Environment Archives - Page 18 of 45

Feb122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Tanzania Farmers Abandoned: How US Aid Cuts Are Turning Hope into Hunger Amid Climate Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Asha Omary, a 38-year-old farmer in Tanzania’s Kiroka village, faces a grim reality. Her once-thriving rice fields are now stunted, with yellowing leaves and dry soil. For five years, USAID-supported programs taught her how to grow more rice with less water and reduce soil erosion. But this year, the support vanished. “We had help for years,” Omary said. “Now we are alone.” Her husband, Juma, takes odd jobs to make ends meet. Without expert advice, pests and weeds overrun her fields, and vital terracing techniques are deteriorating. Omary and her fellow farmers have seen their hopes dim as US climate aid ended without notice. These programs were lifelines for many Tanzanian farmers battling erratic rainfall and rising temperatures. Farmers were taught sustainable practices, like the ...

Feb112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Explores Climate Adaptation Strategies Among African Mountain Farmers

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A recent study examining climate adaptation in African mountain regions has shed light on how farmers perceive and respond to climate change. Researchers interviewed 1,500 farmers across ten mountain regions, uncovering both shared and region-specific adaptation strategies. Mountain communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change, yet little is known about their adaptation responses. This study aimed to determine whether farmers are making incremental adjustments such as modifying existing practices or engaging in transformational changes that fundamentally reshape their livelihoods. Findings revealed that farmers across all study sites recognize multiple climate-related challenges, with the most common responses being intensified farming practices and reliance on off-farm ...

Feb112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Freetown Share Africa First Heat Action Plan to Combat Rising Temperatures

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, has taken a groundbreaking step in climate adaptation by launching Africa’s first Heat Action Plan (HAP) to tackle the growing threat of extreme heat. The initiative was unveiled during the first-ever African Urban Heat Summit on February 6, 2025, organized by Freetown’s city government and Climate Resilience for All (CRA), a global climate adaptation NGO. The summit brought together African mayors, policymakers, and climate experts to discuss urban heat resilience. Sierra Leone’s Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr introduced the HAP, emphasizing its importance in protecting vulnerable communities from rising temperatures. “Extreme heat is disrupting lives, straining healthcare systems, and threatening economic st...

Feb112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Record January Heat Shows La Niña Struggling to Cool a Warming World

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

January 2025 has shattered temperature records, marking the hottest start to a year ever recorded 1.7°C above pre-industrial levels. Many climate watchers expected a cooling effect due to the natural La Niña phenomenon, but global warming appears to be overpowering it. Scientists now warn that human-driven ocean warming is beginning to overwhelm natural climate patterns, making temporary cooling phases like La Niña less effective. La Niña is part of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate pattern that influences global temperatures by shifting ocean heat between basins. While El Niño causes warming, La Niña typically brings cooler global temperatures by shifting heat away from the eastern Pacific. Historically, La Niña has helped suppress temperature spikes, but this year, ev...

Feb102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

LA Schools Face Tough Road to Recovery After Wildfires

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

As Los Angeles County students return to school after devastating wildfires, the focus is on more than just rebuilding classrooms. With over 1,000 schools closed and 600,000 students affected, the impact extends beyond lost buildings it disrupts learning, mental well-being, and the stability schools provide. Learning Loss and Emotional Recovery Past disasters show that pushing students back into classrooms too quickly can be counterproductive. Florida reopened most schools just a week after Hurricane Ian in 2022, but experts suggest emotional healing must come before academic recovery. Following Hurricane Helene in 2024, North Carolina sent over 260 counselors to support affected students. Schools integrated recovery into lessons science teachers used water testing kits to analyze...

Feb102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate-Driven Wildfires Could Reshape Global Emissions Accounting: UN Expert

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Opinions

The growing impact of climate-driven wildfires is forcing a rethink in how greenhouse gas inventories calculate emissions, says Minal Pathak, an associate professor at Ahmedabad University and co-author of the United Nations Emissions Gap Report. For the first time, the 2024 report has included wildfire emissions, highlighting the complexities of accounting for these fires in global climate data. Pathak explains that wildfires are categorized as either natural or anthropogenic, with the latter resulting from activities like agricultural burning. While CO₂ from fires is often considered carbon neutral since forests can regrow and reabsorb emissions climate change is altering this balance, making it harder to predict how forests recover and store carbon. Recent wildfires in Los Angeles...

Feb102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Threatens Mediterranean Fisheries With 41% Drop in River Flow

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A new study by European scientists warns that freshwater flowing through rivers into the Mediterranean Sea could decline by as much as 41% due to climate change. The research, published on February 3, 2025, outlines a worst-case scenario in which global temperatures rise by 4°C above pre-industrial levels, drastically altering coastal ecosystems and threatening the region’s fisheries. The decrease in river flow would reduce freshwater and nutrient inputs, leading to lower primary productivity in the Mediterranean’s marine ecosystem. This would have cascading effects on the food chain, ultimately impacting commercially valuable seafood species. "The results show that 41% less river flow could slash marine productivity by 10% and fish biomass by 6% in the Mediterranean, leading to annu...

Feb82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Megadroughts Expanding Globally as Climate Warms, New Study Finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A groundbreaking study published in Science has revealed that megadroughts severe, long-lasting dry spells have been increasing in size, duration, and intensity over the past four decades. Researchers found that the total land area affected by multiyear droughts has expanded by 50,000 square kilometers (12 million acres) annually, signaling an alarming trend driven by climate change. A Comprehensive Global Drought Catalog For the first time, scientists have compiled a global catalog of long-term drought events since 1980, assessing their effects on vegetation and ranking their severity. The research, led by Liangzhi Chen of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, identified 13,176 individual droughts lasting longer than two years between 1980 and 201...

Feb82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Crisis hits African Mountains Harder than Expected

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments

A new study from the University of York reveals that climate change is impacting mountain communities in equatorial Africa far more severely than previously thought, demanding urgent adaptation measures. Researchers interviewed 1,500 smallholder farmers across ten mountain regions in eight countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda and found widespread reports of rising temperatures, declining rainfall, increased extreme weather, and unpredictable seasons. These shifts are disrupting agriculture, reducing crop yields, and worsening food security for millions. Communities are adapting by changing farming methods, diversifying livelihoods, and improving water and soil management, but responses vary significantly across regions. Experts stress that a one-size-fits-all appro...

Feb82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Winter Chill to Deepen in Delhi-NCR as IMD Predicts Rain and Fog Across North India

Breaking News, Environment, Opinions

The winter cold is set to tighten its grip over Delhi-NCR, with temperatures expected to drop further in the coming days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Chilly northern winds are making a comeback, keeping daytime and nighttime temperatures low. Meanwhile, several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, are on alert for rain and dense fog, which could further impact visibility and travel conditions. On Wednesday, northern states enjoyed bright sunshine, but the persistent chill in the air ensured that winter conditions remained. However, the weather is expected to fluctuate, with cloudy spells and occasional temperature rises in the coming days. Thick Fog Set to Cover Delhi & Uttar Pradesh IMD forecasts that Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will ...