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Today

UK's Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker Prize for 'Orbital'

UK author Samantha Harvey, one of a record five women shortlisted for the Booker Prize, won the coveted award on Tuesday for her fifth novel, a "space pastoral" titled "Orbital", becoming the first woman to win the award since Margaret Atwood in 2019.

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Yesterday

Shell wins appeal against landmark Dutch climate ruling

A Dutch appeals court on Tuesday overturned a landmark ruling that ordered energy company Shell to cut its carbon emissions by net 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, while saying that "protection against dangerous climate change is a human right.” FRAN

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COP 29: Who pays for climate finance?

This year’s COP29 summit has been dubbed the “finance COP”. Negotiators must increase a $100 billion-a-year target to help developing nations prepare for worsening climate impacts and wean their economies off fossil fuels. How much will be on offer and w

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Dutch appeals court overturns landmark climate ruling against Shell

A Dutch appeals court on Tuesday (November 12) overturned a landmark ruling that ordered energy company Shell to cut its carbon emissions by net 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, while saying that "protection against dangerous climate change is a huma

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COP29 countries endorse global carbon market framework

The COP29 climate summit is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan this week. So far, the conference has given the go-ahead to establish 'carbon credit quality standards'. That could pave the way for the creation of a global carbon-trading market. But critics sa

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Climate change and the threat of ocean acidification

It is known by experts as an invisible threat - but one which is unravelling marine life, food chains and entire economies. That is the conclusion of new research on the critical threat of ocean acidification. Scientists discussed the problem at the COP1

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Oil giant Shell wins appeal against landmark Dutch climate ruling

A Dutch appeals court on Tuesday (November 12) overturned a landmark ruling that ordered energy company Shell to cut its carbon emissions by net 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, while saying that "protection against dangerous climate change is a huma

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Monday, november 11, 2024

US election leaves 'wide-open vacuum' for global climate leadership, activist says

The COP29 climate talks open Monday in Azerbaijan, under the long shadow cast by the re-election of Donald Trump, who has pledged to row back on the United States' carbon-cutting commitments. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports. Angela Diffley speaks to

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Can the COP save the planet? Fears build over climate with Trump's reelection

In Baku, the UN climate conference is underway. The stakes could not be any higher. 2024 is set to be the hottest ever year on record. The damage caused to human life and habitat by the effects of climate change are still being counted in Spain in the wa

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COP29 nations approve new rules for creation of global carbon market

Nations at COP29 on Monday agreed new ground rules for a global carbon market that would reward countries for reducing emmissions by giving them "carbon credits" they could sell to higher-polluting countries. COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev said the agre

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US climate envoy says work will continue despite Trump's return

Following COP29 climate summit's opening in Azerbaijan, U.S. climate envoy John Podesta on Monday urged governments to keep faith in the country's promise to combat global warming, saying Donald Trump can slow, not stop, the transition from fossil fuels

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‘Nothing grows anymore’: In Malawi, eating becomes a daily struggle due to climate change

The combined effects of cyclones and droughts, worsened by climate change, have led to widespread food insecurity in Malawi. While some adaptation efforts are emerging in this agriculture-dependent country, they have yet to gain traction on a larger scal

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After years of conflict in Iraq, residents of Mosul organize a reforestation project

As the curtain rises on COP29, attendees are hoping to seal an agreement to unlock trillions of dollars to help climate vulnerable countries adapt to climate change. Among these countries is Iraq, where in the city of Mosul, residents are taking matters

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Trump's return gives China chance at climate leadership, but Beijing resists pressure to do more

China accounts for 30% of the world's carbon emissions, making it the biggest greenhouse gas polluter. However, it also produces the most energy from renewable sources. The world's second largest economy says it's up to the US and other western countries

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Climate finance at top of agenda as COP29 opens in Azerbaijan

As delegates from all over the world attend the opening of COP29 in Azerbaijan this Monday, we focus on the financial needs of developing economies in their bid to transition to a green economy and build up climate resilience. A leading group of experts

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COP29 opens after Trump win with call for cooperation

The COP29 climate talks opened Monday in Azerbaijan with a call to show global cooperation was not "down for the count", as Donald Trump's re-election hangs over the key discussions. Story by Nick Rushworth and Oliver Farry.

