The Indian government banned the export of wheat, which has pushed up prices to record highs. The ban comes after a severe heatwave destroyed crops and drastically reduced yields. The ban marks a complete U-turn of the government’s previous plans to export 10 million tonnes of wheat to make up for Ukraine’s reduced supply. According to some, the ban is also a way to control domestic prices of wheat.
Sand is a strategic resource that needs to be used judiciously: UNEP
A special report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) urged for sand to be recognised as a “strategic resource” to be used judiciously. The report highlighted how sand is the second most-used resource in the world and plays a significant role in maintaining biodiversity and delivering ecosystem services. The report recommended a ban on the extraction of sand from beaches as it aids coastal resilience. It also called for an international standard to be set on how it is extracted from marine environments, and legal frameworks to be drawn up for sand to be governed more effectively.
CO2 emissions per unit of GDP fell by 34% in past decade in China, claim officials
Chinese officials claimed the country’s CO2 emissions per unit of GDP have fallen by 34% in the past 10 years. In a press conference, officials from the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee spoke about how China has been leading the rise in total installed capacity of wind and photovoltaic power generation, and the sale of new-energy vehicles.
Biden scraps 3 oil and gas lease sales in Gulf of Mexico, Alaska
US president Joe Biden cancelled three oil and gas lease sales that were scheduled in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Alaskan coast. The administration said it cancelled the leases because of a lack of industry interest in drilling for oil off the Alaskan coast and court rulings that have made drilling in the Gulf of Mexico complicated. The cancellation comes as US gas prices reach record highs amidst the Ukraine war.
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