Tuesday, April 22News That Matters

Climate Actions

Himachal Pradesh Ramps Up Forest Fire Readiness Calls for Community Vigilance

Himachal Pradesh Ramps Up Forest Fire Readiness Calls for Community Vigilance

Breaking News, Climate Actions
With forest fire season underway Himachal Pradesh is stepping up its preparedness efforts, combining technology, ground-level action, and public cooperation to safeguard its extensive forest cover. Chief Conservator of Forests, Shimla Circle, K Thirumal, announced on Monday that while recent rainfall has delayed major fires, the threat remains high due to the state's 68% forest cover well above the national average. Thirumal said during a press briefing “Thanks to good rainfall, fire incidents are still low, with only 90 cases recorded statewide, He noted that Himachal typically sees 1,500 to 2,000 fire incidents annually, with last year recording nearly 2,500 cases. Authorities have launched awareness drives and deployed fire personnel in vulnerable areas. “Community participation i...
Himalayan Snowfall Crisis Major River Basins Record Sharpest Decline in Snow Persistence

Himalayan Snowfall Crisis Major River Basins Record Sharpest Decline in Snow Persistence

Breaking News, Climate Actions
In a concerning climate signal all three major river basins of the Indian Subcontinent the Ganga Indus and Brahmaputra are witnessing their steepest declines in snow persistence, a new report warns. The findings, released by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on April 21, 2025, reveal that the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region is experiencing its third consecutive below-normal snow year. Snow persistence defined as the duration snow remains on the ground after snowfall is a key indicator for seasonal water availability. A drop in this metric threatens water security for millions, as snowmelt feeds major rivers across South Asia. The Ganga basin, which saw its highest snow persistence of +30.2% in 2015, has plummeted to a 23-year low of -24.1% in 2025...
Karachi Faces Sweltering Heatwave as Temperatures Soar Past 40°C

Karachi Faces Sweltering Heatwave as Temperatures Soar Past 40°C

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Karachi is bracing for a punishing heatwave beginning Sunday, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasting temperatures as high as 41°C around 4 to 6 degrees above seasonal norms. The warning comes as parts of Sindh have already been enduring extreme heat for over a week. The Met Office has issued a public advisory urging residents to avoid direct sunlight, remain indoors during peak hours, and stay hydrated. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women have been asked to take extra care during this period of intense heat. Health risks are on the rise as the heatwave coincides with prolonged power outages across Sindh, further straining public health systems. Hospitals in districts including Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, and Naushahro Feroze are repo...
Lightning Near North Pole Rare Arctic Thunderstorm Linked to Warming Climate

Lightning Near North Pole Rare Arctic Thunderstorm Linked to Warming Climate

Breaking News, Climate Actions
In a groundbreaking discovery scientists have revealed new evidence that climate change is altering the weather dynamics of the Arctic triggering rare thunderstorms in one of the coldest and driest regions on Earth. A study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences by researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China has analyzed a unique thunderstorm event that occurred from August 12–13, 2019. The storm traveled across the Arctic Ocean, coming within just 44 kilometers of the North Pole the closest lightning ever recorded near the top of the world. Jianqiu Zheng a corresponding author of the study "This thunderstorm was unlike anything we typically see in the Arctic, developed during an Arctic warming event when warm, moist air surged northward over the ice cap...
Rising Risk of Solar Droughts Threatens Renewable Energy Reliability

Rising Risk of Solar Droughts Threatens Renewable Energy Reliability

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
As solar energy use surges across the globe especially in developing regions aiming for carbon neutrality a new study warns of a growing threat to its reliability: solar power “droughts.” Researchers from a recent study led by Lei et al. have identified periods of at least three consecutive days where solar power demand exceeds supply events they call solar power droughts. These shortages could leave millions without access to essential services like cooling or cooking, particularly in regions most vulnerable to climate extremes. Analyzing solar energy patterns from 1984 to 2014, the study found that areas such as the western United States, eastern Brazil, Southeast Asia, and large parts of Africa experienced at least five solar power droughts annually. Over those 30 years, the frequ...
Earth Day 2025 Climate Crisis Demands Urgent Action and Bold Investment

