Washington, DC: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the results of the 2024 Financial Access Survey (FAS), marking the 15th anniversary of the FAS. The report “FAS: 2024 Highlights,” published along with the data release, summarizes the key trends on access to and usage of financial services over the past few years. Established in 2009, the FAS has played a crucial role in providing essential data to develop and evaluate financial inclusion policies, a topic of key relevance for the IMF, as it fosters broader economic participation, reduces inequalities, promotes inclusive growth, and aids in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The FAS stands as the most comprehensive annual supply-side database on financial inclusion, boasting nearly complete global coverage. It covers 192 economies, featuring 121 series and 70 normalized indicators for global comparison. The FAS dataset spans from 2004 to 2023, and it continues to evolve in line with financial innovations such as the provision of digital financial services and the increasing demand for gender-disaggregated data.
Digital Financial Services Continue to Make Gains
There has been a substantial increase in the usage of non-traditional financial services, including mobile and internet banking, with mobile money being particularly important in Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, usage of traditional financial services remains essential in many economies. For example, from 2013 to 2019, deposit accounts per 100 adults increased by over 40% in emerging and developing Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. The growth of digital financial services has also led to an increase in non-traditional access points, such as retail and mobile money agents, while traditional access methods like ATMs and bank branches have seen a decline, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic (Figure).
Traditional and Non-traditional Access Points in Recent Years (2019 to 2023)
(Number of Access Points Per 100,000 Adults)
Source: Financial Access Survey and IMF staff calculations.
Notes: These charts show the weighted average by region for economies whose data are available for 2019–2023. Country coverage differs across indicators depending on data availability. While three economies from Latin America and the Caribbean (El Salvador, Colombia, and Haiti) report data on number of registered mobile money agents, none provide data for all five years covered in this chart and are therefore not included.
Microfinance Institutions Have Continued Supporting Economically Marginalized Groups
Financing by microfinance institutions has shown resilience amid recent economic shocks. In various economies, borrowing from microfinance institutions increased, as indicated by the growth in the number of accounts and outstanding loans. While commercial banks usually provide larger loan amounts, microfinance institutions serve a broader client base, as evidenced by the larger number of loan accounts compared to those at commercial banks.
Challenges in Narrowing Gender Gaps Remain
Despite the benefits of incorporating women into the financial system, substantial gender gaps in the usage of financial services persist. These gaps are particularly evident in the usage of deposit and loan accounts. Globally, women’s outstanding deposit amounts as percentage of men’s stand at 64 percent, while their outstanding loan balances account for only 46 percent of men’s. In terms of regional differences, advanced economies demonstrate a more gender-equal financial inclusion compared to emerging economies. Among the latter, emerging and developing Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean show relatively higher gender equality.
Lending to SMEs Declined
Data from FAS indicate a decrease in the outstanding amounts of SME loans from 2021 to 2023 in most economies that reported this information. Although several supportive policies were introduced during the COVID-19 Pandemic, subsequent developments, including tighter financial conditions and geopolitical tensions, may have contributed to the decline in SME loans.
Additional Enhancements to the FAS are Being Tested
To ensure the FAS data remain vital for informing financial inclusion policy, a pilot exercise is underway to assess the potential for enhancing the FAS. This includes incorporating additional gender disaggregation, information on new fintech services, and important factors such as loan pricing and risks, especially for underserved populations.
Federal funding will help restore the Klamath River’s habitat following historic dam removal and further protect endangered C’waam, Koptu, and salmon
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is investing a total of$46,191,133in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to boost ecosystem restoration and enhance water quality and reliability through 24 projects throughout the Klamath Basin—12 of which are taking place in Oregon.
This latest federal funding wave from the landmark law will largely fuel the Klamath River’s recovery and habitat restoration efforts following the removal of the four lower Klamath Dams in 2024—the largest dam removal effort in U.S. history.
“A key to restoring the Klamath Basin is major federal investments that will support collaborative ecosystem restoration and water improvement efforts. This funding will continue ongoing efforts I helped energize alongside the Klamath Tribes and other stakeholders to save the C’waam and Koptu, and restore the aquatic habitat and ecosystems of the Klamath River following the historic removal of the four lower Klamath Dams,” said Merkley, who visited Northern California earlier in October to tour a former dam site and celebrate removal alongside Tribes and other key partners. “Since the dams came out, we’ve seen the salmon returning home for the first time in generations. This federal investment champions projects that help ensure the C’waam, Koptu, and salmon all have an ecosystem to thrive in, while also prioritizing efforts that help this unique region’s water go farther for the Tribes, farmers, fish, and vital ecosystems that rely on it.”
“Restoration of the Klamath Basin requires significant resources just like these to catalyze the work that’s needed locally to build a stronger ecosystem and improve water quality,” Wyden said. “This fresh federal investment in the region and the big gains it will generate for jobs, recreation, and habitat will work to ensure the area’s farmers, Tribes and communities can grow and thrive for generations to come.”
As Chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Merkley secured a historic $162 million over five years through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically dedicated to restoring ecosystems and enhancing drought resiliency work in the Klamath Basin. Today’s $46 million funding announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s USFWS marks the third year of investments from this landmark law, as it follows $26 million provided in 2022 and $15 million in 2023. Merkley also convened the “Sucker Summit ” in 2018, which brought people from across the Basin together and helped lay the groundwork for these significant investments to protect the C’waam and the Koptu.
In February of this year, Merkley and Wyden announced $72 million in new federal funding for critical ecosystem restoration projects and agricultural infrastructure modernization in the Basin, as well as a historic agreement with the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe, and Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA). This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) cemented their commitment to working together to drive long-term solutions to the Basin’s water challenges. That includes collective efforts to restore the region’s ecosystem and improve water supply and reliability for the Klamath Project.
The 12 restoration projects in Oregon—some of which are being developed by Klamath MOU group partners, as well as other Tribes and other conservation partners—are as follows:
$13,000,000 for the Wetland Restoration on Upper Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Agency Lake Units project. This will complete restoration of the Agency-Barnes wetland units of Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and provide fish habitat access in Fourmile and Sevenmile creeks. Covering 14,356 acres, the restored wetland will create vital habitat for waterfowl, federally endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers (C’waam and Koptu sucker fish), and other species, making it one of the largest wetland restoration initiatives in America. MOU group partners – Ducks Unlimited and Klamath Tribes
$3,500,000 for the Upper Williamson River Restoration Phase 2 project. This will provide fish passage to over 26 miles of the upper Williamson River and reconnect several thousand acres of adjacent wetlands and riparian habitats within the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge project area. MOU group partners – Ducks Unlimited and Klamath Tribes
$3,179,400 for the Climate Change Resiliency Stream Restoration and Post Bootleg Fire Stream Stabilization and Restoration project. This effort includes placing approximately 400 Beaver Dam Analog, Post Assisted Log Structures, and other types of instream structures to help restore several streams in the Sprague River and Williamson River watersheds. MOU partner – Klamath Tribes
$3,000,000 for the Lake Ewauna Restoration for the Benefit of People, Fish and Wildlife project. This funding will be used to develop and restore wetlands and shoreline around Lake Ewauna in downtown Klamath Falls for the benefit of native fish and wildlife species and to tell the story of the local Tribes, farmers, and communities in the Klamath Basin. Restorative improvements to habitat in Link River and instream habitat improvements within Lake Ewauna will benefit C’waam and Koptu suckers, native trout, migratory waterfowl, and other species. With the recently removed Klamath dams, salmon and steelhead will also be migrating through Lake Ewauna for the first time in over a century. Partners – The Klamath Watershed Partnership, City of Klamath Falls, and Klamath County Economic Development Agency
$2,540,000 million for the Tule Lake Flow Through Infrastructure Improvement project. This encompasses a suite of infrastructure improvements and operational changes to provide natural ecosystem services with respect to water quality in the Klamath Basin. Water used for farmland irrigation would then flow through wetlands before returning to the Klamath River. In addition to water quality benefits for the Klamath River, this project will provide habitat for threatened and endangered fish, support migratory wildlife, recharge groundwater, and provide other ecosystem benefits. MOU group partners – KWUA and Tulelake Irrigation District
$2,027,799 for the SONAR and Radio Telemetry and Spawning Surveys for Klamath Salmon project. This will be used to obtain abundance estimates of salmon and steelhead entering the reach previously blocked by the four lower Klamath dams and track salmon migrations to their spawning grounds. These metrics will provide a foundation for assessment of stock status and trends while guiding future restoration efforts in the newly accessible habitats, developing a toolset to support prioritization of future restoration and monitoring in the Klamath River. It will also provide much needed capacity for three of the six tribes on the Klamath River, allowing them to track the return of these culturally significant species. MOU group partners –Karuk Tribe, California Trout, Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Cal Poly Humboldt, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
$1,253,000 for the Klamath Basin Fisheries Collaborative: Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tag Monitoring and Database project. This will be used to continue to build the infrastructure required to provide Klamath Basin fisheries managers with consistent and reliable data on movements of fish using PIT tags. Work funded by this proposal includes continuing to improve on existing fish monitoring efforts by coordinating activities and collaborating on tasks, as well as advancing data exchange by refining the user interface and providing technical support to data providers. Partner – Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
$500,000 for the Implementation of Integrated Fisheries Restoration and Monitoring Plan (IFRMP) project. This will fund a USFWS initiative to support Klamath Basin stakeholders in tracking, coordinating, and integrating monitoring and data collection efforts across the Basin.
