Category: 5 Environment

Green ideas: Turkey’s record-breaking National Forestation Day

Turkey set the new world record by planting 303 150 trees in one hour on the 11th of November – the record was confirmed by Guinness World Records. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared 11th of November National Forestation Day and he hoped that these kind of planting ceremonies will become an annual event for the Turkish public and will set an example for the world.

Read the full story on UN Convention to Combat Desertification website:

https://www.unccd.int/news-events/turkey-plants-millions-trees-set-world-record

Green ideas: Ecological civilization in China

I will introduce some interesting and positive environmental ideas, policies and actions around the world. These posts have label “Green ideas.”

One of the most interesting ideas, at the moment, is the idea of ecological civilization in China. That idea is now part of Chinese constitution.

Here are some articles regarding the ecological civilization:

1) Kuhn, Berthold: “Ecological civilisation in China” DOC Research Institute 26.8.2019

https://doc-research.org/2019/08/ecological-civilisation-china-berthold/

2) Korten, David: “Ecological Civilization: The Vision”

https://davidkorten.org/home/ecological-civilization/

3) Lent, Jeremy: “What Does China’s ‘Ecological Civilization’ Mean for Humanity’s Future?” EcoWatch 9.2.2018

https://www.ecowatch.com/china-ecological-civilization-2532760301.html

4) Fell, Hans-Josef: “Ecological Civilization, the Great Project in China” Pressenza 5.11.2019

https://www.pressenza.com/2019/11/ecological-civilization-the-great-project-in-china/

Large climate change protests in Madrid and around the world

Large climate change protests took place in Madrid and around the world on Friday. People took to the streets in Madrid to protest the slow progress that has been made in action on climate change. (1) The Guardian reported earlier that even though the rise in carbon dioxide emissions was much smaller this year compared to two previous years, the world is still not on track to meet the goals of the Paris agreement on climate change. (2)

References:

1) “Protests hit Madrid as frustration over climate failure boils over” Politico 6.12.2019

https://www.politico.eu/article/protests-hit-madrid-as-frustration-over-climate-failure-boils-over/

2) “Paris climate deal: world not on track to meet goal amid continuous emissions” The Guardian 4.12.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/04/paris-climate-deal-world-not-on-track-to-meet-goal-amid-continuous-emissions

UN agreement against exporting plastic waste to poorer countries – USA opposed

Nearly all the world’s countries have agreed on a deal that will restrict shipments of plastic waste to poorer countries. USA reportedly opposed the deal. After China stopped accepting recycling waste from USA, some developing countries have quickly become waste dumpsites. According to Claire Arkin, a spokeswoman for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (Gaia), plastic waste from USA has been piling up in villages in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Read the full story in The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/10/nearly-all-the-worlds-countries-sign-plastic-waste-deal-except-us