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☆ Conditions are ripe for a global coral bleaching event: ‘Florida is just the tip of the iceberg’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

NOAA, coral reefs, Florida Keys, coral reefs, coral bleaching, climate change, warm oceansCoral reefs off the coast of Florida are being hit by a mass bleaching event due to record high ocean temperatures, and early indications suggest a global mass bleaching event could be underway. The Sentinel climate research and monitoring site in the Florida Keys has recorded 100% coral bleaching since late July. There have been eight mass coral bleaching events that have impacted the entire Florida Keys since 1987, Manzello said. "We're talking about thousands upon thousands of miles of coral reefs undergoing severe bleaching heat stress," Manzello said. "Now, it's still way too early to predict whether or not there will be a global bleaching event, but if we compare what is happening right now to what happened in the beginning of the past global bleaching event, things are worse now than they were in 2014 to 2017."

Persons: Derek Manzello, Ian Enochs, They're, Enochs, Manzello, zooxanthellae, El Nino, Andy Bruckner, Bruckner, what's, Jennifer Koss, Koss Organizations: NOAA, National Oceanic, Reef Watch, Oceanographic, Meteorological Laboratory, Southeast, Florida Keys, Florida Keys National, Islands, Reef Conservation Locations: Florida, Southeast Florida, Columbia, Cuba, El, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Belize, Panama , Puerto Rico, elkhorn

So far, at least 111 deaths have been confirmed in the wildfires, according to a release from Maui County. Names of other victims have been released by familiesFirefight continues : Crews are still battling the fires on Maui. “The people that were trying to put out these fires lived in those homes – 25 of our firefighters lost their homes,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said Wednesday. “They watched their homes burn as they fought the fire for other homes in their neighborhood,” she explained. “That is a scar that we will carry for a very long time.”Sarah Salmonese sits where her apartment once stood in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday, August 11.

Persons: John Pelletier, ” Pelletier, ”, Pelletier, Josh Green, CNN’s Wolf, “, Brenda Keau, ” Keau, Jeff Hickman, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, ” Hickman, Melva Benjamin, Virginia Dofa, Alfredo Galinato, Robert Dyckman, Buddy Jantoc, Benjamin, Crews, Brad Ventura, ” Biden, Herman Andaya, would’ve, Matthew A, Foster, Richard Bissen, Aina Kohler, I’ve, Kohler, “ It’s, Jonny Varona, They’re, Wade Ebersole, it’s, who’s, ” Ebersole, ” Sarah Salmonese, Go Nakamura, Jae C, Patrick T, Fallon, Rick Bowmer, Justin Sullivan, Lauren Haley, Bryan Anselm, Makalea Ahhee, Yuki Iwamura, Mike Blake, Max Whittaker, Zoltan Balogh, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Matthew Thayer, Bob Marshall, ” Marshall, Marshall, Jim Kelly, ” Kelly, ” Darren Pai Organizations: CNN, Maui Police, Authorities, Hawaii Gov, Hawaii Department of Defense, Fire, White House, Maui, Maui Emergency Management, Tuesday . U.S . Army National Guard, Staff, KITV, Maui Health, Maui Memorial Medical, New York Times, AP, FBI, Facility, Getty, AP Volunteers, Grace Baptist, Reuters, Volunteers, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Kahului Airport, Technologies, Kahului, AP Helicopters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Maui News, Whisker Labs, Maui Bird Conservation Center, The Washington, Hawaiian Electric, CNN Sunday Locations: Maui, Maui County, Hawaii, Lahaina, Tuesday ., ”, Lahaina , Hawaii, Wailuku, AFP, Kula , Hawaii, Kaanapali, Kula, Kihei, West Maui, Grace, Kahului, Napili, Honokowai, Honolulu, Maalaea, California, Las Vegas, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, Makawao, Western Maui

An aerial view shows trees as the sun rises at the Amazon rainforest in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil October 26, 2022. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRASILIA, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Brazil's government is looking to create a regulated carbon market with emissions caps for major companies and protections for indigenous communities involved in carbon-offset activities, a senior official said. After passing Congress, the regulations would require two years of emissions monitoring before the cap takes effect. For example, some developers have approached indigenous communities with unfair contracts offering meager payments, he said. The proposed legislation would establish criteria for such deals, guaranteeing broad consensus and equitable terms for indigenous communities involved.

