Thursday, September 19News That Matters

Climate Actions

New Canadian Climate Tracker Highlights Soaring Costs of Climate Disasters, Calls for Proactive Adaptation

New Canadian Climate Tracker Highlights Soaring Costs of Climate Disasters, Calls for Proactive Adaptation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Attribution science has become increasingly precise in linking extreme weather events to climate change, and a new tracker from the Canadian Climate Institute (CCI) is emphasizing the urgent need for proactive measures to limit the damage caused by climate-fueled disasters. The online tool provides real-time data on the financial toll of wildfires, floods, and droughts across the country, using media reports to paint a stark picture of the growing costs. This summer alone, Toronto and Jasper, separated by 3,400 kilometers, faced significant climate-related losses. According to the Toronto Star, a single afternoon of heavy rain in Toronto on July 16 could result in damages exceeding C$1 billion. Meanwhile, as reported by CBC and confirmed by CCI’s tracker, the wildfire that ravaged Jaspe...
New Study Reveals Severe Weather Costs Global Economy Billions Annually

New Study Reveals Severe Weather Costs Global Economy Billions Annually

Breaking News, Climate Actions
A recent analysis of weather and economic data reveals that severe weather events, driven by climate change, are costing the global economy billions of dollars each year. The research highlights the growing financial impact of extreme heat, droughts, and a reduction in mild weather days, all of which are hindering economic growth. Berkay Akyapi, Ph.D., co-author of the study and a professor of business at the University of Florida, emphasized the importance of proactive adaptation. “If we don’t do anything to respond to these climate shocks, we are hurting the economy,” he said. The study suggests that extreme heat and severe droughts can reduce a country's GDP by about 0.2%, a figure that may seem small but equates to billions of dollars globally. The research, conducted by Akyapi a...
Alarming Climate Shift in India: Study Reveals Swapping Trends in Weather Patterns

Alarming Climate Shift in India: Study Reveals Swapping Trends in Weather Patterns

Breaking News, Climate Actions
A groundbreaking study by IPE-Global and Esri India has revealed a worrying trend in India's climate, with traditionally flood-prone areas now experiencing droughts and drought-affected regions witnessing floods. This "swapping trend" is reshaping the nation's climate risk landscape, putting millions of lives and livelihoods in jeopardy. The research, which analyzed climate data from 1973 to 2023, found that over 85% of India's districts are vulnerable to extreme weather events, with nearly 45% showing evidence of this dramatic shift. The study reported a four-fold increase in the frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of climate extremes over recent decades, with the past 10 years seeing a five-fold surge. Abinash Mohanty, Head of Climate Change and Sustainability Practice at IP...
Climate Crisis Linked to Surge in Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa: UN Report

Climate Crisis Linked to Surge in Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa: UN Report

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A recent report from the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, highlights a deeply troubling connection between climate change and intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings suggest that tens of millions of women and girls in the region will face catastrophic levels of violence if the world fails to curb rising global temperatures. According to projections, the number of individuals experiencing intimate partner violence could nearly triple by 2060, reaching 140 million in the worst-case scenario of unchecked emissions and stalled socioeconomic development. The report, Climate Change Impacts and Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa, was produced by UNFPA in collaboration with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and ...
New Study Reveals El Niño-Southern Oscillation Linked to Increasing Heat Waves in Southwest India

New Study Reveals El Niño-Southern Oscillation Linked to Increasing Heat Waves in Southwest India

Breaking News, Climate Actions
A recent study has identified the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as a significant contributor to the rising frequency and intensity of heat waves in southwest India. ENSO, characterized by periodic warming and cooling of sea surface temperatures and atmospheric pressure shifts in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, is now recognized as a major player in exacerbating heat conditions in the region. The research highlights that while ENSO is a key factor, other major climatic patterns also play roles in influencing the heat waves affecting southwest India. This finding comes amid a troubling trend of increasingly severe heat waves not only in South Asia but globally. Historical Context and Recent Trends The study is set against a backdrop of heightened concern over climate chang...
“Gateway to Hell” in Siberia Triples in Size Due to Climate Change: Study claims

