My granny went to market

"We aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060," China's President Xi Jinping told the UN General Assembly in September. "COVID-19 reminds us that humankind should launch a green revolution," he added. Given that global emissions are still rising — despite the pandemic-related slowdown — and in view of the inadequacy of the Paris climate pledges, China's announcement was widely welcomed as the most important commitment since the 2015 Paris agreement in the push to carbon neutrality by mid-century. "It's like steroids in the move to decarbonization," said Niklas Hagelberg, coordinator of the Climate Change Program at the United Nations Environment Program, of the pledge from the world's largest carbon emitter. With China accounting for 28% of global CO2 emissions, its carbon neutral pledge is fundamental to achieving worldwide net-zero emissions. Even without any further commitments from other countries, global heating could now be … [Read more...] about Is China’s five year plan a decarbonization blueprint?

Coronavirus infection rates are continuing to fall across England, with one in 220 people testing positive for the virus outside of hospital, latest figures show. Around 248,100 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the community in England during the week ending 27 February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The infection rate is down from one in 145 in the previous week and is the lowest since the week to October 1, when it was one in 240. Live COVID updates from the UK and across the world The figures show it is also falling elsewhere in the UK. Advertisement In Wales, the ONS estimates that one in 285 people outside of hospital tested positive for coronavirus that week. In Northern Ireland the figure was one in 325 and in Scotland it was one in 335. Infection rates dropped across all age groups apart from secondary school pupils from Years 7 to 11, where trends are "uncertain" and decreases may be … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Infection rates continue to fall across England with 1 in 220 testing positive outside hospitals

Germany's domestic intelligence agency must not declare the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party a case for surveillance until proceedings brought by the party to challenge such a move have concluded, a court order stated on Friday. German media had reported a day earlier that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), had placed the entire AfD under surveillance. The BfV was apparently unable to announce the decision officially due to the ongoing legal dispute. Watch video 02:58 Share Germany sees rise in extremism Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3f4Sy Germany sees rise in extremist violence What is happening in the courts? The AfD filed two legal cases and two emergency motions against the BfV, German press agency dpa reported last week. It filed the cases after reports leaked … [Read more...] about German court suspends surveillance of far-right AfD, for now