Environment
EnvironmentChile begins construction of 1 MW solar energy plant to supply copper mine
Last December 2, a ceremonial first stone was laid to mark the start of construction of a photovoltaic solar plant near the northern Chilean city of Calama.
British expedition claims to have established Antarctic land-crossing record
British expedition to Antarctica says it has succeeded in establishing a new record - the fastest land crossing of the southernmost continent.
Heavy rains force temporary suspension of traffic in the Panama Canal
Heavy rains have forced the temporary suspension of traffic along the Panama Canal, the major shipping waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans which handles 5% of global trade.
Internet database to help reduce shipping emissions rating ‘dirty’ and ‘clean’ vessels
A free Internet database that lists the energy efficiency of almost every ocean-going vessel, in a scheme designed to reduce shipping emissions by nearly 25%, was set up on Sunday by Virgin Atlantic Airways founder Richard Branson, reports London’s The Guardian.
Ozone hole over Antarctica smallest in five years, says NZ research centre
The ozone hole over Antarctica has shrunk to the smallest in five years, according to a New Zealand’ National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, NIWAR. The hole decreased in size to about 22 million square kilometres from 24 million square kilometres last year, said Auckland-based NIWAR in an e-mailed statement today.
2010 among the three warmest years since climate records started in 1850
The year 2010 is almost certain to rank in the top 3 warmest years since the beginning of instrumental climate records in 1850, according to data sources compiled by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Cruise industry blasts latest IMO environmental rules
One of the cruise industry's top executives this week openly criticized new environmental rules that he says will have a profound impact on cruise lines.
Brazil plans to cut subsidized long term loans to combat inflation
Brazil plans to cut funding for its state development bank by 50% in 2011 in an effort to bring down the world’s second-highest inflation-adjusted interest rates. The reduction in loans the government provides to BNDES, as the bank is known, forms part of a plan to curb public spending, Finance Minister Guido Mantega said in an interview in Brasilia.
HMS Scott leaves Plymouth for the 2010/2011 Antarctic season
The Royal Navy deep water survey ship HMS Scott deployed to the Antarctic early morning Thursday from Plymouth, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott's final expedition to the area.
Fish can shrink during particularly harsh winters, say Scandinavian scientists
Fish can shrink during particularly harsh winters, according to researchers. Scientists, based in Norway and Finland, discovered that juvenile brown trout reduced in length by as much as 1cm - shrinkage of approximately 10%.
