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Next UN Climate Talks Are Critical To Plot Aid For Poorer Nations, Says Incoming President

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Washington — The man who will lead the United Nations climate talks in November sees the negotiations as a critical link in international efforts to combat global warming.

The conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, must build on last year’s successful agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, according to Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s environment minister, who will preside over the COP29 discussions in the fall. And this fall’s gathering must create the path for countries to collaborate in 2025 on more robust plans to reduce heat-trapping gases, according to Babayev.

Baku is the location to find common ground on how affluent countries may provide financial assistance to poorer countries who do not contribute as much to global warming but suffer more from climate change, Babayev said in a 30-minute interview with The Associated Press at the Azerbaijan Embassy in Washington.

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Next UN Climate Talks Are Critical To Plot Aid For Poorer Nations, Says Incoming President

“We need to consider any possible actions or activities to bring the parties to be closer to each other,” he said. “We consider Baku as a bridge between the developing and developed world.”

However, the bridge is still under construction.

Most previous climate discussions, known as Conferences of the Parties (COPs), took years to arrange. However, due to geopolitics in Eastern Europe, world leaders were unable to agree on a location for COP29 ahead of time. This is crucial since the host country has the presidency and controls the agenda.

Baku was picked in December as part of a peace agreement between warring Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Babayev will not officially assume command of discussions until November 11, when COP29 begins in Baku. Successful climate discussions can require months or years of travel and labor by president-designates like Babayev to provide the groundwork for agreements and coalitions.

“We only had 10 months to prepare,” Babayev explained. Azerbaijan only recently chose a venue, Baku’s enormous Olympic stadium, to accommodate the approximately 85,000 people who attend these conferences. “A lot of things, they’re not clear now but I think within this year everything will be more or less clear.”

Babayev stated that his team is currently gathering information, meeting individuals, and developing connections, but has not yet established precise goals for the conference.

But there is one overarching goal: more financial assistance for developing countries to transition to cleaner energy systems and deal with the increased heat, floods, storms, and droughts caused by climate change.

“The agenda is to invite all the donors to at least increase their contribution for developing countries,” he stated. “Because with the climate change there we are daily faced with all these impacts.”

This week, Babayev referred to bright and sticky Washington weather, which was 78 degrees (25.6 degrees Celsius), or 8 degrees (4.4 degrees Celsius) warmer than typical. He stated that Baku is currently experiencing similar temperatures, which are also much above usual. He used Dubai, which hosted last year’s climate conference, as an example of the disastrous flooding that occurred this week, which Kazakhstan and other nations experienced.

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Next UN Climate Talks Are Critical To Plot Aid For Poorer Nations, Says Incoming President

Babayev referred to early February in Baku, when temperatures reached a record 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking the previous February high by 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit): “That is not natural. It’s not typical.

Babayev, 56, was in Washington for the spring meetings of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other major financial institutions. He and his colleagues were primarily gathering information. Simon Stiell, the United Nations climate secretary, urged those financial institutions this week to make substantial adjustments, including debt relief for poor countries, to combat global warming and its consequences.

But Babayev is looking at another group: the private sector, which includes banks, investment companies, and so on.

“We call on the private sector to be very active and responsible about this and to be ready to not delay with the offers, the proposals for climate finance,” Babayev said a news conference.

Babayev, like the current COP president, Sultan al-Jaber of Dubai, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil business, spent several years working for the Azerbaijani state-owned oil business. Activists and academics have long criticized the oil sector — one of the largest emitters of heat-trapping gases — for its influence in these United Nations negotiations, which increased last year when it was led by an oil executive. However, al Jaber and Babayev claimed their industry ties are more useful in bringing corporations to the table and getting things done.

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Next UN Climate Talks Are Critical To Plot Aid For Poorer Nations, Says Incoming President

Babayev also expressed hope that Baku, where the world’s first oil fields were developed in 1846 and Azerbaijan led the world in oil production in 1899, can demonstrate how this “oil and gas country of the past” can lead the world down a green path by increasing renewable energy, particularly wind power.

However, according to statistics from experts at the Global Carbon Project, Azerbaijan’s carbon dioxide emissions from the use of fossil fuels have increased by 13% over the last decade.

