Climate Actions Archives - Page 50 of 78

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Bhutan Bold Move Weather, Climate Overhaul for a Resilient Future

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

In the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutan a nation renowned for pioneering Gross National Happiness faces an escalating battle against climate-induced disasters. Yet, within this challenge lies a transformative opportunity to revolutionize its approach to weather, water, climate, and early warning services. The urgency is clear. In August, a flash flood, intensified by upstream landslides, devastated 70 households in Thimphu. A year earlier, another flash flood claimed 23 lives and severely damaged the Yungichhu hydropower project construction site. In 2021, extreme rainfall affected 2,500 acres of farmland across 18 Dzongkhags, destroying 2,400 metric tons of crops. Bhutan’s vulnerability is undeniable: the country hosts 700 glaciers and 567 glacial lakes, with 17 classified as high-risk f...

Feb12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Economic Survey Flags Climate Finance Gap, Stresses Urgent Adaptation Needs

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks

The Economic Survey 2024-25, released on January 31, highlights India's urgent need for climate adaptation measures while criticizing the lack of international climate finance. The report warns that reliance on domestic resources could hinder development goals. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is formulating a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to align with sustainable development and climate resilience strategies. Meanwhile, the Initial Adaptation Communication (IAC) submitted to the UNFCCC outlines India’s vulnerability assessment and adaptation efforts across key sectors. In agriculture, India is focusing on climate-resilient crops, groundwater conservation, and soil health. Urban adaptation measures include improved water management under AMRUT, verti...

Feb12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Bhutan Bolsters Climate Resilience with Advanced Hydromet Services

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutan a nation renowned for pioneering Gross National Happiness faces growing threats from climate-induced disasters. Yet, within this challenge lies an opportunity to revolutionize its approach to weather, water, and early warning systems. Recent climate events highlight the urgency. A flash flood in August, intensified by upstream landslides, affected 70 households in Thimphu. In 2023, another flood claimed 23 lives and damaged the Yungichhu hydropower project. Severe rainfall in 2021 destroyed 2,400 metric tons of crops across 18 Dzongkhags. With 700 glaciers and 567 glacial lakes 17 posing high GLOF risks Bhutan’s vulnerability is evident, particularly for its agriculture-dependent workforce. For a decade, Bhutan’s National Centre for Hydro...

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...