Sunday, February 23News That Matters

Tag: climate action

Germany Achieves Lowest CO2 Emissions Since 1950s to sustaining decline requires the major Policy Shifts

Germany Achieves Lowest CO2 Emissions Since 1950s to sustaining decline requires the major Policy Shifts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations
Germany witnessed a significant drop in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2023, reaching levels not seen since the 1950s, attributed to reduced coal-fired power usage and decreased output by energy-intensive industries. However, a recent study by the Berlin-based Agora Energiewende think tank highlights that this decline is unsustainable without crucial changes in climate policies. Germany has set ambitious climate goals, aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990, with a broader target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. According to the study, CO2 emissions in Germany for the year 2023 reached 673 million tonnes, the lowest since the 1950s, representing a 46% decrease from 1990 levels. This surpassed the government's 2023 climate goal of 722 m...
Solutions for Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene:  A strategic blueprint for environmental resilience and empowerment

Solutions for Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene: A strategic blueprint for environmental resilience and empowerment

Breaking News, Environment, Thoughts & Talks
Circular economy is an economic model designed to minimize waste and make the most of resources by promoting sustainability and longevity in product life cycles. In a traditional linear economy, goods are produced, used, and then discarded as waste. In contrast, a circular economy aims to close the loop, emphasizing the continual use, refurbishment, and recycling of products to extend their lifespan and reduce environmental impact. This approach encourages the design of products with recyclability in mind, efficient waste management, and the development of sustainable business practices. By shifting from the linear "take, make, dispose" model to a circular one, the goal is to create a more resilient and regenerative system that fosters environmental stewardship and economic prosperity. ...
India successfully Launched XPoSAT to Explore the Mystery of Black Holes: Understand the Facts about Satellite Launch

India successfully Launched XPoSAT to Explore the Mystery of Black Holes: Understand the Facts about Satellite Launch

Breaking News, Space, Tech
On 1st January, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSAT) from Sriharikota, marking a significant step in exploring the mysteries of black holes. Here are key facts about this groundbreaking mission: The launch took place at 9:10 am, using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which successfully placed XPoSAT into its intended orbit of 650 km with a 6-degree inclination. The launch was described as a "textbook launch" by astrophysicist Dipankar Bhattacharya, with the satellite achieving the expected orbit for conducting scientific studies. The mission marked the 60th flight of the PSLV and positions India as only the second country, after the US, to have an observatory dedicated to studying black holes. ...
Alarming Surge in Extreme Weather Events in India Faces: Challenges and Impacts in year 2023

Alarming Surge in Extreme Weather Events in India Faces: Challenges and Impacts in year 2023

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
Climate Vulnerability and Increasing Frequency of Extreme Weather Events India has witnessed a staggering surge in extreme weather events, with almost daily occurrences in the first nine months of 2023, leading to nearly 3,000 deaths, according to a report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Published on November 29, the report highlighted that the climate-vulnerable country experienced extreme weather on 86% of days from January to September, marking a concerning "new abnormal" in a warming world. The CSE's report, titled "India 2023: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events," revealed alarming statistics, including 2,923 reported deaths, extensive crop damage covering almost two million hectares, destruction of 80,000 homes, and the loss of over 92,000 animals. H...
Severe Thunderstorms in Australia Claim Six Lives

Severe Thunderstorms in Australia Claim Six Lives

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
(27.12.2023) Austraila, Severe thunderstorms in Australia’s eastern states over the Christmas holidays have claimed the lives of at least six people, with three others reported missing. Tens of thousands of households in Queensland are without power due to the impact of the storms. Police in Victoria and Queensland have confirmed the deaths, including a nine-year-old girl who was reportedly swept away in a flooded stormwater drain. Two people are missing after their boat capsized south of Green Island near Brisbane, and a 46-year-old woman is also being sought after being caught in floodwaters north of Brisbane in Gumpie. Severe thunderstorms struck on December 25 and 26, bringing large hailstones, high winds, and torrential rains. The adverse weather conditions led to river flooding...
Volcanic Eruptions and Astronomical Cycles Linked to Historical Climate Change, Study Reveals