$500,000 for the Klamath Basin Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation project. This will fund a USFWS initiative to provide greater continuity and work toward local governance for the MOU parties, which are interested in utilizing a neutral facilitator to help identify additional ways to promote collaboration and reduce conflict over natural resources. This effort could include expanding the MOU group to include other interested parties and to develop proposals related to a governance structure for making important decisions on restoration and monitoring in the Klamath Basin. These funds would support the hiring of a facilitator selected by the parties and support up to three to five years of facilitation support.
$300,000 for the Post Dam Removal Data Collection on Salmon Migration and Movement project. This funding will be used by project partners to use otolith microchemistry tools to 1) understand how Klamath Dam removal affects the early life history diversity of Chinook salmon, 2) determine the natal origin and migration histories of returning fish, pre- and post-dam removal, 3) determine which tributaries are and are not producing Chinook salmon, and 4) quantify how Chinook production varies between different tributaries before and after dam removal. The information is critical to adaptively managing the Klamath Basin, post dam removal, and has important implications for restoration of key tributaries. Partner – UC Davis
$295,000 for the Surface Water Management and Efficiency Enhancement project. This encompasses necessary infrastructure improvements to allow safe, reliable, and integrated management of water within the Klamath Project. MOU group partners – KWUA, Klamath Irrigation District, and Klamath Drainage District
$200,000 for the FWS Post Dam Removal Science Symposia project. This will fund an USFWS initiative to sponsor a Klamath science symposium in 2025. Planning for this symposium will start in November 2024. The goal is to bring together stakeholders/experts to discuss the state of the Basin post dam removal, progress on restoration and monitoring, and next-step strategies to continue the momentum on restoration progress in the years ahead.
For a complete list and full descriptions of all the 24 projects awarded funding in the Klamath Basin, click HERE.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Boulder City, Nev. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined staff and survivors for the grand opening of the St. Jude’s Ranch for Children in Boulder City. The St. Jude’s Healing Center provides trauma-informed treatment to survivors of commercial child sex trafficking.
“Since my time as Nevada’s Attorney General, combating human trafficking and supporting survivors has been one of my top priorities,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I was here for the groundbreaking of the St. Jude’s Healing Center two years ago, and I am grateful for the opportunity to come back for its grand opening. I’ll continue fighting to ensure essential organizations like the St. Jude’s have access to the resources they need to support survivors through the recovery process.”
Senator Cortez Masto is an outspoken advocate for the survivors of human trafficking and sexual assault. She recently called on Congress to provide more funding to support the Crime Victims fund, which provides services and resources for survivors of sexual assault. Her federal legislation to help train law enforcement to identify and prevent child trafficking and combat human trafficking activity on social media was signed into law. She co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that would prevent the trafficking of children by providing grants for the training of students, parents, and school personnel to respond to the signs of human trafficking.
November is the 200th anniversary of the Great Gale of 1824. It killed nearly 100 people and destroyed villages along the south coast of England.
There is a free public exhibition about the impacts of the Great Gale on the Dorset coast.
The Environment Agency, Dorset Coast Forum and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council are raising awareness of extreme weather and flooding as they mark the 200th anniversary of the 1824 Great Gale.
On the night of 22 November 1824, a devastating storm struck England’s south coast and raged for two days. Winds reached hurricane force, with gusts exceeding 100 mph, causing widespread damage. Houses were severely flooded, whole villages destroyed, ships lost at sea and nearly 100 people were tragically killed.
Trail of destruction
The Dorset coast was hardest hit, but the storm’s impact stretched from Land’s End to Dover. Inland communities did not escape devastation from wind damage and it took many years for affected communities to recover.
At Plymouth, the storm sunk 22 vessels and swept away over 200,000 tons of stone from the city’s new breakwater which was under construction. While, at Abbotsbury, seawater surged over Chesil Beach, reaching astonishing depths of up to 6.9 metres.
Watch our animation about the Great Gale’s trail of destruction Great Gale of 1824.
Rare combination created Dorset’s worst storm
The Great Gale, considered the most destructive storm ever to strike the Dorset coastline, was caused by a rare combination of factors. Hurricane force winds, spring high tides, extreme low pressure and towering waves created unprecedented conditions for the storm. Its severity was so extreme it is estimated to have a 1 in 10,000 chance of recurring each year.
Recent events like Storm Boris in Europe, Typhoon Yagi in Asia and Hurricanes Helene and Milton in North America highlight the ongoing threat of severe weather – and, as climate change increases the energy driving these storms, the importance of being prepared.
How to prepare for extreme weather
This post is nearly 7m high and shows the 1824 storm’s high water mark which reached 22ft 8in at the Swannery, Abbotsbury, Dorset.
Andrea Summers, Environment Agency flood and coastal risk manager for Wessex, said:
As we remember those who tragically lost their lives 200 years ago, this anniversary serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of nature and the devastating impact flooding can have on communities.
Needless to say, we are much more resilient now than we were then, with major innovations in forecasting, warning and defence systems. But our climate is changing, sea levels are rising and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent.
The Environment Agency is investing to better protect people from flooding and extreme weather. The £200m Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes is working in partnership with local authorities nationwide to develop, test and implement innovative ways of improving resilience and adapting to the impacts of flooding, coastal erosion and climate change.
Additionally, the new Floods Resilience Taskforce is driving government efforts to accelerate the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather events.
How to see The Great Gale of 1824 exhibition
As part of the bicentenary commemorations, the Environment Agency has worked with Dorset Coast Forum and BCP Council to bring together a free public exhibition to explore the impacts the Great Gale left on the Dorset Coast. For more information, including dates and venues, please visit the Dorset Coast Forum website.
Historic injustice reversed as 112,000 former coalminers finally have £1.5 billion from their pension scheme transferred to them, boosting their pensions.
Historic injustice reversed as 112,000 former coalminers finally have £1.5 billion from their pension scheme transferred to them, boosting their pensions by 32%
Government delivers longstanding campaign ask from ex-pit workers, alongside new review to also ensure mineworkers receive a fair pension for years to come
Energy Secretary pays tribute to the “mineworkers who powered our country” and the campaigners who fought for justice over many years
Over 100,000 former mineworkers will receive £1.5 billion of money that was kept from their pensions, overturning an historic injustice and ensuring fair payouts for years to come.
Following the announcement in yesterday’s budget, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that the move will mean a 32% boost to the annual pensions of 112,000 former mineworkers – an average increase of £29 per week for each member.
The investment reserve fund was set up using profits from the scheme in 1992, to provide a buffer in case the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme went into deficit. This money was due to be returned to government in 2029.
Former mineworkers and their families have fought for justice for many years. In a landmark decision, the fund – now worth £1.5 billion – will be handed over to the pension scheme, ensuring former pit workers who powered the country for decades finally get the just rewards from their labour.
When British Coal was privatised in 1994, the government also agreed to take half of any profits generated by the pension scheme, in return for a guarantee that pensions would increase in line with inflation.
The scheme has continued to produce strong returns and the government has never paid any funds into it. Therefore, the government is also delivering on its commitment to review this agreement to ensure former miners and their families get a fairer deal in the years ahead, with next steps set out in the coming months.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:
We owe the mining communities who powered this country a debt of gratitude.
For decades, it has been a scandal that the government has taken money that could have been passed to the miners and their families.
Today, that scandal ends, and the money is rightfully transferred to the miners. I pay tribute to the campaigners who have fought for justice- today is their victory.
Minister for Industry Sarah Jones said:
Miners powered our industries and our homes for decades. That’s why we have to right the wrong that has denied them the decent pension they deserved.
We are handing over the £1.5 billion that for years has sat in the reserve fund unused at times when people needed it most. This will end an historic injustice and will ensure members of the scheme see an average increase of £29 per week added to their pay – an increase of 32%.