SOURCE – AP

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics. Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Do Microplastics in the Atmosphere Endanger Your Fertility?

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HealthDay

(VOR News) – It is quite possible that the presence of small microplastic particles in the air may be a contributing factor to a wide variety of health problems, including malignancies of the lungs and colon.

This is something that needs additional research to be determined. There is one more item to take into consideration, and that is the potential that this is the exact circumstance.

A recent study found that tires and debris that are decomposing shed minute fragments of plastic that go airborne, so creating a form of air pollution that is not particularly widely known. This type of pollution is caused by the degradation of plastic. An example of this type of pollution is that which is discharged into the atmosphere.

The industry refers to microplastic as “air pollution.”

According to the findings of a researcher named Tracey Woodruff, who is a professor of obstetrics, gynaecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, “These microplastics are basically particulate matter from air pollution,” and it is common knowledge that this particular type of air pollution is particularly hazardous.

The researchers who supplied background notes stated that the size of microplastics is less than 5 millimetres, which is smaller than a grain of rice.

This information was provided, according to researchers. These details were supplied by the researchers who conducted the study. These particulars were provided by researchers who were responsible for carrying out the study.

The amount of plastic that is created on a yearly basis by enterprises all over the world is roughly 460 million tonnes, as indicated by the data that were provided by academics all over the world. The forecasts indicate that by the year 2050, this quantity is anticipated to have increased to 1.1 billion tonnes.

Driving is a substantial contributor to the amount of plastic that is floating around in the atmosphere, according to the conclusions of the experts who conducted the study about the phenomenon. When tires are worn down to the point where they scrape against the surface of the road, they allow microplastics to be released into the environment.

As a result of the tires wearing down, this occurs. This impact is brought about as a consequence of the inevitable amount of wear and tear that tires are subjected to.

A study that was published on December 18 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology was the result of researchers conducting an examination of data collected from over 3,000 previous investigations.

The paper was published as a consequence of this procedure. The review was constructed with the help of this analysis that was carried out.

Microplastic used this analysis to put together the review.

A number of diseases, such as cancer, lung problems, and infertility, may be influenced by the presence of microplastics in the air, according to the data, which led to the conclusion that this may be the case.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of the studies that were incorporated into the study were carried out on animals, the researchers claimed that it is very certainly plausible that the findings can also be applied to people. The fact that the majority of investigations were conducted on animals does not change the reality that this is the case.

“We urge regulatory agencies and policy leaders to consider the growing evidence of health harms from microplastics, including colon and lung cancer,” stated Nicholas Chartres, the principal investigator and senior research fellow at the University of Sydney.

The organisation reported this comment. The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) issued a press release on behalf of the organisation that contained this statement. The news release was disseminated to the public. We are convinced that state officials will act quickly to make sure that no leaks of this kind occur, which is of the highest importance.

SOURCE: USN

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Russian Oil Ships In The Kerch Strait Are Undergoing Rescue Operations.

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AP

(VOR News) – Following Sunday’s powerful storm, a Russian oil tanker carrying hundreds of tonnes of oil products ultimately broke apart, causing an oil spill into the Kerch Strait below. Additionally, Russian officials reported that the damage was causing problems for another vessel.

Sunday, Russian authorities announced an emergency rescue operation.

According to the Russian state news agency TASS, which claimed the Emergency Situations Ministry as its source, the Volgoneft-212 tanker, carrying fuel oil and carrying thirteen crew members, ran aground and suffered damage to its bow. A shipment of fuel oil was being transported by the tanker.

Authorities have told the public that the damage was brought on by the extreme weather conditions that are currently occurring.

A second tanker, the Volgoneft-239, was damaged during the storm and is currently stranded in the same area with 14 crew members on board, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The tanker was discovered abandoned and alone in the same spot.

Additional tankers also suffered damage. The 132-meter-long cruiser, which was constructed in 1973, hangs the Russian flag around its neck.