“Gateway to Hell” in Siberia Triples in Size Due to Climate Change: Study claims

Breaking News, Climate Actions
In the remote Yana Highlands of Siberia, a giant and ominous hole known as the "Gateway to Hell" is expanding at an alarming rate, with scientists attributing its rapid growth to the effects of climate change. Officially known as the Batagaika Crater, this massive depression has tripled in size over the past 30 years and now spans an area of 200 acres, reaching depths of 300 feet. The Batagaika Crater, shaped like a stingray or a giant tadpole, began as a small, barely noticeable crack in the 1960s, only visible in declassified satellite imagery. However, as global temperatures rise and permafrost melts, the crater has expanded significantly, revealing one of the oldest permafrost layers on Earth. Visible from Space The crater's sheer size and rapid expansion have captured the att...
Surge in Lightning Deaths in India Raises Alarm: Study Highlights Climate Change Impact

Surge in Lightning Deaths in India Raises Alarm: Study Highlights Climate Change Impact

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Lightning, once a source of primal fear for early humans, remains a significant threat in the modern world, particularly in India. A recent study by Fakir Mohan University in Balasore, Odisha, has revealed a dramatic rise in lightning-related fatalities across the country. Analyzing data from India’s National Crime Records Bureau, the study found that nearly one-third of the 101,309 lightning deaths recorded between 1967 and 2020 occurred in just the last decade (2010-2020), with a staggering 29,804 deaths during that period. The study also highlighted a nearly four-fold increase in the average annual fatalities due to lightning. Today, approximately 1,900 Indians die annually from lightning strikes, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) logging the figure at around 2,5...
Global Freshwater Crisis: UN Reports Highlight Severe Degradation in 90 Countries

Global Freshwater Crisis: UN Reports Highlight Severe Degradation in 90 Countries

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A series of alarming reports from UN-Water and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have revealed that 90 countries, primarily in Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, are facing significant degradation of their freshwater ecosystems. This widespread decline is marked by reduced river flow, shrinking lakes, increasing pollution, and poor water management, posing serious threats to food security, climate change, and biodiversity. The comprehensive triennial reports draw on the largest data sets ever compiled and highlight a stark contrast between high political commitment and the lack of financial and practical action needed to address the crisis. Despite recent global resolutions on sustainable water management, the reports emphasize the urgent need for enhanced global efforts to mee...
Rare Climate Phenomena: Atlantic and Pacific ‘Ninas’ Bring Potential Relief Amid Record Ocean Temperatures

Rare Climate Phenomena: Atlantic and Pacific ‘Ninas’ Bring Potential Relief Amid Record Ocean Temperatures

Breaking News, Climate Actions
In an unusual climatic twist, both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are experiencing cooling phenomena known as "Ninas," offering a potential respite from the record-high ocean temperatures that have persisted for months. This cooling could bring some relief to vulnerable coral reef ecosystems and may impact the Atlantic hurricane season. The cooling effects are due to two related climate patterns: La Nina, occurring in the tropical Pacific, and the lesser-known Atlantic Nina. La Nina, a component of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation, typically cools sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, altering global weather patterns. On the other hand, Atlantic Nina, which has a more localized impact, is now cooling waters along the equator in the Atlantic. While both phenomena can infl...
Study Reveals Air Pollution in Indian Districts Raises Mortality Risk, Doubling Death Rate for Newborns and Young Children

Study Reveals Air Pollution in Indian Districts Raises Mortality Risk, Doubling Death Rate for Newborns and Young Children

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A recent study reveals a stark increase in mortality risks across all age groups in Indian districts where air pollution exceeds national standards, with newborns facing an 86% higher death risk and children under five facing a 100-120% increased risk. Conducted by researchers including those at the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, the study examined fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution across over 700 districts using data from the National Family and Health Survey (fifth round) and the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The study highlights that in households without a separate kitchen, the risk of death is notably higher among newborns and adults. Specifically, the mortality risk for newborns and children under five in districts with PM2.5 leve...