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COP29 climate talks open amid Trump's vow to reverse US commitments

COP29 climate talks opened in Azerbaijan on Monday amid concerns over newly re-elected Donald Trump's pledge to reverse US carbon-cutting commitments. The two-week session is expected to focus on funds from rich countries to help poor nations cut carbon

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Disaster-weary Philippines hit by fourth typhoon in under a month

Philippines ordered thousands to evacuate and shut ports as Typhoon Toraji hit its northeast coast near Dilasag, officials reported Monday. The fourth typhoon in under a month, Toraji struck about 220 kilometres from the capital Manila. No casualties or

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COP29 kicks off in Azerbaijan: what is the impact of Trump's election on the UN climate talks?

The Paris climate agreement's goals "are in great peril" and 2024 is on track to break new temperature records, the United Nations warned Monday as COP29 talks opened in Baku. What is the impact of Trump's election on the talks and on the role the USA ca

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Sunday, november 10, 2024

Several world leaders shun upcoming COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan

Nearly 200 countries will gather next week for the U.N. climate summit, COP29. Reaching a consensus for a deal among so many can be difficult. However, several world leaders do not plan on attending the event. For an in-depth analysis, FRANCE 24's Gavin

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Afghanistan to attend COP29 climate talks for the first time since Taliban takeover

It's a rare invitation for the Taliban - the AFP reports that an Afghan delegation will attend the United Nations climate change summit which starts on Monday in Azerbaijan. In February this year, the country reopened its embassy in Kabul, but it hasn't

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Tens of thousands of Spaniards demand the resignation of Valencia leader for bungling flood response

Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in the eastern city of Valencia on Saturday to demand the resignation of the regional president in charge of the emergency response to last week’s catastrophic floods that left more than 200 dead and others missing.

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'We lost everything that day': After Cyclone Freddy, Malawi struggles to rebuild

In March 2023, Malawi was devastated by Cyclone Freddy, the longest tropical cyclone on record. More than 18 months later, villages ravaged by the storm still feel the effects: isolation, illness and increased poverty. The country's authorities, grapplin

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The economic consequences of the floods in Spain are catastrophic

The aftermath of Spain's devastating floods is becoming clearer with thousands of hectares of crops destroyed. Citrus producers have been hit particularly hard. Story by Morgan Ayre.

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Saturday, november 9, 2024

Spanish residents angry over slow relief effort following deadly floods

Protests have just begun in several Spanish cities, as thousands of people voice their anger over a lack of warning before the floods in Valencia, which killed at least 219 people. Survivors say they also felt completely abandoned in the aftermath. There

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Torrential rain hits the Spanish city of Cadaques, bringing grim search for flood missing to coast

Spain was soaked in its wettest October on record last month which culminated in catastrophic floods that have killed 219 people and left dozens missing, the government said on Friday. The rain has now hit the coastal city of Cadaques, details by France

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UN warns of malaria upsurge as South Sudan floods displace nearly 380,000

Flooding in South Sudan has displaced more than 379,000 people, the United Nations said in its latest update on Saturday, warning that an upsurge in malaria is "overwhelming" the country's health system.

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Friday, november 8, 2024

Europe's climate leadership at COP29: Trump comeback turns up heat on EU

Deadly floods in Spain and in central and eastern Europe, as well as devastating hurricanes in the US, are just some of the recent potent reminders of climate change. From November 11, world leaders are huddling in Azerbaijan's capital Baku for the COP29

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Deadly-flood drenches Spain in wettest October on record

Spain was soaked in its wettest October on record last month which culminated in catastrophic floods that have killed 219 people and left dozens missing, the government said on Friday. Story by Eliza Herbert.

