Anthropogenic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions fell globally in 2019, reveals a new analysis of NASA satellite data by Greenpeace India and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). In 2019 human-made SO2 emissions fell in all three of the world’s top SO2 emitter countries - India, Russia and China - the report shows. "While heartening at first glance, the drop … [Read more...]
Gift of the Givers teams to aid earthquake-shaken Indonesia
A volcano has erupted on the same island in Indonesia where an earthquake and tsunami last week killed at least 1400 people. Gift of the Givers has responded to a call for assistance from the President of Indonesia. Gift of the Givers search and rescue teams are heading for Indonesia today with highly specialised equipment, accompanied by a select number of medical … [Read more...]
British company still exporting dangerous lead in petrol
A British company made millions this year selling a dangerous chemical linked to brain damage and premature death to a developing country, despite repeatedly stating it would stop. Innospec claims to be the only company in the world that manufactures a fuel additive called tetraethyl lead (TEL) — which is the lead in leaded petrol. TEL can be added to fuel to improve … [Read more...]
As Indonesia burns, its government moves to increase forest destruction
In the midst of its worst fire crisis in living memory, the Indonesian government is taking a leap backward on forest protection. The recently signed Council of Palm Oil Producing Nations between Indonesia and Malaysia, signed at the weekend in Kuala Lumpur, will attempt to wind back palm oil companies' pledges to end deforestation. This is despite Indonesia’s efforts to end … [Read more...]
Orangutans are dying as Indonesia burns
Indonesia is on fire. Right now, tens of thousands of small forest fires are burning across the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, the only habitats for orangutans and other rare species. Many of the fires appear to have been intentionally set by palm oil companies, which employ slash-and-burn agriculture to clear land of native trees to plant their cash crop, which is used as an … [Read more...]
Deforestation in Indonesia ‘highest in the world’
The rate of deforestation in Indonesia is now the highest in the world, alleges the journal Nature Climate Change. The study claims Indonesia lost 840,000 hectares of forest in 2012 compared to 460,000 hectares in Brazil. In response, Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Yuyun Indradi, said: “These findings are an urgent wake up call. Forest destruction is driving … [Read more...]
Indonesian forest fire solution far from reality
Peatlands are perhaps the world’s most critical carbon stores and are typically saturated with water, but become prone to fire when cleared and drained for industrial scale plantations for palm oil and pulp and paper. Protecting Indonesia’s carbon rich peatlands is key to reducing the chance of fires responsible for the Haze Wave, but there is still no legal protection of … [Read more...]
SA municipalities commit to sustainable energy action
Over 45 representatives from national, provincial, and local government, research organisations, NGO’s and the private sector joined ICLEI Africa last month in Ekurhuleni to formally launch the start of the South African component of ICLEI’s flagship global project “Promoting Urban Low Emission Development Strategies in emerging economy countries,” or “Urban-LEDS.” Hosted by … [Read more...]
International Year of the Rhino begins
Considering the perilous state of the world's rhinos, and the utterly dire situation for several sub-species, giving rhinos their own year is pretty much the least we can do, but there it is. Coinciding with World Environment Day (being celebrated in Rio), the government of Indonesia, in cooperation with a number of conservation groups, including WWF, has declared 5 June the … [Read more...]
World’s dirtiest river
The Citarum River, in West Java, Indonesia, is heavily polluted by human activity; about five million people live in the basin of the river. This river has an important role in the life of the people of West Java, as it is used to support agriculture, water supply, fishery, industry, sewerage, electricity etc. There are three hydroelectric powerplant dams installed along … [Read more...]
Hurray for the orangutan!
The palm oil arm of Sinar Mas, Golden Agri-Resources, has announced a plan to halt the destruction of Indonesia's forests, which was previously caused by their operations. In response Bustar Maitar, head of Greenpeace's campaign to protect Indonesian forests, said: 'This could be good news for the forests, endangered species like the orangutan and for the Indonesian … [Read more...]
