February 2025 - Page 6 of 11

Feb152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Continues Its Drift Toward Siberia: How This Ongoing Shift Could Impact Global Navigation and Technology

Breaking News, Environment, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

Earth’s magnetic north pole has moved again, drawing closer to Siberia, according to the latest update of the World Magnetic Model (WMM). This shift could have significant implications for global navigation systems, including those used by commercial aviation and GPS devices. Unlike the fixed geographic North Pole, magnetic north is influenced by the turbulent movement of molten iron in Earth’s core. The pole has been drifting for centuries, but its speed increased dramatically in the 1990s, reaching a peak of 34.2 miles (55 km) per year before slowing to around 21.7 miles (35 km) per year by 2015. The WMM, updated every five years, ensures accurate navigation for planes, ships, and military operations. If updates are delayed, navigation errors could occur. Dr. Arnaud Chulliat, a sen...

Feb152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Columbia University Launches Climate Finance Masters Program

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Columbia University’s Climate School has introduced a groundbreaking master’s degree in climate finance, the first of its kind in the U.S. The program, launching this fall, aims to equip professionals with financial and scientific expertise to address the challenges and opportunities of climate change and the global energy transition. Developed in partnership with Columbia Business School, the program will focus on a multidisciplinary approach to climate crisis solutions, covering topics like climate science, international finance, capital markets, and energy financing. Alexis Abramson, Dean of the Climate School, highlighted the need for collaborative problem-solving, emphasizing the importance of integrating finance with climate strategies to combat the global crisis. Costis Mag...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

B.C. Health Workers Face Mounting Climate Crisis Strain

Breaking News, Climate Actions

British Columbia has faced a series of climate-related extreme weather events in recent years, with severe consequences for both residents and health services. The 2021 heat dome led to over 600 heat-related deaths and overwhelmed emergency services, while wildfires caused increased illnesses and forced the evacuation of thousands. B.C.’s health system, already strained by staffing shortages and burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic, has worked to respond to these emergencies. However, many health service workers reported physical and mental health challenges during and after climate events. Front-line staff, such as paramedics and home health workers, faced exposure to heat and poor air quality, especially when facilities lacked proper cooling and air filtration systems. The mental tol...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Among Top 10 Nations Hit Hard by Extreme Weather: CRI 2025

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Opinions

India recorded over 400 extreme weather events between 1993 and 2022, leading to nearly USD 180 billion in inflation-adjusted losses and at least 80,000 fatalities, according to the Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025 released by Germanwatch. The index, which ranks countries based on the economic and human toll of extreme weather, placed India among the top ten nations most affected during the 30-year period. The CRI used data from sources such as the EM-DAT international disaster database, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It analyzed 9,400 extreme weather events that resulted in over 7.65 lakh deaths globally and direct losses of USD 4.2 trillion. Dominica, China, and Honduras were the most affected, followed by Myanmar, Italy, India, Greece, Spain, Vanuatu, and the...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Study Reveals Why Rock-Ice Avalanches Travel Farther, Proposes Key Friction Equation

Breaking News, Learning & Developments

Rock avalanches are a significant hazard in mountainous regions, but when ice is present, the risk escalates dramatically. In colder regions, rock-ice avalanches avalanches consisting of both rock and ice tend to travel much farther than those made up of rock alone. Despite this well-known behavior, scientists have long struggled to understand the exact mechanism behind this increased mobility. A recent study led by Fan et al. [2024] sheds new light on this mystery using advanced experimental methods. The researchers developed a state-of-the-art flume setup equipped with high-speed cameras that can operate at temperatures as low as −10°C. This allowed them to closely observe how ice fragments interact with rock fragments during avalanche simulations, offering unprecedented insight into ...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Panama Canal Faces Climate Risks But 2025 Brings Hope with High Water Levels

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The Panama Canal, a vital 82-kilometer shipping artery connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, has long been a key player in global trade. As much as 5% of the world’s shipping relies on the canal, making it essential for supply chains. However, recent years have highlighted a growing concern: climate-driven water shortages. Since its opening in 1914, the canal has operated through a system of locks, raising ships about 25 meters to cross Gatun Lake before lowering them again. The lake, fed by rainfall, is critical to ensuring smooth passage for massive Neopanamax vessels carrying over 13,000 cargo containers. Each day, about 7 billion liters of water are extracted from the lake to operate the locks, making consistent rainfall essential. Panama’s typically high annual rainfall ov...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Group Escalates Legal Fight Against Shell to Netherlands’ Supreme Court

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Friends of the Earth Netherlands (FOE) is taking its legal battle against British multinational oil and gas company Shell to the Netherlands' Supreme Court. The environmental group is demanding that Shell adopt a clearly defined carbon reduction target, arguing that without a legally binding mandate, the company will not take meaningful steps to curb its emissions. The case follows the November 12, 2024 ruling by the Hague Court of Appeal in the Milieudefensie et al. vs. Royal Dutch Shell case. The court acknowledged Shell’s “special responsibility” as a major oil and gas producer to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but stopped short of imposing an “absolute reduction” obligation, such as the 45% cut by 2030 ordered by a lower court in 2021. The court also noted that current EU law does ...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Corruption Undermining Climate Action in Sub-Saharan Africa, Warns New Transparency Report

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new report by Transparency International, released on February 11, 2025, highlights the devastating impact of systemic corruption on climate action in sub-Saharan Africa. Titled 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index: Corruption is Playing a Devastating Role in the Climate Crisis, the report reveals how weak anti-corruption measures are hindering efforts to combat climate change. Sub-Saharan African nations urgently need substantial climate finance to implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) climate action plans submitted to the United Nations. However, misappropriation, theft, and misallocation of climate funds are threatening these efforts. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks 180 countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption on a sca...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UNDRR, WMO Launch Global Early Warning System Investment Observatory

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have launched the Global Observatory for Early Warning System (EWS) Investments to improve tracking and coordination of funding for disaster preparedness. This initiative aims to support the UN’s goal of global EWS coverage by 2027, announced by Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022. Early warning systems are critical in saving lives during extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to the climate crisis. However, fragmented financing has limited their global reach. Launched in December 2024, the Observatory provides an overview of funding flows from nine key financing institutions. It identifies gaps, avoids duplication, and ensures investme...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Finds Dust Storms Cost US $154B Annually Impacting Healthcare

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new study in Nature Sustainability reveals that wind erosion and blowing dust cost the U.S. economy around $154 billion each year, impacting healthcare, transportation, agriculture, energy, and households. Conducted by researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), George Mason University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the study highlights the growing societal burden of dust storms, which are worsened by human land use, drought, and declining water resources. Thomas Gill, Ph.D., a UTEP earth sciences professor, emphasized the significance of these findings. "Blowing dust is a major expense and creates great societal harm," he said, comparing its costs to those of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Healthcare costs make up a significant portion of the tot...