The footage posted by state media showed the 136-meter Volgoneft-212 tanker, which was cut in two with its bow underwater, and waves crashing over its deck. At least one person lost his life as a result of this tragedy. This led to the opening of two distinct criminal investigations by the Russian authorities to look into potential violations of certain safety regulations.

Having flown the Russian flag since 1969, the yacht was finished.

Rosmorrechflot, the Russian government agency in charge of water transportation, reported a petroleum product spill.

It is believed that the cargo capacity of each tanker is around 4,200 tonnes of oil products.

The magnitude of the leak and the cause of the substantial damage one of the tankers received were not specified in the official remarks. This is in accordance with the official remarks.

Several news sites cited Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying that President Vladimir Putin directed the formation of a working committee to handle the rescue effort and lessen the effects of the oil disaster.

Peskov recommended that the government appoint the working committee’s members. This comment was made public right after Putin met with the ministries responsible for ecology and disaster management.

The Russian government has said that it will be sending more than fifty individuals and pieces of equipment to the area in response to the current crisis. Mi-8 helicopters and rescue tugboats are examples of these people and tools.

The news that experts are presently investigating the damage at the event site was announced by Svetlana Radionova, who is in charge of Rosprirodnadzor, Russia’s natural resources regulating entity.

Kommersant reports that Volgoneft-212 used 4,300 tonnes of fuel oil.

The footage, which showed a partially submerged ship and murky water on rough seas, was posted to Telegram without the owner’s consent.

The warships were located in the Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea from the Russian mainland, when the distress signals were sent out.

The Kerch Strait is a crucial international marine passage that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov, allowing for easier traffic between the two bodies of water. It also acts as a border between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, which is under Russian occupation. The Kerch Strait is located in the centre of the two nations.

The peninsula has remained a major source of contention between the two national governments ever since Russia annexed it from Ukraine in 2014. Russia was the one who seized the peninsula. Ukraine brought legal action against Russia before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016.

Specifically, the lawsuit claimed that Russia intended to illegally take over a location. The argument was supported by evidence pertaining to Russia’s conduct in the region. In 2021, the Russian Federation closed the strait for several consecutive months

SOURCE: VN

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Japan List Cannabis as Narcotic Criminalizes Recreational Use

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Japan started criminalizing the use of cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

TOKYO – Japan updated its cannabis and narcotics control legislation on Thursday, criminalizing cannabis (Marijuana) use and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), imposing a maximum seven-year prison sentence.

While the possession, transmission, and cultivation of cannabis and THC were already prohibited in Japan, the new rules will classify them as narcotics and criminalize their use as well, with a prison sentence of up to seven years for violations.

The amended regulations also legalize medical items containing cannabis-derived compounds that are beneficial and safe.

In 2019, 1.8 percent of the Japanese population had used cannabis at least once, making it the country’s second most popular illicit substance behind methamphetamine.

In 2023, a record 6,703 people were probed in cannabis-related criminal cases in Japan, topping methamphetamine cases for the first time, according to the Health, Labour, and Welfare Ministry. Seventy percent of instances involved people under the age of thirty.

A nationwide poll performed the same year by the ministry’s research group estimated that approximately 200,000 people had consumed marijuana within the previous year.

Japan previously did not penalize cannabis usage, apparently taking into account farmers who may have accidentally ingested the drug while producing cannabis plants for use in hemp products.

The amendments will also lift a restriction on cannabis-derived medicines, putting them under a licensing system similar to other drugs used for pain relief and other purposes.

Drugs derived from cannabis plants were only allowed in clinical studies in Japan, but patient groups have been advocating for access to cannabis-derived cannabidiol treatments already licensed in Europe and the United States for illnesses like severe epilepsy.

Cannabis cultivation dates back to the Jōmon period of Japanese prehistory, roughly six to ten thousand years ago (source: Wikipedia).

Cannabis hemp, as one of Japan’s first cultivated plants, provided an essential supply of plant fibre for clothing, cordage, and Shinto ritual goods, among other uses.

For much of Japanese history, hemp was common for fabric and food before cotton emerged as the country’s dominant fibre crop during industrialization during the Meiji period.

Following the end of World War II and the occupation of Japan, the Cannabis Control Law prohibited cannabis possession and manufacturing.

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