A recent report has concluded that China has emitted more carbon dioxide in the past eight years that U.K had emitted since the industrial revolution. China has been the largest emitter of annual greenhouse gases since 2006 and its total energy related emissions are twice as that of the second largest emitter; making it the source of one third of emissions pumped into the environment every year across the world. The county’s energy related emissions have manifold to more than 80% from 2005 to 2019 as well.

These reports come at a time when global leaders were in Egypt attending United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). A prime agenda of the summit was to have nations agree to reduce global carbon emissions are at an all-time-high although the leader have foundlittle respite in sight.

China in specific, is alone responsible each year for 30% of all global emissions, while also ever increasing its emissions. This non-compliance also come at the backdrop of China in all probability backing away from paying a ‘climate change reparation’ to vulnerable countries severely affected by its environmental degradational activities.

However, it is not only emission concerns that needs attention in China’s unregulated development trajectories. China is also the largest source of marine debris as well as the worst culprits of illegal fishing and the largest importer of unregulated wildlife and timber. For instance, in the African nation of Mozambique, Chinese firms have been purchasing banned indigenous timber; though only after Chinese entities had managed to bribe public officials in the country for sourcing of the ecological destructive product

Beijing’s quest to attain a hegemony has promoted unsafe industrial practices and have proved to be detrimental to the global environment as well. Its ecologically threatening industrial processes has made it the world’s largest emitter of mercury and neurotoxin. This has made China the leader in creating a conducive scenario for mercury related toxic air pollutants, risking the threat of a severe air pollution crisis. Not only this, the Chinese Communist Party’s developmental goals have led it accelerate Chinese owned subsidiary’s plans in coal burning as well. These developmental expeditions have also made the country the biggest producer and exporter of plastic products also causing one third of the globe’s plastic waste alone.According to a report, China’s plastic waste is also unmanaged.The reports stated that these plastic wastes are also directly dumped into the environment without any non-polluting mechanisms in place, leading to millions of tonnes directly affecting marine life as well as causing a severe threat to island nations that face majority of the environmental burden.

China’s unsustainable ecological model is not only dangerous for its domestic residents, but is even more so lethal for vulnerable countries that face an existential threat due to climate change concerns. Its Belt and Road Initiative is arguably the largest economic project ever undertaken, and more so can also be considered as an instigator of such disastrous ecologically degrading mechanisms. The implementation of the projects under the ambit of the initiative lacks a clear environmental policy that safeguards concerns relating to the ecology. However, the it is the host country that often finds itself as a victim to environmental degradations due to lack of safeguards in the projects. Many local populations have been displaced to such projects forcing them to migrate into camps that lack basic facilities required even if meant for a temporary time period. The short-sighted deals are causing local residents to resent Chinese investments that have caused such miserable circumstances for locals residing in such areas for decades.

These projects have also gone on to pollute water sources significantly like in the case of Gambia. The major reason for the growing tensions within different Gambian communities against Chinese firms has been due to widespread contamination of the waters in the Gunjur beach. This has caused serious repercussions for local as well as the nation government. The BRI mega-projects run through at least 1,700 sensitive biodiversity sites and has threatened around 265 species in its process of building infrastructural projects. A study published in Nature Sustainability suggested BRI projects may lead to “permanent environmental degradation” due to ecological degradations caused by pollution, habitat loss, and wildlife deaths, amongst other factors.

These factors combined altogether indicate towards China’s lack of initiative as well as interest in reducing its emissions and pollution that indeed has detrimental effects on vulnerable countries across the world but more specifically towards island countries. If China’s degrading actions are to continue, it would not be far-fetched to state that the global ambition of mitigating against climate change would unfortunately fail in its goal. The Belt and Road initiative in specific, must be dealt with in more firmness by host countries, seeking more responsible behaviour by Chinese firms as well as guarantees that the consequences of the infrastructural projects would be reprimanded by China. China’s global ambitions are not in sync with the global agenda of mitigating environmental concerns; the fact that it has emitted the most amount of greenhouse gases annually in the past fifteen years is indicative of alarming Chinese intensions. These can only be delt if nations act collectively to counter Chinese developmental strategies. Hence like-minded countries concerned about environmental degradation through international forums must seek to call out China’s detrimental plans that is endangering the existence of not only various other species, but also the existence of human life as well going forward.

Courtesy Bye: IFFRAS

Former US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger has died. He was 100 years old at the time of his death. He died on Wednesday (November 29) local time.

The British media BBC reported this information in a report on Thursday (November 30).

Kissinger Associates, the political consulting firm Kissinger founded, confirmed his death, according to reports. The former diplomat of German origin died at his home in Connecticut on Wednesday local time.

Henry Kissinger passed his centenary in May this year. But still he was active in various activities. He attended meetings at the White House, published a book on leadership styles, and testified before a Senate committee on the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

And in July 2023, he went to Beijing on a surprise visit to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

While serving as Secretary of State and Security Advisor under Republican President Richard Nixon in the 1970s, he had a hand in many epoch-changing global events of the time.