Volcanic Eruptions and Astronomical Cycles Linked to Historical Climate Change, Study Reveals

Disasters, Environment
A recent analysis published in the journal Earth-Science Reviews sheds light on the connection between large volcanic eruptions, astronomical cycles, and historical climate change. While human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for modern climate change, the study highlights that climate change in the Earth’s history was influenced by a different set of factors. Key Findings: Volcanic Eruptions in Earth’s History The study reveals that large volcanic eruptions in the Earth’s past released significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This resulted in extreme greenhouse climate warming, nearly causing mass extinctions and environmental crises. These volcanic events occurred cyclically, with a pattern of every 26 to 33 million years. Notably, the study ...
Polar Bear Populations Decline in Greenland Over 20,000 Years Due to Climate Change

Polar Bear Populations Decline in Greenland Over 20,000 Years Due to Climate Change

Breaking News, Environment
A comprehensive international study, including researchers from the University of Copenhagen, reveals a concerning decline in polar bear numbers in Greenland over the last 20,000 years. The research, combining genetic analysis, food habits, habitat study, and historical climate data, points to rising sea temperatures as the key driver behind this decline. The study, published in Science Advances, emphasizes the impact of global warming, leading to increased sea temperatures and reduced sea ice, consequently affecting the polar bear‘s primary food source – seals. Michael Westbury, lead author and assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen, highlights the non-linear relationship, where even small environmental changes significantly impact polar bear populations. The research ind...
Ice Cores data from Nevado Huascaran Provide Insights into Amazon Basin’s Climate History

Ice Cores data from Nevado Huascaran Provide Insights into Amazon Basin’s Climate History

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Scientists from Ohio State University (OSU) have studied ice cores from Nevado Huascaran, the world’s highest tropical mountain located in the Peruvian Andes, to gain unprecedented insights into the climate history of the Amazon Basin over the past six decades. Unlike polar regions, samples from tropical areas like Nevado Huascaran can provide valuable information about phenomena such as El Niño and the movement of monsoon winds. The research involved collecting ice core samples from the summit and the mountain col, the lowest point between two ridges. Key Points: •Nevado Huascaran, standing at nearly 7,000 meters above sea level, is the world’s highest tropical mountain. •Ice core samples were collected from the summit and the mountain col to analyze the impact of climate change ...
Asian Development Bank Launches Climate and Disaster Risk Initiative for Himalaya Region

Asian Development Bank Launches Climate and Disaster Risk Initiative for Himalaya Region

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has initiated a new project to assess and manage climate and disaster risks in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. Focused on Bhutan and Nepal, the initiative involves a comprehensive analysis of multi-hazard risks, including landslides, earthquakes, and floods, with an emphasis on glacier lake outbursts. The goal is to strengthen the capacities of the two governments in risk assessments for priority river basins, leading to the development of early warning systems and risk management options for future infrastructure projects. The Hindu Kush Himalayas, home to the largest ice reserves outside the polar regions, provide vital water resources to over a billion people across Asia. The region is experiencing faster warming than the global average, and a 3°C ...
Global Tipping Points Report Warns of Irreversible Threats from Climate Change

Global Tipping Points Report Warns of Irreversible Threats from Climate Change

Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations
The Global Tipping Points Report, compiled by an international team of 200 scientists and coordinated by the University of Exeter, reveals that the world is at risk of triggering at least five tipping points with potentially devastating consequences. Tipping points are critical thresholds beyond which changes in the climate system become self-perpetuating and lead to irreversible impacts. The report, set to be published during the UN Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai, identifies the Greenland and West Antarctic Ice Sheets, warm-water coral reefs, North Atlantic subpolar gyre circulation, and permafrost regions as already at risk. The report emphasizes the inadequacy of current global governance to address the scale of the challenge and calls for coordinated action to trigger positive tip...