Gary Saunders, Chair of the Trustees of the Mineworker’ Pension Scheme, said:
As a Trustee board we are delighted we will be able to put more money in our members’ pockets. We are also grateful to the many members and MPs who have shown support of the Scheme on this matter over the years.
Allen Young, Pensioner Representative Trustee for the North East of England and Overseas members, said:
The government’s decision to make good on this part of its manifesto commitment in respect of the Scheme is a very positive development for our members. The Trustees will use the Investment Reserve to increase our members’ pensions and we will be writing to all members with the good news very shortly.
The trustees are responsible for deciding how the £1.5 billion fund is distributed amongst their 112,000 members and are now working at speed to deliver the bonus into pension pay packets from November this year.
This announcement follows urgent action already taken toward the government’s clean energy superpower mission, helping to boost energy independence and create jobs. In just three months this includes lifting the ban on onshore wind, setting up Great British Energy and announcing a partnership with The Crown Estate to accelerate offshore wind projects, approving four major solar farms, launching the Clean Energy Mission Control centre led by Chris Stark, securing a record pipeline of renewable projects in the latest auction and launching the UK’s first carbon capture sites.
The Fire Danger Period will commence on November 11
The Fire Danger Period (FDP) will begin at 01.00am on Monday, November 11, for the following municipalities in CFA’s northwest Region:
City of Greater Bendigo
Central Goldfields Shire Council
Mount Alexander Shire Council
Residents living in these districts are asked to take this opportunity ahead of the FDP to clean up their properties, while landowners are encouraged to conduct safe private burn-offs where possible.
CFA District 2 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Archie Conroy said residents should take note of the conditions and prepare accordingly.
“Conditions across the northwest region are drier than usual, warranting the implementation of restrictions to protect our communities,” Archie said.
“Macedon Ranges Shire is currently the exception, and we’ll be assessing conditions there closely.
“As we head into the warmer months, small actions like reducing vegetation and securing your property can make a significant difference in protecting both homes and lives.
“We’re working hard to monitor conditions, and every precaution you take now helps build a stronger line of defence against fire.”
Those conducting burn-offs must notify authorities online at the Fire Permits Victoria website (www.firepermits.vic.gov.au), or by calling ESTA on 1800 668 511.
By registering your burn-off online, you allow emergency call takers to allocate more of their time taking calls from people who need emergency assistance immediately.
No burning off is permitted during the FDP without a Permit to Burn, which can be applied for through the Fire Permits Victoria website.
There are very strict conditions attached to these permits and the liability sits with the permit holder to ensure they always act safely.
Fire Danger Period information:
A written permit is required to burn off grass, undergrowth, weeds or other vegetation during the FDP. You can apply for a permit atfirepermits.vic.gov.au. It can also be issued by the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer or the CFA District Office.
Lighting fires in the open without a permit can bring a penalty of more than $21,800 and/or 12 months imprisonment. For a full list of conditions, visitcfa.vic.gov.au/can.
To find out what you can and can’t do during FDP, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/canor by calling VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.
Before the science team starts planning, we first look at the latest Navcam image downlinked from Curiosity to see where the rover is located. It can be all too easy to get lost in the scenery of the Navcam and find new places in the distance we want to drive towards, but there’s so much beauty in the smaller things. Today I’ve chosen to show a photo from Curiosity’s hand lens camera, MAHLI, that takes photos so close that we can see the individual grains of the rock.
The planning day usually starts by thinking about these smaller features: What rocks are the closest to the rover? What can we shoot with our laser? What instruments can we use to document these features? Today we planned two sols, and the focus of the close-up contact science became a coating of material that in some image stretches looks like a deep-purple color.
We planned lots of activities to characterize this coating including use of the dust removal tool (DRT) and the APXS instrument on a target called “Reds Meadow.” This target will also be photographed by the MAHLI instrument. The team planned a ChemCam LIBS target on “Midge Lake” as well as a passive ChemCam target on “Primrose Lake” to document this coating with a full suite of instruments. Mastcam will then document the ChemCam LIBS target Midge Lake, and take a mosaic of the vertical faces of a few rocks near to the rover called “Peep Sight Peak” to observe the sedimentary structures here. Mastcam will also take a mosaic of “Pinnacle Ridge,” an area seen previously by the rover, from a different angle. ChemCam is rounding off the first sol with two long-distance RMI mosaics to document the stratigraphy of two structures we are currently driving between: Texoli butte and the Gediz Vallis channel.
In the second sol of the plan, after driving about 20 meters (about 66 feet), Curiosity will be undertaking some environmental monitoring activities before an AEGIS activity that automatically selects a LIBS target in our new workspace prior to our planning on Wednesday morning.
Written by Emma Harris, Graduate Student at Natural History Museum, London
OLYMPIA – A project to improve 34 miles of railroad track between Davenport and Wilbur recently received a $37.7 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration.
The Washington State Department of Transportation will use the grant, from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program, to continue enhancements on the state-owned Palouse River and Coulee City (PCC) railway in eastern Washington. Another $20.3 million in state and private matching funds were contributed toward this project.
This grant is in addition to two previous federal grants received for upgrades to the PCC system – one in 2018 for $5.6 million and another in 2023 for $72.8 million. These grants were matched with a total of $45 million in state, local and private funds. Capital projects funded by these two grants benefit the PCC system in Grant, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams and Whitman counties.
The latest Phase III grant will replace 100-year-old worn rail with new heavy 115-pound rail, which can accommodate today’s modern 286,000-pound rail cars. Once the new rail is installed, track speeds will increase from 10 to 25 mph, enabling agricultural products to move more quickly to national and international markets.
These improvements align with the 2015 PCC Rail System Strategic Plan (PDF 3MB), which serves as a blueprint for investments on the state’s longest short-line railroad. WSDOT oversees the facilities and regulatory portions of the system and contracts with private railroads to operate and maintain each of the three branches. The PCC Rail Authority — an intergovernmental entity formed by the counties — oversees the business and economic development portions of the operating leases.
Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Headline: Media Release: Australia wins bid to host 2026 global carbon capture conference – Australian Energy Producers
The Australian oil and gas sector’s leadership in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) – a key emissions reductions technology – is set to be showcased on the world stage.
Australian Energy Producers is pleased to announce it will co-host the world’s leading CCUS conference in Perth in 2026, in partnership with the CSIRO, CO2CRC and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
The Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT) Conference, run by the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, brings together over 1,000 CCUS researchers, industry leaders, government officials, and stakeholders from around the world to discuss and share the latest developments with the technology.
Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said Australia’s selection to host GHGT-18 reinforced its standing as a global leader in CCUS research, development and deployment.
“Australia has two of the largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects operating globally – Chevron’s Gorgon Project and the Santos and Beach Energy joint venture Moomba Project,” she said.
“These projects are today storing emissions equivalent to taking one million cars off the road each year.
“CCUS is a key technology in efforts to reach net zero in Australia and the region.
“The International Energy Agency, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and CSIRO have all found that there is no pathway to net zero without CCUS.”
The 2026 event will be the third time Australia has hosted the global conference, having hosted it in Cairns in 2000 and Melbourne in 2018.
The announcement last week in Canada during the closing session of GHGT-17 coincided with a major CCUS milestone for Australia, with the Moomba CCS Project achieving first injection and full ramp up.
“Australia has a comparative advantage in CCUS, with world class geology, industry experience, and strong links with regional trading partners looking to collaborate on CCUS,” Ms McCulloch said.
“Scaling up CCUS is an opportunity to not just reduce emissions but also create new jobs and attract new investment.”
Australia’s hosting of the conference is supported by Business Events Perth, reflecting the opportunity for GHGT-18 to amplify Western Australia’s global standing as a premier destination for impactful global events.
As a three-day fact-finding mission from a group of Pacific leaders drew to a close in New Caledonia, and with the outcomes report not expected before next year, the visit to the riot-hit French Pacific territory seems to have triggered a new sense of awareness locally about the values of Pacific regional mechanisms of “talanoa” embodied by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
Local President Louis Mapou stressed on several occasions during the visit that New Caledonia’s situation was the “subject of much attention” in the Pacific region.
He suggested that one of the reasons for this could be because of a potential “spillover” effect that could “jeopardise cohesion in the Pacific”.
However, Mapou also stressed that he had received the message conveyed by the PIF “Troika-Plus” group that “they’re ready to take part in [New Caledonia’s] reconstruction”.
‘New Caledonia’s regional integration in its region’ Mapou said that one of the recurrent themes during the PIF visit was “New Caledonia’s regional integration in its region”.
“Whatever might be said, in many ways, New Caledonia does not know its [Pacific] region very well. Because it has this affiliation relationship to Europe and France that has prevailed over all these years,” he told local media.
