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Is DR Congo putting oil and gas before the global climate crisis? | TV Shows [Video]

On Wednesday, 24 August at 19:30 GMT:DR Congo is opening parts of the world’s second largest rainforest to oil and gas companies, alarming environmentalists and world leaders who warn that exploiting the region could severely undermine the global fight against climate change.

The Congo Basin is among 30 blocks of the country where DR Congo’s government is auctioning hydrocarbon exploration permits. Ministers say oil and gas reserves in the areas up for auction are worth more than half a trillion dollars, and could bring long overdue economic relief to some of the world’s poorest people.

But scientists and environmental groups say allowing oil and gas exploration in the Congo Basin would spur hunting, deforestation, pollution and carbon emissions in one of the world’s most critically-important carbon sinks, affecting millions of people in local communities and deepening the challenge of tackling global heating.

The Congo basin rainforest absorbs 1.5 billion tonsof carbon dioxide a year – a figure that would plummet …

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Inflation jump deepens UK cost-of-living crisis [Video]
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Inflation jump deepens UK cost-of-living crisis [Video]

STORY: British price rises were expected to cool off in February. Instead, they jumped again, adding to a cost-of-living crunch. Inflation hit 10.4% during the month, confounding forecasts for a drop to 9.9%. Higher prices for food and drink were the big driver. The Office for National Statistics cited an end to January drinks promotions in pubs and restaurants as the single biggest factor. Though a nation-wide shortage of salad ingredients on supermarket shelves added to the pressures. This week UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said bringing down inflation was a top priority for his government: That's why the budget set out support for people, freezing fuel duty, helping them with their energy bills, extending free child care. Those are all things that are going to make a difference to people's lives."Now it all leaves the Bank of England with a very tough decision to make at this weeks policy meeting. Some had expected the central bank to pause interest rate hikes amid the global turmoil over bank stocks. But the surprise jump in inflation may push policymakers the other way. Markets now price in a hike of at least a quarter point.

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