Persons: Bruno Kelly, Rafael Dubeux, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's, Lula, Dubeux, Marcela Ayres, Bernardo Caram, Brad Haynes, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Finance, Climate, Thomson Locations: Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA

☆ Chibuike Ifedilichukwu: Nigerian upcycling artist creates portraits from waste
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Aneta Felix | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But where others see trash, 37-year-old Nigerian artist Chibuike Ifedilichukwu sees opportunity. He creates portraits of celebrities from discarded aluminum cans, making a bold statement about waste management in the country. One day in 2021, while accompanying his wife to an antenatal clinic, Ifedilichukwu says he stumbled upon a pile of dumped plastic strips. I found that nobody does this pattern of art,” Ifedilichukwu told CNN. Although he wears gloves when he works, he says he’s been cut many times by sharp-edged cans, craft knives, scissors, needles and steel wire.

Persons: Chibuike Ifedilichukwu, Ifedilichukwu, “, ” Ifedilichukwu, Chibuike, ”, Cardi, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Don Jazzy, Greta Thunberg, Leonardo di Caprio, Davido, Ifedilichukwu Ifedilichukwu, he’s, “ It’s Organizations: CNN —, CNN, Ifedilichukwu Locations: Nigeria, Anambra, Awka

☆ Harrison Ford gets a new snake species named for him
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But the highlight of the trip to South America was discovering a species of snake new to science, which the team named for action icon Harrison Ford — a moment of levity in an otherwise dramatic excursion, noted Dr. Edgar Lehr, the lead author of a scientific paper describing the snake species. At the time, Lehr, who is a professor of biology at Illinois Wesleyan University, thought: “Wouldn’t this be cool to dedicate this new species to Harrison Ford? The national park is near “the VRAEM (Valley of Rivers Apurímac, Ene, Mantaro) area, which is the center of Peru‘s coca production and narco-trafficking,” according to the study. Otishi is considered “Peru‘s least scientifically surveyed national park,” according to the study. “This is very important (work), because we can only protect what is known,” Lehr said of documenting species new to scientists.

Persons: Harrison Ford —, Edgar Lehr, Lehr, Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones ’, Harrison, — Juan Carlos Cusi, Ricardo Vera, Maura Fernandez, Otishi, ” Lehr, “, ”, Ford, Indiana Jones, Tachymenoides, ” Ford Organizations: CNN, Illinois Wesleyan University, Historia, US Department of State, Embassy, Conservation, “ Locations: South America, Peruvian, Peru, Lima —, Peru’s Junín, Cusco, Rivers Apurímac, Mantaro, Embassy of Peru, Washington , DC

☆ Gabon Joins Blue Bond Wave With $500 Million Debt Refinancing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Will Horner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Gabon completed mainland Africa’s first-ever “debt-for-nature swap” Tuesday, refinancing $500 million of its debt and earmarking $163 million in savings for marine conservation, the latest in a burgeoning list of “blue bond” deals. In their place, Gabon issued a $500 million blue bond which matures in 2038. The coupon on the new blue bond was priced at 6.097%, lower than the coupons on the repaid bonds which were between 6.625%-7%. TNC says its blue bond deals have provided $400 million toward conservation efforts. Bank of America, which served as sole initial purchaser, structuring agent and bookrunner on the Gabon deal, declined to reveal its transaction fees.

