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Convention on Biological Diversity: Efforts to stop harming the environment

Duration: 0:11:42

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Conference was held in Kunming, China on November 11th with representatives from over 100 countries attending. Prior to the conference, the Kunming Declaration was passed on October 13th, which aimed to stop the destruction of life in the next decade. The conference focused on the theme of "Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," with an emphasis on ecological civilization. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference was split into two phases and included an ecological forum with participation from international organizations, research institutions, social groups, and businesses. During the first phase of the conference, 98 ministers from 94 countries attended and passed the Kunming Declaration, which set four main goals for protecting global biodiversity until 2050, as well as ten targets for 2030 and 21 specific tasks. The declaration called for urgent coordinated action by all countries to transform all sectors of the global economy to achieve these goals.

Language: Chinese
Topics: COVID-19Biology

Nuclear power experts talk about security concerns after Ukraine nuclear plant fire, power cut

Duration: 0:09:24

Russia seized the famous Chernobyl nuclear power plant on the day it invaded Ukraine, raising concerns about its military's attack on facilities with no respect for the consequences. Ukraine's foreign minister has claimed that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia has occupied, should be attacked and exploded, posing a danger ten times greater than the Chernobyl accident. Ukraine is one of Europe's nuclear powerhouses, with over 50% of its energy generated by nuclear power. The country has five nuclear power plants, including the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia plants, and some other threatened nuclear facilities. Experts are worried that the disruption of the power supply to Chernobyl's nuclear testing facilities could lead to high-temperature runaway reactions.

Language: Chinese
Topics: ChernobylNuclear powerEnergy

Banned pesticides pollute European roses

Duration: 0:10:14

The French have a tradition of giving roses on Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, but many people are unaware that the roses come from large-scale industrial production in countries like Ethiopia, where pesticides and chemicals are used extensively. These chemicals not only harm workers' health but also pollute local rivers. Additionally, the carbon footprint of the transportation of the flowers is very high. While roses are abundant in French flower shops, most of them are imported, and many come from farms that do not use environmentally friendly methods. The situation is similar in Belgium, where popular flowers like roses and chrysanthemums are found to have high levels of pesticide residues. The global flower industry is a profitable business, but it has negative environmental and health consequences for workers and consumers alike.

Language: Chinese
Topics: EthiopiaSociety

Cannes Film Festival: Stars shining brightly, not forgetting the environmental protection commitment

Duration: 0:11:11

The Cannes Film Festival, one of the largest film events in the world, has undergone an eco-transformation since 2021, with the organizers taking a series of environmental measures to tackle the environmental challenges. The festival has stopped using single-use plastic bottles, increased the use of electric cars, and promoted online ticket sales. However, the event generates three times more garbage during the festival period and leads to heavy traffic that causes excessive exhaust emissions. The festival's organizers have pledged to continue their commitment to the environment at the 75th Cannes Film Festival by implementing specific measures to reduce pollution. These measures include using 60% electric or hybrid cars in the official car fleet, reducing printing and promoting digital material, and recycling the red carpet. Moreover, the organizers have eliminated plastic bottles and cups and made the red carpet using recyclable materials. Finally, the festival has partnered with green organizations to address environmental issues, reducing the amount of waste generated during the event.

Language: Chinese
Topics: Film industryArtCannes

Climate summit pledges to end deforestation and cut methane by 2030

Duration: 0:11:59

More than 100 world leaders committed to investing nearly $200 billion to end deforestation by 2030 and reverse the loss and degradation of land. This announcement was made at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, where countries like Canada, Brazil, Russia, and Indonesia signed the agreement to stop deforestation by 2030, a move considered key to preventing the impacts of global warming. These countries have approximately 85% of the world's forests. Besides, 28 countries have committed to reducing deforestation in global trade of food and agricultural products such as palm oil, soy, and cocoa. The United Kingdom pledged to support the initiative with $200 million from public and private funds. The EU government also promised €103 billion by 2025 to tackle deforestation. The decision was considered crucial in controlling the Earth's warming to 1.5°C.

