U.S. EPA receives 52 new petitions for retroactive biofuel blending waivers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has received 52 new petitions for retroactive biofuel blending waivers that, if granted, would help bring oil refiners into compliance with a court ruling this year, EPA data showed on Thursday.

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Thousands evacuated in Arizona as wildfires scorch U.S. Southwest

Over 2,000 people were evacuated from three large wildfires in Arizona on Thursday as dry conditions and gusty winds whipped blazes across the U.S. Southwest.

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At least 13 killed in landslide in Ivory Coast's main city

A landslide on the outskirts of Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan in the early hours of Thursday caused by heavy rains killed at least 13 people, the defence minister said.

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EU lawmakers back green finance rules, urge use in COVID recovery fund

European Union lawmakers on Thursday approved green finance rules ensuring investments do not prop up polluting industries, requirements they and investors say should also guide spending of hundreds of billions of euros in coronavirus recovery funds.

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Divers cut, plant coral off UAE coast to build reef

Off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) coral freshly removed from a reef is cut into pieces and replanted by a group of divers in the waters below.

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Exclusive: Vanguard names names and backs some calls for climate steps

Vanguard Group, the world's largest mutual fund manager, backed shareholder resolutions for shippers United Parcel Service Inc and J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc and oil driller Ovintiv Inc to limit their climate-warming emissions, according to a top Vanguard executive and a company report being released on Thursday.

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Eni CEO working to make green drive irreversible

Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi wants to turn the 67-year-old Italian oil and gas firm into a greener business, focusing on clean low-carbon products to build a huge customer base which he believes can steady the ship and attract investors more than ever. 

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Vatican urges Catholics to drop investments in fossil fuels, arms

The Vatican urged Catholics on Thursday to disinvest from the armaments and fossil fuel industries and to closely monitor companies in sectors such as mining to check if they are damaging the environment.

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U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes major conservation bill

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed a major conservation bill that would permanently direct $900 million a year to a long-standing federal program aimed at acquiring and protecting public lands.

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Lyft promises switch to 100% electric vehicles by 2030

Ride-hailing company Lyft Inc on Wednesday said every vehicle on its ride-hailing and rental car platform will be electric by 2030, but it would not provide direct financial support to drivers for switching from gas-powered cars.

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Namibia faces red locust invasion

Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture said on Wednesday it had detected an outbreak of red locusts in central regions of the southern African country and had sent pest control teams to the affected areas.

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Amazon forest fires could increase risk of serious coronavirus infections

An intense season of fires in the Amazon rainforest this year could overwhelm health systems and lead to unnecessary deaths, including of coronavirus, as pollution worsens respiratory conditions, public health experts said on Wednesday.

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Backbreaking quarry work only choice for Burkinabe teenager

At an open-pit granite quarry in Burkina Faso's capital, workers' children play in the rubble while others toil alongside their parents after the coronavirus pandemic closed schools.

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