Five Pacific islands vanish from sight as sea levels rise
Five of the Solomon Islands have been swallowed whole by rising sea levels, offering a glimpse into the future of other low-lying nations.
The Waves of the Pacific Are on Chile’s Energy Horizon
Chile, a country with 6,435 km of Pacific Ocean coastline, could find in wave and tidal power a solution to its need to diversify its energy mix. According to a study commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), this South American country has 164 MW in wave energy potential, which makes it unique in the world.
Illegal Chinese Sand Mining Causing Massive Land Reduction in Kinmen
From 2007 to 2012, the coastline in parts of Taiwan-governed Kinmen -located off the coast of southeastern China- has reduced more than 200 meters and the total land loss currently adds up to 250,000 square meters. Many experts and Kinmen locals, believe this ongoing phenomenon can be attributed to illegal Chinese sand miners operating along the coast.
Canada’s huge wildfires may release carbon locked in permafrost
More than 80,000 Canadians have been forced to leave their homes this week, in the largest evacuation of its kind in the country’s history. The effects may extend far beyond Canada and Alaska, because of the frozen organic matter under the forest permafrost. Wildfires can strip away the protective vegetative blanket and release all that stockpiled carbon into the atmosphere.