Climate Actions Archives - Page 23 of 78

Apr112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

CityCLIM Project Helps Cities Battle Soaring Urban Heat as Billions Face Rising Risk

As climate change fuels more frequent and intense heatwaves, over 1.7 billion people globally are now at risk, according to the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). The issue is particularly acute in cities, where rising temperatures, combined with dense infrastructure, create urban heat islands (UHIs) pockets of significantly higher heat that threaten public health, infrastructure, and productivity. In fact a study published in The Lancet by the EARLY-ADAPT project found that more than 4% of summer deaths in European cities are linked to UHIs. To combat this growing crisis the EU-backed CityCLIM project is offering a promising way forward. Led by Stephan Holsten, head of the Earth Observation Missions and Applications department at OHB System in Germany, the project merge...

Apr112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Floodplain Study Offers Breakthrough in Building Climate-Resilient Communities

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

As climate change fuels more intense and frequent storms, strengthening flood mitigation strategies has become a top priority. Lives, agriculture, and critical infrastructure are at increasing risk, particularly in downstream communities where effective flood resilience is essential. A new study from the University of Vermont (UVM) sheds light on a powerful yet underutilized natural ally in this fight: floodplains. Floodplains the low-lying land flanking rivers and streams act as nature’s shock absorbers. By temporarily storing excess water during floods, they reduce flood peaks, slow water velocity, and limit erosion in a process called attenuation. But not all floodplains work the same way. The latest research published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface introduces ...

Apr102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Life on the Climate Frontline Seoul Poorest Suffer the Most Pollute the Least

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

In one of Seoul most impoverished corners residents of jjokbang-chon cramped windowless rooms often without basic amenities live quietly in the shadows of a rapidly developing city. These marginalized communities contribute the least to climate change, yet they endure its harshest effects. A new study from the University of Kansas exposes this stark climate injustice and calls for a shift in how the world addresses both poverty and the climate crisis. Dr. Joonmo Kang, assistant professor of social welfare at KU, spent a year living inside this so-called “last remaining slum” in the heart of South Korea’s capital. His goal was to understand how climate-related disasters shape the lives of the poorest residents. What he found was not just poverty but systemic neglect, environmental vulner...

Apr102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

La Niña fading India to see normal monsoon in 2025 says Skymet forecast

Breaking News, Climate Actions

India can expect a ‘normal’ southwest monsoon in 2025, according to private weather agency Skymet. The agency has forecasted rainfall at 103% of the long-period average (LPA) of 868.6 mm for the June to September season. In its statement released on April 8, Skymet explained that the brief and weak La Niña phase is now fading, while the usually disruptive El Niño is unlikely to return this season. Instead, neutral conditions in the equatorial Pacific referred to as ENSO-neutral are expected to dominate. This, combined with a potentially positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), sets the stage for a stable and beneficial monsoon. Jatin Singh, Managing Director of Skymet says "ENSO-neutral paired with a positive IOD has historically brought good monsoons, second half of the monsoon season is...

Apr102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India launches first high-altitude climate research station in Jammu & Kashmir

Breaking News, Climate Actions

India has taken a major step in climate science with the launch of its first high altitude climate research station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district. The station inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh is set to boost India’s efforts in climate forecasting and research, especially in the Himalayan region. Located at one of the highest altitudes in the northwestern Himalayas the new facility is expected to play a key role in understanding the changing climate patterns in sensitive mountain ecosystems. It also reflects India’s growing leadership in global climate initiatives under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dr. Singh during the inauguration ceremony says “This station marks a significant milestone in India's journey toward climate resilience and scie...

Apr102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

China Mega Dam on Yarlung Tsangpo Raises Water Security Fears in India Bangladesh

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

China plan to build the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river has triggered serious concerns in downstream regions like northeastern India and Bangladesh, with experts warning of the project’s far-reaching environmental and geopolitical impacts. The proposed dam, expected to generate a massive 60,000 megawatts of electricity, is part of China’s growing push for energy dominance. However, critics are calling it a “water bomb” that could severely disrupt the delicate ecosystem of the Brahmaputra river basin and increase the risk of devastating floods in downstream areas. Tapir Gao, a Member of Parliament from Arunachal Pradesh, expressed alarm over the possibility of China releasing large volumes of water without warning. “Such a move could cause flash floods i...

Apr102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Opens High-Altitude Climate Research Centre in Himalayas Boosts Global Role in Climate Science

Breaking News, Climate Actions

India has taken a major step forward in global climate leadership by inaugurating its first Himalayan High Altitude Atmospheric and Climate Research Centre at Nathatop in Jammu & Kashmir. The cutting-edge facility, located 2,250 meters above sea level, was opened by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and is poised to play a vital role in understanding and tackling the complex challenges of climate change, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region. Calling it a “major leap” in India’s climate journey, Dr. Singh emphasized that the Centre would position the country as a global hub for atmospheric and climate science. Strategically located in a low-pollution zone ideal for high-accuracy studies, the research station is expected to significantly boost scientific underst...

Apr92025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Australia Faces 37% Spike in Heatwave Hazards: New Report Warns of Climate Health Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Australia has recorded a sharp 37 per cent rise in health-threatening heatwaves over the past two decades, according to the latest MJA–Lancet Countdown report released this week. The findings come as part of a broader annual assessment tracking how climate change is impacting public health across the nation. Lead author Professor Paul Beggs from Macquarie University, who heads the Lancet Countdown Centre in Oceania, stressed that the data highlights the need for consistent, long-term tracking of climate risks in Australia. “The frequency of health-damaging heat has increased substantially since the 1970s,” he said. The 2024 report covers five major domains: health impacts, adaptation, mitigation efforts, economics, and public engagement. One standout concern is the growing intersecti...

Apr92025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

German Court Bans Adidas from Claiming Climate Neutral by 2050 in Landmark Greenwashing Ruling

Breaking News, Climate Actions

In a major setback for corporate climate pledges a German court has ordered Adidas to stop advertising its ambition to become “climate neutral by 2050” ruling that the sportswear giant misled consumers with vague and unsupported claims. On March 25, 2025, the Nuremberg-Fürth Regional Court declared Adidas guilty of greenwashing term used for deceptive marketing that overstates environmental efforts. The court found that the company's claim lacked sufficient explanation and failed to disclose whether it would rely on carbon offsets to meet its goal. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in November 2024 by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe or DUH), which challenged Adidas’ promotional statements as misleading. DUH welcomed the verdict, calling it a critical step towar...

Apr92025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rapid Agricultural Driving Severe Groundwater Depletion Despite Rising Rainfall in Thar Desert

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

New study has revealed a striking transformation in the Thar Desert long known for its arid climate showing significant greening across both monsoon and non-monsoon seasons between 2001 and 2020. But behind this apparent revival lies a looming ecological concern: groundwater depletion, driven by rapid agricultural and urban expansion. Researchers compared the seasonal cycle of vegetation greenness between 2001–2010 and 2011–2020, finding a substantial rise in greenery during both summer monsoon (June–September) and the drier months (October–May). However, they traced this trend back to a dramatic surge in farming activity and irrigation. Between 1980 and 2015, the Thar region witnessed a 74% rise in crop area and a 24% increase in irrigated area. Gross and net irrigated areas expande...