temple and his neighbours fled inland, Thai abbot<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-resumes-flights-ferry-services-as-tropical-storm-slows-188374&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiJwsqjp8DhAhX0_XMBHRT-DrcQFggTMAU&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2yXhAGjN35A7iV4TA_bR0_"> Somnuek Atipanyo</a> refused to budge and is today a symbol of the fight to restore the country's fast-eroding coastlines.

A dangerous combination of climate change, industrial farming and rapid urbanisation are endangering the Gulf of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/7000-people-evacuated-in-southern-thailand-ahead-of-storm-pabuk-188175&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj-samCp8DhAhXj63MBHd08CDAQFggEMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1T6i4DeYYPAlZl1DrGDoMu">Thailand</a>'s coasts, stripping away precious mangrove trees and leaving some buildings like Somnuek's surrounded by sea water.

In the 30 years since the waters started encroaching, most of his neighbours in the fishing village of Samut Chin moved several hundred meters inland to rebuild their wooden homes.&nbsp;

Standing in his saffron robes near his monastery on stilts -- dubbed the "floating temple" -- the 51-year-old monk points out to sea at the spot where the local school once stood.&nbsp;

"This temple used to be in the middle of the village," he tells AFP in Samut Chin, about an hour south of Bangkok.

"If we moved it, people wouldn't even know there had ever been one here," he says of the temple, accessible only by a small footbridge today.

These shores were once protected by extensive mangrove forests -- the Gulf of Thailand boasts some of the largest in the world -- a natural defence against coastal erosion thanks to their extensive roots that stabilise the shoreline.

But it's a been a losing battle to preserve them.&nbsp;

Replanting in the 'heart'

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-tropical-storm-pabuk-makes-landfall-in-southern-thailand-1-dead-188271&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiJwsqjp8DhAhX0_XMBHRT-DrcQFggKMAI&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3B4XGFRgaG6YrVbRSHLCuo">Mangrove forests</a> have been cleared for extensive development of shrimp and salt farms, along with new houses and hotels that have popped up thanks to a development boom in recent decades.&nbsp;

Thailand lost almost one-third of its vast coastal mangrove forests between 1961 and 2000, according to a report from the nation's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and the UN Environment Programme. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Climate change is also having an impact: stronger waves and more ferocious monsoons have wiped out mangroves in the Gulf of Thailand, which is especially vulnerable because its waters are so shallow.

"The waves and tides are higher than before," said Thanawat Jarupongsakul, who advises Thailand's government on its policy to combat erosion.

Asian and Caspian coastlines are the two areas in the world most affected by coastal erosion, according to a study published last year in the scientific journal Nature.

It's a global problem: tens of thousands of square kilometres of land have been lost from coastal erosion around the world -- between 1984 and 2015 the equivalent of the surface area of Haiti was lost, the study said.&nbsp;

In Thailand a quarter of the country's shores -- or about 700 kilometres (500 miles) -- are eroding, some "severely", according to data shared with AFP by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.&nbsp;

Now there is a push to restore Thailand's precious mangrove ecosystem through a national voluntary tree replanting scheme, including near Somnuek's island monastery.

On a recent sunny afternoon, scores of people spent the day wading chest-deep in the sea to replant mangrove trees.

Clad in headscarves and hats, they gingerly reach down into the water to plant young saplings along lines of bamboo poles that help offer some protection against the waves.

"This project is called 'Planting a forest in people's hearts,'" said Wason Ditsuwan, who runs the program.&nbsp;

Set up in 2016 by Bangkok city authorities, the project has so far replanted 84 acres of mangroves across the country.&nbsp;

Temple selfies &nbsp;

Wason is hoping his project will succeed where others have failed.&nbsp;

Nearly 10 years ago, government adviser Thanawat helped residents in Samut Chin replant mangrove trees but some areas were too far gone to recover.&nbsp;

"Even if you plant a lot of mangroves, it cannot help," he said.

Another strategy is to drill pylons of cement into the seabed -- and on the shoreline itself -- to act as a substitute for the mangrove roots.

This has proven successful so far in the tourist town of Pattaya further along the coast, where the pylons have helped to reclaim several metres of beach.

But it's a race to keep up with rapid development along the shore, Thanawat said.

As for Somnuek's stretch of coast, though further erosion has stopped, for now, there is little hope his temple will ever see the dry ground again. &nbsp;

But the flooding has brought one unexpected advantage: dozens of tourists that flock to the so-called floating temple for Instagram-worthy selfies.&nbsp;

"The fight against coastal erosion has brought fame," village head Wisanu Kengsamut said.

As sea waters slowly rose around his temple and his neighbours fled inland, Thai abbot Somnuek Atipanyo refused to budge and is today a symbol of the fight to restore the country's fast-eroding coastlines.

As sea waters slowly rose around his temple and his neighbours fled inland, Thai abbot Somnuek Atipanyo refused to budge and is today a symbol of the fight to restore the country's fast-eroding coastlines. A dangerous combination of climate change, industrial farming and rapid urbanisation are endangering the Gulf of Thailand's coasts, stripping away precious mangrove trees and leaving some buildings like Somnuek's surrounded by sea water. In the 30 years since the waters started encroaching, most of his neighbours in the fishing village of Samut Chin moved several hundred meters inland to rebuild their wooden homes. Standing in his saffron robes near his monastery on stilts -- dubbed the "floating temple" -- the 51-year-old monk points out to sea at the spot where the local school once stood. "This temple used to be in the middle of the village," he tells AFP in Samut Chin, about an hour south of Bangkok. "If we moved it, people wouldn't even know there had ever been one here," he says of the temple, accessible only by a small footbridge today. These shores were once protected by extensive mangrove forests -- the Gulf of Thailand boasts some of the largest in the world -- a natural defence against coastal erosion thanks to their extensive roots that stabilise the shoreline. But it's a been a losing battle to preserve them. Replanting in the 'heart' Mangrove forests have been cleared for extensive development of shrimp and salt farms, along with new houses and hotels that have popped up thanks to a development boom in recent decades. Thailand lost almost one-third of its vast coastal mangrove forests between 1961 and 2000, according to a report from the nation's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and the UN Environment Programme. Climate change is also having an impact: stronger waves and more ferocious monsoons have wiped out mangroves in the Gulf of Thailand, which is especially vulnerable because its waters are so shallow. "The waves and tides are higher than before," said Thanawat Jarupongsakul, who advises Thailand's government on its policy to combat erosion. Asian and Caspian coastlines are the two areas in the world most affected by coastal erosion, according to a study published last year in the scientific journal Nature. It's a global problem: tens of thousands of square kilometres of land have been lost from coastal erosion around the world -- between 1984 and 2015 the equivalent of the surface area of Haiti was lost, the study said. In Thailand a quarter of the country's shores -- or about 700 kilometres (500 miles) -- are eroding, some "severely", according to data shared with AFP by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Now there is a push to restore Thailand's precious mangrove ecosystem through a national voluntary tree replanting scheme, including near Somnuek's island monastery. On a recent sunny afternoon, scores of people spent the day wading chest-deep in the sea to replant mangrove trees. Clad in headscarves and hats, they gingerly reach down into the water to plant young saplings along lines of bamboo poles that help offer some protection against the waves. "This project is called 'Planting a forest in people's hearts,'" said Wason Ditsuwan, who runs the program. Set up in 2016 by Bangkok city authorities, the project has so far replanted 84 acres of mangroves across the country. Temple selfies Wason is hoping his project will succeed where others have failed. Nearly 10 years ago, government adviser Thanawat helped residents in Samut Chin replant mangrove trees but some areas were too far gone to recover. "Even if you plant a lot of mangroves, it cannot help," he said. Another strategy is to drill pylons of cement into the seabed -- and on the shoreline itself -- to act as a substitute for the mangrove roots. This has proven successful so far in the tourist town of Pattaya further along the coast, where the pylons have helped to reclaim several metres of beach. But it's a race to keep up with rapid development along the shore, Thanawat said. As for Somnuek's stretch of coast, though further erosion has stopped, for now, there is little hope his temple will ever see the dry ground again. But the flooding has brought one unexpected advantage: dozens of tourists that flock to the so-called floating temple for Instagram-worthy selfies. "The fight against coastal erosion has brought fame," village head Wisanu Kengsamut said.

