Chris Infotainment

Digital Peers International Launches Phase Two of Environmental Initiative Digital Peers International (DPI) has launched the second phase of its environmental initiative aimed at engaging tech-savvy youths in managing plastic use and waste in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State. This new phase, titled 'Deploying the Power of IT-Engaged Youths in Effective Plastic Use and Plastic Waste Management 2.0,' was officially announced during a press conference held on Wednesday in Abuja. The initiative is backed by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This collaboration highlights the importance of youth involvement in addressing environmental challenges through innovative digital solutions. Dr. Ibukun Odusote, CEO of DPI, emphasized that the project equips young people with the necessary skills and opportunities to tackle plastic pollution while fostering innovations that benefi...

Kenya Leads Global Effort to Shape Sustainable AI Governance Kenya has made a significant contribution to global environmental policy by securing a landmark agreement at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi. This agreement marks the first-ever UN resolution focused on ensuring the environmental sustainability of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The resolution was adopted under the assembly’s theme “Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet,” and it addresses the environmental impact of AI across multiple dimensions. The resolution systematically tackles the environmental footprint of AI, from its high energy and water consumption to its demand for minerals and the resulting electronic waste. At the same time, it highlights the potential of AI as a tool for climate action and biodiversity conservation. For Africa, this represents a strategic breakthrough, allowing the continent to move beyond being a passive consumer of AI technologies and inst...

The EU’s Shift on Combustion Engines: A Compromise for the Future As the European Union (EU) moves toward a more flexible approach to renewable fuels, both enthusiasts and industries find themselves with a clearer—though still complex—path forward. For a moment, it seemed like Europe was ready to place internal combustion engines in a glass display case, label them “Bad, Do Not Touch,” and call it climate policy. However, after significant pressure from automakers, unions, and even a pointed letter from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the EU has reconsidered its stance. Instead of an outright 2035 ban on combustion engines, Brussels is now signaling a shift: New internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles will likely still be allowed after 2035 But only if they run on low-emission renewable fuels such as advanced biofuels and synthetic e-fuels. On paper, this may sound like a minor technical adjustment, but in practice, it represents a major development. A complete ban would ha...

A Major Cleanup Effort on St Martin’s Island On December 7, volunteers from across Bangladesh joined forces to remove nearly two tonnes of waste from the beaches of St Martin's Island. This initiative, led by Unilever Bangladesh and Kewkradong Bangladesh, was part of the International Coastal Cleanup 2025. The event took place on the ecologically sensitive island, drawing in hundreds of youth and local residents to help protect its fragile coastline. A total of 500 volunteers, including students from universities and members of local communities, participated in the cleanup. Over the course of the event, they collected 1,850 kilograms of waste, which is approximately two tonnes. The waste included a wide range of items such as food wrappers, plastic beverage bottles, bottle caps, plastic bags, utensils, lids, and even abandoned fishing nets. The collected waste was transported to the mainland for safe disposal, according to a press release issued on Sunday. This effort not only ...

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall Seeks Federal Support The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has recently sought support from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, in its efforts to combat desertification and restore degraded land. This comes as part of a broader initiative to implement the 50-million-date-palm project across 11 frontline states in northern Nigeria. During a courtesy visit to the SGF in Abuja, the Director General/CEO of NAGGW, Saleh Abubakar, highlighted the agency’s recent achievements and future goals. He mentioned that the initiative was launched during the agency's 10th-anniversary ceremony in August 2025. The project is designed to curb desert encroachment and restore degraded lands in the affected states. According to Abubakar, NAGGW has already distributed over five million date palms across the 11 frontline states. The goal is to scale this up to 50 million by 2030, marking a significan...

A Unique Tourism Campaign in Skåne, Sweden In October, Skåne in Sweden introduced an unconventional tourism campaign that captured the attention of nature lovers around the world. The southern county was seeking travelers interested in spending a few days in a cabin nestled deep in the woods. The catch? Participants had to maintain a level of quietness, as any loud noises could result in an early departure. Johanna Holm, originally from the south of Germany and currently studying to become a teacher, was one of the participants in the ‘Stay Quiet’ challenge. Here’s what she discovered during her hushed weekend in a cabin in the woods. A Response to Noise Pollution Visit Skåne launched its Stay Quiet campaign in response to noise pollution, which project manager Josefine Nordgren describes as one of the most underestimated environmental issues of our time. “Studies show that constant exposure to noise increases stress, disturbs sleep, and affects both physical and mental health,” sh...