Language: Chinese
Topics: Climate changeDeforestation

Beijing's Green Olympics Faces Challenges

Duration: 0:11:18

The Chinese government aims to increase its international influence through the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. However, the city faces political pressure from countries like the US, which may not send government officials to the event, due to China's human rights violations and environmental issues. The Winter Olympics committee hopes to organize an environmentally friendly and clean event. China has invested heavily in making artificial snow due to its semi-arid climate, and the government aims to improve air quality in Beijing and neighboring areas. However, the risk of winter smog remains high, and the Chinese government has implemented an emergency plan to address environmental issues. The government has prepared for possible incidents due to environmental concerns, and various measures have been taken, such as moving industrial pollution companies and constructing wind and solar power stations. Although air quality has improved, the potential for smog to affect the event remains a concern.

Language: Chinese
Topics: ChinaWinter Olympics

European independent survey: Chinese vaccine is least effective among five vaccines

Duration: 0:10:18

Despite China having achieved a vaccination rate of 80% for its population, and therefore theoretically having achieved herd immunity, the government is still enforcing a zero-COVID policy. This has led to speculation that China's vaccine's efficacy may be one of the reasons for the policy, as the lack of transparency in clinical testing data has resulted in many countries refusing to import Chinese vaccines. While Hungary, a country closely linked to China, is one of the few nations to use Chinese vaccines, the government's lack of transparency in its vaccine procurement policies has drawn criticism from opposition parties. China's vaccine efficacy and its overall reliability remains a topic of global interest.

Language: Chinese
Topics: ImmunityChinaCOVID-19

Ocean temperatures set to break records in 2021

Duration: 0:11:02

A report released in January 2022 by a group of 14 international research teams including the United States, China, and Italy, stated that the global warming caused by CO2 and CH4 has increased due to the rise in sea temperature. The ocean temperatures have been continuously rising for the last three years, making 2021 the warmest year on record since modern ocean observations began. The report highlights that over 90% of global warming occurs in the oceans, and ocean heat content changes are the best indicators of global warming. The main cause of ocean warming is attributed to the increase in greenhouse gases, and its effects could last for at least a century. The report also mentions the influence of natural events like La Niña, which is a natural climate phenomenon, on ocean warming. However, the impact of La Niña is temporary and does not affect the long-term impact of human activities on climate change. The report also warns of the possibility of extreme weather events continuing due to global warming.

Language: Chinese
Topics: Climate changeEnvironmentLa Niña

European particulate air pollution death rate in 2019 lowest in 30 years

Duration: 0:11:17

A report released on November 15th, 2021, by the European Environment Agency revealed that air pollution caused more than 300,000 premature deaths in the 27 EU countries in 2019, the lowest number in 30 years. The report highlights that the number of deaths could be halved if EU countries comply with the World Health Organization's air quality standards. The reduction in deaths is attributed to better air quality resulting from government measures and improved weather conditions. Ozone, a gas that can protect human health by blocking ultraviolet radiation, but can also be harmful to health, contributed to a 10% decrease in death rates in the EU. However, many EU countries still have air pollution that exceeds the EU and WHO standards. The report also highlights that air pollution is a major cause of heart disease and stroke, followed by lung disease, and can also hinder children's lung development, exacerbate respiratory infections, and trigger asthma.

Language: Chinese
Topics: EnvironmentWorld Health Organization

Climate extremes and deforestation are causing the Amazon rainforest to lose its resilience

Duration: 0:11:44

A new scientific report reveals that the Amazon rainforest, known as the "lungs of the earth," is suffering irreversible damage due to increased occurrences of extreme weather and human activities such as overlogging and burning. According to the report published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change on March 7th, scientists observed and analyzed the health of the Amazon rainforest after 2000 and found that up to 75% of the tropical rainforest has lost its ability to recover from damage caused by droughts and wildfires. Scientists warn that the Amazon rainforest, which plays a crucial role in regulating the climate by absorbing approximately 90 billion tons of carbon dioxide, may reach a critical point and degrade into a tropical savanna. The study also indicates that the Amazon rainforest's ability to self-heal has declined to a warning level, mainly affecting the southeastern part of the forest, including Brazil. The loss of the Amazon rainforest would release vast amounts of carbon, leading to increased greenhouse gases and exacerbating the climate crisis.

Language: Chinese
Topics: ScienceClimate change
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