Against the tide: Thai 'floating temple' defies coastal erosion

Environmental disasters linked to climate change are threatening the lives and futures of over 19 million children in Bangladesh, including prompting many families to push their daughters into child marriages, UNICEF said Friday.

"Climate change is deepening the environmental threat faced by families in Bangladesh's poorest communities, leaving them unable to keep their children properly housed, fed, healthy and educated," the UN children's agency said in a report.

"In Bangladesh and around the world, climate change has the potential to reverse many of the gains that countries have achieved in child survival and development."

Around 12 million of the children most affected live in and around the powerful river systems which flow through Bangladesh and regularly burst their banks, the report said.

Another 4.5 million children live in coastal areas regularly struck by powerful cyclones, including almost half a million Rohingya refugee children from neighbouring Myanmar living in fragile bamboo and plastic shelters.

A further three million children live further inland, where farming communities suffer increasing periods of drought.

Bangladesh’s flat topography, dense population and weak infrastructure have long made it vulnerable to extreme weather events, but experts say that these have become more frequent in recent years as global temperatures have risen.

In 2007, a powerful cyclone killed nearly 4000 people and affected hundreds of thousands more. The most recent major flooding of the Brahmaputra River in 2017 inundated at least 480 community health clinics and damaged some 50,000 tube wells, essential for meeting communities’ safe water needs.

The report says that climate change is a key factor pushing poorer Bangladeshis to head to the capital Dhaka and other major cities, where children risk being pushed into dangerous forms of labour and early marriage.&nbsp;

It cites research showing that Bangladesh has six million climate migrants already, a number that could more than double by 2050.

The connection between climate change and child marriage, child labour and access to education is evident in various parts of Bangladesh, according to the report.

"Climate change makes people poorer," said Gyas Uddin, a specialist on child protection issues, "and poverty is a major factor behind child marriage".

Despite making impressive gains in many social indicators in recent decades, child marriage remains rampant in conservative, Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

Bangladesh currently has one of the world's highest rates of child marriage with nearly a third of girls being married before the age of 15.&nbsp;

According to UNICEF Bangladesh Child Protection Specialist Kristina Wesslund, climate change is one reason why an estimated 3.45 million Bangladeshi children are involved in child labour.&nbsp;

"Climate change is undoubtedly increasing the number of children who are pushed into the workplace, where they miss out on an education and are terribly exposed to violence and abuse," Wesslund said.

Environmental disasters linked to climate change are threatening the lives and futures of over 19 million children in Bangladesh, including prompting many families to push their daughters into child marriages, UNICEF said Friday.

Environmental disasters linked to climate change are threatening the lives and futures of over 19 million children in Bangladesh, including prompting many families to push their daughters into child marriages, UNICEF said Friday. "Climate change is deepening the environmental threat faced by families in Bangladesh's poorest communities, leaving them unable to keep their children properly housed, fed, healthy and educated," the UN children's agency said in a report. "In Bangladesh and around the world, climate change has the potential to reverse many of the gains that countries have achieved in child survival and development." Around 12 million of the children most affected live in and around the powerful river systems which flow through Bangladesh and regularly burst their banks, the report said. Another 4.5 million children live in coastal areas regularly struck by powerful cyclones, including almost half a million Rohingya refugee children from neighbouring Myanmar living in fragile bamboo and plastic shelters. A further three million children live further inland, where farming communities suffer increasing periods of drought. Bangladesh’s flat topography, dense population and weak infrastructure have long made it vulnerable to extreme weather events, but experts say that these have become more frequent in recent years as global temperatures have risen. In 2007, a powerful cyclone killed nearly 4000 people and affected hundreds of thousands more. The most recent major flooding of the Brahmaputra River in 2017 inundated at least 480 community health clinics and damaged some 50,000 tube wells, essential for meeting communities’ safe water needs. The report says that climate change is a key factor pushing poorer Bangladeshis to head to the capital Dhaka and other major cities, where children risk being pushed into dangerous forms of labour and early marriage. It cites research showing that Bangladesh has six million climate migrants already, a number that could more than double by 2050. The connection between climate change and child marriage, child labour and access to education is evident in various parts of Bangladesh, according to the report. "Climate change makes people poorer," said Gyas Uddin, a specialist on child protection issues, "and poverty is a major factor behind child marriage". Despite making impressive gains in many social indicators in recent decades, child marriage remains rampant in conservative, Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Bangladesh currently has one of the world's highest rates of child marriage with nearly a third of girls being married before the age of 15. According to UNICEF Bangladesh Child Protection Specialist Kristina Wesslund, climate change is one reason why an estimated 3.45 million Bangladeshi children are involved in child labour. "Climate change is undoubtedly increasing the number of children who are pushed into the workplace, where they miss out on an education and are terribly exposed to violence and abuse," Wesslund said.

Climate change blights children's lives in Bangladesh

Gravitas: Why good climate policy does not mean good politics

Earth Hour 2019: Cities plunge into darkness as world turns off lights

Swedish teen inspires climate protesters in Berlin

England could run <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-water-day-heartbreaking-facts-about-water-scarcity-36654">short of water</a> in 25 years, the country's Environment Agency was quoted as saying in news reports Tuesday.&nbsp;

Sir James Bevan blamed the cause on global warming and the country's rising population, adding that England was facing the "jaws of death".&nbsp;

“Around 25 years from now, where those (demand and supply) lines cross is known by some as the ‘jaws of death’ — the point at which we will not have enough water to supply our needs, unless we take action to change things,” Bevan was quoted as telling the Guardian, before a speech at the Waterwise conference in London.&nbsp;

“Water companies all identify the same thing as their biggest operating risk: climate change,” he added.&nbsp;

Bevan told the Guardian that by 2040 most summers would be hotter than the 2003 heatwave. That he said would lead to more water shortages and, potentially, 50-80% less water in some rivers in the summer.&nbsp;

But, added Bevan, it was still possible to bring things under control.&nbsp;

That he said could be done by cutting people’s water use by a third and leakage from water company pipes by 50%, along with big new reservoirs, more desalination plants and transfers of water across the country.

Bevan said England had, over the last two years, been able to "change people's behaviour"&nbsp;when it came to plastic; they now needed to do the same thing with their usage of water.&nbsp;

“We need water wastage to be as socially unacceptable as blowing smoke in the face of a baby or throwing your plastic bags into the sea,” he told the Guardian.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The UK's population is currently 67 million. It is expected to rise to 75 million by 2050.

The BBC reported Bevan as being expected to say at the Waterwise conference that: "So: climate change plus growth equals an existential threat... to our economy, environment, security, happiness, way of life. We can choose to ignore this problem. Or we can choose to tackle it."

The BBC added that people&nbsp;currently use, on average, 140 litres of water a day. And that Bevan will calling on people to cut that down to 100 litres.

Bevan was expected to hand out tips to help people pare their water use.

They are expected to include: getting a low-flush toilet; taking short showers,&nbsp;turn the tap off when brushing your teeth&nbsp;and, the BBC added,&nbsp;not to water your lawn as "it will survive without you".&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

England could run short of water in 25 years, the country's Environment Agency was quoted as saying in news reports Tuesday. Sir James Bevan blamed the cause on global warming and the country's rising population, adding that England was facing the "jaws of death".