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Authorities urge thousands to flee 'Mountain Fire' near Los Angeles

Authorities on Thursday urged thousands of people to flee a wildfire near Los Angeles that has destroyed scores of homes and cut power to tens of thousands of households. Firefighters said they are expecting the winds to subside across the region, giving

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Thursday, november 7, 2024

Rivers of mud in Spain could take six months to clear

It's been more than a week since the floods arrived to Spain and devastated swathes of the Valencian region. Now that the immediate shock has passed, residents are dealing with the reality that the mud is here to stay... and with it could come diseases.

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Global warming: On track for another world heat record this year

With less two months to go until the end of the year, the EU's climate monitor, Copernicus, says that 2024 will, with "virtual certainty" be the hottest one on record. Solange Mougin has more.

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'Virtually certain' that 2024 will be hottest year on record, EU monitor says

After months of increasingly frequent and devastating climate events, 2024 is set to register as the hottest year ever recorded, with global temperatures expected to rise 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, EU climate monitor Copernicus said Thursday.

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Amazon deforestation drops to nine-year low, says Brazil

Yearly deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by almost a third since August 2023, the Brazilian government said on Wednesday, plummeting to a nine-year low after historic droughts and wildfires wrecked havoc on the crucial biome over the past year.

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Tuesday, november 5, 2024

Paying the price of climate change: Louisiana's insurance crisis

Since the storms of 2020 and 2021, many insurance companies have left the US state of Louisiana or gone bankrupt. Those that remain have increased their rates five-fold in some cases. The poorest homeowners are now unable to pay the insurance needed for

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Does Moo Deng have competition from a younger, Scottish pygmy hippo?

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, November 5: We take a look at the US front pages ahead of the country's landmark presidential vote. Also: what, if any, difference will the election result make to the ongoing war in the Middle East? Finally, a pygmy hippo born at

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Sunday, november 3, 2024

UN biodiversity preservation talks end without deal on financing

The world's biggest nature conservation conference closed in Colombia on Saturday with no agreement on a roadmap to ramp up funding for species protection. With other successes under its belt, the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the UN's Convention

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Saturday, november 2, 2024

COP16 ends with no agreement on funding roadmap for species protection

The biggest conference on nature conservation worldwide, COP16, came to a close on Saturday. But participants stopped short of making a decision on one of the biggest asks of the summit – agreeing on a detailed plan to increase funding for biodiversity.

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‘Worse and worse’: UNESCO reports surge in journalist killings

UN cultural body UNESCO on Saturday reported a surge in killings of journalists across the world with 162 deaths recorded in 2022 and 2023. The situation is getting “worse and worse, year after year”, said Richard Laurent, journalist and founder of Forbi

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Air pollution levels in Lahore rise 40 times above WHO limit

Air pollution levels in Pakistan's second biggest city Lahore reached an unprecedented high on Saturday, soaring more than 40 times above the WHO’s acceptable limit for pollutants. Authorities have imposed strict new restrictions, including partial work-

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Spain sends ten thousand more troops, police as flood death toll continues to rise

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Saturday that Spain will deploy an additional 10,000 soldiers and police to the eastern Valencia region, which has been devastated by floods that have killed over 200 people. Volunteers also sprang into action on

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COP16 biodiversity summit agrees on permanent body for Indigenous representation

Delegates from 196 countries at the UN biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, approved on Friday a permanent body to represent Indigenous interests under the convention. Representatives from Indigenous communities celebrated the agreement, which acknowle

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Friday, november 1, 2024

Death toll from Spain flash floods reaches 205 as troops search for missing people

Spain sent 500 extra troops to join the search for an unknown number of missing people three days after flash floods killed at least 205 people, according to emergency authorities. Many people are still trapped in their homes without electricity, running

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Spain sends 500 extra troops to search for missing people after deadly floods

Spain sent 500 extra troops to join the search for an unknown number of missing people three days after flash floods killed at least 158 people in the Valencia region. Many people are still trapped in their homes without electricity, running water or acc

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Typhoon Kong-rey makes landfall in Taiwan, killing at least 2

Two months after Typhoon Gaemi battered Taiwan, Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall on the island on Thursday, as massive waves, serious floods and ferocious winds cut power, cancelled flights, killed at least two people and injured 580.

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Thursday, october 31, 2024

Zimbabwe and Zambia grapple with their energy futures.