“So, in a certain way, we’re just discovering our region. And in this process, the Pacific Islands Forum could bring a sort of leverage,” he said.
Kanaky New Caledonia, as well as French Polynesia — both French Pacific entities — became full members of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2016, after several years of “associate members” status.
Mapou said New Caledonia’s current status vis-à-vis France was mentioned during talks with the PIF mission.
“I spoke with them about obstacles that should be removed, that are directly related to our current status. This is part of topics on which we should be working in future,” he said.
“They’re very open-minded, they don’t have any preconceived ideas, they’re happy to talk equally about the concepts of independence, just as they are for keeping [New Caledonia] within the French Republic,” he revealed.
One of the unexpected outcomes, beyond the specific fact-finding mission that brought this PIF “Troika-Plus” leaders’ delegation to New Caledonia, seems to have underlined the values of regionalism, as well as New Caledonia’s long-awaited and genuine integration in its “regional environment”.
These values seem to have been recognised by all sides of New Caledonia’s political spectrum, as well as all walks of life within the civil, economic, educational and religious society.
PIF’s “Troika-Plus” leaders meet with Southern Province President Sonia Backès (third from left) at SPC headquarters last Monday. Image: PIF/RNZ Pacific
Pacific diversity in status During the past few days, informal exchanges with the Pacific leaders have also allowed New Caledonia’s authorities to share and compare possible ways forward regarding the territory’s political status.
“They readily exchanged their own experiences with our government. The Cook Islands, which is a self-governing state in ‘free association’ with New Zealand; Tonga, which has never been colonised; and the Solomon Islands, who have also undergone inter-ethnic conflicts and where the young population was also involved. And Fiji, which obtained independence (in 1970), had decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth and is finally re-discussing its link with Great Britain,” Mapou briefed local media on Tuesday.
The leaders spent three days (October 27-29) in the French Pacific territory to gather information on the ground, after destructive riots broke out in May, resulting in 13 deaths and extensive economic damage estimated at €2.2 billion.
During the three days, the PIF leaders met a wide range of political, business, religious, and civil society leaders to get a first-hand account of the situation.
On Tuesday, the “plus” component of the troika, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, reiterated the mission’s assigned mantra in a manner of conclusion to their mission.
“We were here to understand and make recommendations. We have heard many extremely different attitudes. We hope it will be possible to find a solution for the people and the government,” Rabuka told religious leaders.
Bitterness from civil society The long series of talks, within a particularly tight schedule, also allowed groups within New Caledonia’s civil society — including traditional chiefs, youth, human rights activists, educationists, mayors and women — to express their views directly during the Pacific leaders’ visit.
Some of these groups also took the opportunity to point out that they were not always listened to in other circumstances.
“Today, peace has just been through a rough episode. And we, women, are being asked to help. But when was the last time we were heard?
“We’ve already said women should be part of all levels of decision-making, including on matters of dealing with violence and access for women to economic empowerment.
“We were ignored. And then, when fire breaks out, we’re being asked for help because this is the foundation of Pacific values,” said Sonia Tonga, the president of the Oceania Union of Francophone Women, which groups women’s groups from New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis-and-Futuna and Vanuatu.
Talking about the youth, she said there was an “ill-being”, “they don’t recognise themselves in this system, including for education. We’re trying to fit an Oceanian society into a framework that has not been designed for them.
“When will we be heard in our country?”.
As part of talks with church leaders, it was also pointed out that there were benefits from sharing experiences with Pacific leaders.
“I’ve been many times in Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and other Pacific islands. They too have had their hard times.
“And they too are familiar with the experience of violence which is difficult to bring back to a path of dialogue,” said 80-year-old Nouméa Catholic Archbishop Michel-Marie Calvet, a respected figure.
In terms of earlier crises in the Pacific region, among PIF member island states, in the early 2000s, civil unrest occurred in both Fiji and the Solomon Islands, with shops being targeted and looted.
Under Pacific Islands Forum mechanisms, especially the declaration of Biketawa, this prompted in 2003 the setting up of “RAMSI” (Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands), with mostly Australia and New Zealand military and police as its main contributors, with additional input from other Pacific island countries.
In Fiji, the mission to defuse the crisis, associated with an attempted coup and a MPs hostage situation within Parliament buildings in May 2000, was mainly achieved by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) through protracted negotiations and without violence.
Forum “Troika-Plus” leaders in New Caledonia conducting a fact-finding mission to assess the situation on ground. Image: X /@ForumSEC/RNZ Pacific
Supporting Pacific dialogue In the political sphere, there was a recognition of the benefits of a Pacific perspective.
“There is a Pacific tradition of dialogue and talanoa. So, I think [the PIF leaders] can invite pro-independence parties to come to the [negotiating] table,” said New Caledonia’s Mayors’ Association president Pascal Vittori.
“We’re actually expecting PIF will back this notion of dialogue — that’s what’s important now,” he told local media.
Sonia Backès, one of the staunchest defenders of New Caledonia remaining part of France, told reporters on Monday: “We didn’t ask for this [mission]. Now we’re waiting for this (troika) report based on their observing mission.
“We all know that there are biased views on the part of some, one way or the other.
“So we hope the final report will be as fair and neutral as possible so as not to add fuel to the fire.”
Following their visit to New Caledonia and based on the information gathered, the Forum “Troika-Plus” leaders are expected to compile a “comprehensive report” to be submitted to the next annual Forum Leaders’ Summit in the Solomon Islands in 2025.
“The terms of reference of this mission were discussed beforehand between the government of New Caledonia, the Pacific Islands Forum and the (French) State. We all agreed that what was most important was to have an assessment of the situation.
“There is a need to provide information to the public so that it is an informed opinion leader. It’s important in those times of misinformation and manipulation from one side or the other,” French ambassador for the Pacific Véronique Roger-Lacan told public broadcaster NC la 1ère TV on Tuesday evening.
Business sector now needs Pacific market overtures Even the business sector now seems to believe that, as a result of the widespread destruction caused by the riots, which has left more than 800 companies burnt down and looted, as well as thousands jobless, the wider Pacific region has now become a new potentially attractive market.
“Our local market has just shrunk considerably and so we will need to find new openings for our products. In that perspective, our cooperation with the Pacific is very, very strategic”, said business leaders association MEDEF-NC president Mimsy Daly.
She had once again presented a detailed view of the widespread devastation caused by the recent riots and those who took part.
“‘Were they aware of what they were doing?’ is one of the questions I was asked,” she wrote on social networks after her encounter with the “Troika-Plus”.
“A logical question when you know that what has been destroyed equals about 70 percent of the GDP of the Cook Islands, 100 percent of the GDP of the Solomon Islands and 40 percent of the GDP of Fiji.”
But she admitted the response to this complex question was “primordial” and “every light will have to be shed on the matter”.
In a wrap-up of the three days, President Mapou held a final meeting with the group on Tuesday.
Wide circle of ‘concertation’ needed French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc, after a final meeting with the delegation, said: “They have come here to seek the profound causes of what happened on May 13. They have been listening very closely.
“I understand their view is that a wide circle of concertation [cooperation] will be required to reach an agreement,” he said.
He elaborated, saying that the Pacific Forum leaders seemed to place a lot of hope in the notions of “trust”, the “necessity of living together” and the PIF’s “will to help, while saying that, at the same time, the solution lies in the hands of New Caledonia”.
French President Macron (right) with New Caledonia’s President Louis Mapou (left) and former New Caledonia Congress President Roch Wamytan (centre) earlier this year. Image: RNZ Pacific
Next: another ‘concertation and dialogue’ mission Following the PIF “Troika-Plus” mission, another visit is expected in New Caledonia in the next few days — this time coming from Paris.
This new high-level visit will be headed by the presidents of both houses of Parliament in France (Senate and National Assembly), respectively Gérard Larcher and Yaël Braun-Pivet, from November 9-14.
They will lead what is described as a “mission of concertation and dialogue”.
The dates come as a top-level meeting took place last week, presided by French Head of State Emmanuel Macron and attended by French minister for Overseas François-Noël Buffet (who had just returned from New Caledonia), French PM Barnier, Larcher and Braun-Pivet.
The objective, once again, was to reinforce the signal that the time had come to resume political dialogue.
Macron indicated earlier that he still intended to host a meeting in Paris sometime in November.
Buffet was also in New Caledonia earlier this month for four days to assess the situation and try to restore a path to dialogue between all political stakeholders, both pro-independence and pro-France.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Two decades ago, the fight against climate change was often framed as a personal choice. You might try to reduce your carbon footprint by avoiding flights or change your buying habits to avoid meat or reduce plastic.
