Donation rates in europe and today Parliament Debates a controversial new law designed to make Organ Donations easier but critics say it poses and Fund President in violation of individual rights to talk about the ethical dimensions. And the speaker of the house nancy pelosi signs articles of impeachment against president from it was unbeliever to the senate where the trial will take place only the 3rd such trial in american history. Also coming up russias government resigns the surprise move coming as president putin calls for reforms that could keep him in power well beyond the end of his term to get the details from moscow. Our brian thomas great to have you with us scientists are worn. That more extreme weather events like wildfires and flooding are on the horizon after the warmest decade ever recorded as australia continues to burn asked berts have calculated the effect that the massive bushfires will have on the Global Climate well talk to a veteran firefighter about that 1st we have this report the thick haze blankets New South Wales as exhausted crews continue to battle the wildfires there the vast cloud of smoke already extends across the pacific past south america but an invisible product of the flames could have a bigger long term impact on Global Warming the blazes are releasing vast amounts of c o 2 authorities at the u. N. Say the problem is 2 fold fires emit Carbon Dioxide and obviously theyve been up those very forests which are so vital for acting as carbon sinks and its been called into. The Australian Government estimates the country currently amends around 560000000. 00 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide annually now experts say that in the last few months alone the out of control fires have pumped an additional 400000000 tonnes of c o 2 into the atmosphere in the past scientists have generally viewed wildfires as Carbon Neutral and believed fresh plant growth eventually absorb the c o 2 emitted by burning forests but changes in precipitation patterns and drought are affecting how quickly some woodlands regenerate and many researchers are worried that in a vicious circle wildfires like those in australia could make Climate Change happen even faster so is this the future joining us now from sydney is professor Richard Kingsford from the university of New South Wales school of environmental studies thanks so much for coming in today professor 1st off scientists morning right in the u. K. Are are warning that the fires are straley are a sign of what is to calm do you share those conclusions. Well we live on the driest inherited continent on earth and we have a very flammable landscape and i guess were right at the forefront of the challenge i think that the globe places because with such a dry part of the world and as we get hotter and drier in some places and fire is a natural part of our. Continent were going to experience as we are in a straight and more severe and longer and more frequent flyers and thats certainly a problem ok now in europe in what areas on the planet along with australia as were seeing right now are most at risk of the worsening conditions. Well its really 1st of all going to be the dry land areas for the world an hour theres almost half of the world would be classified as dry land places in Africa South America north america weve seen fires in california but even places in the amazon last year we saw big fires it really is about the nexus between rising temperatures low rainfall and flammability of you know the education and the forests that serve combinations so there are a lot of the areas that naturally have fired but the issue here is are we going to see more intense and more frequent times ok what kind of effect so these fires having of course a knock on effect secondary effects on the egos assist them and the quality of life for your. Yes well in terms of quality of life our big cities here im in sydney and weve been having very poor quality with you know blankets of smoke coming across the melbourne is got the big tennis open at the moment and theyre trying they had to close stop some of the qualifying rounds earlier this week and of course camber our capital is also experiencing considerable problems with marks being handed out to the population there in terms of ecosystems because these fires seem to have gone to places that fires dont usually go to some of the rainforest areas that are within the dry eucalypt areas and because they have been so extensive more than 5000000. 00 hits its now estimated. You know there are estimates that more than a 1000000000 animals might have bain wiped out by the fires and of course then there are the challenges of our we were in the middle of a drought as well thankfully in the last couple of days weve been seeing a bit of rain but that that the challenge is really serious professor Richard Kingsford in sydney today thanks so much for coming in thanks very much. And well have more on Climate Change when we go to greenland where the glaciers may be melting the economy is booming as Climate Change opens up new opportunities. But 1st as a preview on some of the other stories in the news germanys government has agreed on a timeline for decommissioning coal plants after reaching a deal with the countrys coal producing states. Details we publish once theyre finalized the government plans to phase out coal by 2038. U. S. President donald trump and chinese vice premier league they have signed the 1st part of a new trade agreement the deal would see china purchasing billions in u. S. Agricultural and Manufacturing Products as well as Energy Supplies stock markets post major gains on that sign. Police and protesters have clashed in the lebanese capital beirut for a 2nd night of clashes began after the crowd gathered at a Police Station to