Wednesday, April 23News That Matters

Climate Actions

Gadkari Sounds Alarm on Pollution Crisis Urges Green Infrastructure Alternative Fuels to Protect Lives

Gadkari Sounds Alarm on Pollution Crisis Urges Green Infrastructure Alternative Fuels to Protect Lives

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has once again turned the spotlight on India growing pollution crisis calling for an urgent green overhaul of the country infrastructure. Speaking at a recent event in Mumbai Gadkari warned that pollution levels in cities like Delhi and Mumbai are not just environmental concerns they’re public health emergencies. Highlighting a grim reality he claimed that even a three-day stay in Delhi could lead to health issues due to the dangerously high levels of air and water contamination. “Pollution in Delhi is so severe that it can reduce an individual’s life expectancy by nearly ten years,” he said, urging immediate intervention. As part of his “green crusade,” Gadkari emphasized the role of infrastructure in pollution control. He outlined how better road networ...
2024 Turns Europe into Climate Flashpoint Record Heat Melting Glaciers Fiery Summers Alert

2024 Turns Europe into Climate Flashpoint Record Heat Melting Glaciers Fiery Summers Alert

Breaking News, Climate Actions
The year 2024 etched itself into Europe’s climate history as the warmest year ever recorded unveiling the growing threat of uneven warming, violent weather swings, and rapid environmental degradation, according to The European State of the Climate 2024 report. A stark east-west climate divide unfolded across the continent scorching dry heat in the east, while the west weathered unusually warm, soggy seasons. Overall, 45% of the year’s days were significantly warmer than average, and 12% were the hottest ever, pushing Europe further into its position as the fastest-warming continent, said Florence Rabier, Director-General of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Averaged over five years, Europe's temperature is now 2.4°C above pre-industrial levels a milestone with dire...
Kallakkadal Crisis Rising Sea Shrinking Shore Threaten Lives in Kerala

Kallakkadal Crisis Rising Sea Shrinking Shore Threaten Lives in Kerala

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Since December, residents along Kerala’s Vembanad Lake India’s longest have been battling flood-like conditions in their homes. For Raphel Abraham a local from Edakochi, life has been nothing short of “hell,” as seawater continues to seep in forcing families to abandon their homes or endure prolonged waterlogging. The culprit? A mysterious sea phenomenon known as ‘kallakkadal’, which translates to “the sea that arrives like a thief.” Though traditionally observed in the pre-monsoon months (April–May), experts now believe that the waves behind kallakkadal swell waves traveling thousands of kilometers across the ocean may no longer follow a seasonal pattern. Approved by UNESCO in 2012 as a scientific term, kallakkadal is caused by large swell waves formed due to distant storms and cycl...
Storm Tide Threat Grows Tenfold in Bangladesh as Climate Risks Mount

Storm Tide Threat Grows Tenfold in Bangladesh as Climate Risks Mount

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Bangladesh may face a dramatically different future due to climate change as destructive storm tides a combination of high tides and storm surges are projected to become 10 times more frequent warns a new study published in One Earth. What was once considered a once-in-a-century event could soon strike every decade posing grave risks to Bangladesh’s low-lying, densely populated coast home to nearly eight million people. The study led by researchers including Sai Ravela of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that under high-emissions scenarios the intensification of storms and rising sea levels could significantly increase the frequency and impact of coastal flooding even if the number of cyclones does not rise dramatically. Historically the Bay of Bengal has witn...
Massive Sandstorm Hospitalises Over 1,800 in Iraq Grounds Flights

Massive Sandstorm Hospitalises Over 1,800 in Iraq Grounds Flights

Breaking News, Climate Actions
A powerful sandstorm swept across central and southern Iraq on Monday, hospitalising more than 1,800 people with breathing problems and grounding flights in several provinces. Health officials described the event as the largest storm of the year blanketing entire regions in an orange haze and reducing visibility to less than one kilometre. Hospitals were overwhelmed across multiple provinces. Muthanna reported over 700 cases of suffocation, while Najaf saw more than 250 hospital admissions In Diwaniyah, at least 322 people, including children sought medical help for respiratory distress, local authorities told. Additional cases were reported in Dhi Qar and Basra taking the total tally past 1,800. Emergency teams were seen administering oxygen to patients inside ambulances while polic...
New Study Finds Europe Adapts Better to Cold Than Heat