Persons: Gabon’s, Bond, ”, Ali Bongo Ondimba, TNC wasn’t, Scott Nathan, TNC, Will Horner Organizations: —, Sustainable Business, Moody’s Investors Service, U.S . International Development Finance Corporation, Conservancy, Greenpeace, Bank of America Locations: Gabon, Africa, U.S, Belize, Seychelles, Barbados, Ecuador, Galápagos, william.horner

☆ Global conservation mission sets sail from UK in Darwin's wake
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Ben Makori | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A general view of the ship 'Oosterschelde', launched by the planetary conservation mission DARWIN200, which is to set sail on August 15, in Plymouth, Britain August 11, 2023. The group will set sail on board a 105-year-old schooner on Tuesday from the southern English port of Plymouth, from where British naturalist Darwin's own expedition began in 1831, leading him to develop the theory of evolution by natural selection. The 40,000 nautical mile "Darwin200" expedition hopes to anchor in 32 ports, including all the major ports visited by Darwin's HMS Beagle. Throughout the journey, 200 selected young environmentalists will temporarily join the ship to be trained on conservation efforts. Patrons of the project include Darwin's great-great-granddaughter - the botanist Sarah Darwin - and British primatologist Jane Goodall.

Persons: Charles Darwin's, Darwin's, Stewart McPherson, McPherson, Sarah Darwin, Jane Goodall, Goodall, Sachin Ravikumar, William James, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Plymouth, Britain, Handout

☆ How much water is left in the Colorado River? Scientists and officials are scrambling to find out
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It’s a remarkable turnaround that will give back billions of gallons of Colorado River water to millions of people in the Southwest, primarily in Arizona and Nevada. Snow-covered peaks near the headwaters of the Colorado River outside Winter Park, Colorado, in March. Scientists estimate that Colorado River flows have decreased by about 20% compared to the early 20th century. “There are tough choices ahead,” Becky Mitchell, the Colorado commissioner for the Upper Colorado River Commission, told CNN. Bill Hasencamp, the manager of Colorado River Resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Persons: It’s, Brenda Burman, “, Will Lanzoni, Jessica Lundquist, ” Lundquist, Jason Connolly, Jonathan Overpeck, ” Overpeck, you’ve, Brad Udall, Udall, ” Udall, We’ve, haven’t, “ What’s, ” Becky Mitchell, “ It’s, ” Burman, ”, Bill Hasencamp Organizations: CNN, Southwest, Central Arizona Project, of Reclamation, University of Washington, Rockies, Getty, University of Michigan’s School for Environment, Sustainability, Biden, UCLA, Colorado State University, Scientists, The Central, Commission, Colorado River Resources, Metropolitan Water Locations: Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Rocky, University, Winter, , Colorado, AFP, Lake Mead, The Central Arizona, Scottsdale , Arizona, Phoenix, Metropolitan Water District, Southern California, Los Angeles

☆ California grid warns heat wave will stoke power demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

High tension power lines with winter storm clouds behind them are seen in Sacramento County following multiple winter storms in Sacramento, California, U.S. January 9, 2023. REUTERS/Fred GreavesCompanies California Independent System Operator Corporation FollowAug 13 (Reuters) - California's Independent System Operator (ISO) warned of high temperatures and increased electricity usage during the coming week as the grid operator prepares for tight conditions works to ensure adequate supply. In a notice released on Saturday, ISO said it is closely monitoring the power grid as widespread heat waves can cause supply shortages, with resources stretched thin across multiple Western states. But if weather or grid conditions worsen, it may issue emergency notifications to secure additional resources, and prepare for potential shortages and conservation. Current demand stood at 35,472 megawatts as of Sunday evening in California, compared with an available capacity of 43,873 MW, the ISO website showed.

Persons: Fred Greaves, Anushree Mukherjee, Swati Verma, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Fred Greaves Companies, Thomson Locations: Sacramento County, Sacramento , California, U.S, Fred Greaves Companies California, California, Bengaluru

Seoul, South Korea CNN —An endangered lioness was shot dead in South Korea on Monday, an hour after escaping a private farm, according to local officials. The lioness escaped its cage Monday morning in Goryeong county, in North Gyeongsang Province, about 300 kilometers (about 186 miles) south of the capital Seoul, according to a county official. Photos released by the fire service show the lioness before she was killed, peering out from a tangle of bushes and leaves. The private farm also owns cows, but has no other lion or lionesses, said the county official. The lioness had been registered with the Daegu Regional Environmental Office as an international endangered species, an official from the agency confirmed to CNN.

