climate action Archives - Page 13 of 29

Mar62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Researchers Portable Lab Detect Dangerous Avian Flu in Antarctica

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Biosecurity efforts in remote regions have taken a major leap forward with the introduction of a portable laboratory capable of on-site testing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard announced the breakthrough following successful trials conducted by Biosecurity New Zealand during an expedition to Antarctica. The portable lab was tested aboard the icebreaker MV Argus, where researchers used it to locate, sample, and analyze potential HPAI H5N1 cases under extreme conditions. The development comes at a critical time, as the virus first detected in 2020 has spread globally and was confirmed on the Antarctic Peninsula in February 2024. Affected species include brown skuas, Adélie penguins, snowy sheathbills, and Antarctic fur seals. "T...

Mar52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Fuels Rising Urban Fire Risks Across 20 countries

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A new study published in Nature Cities has revealed that climate change is intensifying the threat of urban fires worldwide, with cities facing a significant rise in fire incidents if global temperatures continue to climb. Fire Risk Increases with Rising Temperatures Researchers analyzed fire data and maximum temperatures from over 2,800 cities across 20 countries, covering 20% of the global population. The study found that if global warming exceeds 4°C, the world could witness: 300,000 fire-related deaths and over a million injuries by 2100. A 22.2% rise in outdoor fires and an 11.6% increase in vehicle fires. A 3.3% increase in vehicle fires and a 6.9% rise in outdoor fires for every 1°C rise in temperature. Building fires, however, may decline by 4.6% due to better f...

Mar52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

California Billion Dollar Fisheries Face Collapse as Ocean Heats Up climate change

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

In a dire warning for California fishing industry according to study the state’s most valuable marine species are on the brink of collapse due to climate change. Rising ocean temperatures, acidification and habitat loss threaten Dungeness crab, Pacific herring and red abalone, endangering fisheries worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The study conducted by UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis, found that several key species could face severe declines by 2100, with some already in crisis: Dungeness crab – A $45 million industry at risk as warming waters disrupt their lifecycle. Red abalone – Once a $44 million recreational fishery, it has been shut down since 2018 due to ocean heatwaves. Pacific herring – Stocks in San Francisco Bay have collapsed by 75%, pushing fishers out of busin...

Mar52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Urban Expansion Drains 64.6 billion cubic Groundwater Reserves in Five Indian States

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

A groundbreaking hydrology model based study has established a direct link between rapid urbanisation and alarming decline in groundwater reserves across five Indian states. Published in the Hydrogeology Journal the research titled Detection and Socio-economic Attribution of Groundwater Depletion in India presents a stark warning about the scale of groundwater loss particularly in northern and northwestern India. According to the study led by Gautam Kunwar from the University of Texas Austin, India has lost approximately 64.6 billion cubic metres of groundwater over the past two decades. While irrigation remains a key driver of depletion, the study highlights that urbanisation and industrialisation are equally responsible for falling groundwater levels a factor that has often been overl...

Mar52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Antarctic Ice Melt Slows World Strongest Ocean Current Raising Climate Alarm

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) world's strongest ocean current now slowing down due to unchecked melting of the Antarctic ice sheet. This powerful current flows from west to east around Antarctica plays a crucial role in regulating global climate and ocean circulation. A team of researchers from the University of Melbourne analyzed high resolution ocean and sea ice simulations to assess how changing temperature, salinity and wind conditions are affecting ocean currents. Their findings published in Environmental Research Letters suggest that the influx of freshwater from melting ice is significantly weakening the ACC. Associate Professor Bishakhdatta Gayen said "The ocean is extremely complex and finely balanced, If this current ‘engine’ breaks down there could be severe cons...

Mar42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rapid Ocean Warming Triggers 240% Surge in Marine Heatwaves and Threatening Global Fisheries

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The world has witnessed an unprecedented surge in marine heatwaves (MHWs) over the past two years, with a staggering 240% increase in the number of MHW days during the summers of 2023-2024 compared to historical records. A recent study published in Nature Climate Change warns that nearly 10% of the world's oceans have recorded the highest sea surface temperatures (SSTs) ever observed four times higher than the historical annual average. The primary driver behind this alarming trend is human-induced climate change, which has been further amplified by El Niño a natural climate phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean known for warming sea surface temperatures and record-low global cloud cover. Escalating Ocean Heatwaves and Their Devastating Consequences Marine heatwaves occur when ocean tem...

Mar32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rajasthan Churu Leaving Farmers Devastated as Crops Destroyed in Thar Desert’s Unexpected Winter Scene

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The Churu district of Rajasthan known for its scorching temperatures and arid terrain witnessed an unusual hailstorm and heavy rainfall, transforming parts of the Great Indian Thar Desert into a surreal winter-like landscape. Villages such as Bhanipura, Bisarasar, Rajasar, and Sardarshahar were blanketed in hail, with farmers counting heavy losses as crops neared harvest. Hailstones, described as the size of jujubes, wreaked havoc on farmlands, devastating mustard, wheat, barley, isabgol, fenugreek, and gram crops. Vishnu Parikh, a farmer from Rajasar Panwaran, expressed his distress, stating, "Everything we worked for this season is gone in minutes. The damage is severe." Another farmer, Raj Kumar Sharma, called for immediate government relief and compensation, fearing an economic setb...

Mar32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

IMD Reports India Faces Hottest February in 125 Years

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Opinions

February 2025 has been the hottest in India since 1901, with the average mean temperature reaching 22.04°C, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The month also recorded the second-highest maximum temperature at 29.07°C, nearly 1.5°C above normal. Experts attribute this extreme heat to climate change and the absence of western disturbances. Unprecedented Heat and Rainfall Deficit The IMD report highlights that February 2025 was not only abnormally warm but also among the driest in 125 years. The country received less than half of its usual rainfall, with an overall deficit of 59% during the winter season (January-February). Central India was hit hardest, recording an 89.3% rainfall deficit, while Northwest India saw a 64.4% shortfall. The cumulative rainfa...

Mar12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Experts Warn of Rising Urban Heat and Extreme Weather at Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

At the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025, climate experts painted a grim picture of India's worsening extreme weather, highlighting urban heat, rising nighttime temperatures, and the growing impact of climate change on agriculture. Urban Heat and Warm Nights on the Rise In the session titled "In the Red: Why Are Our Cities Heating Up?", experts discussed how increasing urban heat islands and warm nights are endangering public health and livelihoods. Climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, explained that India is highly vulnerable to extreme weather due to its tropical location and rapidly warming oceans. “The Indian Ocean may enter a permanent heatwave state by 2050,” Koll warned, adding that oceanic heatwaves could increase from 20–50 ...

Mar12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Taranaki Drought Declared Medium-Scale Adverse Event as Farmers Struggle

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

New Zealand’s Taranaki region has been officially classified as experiencing a medium-scale adverse event due to persistent drought conditions, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. The extreme heat and lack of rainfall have severely impacted pasture growth, forcing many farmers to sell livestock early or rely on stored feed. "Conditions on the ground are becoming extremely difficult," McClay said. "Taranaki is experiencing persistent dry weather, and we recognize the toll this is taking on the farming community." In response, the government has allocated $30,000 to rural support groups providing direct aid to affected farmers. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is also monitoring conditions nationwide to determine if further intervention is needed. Rural Communities ...