Clarisse Fortuné brings you a round-up of society, culture and hot topics from the continent. This week, Zimbabwe and Zambia are running on empty as drought dries up their shared hydroelectric dam. Now they must grapple with how to ensure their energy fu

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COP16 biodiversity summit enters 'heart-stopping' final day with divide over funding

The COP16 summit on biodiversity is set to end Friday with negotiations stalled over how to reach funding targets of $200 billion per year for biodiversity by 2030. Developing countries have called for more money and better representation in decision-mak

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EU's greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 'huge' 8% in 2023

Emissions linked to buildings, agriculture, domestic transport, small industry and waste fell by 8 percent in 2023, with the latest reports showing that the EU is bucking a global trend for continuously rising emissions. It is still in a race against tim

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Why Spain's floods are its deadliest in a generation

Spain is reeling from its worst flooding in decades after a year’s worth of rain fell in a matter of hours this week in the country’s southern and eastern regions. The storm began on Tuesday and has so far killed at least 158, prompting experts to weigh

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Spanish rescuers race to save flash flood victims as death toll tops 90

Emergency service workers recovered scores of bodies in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia on Wednesday after heavy rains battered the country's eastern and southern areas, causing flooding and disrupting air and rail travel. Three days of mourning w

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Wednesday, october 30, 2024

Shift toward more plant-based foods will drastically reduce emissions: expert

A new report from medical and health experts is warning that climate change – driven by fossil fuel emissions – is raising heat levels to dangerous new heights, while also worsening drought and food security. About a third of all human-caused greenhouse

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Brazilian rancher charged with illegally deforesting large stretch of Amazon

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, October 30: US papers react to Steve Bannon's release from prison, with just days to go before the country goes to the polls. In other news, a Brazilian rancher may have chemically deforested an area equivalent to New York City

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Spanish rescuers race to save flash flood victims as death toll tops 90

Emergency service workers recovered scores of bodies in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia on Wednesday after heavy rains battered the country's eastern and southern areas, causing flooding and disrupting air and rail travel. Three days of mourning w

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More than 150 dead in Spain’s devastating flash floods

Flash floods that ravaged eastern Spain this week have left at least 158 people dead, Spanish news agency EFE said on Thursday. Tens of thousands of homes in the region are without electricity and roads are blocked by vehicles and mud left by torrents of

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Tuesday, october 29, 2024

Tinned tuna contaminated with mercury: NGOs

Tinned tuna in many European countries is contaminated with dangerous levels of mercury, according to two environment pressure groups who called on retail stores and governments to take "urgent" measures. FRANCE 24's James Vasina reports.

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Tinned tuna sold in Europe contaminated with dangerous levels of mercury, NGOs say

Tuna sold in cans in stores across Europe including the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain contain harmful levels of mercury, environmental groups said Tuesday. In a test conducted by the NGO Bloom, more of half of the sampled tinned tuna was contamina

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Monday, october 28, 2024

Emissions cuts 'not happening far enough and fast enough,' UN warns

The UN's Environment Programme (UNEP) is warning that crunch time for the planet is now a reality, and that any time left for climate delays has already run out. It warns that extreme heatwaves, storms, droughts and floods are already ravaging communitie

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Countries' current carbon-cut pledges 'miles short' of 2030 goal, UN says

The United Nations warned on Monday that countries' current pledges for reducing carbon emissions fall "miles short", as greenhouse gas levels reached record highs in 2023. A separate report by UN Climate Change found that barely a dent is being made in

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Sunday, october 27, 2024

Death toll from Tropical Storm Trami in the Philippines rises to 110

The death toll from Tropical Storm Trami on Sunday hit 110 in the Philippines in what is the deadliest storm to hit the southeast Asian country this year. Floods and rain-induced landslides also forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

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Friday, october 25, 2024

Hatching of baby turtles in south of France puzzles scientists

Turtles have inhabited our oceans for over 150 million years, ever since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Yet today, six out of seven living species are considered endangered. They usually live in tropical waters. However, since the late 2000s, one species –

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