England could run short of water in 25 years, the country's Environment Agency was quoted as saying in news reports Tuesday. Sir James Bevan blamed the cause on global warming and the country's rising population, adding that England was facing the "jaws of death". “Around 25 years from now, where those (demand and supply) lines cross is known by some as the ‘jaws of death’ — the point at which we will not have enough water to supply our needs, unless we take action to change things,” Bevan was quoted as telling the Guardian, before a speech at the Waterwise conference in London. “Water companies all identify the same thing as their biggest operating risk: climate change,” he added. Bevan told the Guardian that by 2040 most summers would be hotter than the 2003 heatwave. That he said would lead to more water shortages and, potentially, 50-80% less water in some rivers in the summer. But, added Bevan, it was still possible to bring things under control. That he said could be done by cutting people’s water use by a third and leakage from water company pipes by 50%, along with big new reservoirs, more desalination plants and transfers of water across the country. Bevan said England had, over the last two years, been able to "change people's behaviour" when it came to plastic; they now needed to do the same thing with their usage of water. “We need water wastage to be as socially unacceptable as blowing smoke in the face of a baby or throwing your plastic bags into the sea,” he told the Guardian. The UK's population is currently 67 million. It is expected to rise to 75 million by 2050. The BBC reported Bevan as being expected to say at the Waterwise conference that: "So: climate change plus growth equals an existential threat... to our economy, environment, security, happiness, way of life. We can choose to ignore this problem. Or we can choose to tackle it." The BBC added that people currently use, on average, 140 litres of water a day. And that Bevan will calling on people to cut that down to 100 litres. Bevan was expected to hand out tips to help people pare their water use. They are expected to include: getting a low-flush toilet; taking short showers, turn the tap off when brushing your teeth and, the BBC added, not to water your lawn as "it will survive without you".

England could run short of water in 25 years: Environment Agency chief

Remote area with 'world's cleanest air' tracks global change

Hundreds of youngsters skipped school to rally in Washington on Friday as part of what organisers called an international youth climate strike to seek action on climate change.

Chanting "climate action now!", some 1,500 students joined the event in front of the Capitol Building, where Congress sits, while similar rallies were held in 46 states.

The demonstrations, which demanded politicians take action to combat climate change, backed measures including the Green New Deal, an ambitious Democratic environmental proposal that has become a lightning rod for Republican criticism.

"This is the only Earth that we have. There is no Planet B. There is no other place we can go so we need to save it," said Elise Haverland, a 16-year-old from Silver Spring, Maryland.

Protesters carried colourful homemade placards bearing slogans such as "Our planet, our future," "Let us Live," and "Don`t frack up our Earth."

The students also held an 11-minute silence, one for each of the years that a United Nations report said the world has remaining to get climate change under control.

School children across the world held demonstrations to demand action on climate change on Friday.

The protests are the offspring of youth strikes in Europe that were inspired by Greta Thunberg, a lone 15-year-old picketer at the Swedish Parliament.

Organisers said they hope staging the event during the school day will signal the importance that students attach to fighting climate change.

"Adults come fight with us!" 12-year-old Haven Coleman of Denver, one of three youth organisers of the protest in the United States, said from the stage. 
The two other leaders of the US movement are Isra Hirsi, the 16-year-old daughter of newly-elected Democratic US Representative Ilhan Omar, of Minneapolis, and Alexandria Villasenor, 13, of New York.&nbsp;

The group is calling for a "national emergency" on climate change and for the United States to stop all greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The scientific community broadly agrees that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to net-zero by 2050 to halt the catastrophic effects of climate change.&nbsp;

Most of the declared Democratic candidates for the White House have already voiced support for the Green New Deal, a measure proposed by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - a sweeping 10-year blueprint for combating climate change that involves reducing carbon emissions and retrofitting infrastructure.

Republicans have dismissed the proposals as unreasonably expensive and disruptive to the US economy. They have tried to use some of the measures to sow discord within the Democratic party, painting their political rivals as shifting to the left and embracing extreme policies.

Hundreds of youngsters skipped school to rally in Washington on Friday as part of what organisers called an international youth climate strike to seek action on climate change.

Hundreds of youngsters skipped school to rally in Washington on Friday as part of what organisers called an international youth climate strike to seek action on climate change. Chanting "climate action now!", some 1,500 students joined the event in front of the Capitol Building, where Congress sits, while similar rallies were held in 46 states. The demonstrations, which demanded politicians take action to combat climate change, backed measures including the Green New Deal, an ambitious Democratic environmental proposal that has become a lightning rod for Republican criticism. "This is the only Earth that we have. There is no Planet B. There is no other place we can go so we need to save it," said Elise Haverland, a 16-year-old from Silver Spring, Maryland. Protesters carried colourful homemade placards bearing slogans such as "Our planet, our future," "Let us Live," and "Don`t frack up our Earth." The students also held an 11-minute silence, one for each of the years that a United Nations report said the world has remaining to get climate change under control. School children across the world held demonstrations to demand action on climate change on Friday. The protests are the offspring of youth strikes in Europe that were inspired by Greta Thunberg, a lone 15-year-old picketer at the Swedish Parliament. Organisers said they hope staging the event during the school day will signal the importance that students attach to fighting climate change. "Adults come fight with us!" 12-year-old Haven Coleman of Denver, one of three youth organisers of the protest in the United States, said from the stage. The two other leaders of the US movement are Isra Hirsi, the 16-year-old daughter of newly-elected Democratic US Representative Ilhan Omar, of Minneapolis, and Alexandria Villasenor, 13, of New York. The group is calling for a "national emergency" on climate change and for the United States to stop all greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The scientific community broadly agrees that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to net-zero by 2050 to halt the catastrophic effects of climate change. Most of the declared Democratic candidates for the White House have already voiced support for the Green New Deal, a measure proposed by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - a sweeping 10-year blueprint for combating climate change that involves reducing carbon emissions and retrofitting infrastructure. Republicans have dismissed the proposals as unreasonably expensive and disruptive to the US economy. They have tried to use some of the measures to sow discord within the Democratic party, painting their political rivals as shifting to the left and embracing extreme policies.

US youth rally in Washington protests climate inaction

16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Extracting and processing materials, fuel and food contributes as much as half of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, the UN said Tuesday, as experts gathered in Kenya to find ways to rein in exploding global consumption.

Using dozens of data sources, the authors of a major new report presented lawmakers and businesses with a stark choice, drastically reform the global economy to get more from less, or risk the collapse of global infrastructure.&nbsp;

With countries already committed under the Paris climate deal to curb emissions to fend off the worst impacts of global warming, experts said there was little hope of meeting that goal without an "urgent and systemic transformation" in how we use Earth's resources.

The Global Resources Outlook 2019 said that worldwide consumption of basic commodities such as water, minerals and fossil fuels had tripled since 1970.

With high-population nations such as China and India rapidly expanding their economies, the team behind the report called for a drastic overhaul in how that growth is fed.

"Nobody is claiming that the countries which are on the lower level of development should not have the right to develop," said Janez Potocnik, co-chair of the International Resource Panel.

"The question is, is it possible to do it differently to how we have done it, with fewer consequences than we see today?"

The report paints a grim picture of relentless demand for resources as the global population ticks towards eight billion people.&nbsp;

The use of climate-warming fossil fuels has increased worldwide from 6 billion tonnes in 1970 to 15 billion tonnes in 2017 despite decades of efforts to steer nations towards greener energy.

Water use for agriculture and industry outstripped population growth in the second half of the 20th Century. In 2017, 3,900 km3 of water was withdrawn for commercial purposes -- 70 per cent of which went to farming.&nbsp;

"The bad use of natural resources has a big impact on our quality of life and environment," said Bruno Orbele, Swiss former environment minister and one of the report's co-authors.

