North America
Mexico City, a Megalopolis’ War on Plastic Bags
Paper cones, called “cucuruchos”, have been traditionally used by shoppers in Mexico City for carrying spices and grains. Now these plastic-free alternatives are making a comeback, along with straw baskets and reusable cloth bags, after a ban on plastic bags…
World’s Largest Platform for Air Quality Data Launched at Tenth World Urban Forum
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), together with UN-Habitat and IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, today launched the world’s largest air quality data platform, bringing together real-time air pollution data from over 4,000 contributors, including citizens, communities, governments…
Huge ‘Hot Blob’ in Pacific Ocean Killed Nearly a Million Seabirds
A million seabirds died in less than a year as a result of a giant “blob” of hot ocean, according to new research. A study released by the University of Washington found the birds, called common murres, probably died of…
By 2020, WHO projects there will be 10 million fewer tobacco users
For the first time, the World Health Organization projects that the number of males using tobacco is on the decline, indicating a powerful shift in the global tobacco epidemic. The findings, published today in a new WHO report, demonstrate how…
Asia Poised to Become Dominant Market for Wind Energy
Asia could grow its share of installed capacity for onshore wind from 230 Gigawatt (GW) in 2018 to over 2600 GW by 2050, a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) finds. By that time, the region would…
Marine Heatwave Hits Pacific, Raising Fears of a New Hot ‘Blob’
The ocean off the western coast of North America is five degrees Fahrenheit hotter than usual after warming at an unusually rapid rate, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). It has been dubbed the “north-east Pacific…
Hyundai Launches First Car with Solar Roof Charging System
Hyundai Motor is launching its first car with a solar roof charging system. This groundbreaking eco-friendly technology will provide vehicles with additional electrical power, as well as increasing fuel efficiency and driving range. Hyundai Motor’s solar roof charging system makes…