climate action Archives - Disasters News

Feb212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Glaciers Lost 6.54 Trillion Tonnes of Ice Since 2000, Driving Sea-Level Rise

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Between 2000 and 2023, glaciers lost an estimated 273 billion tonnes of ice annually, making them the second-largest contributor to rising sea levels, according to a new study published in Nature. The total global ice loss during this period reached 6.54 trillion tonnes, raising sea levels by 18 millimeters (mm) and contributing 0.75 mm of sea-level rise per year. The study revealed that ice loss accelerated by 36% in the second half of the study period (2012-2023) compared to the first half. Recent years saw the most severe losses, with the 2019-2023 period witnessing annual ice loss exceeding 400 gigatonnes per year (Gt/yr), including a record 548 Gt/yr in 2023. “This underscores the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s call for urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions ...

Feb202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Gwadar School Tsunami Drill Teaches Life-Saving Skills, Inspires Community Preparedness

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Gwadar, Pakistan – The usual morning buzz at Government Girls High School Gwadar and Government Boys High School Gwadar Jadeed took on a new urgency as a loud siren pierced the air. On World Tsunami Awareness Day, over 300 students took part in a life-saving exercise a tsunami evacuation drill organized by UNESCO and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan. The drill aimed to prepare students for the rapid response needed during a tsunami. Eight-year-old Ayesha, clutching her backpack tightly, shared her newfound confidence: “I learned how to run to higher ground and help my friends. Now, I know what to do if there’s a tsunami.” Pakistan’s coastline, especially along the Makran Subduction Zone in the Arabian Sea, is highly vulnerable to tsunamis. The 1945 Makr...

Feb182025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Kenya Faces Food Insecurity Risks After USAid Famine Warning Network Shutdown

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Kenya’s food security is under threat following the shutdown of the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net) on January 30, 2025. For 40 years, this USAid-funded platform provided crucial data to predict and track food insecurity across nearly 30 countries in Africa, Central America, and Asia. Its abrupt closure has left a significant void in Kenya’s ability to anticipate and respond to food crises. Fews Net played a vital role in Kenya’s food security planning by collaborating with the National Drought Management Agency and the Kenya Food Security Steering Group. The platform offered forecasts for crop production, food insecurity assessments, and climate and conflict-based predictions for potential crises. These reports helped Kenya’s government and international partners priori...

Feb172025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Risk Index Shows Global Toll of Extreme Weather, Calls for Urgent Action

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The Climate Risk Index (CRI) highlights the devastating impact of climate-related extreme weather events on countries, ranking them based on the economic and human toll experienced. Using data from the EM-DAT international disaster database, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, the CRI measures fatalities, affected populations, injuries, and homelessness to assess countries' vulnerability. The countries most affected by extreme weather rank highest on the CRI, serving as a stark warning of their exposure to frequent or severe climate disasters. The CRI takes both absolute and relative impacts into account, creating a comprehensive ranking based on six indicators: economic losses and fatalities, along with absolute and relative numbers of affected people. It provides insi...

Feb172025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Cyclone Zelia Set to Hit Western Australia with Destructive Force

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is barreling toward Australia’s northwest coast and is expected to make landfall near Port Hedland early Friday evening. This powerful category five storm poses a significant threat to Western Australia’s coastline and inland regions, with the potential to cause widespread damage. Port Hedland, Australia’s busiest iron ore export port, is directly in Zelia’s path. Surrounding towns like Marble Bar, Tom Price, and Paraburdoo are also on high alert for strong winds and heavy rainfall. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warns that sustained winds of 205 km/h and gusts reaching 290 km/h could flatten homes, topple trees, and down power lines. Zelia’s strength underscores growing concerns about the increasing severity of tropical cyclones as global warming conti...

Feb152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Columbia University Launches Climate Finance Masters Program

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Columbia University’s Climate School has introduced a groundbreaking master’s degree in climate finance, the first of its kind in the U.S. The program, launching this fall, aims to equip professionals with financial and scientific expertise to address the challenges and opportunities of climate change and the global energy transition. Developed in partnership with Columbia Business School, the program will focus on a multidisciplinary approach to climate crisis solutions, covering topics like climate science, international finance, capital markets, and energy financing. Alexis Abramson, Dean of the Climate School, highlighted the need for collaborative problem-solving, emphasizing the importance of integrating finance with climate strategies to combat the global crisis. Costis Mag...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Group Escalates Legal Fight Against Shell to Netherlands’ Supreme Court

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Friends of the Earth Netherlands (FOE) is taking its legal battle against British multinational oil and gas company Shell to the Netherlands' Supreme Court. The environmental group is demanding that Shell adopt a clearly defined carbon reduction target, arguing that without a legally binding mandate, the company will not take meaningful steps to curb its emissions. The case follows the November 12, 2024 ruling by the Hague Court of Appeal in the Milieudefensie et al. vs. Royal Dutch Shell case. The court acknowledged Shell’s “special responsibility” as a major oil and gas producer to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but stopped short of imposing an “absolute reduction” obligation, such as the 45% cut by 2030 ordered by a lower court in 2021. The court also noted that current EU law does ...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Corruption Undermining Climate Action in Sub-Saharan Africa, Warns New Transparency Report

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new report by Transparency International, released on February 11, 2025, highlights the devastating impact of systemic corruption on climate action in sub-Saharan Africa. Titled 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index: Corruption is Playing a Devastating Role in the Climate Crisis, the report reveals how weak anti-corruption measures are hindering efforts to combat climate change. Sub-Saharan African nations urgently need substantial climate finance to implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) climate action plans submitted to the United Nations. However, misappropriation, theft, and misallocation of climate funds are threatening these efforts. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks 180 countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption on a sca...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate & Maternal Health Curtin Study Links Air Pollution to Prolonged Pregnancy

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments

New research from Curtin University reveals that exposure to outdoor air pollution and extreme temperatures during pregnancy may increase the risk of prolonged pregnancies, offering fresh insights into the effects of climate change on maternal health. The study, which analyzed nearly 400,000 births in Western Australia, found that higher exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) and biothermal stress a combination of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and human physiology was linked to pregnancies lasting beyond 41 weeks. Dr. Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu, the study’s lead author from Curtin’s School of Population Health, explained that while preterm births have been studied extensively, this is the first research to explore the impact of environmental factors on prolonged pregnan...

Feb122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Harvey Mudd College Launches Course Exploring STEM’s Role in Wildfire Mitigation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Harvey Mudd College has introduced a groundbreaking course designed to help STEM students critically analyze the societal impact of scientific and technological interventions. Developed as part of the college’s revised Core Curriculum in 2020, the course aims to address the long-standing challenge of ensuring students fully grasp the consequences of their work beyond technical proficiency. Taught by a team of eight instructors spanning disciplines such as biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, media studies, political science, religious studies, and science and technology studies, the course focuses on California wildfires. By examining the intersection of science, policy, and historical context, students explore how decisions in STEM fields shape real-world outcomes. One...