In line with most economic measurements, the study found that per capita consumption of raw materials in high-income nations was more than double the global average.

Richer nations use 27.1 tonnes of raw material per person per year, compared to just two tonnes ahead in low-income countries.

The "Towards Sustainability" scenario boosts policy measures to slow the growth of resource use, leading to reduced pressure on food and water supplies and boosting global economic growth by 8 per cent.&nbsp;

Conversely, the "Historical Trends" projection -- which assumes a business-as-usual approach to resource use -- would see greenhouse gas emissions shoot up 43 per cent by 2060.

The corresponding agricultural pressure to feed a global population expected to tip 10 billion by mid-century would see land given over to agriculture increase by 20 per cent, reducing forest cover by 10 per cent and other habitats such as grasslands and Savannah by a fifth.

Such a trajectory would shatter any remaining chance mankind has of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit), as countries committed to achieving in the landmark 2015 Paris accord.&nbsp;

"The way we are currently organised, it isn't simply enough," said Potocnik.

In a message to lawmakers and heads of state due in Nairobi for Thursday's One Planet Summit, Potocnik said the time for vague political commitments on the environment had passed.

"If you are in public office, defend the public interest. And it's clear what is public interest today, we have to survive."

Extracting and processing materials, fuel and food contributes as much as half of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, the UN said Tuesday, as experts gathered in Kenya to find ways to rein in exploding global consumption.

Extracting and processing materials, fuel and food contributes as much as half of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, the UN said Tuesday, as experts gathered in Kenya to find ways to rein in exploding global consumption. Using dozens of data sources, the authors of a major new report presented lawmakers and businesses with a stark choice, drastically reform the global economy to get more from less, or risk the collapse of global infrastructure. With countries already committed under the Paris climate deal to curb emissions to fend off the worst impacts of global warming, experts said there was little hope of meeting that goal without an "urgent and systemic transformation" in how we use Earth's resources. The Global Resources Outlook 2019 said that worldwide consumption of basic commodities such as water, minerals and fossil fuels had tripled since 1970. With high-population nations such as China and India rapidly expanding their economies, the team behind the report called for a drastic overhaul in how that growth is fed. "Nobody is claiming that the countries which are on the lower level of development should not have the right to develop," said Janez Potocnik, co-chair of the International Resource Panel. "The question is, is it possible to do it differently to how we have done it, with fewer consequences than we see today?" The report paints a grim picture of relentless demand for resources as the global population ticks towards eight billion people. The use of climate-warming fossil fuels has increased worldwide from 6 billion tonnes in 1970 to 15 billion tonnes in 2017 despite decades of efforts to steer nations towards greener energy. Water use for agriculture and industry outstripped population growth in the second half of the 20th Century. In 2017, 3,900 km3 of water was withdrawn for commercial purposes -- 70 per cent of which went to farming. "The bad use of natural resources has a big impact on our quality of life and environment," said Bruno Orbele, Swiss former environment minister and one of the report's co-authors. In line with most economic measurements, the study found that per capita consumption of raw materials in high-income nations was more than double the global average. Richer nations use 27.1 tonnes of raw material per person per year, compared to just two tonnes ahead in low-income countries. The "Towards Sustainability" scenario boosts policy measures to slow the growth of resource use, leading to reduced pressure on food and water supplies and boosting global economic growth by 8 per cent. Conversely, the "Historical Trends" projection -- which assumes a business-as-usual approach to resource use -- would see greenhouse gas emissions shoot up 43 per cent by 2060. The corresponding agricultural pressure to feed a global population expected to tip 10 billion by mid-century would see land given over to agriculture increase by 20 per cent, reducing forest cover by 10 per cent and other habitats such as grasslands and Savannah by a fifth. Such a trajectory would shatter any remaining chance mankind has of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit), as countries committed to achieving in the landmark 2015 Paris accord. "The way we are currently organised, it isn't simply enough," said Potocnik. In a message to lawmakers and heads of state due in Nairobi for Thursday's One Planet Summit, Potocnik said the time for vague political commitments on the environment had passed. "If you are in public office, defend the public interest. And it's clear what is public interest today, we have to survive."

Raw materials behind half of global emissions: United Nations

Tens of thousands of people marched through the heavy rain in Amsterdam Sunday, calling on the Dutch government to act to counter the effects of climate change.

The organisers, including Greenpeace and a number of Dutch groups, said around 40,000 turned out for the demonstration, the first of its kind in the Netherlands.

"The high turnout is the proof that people now want a decisive policy on climate from the government," they said in a statement.

The Netherlands is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, as part of the country lies below sea level and some of its lands has been reclaimed from the sea.

"We are under sea level, so we really need to do something about it," said one demonstrator, Esther Leverstein, a 21-year-old climate studies student at Amsterdam University.

"We're great with water (management) but we need to step up our game."

Gert van Rees, a 72-year-old pensioner, said she was concerned for future generations.

"We have seven grand-children and sometimes we are really worried. So that's why we are here, it really should change."

In February, around 15,000 school students skipped school to march for action on climate change, following the example of their fellow students across the border in Belgium.

A second youth march for the climate is scheduled for Thursday in Amsterdam.

Tens of thousands of people marched through the heavy rain in Amsterdam Sunday, calling on the Dutch government to act to counter the effects of climate change. The organisers, including Greenpeace and a number of Dutch groups, said around 40,000 turned out for the demonstration, the first of its kind in the Netherlands.

Tens of thousands of people marched through the heavy rain in Amsterdam Sunday, calling on the Dutch government to act to counter the effects of climate change. The organisers, including Greenpeace and a number of Dutch groups, said around 40,000 turned out for the demonstration, the first of its kind in the Netherlands. "The high turnout is the proof that people now want a decisive policy on climate from the government," they said in a statement. The Netherlands is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, as part of the country lies below sea level and some of its lands has been reclaimed from the sea. "We are under sea level, so we really need to do something about it," said one demonstrator, Esther Leverstein, a 21-year-old climate studies student at Amsterdam University. "We're great with water (management) but we need to step up our game." Gert van Rees, a 72-year-old pensioner, said she was concerned for future generations. "We have seven grand-children and sometimes we are really worried. So that's why we are here, it really should change." In February, around 15,000 school students skipped school to march for action on climate change, following the example of their fellow students across the border in Belgium. A second youth march for the climate is scheduled for Thursday in Amsterdam.

40,000 join first national climate march in Amsterdam

Invisible to people but deadly to marine life, ocean heatwaves have damaged ecosystems across the globe and are poised to become even more destructive, according to the first study to measure worldwide impacts with a single yardstick.

The number of marine heatwave days has increased by more than 50 per cent since the mid-20th century, researchers reported in the journal Nature Climate Change.

"Globally, marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and prolonged, and record-breaking events have been observed in most ocean basins in the past decade," said lead author Dan Smale, a researcher at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, Britain.

Above the ocean watermark, on Earth's surface, 18 of the last 19 years have been the warmest on record, leading to more severe storms, droughts, heatwaves and flooding.&nbsp;

"Just as atmospheric heatwaves can destroy crops, forests and animal populations, marine heatwaves can devastate ocean ecosystems," Smale told AFP.

Compared to hot spells over land, which have claimed tens of thousands of lives since the start of the century, ocean heatwaves have received scant scientific attention.

But sustained spikes in sea-surface temperatures can also have devastating consequences.

A 10-week marine heatwave near western Australia in 2011, for example, shattered an entire ecosystem and permanently pushed commercial fish species into colder waters.