Organizations: South Korea CNN, Authorities, Environmental Office, CNN, Lions, International Union for Conservation, Nature’s Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Goryeong county, North Gyeongsang Province, Daegu

Many opponents of renewable energy, she added, “are worried about the impacts to their very way of life.”Roadside opposition to renewable energy projects near Baldwin City, Kan. “We see offshore wind as a critical technology,” said Dan Burgess, the director of the Maine Governor’s Energy Office. Across the country, clean energy projects of all types are tied up in lengthy permitting processes. By then, India had not completed any offshore wind projects. Since 2000, the United States has barely built any major transmission lines that connect different regions of the country.

Persons: Scott Dickerson, ”, Biden, Alison Bates, “, Columbia University’s, Dan Burgess, Habib Dagher, Janet Mills, Gregory Wetstone, Mack, James Gillway, SunZia, ” Hunter Armistead, Broussard, There’s, Vaughan Woodruff, Tucker Carlson, Teslas, ” Ali Zaidi, Dagher, Rolf Olsen, who’s Organizations: University of Maine, Sears, Officials, Federal, International Energy Agency, Colby College, White, Columbia, Climate, The University of, Maine Governor’s Energy, Environmental, University of Maine’s, Composites Center, Gov, American Clean Power Association, American Council, Renewable Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, . Clean, Union United, China India European Union United States, China European Union United, China India United States European, China United States European Union, China United States European Union India, Energy, The New York Times, United, Pattern Energy, New York State Energy Research, Development Authority, Toyota Prius Locations: Penobscot Bay, Maine, , Maine, United States, Europe, China, Australia, India, Los Angeles, Ohio, Jersey Shore, Waterville , Maine, Baldwin City, Kan, Massachusetts, Ukraine, Gulf, Searsport , Maine, Searsport, Bangor, Mack, West, Union United States, U.S, China United States European Union India, Great, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Riesel , Texas, Energy, San Bernardino County, In Kansas, Atlantic City, N.J, New York, Manhattan, Sears

☆ Joan Kaplan Davidson, Philanthropist Who Championed New York, Dies at 96
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Enid Nemy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Under Mr. Kaplan, the foundation provided the money to save Carnegie Hall in the 1960s when no one else seemed interested. It also created Westbeth, the artists’ housing complex in Lower Manhattan that became the model for the rehabilitation of industrial buildings everywhere. Under Ms. Davidson, the foundation laid the groundwork, and provided much of the money, for the Gracie Mansion Conservancy, formed to renovate and preserve the mayor’s residence. Throughout her tenure, she preferred making relatively small grants, some as little as $1,000 but generally in the tens of thousands. “To us the point was to use money strategically, to get causes off the ground.”

Persons: Kaplan, Davidson, “, ” Organizations: Carnegie Hall, Gracie, Conservancy, New York Times Locations: Lower Manhattan, New York

Poland's government, which faces October elections, is even suing Brussels over climate policies. Britain has already quickly gone from being a leader on the world stage to looking quite weak on green policies, he said. CITIZENS, BUSINESSESEurope's green policies are still more credible than U.S. ones, given see-sawing between electoral cycles in the United States, some analysts said. Rows over green policies have propelled right-wing populist parties to second place in both Dutch and German polls. "Otherwise citizens might start to feel that climate policy is always financially overwhelming and bad, and that sentiment is then exploited by populists."

Persons: Timm Reichert, Virginijus Sinkevicius, Sinkevicius, Anna Moskwa, Nathalie Tocci, Mats Engström, GREEN, Bob Ward, Ward, Rishi Sunak, Rob Jetten, Nina Scheer, Simone Tagliapietra, Tagliapietra, Kate Abnett, Sarah Marsh, Gloria Dickie, Anthony Deutsch, Angelo Amante, Pawel, Susanna Twidale, William James, Alexnder Smith Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Reuters, European People's Party, European Council, Foreign, United States, Grantham Research, London School of Economics, Political, Climate, Energy, Democrats, Thomson Locations: Gruenberg, Germany, EU, BERLIN, BRUSSELS, Netherlands, Brussels, Europe, United States, Grantham, India, China, Britain, Berlin, London, Amsterdam, Rome, Warsaw

☆ High-powered satellites have made blue-carbon credits a reality. But they still face accuracy and scalability issues.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Breakthroughs in satellite technology have helped commercialize blue-carbon credits. Over $50 billion worth of carbon credits have been predicted to be traded annually in the voluntary market, according to McKinsey. Blue carbon, which is stored in coastal and marine ecosystems, has become an increasingly important asset in the fight against the climate crisis. Carbon credits can then be verified and issued faster. Satellite data has to be paired with sonar, divers collecting information, or other field data, she added.