His efforts led to the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, US-Soviet arms control talks, expanded relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors and the Paris Peace Accords with North Vietnam.

After Nixon's resignation in 1974, Kissinger's reign as the chief architect of US foreign policy waned. Still, he served as a diplomatic force under President Gerald Ford and continued to express strong opinions on diplomatic issues throughout his life.

Notably, Henry Kissinger celebrated his centenary on May 27. He is the only official in US history to serve as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor to the President.

He is also considered a forerunner of American diplomacy. His pragmatic approach to foreign policy became very important in Washington's policy in the 1970s in the wider world reality of the time.

Meanwhile, in 1973, Kissinger was widely criticized as he termed Independent Bangladesh as "bottomless basket". Henry Kissinger was unhappy with Indira Gandhi for taking a stand for the independence of Bangladesh. He even made obscene comments about Indira Gandhi. However, he later apologized for his comments.

The 28th session of the COP (Conference of the Parties) organized by the United Nations is starting from Today (November 30) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This conference will continue till December 12.

Qatar-based media Al Jazeera reported this information.

This year's COP conference is being organized with more than 70 thousand delegates. However, no head of state or government of the United States, United Kingdom or China is participating in this conference.

Basically these dominant countries are more responsible for releasing more carbon into the atmosphere. According to statistics, the United States, China, India and Russia emit more than 55% of harmful carbon in the world.

Meanwhile, oil is one of the fossil fuels responsible for carbon emissions. One of its biggest producers is the United Arab Emirates. And in that country, discussions on reducing carbon emissions have started.

In addition, Sultan Al-Jaber, the chief executive of ADNOC, the national oil company of the Emirates, has been made the president of COP-28. Therefore, the question has been raised whether he can work honestly to make the conference a success. However, Al-Jaber wants companies to help reduce carbon emissions during oil and gas extraction.

It is known that more businessmen are participating in this conference than any previous conference. Besides, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, British King Charles will also participate in the conference.

On the other hand, should the use of coal, oil and gas be stopped to combat climate change, or should emphasis be placed on technological innovation to reduce the impact of industry on the climate; there is division among countries on that. That divide may be more pronounced this time around at the conference.

So Al-Jaber wants companies to help reduce carbon emissions during oil and gas extraction.

By 2030, the European Union, the United States and the United Arab Emirates want to greatly increase the use of renewable energy. For that they want to make an agreement in this conference. Officials of various countries told Reuters that more than a hundred countries are already in favor of this plan. However, China-India has not fully supported this plan yet.

In this conference, efforts will be made to finalize the formation of funds to compensate for the losses due to natural disasters such as drought and floods in the countries of the world due to climate change. It has already been drafted.

After 1760, when the industrial revolution began in Europe, the dangers of nature began. Since then, carbon emission has started in the world. As a result, the air temperature increases day by day; there is air pollution.

Environmental scientists said that the sea level may rise by at least 1.62 centimeters by the year 2100 due to climate change. As a result, at the end of the twenty-first century, about half a hundred countries will sink to the sea level.

They also think that due to the effect of climate change, sea level rise, salinity increase, river erosion, floods, droughts, fires are increasing.

3 Bangladeshis died so far in a terrible building collapse in Penang, Malaysia. 2 people were hospitalized with serious injuries. Also, the rescue team believes that 4 people are trapped inside the collapsed building. Efforts are underway to rescue them.

This building collapsed last Tuesday at 9:45 pm. Penang deputy police chief Deputy Commander Datuk Mohd Yusuf Jan Mohd said nine people were trapped inside the building. 5 of them have been found.

A pillar weighing 14 tons and 12 meters in length collapsed on top of 14 other pillars at the spot, causing the building to collapse. There were 18 workers at the construction site. He said that 9 of them went for prayer at that time.

The deputy police chief also said that three people have died so far. Two died on the spot. Another died on arrival at the hospital. Two other seriously injured people are being treated at Penang Hospital.

He said, we think 4 more workers are trapped in the collapsed building. All the workers working in the building are Bangladeshis.

Penang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Zulfahmi Sutaji said the rescue operation was delayed and made difficult because the fallen pillars were very heavy. They have to gain momentum to move them. We need bigger and more powerful rescue vehicles to remove them and reach those trapped.

Former US President Jimmy Carter's wife Rosalyn Carter passed away on November 19. The funeral of the former first lady was held at the church in Georgia.

Jimmy Carter, 99, arrived in a wheelchair to say his last goodbyes to wife Rosalyn at the funeral on Tuesday (November 28).

Jimmy Carter, who is in hospice care, traveled two and a half hours to attend the ceremony, British media The Daily Mirror reported. Jimmy Carter arrives in a wheelchair.

Former First Lady Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and others appeared in this heartbreaking farewell. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were also present.

Earlier in a statement after Rosalina's death, former President Carter said, "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it." As long as Rosalyn was on earth, I always knew that someone loved and supported me.

In 1976, former Democrat Jimmy Carter was elected President of the United States. The 39th President of the United States served one term. He later lost to Republican candidate Ronald Reagan in 1980 re-election. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Jimmy Carter's current age is 99 years.