Climate Actions Archives - Page 4 of 77

May302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Building Resilience: How Smarter Development Can Reduce Disaster Losses

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

On March 30, 2025, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar. Among the survivors was Ma Phyu Sin Win, who clutched a relief package filled with essentials food, medicine, hygiene supplies, and solar lamps. “Every little item helps,” she said, highlighting the harsh reality many face when disasters strike. Around the globe, disasters are growing more frequent and intense. From cyclones and floods to earthquakes, the impacts are devastating not just in the moment, but for months and years that follow. In 2024 alone, extreme weather caused 93% of all economic damage worldwide, totaling $320 billion. The road to recovery is long and often diverts critical resources away from education, health, and infrastructure. But disasters aren’t “natural” by default. They happen when natur...

May302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rethinking Disaster Preparedness: Why Behavioural Insights Matter

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

When disaster strikes, having early warnings and strong infrastructure saves lives. But often, even when people know the risks, they don’t act. Why? The answer lies in human behaviour. In March 2025, Myanmar was hit by a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake. Survivors like Ma Phyu Sin Win were grateful for emergency kits basic things like food, solar lamps, and hygiene products. “Every little item helps during this time,” she said. But the damage went far beyond broken buildings. Around 1.6 million structures were exposed to intense shaking, many not built to survive it. Disasters like this are becoming more frequent and more destructive. In 2024 alone, extreme weather caused $320 billion in economic losses. But the real damage continues long after the floodwaters recede or the ground st...

May302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Warming world: 80% chance next five years break heat records

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Europe and the world are heading toward uncharted climate territory. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns there's now an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will break 2024’s record as the warmest year ever. Even more striking: there’s an 86% chance that at least one of those years will temporarily cross the critical 1.5°C warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement. While these temperature spikes may be short-lived, they’re still troubling. The latest WMO update, produced by the UK’s Met Office, forecasts a 70% chance that the 5-year average from 2025–2029 will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels a sharp jump from 47% last year. The report stresses that every fraction of a degree matters, pushing the planet closer to climate tipping points. The Arc...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Flash Floods Shock Drought-Prone Latur Amid Monsoon Onset, IMD Forecasts Under Scrutiny

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The drought-hit city of Latur in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region has been left reeling after a sudden bout of extreme rainfall led to flash floods on May 27, 2025. Independent reports, including from All India Radio and the Press Trust of India, point to cloudburst-like conditions that caught residents and authorities off guard. This severe weather event comes despite the India Meteorological Department (IMD) not issuing specific warnings for heavy rain in Latur or surrounding Marathwada districts in its regular regional bulletins. While the IMD’s Mumbai centre had predicted thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds for May 27, it did not flag extreme rainfall for Latur. The only relevant mention was a general note in the national press release that said “isolated heavy rainfall likely...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mumbai Breaks Rainfall Records, Scientists Demand Better Early Warning for Extreme Rains

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Mumbai is witnessing a monsoon like never before. On May 26, the southwest monsoon arrived in the city a staggering 16 days ahead of its usual date, setting a new record for the earliest-ever onset in the financial capital. What followed was relentless rain that brought the city to a halt and shattered century-old records. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai City (Colaba observatory) received 456.5 mm of rain and the Suburbs (Santacruz observatory) 342 mm between May 1 and May 27. This makes May 2025 the wettest May ever recorded in Mumbai, breaking the previous record of 280 mm set in 1918. The most dramatic rainfall occurred in just two days. From 8:30 am on May 25 to 8:30 am on May 26, Colaba received 135.4 mm of rain a 67,600% excess over the average of...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Global temperatures likely to stay near record highs till 2029: WMO warns of 1.5°C breach risk

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Arctic warming at over three times the global rate; chances of surpassing Paris Agreement threshold reach 86% Global temperatures are expected to hover near record highs over the next five years, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) latest Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update, released May 28, 2025. The findings raise serious alarms about the planet approaching irreversible climate thresholds, particularly with the Arctic heating up at more than three times the global average. Near-term warming trends Between 2025 and 2029, the global average near-surface temperature is projected to range between 1.2°C and 1.9°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900 baseline). Critically, the WMO report notes an 86% probability that at least one year in this period will b...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Texas A&M Researchers Pioneer New Method to Predict Submarine Landslides Threatening Offshore Infrastructure

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments

Beneath the vast network of offshore wind farms, oil rigs, and other marine energy installations lies a complex web of underwater infrastructure pipelines, cables, risers, and anchors that plays a critical role in supporting energy operations. Yet these subsea structures are increasingly threatened by natural events like submarine landslides, which can severely disrupt or destroy vital offshore systems. Now, a team of researchers from Texas A&M University has developed a cutting-edge approach that could revolutionize the way engineers predict underwater landslides. By applying a structured sequence of site characterization and leveraging advanced statistical modeling, the method allows for more accurate forecasts of these geohazards, potentially safeguarding billions in offshore inf...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Dust Storm Blankets Sydney, Triggered by Drought in South Australia

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A thick layer of dust unexpectedly settled over Sydney on Tuesday morning, following a week of heavy rainfall. The sudden haze was the result of a powerful dust storm that began in South Australia's Mid-North region on Monday, highlighting how climate and land conditions in one part of the country can impact regions hundreds of kilometers away. The dust storm formed east of Spencer Gulf around 11am and traveled across western Victoria into New South Wales, reaching Sydney approximately 18 hours later. The event was sparked by a strong cold front passing through drought-stricken areas of South Australia, where dry, exposed soils provided ideal conditions for dust to be picked up and carried long distances. While dust storms are more typical in late spring or early summer, this autumn ...

May282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mangrove Forests Over 500 Metres Wide Proven to Cut Wave Energy by 75%, Prompting Policy Rethink

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

A global study based on more than 216,000 simulations has found that mangrove forests wider than 500 metres offer far more effective coastal protection than previously assumed. The research, led by the Deltares institute, shows that these broad mangrove belts reduce incoming wave heights by at least 70% regardless of wave intensity, water levels, or local conditions. Using the SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore) model, researchers analyzed 15,773 coastal locations worldwide with mangrove cover. From this dataset, 1,000 representative situations were selected to simulate wave reduction performance under a variety of environmental conditions. The results produced tens of millions of data points and highlighted a clear trend: wider mangroves are consistently more effective at weakening wave ...

May282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Trees in Niger’s Schoolyards Offer Shade, Food, and Climate Education

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments

In the scorching cities of Niamey and Maradi, Niger's two largest urban centers, schoolyards are becoming unexpected green sanctuaries. A recent study of 60 schools has revealed that trees in school compounds are not only cooling overheated classrooms but also serving as tools for education, sources of nutrition, and symbols of resilience in the face of climate change. With rising temperatures and frequent heatwaves across the Sahel region, where temperatures often exceed 45°C, the importance of urban forestry is gaining new recognition. Trees in schoolyards play a critical role in reducing heat stress, creating shaded outdoor learning environments, and improving air quality. In overcrowded or under-resourced schools, these shaded spaces often double as open-air classrooms, offering a c...