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Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 15, 2022

Developing nations demand more money at crunch U.N. biodiversity talks

The thorny issue of how much money wealthy countries are willing to pony up to protect the world's remaining biodiversity took center stage Wednesday at U.N. talks in Montreal aimed at creating a "peace pact with nature."
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 9, 2022

Disappearing plant populations jeopardize a green future

With jungles and boreal forests still being destroyed, at least 40% of the world's remaining plant species are in trouble.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 6, 2022

From flickering fireflies to lowly dung beetles, insects are vanishing

Amid deforestation, pollution and climate change, bugs are struggling — along with the crops, flowers and animals that rely on them to survive.
JAPAN
Dec 4, 2022

From Kyoto Protocol to ‘fossil’ awards: Japan’s climate image stained by inaction

A quarter century after Japan hosted the COP3 climate talks where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, the country's record at the national level is a study in contrasts.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / JAPAN TIMES GONE BY
Dec 4, 2022

Japan Times 1997: 160 nations adopt Kyoto Protocol

Environmental concerns hit the front pages of newspapers in 1997, with the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, and 1922, when residents tried to appease an 'angry tree.'
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 1, 2022

A greener ride: West Africans switch on to electric motorbikes

Local authorities also are encouraging the switch to electric in a bid to replace old, highly polluting motorcycles.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Nov 29, 2022

Great Barrier Reef 'in danger' due to climate change, U.N. panel says

Canberra has lobbied for years to keep the reef off the endangered list as that could lead to losing its heritage status, taking some shine off its appeal for tourists.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2022

Agriculture ministry testing star ratings for farmers that cut emissions

The production stage accounts for 60% to 80% of heat-trapping gas emissions in all phases related to agricultural produce, ranging from cultivation to processing and distribution.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 20, 2022

In a first, rich countries agree to pay for climate damages in poor nations

The COP27 climate talks in Egypt neared resolution Sunday with a last-minute deal to create a fund to aid poor countries harmed by the impacts of climate change.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 19, 2022

How an industry built on pollution is getting a tiny bit greener

A new piece of tech used at some airports helps tighten the space between incoming aircraft as they approach, potentially making a small dent in aviation's carbon footprint.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 19, 2022

Gridlocked U.N. climate talks head deep into overtime

Climate negotiators were locked in efforts to break the deadlock at U.N. COP27 talks Friday as nations tussle over funding for developing countries battered by weather disasters.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2022

Japan to consider providing aid to developing nations for damage from climate change

The country's environment minister said that Japan has been experiencing the threat of typhoons and other natural disasters, and that it understands the need to strengthen support for other nations.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Nov 12, 2022

Dying lands: Farmers fight to save the 'skin of the Earth'

In America's dusty Corn Belt this spring, the land was drowning. In China's Yangtze River basin, it's bone dry. Farmers in both are fighting a losing battle to save the soil.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 10, 2022

U.S.-China rivalry clouds Beijing's climate promises at U.N. summit

Cooperation between the world's two largest economies and carbon polluters has been central to rare breakthroughs in the nearly 30-year saga of U.N. climate talks.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 8, 2022

Even as Egypt hosts climate summit, selling fossil fuels is a priority

To the government in Cairo, a Europe in sudden need of natural gas is a very good thing.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 8, 2022

More developing countries refinancing debt in green deals to tackle climate change

Collectively, 58 of the world's developing countries most vulnerable to climate change have almost half a trillion of debt servicing payments due in the next four years.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 8, 2022

Can COP27 deter Africa from a 'dash for gas' in green energy transition?

Climate campaigners have pitched themselves against African governments that believe they should be allowed to use gas to develop their economies.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 27, 2022

Warming seas bring Indonesia's fishermen deadly storms and empty nets

Fierce storms and high waves have often made it too dangerous for fishing boats to leave the shore this year.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2022

As water-related disasters mount, experts call for more warning tech

Risk assessment tools and early warning technologies are necessary to mitigate the damage such disasters cause, a leading Japanese researcher on disaster risk reduction has said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 23, 2022

Australia joins pledge to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030

Announcing the decision to sign the methane pledge on Sunday, Australia's climate and energy minister, Chris Bowen, said meeting the 2030 target could help avoid 2C of warming.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 21, 2022

Rich nations may finally need to talk climate reparations at COP27

The issue of 'loss and damage,' or how much rich countries should pay to help developing nations cope with climate change, has struggled to gain prominence for years.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Oct 19, 2022

Climate change may boost Arctic 'virus spillover' risk

Viruses need hosts like humans, animals, plants or fungi to replicate and spread, and occasionally they can jump to a new one that lacks immunity, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BUSINESS
Oct 12, 2022

Local Japan governments eye taxes to prevent deforestation by renewable energy firms

While the use of renewable energy sources is growing, local communities are worried about the environmental destruction the creation of such facilities may cause.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: FASHION
Oct 8, 2022

Mending fashion’s threadbare relationship with sustainability

Another season gone and another round of promises from designers the world over to become more eco-friendly dashed.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 5, 2022

As Iraq concrete jungle swelters, ancient stone houses stay cool

Tracing its roots back 2,700 years, the picturesque Kurdish town of Akre says it is better adapted to the modern-day perils of climate change than other parts of Iraq.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Oct 4, 2022

Changes to waste management could slash planet-heating emissions, report says

The authors looked at 'zero waste' strategies, like separating organic materials, composting, recycling nonorganic material and overall reductions in discarded products.
Japan Times
WORLD
Sep 26, 2022

Why some climate activists are calling for reparations

Pakistan's floods have led to renewed calls for rich polluting nations, which grew their economies through heavy use of fossil fuels, to compensate developing countries.
Japan Times
WORLD
Sep 22, 2022

Climate takes a back seat to other problems at U.N. meet

So far, the handful of leaders who focused their U.N. speeches on climate have been those representing countries most affected by it.
Japan Times
WORLD
Sep 21, 2022

Social media greenwashing by fossil fuel interests 'rampant,' study says

One in five posts by oil, car and airline companies center on sports, fashion or social causes that direct attention away from their core businesses.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.