Climate Actions Archives - Page 69 of 78

Jul122024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

FEMA Adopts New Rule to Improve Flood Resilience by Redefining Floodplain Standards Amid Rising Climate Change Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Washington, D.C. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced a significant policy change aimed at enhancing community resilience to flooding by redefining the floodplain standards it uses to determine safe building locations. This move follows an executive order from President Joe Biden, compelling government agencies to incorporate climate change impacts into their flood risk assessments. Historically, FEMA and other federal agencies have defined a floodplain based on an area having a 1 percent chance of flooding in any given year, known as the 100-year floodplain standard. However, this standard has proved insufficient, as floods frequently submerge buildings outside these designated zones. The new rule requires FEMA to factor in the effects of climate change, such ...

Jul92024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Source of Chemical Pollution Found in Electric Vehicle Batteries: Study Claims

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Scientists have uncovered a new source of hazardous "forever chemical" pollution: the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries found in most electric vehicles (EVs). This discovery highlights a significant trade-off in the transition to cleaner energy solutions, as the drive to reduce carbon emissions inadvertently introduces other environmental and health risks. Role of PFAS in Lithium-Ion Batteries Certain lithium-ion battery technologies use a class of PFAS chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which help make batteries less flammable and more efficient at conducting electricity. These PFAS chemicals, specifically bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs), have been found in various environmental samples near plants manufacturing these chemicals in the US, Belgium, ...

Jul82024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Future of Our Climate Shifting Zones and Increasing Extremes

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Extreme weather events, including storms, floods, fires, droughts, cold snaps, and heat waves, are hitting us harder and more frequently than ever. By the end of the century, more than half of our planet is predicted to shift into new climate zones. A new interactive map, The Future Urban Climates, allows you to explore how your home’s climate will be impacted. Using data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), University of Maryland spatial ecologist Matthew Fitzpatrick has matched 40,581 places around the globe to nearby locations currently experiencing their future predicted climate in 2080. For instance, a trip to northern Mississippi today would give you an idea of the climate New York City is expected to experience by 2080. However, under a low emissions scenari...

Jul82024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Assam Floods Perennial Flood Crisis and government initiative and Projects Mitigation Efforts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Guwahati, Assam: Last year in October, after flood waters had receded in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced 54 projects aimed at mitigating the effects of swelling rivers. These initiatives, he had asserted, “would bring us close to a flood-free Assam.” Yet, as the monsoon season of 2023 unfolded, the state government finds itself struggling to protect lives and properties from the fury of the floods. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), floods have claimed over 50 lives and displaced 360,000 people this year. More than 40,000 hectares of crop area have been affected, with significant portions of Dibrugarh and Guwahati submerged. Chief Minister Sarma has recently expressed despair, attributing the floods to “geographical factors beyond the...

Jul72024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heavy Rainfall Brings Relief and Flooding: IMD Warns of More Rain in July

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Heavy rainfall across large parts of India has compensated for the June deficit, bringing the overall monsoon precipitation into the surplus category. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), more spells of heavy to very heavy rain are likely over northwest India and the western parts of peninsular India during the next two to three days and over the northeast during the next five days. India, the world's top producer of critical crops such as rice, wheat, and sugarcane, logged a rainfall deficit of 11 percent in June, with northwest India recording a shortfall of 33 percent. However, heavy rain in the first week of July has compensated for the shortfall but has also caused flooding in many northeastern states. Since the four-month monsoon season began on June 1, the c...

Jun282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Tool Developed by University of Hawai Scientists Enhances Long-Term Forecasting of El Niño Events

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Tech

As severe weather events draw increasing global attention, scientists at the University of Hawai at Mānoa are making strides in improving the forecasting of droughts, floods, and other climate scenarios. Researchers from the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) have developed a novel tool that allows for the prediction of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events up to 18 months in advance. The research, which integrates insights into the physics of the ocean and atmosphere with predictive accuracy, was recently published in the prestigious journal Nature. "We have developed a new conceptual model - the so-called extended nonlinear recharge oscillator (XRO) model - that significantly improves predictive skill of ENSO events over one year in advance, better than g...

Jun262024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

NASA Highlights Alarming Changes in Oceans Due to Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Greenhouse gases affect the Earth's water body, as NASA visualizes the ocean. Taking to Instagram, he shared a visualization showing sea level flux based on NASA's Climate Change, Assessment of Ocean Circulation and Climate, Phase II Model (ECCO2). In the paper, the space agency wrote that human emissions are changing the oceans. "Our oceans are changing," the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said in a statement. "Covering 70% of the planet's surface, the ocean is an important driver of the Earth's global climate. However, increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are changing the ocean before our eyes. NASA and its partners want to learn more," said NASA further. Also, detailing the visualization, NASA says that the different colors represent the ave...

Jun252024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Building Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty: IDA’s Role in Mitigating Global Disasters and Enhancing Preparedness

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

Over 400 natural disasters occur worldwide each year, placing millions of people at risk, particularly those living in countries supported by the International Development Association (IDA). In 2023, these disasters resulted in a staggering $250 billion loss and claimed 74,000 lives globally. Severe regional storms were responsible for 76% of the economic losses. Furthermore, the looming threat of climate change is expected to trigger even more destructive weather events in coastal regions worldwide, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Disasters can be natural (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods) or human-made (e.g., war, climate change, accidents). The Oxford English Dictionary defines a disaster as "An event or occurrence of a ruinous or very distressing nature; a...

Jun252024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Informing Multi-Hazard Risks for Decision Makers in Moldova’s Agriculture Sector

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Moldova's economy, comprising nearly 74% of its territory and being the primary livelihood for 70% of the rural population. However, the sector faces significant threats from prolonged droughts and climate change, particularly in regions like Anenii Noi known for their fertile chernozem soils. These conditions can degrade soil health, reduce crop yields, and increase food prices, illustrating the cascading effects on food security and the economy. IMPACT, in collaboration with the STRIVE Consortium (comprising Acted, Libraries Without Borders, and REACH), and funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), conducted an ABRA to understand and mitigate these risks. The assessment utilized geospatial data to identify natural hazards and social vulnera...

Jun232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Approves New Inter-State Transmission System to Boost Renewable Energy Evacuation from Rajasthan and Karnataka

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

In a significant move to bolster its renewable energy infrastructure, the Government of India has greenlit the implementation of a new Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) designed to evacuate a substantial 9 GW of electricity from the states of Rajasthan and Karnataka. This ambitious project, which falls under the Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) regime, is a crucial part of India's overarching goal to establish 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with 200 GW already operational. The approved scheme aims to enhance the country's renewable energy capabilities by facilitating the efficient transfer of power from areas rich in renewable resources to regions with high demand. The initiative underscores India's commitment to sustainable development and its efforts to mitig...