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At COP30, nations target the jet set with luxury flight tax

France, Spain and Kenya are among a group of countries spearheading a drive at the COP30 climate summit for a new tax on luxury air travel, a source close to the matter told AFP.

Trump hosts Hungary's Orban, eyes Russian oil sanctions carve-out

US President Donald Trump said he would consider giving Hungary a carve-out from sanctions on Russian oil, as Prime Minister Viktor Orban sought to cozy up to his right-wing ally at the White House on Friday.

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Belgian Christmas tree growers grapple with price spikes

Christmas tree producers in Belgium are struggling for seasonal cheer as they wrestle with the impact of high energy costs and inflation fuelled by the war in Ukraine.

After year of climate disasters, world off-track to curb warming

Catastrophic floods, crop-wilting droughts and record heatwaves this year have shown that climate change warnings are increasingly becoming reality and this is "just the beginning", experts say, as international efforts to cut planet-heating emissions founder.

'Humanity has become a weapon of mass extinction,' warns UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday slammed multinational corporations for turning the world's ecosystems into "playthings of profit" and warned failure to correct course would lead to catastrophic results.

How tackling invasive species on land can spark 'stunning' improvements at sea

Restoring islands devastated by invasive species and helping coastal "connectors" like seabirds boosts nature on land and at sea -- and may be a new way to increase resilience to climate change, researchers said Monday.

Tesla hoping its electric Semi will be heavy duty 'game changer'

US automaker Tesla on Thursday delivered its first battery-powered heavy duty truck, dubbed "Semi," and built to tackle long hauls with the handling of a sporty sedan.

All churned up: Austrian oat milk ad draws farmers' ire

Austrian farmers were left fuming after an advert for winter tourism featured oat -- instead of cow's -- milk, in what industry representatives sourly slammed as an "affront to Tyrolean farmers".

Chile and Bolivia agree on river row, UN court says

Chile and Bolivia have agreed on the status of a disputed cross-border river, the International Court of Justice said on Thursday, adding that judges were not required to rule on the climate-fuelled row.

Disasters cost $268 billion in 2022: Swiss Re

Natural and man-made catastrophes have caused $268 billion of economic losses so far in 2022, chiefly driven by Hurricane Ian and other extreme weather disasters, reinsurance giant Swiss Re estimated Thursday.

Spiking costs, fading snow squeeze Austrian ski resorts

One of Austria's top ski resorts is making as much artificial snow as possible to lay a thick base on the slopes before its energy bills leap.

Tesla hoping electric 'Semi' will shake up heavy duty market

After years of delays, US automaker Tesla is expected on Thursday to deliver its first battery-powered semi truck, with which it hopes to get a jump start on the nascent electric heavy duty vehicle market by offering longer ranges without recharging.

How bringing back lost species revives ecosystems

Scientists often study the grim impacts of losing wildlife to hunting, habitat destruction and climate change. But what happens when endangered animals are brought back from the brink?

Crunch UN biodiversity meeting seeks to save 'planet in crisis'

Delegates from nearly 200 countries meet in Montreal next week to hammer out a new global biodiversity deal to protect ecosystems and species from further human destruction.

Brazilian Amazon deforestation falls, but up 60% under Bolsonaro

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon destroyed an area bigger than Qatar in the 12 months through July, according to official figures released Wednesday, which showed a decline from the year before -- but a sharp increase overall under outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro.

France sees hottest year on record in 2022

France this year experienced the hottest year since records began, the country's national weather service said Wednesday, as global warming stokes temperatures globally.

How film and TV can help the climate change battle

Fictional films and TV have immense power to shift attitudes on political issues, yet they remain little-used in debates over climate change.

William and Kate head to the US for first time in eight years

Prince William and his wife Kate head to the United States this week for their first visit in eight years, and the popular couple's inaugural trip as prince and princess of Wales.

Uranium-rich Niger struggles despite nuclear resurgence

Prospects for the world's nuclear industry have been boosted by the war in Ukraine and mounting hostility towards climate-wrecking fossil fuels -- but Niger, one of the world's biggest sources of uranium, has yet to feel the improvement.

Great Barrier Reef risks 'in danger' World Heritage listing

Australia's Great Barrier Reef should be added to a list of "in danger" World Heritage sites, according to UN experts who have warned the fading wonder has been "significantly impacted" by climate change.

Talks kick off on global plastic trash treaty

Despite decades of effort, plastic pollution is only getting worse -- a gloomy fact that representatives of almost 200 nations meeting in Uruguay Monday are determined to change.

Ukraine warns of fresh Russian missile strikes

Ukraine said on Monday that Russia was preparing for a fresh wave of missile attacks on its energy grid that have plunged swathes of the country into the cold and dark.

UK start-up behind algae-based packaging bids for Earthshot glory

A British start-up founded by two ex-students from France and Spain, crafting biodegradable packaging from marine plants, is aiming to seal royal approval this week when Prince William unveils his latest Earthshot prizes.

Costa Rica crocodiles survive in 'most polluted' river

In one of the most polluted rivers in Central America, a vulnerable crocodile species is thriving despite living in waters that have become a sewer for Costa Rica's capital, experts say.

Five key decisions at global wildlife summit

A global wildlife summit that ends Friday passed resolutions to protect hundreds of threatened species, including sharks, reptiles, turtles as well as trees.

'Where are the mackerel?' Alarm as Bosphorus fish stocks crash

Despondent Sunday anglers watch crestfallen as a trawler winches an enormous net out of the waters of the Bosphorus.

French-Lebanese architect seeks pro-climate construction transformation

Lina Ghotmeh has pegged her career on sustainable construction.

Twin crises: experts say nature and climate can't be siloed

Experts and activists were hoping UN climate talks would end last week with a prominent mention of biodiversity in the final text. They walked away disappointed.

Germany's Scholz dims lights on Christmas tree amid energy squeeze

The Christmas tree outside Chancellor Olaf Scholz's office in Berlin will not be lit as long this year, a government spokesman said Thursday, as Germany seeks to save energy through the winter.

Wildlife summit to vote on 'historic' shark protections

A summit on the international trade in endangered species will decide Thursday whether to ratify a "historic" proposal to protect sharks, a move that would drastically restrict the lucrative global shark fin trade.

A greener ride: West Africans switch on to electric motorbikes

Beninese hairdresser Edwige Govi makes a point these days of using electric motorbike taxis to get around Cotonou, saying she enjoys a ride that is quiet and clean.

Russia unveils new icebreaker in push for energy markets

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday oversaw the launch of a new nuclear-powered icebreaker as Russia pushes to develop the Arctic and seeks new energy markets amid sanctions over Ukraine.

I. Coast, Ghana ease tug-of-war with buyers over cocoa prices

Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world's two biggest cocoa producers, said Monday there had been progress towards resolving a tug-of-war with chocolate giants on prices.

US envoy urges Chinese cooperation on emissions cuts

US climate envoy John Kerry called on Beijing Sunday to "accelerate progress together" on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, following a meeting with his Chinese counterpart at COP27 in Egypt.

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