Environment

A catastrophic earthquake has ravaged Turkey and Syria, resulting in over 15,000 deaths. Rescue teams from multiple countries are working tirelessly to find survivors in the rubble. President Erdogan visited affected areas, promising support for displaced residents while acknowledging initial challenges in the disaster response.

Germany's government unveiled a comprehensive 600-page "Easter package" to dramatically increase renewable energy production, targeting almost 100% renewable electricity by 2035. The reforms simplify bureaucratic processes and declare renewable energy installations as a matter of "overriding public interest," addressing previous barriers to wind and solar expansion.

Asia is investing over US$350 billion in gas projects to reduce coal dependency, but experts warn this could potentially slow renewable energy adoption and lock in fossil fuel use for decades.

The World Health Organization reports that nearly everyone worldwide is exposed to air that exceeds safe quality limits, with pollutants causing millions of preventable deaths annually by penetrating lungs and bloodstreams.

A new study reveals that the Western United States will experience more frequent extreme climate events, with wildfires increasingly followed by heavy downpours. By 2100, regions like the Pacific Northwest, California, and Colorado could see up to eight-fold increase in fire-flood combinations, driven by human-caused climate change and rising greenhouse gas emissions.

[Rhode Island saw a 8.2% rise in greenhouse gas emissions from 2017-2018, primarily from transportation and electricity sectors, potentially jeopardizing state's climate reduction targets.]

Climate activists from Indonesia to Europe and the US staged global protests, calling for stronger environmental policies and an end to the Ukraine war. The Fridays for Future movement, inspired by Greta Thunberg, organized demonstrations demanding systemic changes to combat climate change.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautions that countries rushing to replace Russian energy supplies may undermine climate goals, calling fossil fuel dependence "mutually assured destruction" and risking global warming escalation.

The SEC has proposed mandatory climate risk reporting for public companies, requiring detailed disclosure of emissions, transition plans, and potential financial impacts from severe weather events.

During the Ukraine war, Western tech companies' withdrawal risks isolating Russians from independent information sources, potentially strengthening Kremlin propaganda and internet control strategies.