demand the release of protesters taken into custody a day earlier. Well here in Germany Parliament is set to debate controversy a legislation to help people desperate for Organ Donations germany has the lowest Organ Donation rate in europe so thousands of people have to wait years the new law would dramatically cut that waiting time by assuming that every citizen approves of their organs being transplanted upon death that is unless they sign a declaration to the contrary during their lifetime. Function as job as a Business Consultant kept him on the road but then he was diagnosed with genetic lung disease he fought to stay healthy as long as he could but it became clear his health depended on getting a donated lung by mouth. Creek its that when i 1st spoke to the doctors and they told me i needed a Lung Transplant if i was shot it was not as much shock thats my. I long and i would have preferred to live the rest of my life with my own along. Having someone elses land was a concept he would have to get used to for just a few more examinations than his name could go on the waiting list for dawna like function there are around 1500 people in germany who are waiting for lifesaving organs to be donated and many of them have been waiting for yes. The problem is dramatic in all of Europe Germany has the lowest number of organ donors the longest waiting lists and the highest number of patients whose lives are in danger if they do not receive an Organ Donation. All believe this is the case even though more than 80 percent of germans a positive about Organ Donations according to doctors one problem is that death and Organ Donation are to many families people simply dont talk about it and if its not clear what the deceased would have wanted most relatives decided against Organ Donation or even one of patients wants to donate an organ often the donation doesnt take place so organs cannot be transplanted and presents on the waiting list. That was the case 900 times in 2018 doctors hope that the number of organ donors will increase when the socalled opting out system is implemented meaning anyone who has not opted out will be an eligible organ donor and according to the transplantation expert opting out in no way restricts the freedom of choice that each individual has it gets clarity to doctors and relatives can order the new legal structure gets complete freedom of choice for or against donation its not about convincing anyone to donate organs. Function supports the new legislation so more people will donate organs while others like him can live longer. Well the organ donor opt out program has sparked an emotional public debate which will be taken up at the bonus dog today where were joined by our chief Political Editor michelle good morning to you michelle now this legislation has been attacked across party lines with opponents calling it an awning set the ball state intrusion into the private sphere and with both the catholic and protestant churches in germany saying it undermines the value of human life whats the government saying in response to that. Well german chancellor Angela Merkel backs the proposal thats on the table this opt out option at the same time if you ask for the stance of the government that is a divisive issue even in the governing parties just to illustrate the preterists s. Of the Current Health minister young spawn mr he himself is actually on the other side of this debate as his successor brings this to Parliament Today and the core reason is because also the head of the German Ethics Commission sees this as a fundamental change in the relationship between the state and citizen and there are also concerns constitutional concerns about this so once this goes through this might not be the end of it about donors actually being seen more as subjects not being able to make a conscious choice anymore thats at least the argument because you are presumed to want to donate your organs unless you have clearly stated otherwise its completely turns the dynamics the previous dynamics on its head but the proponents of course say that thats the whole point there simply arent enough organs to allow people who desperately need them to survive and people are simply dying and today we will see m. P. s not necessarily Vote Along Party Lines because this simply isnt one theyre only bound by their conscience ok so this is a vote by conscience today. There are 2 main options out there those are just one issue thats being voted on can you walk us through that. Yes absolutely the key option put on the table by the Health Minister spawn basically would see people being assumed to have said yes to donating their organ which actually looking at the facts is more in line with what the opinion polls state we heard in that report that some 80 percent are for donating organs but this simply hasnt translated into people signing the dotted line they would no longer have to do that if they didnt want their organs to be donated they would then have to become active on the other side of the argument theres a proposal put forward by the left in the green party which would see citizens informed more proactively as soon as somebody applies for a national id for instance they would be handed a leaflet and they would be asked to make a decision so they would also be pushed to make this a conscious issue to deal with it and to make an active decision and if they dont they would still be presumed to not want to donate their organs theres also a 3rd person by the far right a deal which is pretty much on that side as well and far right if the m. P. s might actually play a key role here because they are the Largest Opposition Party so its going to be a very interesting debate in parliament and a very interesting vote indeed ok well find out more today on that chief