Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
The UK is surprisingly short of water – but more reservoirs aren’t the answer 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Ukraine minerals deal: the idea that natural resource extraction can build peace has been around for decades 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Swimming in the sweet spot: how marine animals save energy on long journeys 
What’s so special about Ukraine’s minerals? A geologist explains 
GesiaPlatform Launches Carbon-Neutral Lifestyle App ‘Net Zero Heroes’ 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Fungi are among the planet’s most important organisms — yet they continue to be overlooked in conservation strategies 
As the Black Summer megafires neared, people rallied to save wildlife and domestic animals. But it came at a real cost 
How America courted increasingly destructive wildfires − and what that means for protecting homes today 
Environmental groups criticized the Presidential Committee on Carbon Neutrality for its poor skills in coming up with carbon neutrality plans that still emit greenhouse gas.
Only one of the three options unveiled by the committee for reducing carbon emissions by 2050 will achieve carbon neutrality.
The Korea Federation for Environmental Movements said that announcing carbon neutrality plans despite two of those still emitting greenhouse gas exhibits “poor skills.”
The Energy Justice Actions added that even the third plan that achieves carbon neutrality is not clear when coal-burning power plants and cars with internal combustion engines will come to an end.
The road map results in varying net emissions in 2050 from zero to 25.4 million metric tons.
Seoul National University’s environmental professor Yun Sun-jin, a co-chairperson of the committee, noted that they reviewed the scenario based on the principles of accountability, fairness, innovativeness, inclusiveness, and reasonableness.
Under the first plan, the country will continue fossil fuel use, including coal-fired power plants, which would produce 153.9 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2050. But 95 million tons will be eliminated using carbon capture, and absorbents such as forests will take out 24.1 million tons, while eco-friendly energy would offset it by 9.4 million tons.
It will lead to a total of 24.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions produced in Korea in 2050, down 96.5 percent from the 727.6 million tons in 2018.
The second plan will halt coal-fired power plant operations while maintaining liquefied natural gas power plants for emergency use, resulting in net carbon emissions of 18.7 million tons in 2050.
Under the third plan, it would shut down all coal-fired and LNG power plants while increasing renewable energy supply and green hydrogen technology use. It aims to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a “net-zero. The committee will collect feedback, where it would base its decision on coming up with a final blueprint in late October. maximizing the use of existing infrastructure.
