Updates: polution; hunting; animal slaughter; climate change

[Anthea]

UK may approve bee-killing pesticide

UK ministers are considering allowing the use of a bee-killing pesticide next year despite promising during the election to ban it

Neonicotinoids are banned in the EU because they are toxic to bees but have been authorised for use every year in the UK since 2021.

During this summer’s election campaign, Keir Starmer said: “The new government will ban neonicotinoid pesticides imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam due to their impact on bees.”

British Sugar and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) have applied to be allowed to use Cruiser SB, a neonicotinoid that contains thiamethoxam, on sugar beet. It combats a plant disease known as virus yellows by killing the aphid that spreads it.

However, this powerful pesticide poisons bees by destroying their nervous systems. Prof Dave Goulson, a bee expert at the University of Sussex, has warned that one teaspoon of the chemical is enough to kill 1.25 billion honeybees

Environment groups have urged the Labour government to stick to its promise and refuse the application.

Craig Bennett, the chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “These deadly pesticides must not be used any more. It’s outrageous that British Sugar has applied for a fifth year to use bee-killing chemicals, despite an industry commitment to end reliance in 2023.

“We were pleased the UK government committed to ban neonicotinoids during its election campaign, and trust that promise will be kept. Policymakers must follow the science here and refuse this application. Approval would be a betrayal of farmers working hard to produce food sustainably and devastating for wildlife”

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra): “This government has been clear that we will change existing policies to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides that threaten bees and other vital pollinators.

“Decisions on emergency authorisation applications for use of neonicotinoids on sugar beet for 2025 will be taken in line with legal requirements.”

The former environment secretary Michael Gove promised in 2017 that ministers would use Brexit to stop the use of the pesticide, which can destroy bee populations.

Instead, the EU banned all emergency authorisations of neonicotinoid pesticides, while since 2021 the UK government has allowed the emergency use of thiomethoxam every year.

Defra is under investigation by the watchdog the Office for Environmental Protection after the previous Conservative government authorised the use of the pesticide for this year.

Ministers did not follow the advice of their own scientists last year when allowing the use. Government scientific advisers said in September they were not able to support an authorisation for Cruiser SB, because the “potential adverse effects to honeybees and other pollinators outweigh the likely benefits”.

Labour sources claim they legally have to consider the emergency use, but experts suggest they are able to reject it because the rules say they can ban the pesticide based on advice from scientists.

Craig Macadam, the conservation director at Buglife, said: “It is shocking that pesticide derogations, reserved for emergency use, are routinely used by the NFU and British Sugar year after year. We urge the government to make good on its promise to stop this abuse of the derogation system and properly protect the environment from harmful chemicals.

“The government must take the advice from its independent expert committee on pesticides who recommend against the use of thiamethoxam due to its potential adverse effects on pollinators.”

Farming groups say the use of the pesticide is crucial to the British food industry because sugar beet is one of the most profitable crops and virus yellows can destroy fields of it. However, others argue that it is not important for food security because sugar is not a vital crop.

In a joint statement, the chair of the NFU sugar board, Michael Sly, and British Sugar’s agriculture director, Daniel Green, said: “The British sugar beet crop continues to be threatened by virus yellows disease. In recent years, the disease has caused crop losses of up to 80%. If authorisation is granted, the seed treatment will only be used if a specified threshold, set each year by Defra, is met.

“Growers must also follow a strict stewardship programme to ensure best practice, and that the conditions of the emergency authorisation are met on farms. In addition, the industry has jointly funded residue monitoring over the past couple of years.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... -to-ban-it

[Anthea]

Eastern Kurdistan environmentalists say

Marivan forests deliberately set on fire

Environmentalists in Eastern Kurdish (Rojhelat) warned on Wednesday that the forests near Marivan are intentionally being burned, as volunteers continue efforts to bring the blaze under control

The occurrence of forest fires in Eastern Kurdistan, particularly in the vicinity of Marivan, has become more regular over the past few years, sparking concerns for the environment and its ecosystems amid claims of arson and blames of government inactivity.