Corals have been the marquee victims of shallow-water heatwaves, and face a bleak future. Even if humanity manages to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius -- mission impossible, according to some scientists -- up to 90 per cent of corals are likely to die, the UN's top climate science body said in October.

But other bedrock species have suffered too: the 2011 surge of heat killed off large swathes of seagrass meadows and kelp forests, along with the finfish and abalone that depend on them.

Heat sponge

Another ocean hot spell off the coast of California warmed waters by 6 C (10.8 F) and lasted for more than a year.&nbsp;

Known as "The Blob", it generated toxic algae blooms, caused the closure of crab fisheries, and led to the death of sea lions, whales and sea birds.

More frequent and intense ocean heatwaves also have a direct impact on people by reducing fisheries harvests and adding to global warming, the researchers noted.

"Species of fish and crustaceans targeted for human consumption may be locally wiped out," Smale said.

"And carbon stored by seagrasses and mangroves may be released if they are hit by extreme temperatures."

To determine the full extent of marine heatwave impacts across different oceans, Smale and an international team from 19 research centres crunched data from more than 1,000 field studies that reported on how organisms and ecosystem responded. &nbsp;

By definition, marine heatwaves last at least five days. Seawater temperatures for a given location are "extremely high" -- the top 5-to-10 per cent on record for that time and place. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Marine heatwaves can penetrate to hundreds of metres, though for our analysis we used data which only captures warming at the surface," Smale said.

As manmade global warming heats the planet, oceans have absorbed some 90 per cent of the extra heat generated.&nbsp;

Without that heat sponge, air temperatures would be intolerably higher.

Even if humanity does manage to cap global warming at "well below" 2C (3.6 F), as called for in the Paris climate treaty, marine heatwaves will sharply increase in frequency, intensity and duration, earlier research has shown.

Invisible to people but deadly to marine life, ocean heatwaves have damaged ecosystems across the globe and are poised to become even more destructive, according to the first study to measure worldwide impacts with a single yardstick.

Invisible to people but deadly to marine life, ocean heatwaves have damaged ecosystems across the globe and are poised to become even more destructive, according to the first study to measure worldwide impacts with a single yardstick. The number of marine heatwave days has increased by more than 50 per cent since the mid-20th century, researchers reported in the journal Nature Climate Change. "Globally, marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and prolonged, and record-breaking events have been observed in most ocean basins in the past decade," said lead author Dan Smale, a researcher at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, Britain. Above the ocean watermark, on Earth's surface, 18 of the last 19 years have been the warmest on record, leading to more severe storms, droughts, heatwaves and flooding. "Just as atmospheric heatwaves can destroy crops, forests and animal populations, marine heatwaves can devastate ocean ecosystems," Smale told AFP. Compared to hot spells over land, which have claimed tens of thousands of lives since the start of the century, ocean heatwaves have received scant scientific attention. But sustained spikes in sea-surface temperatures can also have devastating consequences. A 10-week marine heatwave near western Australia in 2011, for example, shattered an entire ecosystem and permanently pushed commercial fish species into colder waters. Corals have been the marquee victims of shallow-water heatwaves, and face a bleak future. Even if humanity manages to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius -- mission impossible, according to some scientists -- up to 90 per cent of corals are likely to die, the UN's top climate science body said in October. But other bedrock species have suffered too: the 2011 surge of heat killed off large swathes of seagrass meadows and kelp forests, along with the finfish and abalone that depend on them. Heat sponge Another ocean hot spell off the coast of California warmed waters by 6 C (10.8 F) and lasted for more than a year. Known as "The Blob", it generated toxic algae blooms, caused the closure of crab fisheries, and led to the death of sea lions, whales and sea birds. More frequent and intense ocean heatwaves also have a direct impact on people by reducing fisheries harvests and adding to global warming, the researchers noted. "Species of fish and crustaceans targeted for human consumption may be locally wiped out," Smale said. "And carbon stored by seagrasses and mangroves may be released if they are hit by extreme temperatures." To determine the full extent of marine heatwave impacts across different oceans, Smale and an international team from 19 research centres crunched data from more than 1,000 field studies that reported on how organisms and ecosystem responded. By definition, marine heatwaves last at least five days. Seawater temperatures for a given location are "extremely high" -- the top 5-to-10 per cent on record for that time and place. "Marine heatwaves can penetrate to hundreds of metres, though for our analysis we used data which only captures warming at the surface," Smale said. As manmade global warming heats the planet, oceans have absorbed some 90 per cent of the extra heat generated. Without that heat sponge, air temperatures would be intolerably higher. Even if humanity does manage to cap global warming at "well below" 2C (3.6 F), as called for in the Paris climate treaty, marine heatwaves will sharply increase in frequency, intensity and duration, earlier research has shown.

Ocean heatwaves devastate wildlife, worse to come

The Australian government on Monday announced a climate change plan injection of $1.4 billion over 10 years to reduce the country’s emissions by 2030.

"My government acknowledges that we must accept the facts of climate change, address it, and we do so with cool heads not just impassioned hearts," said Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who insisted that Australians don’t have to choose between the economy and the environment.&nbsp;

The Climate Solutions Fund, which is an extension of the Emissions Reduction Fund created in 2014 by then-prime minister Tony Abbott when he abolished carbon tax, aims to reduce emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2030.

This fund will finance local governments, businesses and ranchers to implement vegetation projects to reduce fires or replace their lighting and cooling systems.

The measure was described as "too little, too late" by the Climate Council, an independent body created following the dissolution of a government climate commission ordered by Abbott, one of Australia's advocates of coal production.

"The Federal Government has failed to tackle climate change because it has not focused on reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, particularly in sectors like electricity and transport,” said the council's executive director, Amanda McKenzie in a statement.

"Australia continues to spew more and more pollution into the atmosphere," McKenzie said.

“Mr Morrison continues to use the same disingenuous language claiming that Australia will meet its Paris climate targets “at a canter."

“When it comes to dealing with climate change, we haven’t even saddled the horse. The government’s own projections show we are not on track to meet our targets,” said McKenzie.

Morrison made the announcement amid differences in the Liberal Party over energy policies and less than three months before the next elections, in which the high cost of electricity, largely generated with coal, is one of the major concerns of voters.

Differences over energy policies have been key in the fall of several prime ministers in the last decade, both Labor and Liberal, in a country that is one of the world's major polluters per capita and with a delay in the transition to clean energy.

The Australian government on Monday announced a climate change plan injection of $1.4 billion over 10 years to reduce the country’s emissions by 2030. "My government acknowledges that we must accept the facts of climate change, address it, and we do so with cool heads not just impassioned hearts," said Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who insisted that Australians don’t have to choose between the economy and the environment.

The Australian government on Monday announced a climate change plan injection of $1.4 billion over 10 years to reduce the country’s emissions by 2030. "My government acknowledges that we must accept the facts of climate change, address it, and we do so with cool heads not just impassioned hearts," said Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who insisted that Australians don’t have to choose between the economy and the environment. The Climate Solutions Fund, which is an extension of the Emissions Reduction Fund created in 2014 by then-prime minister Tony Abbott when he abolished carbon tax, aims to reduce emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2030. This fund will finance local governments, businesses and ranchers to implement vegetation projects to reduce fires or replace their lighting and cooling systems. The measure was described as "too little, too late" by the Climate Council, an independent body created following the dissolution of a government climate commission ordered by Abbott, one of Australia's advocates of coal production. "The Federal Government has failed to tackle climate change because it has not focused on reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, particularly in sectors like electricity and transport,” said the council's executive director, Amanda McKenzie in a statement. "Australia continues to spew more and more pollution into the atmosphere," McKenzie said. “Mr Morrison continues to use the same disingenuous language claiming that Australia will meet its Paris climate targets “at a canter." “When it comes to dealing with climate change, we haven’t even saddled the horse. The government’s own projections show we are not on track to meet our targets,” said McKenzie. Morrison made the announcement amid differences in the Liberal Party over energy policies and less than three months before the next elections, in which the high cost of electricity, largely generated with coal, is one of the major concerns of voters. Differences over energy policies have been key in the fall of several prime ministers in the last decade, both Labor and Liberal, in a country that is one of the world's major polluters per capita and with a delay in the transition to clean energy.

