
-
Lessons and liquids: buried alive in Myanmar's earthquake
-
Trump tariffs spark fears for Asian jobs, exporting sectors
-
Stocks and dollar sink, havens rally as Trump tariffs fan trade war
-
Runners fly to North Korea for first post-Covid Pyongyang Marathon
-
Hamilton rubbishes claims he's lost faith in Ferrari
-
Nintendo Switch 2 sparks excitement despite high price
-
Sri Lanka's crackdown on dogs for India PM's visit sparks protest
-
S Korea police raise security levels ahead of impeachment verdict
-
China vows 'countermeasures' to sweeping new US tariffs
-
Trump jolts allies, foes and markets with tariff blitz
-
France says EU to target US online services after Trump tariffs
-
Tsunoda vows to bring 'something different' after Red Bull promotion
-
Verstappen not happy with Tsunoda-Lawson Red Bull swap
-
Experts accuse 54 top Nicaragua officials of grave abuses
-
Remains of 30th victim of Los Angeles fires found
-
EU to target US online services after Trump tariffs: France
-
How Trump's 'liberation day' tariffs will impact China
-
Malaysia suspends search for long-missing flight MH370
-
Search for long-missing flight MH370 suspended: Malaysia minister
-
Europe hits out at Trump tariffs, keeps door open for talks
-
Myanmar's junta chief to head to Bangkok summit as quake toll surpasses 3,000
-
Lawson vows to prove he belongs in F1 after shock of Red Bull axing
-
Australia sweats through hottest 12 months on record: official data
-
Livestock theft is central to jihadist economy in west Africa
-
South African artist champions hyenas in 'eco-queer' quest
-
Danish PM in 'unity' Greenland visit amid US takeover threats
-
Taiwan says US tariffs 'highly unreasonable'
-
Lawson says ruthless Red Bull axing was 'tough to hear'
-
Heat humble Celtics for sixth straight win, Thunder roll on
-
Trump escalates trade war with sweeping global tariffs
-
Japan says US tariffs 'extremely regrettable', may break WTO rules
-
South Koreans anxious, angry as court to rule on impeached president
-
Juve at in-form Roma with Champions League in the balance
-
Injuries put undermanned Bayern's title bid to the test
-
Ovechkin scores 892nd goal -- three away from Gretzky's NHL record
-
Australian former rugby star Petaia signs for NFL's Chargers
-
China says opposes new US tariffs, vows 'countermeasures'
-
Athletics world watching as 'Grand Slam Track' prepares for launch
-
Heat humble Celtics for sixth straight win, Cavs top Knicks
-
Quake-hit Myanmar's junta chief to head to Bangkok summit
-
New Spielberg, Nolan films teased at CinemaCon
-
Shaken NATO allies to meet Trump's top diplomat
-
Israel's Netanyahu arrives in Hungary, defying ICC warrant
-
Shiny and deadly, unexploded munitions a threat to Gaza children
-
Stocks tank, havens rally as Trump tariffs fan trade war
-
Altomare hangs on to tie defending champ Korda at LPGA Match Play
-
Paraguay gold rush leaves tea producers bitter
-
Health concerns swirl as Bolivian city drowns in rubbish
-
Syria says deadly Israeli strikes a 'blatant violation'
-
Financial markets tumble after Trump tariff announcement

The Paris Olympics have bold climate plans, but few specifics
Organisers of next year's Paris Olympics say they want its carbon footprint to be half that of previous summer Games, but with a year to go observers say they still do not have enough detail to verify the plans.
Citing climate change as "the greatest challenge humanity has ever known", organisers have said they can reduce greenhouse gases from the Games with a variety of measures, including renewable energy and using existing venues rather than building new ones.
That would, they say, allow them to halve CO2 emissions from the estimated 3.5 million tonnes generated during the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games.
"It's a fine promise," said Martin Muller, Professor of Geography and Sustainability at the University of Lausanne, adding the target itself is a first.
But "I don't have the figures to believe it," he told AFP.
Muller would like open access to precise data. Otherwise, he said, "I can't understand on what basis this has been calculated".
- Planes, stadiums and snacks -
For the time being, the organisers have sketched out forecasts.
Expected emissions break down into three areas -- travel, buildings and other activities like accommodation, security and catering -- which each account for roughly a third of emissions.
With the venues themselves, the organisers say they have limited the construction footprint with a 95 percent reliance on existing or temporary arenas, unlike the much-criticised football World Cup in Qatar.
This decision to use as much existing infrastructure as possible was praised by Gilles Dufrasne, of Carbon Market Watch, as a "thoughtful approach".
Other ideas include using renewable energy or serving "low carbon" meals with less meat.
"The other big item is emissions from spectators arriving by plane," said Muller.
Even if venues have to be accessed by public transport, organisers will have little control over how people arrive into the country.
Around a quarter of the total emissions is expected to be from spectator travel alone.
- Offsetting -
For these types of emissions, the organisers say they are supporting projects to “offset” the carbon pollution.
"All emissions that cannot be avoided will be offset by projects designed to bring both environmental and social benefits on all five continents,” they said.
This involves, for example, financing the planting of trees to absorb CO2 or clean cookstove projects.
The organisers promise to be rigorous in their selection of projects, but offsetting in general is often subject to criticism for variable accounting methods and difficulties in verifying the amount of carbon removed.
"Offsetting is a measure of last resort," said Muller.
- What next? -
Paris 2024 organisers hope to set a "new standard" for future Olympics.
But experts argue the Games should be thinking much bigger -- by thinking smaller.
A study published in 2021 in Nature Sustainability, and led by Muller, looked at 16 Summer and Winter Olympic Games between 1992 and 2020, representing a total cost of more $70 billion.
They found that overall sustainability has declined over time and made three main recommendations.
"First, greatly reducing the size of the event," the researchers said.
"Second, rotating the Olympics among the same cities; third, enforcing independent sustainability standards."
Key is the reduction of spectators arriving by plane, with Dufrasne imagining ultimately an "all-TV" event, with broadcasts to local stadiums around the world.
P.Costa--AMWN