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World wastes up to third of produced food, says World Bank
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on March 1st, 2014
Blue and Green: As much as a third of all the food the world produces is never eaten, causing huge inefficiencies in economic, energy and natural resource use, according to a damning new report by the World Bank.
The report, published earlier this week, found that between one-fourth and one-third of the nearly 4 billion tonnes of food produced for human consumption every year is lost or wasted.
In the developed world, these losses translate to 750 to 1,500 calories per person, per day.
Even in regions badly...
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United Kingdom: Ed Miliband: Climate change a ‘national security issue’
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on February 24th, 2014
Blue and Green: Labour leader Ed Miliband has said that the flooding crisis should be seen as a wakeup call for Britain to act on climate change, while criticising prime minister David Cameron for creating a “false economy” over the government’s flood aid measures.
The leader of the opposition hit out at the prime minister, who recently said that money would be “no object” in helping those affected by the recent storms, bad weather and flooding. Miliband said that Cameron wasn’t going far enough to help future...
Poll: 47% of Britons say floods are a result of climate change
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on February 21st, 2014
Blue and Green: Almost half of UK voters believe that the floods and storms that have recently affected Britain are a result of climate change, a new poll has revealed.
Forty-seven per cent of the people asked said they supported the view that “the flooding was probably the result of changing weather patterns due to climate change”, while 39% disagreed.
Interestingly, the survey found that respondents’ opinions on climate change are clearly divided down political lines.
Labour and Lib Dem voters supported...
86 flood warnings still in place southern and central England
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on February 19th, 2014
Blue and Green: The Environment Agency has confirmed that a total of 86 flood warnings, two of them severe, remain across southern and central England, as the extreme weather begins to settle.
It added that river levels along the Thames, which rose to its highest level since 1883 last week, will remain high this week but gradually begin to drop. This is also the case for the Severn.
Of the 86 flood warnings, the two severe alerts are in the badly-hit south-west. This means there is a danger to life. Elsewhere,...
California faces the worst drought on record while ‘exporting water’ to China
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on February 19th, 2014
Blue and Green: California is experiencing its worst drought in a century, which is putting at risk the survival of many species and damaging the economy.
Experts have warned that the lack of rainfall has already dried 95% of wetlands in California, causing the death or migration of many animal and bird species.
As the availability of watery spots decreases, waterfowl and other animals are forced to converge to the few that remain intact, increasing the threat of spreading parasites and diseases more easily....
United Kingdom: Insurance industry ‘must not drag its feet’ helping flood victims
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on February 19th, 2014
Blue and Green: The insurance industry has insisted that the situation “is under control” after facing criticism and calls for faster service to people affected by the UK flooding crisis.
On Tuesday, government ministers met with insurers to discuss how those living in flooded homes were being helped.
Representatives from 60% of the insurance market assured the government that they were acting quickly and agreed to meet with ministers each month to report on their progress.
This came after prime minister...
Flooding poses risk UK economy and could worsen with climate change
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on February 19th, 2014
Blue and Green: The UK has been ranked among the countries where flooding poses the greatest risk to their economic output, according to new research. The findings come after heavy rain and high winds battered the country, resulting in flooding – particularly in the south.
The Natural Hazards Risk Atlas, produced by Maplecroft, assesses 197 countries on their physical and economic exposure to 12 types of natural hazards, including flooding, storm surges, earthquakes and cyclones.
Whilst the UK was ranked as...
PM set to meet insurance industry over UK floods
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on February 18th, 2014
Blue and Green: David Cameron has planned to meet insurers to discuss measures to help those affected by the flooding, as wealthier households face a £1,000 increase in their annual insurance premium.
Insurance bosses reported they have paid £14 million to flood victims since the emergency began in December. The government will meet representatives from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on Tuesday.
However, it was suggested that wealthier householders on council band H might face premium increases...
United Kingdom: Further floods expected along Thames – but worst weather is behind us
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on February 17th, 2014
Blue and Green: Residents living in flooded areas of the UK have been warned to expect water levels to rise further in the next few days, as more heavy rain falls on saturated ground. Forecasters have added, however, that the worst of the crisis appears to be over for now.
The Environment Agency currently has 16 severe flood warnings in place, 14 along the banks of the Thames in the south-east and two more in Somerset.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for rain in the south-west of England, forecasting...
United Kingdom: 80,000 homes without power after 112mph winds on Wednesday
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on February 13th, 2014
Blue and Green: Tens of thousands of homes are without power across England and Wales, after winds of up to 112mph battered the UK on Wednesday.
The Met Office issued a rare red warning, with the hurricane-force gales causing severe travel disruption. Train services in many parts of the UK remain cancelled while some roads are closed.
Debris and other objects picked up by the winds caused damage to power lines across the UK, with Wales bearing the brunt.
About 80,000 properties are still without power,...