Australia pledges $1.4 billion injection against climate change

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg brought her class-boycott campaign to Paris on Friday, hoping to encourage more French students to hit the streets with demands for bold efforts to combat global warming.

The Friday protests that the 16-year-old Swede launched in August have gained little traction so far in France, where the landmark COP21 international accord on cutting emissions was signed in 2015.

After urging the EU in Brussels to move more aggressively on greenhouse gas cuts on Thursday, Thunberg then travelled to Paris where she met up with young activists from France, Belgium and Germany for a march which was also joined by French actress Juliette Binoche.&nbsp;

"I never thought it would get so big and I think it's amazing," she said of her campaign, speaking to journalists ahead of the march. "We, children, we should not have to do this, adults should be taking responsibility."

A crowd of around 1,000 people took part in the protest in central Paris, one of dozens planned in cities across Europe as part of her "Fridays For Future" movement.

But outside Paris, only two other class-cutting marches have been organised -- one in Beauvais just north of Paris and one in the southwestern city of Dax.

Last Friday, only around 200 students protested outside the environment ministry in Paris.

'It takes time to mobilise'

"I don't know why young people mobilise massively in some countries and not others," Thunberg said in an interview with Le Parisien which was published on Friday.

"France, the country of COP21, needs to do what it says it will," she added.

Under the 2015 Paris deal to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the 28-nation EU has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990.

Still, France's climate efforts have come increasingly under the spotlight since August when high-profile green activist Nicolas Hulot resigned abruptly as environment minister saying the government was not making enough progress.&nbsp;

"There have been other social movements which were very active" in France, said 22-year-old Romaric Thurel, one of the coordinators of Youth For Climate France.

"France is a big country and it takes time to mobilise, but we feel a shift."

'Any concrete promise'

Thunberg's determined campaign to hold adults accountable for looming climate change consequences has gained global resonance since she began skipping class for weekly Friday protests in Stockholm six months ago.

She made global headlines in December with a strong-willed speech at a UN climate meeting in Poland, and last month took her message to the top corporate echelons at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In the last six months, tens of thousands of high school students -- in Sydney, Brussels, Berlin, The Hague, London and other cities -- have followed her lead.&nbsp;

On Thursday, she joined around 7,500 Belgian student activists who staged a march in Brussels, their seventh such protest.

"I think it is very good that the young protest in the streets of Europe to defend the environment," European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday, urging adults to join them.

But despite the enthusiastic reception, Thunberg said she had received a little indication on Thursday that EU leaders were ready to heed her call for faster action.

"I didn't hear any concrete promise by political leaders and officials; they only say that they are going to try their best," she said.

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg brought her class-boycott campaign to Paris on Friday, hoping to encourage more French students to hit the streets with demands for bold efforts to combat global warming.

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg brought her class-boycott campaign to Paris on Friday, hoping to encourage more French students to hit the streets with demands for bold efforts to combat global warming. The Friday protests that the 16-year-old Swede launched in August have gained little traction so far in France, where the landmark COP21 international accord on cutting emissions was signed in 2015. After urging the EU in Brussels to move more aggressively on greenhouse gas cuts on Thursday, Thunberg then travelled to Paris where she met up with young activists from France, Belgium and Germany for a march which was also joined by French actress Juliette Binoche. "I never thought it would get so big and I think it's amazing," she said of her campaign, speaking to journalists ahead of the march. "We, children, we should not have to do this, adults should be taking responsibility." A crowd of around 1,000 people took part in the protest in central Paris, one of dozens planned in cities across Europe as part of her "Fridays For Future" movement. But outside Paris, only two other class-cutting marches have been organised -- one in Beauvais just north of Paris and one in the southwestern city of Dax. Last Friday, only around 200 students protested outside the environment ministry in Paris. 'It takes time to mobilise' "I don't know why young people mobilise massively in some countries and not others," Thunberg said in an interview with Le Parisien which was published on Friday. "France, the country of COP21, needs to do what it says it will," she added. Under the 2015 Paris deal to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the 28-nation EU has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990. Still, France's climate efforts have come increasingly under the spotlight since August when high-profile green activist Nicolas Hulot resigned abruptly as environment minister saying the government was not making enough progress. "There have been other social movements which were very active" in France, said 22-year-old Romaric Thurel, one of the coordinators of Youth For Climate France. "France is a big country and it takes time to mobilise, but we feel a shift." 'Any concrete promise' Thunberg's determined campaign to hold adults accountable for looming climate change consequences has gained global resonance since she began skipping class for weekly Friday protests in Stockholm six months ago. She made global headlines in December with a strong-willed speech at a UN climate meeting in Poland, and last month took her message to the top corporate echelons at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In the last six months, tens of thousands of high school students -- in Sydney, Brussels, Berlin, The Hague, London and other cities -- have followed her lead. On Thursday, she joined around 7,500 Belgian student activists who staged a march in Brussels, their seventh such protest. "I think it is very good that the young protest in the streets of Europe to defend the environment," European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday, urging adults to join them. But despite the enthusiastic reception, Thunberg said she had received a little indication on Thursday that EU leaders were ready to heed her call for faster action. "I didn't hear any concrete promise by political leaders and officials; they only say that they are going to try their best," she said.

Swedish teenager brings climate action campaign to France

By Arek Sinanian

For many years now, the image of a lonely polar bear standing on a small body of ice floating in the arctic has been invariably attached to articles and discussions about climate change. It now appears that the repeated image was more prophetic and certainly more ominous than the world — and this author — had assumed. While such images had a tinge of pathos and perhaps represented some form of a metaphor, now it appears that polar bears may indeed be the new canary in the coal mine (pun unintended) for climate change as they become desperate for food and taking extraordinary measures for survival.

In my book, A Climate for Denial, I explore the questions dealing with evidence of climate change. We are starting, sooner than expected, to observe numerous indicators of climate change impacts other than the data on observed sea level rises, polar ice caps melting and more severe weather conditions such as heat waves and, yes, even severe winter conditions.

As an indication of problems in the Arctic, there has in the past week been an unprecedented event where a remote Russian region of Novaya Zemlya has declared a state of emergency after what a local resident referred to as an “invasion” by polar bears. Belushya Guba, a military town on the archipelago, recorded at least 52 bear sightings on its streets since December. With Arctic sea ice diminishing as a result of climate change, polar bears are apparently being forced to change their hunting habits and spend more time on land looking for food.

In spring of 2014, 2015 and 2016, researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz tracked the hunting patterns of polar bears and their survival rates. They captured nine females on Beaufort Sea ice and measured the metabolic rates of each bear using blood and urine samples. They also fitted the bears with GPS-cameras to record and film their activity for 8-12 days, while metabolic tracers tracked the bears’ energy use. They found that polar bears actually have higher energy demands than previously thought, meaning they need to be catching a lot of food, such as seals.

It has been recorded that the extent of Arctic sea ice, as measured at its minimum in September, is decreasing at a rate of about 14% per decade, which is likely reducing polar bears’ access to seals. And their plight could be exacerbated by the need to alter hunting strategies with the seasons.