Persons: Philip Davis, Guy Wolf, Oxford University spinout OxCarbon, it's, Wolf, David Gross, you've, Thomas Merriman, Donna Lyndsay, Traganos, It's, Kita's Merriman, Merriman, Zoë Balmforth, Cameron Frayling Organizations: McKinsey ., World Resources Institute, Tech, Oxford University, Bank OxCarbon, Kita, Ordnance Survey Locations: Bahamas, Caribbean, Islamorada , Florida

BELEM, Brazil, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Amazon rainforest nations emerged from a summit this week with a stronger hand to play at upcoming United Nations climate talks, despite the meeting's lackluster final agreement, according to environmental groups. Lula will take that message on the road this year at the G20, United Nations General Assembly and U.N. COP28 climate summit. But he also applauded the symbolism of the eight Amazon countries meeting together for the first time in 14 years and joining their voices with the world's other major rainforests. STRONGER VOICERainforest nations have a stronger unified voice after the meeting, at least on paper, said Luis Roman, a representative of nonprofit WWF Peru. Rainforest nations thus far have focused on past funding commitments.

Persons: It's, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, André Guimarães, Marcio Astrini, Astrini, Luis Roman, Susana Muhamad, Jake Spring, Oliver Griffin, Brad Haynes, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Democratic, United Nations General Assembly, Amazon Environmental Research Institute, Observatory, WWF, Colombia's, Thomson Locations: BELEM, Brazil, Nations, Indonesia, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Venezuela, Lula, Bolivia, WWF Peru, European, Belem, Bogota

☆ Neretva River: Scientists are fighting to save the ‘blue heart’ of Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Bosnia and Herzegovina CNN —The Neretva River carves its way through Bosnia and Herzegovina’s impenetrable forest. The Neretva River flows 140 miles (225 kilometers) from its source in the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. Nell Lewis/CNN Scientists warn that hydropower plants could have a detrimental effect on the region's biodiversity. Nell Lewis/CNN Scientists, concerned about the effects of the proposed hydropower plants, gathered on the banks of the Neretva in June as part of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign. This has taken its toll on wildlife, with one in three freshwater fish species threatened with extinction.

Persons: Joshua D, Lim, Marco Secchi, Ursi Seibert, Nell Lewis, Vladimir Tadic, Linda Majdanová, ”, Ulrich Eichelmann, “ It’s, ” Ulrich Eichelmann, Kurt Pinter, Pinter, it’s, ” Radomir Sladoje, “, GENT SHKULLAKU Organizations: CNN, Herzegovina CNN, Center for Environment, Center of Environment, “ Neretva Science, Science, EU, Developers, EFT Group, Neretva Science, Getty, Bern Convention Locations: Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bosnian, Balkans, Adriatic, Croatia, Mostar, Herzegovina's, Kalinovik, Neretva, Linda, “ Neretva, “, Balkan, Europe, EU, Ulog, Vienna, Austria, Albania, GENT, AFP, Bern

☆ Nature inFocus Photography Awards: Gripping images from Indian prize look at the bigger picture
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Flo Cornall | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A peckish tiger lunching on a softshell turtle, an ant snacking on honeydew, and a pair of glittery slug moth larva are just a handful of scenes depicted in the winning images from the Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2023. Nature and wildlife storytelling platform Nature inFocus runs the competition. Among the winning images is a photostory focusing on the devastation facing the intricate mangrove forests of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, India. Other winning images include rarer wildlife sightings, such as a pair of agitated mountain goats locking horns in a cinematic rocky landscape. Amit Eshel/Courtesy Nature InFocus Photography AwardsAccording to the IUCN, the Nubian ibex is a vulnerable species – facing threats from agriculture to extreme weather.

