Climate Actions Archives - Page 49 of 77

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UNICEF Report Warns of Alarming Malnutrition Crisis Among Infants in Eastern, Southern Africa

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

A new UNICEF report revealed a severe undernutrition crisis affecting 5.5 million infants under six months in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR). The study highlights how widespread low birth weight, stunting, wasting, and underweight conditions are putting the youngest members of society at risk, with urgent calls for stronger policy interventions and healthcare improvements. Conducted by UNICEF’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), the study examined the state of infant nutrition in five high-risk countries Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, and Malawi. The findings paint a dire picture, with 1.6 million infants suffering from stunting, 0.6 million classified as wasted, 0.8 million underweight, and 2.5 million born with low birth weight. However, experts...

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mira Bhayandar Unveils Climate Action Plan to Achieve Net-Zero by 2047

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Mira Bhayandar, a fast-growing satellite city of Greater Mumbai, has launched an ambitious Climate Action Plan aiming for net-zero emissions by 2047. This makes it the fifth city in Maharashtra after Mumbai, Sholapur, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar to develop a strategic roadmap for climate resilience. The Mira Bhayandar City Climate Action Plan 2024-2047, prepared jointly by the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India and the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), was unveiled in Mumbai on January 29. It sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 36%, focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency in buildings, and improved waste management. Rising Urbanization and Emissions Mira Bhayandar has seen a 50% increase in built-up areas since 2005, with urban ...

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Pacific Islands Turn to Innovative Insurance for Climate Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Each November, Pacific communities brace for the annual cyclone season a six-month period that tests their resilience against extreme weather. For many Pacific Islanders, cyclones and floods are more than just natural disasters; they are stark reminders of a changing climate that continues to threaten lives and livelihoods. Ironically, the people least responsible for global emissions face the harshest consequences. Extreme weather events not only destroy homes and infrastructure but also push entire communities into poverty, stretching already debt-ridden governments to their limits. Yet, amid these challenges, the Pacific's renowned resilience shines through. A Region No Stranger to Disaster The Pacific has witnessed some of the most devastating tropical cyclones in history. In ...

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Flooding After Wildfires LA Faces Growing Risk Amid Climate Change

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

In the aftermath of devastating urban wildfires, a rainstorm might seem like a welcome relief. However, fire-scorched landscapes are highly vulnerable to floods, which can bring further destruction. Los Angeles has experienced this repeatedly, from the 1933 Griffith Park Fire to the 2009 Station Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains and the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu. Mitul Luhar, an expert in fluid dynamics and associate professor of aerospace, mechanical, civil, and environmental engineering at USC, is studying these risks. At the City of Los Angeles's Hydraulic Research Laboratory in Frogtown, Luhar and his team have developed a 1:120 scale hydraulic model of a section of the L.A. River to simulate flood scenarios. Luhar explains why floods often follow wildfires and what engineers c...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Centre Approves ₹3,027 Crore for Disaster Mitigation Projects

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Fact Check

New Delhi: The Union Government has approved ₹3,027.86 crore for disaster mitigation projects across multiple states, focusing on drought resilience and lightning safety. The decision was made by a high-level committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and comprising Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and NITI Aayog Vice Chairman. Major Allocations of ₹2,022.16 crore for drought mitigation in 12 most drought-prone states are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. ₹186.78 crore for lightning safety measures in 10 state are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh,...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

How Schools Can Stay Open Amid Disasters: Six Key Strategies

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

Children are often the first to suffer when disasters strike, facing serious threats to their safety, health, and education. According to UNICEF, nearly a billion children worldwide live in countries classified as “extremely high risk” due to climate change. In 2024 alone, over 242 million students experienced school disruptions due to climate-related hazards, with floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes damaging thousands of schools globally. Between 2015 and 2021, data from the Sendai Framework Monitor recorded more than half a million schools being either destroyed or severely impacted. Schools play a critical role in disaster response, often doubling as emergency shelters and community centers, providing safety and continuity in education. Beyond this, they also serve as spaces for disa...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Why Some Communities Resist Climate Relocation Despite Rising Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Cecilia has lived in Carahatas, a coastal village in Cuba, her entire life. Even as scientists predict that parts of her hometown may be underwater within 50 years due to rising sea levels, she refuses to leave. Like many locals, she believes her community can cope with climate change and flooding, despite government plans to gradually relocate residents to higher ground. Carahatas is not alone. Across the world, communities face increasingly extreme weather events, including droughts, heat waves, landslides, floods, hurricanes, and tropical storms. While governments and experts often propose relocation as a solution, many people refuse to move. Why do they stay despite the risks? A recent study led by Université de Montréal architecture professor Gonzalo Lizarralde sheds light on th...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Why Disaster Evacuations Take Longer Than Expected & How Technology Can Help

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

When a wildfire evacuation alert flashes on your phone, panic can set in. You might not see smoke, but the message tells you to grab your "go bag" and leave. As you scramble to gather documents, medications, and essentials, another message arrives this time urging immediate evacuation. Outside, chaos unfolds. Some neighbors are still packing, while others hesitate, unsure of what to do. Traffic clogs the streets, and a plume of black smoke rises in the distance. This frantic scenario highlights a major challenge in disaster evacuations: they often take much longer than people expect, increasing risks for evacuees and emergency responders. Researchers are now turning to computer simulations to predict where evacuation delays will occur and how to prevent them. Confusion and delays ...

Jan292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Kilauea Volcano Erupts Again, Offering Spectacular Displays at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has erupted once more, marking its seventh episode in a series of recent volcanic activities. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirmed that this latest eruption began with minor spattering before escalating to sustained lava fountaining on Monday, captivating visitors with its fiery spectacle. Lava fountains have reached heights of 100 to 120 feet (30 to 40 meters) on the volcano’s northern side, while smaller flows have been observed to the south. This episode is part of a pattern of eruptions since December 23, with each phase lasting between 13 hours and eight days, interspersed with pauses ranging from less than a day to nearly two weeks. The current activity is expected to persist for 10 to 20 hours. Situated within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, ...

Jan292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

SA Hosts Global Forum to Propel Circular Economy and Sustainable Waste Management

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

South Africa took center stage in advancing environmental sustainability by hosting the 7th Global Forum of Cities for Circular Economy (GFCCE) workshop. The event, organized by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment, convened in Johannesburg to champion sustainable waste management practices across Africa. The two-day forum welcomed participants from 18 African nations, including Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, focusing on enhancing South-South cooperation. With urbanization and environmental degradation posing challenges to the continent, the workshop aimed to build the capacity of officials and foster the adoption of circular economy principles. Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and t...