Morocco's Ambitious Plan for Desalinated Water by 2030 Morocco is making significant strides in its efforts to secure a stable and sustainable water supply. The country’s Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, has announced that the kingdom aims to supply 60% of its drinking water from desalinated seawater by 2030. This marks a substantial increase from the current 25% of water sourced through desalination. During a speech on Thursday at the World Water Congress in Marrakech, Baraka highlighted that Morocco plans to produce 1.7 billion cubic meters of desalinated water annually by 2030. This goal will be achieved through ongoing projects and new initiatives set to be tendered starting next year. He emphasized that “studies are underway as part of preparations for the plant’s tender, to be announced by mid next year,” and noted that all new desalination plants will be powered by renewable energy. This commitment to sustainability aligns with Morocco’s broader strategy to...

Borealis's Innovation Hall in Linz, Austria, is a unique space that combines the look of a manufacturing plant with the purpose of a research facility. Inside, a variety of raw materials—some with unusual names like polymers—are combined with additives, antioxidants, or glass fibre to test the production of numerous everyday products. Doris Machl, the Head of the Competence Center at Compounds & Recyclates, explains: “The different products we design could be pipes or bumpers, or of course packaging material to wrap a sweet.” From insulating materials to fully recyclable transparent films, these real-size manufacturing lines allow developers to demonstrate how plastic materials can be given a second life in factory-like conditions. These facilities serve as the Innovation Headquarters for Borealis, one of Europe’s largest chemical groups. The company employs 6,200 people and operates in 120 countries. It claims to be fully committed to transforming plastic waste into innov...

Enforcement Actions Target Illegal Recycling Practices The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has taken decisive action against illegal recycling operations in the Ogijo community of Ogun State. In collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, NESREA sealed six recycling facilities on Thursday due to non-compliance with the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 and a protocol designed to ensure the environmentally sound management of used lead-acid batteries. The enforcement action highlights growing concerns over unsafe recycling practices that release toxic lead and other heavy metals into the environment. These practices pose significant risks to both residents and the surrounding ecosystem. The Ogijo area, known as a key hub for battery recycling, has long been associated with complaints of lead contamination, soil degradation, and air pollution caused by improper waste handling. Compliance Measures and S...

A Landmark Ruling in France and Its Implications for Africa A recent court ruling in France has set a significant precedent for corporate accountability, particularly in the context of climate change. The Paris Judicial Court found the global oil and gas giant TotalEnergies guilty of misleading commercial practices, marking the first time a fossil fuel company has been punished for greenwashing. This case was brought by three environmental organizations, which argued that TotalEnergies' advertising campaigns falsely portrayed the company as a leader in the energy transition. Understanding Greenwashing and Its Consequences Greenwashing refers to the practice of making misleading or exaggerated claims about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or company. In this case, TotalEnergies’ advertisements suggested that the company was actively working towards reducing its carbon footprint and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. However, the company’s greenhouse gas emissi...

NESREA Seals Six Recycling Facilities in Ogun State The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has taken decisive action against non-compliant recycling facilities in the Ogijo community of Ogun State. On Thursday, six recycling facilities were sealed due to their failure to adhere to the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 and a protocol developed by NESREA to ensure the environmentally sound management of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs). This enforcement action underscores growing concerns about unsafe recycling practices that can release toxic lead and heavy metals into the environment. These substances pose serious risks to public health and ecological integrity. Compliance and Safety Measures According to Nwamaka Ejiofor, Assistant Director (Press) at NESREA, the sealing of the six facilities was part of an ongoing effort to hold operators accountable for their environmental responsibilities. The agency has plans to ...