Earth Day 2025 Climate Crisis Demands Urgent Action and Bold Investment

Breaking News, Climate Actions
As Earth Day approaches on April 22 environmental advocates are urging people around the globe to take a stand for the planet amid escalating climate and plastic pollution crises. The message is clear tackling climate change must be the top priority for the health of both the environment and the economy. The past year delivered a stark reminder of what's at stake. According to NASA, 2024 was the hottest year on record since global temperature monitoring began in 1880. In the United States alone, twenty-seven climate and weather disasters each caused at least $1 billion in damages nearly matching the all-time record set in 2023. Wildfires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes have increasingly become the norm placing lives and livelihoods at constant risk. Southern California saw tens of ...
North India braces weather whiplash storms heatwaves collide

North India braces weather whiplash storms heatwaves collide

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
North India reeled under a mix of extreme weather on Thursday, with violent thunderstorms lashing some regions and heatwaves gripping others. Himachal Pradesh reported a tragic casualty, as eight-year-old Abhishek Kumar lost his life when a tree crashed onto a hut in Hamirpur during a storm. Parts of Shimla and other hill areas were hit by heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms, causing power cuts and uprooting trees. Crops in their flowering stage were badly affected, raising concerns among farmers. Meanwhile, the plains baked under relentless heat. Rajasthan’s Barmer touched a blazing 45°C, while Delhi sizzled at 40.6°C. Uttar Pradesh too saw temperatures soar as heatwave alerts remained active. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert, warning of contin...
India First Pollution Market in Surat Cuts Emissions Saves Money Study

India First Pollution Market in Surat Cuts Emissions Saves Money Study

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
A groundbreaking study has revealed that Surat Gujarat, home to the world’s first market for trading particulate matter emissions, has successfully reduced industrial pollution and saved businesses money. Published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics (May 2025 edition) the study highlights how this innovative Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) achieved both environmental and economic wins. The ETS, which began as a pilot project over five years ago, is the first of its kind globally to target particulate pollution a major health hazard in India. The programme was a joint effort by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Using real-time monitoring systems, 318 large coal-using industrial plants in Surat were brought under a cap-a...
Tanzania Faces Hottest Year Ever With Nights Getting Warmer and Rainfall Surging

Tanzania Faces Hottest Year Ever With Nights Getting Warmer and Rainfall Surging

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Tanzania recorded its hottest year on record in 2024 as temperatures especially at night climbed significantly across the country. According to the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), the national average temperature hit 24.3°C, which is 0.7°C above normal. This broke the previous record set just a year earlier in 2023. But it wasn’t just the heat during the day that stood out. The biggest change came from rising nighttime temperatures. The average minimum temperature in 2024 reached 19.3°C, which is 1.1°C higher than the usual. This warming at night was more intense than the rise in daytime highs, which averaged 28.8°C just 0.4°C above normal. Regions around Lake Victoria, the northeastern highlands, and the islands of Unguja and Pemba saw the most extreme changes, with minimum...
IMD Warns Andhra Pradesh Braces For Thunderstorms Lightning From April 17-21

IMD Warns Andhra Pradesh Braces For Thunderstorms Lightning From April 17-21

Breaking News, Climate Actions
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather alert for Andhra Pradesh predicting thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds from April 17 to 21. The alert covers North and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema, warning residents to stay cautious during this unstable weather period. According to the IMD forecast isolated thunderstorms are expected in several pockets across the state accompanied by winds speeding up to 50 km/h. Alongside the storm activity, daytime temperatures are set to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, particularly affecting coastal belts and inland regions. The department added that temperatures are likely to stabilize from April 21 to 23, offering some relief from the heat and stormy conditions. Residents and local authorities a...