The researchers found that in the spring, polar bears are mostly preying on juvenile seals. But later in the year, after the bears’ long summer fast, those young seals are older and wiser, and the hunters are not able to catch as many. It’s thought that bears might catch a couple per month in the fall, compared to five to 10 per month in the spring and early summer. As demonstrated by the data gathered through the new technology that allows scientists to see how the animals move on the ice, tracking their activity patterns and energy needs, most of the bears were unable to catch enough prey to meet their energy needs.

In a recent paper published in February 2018 in Science magazine, the authors concluded: “Regional declines in polar bear populations have been attributed to changing sea ice conditions, but with limited information on the causative mechanisms. … Activity and movement on the sea ice strongly influenced metabolic demands. Consequently, increases in mobility resulting from ongoing and forecasted declines in and fragmentation of sea ice are likely to increase energy demands and may be an important factor explaining observed declines in body condition and survival.”

I’m often asked why we are so concerned with a degree or two of global warming because, intuitively, it doesn’t make sense that such a minor change in the average temperature of the earth would be such a big deal. Well, it turns out that apart from significant changes in the climate, the effects on the ecology are enormous. And the gradual melting of the ice in the Arctic and its impact on polar bears is just one example.

There are numerous other “canaries” that are starting to show signs of a deteriorating situation worldwide. A University of Edinburgh study found that migrating birds are responding to the effects of climate change by arriving at their breeding grounds earlier as global temperatures rise. This early arrival is causing some to miss out on food.

Climate change has also been identified as one of the factors that are driving considerable loss of habitat and extinction of death in bees and other insects. Insects are also the victims of extensive use of pesticides, deforestation and the clearing of land for intensive agriculture. The death of insects has clear and immediate impacts on human production of food and the survival of many other animals, including birds. The University of Edinburgh study, which looked at hundreds of species across five continents, found that birds are reaching their summer breeding grounds on average about one day earlier per degree of increasing global temperature.

There is no doubt that we will continue to see many other “canaries” or “polar bears” in years to come as the climate changes. What is perhaps more important is whether we are then compelled to take more direct and urgent action and leave the mine.

 
(Arek Sinanian is the author of “A Climate for Denial” and an international expert on climate change)

(This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/europe/russia-polar-bear-attack-climate-change-global-warming-environment-news-15241/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

By Arek Sinanian For many years now, the image of a lonely polar bear standing on a small body of ice floating in the arctic has been invariably attached to articles and discussions about climate change.

By Arek Sinanian For many years now, the image of a lonely polar bear standing on a small body of ice floating in the arctic has been invariably attached to articles and discussions about climate change. It now appears that the repeated image was more prophetic and certainly more ominous than the world — and this author — had assumed. While such images had a tinge of pathos and perhaps represented some form of a metaphor, now it appears that polar bears may indeed be the new canary in the coal mine (pun unintended) for climate change as they become desperate for food and taking extraordinary measures for survival. In my book, A Climate for Denial, I explore the questions dealing with evidence of climate change. We are starting, sooner than expected, to observe numerous indicators of climate change impacts other than the data on observed sea level rises, polar ice caps melting and more severe weather conditions such as heat waves and, yes, even severe winter conditions. As an indication of problems in the Arctic, there has in the past week been an unprecedented event where a remote Russian region of Novaya Zemlya has declared a state of emergency after what a local resident referred to as an “invasion” by polar bears. Belushya Guba, a military town on the archipelago, recorded at least 52 bear sightings on its streets since December. With Arctic sea ice diminishing as a result of climate change, polar bears are apparently being forced to change their hunting habits and spend more time on land looking for food. In spring of 2014, 2015 and 2016, researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz tracked the hunting patterns of polar bears and their survival rates. They captured nine females on Beaufort Sea ice and measured the metabolic rates of each bear using blood and urine samples. They also fitted the bears with GPS-cameras to record and film their activity for 8-12 days, while metabolic tracers tracked the bears’ energy use. They found that polar bears actually have higher energy demands than previously thought, meaning they need to be catching a lot of food, such as seals. It has been recorded that the extent of Arctic sea ice, as measured at its minimum in September, is decreasing at a rate of about 14% per decade, which is likely reducing polar bears’ access to seals. And their plight could be exacerbated by the need to alter hunting strategies with the seasons. The researchers found that in the spring, polar bears are mostly preying on juvenile seals. But later in the year, after the bears’ long summer fast, those young seals are older and wiser, and the hunters are not able to catch as many. It’s thought that bears might catch a couple per month in the fall, compared to five to 10 per month in the spring and early summer. As demonstrated by the data gathered through the new technology that allows scientists to see how the animals move on the ice, tracking their activity patterns and energy needs, most of the bears were unable to catch enough prey to meet their energy needs. In a recent paper published in February 2018 in Science magazine, the authors concluded: “Regional declines in polar bear populations have been attributed to changing sea ice conditions, but with limited information on the causative mechanisms. … Activity and movement on the sea ice strongly influenced metabolic demands. Consequently, increases in mobility resulting from ongoing and forecasted declines in and fragmentation of sea ice are likely to increase energy demands and may be an important factor explaining observed declines in body condition and survival.” I’m often asked why we are so concerned with a degree or two of global warming because, intuitively, it doesn’t make sense that such a minor change in the average temperature of the earth would be such a big deal. Well, it turns out that apart from significant changes in the climate, the effects on the ecology are enormous. And the gradual melting of the ice in the Arctic and its impact on polar bears is just one example. There are numerous other “canaries” that are starting to show signs of a deteriorating situation worldwide. A University of Edinburgh study found that migrating birds are responding to the effects of climate change by arriving at their breeding grounds earlier as global temperatures rise. This early arrival is causing some to miss out on food. Climate change has also been identified as one of the factors that are driving considerable loss of habitat and extinction of death in bees and other insects. Insects are also the victims of extensive use of pesticides, deforestation and the clearing of land for intensive agriculture. The death of insects has clear and immediate impacts on human production of food and the survival of many other animals, including birds. The University of Edinburgh study, which looked at hundreds of species across five continents, found that birds are reaching their summer breeding grounds on average about one day earlier per degree of increasing global temperature. There is no doubt that we will continue to see many other “canaries” or “polar bears” in years to come as the climate changes. What is perhaps more important is whether we are then compelled to take more direct and urgent action and leave the mine. (Arek Sinanian is the author of “A Climate for Denial” and an international expert on climate change) (This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Polar bear 'invasion': How climate change is forcing them to change their hunting habits

WION Fineprint, 13th February, 2019

Laurence Tubiana, former French ambassador to COP 21 negotiations or the Paris climate negotiations spoke exclusively to WION diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibal on climate change, India's solar agenda and the&nbsp;relationship between health and pollution policy.&nbsp;

Wion: What has changed since the Paris Climate accord?

Laurence Tubiana: I think what has changed in Paris is that in every country, government, city mayors they consider climate change as a major risk. We see the impact already and all countries thinking about how they can contribute to fighting against climate change. That is an achievement from Paris.

Of course, at the same time, we see some government, in particular, the US govt that has decided to withdraw from Paris agreement. That is a concern and it is really important that all countries stick together.

Even if Washington agreement has said no to Paris, you see, an enormous evolution within the US society, at state, business, the investor just want to go in another direction. Climate change is not a problem of government, or diplomacy but of every citizen. We live in a totally different world for the last three years.

Wion: How was it being a woman at the Paris Climate negotiations?

Laurence Tubiana: It was not always easy, but in a way, I learnt and they learnt to listen to me seriously. I could contribute that I wasn't partisan of a top-down approach. I was partisan of a where countries are, where the governments were. Finally, they respected me and now I have many friends all over the world to support that agreement.

Wion: How do you see India's policy on climate change?&nbsp;

Laurence Tubiana: India can do a lot. India can bet on good technology and need to provide clean air to everyone. And in a way, India is looking at future and future is low carbon economy. I'm comforted by the fact that climate is now part of many policies in India.