But this approach lost popularity, as it shifted responsibility from producer to consumer. The carbon footprint, for instance, was famously popularised by oil company BP. In 2008, well-known American climate activist Bill McKibben pointed out the impotence of individual action without collective action.
Behavioural researchers also began finding a seeming paradox – many of us expressed strong interest in taking individual action on climate, but our actual behaviours barely changed.
Much focus shifted to top-down efforts such as government incentives for clean energy and commitments at a national level to cut emissions.
But there is still a role for individuals – especially around demonstrating what clean alternatives actually look like. For instance, the more solar panels are installed on rooftops in your neighbourhood, the more likely you are to consider it. This neighbourhood effect also affects uptake of electric vehicles and e-bikes. This is especially important if we are to see clean alternatives go mainstream rather than stop at a small fraction of the population.
Of course, individual actions can only go so far. As our research on sustainable consumption has shown, individual actions can be magnified with a backdrop of institutional support.
The neighbourhood effect has influence on solar and electric vehicle uptake. zstock/Shutterstock
What we say and what we do
Humans are complicated. We often say we want to make greener choices – but in reality, we act differently.
Individual climate action sounds great in theory. If many of us chose electric vehicles or bikes, installed solar panels and built energy efficient houses, our actions in aggregate could contribute to wider emissions goals. Then there are choices such as reducing dairy and meat, installing LED lights and buying produce with less packaging.
Everyday actions can contribute too, such as washing clothes in cold water, avoiding putting aircon too low or heating too high, and wearing extra layers of clothes. Recycling, repairing and reusing offer us still more methods to extend the life of our products, reduce waste and save money.
Yet it turns out the reality of individual action on climate is much more complicated – because we are complicated.
When surveyed, a majority of us say we want green, sustainable products. But when we go to the shops, we often don’t actually buy them. My colleagues and I have dubbed this the “Janus faced” consumer phenomenon – we often say one thing but do another.
Why might that be? One reason is many consumers believe green products – whether electric cars or detergents – will perform worse. Green products are also perceived to be more expensive and inconvenient to use.
Then there’s the question of virtue signalling. This is a phenomenon where consumers purchase highly visible green products primarily to signal they’re a person who cares about the environment without necessarily doing so.
Some of these challenges are being overcome. It’s hard to write off modern electric cars as inferior when they can accelerate faster and run much cheaper than fossil fuel cars. While early adopters of solar might once have been seen as virtue-signallers, the main reason Australian households go solar is to save money on the power bill, according to a CSIRO survey.
Individual action can only go so far. For individual action to create sustained impact, it needs supportive policies and institutional backing.
For instance, a 2023 report found many Australian clean energy organisations would like to re-use solar panels for community projects or as a low-cost option for households. This makes sense, given used solar panels are often 80% as good as new ones.
But for consumers to actually act on this, they need institutional scaffolding. If you’re going to buy used solar, you want to make sure they are in good condition. Without a certification process, their willingness will come to nothing.
While many of us say we would consider buying an electric vehicle, the uptake is constrained by things outside our control such as whether there are enough public chargers in cities and rural areas.
You can see the importance of institutional backing clearly in transport. The Melbourne-Sydney flight path is the fifth busiest in the world. That’s because there are no fast green alternatives. If there was high-speed rail as in China or Japan, many of us would choose to avoid the emissions caused by flying. But it doesn’t exist (yet), so our individual choices are curtailed.
Which way forward?
As climate change intensifies, more and more of us say we are willing to act on our beliefs and concerns on an individual level. Even better, more of us are actually doing what we say we will.
Not everywhere, of course. For many Australians, switching from petrol to electric might be easier than giving up meat or a flight to Japan. But some progress is better than none.
This groundswell is encouraging. But our individual efforts can only go so far. To make the most of it, we need institutional scaffolding. Australia has world-beating rooftop solar uptake because state and federal governments used subsidies and incentives to make the emerging technology cheaper. With incentives on offer, millions of us made individual choices to take it up.
We are more than consumers, of course. Our power as individuals isn’t limited to choosing specific products. As citizens, we can push for our governments to provide the essential scaffolding we need to make greener choices.
Sukhbir Sandhu has received research grants from Australian Research Council (Discovery), Green Industries SA, and the European Union.
Unless you’re a moderator for a local community group discussing garbage collections or dog park etiquette, you are unlikely to fully understand the sheer volume and scale of abuse directed at people online.
But when social media moderation and community management is part and parcel of your daily work, the toll on people and their loved ones can be enormous. Journalists, often early in their careers, can be on the receiving end of torrents of abuse.
If they come from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds, that reluctance to report can be even higher than other colleagues.
There’s growing employer concern about how moderating confronting content can affect people’s wellbeing. Employers also have a duty to keep their staff safe at work, including online.
The ABC wanted to understand what this looked like in practice. Its internal survey data shows just how bad the problem has become for moderators who are employed to keep audience members safe when contributing to online discussions.
What did the ABC find?
In 2022, the ABC asked 111 staff who were engaged in online moderation as part of their jobs to self-report the frequency of exposure to potentially harmful experiences.
First it was important to understand just how long people were spending online moderating content. For those who had to moderate content every day, 63% they did it for less than an hour and a half, and 88% moderated for less than three hours.
The majority of staff surveyed saw potentially harmful content every week.
71% of moderators reported seeing denigration of their work weekly, with 25% seeing this daily.
Half reported seeing misogynistic content weekly, while more than half said they saw racist content weekly.
Around a third reported seeing homophobic content every week.
In the case of abusive language, 20% said they encountered it weekly.
It’s a confronting picture on its own, but many see more than one type of this content at a time. This compounds the situation.
It is important to note the survey did not define specifically what was meant by racist, homophobic or misogynistic content, so that was open to interpretation from the moderators.
Some people employed by Facebook to filter out the most toxic material and have gone on to take the company to court.
In one case in the United States, Facebook reached a settlement with more than 10,000 content moderators that included U$52 million (A$77.8 million) for mental health treatment.
In Kenya, 184 moderators contracted by Facebook are suing the company for poor working conditions, including a lack of mental health support. They’re seeking U$1.6 billion (A$2.3 billion) in compensation.
In Australia, moderators during the height of the COVID pandemic reported how confronting it could be to deal with social media users’ misinformation and threats.
A 2023 report by Australian Community Managers, the peak body for online moderators, found 50% of people surveyed said a key challenge of their job was maintaining good mental health.
What’s being done?
Although it is not without its own issues, the ABC is leading the way in protecting its moderators from harm.
It has long worked to protect its staff from trauma exposure with a variety of programs, including a peer support program for journalists. The program was supported by the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma Asia Pacific.
But as the level of abuse directed at staff increased in tone and intensity, the national broadcaster appointed a full-time Social Media Wellbeing Advisor. Nicolle White manages the workplace health and safety risk generated by social media. She’s believed to be the first in the world in such a role.
As part of the survey, the ABC’s moderators were asked about ways they could be better supported.
Turning off comments was unsurprisingly rated as the most helpful technique to promote wellbeing, followed by support from management, peer support, and preparing responses to anticipated audience reactions.
Turning off the comments, however, often leads to complaints from at least some people that their views are being censored. This is despite the fact media publishers are legally liable for comments on their content, following a 2021 High Court decision.
Educating staff about why people comment on news content has been an important part of harm reduction.
Some of the other changes implemented after the survey included encouraging staff not to moderate comments when it related to their own lived experience or identity, unless they feel empowered in doing so.
The peer support program also links staff others with moderation experience.
Managers were urged to ensure that self-care plans were completed by staff to prepare for high-risk moderation days (such as the Voice referendum). These includes documenting positive coping mechanisms, how to implement boundaries at the end of a news shift, debriefing and asking staff to reflect on the value in their work.
Research shows one of the most protective factors for journalists is being reminded that the work is important.
But overwhelmingly, the single most significant piece of advice for all working on moderation is to ensure they have clear guidance on what to do if their wellbeing is affected, and that seeking support is normalised in the workplace.
Lessons for others
While these data are specific to the public broadcaster, it’s certain the experiences of the ABC are reflected across the news industry and other forums where people are responsible for moderating communities.
It’s not just paid employees. Volunteer moderators at youth radio stations or Facebook group admins are among the many people who face online hostility.
What’s clear is that any business or volunteer organisation building a social media audience need to consider the health and safety ramifications for those tasked with maintaining those platforms, and ensure they build in support strategies.
Australia’s eSafety commissioner has developed a range of publicly available resources to help.
The author would like to acknowledge the work of Nicolle White in writing this article and the research it reports.
Alexandra Wake is a member of Dart Asia Pacific, having previously served as a director of its Board. She is currently a joint recipient of an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant, Australian Journalism, Trauma and Community.
