Tag - pollution

 
 

POLLUTION

Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2023
Japan's largest lake used to be a cesspool. Now it’s a vision of a sustainable future.
Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, has long been a center of flourishing agriculture and cultural progress, but it's also been at the center of countless environmental crises.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 31, 2023
Thai forest fires worsen pollution that’s left 2 million ill
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered urgent steps to put out forest fires in Nakhon Nayok province to the east of Bangkok and those in the country’s northern region.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2023
South Korea's Yoon vows to seek public consent for Fukushima water release
The South Korean president had said previously that he believes his predecessor Moon Jae-in 'had avoided efforts to understand,' preventing the public from becoming aware of Japan's plan.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 22, 2023
'Vampiric' water use leading to imminent global crisis, U.N. warns
The U.N.-Water and UNESCO report warns that scarcity is becoming endemic due to overconsumption and pollution, and that global warming will lead to further shortages.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2023
South Korea seeks scientific analysis before Fukushima water release
Some of Japan's other neighbors, such as China and Taiwan, have also expressed opposition to Tokyo's decision.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2023
Twelve years after 3/11, dispute grows over Fukushima’s radioactive soil
The central government has pledged to — and is legally obliged to — move all of the soil out of Fukushima Prefecture by 2045.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Mar 7, 2023
Less than 1% of Earth has safe levels of air pollution, study finds
About 99.82% of the global land area is exposed to levels of particulate matter 2.5 above the safety limit recommended by the World Health Organization.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 3, 2023
Peak emissions are just the start of the climate battle
Fossil-fuel pollution may be declining faster than anyone anticipated, but most of the world's carbon is locked up in places you'd least expect.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 2, 2023
How Putin's war is poisoning Ukraine's breadbasket
Scientists looking at soil samples taken from the recaptured Ukrainian region of Kharkiv found high concentrations of toxins such as mercury and arsenic from munitions.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 28, 2023
As Philippines scraps jeepney buses, operators struggle with costs
The government has ordered replacement of the beloved but elderly utility vehicles with greener, safer models.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 24, 2023
Mother Nature has the best climate-fixing technology
Earth has been cleaning its own atmosphere for eons. Investing to amplify those natural processes will bring faster results than inventing new machines.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 22, 2023
Japan plans to seek G7 endorsement on discharge of Fukushima treated water
The move reflects a government effort to emphasize the safety of the treated water, which contains low-level concentrations of tritium, while fishing communities oppose the plan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 17, 2023
Limited impact on South Korean waters from Fukushima release, study claims
The South Korean government analysis comes as the country's President Yoon Suk-yeol seeks to improve relations with Japan after years of tensions.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Explainer
Feb 15, 2023
The controversial plan to release Fukushima nuclear plant's wastewater
Tepco says the water has been filtered to remove most radioactive elements, and calls the release both safe and necessary, but there has been domestic and international opposition.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 11, 2023
Long-term air pollution exposure raises depression risk, studies find
Air pollution has long been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The new studies add to a growing body of evidence that air pollution also affects mental health.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 3, 2023
Micronesia president says 'transparency' has eased Fukushima water concerns
David Panuelo's remarks stood in contrast to those he gave the U.N. General Assembly in September of his 'gravest concern' regarding Tokyo's plans.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 3, 2023
Malaysia faces 'inconvenient truth' on clean energy goals
With renewables today accounting only for about 9% of Malaysia's electricity generation capacity, the government targets seem 'highly unrealistic.'
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jan 31, 2023
Potentially harmful chemicals found in Tokyoites' blood
The citizens' group began carrying out tests in November to determine the source of the contamination.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2023
The coming El Nino could be a glimpse of a grim future
A temporary spike in temperatures next year because of the El Nino weather pattern might motivate the world to curb carbon emissions.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2023
Japanese ballet troupe presents its spin on plastic waste
'Plastic,' a new production by renowned Japanese company K-Ballet, aims to draw attention to a global pollution crisis through some unusual set and wardrobe design.

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals