February 2025 - Page 10 of 11

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

A vast majority of earthquakes occur within the infamous Ring of Fire, a seismic hotspot encircling the Pacific Ocean. Yet, when these earthquakes strike, the areas that experience the most intense shaking aren’t always the ones that suffer the worst destruction. Recent research has uncovered a hidden factor contributing to earthquake devastation: migration patterns and housing vulnerabilities. The 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake Case Study Taiwan’s catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999, which claimed over 2,400 lives, presented an unexpected pattern of destruction. Contrary to expectations, the worst damage was not in the bustling city centers but in the suburbs and outer regions. Similar trends have been observed in earthquakes that hit China, Chile, and Nepal, raising questions about wh...

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Greenland Ice Sheet Cracking at Alarming Rate, Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Over the past five years, an astonishing 930 million cubic meters of crevasses have opened across Greenland’s ice sheet equivalent to a crack the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza forming every few days. This rapid increase in fracturing, particularly in the ice sheet’s fast-moving regions, could trigger a dangerous feedback loop that accelerates ice loss and raises global sea levels. A new multi-year study, led by researchers from the University of Florida and Durham University, provides the first large-scale analysis of Greenland’s glacier crevasses, spanning 2016 to 2021. The findings reveal significant variations across the ice sheet, with some areas especially in the west initially experiencing fewer crevasses, only to see an uptick in recent years. Overall, the study detected a sh...

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Drought in U.S. Northeast Signals Nationwide Water Crisis Risk

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

The severe drought that gripped the U.S. Northeast in 2024 shattered the notion that water scarcity is only a problem for the arid West. After an exceptionally hot and dry summer, cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia faced unprecedented water shortages, with wildfires breaking out in states rarely affected by them. By December, much of the region was in moderate to severe drought, prompting officials to urge water conservation. This crisis serves as a warning: as global temperatures rise, extreme droughts can impact any part of the country. Hotter, drier conditions increase evaporation, deplete groundwater, and heighten the risk of wildfires. Though the Northeast’s drought began easing in early 2025, its effects highlight the urgent need for long-term water management strategi...

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Jujube Trees Offer Hope Amid Conflict and Climate Struggles in Afghanistan

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

In Afghanistan’s war-torn Nangarhar province, a simple but powerful solution is transforming lives: the jujube tree. As conflict, poverty, and climate change converge, afforestation efforts are providing both environmental protection and economic opportunities for displaced communities. Nestled along the Pakistan border, Nangarhar has long been a hotspot for violence and migration. Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees struggle with poverty, lack of resources, and increasingly extreme weather. Flash floods regularly devastate homes and farmland. “Every year, the floods come, destroying everything,” says Abdul Aziz, a resident of the Samar Khail Araban camp. Seeking a solution, local communities turned to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Th...

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Kerala Faces Early Heatwave as Munnar Remains a Chilly Haven

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Kerala is experiencing an unexpected surge in temperatures, months before summer officially begins. With the lingering effects of El Niño and the Uttarayan shift intensifying the heat, several districts are already witnessing scorching conditions, raising concerns about climate patterns and their impact on daily life. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has linked this rise in temperature to the sun’s northward movement, which brings it directly over the Tropic of Cancer. While most of Kerala struggles with unseasonal heat, Munnar the picturesque hill town in Idukki stands apart, recording freezing temperatures as low as zero degrees Celsius. Heatwave-Like Conditions Arrive Early January and February, usually mild months, have seen temperatures climb to alarming levels. Kann...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Needs Comprehensive Climate Justice Policy for Disaster Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

As climate change-driven disasters intensify across India, experts are calling for a comprehensive climate justice policy that integrates disaster risk reduction, resilience building, and adequate budgetary allocations. In 2024, extreme weather events impacted 255 out of 274 days, leading to 3,238 deaths, destruction of 2.35 lakh houses, and damage to 3.2 million hectares of land, according to the Centre for Science and Environment. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs reported a 24% rise in disaster-related fatalities compared to the previous year. Key Policy Gaps & Recent Amendments The 2024 amendments to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, now include "disaster risk reduction", but effective implementation and budget oversight remain crucial. Urban Disaster Management ...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Budget 2025 India Ambitious 100 GW Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a bold new ‘Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat’, setting an ambitious target of 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 as part of India's clean energy transition. To accelerate growth, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be introduced, enabling greater private sector participation. A major highlight of the initiative is a ₹20,000 crore R&D mission for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with at least five indigenous SMRs expected to be operational by 2033. Former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr. Anil Kakodkar welcomed the move, calling it a “clear realization” of nuclear energy’s role in achieving Net Zero emissions. India currently has an 8,180 MW installed nuclear capacity, with 24 ...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Green Banks Coalition Collapses as Major US Lenders Exit Net Zero Alliance

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), a key UN-backed coalition of financial institutions committed to climate-friendly investments, has suffered a major setback with the withdrawal of six of the largest American banks. With JP Morgan becoming the latest to exit, only three smaller US banks remain in the alliance. This mass departure underscores the growing tension between climate goals and political resistance in the US financial sector. NZBA: A Climate Commitment Now in Question The NZBA, launched ahead of COP26 in 2021, is a global network of banks pledged to align their financing with net-zero emissions targets by 2050. With 136 members across 44 countries managing assets worth $57 trillion, the alliance was meant to be a major driver of climate-conscious banking. However, its ef...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Uganda Races to Deploy Trial Ebola Vaccine Amid Kampala Outbreak

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

KAMPALA – Ugandan health officials are rushing to deploy a trial vaccine after an Ebola outbreak hit the capital, Kampala. The vaccine targets the Sudan strain of the virus, with over 2,000 doses prepared for emergency use. The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged support, providing 2,160 doses while assisting with regulatory approvals. Researchers are working alongside surveillance teams to assess the vaccine’s safety and efficacy before its rollout. Ebola, spread through bodily fluids, is suspected to have originated from contact with infected animals. Kampala’s high mobility presents a major challenge in containing the virus. Despite Uganda’s history of battling epidemic diseases, no licensed vaccine exists for the Sudan strain, making this trial a critical step in the figh...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

African Nations Commit to Clean Cooking Solutions at Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Thoughts & Talks

At the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, held in Tanzania on 27-28 January 2025, 12 African countries took bold steps to provide clean cooking solutions to combat the health, environmental, and economic challenges posed by traditional cooking methods. This initiative aims to address the annual deaths of 600,000 women and children caused by harmful cooking practices and aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Tanzania Leads the Way Tanzanian President Suluhu Hassan, who serves as the global Clean Cooking Ambassador, praised the commitment of the 12 participating governments and emphasized that many others would join in the future. The summit’s focus was to drive momentum toward the 2030 goal of ensuring universal access to cl...