Older people and children at increased risk of death and disease
Severe flooding in Pakistan’s Sindh province has left thousands of people suffering from disease and food insecurity amid government inaction, Amnesty International said.
Following major flooding in August 2024, more than 140,000 people were displaced with many now living in tents. Months later, affected communities are still struggling with health risks and lost livelihoods compounded by little international or government support. With disease rampant due to stagnant floodwaters, older people, children and pregnant women are at increased risk of illness and death.
By failing to guarantee access to adequate healthcare, food and housing in the wake of the floods, the government of Sindh has failed to fulfil economic, social and cultural rights set out in key human rights instruments ratified by Pakistan. The biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, who bear most responsibility for climate change-related disasters, must also minimize the harmful effects of climate change on human rights by phasing out fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
“Tens of thousands of people have been abandoned by the Sindh government and the international community after being devastated again by major floods,” said Scott Edwards, Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Programme Director.
“Many impacted communities were harmed by record-breaking floods in 2022, and have struggled to rebuild their lives. Inaction in the face of repeated disasters is evidence of waning resiliency and global lethargy.
“Climate change is not a tentative threat; lives are being lost today to global inaction and inadequate humanitarian response. The international community and Pakistani authorities must act urgently before more people suffer unnecessarily.”
In late September 2024, Amnesty International visited eight flood-affected villages in Badin and Dadu districts in Sindh province and interviewed 36 people, including older people, people with disabilities, children, pregnant women, and one doctor.
CFA firefighters battled a recycling truck fire this morning at Colac which prompted a warning to the community to stay indoors.
CFA was called to the truck fire on the corner of Calvert Street and Queen Street at 7.14am today.
Firefighters found the rubbish in the recycling truck on fire and heavy haulage machinery was called to the scene to help lift the truck to empty its contents onto the ground.
CFA District 6 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Craig Brittain said the volunteer firefighters who responded to this incident have done an amazing job.
“On inspection there was quite a number of items such as aerosol cans that shouldn’t be in a recycling bin that have possibly caused the fire so we will investigate that further,” Craig said.
“Community members need to please be careful what they put into rubbish bins.”
An excavator was also called in to pull apart the rubbish to assist firefighting with extinguishing the fire.
A Watch and Act message was issued asking people in the area to stay indoors due to the dangerous smoke from the burning plastic and other materials in the truck. That warning has since been downgraded to an Advice message.
The incident was brought under control at 8.48am and declared safe at 9.05am.
CFA has four trucks on scene from Colac, Cororooke and Larpent.
Headline: FEMA Senior Leaders Continue to Survey Impacted Areas and Meet with Local Officials as Helene, Milton Recovery Progresses
FEMA Senior Leaders Continue to Survey Impacted Areas and Meet with Local Officials as Helene, Milton Recovery Progresses
WASHINGTON – More than a month after Helene made landfall, FEMA officials remain on the ground coordinating with local officials in affected states to help guide their recovery. Visits included Victoria Salinas, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, meeting with officials over several days in North Carolina and Florida. Salinas and other FEMA officials discussed how the communities were progressing in their recovery and surveyed the effectiveness of modern building codes in minimizing storm-related damage.FEMA has approved more than $1.3 billion in direct assistance to Hurricanes Helene and Milton survivors. These funds help survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Additionally, over $1.1 billion has been approved for debris removal and emergency protective measures, which are necessary to save lives, protect public health and prevent further damage to public and private property. More than 1,400 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team members are in affected neighborhoods across affected states helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. Also,FEMA now has 76 Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the hurricane affected communities. Center locations can be found at FEMA.gov/DRC. Centers can provide survivors in-person help with their applications and answer questions they have about available resources to help with their recovery.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Operation Blue Roof which is a free service to homeowners for 25 counties in Florida impacted by Hurricane Milton. Residents can sign-up at www.blueroof.gov or by calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258). The sign-up period deadline is Nov. 5.FEMA encourages Helene and Milton survivors to apply for disaster assistance online as this remains the quickest way to start your recovery. Individuals can apply for federal assistance by: Applying online at disasterassistance.govUsing the FEMA AppCalling 800-621-3362, Staffed daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. local timeVisiting a Disaster Recovery Center to talk with FEMA and state agency officials and apply for assistancePresident Joseph R. Biden has approved major disaster declarations in six states–Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia–affected by Helene. He has also approved a major disaster declaration for Florida following Hurricane Milton.These photos highlight response and recovery efforts across states affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
SWANNANOA, North Carolina – FEMA sets up a mobile Disaster Recovery Center in an affected North Carolina community. Helene survivors in Swannanoa and nearby areas can visit this center to apply for federal disaster assistance and ask questions about available state and federal resources for their recovery. (Photo Credit: FEMA)
SAVANNAH, Georgia – FEMA staff and FEMA Corps members help survivors of Hurricane Helene at the Disaster Recovery Center in Savannah. (Photo Credit: FEMA)
CORTEZ, Florida – Victoria Salinas, FEMA Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, and other FEMA personnel join Manatee County officials in the Hunters Point Neighborhood in Cortez. There they spoke with an owner of a property development to talk about how building codes helped the community following the recent hurricanes. (Photo Credit: FEMA)
COLLETSVILLE, North Carolina – Victoria Salinas, FEMA Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, surveys the flood damage from Wilson Creek along Brown Mountain Road with members of the Collettsville Fire Department. Salinas also talked with the owners of the Brown Mountain Resort as they shared their story of surviving the flood from Hurricane Helene. (Photo Credit: FEMA)
FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Toolkit provides graphics, social media copy and sample text in multiple languages. In addition, FEMA has set up a rumor response web page to reduce confusion about its role in the Helene and Milton response and recovery. annie.bond Wed, 10/30/2024 – 17:58
Last night’s gathering featured Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Arnoldo Andrés Tinoco; CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – President, Sergio Díaz Granados; and Panama’s Special Representative for Climate Change, Juan Carlos Montero.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo emphasized the strong link between cultural and biological diversity, noting that the Chocó Biogeographic region is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth per square meter, protected by its people. He urged the world to recognize this, stating that “this visibility is essential to support the people who live there. Conservation here is a cultural reality, a service to humanity that has gone unrecognized and uncompensated. This COP belongs to the people and must be about implementation.”
Minister Murillo added, “This is why we insist on amplifying voices, resources, and environmental justice” and highlighted the establishment of the Multidonor Fund as “a significant step forward.”
He explained that Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama share ecosystems, making “this initiative of utmost importance,” and pointed out that “for many years, the Chocó Biogeographic region has been championed by naturalists, scientists, activists, social leaders, and the region’s ethnic communities.”
Vice President and Equality Minister Francia Márquez emphasized that the fund is a step toward “ethnic justice” and proposed community participation in its governance: “Governance cannot be limited to the states; it must include community representation” to ensure transformative projects that contribute to conservation goals and local well-being.
Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister praised the opportunity to join the launch of the Multidonor Fund for the Conservation and Restoration of the Chocó Biogeographic Region and other areas, stressing that “our collective efforts are far more effective when we work together towards ecosystem conservation and sustainable development.” He affirmed Costa Rica’s commitment to conservation.
About the Multidonor Fund
The Multidonor Fund will support conservation and restoration efforts, biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable development within the Chocó Biogeographic region and other interconnected ecoregions.
The Chocó Biogeographic region is an expansive zone stretching from the Pacific coasts of Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama, extending into the Caribbean, hills, and mountain ranges that converge with Costa Rica’s neotropical forests. This ecological connectivity forms a bridge for biodiversity distribution and is renowned worldwide for its lush natural wealth and extraordinary diversity.
However, the region faces significant threats: deforestation, illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, and social conflicts endanger the ecosystems and communities reliant on them. These challenges demand urgent, united action to protect this invaluable cultural and natural heritage, crucial for local populations and global ecological balance.
Organized communities, including Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples and local communities, are essential to the Chocó Biogeographic region’s cultural diversity. Their legacy of resilience and adaptation, along with their deep environmental knowledge, make them vital contributors to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
To advance fund formulation, structuring, and implementation, the parties agree to invite CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – to support these efforts.
The Governments of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama call for collaboration, inviting international organizations, the private sector, specialized funds, philanthropic organizations, and other potential donors to join civil society in safeguarding the Chocó Biogeographic region as a stronghold of biodiversity and resilience against global environmental challenges. Let us form new alliances for biodiversity protection, climate justice, and sustainable development to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future together.
After two years of rigorous science-based design, the Americas Flyways Initiative (AFI) is moving into its implementation phase in 2025, aimed at protecting and restoring critical ecosystems through Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and bird-friendly infrastructure that also benefits people.