political cover for us thanks very much michel. Also the United States now where House Democrats have delivered formal articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the son of this trial is due to begin there on tuesday it will be only the 3rd president ial impeachment trial in american history. A ritual with historic significance lawmakers will comprise session from the house of representatives to the senate to deliver the articles of impeachment house has. Read 78 a resolution point on the right attitudes of the peach but. Of down from president of the minority stake. Just a few minutes earlier House Speaker nancy pelosi signed the 2 hearts because one for abuse of power and one for obstruction of the house she stressed the significance of the occasion this is as serious as it gets for any of us only the vote to declare war would be something more serious than that we take it very seriously its not personal its not political its not partisan its patriotic publicans on giving the exact opposite this is a political impeachment this has nothing to do with the fact weve shown that there was no nothing done wrong but that does not matter when the train is on the tracks the whistle is blowing impeachment matters and the only thing that matters at one time where the only rule mirja see here is that there are 2020 alexion in which the democrats cant stand to see the fact this president is going to win again. The vote that set the impeachment trial in motion took place in the house here that i havent the journal stance of her. With 228 to 193 vote largely along party lines the democratic controlled house reaches in the 2 articles of impeachment to the senate and trigger the impeachment trial. The house also appointed 7 impeachment manages to prosecute the case against trump the us president stands accused of abusing his power by pressuring ukraine to investigate democratic rival joe biden and for obstructing the house investigation into the case. The trial is expected to Begin Next Week a guilty verdict that would remove trump from office would require a 2 thirds majority in the senate but with republicans in control of the Upper Chamber that prospect seems very remote. All russias parliament is to begin the approval process for the man nominated by president clinton to be the new Prime Minister putin loyalists have a majority in the parliament or the duma so its very likely that the appointment of mikhail will be quickly approved now this step follows the governments shock resignation. Russian Prime MinisterDmitri Medvedev decision to step down came as a surprise medvedev said the president s proposals to amend the countrys constitution would significantly change russias balance of power he due to flee made the announcement public. Because we as the government of the Russian Federation should provide the president of our country with the opportunity to make all necessary decisions to change the russian political system. In the circumstances i believe it would be right for the incumbent government of the Russian Federation to resign. The news came just hours after president putins state of the nation address. In that speech putin suggested changing the constitution to grant parliament more powers in effect weakening the powers of the presidency analysts believe putin could use the shake up to create a new job for himself when his current president ial term ends in 4 years time under the russian constitution president s can only serve to consecutive terms some believe putin may even take on a new role in Parliament Although medvedev has become increasingly unpopular with the russian public in recent years praised his service. I want to thank you for everything youve done in this phase of our cooperation i want to express my gratitude about the results of your work even though we didnt accomplish everything we wanted to. I hope we will succeed soon. Some people on the streets of moscow were slightly less forgiving of madrid gives tenure. In principle the only question is why it took such a long time to be honest such a government should have been expelled many years ago who are you sure you know. You for many years the resignation is long overdue its the right decision and putin is long overdue to control the economy the same way he controls politics. Putin is reportedly asked do you have to move to russias National Security council to work on defense and Security Affairs but the president appears to be leaving his own future Career Options open. In other news today the motorcade of venezuelan Opposition Leader one wideout has been attacked by men wielding metal bars in the capital caracas why those on his way to the countrys parliament when his convoy was stopped by armed men and security forces. Japan has confirmed the 1st case of a new coronavirus already observed in china a man returning from the chinese city of haunt tested positive for the infection it can cause the common cold and also serious diseases one person has died so far after contracting. Turkey is restoring access to wikipedia for its citizens more than 2 years after a ban the site saying it was part of a Smear Campaign against the country Turkeys Constitutional Court overturned the ban in december would be to founder jimmy wales has welcomed the news. Were going now to greenland where people find themselves in the midst of an unexpected economic boom now as we reported earlier the last decade was the warmest on record for the world with dire consequences but in greenland the retreat of the arctic ice there has opened up what some are greeting as new opportunities. The snow came late this winter even in greenland but now the island is looking how so many imagine that a place of eternal ice take a right out into the few words though and you soon see how greenland is changing even off the coast. Were still finding caught here Climate Change hasnt affected that its the opposite actually were catching more caught than we used to. But halliburton craps theyve moved further north in. The arctic has warmed by 2 degrees since the end of the 19th century last summer more than 300000000 tons of ice melted in greenland alone a few remnants are still floating in the few words. Greenland is experiencing a construction boom new flights and hotels are being built and the 3 airports in the country are all being expanded and does look a larson runs a taxi boat company and look he started out with one boat now hes just ordered his 5th he says more and more tourists want to see the melting last years. Nowadays theres a lot of focus on Climate Change and you can see the effect of that most clearly here in greenland everyones talking about our eyes. The danes have known about it for a while but now the whole world is talking about it that. This is the new container for to know the melting ice has allowed easier access to highly valuable Mineral Resources its for this reason the United States sent some choice here. After President Donald Trumps failed attempt to buy greenland the u. S. Wants to establish a new consulate here. But theres also opportunities with related to. For example possibly Even Petroleum exploration in the future these are things that we want to be a part. Fisherman us like like many of his fellow greenlanders dreams of full independence from denmark but he also knows that the island relies on the millions of euros and subsidies that come from copenhagen. I like the idea of greenland becoming independent this creates opportunities for us with the United States on one hand and germany england and the rest of the world on the other we want freedom but nobody should be able to buy us. Donald trump on the climate situation of started something here in greenland the tide is changing for the worlds biggest island. While as weve been seeing from greenland to australia Climate Change affects many aspects of life and mitigating its worst effects is of course crucial here in germany so football clubs are taking the 1st steps to becoming more sustainable. The bundesliga is booming the title race is exciting and fan support remains strong but the leagues Environmental Impact is a major cause for concern fans generate 8000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide matchday. Of the environment and the climate less plastic these are the topics that are being discussed in politics and these topics are not ones does the good teams all big football clubs can escape anymore. And its not just the german topflight 2nd Division Side power and their technical director are trying to make football more sustainable reforestation project called a valves apply only means name ceasefire. Plant trees for the climate. Planting trees we can try to take a bit of the Carbon Dioxide out of the air which would buy us some time to change other things. Too for. Many top Division Clubs such as might have solar panels on the roof of their stadiums green energy is a leak standard but some do more than others to stop rubbish piling up most clubs have a reusable cup system with a deposit shower trying Something Different no straws no plastic cutlery and fans are encouraged to pick up disposable cups for 50 cups theres a free drink or a brought 1st on offer. Even if everyone collects just a few cups and it doesnt amount to 50 its not about getting a free beer or some food but instead doing something for the environment is of us to. Often clubs on their own initiative environmentalists say a joint strategy with the d. F. L. German Football League would be more attractive. As legal lacks an environmental plan that is worked out by the deal. They have to be those in charge to pool all the Environmental Protection efforts with. Developments over the last few years have been Good Environmental and Climate Action have arrived in stadiums and more has to be done to keep football sustainable. Lets get your modern of our top story today as australia burns a major new study has warned that more extreme weather will be part of our future and says the last decade was the warmest ever recorded and that the Carbon Dioxide released by the bushfires is making Global Conditions even worse. This is deja vu news wire from up next conflict zone and dont forget theres always more on these and other stories at our website. Itll be a duck up my bride thomas for the entire team thanks me a. Cut. Conflicts with tim sebastian. Chinas recent celebrations for a 70th anniversary werent quite the Public Relations triumph it was supposed to be my guest this week here in london is free to golf how does he justify chinas comes along the for human rights abuses im a continuing pressure on hong kong the for conflict so for the next couple of. Every 2 seconds a person is forced to flee their home. The consequences. More disastrous. Our documentary series displaced oil and ruined the venezuelan exodus people are starving who wants to survive it needs to leave how could a country formally some rich feel so far in 45 minutes on g. W. Can i am been taken. To closest place to hell i was just an instant new kid. And friends does a camp that all net trains kimi and walk you walk when you. Nice knees and feet to moan to go to mary. Alice yall story. Knickers a. Must. Starts in january 27th on d w. Make china have its own wall lol what you read about reminds most of peoples of the Training Camps over training the it reminds me of those situation kids it is not all law and order very much at stake in Hong Kong China is recent celebrations for its 70th anniversary one quite a Public Relations triumph it was supposed to be not worth continuing protests in hong kong and