Brief News
By Bak Han-byeol, Tribune Reporter
<Asia/Pacific Areas>
The Southern part of Vietnam May Vanish Underwater
The southern part of Vietnam is a Vietnam’s breadbasket. However, according to research from the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment, parts of the Mekong River delta and Ho Chi Minh City, the economic capital of Vietnam, will be completely underwater by 2100. Climate change will raise water levels, and models predict one-third of the Mekong River delta and one-fourth of Ho Chi Minh City will be submerged.
Honda Also Goes Into Electric Automobile Competition
Honda Motors will develop and put electric vehicles on the American market by 2010. Therefore, all of Japan’s Big 3 automobile companies, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan will compete in the field of electric vehicles. Strengthening environmental regulations in the United States have given Japanese automakers cause for concern. As of next year, California will require all major companies to increase the amount of vehicles that do not emit gas.
<Other Areas>
Emergency! Kenya’s Wild Animals Are Disappearing!
The International Livestock Research Institute announced that a decrease in the number of wild animals is an actual and serious problem and must be dealt with immediately. Wildlife numbers are dropping severely in pastures and national parks. The Kenya Wildlife Service also said animal numbers have decreased by one-third during the last 25 years and keep dropping by 4 to 5 percent every year. One doctor in a national park said a drought, land developments, climate change, and poaching are threatening the animals.
Some Airlines May Be Banned from Operating in the EU
The EU issued a list of airlines threatened with prohibitive measures unless they reduce carbon dioxide emissions from 2012. According to a new rule, about 4,000 European and non-European airlines will have to improve their flight operations. In addition, they also must examine their carbon dioxide emissions from January, 2010. Pollutants from flights cause 13 percent of European pollution.
Greek Wildfires Bring About Serious Air Pollution
On August 24th, Greece reported enormous wildfires, the worst since the forest fires of 2007. The president of The World Wide Fund for Nature stated that recent Greek wildfires will make Greek air pollution even worse. Trees filter and purify the air; the loss of so much forest will have serious consequences. Athens will have higher temperatures and more air pollution. One environmental expert said the greater danger is desertification. Therefore most ecologists have declared the Greek wildfires to be an ecological disaster that will seriously affect the quality of life for all Athenians.
Australia: 1,750 Animals Are Endangered
Recently The Department of Climate Change and Water declared that global warming has endangered Australian wildlife. After the announcement, the Federal Environment Minister issued a statement warning that money to save wild animals is limited. And he also said it would not always be effective to protect individual species. Since this problem is not limited to Australia, he agreed with the World Wildlife Fund’s assertions that an ecosystem protection and recovery program is needed worldwide.