Inspired by the wonderful world of birds and their epic migratory journeys across the hemisphere, which connect landscapes, cultures, and people, the AFI science team has identified a portfolio of crucial sites to ensure the connectivity and conservation of at least 10% of prioritized populations of migratory shorebirds and landbirds in the Americas.
Birds serve as vital bioindicators of the health of nature. They not only signal the problems we face but also point to solutions: where and how we need to act. Protecting birds means protecting life. For example, 85% of the important bird conservation sites in Colombia coincide with key areas for water regulation and climate change mitigation.
Currently, AFI has five initial projects, also known as “nest projects,” named for their connection to shelter, development, and well-being:
Improving coastal climate resilience in the Rocuant Andalién Wetland in Chile;
Restoring montane forest landscapes and aquatic ecosystems in the northwestern Andes of Ecuador;
Integrating bird-friendly practices in transmission and distribution power lines reaching the coast of Guayas, Ecuador;
Incorporating bird-friendly architecture and design at the CAF headquarters in Panama City;
Knowledge exchange on best practices at the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant on Iona Island, British Columbia.
To guide project developers in designing and implementing proposals that combine conservation and sustainable development, AFI has also released four practical and strategic guides:
Guide 1: High biodiversity and carbon-dense ecosystems.
Guide 2: Water security: drinking water, sanitation, and access to irrigation.
Guide 3: Coastal management.
Guide 4: Infrastructure.
The relevance of AFI is grounded in the premise that conservation without funding is merely conversation. Without agile and sustainable financial resources, effective conservation, protection, and restoration of nature cannot be achieved. Currently, there is a financial gap of between $598 billion and $824 billion annually needed to implement actions addressing the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.
One of the primary objectives of the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), taking place in Cali, is to advance the details and mechanisms for meeting Target 19 of the Global Biodiversity Framework: achieving the annual mobilization of at least $200 billion by 2030. Of this amount, it is expected that at least $30 billion will be directed toward developing countries, which are often more severely affected by climate change impacts and wildlife decline.
As of the date of this statement, eight governments have pledged $163 million to enable the Global Biodiversity Fund (GBFF) to implement the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. While this is a step forward, it remains insufficient given the scale of what is required and the context we face.
The protection and sustainable use of the services and resources we receive from nature are not solely the responsibility of the naturalist or scientific community. More than half of the world’s economy depends on the benefits provided by nature: clean water and air, fertile soils, food, medicine, raw materials, among others. More than half of the global GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services. Consequently, this figure is linked to the risks and impacts associated with the destruction of nature.
Therefore, actions aimed at the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of ecosystems and their biodiversity are an obligation and responsibility for all sectors, as they form the fundamental basis for our societies to continue existing and thriving. Fortunately, much of the answer to the challenge of channeling financing for biodiversity lies within nature itself.
“Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that effectively and adaptively address societal challenges while simultaneously benefiting people and nature” (IUCN, 2016).
In this context, at COP15 in Montreal, the National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) forged a commitment and the foundations of a strategic, transformative, and visionary alliance that will mobilize investment for nature and the communities that depend on it through a comprehensive financial mechanism.
AFI is a symbiosis for prosperity that combines cutting-edge applied science and agile financial mechanisms to sustainably manage over 30 marine and terrestrial landscapes by 2050, mobilizing between $3 trillion and $5 trillion.
Elizabeth Gray, CEO of Audubon, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “We are working together to protect 30 terrestrial and marine landscapes across this vast region. This is essential for promoting nature-based solutions and sustainable development. The Americas is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, and we have much to do to address both the biodiversity and climate crises.”
Martin Harper, CEO of BirdLife International, expressed gratitude and recognition to the teams from the three organizations for their hard work in reaching this point: “We are building something very special, something that will unite conservation efforts across the Americas. This initiative is already inspiring similar projects in other major migratory routes worldwide.”
Sergio Díaz Granados, Executive President of CAF, reminded attendees of the bank’s efforts to become the green bank of the region, including increasing its capital to address the climate emergency: “The loss of biodiversity is one of our most urgent problems. Mitigating it and adapting is not a choice; it is a responsibility we must fulfill. We have been collaborating with institutions like Audubon and BirdLife to bridge conservation gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Cai Xuzhe has started his new space journey just 22 months after his first Shenzhou mission, breaking the record for the shortest interval between two spaceflights for a Chinese astronaut. Cai is the commander of the Shenzhou-19 mission, which was launched at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The crew members, also including first-timers Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, will face new tasks and challenges during the mission, Cai told a press meeting on Tuesday ahead of the launch. He said they had collaborated with sci-tech workers to update training concepts and improve training methods and efficiency in order to meet the requirements of the new mission. Focusing particularly on the goal of achieving “zero error,” the trio will improve operation quality and enhance in-orbit emergency response capabilities, Cai noted. “We have been training as a team for more than a year, maintaining the best condition and the highest standards,” Cai said, adding that they are fully prepared and have the confidence, determination and ability to successfully complete this mission. Born in 1976 in the countryside of Shenzhou City, north China’s Hebei Province, Cai was fascinated with airplanes as a child. Every time he heard a plane flying past, he would rush outside and stare up at the sky as it flew away and disappeared. During his time in middle school, he idolized an air force commander and subscribed to the magazine China Air Force. Through its pages, he gained valuable knowledge about aviation and developed a keen appreciation for the art of piloting. Cai was admitted to an air force flight college in his final year at school. Upon graduation from college, he volunteered to work at an airport short of pilots. Despite the harsh conditions there, he dedicated himself to studying and training to sharpen his flying skills. In 2003, China’s first manned spaceflight, the Shenzhou-5 mission, was a resounding success. Sitting in front of the television, Cai was deeply attracted by the career of astronaut. As soon as he learned that the country was selecting the second batch of astronauts, Cai submitted application and was successfully recruited in May 2010. After arduous training and preparation for more than a decade, Cai had his moments. From June to December, 2022, he participated in the Shenzhou-14 space mission with colleagues Chen Dong and Liu Yang. During the extravehicular activities that lasted about five-and-half hours in November, 2022, they installed an out-of-cabin “bridge” that links the core module of the Tiangong space station with the Wentian and Mengtian labs. Cai completed the first cross-module spacewalk through the bridge. In his spare time in space, Cai was fond of overlooking at Earth through the porthole, especially when the space station flew over his hometown. In March 2023, the trio were awarded medals for their service to China’s space endeavors. Cai received a third-class medal and the honorary title of “Heroic Astronaut.” Back to Earth, the busy and fulfilling scenes of work and life in space were vivid in Cai’s memory, and he had been craving another journey to space. “I treat every spaceflight as my first one,” he said.
A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday urged authorities in Taiwan to return to the 1992 Consensus, describing this agreement reached by the two sides 32 years ago as the “anchor for peace and stability” in the region. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the statement in response to recent remarks from officials of Taiwan’s mainland affairs council and the Straits Exchange Foundation denying the 1992 Consensus. She recounted how the mainland’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the Straits Exchange Foundation from Taiwan in 1992 reached the consensus, which was expressed orally but backed by written records, articulating the shared commitment to the one-China principle across the Strait. The 1992 Consensus clearly defines the nature of cross-Strait relations, which acknowledges that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, and this relationship is neither state-to-state relations nor “one China, one Taiwan,” Zhu said. This has laid the political foundation for the development of cross-Strait relations, Zhu said, adding that it has enabled cross-Strait consultations and negotiations, facilitated exchanges between the political parties of the two sides, and institutionalized consultations and communication across the Strait. Any intentional misinterpretation of history, denial of the 1992 Consensus’ significance, or claims that portray it as outdated are unhelpful to improving cross-Strait relations, Zhu added.
China released a plan on Wednesday for the establishment of a big-data center system for new materials, with a projected date of 2035 for completion and steady operation. The country aims to build a system consisting of one major platform and multiple data-resource nodes by 2027, according to the plan jointly released by three government authorities including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The new-material big-data center is a new type of research and development infrastructure to promote the innovation and development of the new-materials industry. The plan details tasks for constructing the center, which include establishing the data circulation application system and optimizing the application ecology of new-material big-data technology.
China’s State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters launched a Level-IV emergency response on Wednesday to flooding and typhoons in the coastal province of Zhejiang as Super Typhoon Kong-rey approaches. Kong-rey is forecast to bring torrential rain to parts of Fujian Province, Zhejiang Province, Shanghai and Jiangsu Province from Wednesday to Friday, with Zhejiang to be hit hard. The headquarters also maintained a Level-IV emergency response to flooding and typhoons in Hainan Province and Fujian Province. The Ministry of Emergency Management has deployed more than 4,100 rescuers. It also urged local authorities to take solid steps to brace for the super typhoon.