“The destruction, arrests, creation of excessive restrictions, deliberate encroachment by people, and presence of many military bases pose a clear and direct threat to the environment of this protected natural area,” Naji Kanisani, an environmentalist from Marivan, told Rudaw.

Kanisani lamented that the presence of Iranian military bases in the area “has not contributed to preventing environmental destruction,” and that forces present in the area make no efforts to arrest arsonists.

Chya the Green Organization was established over 20 years ago and is one of few environmentalist groups in Marivan, raising awareness of illegal logging and threats to the famous oak trees. The group comprises hundreds of volunteers who actively work on putting out the summertime fires out of a sense of pride and love for their homeland.

Members of the organization say they have been exhausted over the past few days, as new fires are “deliberately” started every time after they control the blaze.

The Kosalan region in Marivan covers an area of 57,000 hectares and was designated as a protected natural area by Iran’s High Environmental Council in 2009. Environmentalists say the burning of the forests not only destroys trees and vegetation but also harms the wildlife in the area.

“In this area, 117 species of birds, 23 species of mammals, and 17 species of reptiles live, along with thousands of plant species, 10 types of trees, and many types of shrubs that have been documented,” Kanisani said

A last year report by Hengaw Human Rights Organization, a rights watchdog, on the Marivan fires blamed the Iranian government for failing to control the fires and said that authorities routinely arrest environmentalists trying to extinguish the flames.

In 2018, two members of an environmentalist group died in the vicinity of Marivan as they were trying to control a forest fire with two members of the forestry police. Full statistics on fires and their consequences are not available.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/09102024

[Anthea]

Baghdad to curb pollution

The Iraqi government has instructed an industrial subdistrict to introduce measures to reduce factory emissions

The Nahrawan subdistrict, located about 25 kilometers northeast of Baghdad, is home to numerous brick, cement factories, and leather tanning workshops.

The Baghdad environment directorate, which is within the environment ministry, recently visited Nahrawan where "a decision was issued to convert all factories to operate on LPG gas instead of heavy fuel," said head of the directorate Sadiq Hatem Abboud, Iraqi state media reported on Thursday.

Abboud said they are coordinating with the oil and industry ministries to develop plans to address pollution and have given factories a grace period of three years to adopt technologies that reduce emissions.

Workers in the Nahrwan industrial area are making thousands of red bricks on a daily basis.

Iraq’s air pollution is a public health concern. Government officials have acknowledged the link between rising cancer rates and industrial pollution, mainly from the oil sector

Abboud said they imposed fines on factories emitting smoke and gas, and efforts are being made to improve production techniques and promote the use of environmentally-friendly technologies.

The directorate has been in contact with the industry ministry "about the need to convert factories into environmentally-friendly operations,” he said.

He also noted that they are working to establish communication channels for citizens to report complaints about odors and smoke via an official email and a designated phone line.

Air pollution caused by industrial emissions coupled with climate change has become an increasing concern across Iraq.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/101020242

[Anthea]

Sulfur pollution in Baghdad

hospitalizes hundreds

A sulfuric odor engulfing the Iraqi capital Baghdad has sent nearly 200 people to hospital, and a local official on Monday blamed the foul odor on illegal factories operating at night

The Iraqi parliament’s human rights committee on Monday expressed concern about the sulfur-like odor that has spread across the capital for some time. The smell has brought about breathing difficulties for the population, and nearly 200 individuals have been admitted to hospital, according to the committee.

Amer Dawood, a member of Baghdad’s provincial council, said on Facebook that the council convened to discuss the odor, forming a committee and coordinating with relevant authorities.

He attributed the smell to asphalt and brick factories operating illegally at night without meeting environmental standards, saying the factories emit large amounts of smoke and gas. This issue is compounded by the presence of oil refineries and hundreds of generators.

Iraq ranks sixth among the worst countries in the world for air quality, according to the IQAir agency, which monitors global air quality, and air pollution in Baghdad by PM2.5 - particles invisible to the naked eye - is 26.8 times the guideline value set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

With air quality at such hazardous levels, residents are advised to wear masks outdoors, avoid outdoor exercise, and have their windows closed.

On Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani ordered the formation of a specialized committee to “study the pollution issue and the recurring sulfur odor emissions in Baghdad and neighboring provinces, to determine their causes and provide solutions,” a statement from his office said at the time.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/151020241

[Anthea]

Climate change a top priority

Addressing climate change is important for the future of Iraq, so the country’s environment ministry on Thursday underscored joint initiatives currently underway supported by the German development agency (GIZ)

“Climate change is one of the top priorities of the Iraqi government and one of the most important sectors of the governmental program in Iraq,” Yousif Muyaed, head of the Iraqi government’s directorate of climate change, said in video message on X reshared by Germany’s Consulate in Erbil.

“The Ministry of Environment is coordinating national partners and relevant ministries to drive efforts for implementing national strategies and plans related to climate change,” he added.

While climate change is a global problem, Iraq in 2022 ranked as the fifth-most country vulnerable to climate breakdown in an International Organization of Migration (IOM) report.

GIZ has supported the Iraqi government through the Strengthening Economic Transformation in Iraq (SET) initiative announced in January to implement evidence-based reforms, cooperated to support sustainable business development in Iraq, and worked to support job-matching policies in Iraq’s labor markets.

“This has led to close cooperation with GIZ in executing numerous plans, strategies, and projects. These aim at increasing efficiency and building the capacities of local staff to fulfill Iraq’s commitments towards climate change mitigation and adaptation,” Muaed detailed.

Through partnership between Baghdad and GIZ, Anbar province has benefitted from projects including water treatment facilities in Fallujah and Heet. The initiatives have sought to improve living conditions in the province and assist in reconstruction following the US invasion and Islamic State (ISIS) conflict.

“The collaboration and coordination with GIZ provided a significant opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Iraq and Germany, exchanging expertise, and enhancing the capabilities of Iraqi staff in this field,” said Muyaed, thanking GIZ and looking forward “to strengthening our future cooperation.”

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Iraq’s primary sources of water, have decreased at unprecedented rates in recent decades. In addition to increased domestic water-management initiatives, the Iraqi government has emphasized the need for neighboring Turkey and Iran to release water through strategic dam projects.

The Iraqi and Turkish governments signed a strategic water agreement in April during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/071120243

[Anthea]

Erbil compound residents outraged

by decision to trash stray cats

Residents of an upscale project in Erbil are angry by the management’s decision to dispose of stray cats by allegedly shoving them into garbage bags, condemning the act as “animal cruelty” and calling for the decision to be annulled

Park View is a high-end residential compound close to Erbil International Airport. Its residents say they have been feeding the stray cats living in the compound for years and that the felines are generally loved and cared for, but denounced as a “grotesque act of animal cruelty,” the management’s decision to rid of the cats in allegedly inhumane ways.

“It was the most disturbing and grotesque act of animal cruelty. I saw three Park View employees converge around a cat, shove it into a black rubbish bag, and attempt to dispose of it like garbage. The cat was visibly terrified and in pain,” Aram Alaaldin, a Park View resident and director of an Erbil and London-based strategic advisory firm, told Rudaw English on Tuesday

Alaaldin said that he rescued the cat in question after intervening, but he has “noticed the disappearance of several other cats these past two days.”

Such incidents are increasingly becoming commonplace in Park View after the management reportedly issued a decision to eliminate cats from the area, citing complaints from two residents who felt harassed by their presence.

“Residents have cared for them since they were kittens, feeding and nurturing them. Over the years, they’ve become a beloved fixture, bringing joy and warmth to everyone who calls Park View home,” Alaaldin said.

Videos submitted to Rudaw English shows the cats eating after being given cat food by Park View’s residents – the “extremely in the majority” of people Alaaldin said are in favor of keeping the cats.

A gardener at Park View confirmed to Rudaw English on the condition of anonymity the decision to eliminate the cats from the complex.

Another longtime resident said that the management initially brought the cats into the area to fight the infestation of mice.

“Park View was infested with mice everywhere. That’s why we brought the cats. The cats are a part of the community here and they should be treated with respect,” said Jean, who declined to mention his full name.

He referred to cities such as Istanbul as models for the proper treatment of animals.

Rudaw English reached out to the Park View administration and local authorities but they were not readily available for comment.

Violence against stray dogs and cats is rife in the Kurdistan Region with the animals often considered a menace and public health risk. They are commonly shooed away, beaten, hit with sticks, and killed by cars and gunshots.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/06112024

[Anthea]

Dozens of Mines to Be Detonated

The Kurdistan’s Mine Action Agency has announced that a controlled detonation of 195 landmines will take place on Thursday in the Soran district

This operation, conducted by the agency’s explosives destruction team, aims to safely remove these mines from a designated area.

“The sound of the explosion will be loud due to the destruction of these mines, so do not worry when you hear the sound,” the agency stated, alerting residents to anticipate loud blasts in the vicinity.

The presence of landmines in the Kurdistan Region dates back to the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, during which Iraqi forces planted extensive minefields along the borders to counter Iranian forces. Many areas, particularly near rural communities, remain dangerous, affecting local agriculture and livestock farming.

The Kurdistan Government (KRG) has been prioritizing the clearance of mined areas to support infrastructure development, with a focus on boosting tourism and agriculture.

According to Iraq’s Ministry of Environment, around 2,000 square kilometers of mine-contaminated land remain uncleared across Iraq. Mustafa Hamid, spokesperson for the Iraqi Department of Mine Affairs, indicated that Iraq aims to clear all mined territories by 2028 under international agreements, having already addressed over half of the contaminated areas.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/866417

[Anthea]

Joining forces:
By Maxim Rubin

Combating the environmental crisis in Kurdistan and Russia

Long ago, in 1897, Russian writer Anton Chekhov in his famous play “Uncle Vanya” used to describe ecology changes: “The forests are disappearing, the rivers are running dry, the wildlife is exterminated, the climate is spoiled, and the earth becomes poorer and uglier everyday”.

Indeed, vast climate change is one of our century’s challenges. It has already gone beyond the scale of scholar disputes and became a global issue. Aggravated by hazardous human activities, the global ecology crisis became a true menace for economic, cultural and social development of all the nations. Scarcity of fresh water, extinction of animal and plant biodiversity, reduced rainfall, improper waste disposal are main factors of the global crisis.

Currently, the issue of environmental protection is on the agenda of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The KRG’s statements rule that fight against climate change is a pillar of social prosperity, political stability, security and economic success. The KRG runs a number of ecologies saving programs addressed air purification, reduction of waste disposals and greenhouse emissions.

The local authorities are actively participating in key events dedicated to the fight against climate change. Therefore, H.E. the President of Kurdistan Mr. Nechirvan Barzani and H.E. the Prime Minister Mr. Masrour Barzani attended in 2023 the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai and delivered detailed reports analyzing environmental issues of Kurdistan. The KRG continues this work and its delegation headed by H.E. the President of Kurdistan Mr. Nechirvan Barzani takes part in the COP29 in Baku this year.

The Russian Federation is actively resisting the global environmental crisis. Emphasizing this, on October 26, 2023, Н.E. the President of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Putin approved the new Climate Doctrine of the Russian Federation, which sets goals, principles and techniques for implementing a governmental policy on climate change and its consequences. This document laid solid foundation for implementation and development of the Russian climate policy.

Simultaneously runs the national project "Ecology" on protection of the environment, founded in 2018. It integrates preservation of forests and water, reduction of emissions into the atmosphere, landfill management, waste recycling and disposal, preservation of biological diversity, development of eco-tourism and environmental education.

Russia is also actively fighting the global environmental crisis. The Russian Federation had signed the main international climate agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement

Russia shares ecological experience on international platforms. As a member of the BRICS interstate association, in August 2024 we held an expert-level “BRICS Climate Agenda in Modern Conditions” Forum.

During the event representatives of governmental and corporate sectors, expert and scientific communities from the BRICS member states discussed the strategy of combating climate change as a part of sustainable development and variety of approaches to hydrocarbon trade. We have exchanged practical solutions to drive low-carbon development.