Persons: ”, Rohit Varma, Srikanth Mannepuri, Mannepuri, Amit Eshel, Jo, Anne McArthur, McArthur, Varma Organizations: CNN, “, IUCN Locations: India, Bangalore, Andhra Pradesh

☆ Vaquita porpoise: Extinction alert issued for critically endangered marine mammal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Amaya Mcdonald | Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The International Whaling Commission released its first-ever extinction alert Monday to warn of the potential danger facing the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. The scientific committee believes the vaquita population has a chance of recovery if stronger enforcement is placed on the ban on gillnets in their habitat. The vaquita population has varied from a few thousand to 5,000 over the last 250,000 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But maintaining a small population for so long has actually helped the vaquitas, which have a 21-year lifespan, reducing the risks of inbreeding because they have less genetic variation among them. The marine mammals are also less susceptible to harmful genetic mutations that might otherwise cause their offspring to die.

Persons: ” Vaquitas “, Kate Wilson, ” Kirk Lohmueller, CNN’s Kristen Rogers Organizations: CNN, Whaling Commission, International Union for Conservation, IWC, Gulf of, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, University of California Locations: Gulf of California, Mexico, Gulf, China, Mexico’s Gulf of California, Cortez, Los Angeles

☆ 'This is going to get worse before it gets better': Panama Canal pileup due to drought reaches 154 vessels
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A ship navigates through the Panama Canal in the area near the Americas' Bridge in Panama City on April 24, 2023. The Panama Canal is a critical trade link for U.S. shippers heading to Gulf and East Coast ports. The U.S. is the largest user of the Panama Canal, with total U.S. commodity export and import containers representing about 73% of Panama Canal traffic. The massive pileup is a result of water conservation measures the Panama Canal Authority deployed in late July due to drought. West Coast ports saw a decrease of 38.3% in July trade, and top East and Gulf Coast ports processed an increase of 46.4%.

Persons: Luis Acosta, Max, Adil Ashiq, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, Ashiq, Descartes, Stephen Lamar Organizations: Afp, Getty, Panama Canal Authority, Labs, Planet Labs, PCA, Port, MarineTraffic, American Apparel & Footwear Association Locations: Panama, Americas, Panama City, Gulf, East Coast, U.S, Pacific, Port of Balboa, Port of Savannah, North America, Gatun, Coast, West Coast

Sources said Biden's schedule for Asia is not official until it has been announced and could change. One senior diplomat referred to Indonesia having scheduled the ASEAN summits, which are normally held in November, for September, specifically to make is possible for Biden to attend and then go on to the G20. Sources said Biden was expected to send Vice President Kamala Harris in his place. Policy analysts said another no-show by Biden, who attended ASEAN meetings in Cambodia in November, would call that characterization into question. "Southeast Asia has been impressed that Washington under Biden has stepped up engagement with the region," Hiebert said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst WASHINGTON, Biden, we'll, Kamala Harris, Harris, Jonathan, Murray Hiebert, Hiebert, Ted Osius, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis, Michael Martina, Stanley Widianto, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, White, White House, Biden, U.S ., Southeast, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, ASEAN Business Council, Democrat, Republican, Thomson Locations: Tusayan , Arizona, U.S, JAKARTA, Jakarta, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Washington, Asia, American, Papua New Guinea, Australia, ASEAN, Cambodia, Southeast Asia, East Asia

BELEM, Brazil, Aug 9 (Reuters) - A dozen rainforest countries formed a pact on Wednesday at a summit in Brazil to demand developed countries pay to help poorer nations combat climate change and preserve biodiversity. In the joint statement, the dozen countries called for financing mechanisms to be developed for the world to pay for the critical services provided by forests. They also expressed concerns that richer nations have not delivered on a promise to provide $100 billion in climate financing annually to developing countries. Additionally, they called on developed nations to meet an existing commitment to provide $200 billion per year for biodiversity preservation. At last year's climate summit, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia agreed to form an alliance to pressure rich countries to pay for conservation.