The world’s first international standard for stem cell data, ISO8472-1, has been officially released, the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said Wednesday. This standard is expected to enhance global stem cell data management and make contributions to the advancement of stem cell research and applications, according to the institute. As biotechnology advances rapidly worldwide, stem cell data is proliferating. However, the lack of international standards for stem cell data has resulted in issues such as unregulated data management and low efficiency in data sharing and application. ISO8472-1, co-formulated by experts from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and other countries, stipulates a framework for the interoperability of stem cell data. It is applicable to related databases, data management systems, web interfaces, and more in the field of stem cell research. The release of ISO8472-1 will provide standard and guidance for data management in the field of stem cells and offer a systematic framework for the development of subsequent international standards for stem cell data, said Qiao Gexia, director of the Institute of Zoology.
Chinese auto company BYD registered increasing revenues and net profits in both the first nine months and the third quarter of this year, the company said on Wednesday.
The Shenzhen-based company’s revenue for the January-September period was 502.25 billion yuan (about 70.35 billion U.S. dollars), up 18.9 percent year on year. Its net profit during the period increased 18.1 percent year on year to 25.24 billion yuan.
In the third quarter, BYD’s revenue increased by about 24 percent and its net profit by 11.5 percent, the company said in its quarterly report.
A leading producer of electric cars and hybrid vehicles, BYD’s auto sales surpassed 2.74 million units in the first three quarters, with its September sales hitting a monthly record of 419,400 units.
The company said its exports of new energy passenger cars doubled to 298,000 units in the first nine months, and it has entered 96 countries and regions around the world.
BYD is one of many NEV producers that have seen booming sales as China, which has the largest number of motor vehicles in the world, continues its transition toward greener technology.
China’s NEV output between January and September was 8.3 million units, representing annual growth of 31.7 percent, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
U.S. social media giant Meta Platforms, Inc. on Wednesday reported financial results for the third quarter ending Sept. 30, with a total quarterly revenue of 40.59 billion U.S. dollars, a 19 percent increase year on year.
The company’s quarterly net income increased to 15.69 billion dollars, up 35 percent from 11.58 billion dollars year on year. The diluted earnings per share for the quarter increased to 6.03 dollars from 4.39 dollars in the same period of 2023, said Meta, which is based in Menlo Park, California.
The company’s family daily active people (DAP) was 3.29 billion on average for September 2024, an increase of 5 percent year over year.
Its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were 70.90 billion dollars as of Sept. 30, 2024. Free cash flow was 15.52 billion dollars, according to the company.
“We had a good quarter driven by AI progress across our apps and business,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Meta founder and CEO. “We also have strong momentum with Meta AI, Llama adoption, and AI-powered glasses.”
The company expects fourth quarter 2024 total revenue to be in the range of 45 billion to 48 billion dollars, and the full-year 2024 total expenses to be in the range of 96 billion to 98 billion dollars, updated from its prior range of 96 billion to 99 billion dollars.
Meta anticipates the full-year 2024 capital expenditures will be in the range of 38 billion to 40 billion dollars, and expects significant capital expenditures growth in 2025.
According to Meta, the increasing legal and regulatory headwinds in the European Union and the United States could significantly impact its business and financial results, and the company will continue to monitor the active regulatory landscape.
Foreign trade of China’s pilot free-trade zones (FTZs) expanded 11.99 percent year on year in the first three quarters of 2024, customs data showed Wednesday.
Total imports and exports of these pilot FTZs reached 6.09 trillion yuan (about 853.1 billion U.S. dollars) during the first nine months, according to the General Administration of Customs.
Exports rose 16.1 percent year on year to 2.74 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 8.83 percent year on year to 3.35 trillion yuan during the period, the data showed.
China has built 22 pilot FTZs across the country. These pilot zones, regarded as pacesetters for the country’s high-standard reform and opening up, have contributed about 20 percent of foreign investment and import-export volume of the nation.
China’s foreign trade, or total goods imports and exports, expanded 5.3 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first three quarters of this year, official data showed.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 30 — China on Wednesday released a set of guidelines on boosting the use of renewable energy amid efforts to cut fossil fuel consumption in green energy transition.
The guidelines, issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and five other government departments, outline China’s goal to replace traditional fuel with renewable energy.
The guidelines note that China’s renewable energy consumption is expected to reach the equivalent of more than 1.1 billion tonnes of standard coal next year, and to exceed the equivalent of 1.5 billion tonnes of standard coal by 2030.
The country aims to enhance its energy capacity to ensure the safe and reliable supply of renewable energy.
More renewable energy will be used in industrial enterprises, transportation, buildings, agriculture, rural areas and infrastructure.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Autumn harvest in full swing in China
Updated: October 31, 2024 07:41Xinhua
A harvester works at a late rice field in Changqing Village, Daoxian County, central China’s Hunan Province, Oct. 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows farmers airing hawthorns in Zunhua City, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows farmers harvesting fresh ginger in Zhongjia Village, Zouping City of east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows farmers harvesting rehmannia, a kind of herbal medicine, in Yuanshi County, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows a harvester working at a rice field in Xinbei District of Changzhou City, east China’s Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Typhoon Trami has claimed seven lives and caused another missing in the southern Chinese island province of Hainan, according to the provincial emergency management authorities on Wednesday.
Trami, the 20th typhoon this year, has brought heavy rainfall to many parts of Hainan since Oct. 28, forcing over 40,000 people to evacuate.
Ministry of Water Resources on Wednesday issued a Level-IV emergency response to flooding due to the lingering impact of Typhoon Trami in Hainan. Qionghai, one of the worst-hit areas, has been on the highest level of emergency response for flood and wind control since late Tuesday.
Affected by Typhoon Trami, most areas of Hainan will experience torrential rain on Wednesday, with a high risk of flash floods, and the Wanquan River may experience floods exceeding the warning level.
The ministry has dispatched a working group to the front line to guide flood response, with the focus on evacuating people from high-risk areas.
China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe level.
Not all rocket engineers get to strap in and blast off into space, but Wang Haoze made this thrilling leap on Wednesday.
Wang, who used to design system parameters for rocket engines, is carrying out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission along with two other crew members, serving as the country’s first female space engineer in the process.
The Shenzhou-19 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, was launched at 4:27 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
Born in 1990 in Luanping County, north China’s Hebei Province, Wang enrolled at Southeast University to major in thermal energy and power engineering, following her completion of the college entrance examination.
After graduating with a master’s degree, Wang joined the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and started her career by engaging in rocket engine research.
She later signed up for the selection process to determine the country’s third batch of astronauts — and was finally selected as the only woman in this batch.
After securing selection, Wang and her peers pushed the limits of both body and mind in the course of their training.
During extravehicular activity drills, the astronauts donned spacesuits weighing over 100 kilograms, thereby simulating the challenging maneuvers required to exit a spacecraft. The suits were pressurized at 0.4 atm, and Wang found every movement a struggle. Inside the helmet, her head mobility was restricted and her visibility narrowed, forcing her to rely on a wrist mirror to see beyond this limited range.
Inserting the connector of a hose bundle into two tiny sockets at the waist while in a bulky spacesuit was also no small feat for her. “My hands could barely reach the targets, and I couldn’t see well. With thick gloves, I lost the sense of touch, and after a few tries, my arms couldn’t gain any strength,” Wang recalled.
Determined to improve, she requested additional practice with her instructor, and worked hard to meticulously refine her grip, mirror angle and body positioning. Gradually, she discovered the right technique, transforming the once daunting task into a smooth, fluid motion.
Wang had her own style of self-motivation during training, writing a summary after each major training project as both a record of her experience and a confidence booster.
“Ranging from scorching sunlight to chilling rain, I experienced the extreme temperature fluctuations of the desert, which could vary by tens of degrees Celsius. Yet, I also cherished romantic moments spent lying on umbrella fabric, watching the sparkling galaxy above,” she wrote after a 48-hour survival training exercise in the desert.
In another summary, which focused on her maritime training, Wang noted, “The wind and waves created by the helicopter crashed against my body. Even with my back turned, I could feel the roaring wind pounding the back of my head, while the waves lashed against my ears.”
In 2023, Wang was chosen to join the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission, during which the crew is scheduled to undertake intensive tasks.
Wang, the third Chinese woman to participate in a crewed spaceflight mission, is mainly responsible for space experiment projects and the management of materials and space station affairs.
“From rocket engine designer to space engineer, my identity has changed, yet my unwavering commitment to serving my country through space exploration remains the same,” Wang concluded.