New Study Finds Europe Adapts Better to Cold Than Heat

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
April 15 – Europe has made more progress in adapting to cold weather than to heatwaves over the last two decades, according to a new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre. The research published in The Lancet Planetary Health analyzed data from over 800 regions in 35 countries across Europe between 2003 and 2020. The findings reveal that the risk of death from cold temperatures dropped by 2% per year, while deaths linked to extreme heat also declined, but only by 1% annually. This suggests that while Europeans are increasingly resilient to cold the response to rising heat threats remains slower and less effective. To reflect the diverse climate and vulnerability across Europe, researchers introduce...
IAF C-130J Faces GPS Spoofing Over Myanmar During Operation Brahma Earthquake Relief Mission

IAF C-130J Faces GPS Spoofing Over Myanmar During Operation Brahma Earthquake Relief Mission

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
In a concerning cyber incident an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft flying over Myanmar during Operation Brahma India’s humanitarian relief mission was targeted by a GPS spoofing attack. The spoofing attack manipulated the aircraft real-time coordinates misleading its navigation systems mid-air. However, IAF pilots acted swiftly switching to the Internal Navigation System (INS) to ensure a safe and secure flight path. No casualties or aircraft damage were reported. What is GPS Spoofing? GPS spoofing is a cyberattack where false signals mimic genuine satellite data, tricking navigation systems into displaying incorrect positions. It poses a serious threat to both civilian and military aviation. India has already seen 465 such spoofing incidents reported near Amritsar and Jammu since...
Unseasonal Rainstorms Kill Nearly 100 Across India and Nepal, More Bad Weather Ahead

Unseasonal Rainstorms Kill Nearly 100 Across India and Nepal, More Bad Weather Ahead

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Heavy rains and thunderstorms sweeping through parts of India and Nepal since Wednesday have led to nearly 100 deaths, with more severe weather forecasted in the coming days. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh warnings, cautioning the public about a combination of heatwaves in western India and continued thunderstorms in the central and eastern regions. Bihar has been the hardest hit, where at least 64 people have died in various rain-related incidents. In Uttar Pradesh, local authorities have reported over 20 fatalities, as strong winds, lightning, and flash floods wreaked havoc across districts. Across the border in Nepal, the National Disaster Authority confirmed that at least eight people lost their lives due to lightning strikes and rain-triggered accidents...
Toxicity of PM2.5 in Kolkata Spikes Sharply Beyond 70 µg/m³ Bose Institute Study Warns

Toxicity of PM2.5 in Kolkata Spikes Sharply Beyond 70 µg/m³ Bose Institute Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A recent study by Kolkata’s Bose Institute has revealed a concerning spike in the toxicity of PM2.5 particles once their concentration crosses 70 µg/m³ underscoring the urgent need for stricter pollution controls. The findings suggest that beyond this threshold, the health risks posed by PM2.5 particles increase sharply posing a greater threat to public health than previously understood. PM2.5, or fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, is among the most dangerous air pollutants. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, leading to serious respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological issues. The study focused on the oxidative potential (OP) of PM2.5, which measures its ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) compounds that ...
Cold Vortex From Mongolia Brings Typhoon-Like Winds Disrupts Life Across Northern China

Cold Vortex From Mongolia Brings Typhoon-Like Winds Disrupts Life Across Northern China

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Northern China is bracing for a weekend of extreme weather, as a powerful cold vortex sweeping in from Mongolia unleashes typhoon-strength winds heavy snow, and hailstorms, causing widespread disruption. The system has forced major event cancellations, including a half marathon in Beijing suspended dozens of train services, and led officials to urge residents to stay indoors and avoid travel. The Chinese capital, home to over 22 million people, has issued its first orange gale alert in a decade, warning of wind gusts reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph). Temperatures in the city are expected to plummet by as much as 12°C, with forecasters suggesting wind speeds may set new April records. The storm’s impact stretches beyond Beijing. Inner Mongolia and parts of northeastern ...