Prepaid Meter Installation Sparks Controversy in Hwange’s Ingagula Suburb The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has announced the rollout of prepaid electricity meter installations in Hwange’s Ingagula suburb. This move, however, has been met with immediate criticism from residents who have long awaited relocation from an area deemed unsafe due to pollution. In a notice titled Notice of commencement of prepayment meter installation , ZETDC senior customer service officer Simon Dube stated that the initiative follows resolutions made at a recent meeting with the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC). The project aims to transition the area from a bulk metering system to individual prepaid meters. According to the notice, the installation will begin on November 25, 2025. Residents and stakeholders were requested to notify employees and offer “full co-operation — to ensure a smooth and efficient transition.” Despite these assurances, the announcement has trigger...

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline Faces Final Legal Hurdles The Appeals Division of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has dismissed a significant legal challenge against the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop), clearing the way for its completion and commissioning in the coming year. This decision marks a major milestone for the multibillion-dollar project led by TotalEnergies, which aims to transport crude oil from Uganda to Tanzania. Key Details of the Case The case was brought by four non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have long opposed the $5 billion pipeline project. These groups argued that the Eacop would have severe environmental and human rights impacts. However, the court ruled that the NGOs’ case was filed outside the time limit stipulated by the East African Community (EAC) Treaty, thereby dismissing it on procedural grounds. The panel of five judges upheld the decision made by the First Instance Division in November 2023, which ...

The Unexpected Role of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in Preserving the Gulf Stream A groundbreaking study has revealed a surprising twist in the ongoing climate crisis: the melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could, under certain conditions, help preserve the Gulf Stream. This critical ocean current plays a vital role in regulating the climate of Europe and parts of North America, and its potential collapse has long been a concern for scientists. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is an immense body of ice, containing around 750,000 cubic miles of ice—enough to fill Wembley Stadium nearly three billion times. As it melts, it releases salty water into the North Atlantic, which helps maintain the density of ocean currents that drive the Gulf Stream. This process is essential for keeping the ocean's "conveyor belt" system, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), functioning properly. However, the researchers emphasize that this potential benefit come...

A Unique Ecosystem at Risk Along the Polish-Belarusian border, a kaleidoscope of golden, yellow and orange leaves hangs from magnificent, centuries-old trees. Lush moss carpets the ground of the Bialowieza Forest, which took root after the Earth's last ice age 12,000 years ago. "It is a truly unique place," said Mateusz Szymura, who grew up in the area and is now head of nature conservation for Poland's Bialowieza National Park that lies within the forest. "It has a beauty that can't be bought." But the forest — a 140,000-hectare (346,000-acre) UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to European bison, lynx, pygmy owls and 10,000 varieties of fungi — is on the frontlines of a geopolitical battle and migration crisis. In July 2022, Poland completed the construction of a 186-kilometer fence along its border with Belarus and through the transboundary forest. The 5.5-meter metal barrier topped with barbed wire and security cameras was erected to prevent...

Introduction to the PM2.5 Reduction Initiative The Ministry of Transport has initiated a significant campaign aimed at reducing PM2.5 emissions, focusing on the "Green List" registration for buses and trucks in support of Bangkok's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) policy. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve public health and the overall quality of life by addressing air pollution. Key Measures to Combat Air Pollution Deputy Transport Minister Mallika Jiraphanwanich introduced these measures as a response to the growing concern over PM2.5 particles, which are 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter. These particles are known to have severe health implications, particularly for respiratory systems. The initiative emphasizes the transition to cleaner vehicles, promoting the use of environmentally friendly public buses such as those equipped with Euro 5 engines and electric models. This shift aims to replace older fleets, thereby significantly reducing black smoke a...

Phuket's Vision for Sustainable Tourism Phuket, a renowned tourist destination in Thailand, is striving to become a model of sustainable tourism. However, there are still several areas that require improvement, according to Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation. Mr. Bhummikitti highlighted that Phuket is set to host two significant global events in 2026: the Global Sustainable Tourism Summit in April and the Global Wellness Summit in November. These events present an opportunity for Phuket to solidify its position as Asia’s hub for sustainable health and wellness, thereby contributing to the nation’s global wellness economy. The island has been a major tourist attraction for over four decades. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in tourism, but the Phuket Sandbox scheme played a crucial role in accelerating its recovery by quickly bringing back visitors, he said. Despite these efforts, Mr. Bhummikitti ou...