Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 25 October 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The World Health Organisation has highlighted that air pollution poses a significant threat to child health and contributes to 6.7-million premature deaths annually. Of these, 4.2-million were linked to outdoor air pollution in 2019. The majority of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions. The organisation advocates for effective policies, such as cleaner transportation and improved waste management to reduce pollution and protect public health.

# The United Nations’ environment body says based on current trends, the chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is virtually zero. This year’s Emissions Gap Report finds that emissions of greenhouse gasses in 2023 were the highest on record. The analysis finds that the current trajectory in carbon emissions puts the world on course for a potentially catastrophic 3.1 degrees Celsius of warming this century. The report urges nations to come forward with emissions-cutting commitments. Countries have until 2025 to submit new carbon-cutting pledges under the Paris Agreement.

# And finally: A famous US grizzly bear has died after being struck by a vehicle in western Wyoming. Grizzly Number 399 was beloved by tourists, biologists and professional wildlife photographers in Grand Teton National Park for decades. The bear was at least 28-years-old and the oldest known reproducing female grizzly in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Every spring wildlife enthusiasts awaited her emergence from her den to see how many cubs she had birthed. Yellowstone’s grizzlies are a conservation success story, with surging numbers since the 1970s. 

Stay tuned for more news………….