Desertification problem becomes more and more relevant for Russia. Globally, it brings to gradual land degradation and turning fertile lands into barren deserts, unfit for human habitation and agriculture. Desertification also results in extinction of main ecosystems, flora and fauna. Scientists regard desertification a consequence of irresponsible human activity.

Desertification problem affects both Russia and Kurdistan. KRG emphasizes that over the past decades, the Region’s beauty and lushness of nature, which was symbolically reflected in the green color of the autonomy’s flag, has been rapidly fading due to human activity.

To restore picturesque landscapes of Kurdistan, Kurdish government supports greenery-planting projects. During last six months, dozens of town parks and “green zones” along highways were laid out.

Today Russia suffers desertification at 100 million hectares territory. There is a vast arid zone embracing Dagestan, Tatarstan, Kalmykia, as well as provinces with administrative centers in Saratov, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Rostov and Stavropol cities at southern European part of our country. For example, sandy desert in Kalmykia annually enlarges for more than 60 thousand hectares.

Dunes increasingly advance to the residential areas. Especially in the summer, dust storms up to 50-70 meters high move at a speed of more than 100 km/h. Forecasts predict, that Kalmykia will mainly become a desert in 200-300 years. The Russian government takes all possible steps to prevent this scenario.

To defy with such a grave environmental challenge, the Russian Academy of Sciences has established a research center to combat desertification. As part of the center's work, scholars develop program of “fito-melioration” i.e. stabilizing sands by planting green fences.

Desertification monitoring module of the program started in 2022. It includes satellite scanning added with ground-based expeditionary surveys. The researchers conducted a cross-section of the revegetation results.

This method is amazingly effective: after rehabilitation of tested area, the size of recovered zone increased for 10 times (from 35.7 thousand hectares to 399.6 thousand hectares). In addition, the desert almost disappeared in the central part of this area.

Combating desertification is a good example of productive work of Russian eco-scientists. Ecological crises are a common problem, so exchange of experience, coordination and active cooperation are the key for gaining success.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/opinion/14112024

Maxim Rubin is the Consul General of Russia to Erbil

[Anthea]

Delhi shuts primary schools

hazardous smog worsens

In a post on X, external, the Indian capital's chief minister, Atishi Marlena Singh, said classes will move online until further notice due to a thick smog that has enveloped the city

Delhi and nearby cities are experiencing pollution levels that are deemed hazardous to people's health. On Thursday, fine particulate matter in the air was more than 50 times what is considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Delhi and northern states annually face smog during the winter due to a confluence of dropping temperatures, smoke, dust, low wind speeds, vehicle emissions and crop stubble burning.

According to IQAir, a Swiss-based Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring group, Delhi had on average 254 pieces of fine particulate matter - or PM 2.5 - per cubic metre of air on Thursday. The WHO considers no more than 15 in a 24-hour period safe.

This is because fine particles can penetrate through lungs and affect organs. It can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, while research shows it can also delay development in young children.

Levels of larger particulate matter - PM 10 - reached an average of 495, more than 10 times the daily amount considered safe by the WHO.

At the same time, monitoring by IQAir suggests the neighbouring cities of Gurugram and Noida had hazardous air pollution, as did the northern Indian city of Chandigarh.

Residents in Delhi have reported eye irritations and breathing issues, according to local media.

Fine particulate pollution reached more than 50 times what is considered safe on Thursday

A study published in The Lancet, external in July found that 7.2% of daily deaths in the city could be attributed to fine particulate pollution.

Air pollution is expected to decrease in the coming days, but will remain at unhealthy levels.

Authorities in Delhi - which has an estimated population of more than 33 million - have already enacted measures aimed at tackling the pollution, including spraying roads with water containing dust suppressants.

Non-essential construction has also been banned, and citizens told to avoid burning coal.

But critics argue these measures have proven ineffective.

The smog is extensive enough to be visible from space. Recently, Nasa shared satellite imagery, external showing it stretching across northern India and into Pakistan.

Earlier in the month, air pollution in the Pakistani city of Lahore forced officials to temporarily close its primary schools.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3wqz8xn8jgo