Persons: Saint Vincent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Jake Spring, Steven Grattan, Miral Fahmy, Deepa Babington Organizations: Our, Democratic, United Nations, Thomson Locations: BELEM, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Guyana, Indonesia, Peru, Republic of Congo, Grenadines, Suriname, Venezuela, Congo, Southeast Asia, United, Republic

☆ Biden revs up economy pitch after week of silence on Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

About half the respondents who voted for Biden in 2020 said they have heard little or nothing of his major policy initiatives to reduce inflation or boost spending on infrastructure. Biden and fellow Democrats pushed bills through Congress that put about $1.5 trillion toward new bridge, road, climate and manufacturing projects. Democratic strategist Jennifer Holdsworth said this week's trip would counter a message spread by the nation's right-wing media distorting the economy and Biden's legislative agenda. "As President Biden gets out there on the campaign trail, I think you'll see that trend start to change," she said. On Wednesday, Biden will be in New Mexico to tout the IRA's role in a clean-energy manufacturing boom, one year after the law was signed.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Donald Trump, Biden, Jennifer Holdsworth, Kamala Harris, Jarrett Renshaw, Heather Timmons, Leslie Adler Organizations: Auburn Manufacturing, REUTERS, Republican, Reuters, Democratic, White House, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: U.S, Auburn , Maine, WILMINGTON, Del, Arizona , New Mexico and Utah, Delaware, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah

CNN —Crowds of people accompanied the coffin of soccer player Jesus Lopez Ortiz in Guanacaste, northeastern Costa Rica, last week after his death following a crocodile attack. Lopez Ortiz was killed shortly after jumping into the crocodile-filled Cañas River in Guanacaste on July 29. The National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) said that the crocodile was later shot so that authorities could recover the body of the young man. According to Mendez, there are already communities promoting boat tours to watch crocodiles in several rivers in the area. Last year, a child in another province was fatally attacked by a wild crocodile.

Persons: Jesus Lopez Ortiz, Lopez Ortiz, “, ” Marcos Chavarria, Chavarria, Lopez Ortiz’s, ” Giselle Ortiz Cubillo, Ortiz Cubillo, ”, Mauricio Mendez, Mendez, ” Mendez, SINAC Organizations: CNN, Deportivo Rio Cañas, Facebook, System of Conservation, Rio Locations: Guanacaste, Costa Rica, “

☆ Brazil courts private sector help to reforest the Amazon, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Lisandra Paraguassu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows trees as the sun rises at the Amazon rainforest in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil October 26, 2022. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly/File PhotoBRASILIA, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Brazil's government wants the private sector to help reforest large swathes of the Amazon, the country's Environment Minister Marina Silva said in an interview, using concessions to replant some 12 million hectares (120,000 square km) of forest by 2030. The plan's outlines were sketched out in a briefing last week by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has vowed to end Amazon deforestation by 2030. Concessions could also be granted to generate other products, like oilseeds, fibers and resins, along with potential carbon credit schemes. The vast Amazon rainforest is a key buffer against climate change.

Persons: Bruno Kelly, Marina Silva, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Silva, Andre Lima, Jair Bolsonaro, Lisandra, Gabriel Stargardter, Brad Haynes, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, country's, Reuters, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, Thomson Locations: Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, BRASILIA, Brasilia, Colombia, Peru, Belem

The letter written to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reflects rising partisan tensions in Congress over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Democrats, all members of the House Agriculture Committee, told McCarthy that continuing Republican talk of SNAP cuts could jeopardize progress on this year's farm bill. Democrats now are seeking to protect the program from further cuts in the farm bill, which comes up every five years and funds farm commodity and conservation programs as well as SNAP and other food aid. Thompson, has said it will complete a farm bill draft by the end of August. The current farm bill expires on Sept. 30.

Persons: Mary F, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, David Scott, Joe Biden, Garret Graves, G.T, Thompson, Leah Douglas, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Democratic, Monday, U.S . House, Assistance, Agriculture, Republicans, SNAP, Republican, Senate, Thomson Locations: Washington ,

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