I was with Niti Aayog and climate is embedded in the sustainable development mission of India. India can do much more, like India's role in the deployment of renewable energy especially rural areas can play a massive role. India has enormous potential. India is showing how to leapfrog.

PM Modi sent a strong political message when he spoke on electric cars. India can be an example for the world.

Wion: How do you see India's International Solar Alliance(ISA) project?

Laurence Tubiana: This programme, ISA is interesting, it shows every country thinks together in this big problem. How we really deploy massively on solar energy. India is trying to find a financial solution to climate change. The solar alliance is having a productive effect since it has raised the profile of solar energy.&nbsp;

Wion: But are you disappointed that the world is not speaking in one voice on climate change?

Laurence Tubiana: I think, it's too slow, we are lagging behind on what we need to do. The IPCC report, an Indian scientist view is to accelerate all over the world. It is not about global threats but actual damage to everyone's life.

Climate policy can go hand in hand with health policy. Delhi is a polluted city, Paris is a polluted city. We have to take into citizens well being. We have to change the mindset. India can show the lead.

Laurence Tubiana, former French ambassador to COP 21 negotiations or the Paris climate negotiations spoke exclusively to WION diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibal on climate change, India's solar agenda and the relationship between health and pollution policy.

Laurence Tubiana, former French ambassador to COP 21 negotiations or the Paris climate negotiations spoke exclusively to WION diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibal on climate change, India's solar agenda and the relationship between health and pollution policy. Wion: What has changed since the Paris Climate accord? Laurence Tubiana: I think what has changed in Paris is that in every country, government, city mayors they consider climate change as a major risk. We see the impact already and all countries thinking about how they can contribute to fighting against climate change. That is an achievement from Paris. Of course, at the same time, we see some government, in particular, the US govt that has decided to withdraw from Paris agreement. That is a concern and it is really important that all countries stick together. Even if Washington agreement has said no to Paris, you see, an enormous evolution within the US society, at state, business, the investor just want to go in another direction. Climate change is not a problem of government, or diplomacy but of every citizen. We live in a totally different world for the last three years. Wion: How was it being a woman at the Paris Climate negotiations? Laurence Tubiana: It was not always easy, but in a way, I learnt and they learnt to listen to me seriously. I could contribute that I wasn't partisan of a top-down approach. I was partisan of a where countries are, where the governments were. Finally, they respected me and now I have many friends all over the world to support that agreement. Wion: How do you see India's policy on climate change? Laurence Tubiana: India can do a lot. India can bet on good technology and need to provide clean air to everyone. And in a way, India is looking at future and future is low carbon economy. I'm comforted by the fact that climate is now part of many policies in India. I was with Niti Aayog and climate is embedded in the sustainable development mission of India. India can do much more, like India's role in the deployment of renewable energy especially rural areas can play a massive role. India has enormous potential. India is showing how to leapfrog. PM Modi sent a strong political message when he spoke on electric cars. India can be an example for the world. Wion: How do you see India's International Solar Alliance(ISA) project? Laurence Tubiana: This programme, ISA is interesting, it shows every country thinks together in this big problem. How we really deploy massively on solar energy. India is trying to find a financial solution to climate change. The solar alliance is having a productive effect since it has raised the profile of solar energy. Wion: But are you disappointed that the world is not speaking in one voice on climate change? Laurence Tubiana: I think, it's too slow, we are lagging behind on what we need to do. The IPCC report, an Indian scientist view is to accelerate all over the world. It is not about global threats but actual damage to everyone's life. Climate policy can go hand in hand with health policy. Delhi is a polluted city, Paris is a polluted city. We have to take into citizens well being. We have to change the mindset. India can show the lead.

India can show the lead, says French diplomat Tubiana who led Paris climate change negotiations

Climate change and rising sea levels could destroy the mangroves of Sundarbans, the last coastal stronghold of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sundarbans-world-heritage-forest-declared-pirate-free-by-bangladesh-19469">Bengal tiger</a> in India and Bangladesh, according to a study published by the James Cook University on Monday.

The littoral habitat of the predator, the world's biggest cat, could be completely destroyed over the next five decades, the study by the Australian university found.

"Fewer than 4,000 Bengal tigers are alive today," said JCU's Professor Bill Laurance, a co-author of the study.

The scientist said that the animal was now "mainly confined to small areas of India and Bangladesh" and warned that the Tigers were getting a "double whammy - greater human encroachment on the one hand and a worsening climate and associated sea-level rises on the other."

"Beyond climate change, the Sundarbans are under growing pressure from industrial developments, new roads, and greater poaching," Laurance added in a statement by the university.

The study's lead author, Sharif Mukul, of the Independent University Bangladesh, said that the Sundarbans region, which spans over 10,000 square kilometres (3,861 square miles), is the biggest mangrove forest on the planet and is "the most critical area for Bengal tiger survival."

"What is most terrifying is that our analyses suggest tiger habitats in the Sundarbans will vanish entirely by 2070," he added in the statement.

The study is based on computer simulations to assess the future suitability of the low-lying Sundarban region for tigers and their prey species and uses mainstream estimates of climatic trends from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The researchers' analyses also included factors such as extreme weather events and sea-level rise. In spite&nbsp;of the&nbsp;bleak forecast, the researchers are still hopeful of the Bengal tiger's survival.

"The more of the Sundarbans that can be conserved-via new protected areas and reducing illegal poaching-the more resilient it will be to future climatic extremes and rising sea levels," Laurance said.

"There is no other place like the Sundarbans left on Earth,' said Professor Laurance. 'We have to look after this iconic ecosystem if we want amazing animals like the Bengal tiger to have a chance of survival," he concluded.

Climate change and rising sea levels could destroy the mangroves of Sundarbans, the last coastal stronghold of the Bengal tiger in India and Bangladesh, according to a study published by the James Cook University on Monday.

Climate change and rising sea levels could destroy the mangroves of Sundarbans, the last coastal stronghold of the Bengal tiger in India and Bangladesh, according to a study published by the James Cook University on Monday. The littoral habitat of the predator, the world's biggest cat, could be completely destroyed over the next five decades, the study by the Australian university found. "Fewer than 4,000 Bengal tigers are alive today," said JCU's Professor Bill Laurance, a co-author of the study. The scientist said that the animal was now "mainly confined to small areas of India and Bangladesh" and warned that the Tigers were getting a "double whammy - greater human encroachment on the one hand and a worsening climate and associated sea-level rises on the other." "Beyond climate change, the Sundarbans are under growing pressure from industrial developments, new roads, and greater poaching," Laurance added in a statement by the university. The study's lead author, Sharif Mukul, of the Independent University Bangladesh, said that the Sundarbans region, which spans over 10,000 square kilometres (3,861 square miles), is the biggest mangrove forest on the planet and is "the most critical area for Bengal tiger survival." "What is most terrifying is that our analyses suggest tiger habitats in the Sundarbans will vanish entirely by 2070," he added in the statement. The study is based on computer simulations to assess the future suitability of the low-lying Sundarban region for tigers and their prey species and uses mainstream estimates of climatic trends from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The researchers' analyses also included factors such as extreme weather events and sea-level rise. In spite of the bleak forecast, the researchers are still hopeful of the Bengal tiger's survival. "The more of the Sundarbans that can be conserved-via new protected areas and reducing illegal poaching-the more resilient it will be to future climatic extremes and rising sea levels," Laurance said. "There is no other place like the Sundarbans left on Earth,' said Professor Laurance. 'We have to look after this iconic ecosystem if we want amazing animals like the Bengal tiger to have a chance of survival," he concluded.

Climate change threatens Sundarbans, coastal home of endangered Royal Bengal tiger: Study

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