The Stream, November 4: Developing Countries Bear Environmental Burdens, UNDP Report Says

Developing countries are bearing the brunt of environmental burdens — including drought, water pollution and extreme weather — with little help from prosperous countries, according to the United Nations Development Program’s newest annual report on worldwide quality of life, the Associated Press reported.

The report also says that progress made in these developing countries could be lost if environmental issues are not resolved, Xinhua reported.

A new report by Friends of the Earth Europe urged the European Union to monitor the water footprints of imported products, according to Euractiv. The study argues that the EU should improve its policies to protect the resources in developing nations that are used to create these final products.

Twenty-six countries, including the United States and China, said that their airlines should not have to take part in the European Union’s emissions trading system, which regulates greenhouse gas emissions, The New York Times reported.

Despite high energy costs, very few Americans are making energy efficiency improvements to their homes, the annual Energy Pulse survey has found. For many people, it would take around a $100 increase or more in their monthly energy bills before they would invest in improvements.

The Ecologist looks at the pressures on climate change scientists and the need to view the science objectively, without a political lens.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek