Fact Check Archives - Page 10 of 13

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Finds Dust Storms Cost US $154B Annually Impacting Healthcare

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new study in Nature Sustainability reveals that wind erosion and blowing dust cost the U.S. economy around $154 billion each year, impacting healthcare, transportation, agriculture, energy, and households. Conducted by researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), George Mason University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the study highlights the growing societal burden of dust storms, which are worsened by human land use, drought, and declining water resources. Thomas Gill, Ph.D., a UTEP earth sciences professor, emphasized the significance of these findings. "Blowing dust is a major expense and creates great societal harm," he said, comparing its costs to those of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Healthcare costs make up a significant portion of the tot...

Feb112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Without FEMA Disaster Recovery Could Crumble, Are States Ready to Go It Alone?

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

ruins and millions in urgent need of aid. In such a crisis, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would typically deploy supplies, financial relief, and emergency assistance within hours. But what if FEMA no longer existed, and states had to handle disasters alone? With former President Donald Trump questioning FEMA’s future and proposing that states take over disaster recovery efforts, the debate over disaster management is more relevant than ever. Climate change is driving more frequent and severe catastrophes, raising concerns about whether states could cope without federal assistance. Role of FEMA in Disaster Relief FEMA was established in 1979 to coordinate national disaster response efforts, but the federal government has been involved in relief efforts since the 18...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Los Angeles Fires Leave Lasting Impact on Health, Environment, and Community

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

The flames may have died down, but the aftermath of Los Angeles’ devastating wildfires continues to affect public health, the environment, and daily life. Experts at a recent UCLA Fielding School of Public Health event warned that the city is facing an epochal disaster that has transformed air, soil, and institutions. Air Quality and Health Risks Even miles away from the burn zones, smoke and toxic particles have impacted the air. PM2.5 fine particulate matter from wildfires can lodge deep in the lungs, causing heart and respiratory issues, said Yifang Zhu, a professor of environmental health sciences. Even when air looks clear, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may linger, making exposure dangerous. Michael Jerrett, an expert in climate and public health, highlighted the severe h...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Public Investment in Climate Finance & Care Services Essential for Adaptation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Climate finance plays a crucial role in addressing climate change, but one often-overlooked sector is care services the work of caring for people, both paid and unpaid, largely performed by women. As climate change intensifies, caregiving demands rise, yet infrastructure and resources remain inadequate. Why Care Services Matter in Climate Adaptation Extreme heat, floods, wildfires, and storms disproportionately impact vulnerable groups like young children and the elderly, increasing the need for healthcare, childcare, and elder care. However, most disaster preparedness plans fail to prioritize care services, leaving caregivers especially in urban informal settlements struggling with limited access to clean water, energy, and healthcare. Despite the growing urgency, climate finance...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Hidden Risk Behind Earthquake Destruction: How Migration Shapes Disaster Impact

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new study has uncovered a hidden factor behind the devastating impact of earthquakes in suburban areas migration. Researchers at the University of Washington found that workers moving from rural regions to city outskirts often live in low-quality housing, making them more vulnerable to destruction when a major quake strikes. The study, published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, analyzed the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan, which killed over 2,400 people. Surprisingly, the most severe damage was not in city centers but in suburban areas where migrants had settled. Similar patterns were observed in past earthquakes in China, Chile, and Nepal. Lead researcher Tzu-Hsin Karen Chen explained that many migrants do not officially update their residence, leading to underestim...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Advances Biomedical Research with Key Facilities and Partnerships

Breaking News, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

India has taken a significant step forward in biomedical research with the inauguration of its first-ever Ferret Research Facility, the launch of the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository, and a pivotal technology transfer agreement, all aimed at strengthening its role in global health security and advancing research in maternal and child health. The groundbreaking event, held on February 3, 2025, at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, Haryana, was led by Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Director General of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) and Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). First Ferret Research Facility: Boosting Disease Research The newly inaugurated THSTI Ferret Research Facility marks a significant milesto...

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

A vast majority of earthquakes occur within the infamous Ring of Fire, a seismic hotspot encircling the Pacific Ocean. Yet, when these earthquakes strike, the areas that experience the most intense shaking aren’t always the ones that suffer the worst destruction. Recent research has uncovered a hidden factor contributing to earthquake devastation: migration patterns and housing vulnerabilities. The 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake Case Study Taiwan’s catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999, which claimed over 2,400 lives, presented an unexpected pattern of destruction. Contrary to expectations, the worst damage was not in the bustling city centers but in the suburbs and outer regions. Similar trends have been observed in earthquakes that hit China, Chile, and Nepal, raising questions about wh...

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Jujube Trees Offer Hope Amid Conflict and Climate Struggles in Afghanistan

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

In Afghanistan’s war-torn Nangarhar province, a simple but powerful solution is transforming lives: the jujube tree. As conflict, poverty, and climate change converge, afforestation efforts are providing both environmental protection and economic opportunities for displaced communities. Nestled along the Pakistan border, Nangarhar has long been a hotspot for violence and migration. Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees struggle with poverty, lack of resources, and increasingly extreme weather. Flash floods regularly devastate homes and farmland. “Every year, the floods come, destroying everything,” says Abdul Aziz, a resident of the Samar Khail Araban camp. Seeking a solution, local communities turned to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Th...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Budget 2025 India Ambitious 100 GW Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a bold new ‘Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat’, setting an ambitious target of 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 as part of India's clean energy transition. To accelerate growth, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be introduced, enabling greater private sector participation. A major highlight of the initiative is a ₹20,000 crore R&D mission for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with at least five indigenous SMRs expected to be operational by 2033. Former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr. Anil Kakodkar welcomed the move, calling it a “clear realization” of nuclear energy’s role in achieving Net Zero emissions. India currently has an 8,180 MW installed nuclear capacity, with 24 ...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Green Banks Coalition Collapses as Major US Lenders Exit Net Zero Alliance

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), a key UN-backed coalition of financial institutions committed to climate-friendly investments, has suffered a major setback with the withdrawal of six of the largest American banks. With JP Morgan becoming the latest to exit, only three smaller US banks remain in the alliance. This mass departure underscores the growing tension between climate goals and political resistance in the US financial sector. NZBA: A Climate Commitment Now in Question The NZBA, launched ahead of COP26 in 2021, is a global network of banks pledged to align their financing with net-zero emissions targets by 2050. With 136 members across 44 countries managing assets worth $57 trillion, the alliance was meant to be a major driver of climate-conscious banking. However, its ef...