Climate change – lawmakers to consolidate environmental laws

In the global effort to reduce greenhouse gases, many countries do not include armed forces' emissions in their target. Experts say, the world's militaries are among the biggest polluters on the planet – lagging in developing greener technologies.

Lawmakers in the United States have voted to raise the government's borrowing limit by $2.5 trillion, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic default. The Senate passed the measure 50-49. The new debt ceiling will give the US government enough space to borrow until 2023, after the midterm elections. Focus in Washington will now return to whether President Joe Biden can get his $1.75 trillion social spending plan, "Build Back Better", passed by the end of the year.

With days to go until Christmas, Santa might be somewhere out there worrying about how to deliver all the presents with his team of reindeer... meanwhile, just north of the Arctic circle, real reindeers herders are struggling with much bigger problems: climate change threatens their very livelihood.

The 10 most expensive weather disasters of 2021 caused more than $170 billion (€150 billion) in damages, UK charity Christian Aid has reported. That's up $20 billion on last year's figure.

Germany's parliament on Wednesday began a debate on a possible wide-ranging coronavirus vaccine mandate, with three main options on the table so far: obligatory vaccinations for all adults, just for everyone 50 and above, or no mandate at all.

As climate change continues to take effect, we are all going to have to change the way we behave in order to survive. That's the conclusion of Eric Klinenberg, a professor of social science at New York University who's written a book focusing on the extreme 1995 heatwave in Chicago. Temperatures there hit over 41°C, killing hundreds of people. Klinenberg says it's not just infrastructure that will have to change, but the whole way we interact with our families and those living around us.

As climate change takes its toll, warm winter and unreliable snow are now the new reality. Will skiing become a relic of the past? Ski resorts can improvise and adapt, but can they survive? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.

Police and protesters have clashed for a second time outside Parliament as plans for new infrastructure projects, funded by the United States, were debated by lawmakers.

Nepal's parliament is due to restart debate on a controversial US aid grant. Lawmakers were hoping to ratify the measure last week. But the discussion was postponed because of massive protests and opposition from some members of the ruling coalition.

As people all around Europe feel the cost of living rise and see their bank balance ever more squeezed amid energy price rises, we're looking into proposals for ensuring meaningful minimum wages are paid to everyone around the European Union.

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The government must commit resources to fight the most pressing "danger" of climate change, former defense officials said in an open letter. "Australia has failed when it comes to climate threats," the letter read.