climate change Archives - Page 19 of 19

Dec252023 by Editor Desk1 Comment

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

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...

Dec242023 by Editor DeskNo Comments

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 ...

Dec232023 by Editor Desk1 Comment

World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Begins Drifting After 40 Years Grounded

Climate Actions, Disasters

In a significant development, the world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has finally broken free from its grounded position, initiating its drift in the Weddell Sea. Originating from West Antarctica’s Fichner-Ronne ice shelf, A23a measures a staggering 4000 sq km (1,500 square miles) with a thickness of about 400 meters (1,300 feet), making it the largest iceberg globally. After being grounded for an extended period since 1986, recent observations by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite confirm its movement, estimated at approximately 4.8 km (3 miles) per day, propelled by winds and currents. Iceberg A23a Animation The colossal iceberg’s journey was tracked through an animation provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), showcasing its shifts on November 2, November 14, and November 26, 2023...

Dec232023 by Editor DeskNo Comments

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...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

2°C Global Temperature Rise Could Make Indus Valley Uninhabitable for 2.2 Billion

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments

A new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warns that if global temperature rise by 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, about 2.2 billion people living in the Indus River Valley in northern India and eastern Pakistan may face prolonged periods of heat exceeding human tolerance. The research indicates that regions including northern India, eastern Pakistan, eastern China, and Sub-Saharan Africa will experience high-humidity heatwaves, which are even more dangerous due to reduced evaporative cooling capabilities. These areas are primarily home to lower-to-middle-income countries, where many individuals lack access to air conditioning or effective means to combat the health risks associated with extreme heat. Beyond specific thresholds of he...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

Growing Threat: Zoonotic Infections Could Kill 12 Times More People in 2050

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations

A recent study published in BMJ Global Health warns that zoonotic infections, diseases that transfer from animals to humans, are poised to become a grave global health threat. The research indicates that by 2050, these infections could potentially claim twelve times more lives than they did in 2020, necessitating urgent action to address this growing menace. This concern arises in the backdrop of heightened awareness following the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in animals and swiftly spread worldwide. The study reveals that the environmental and population changes observed over the last six decades have led to an increase in “spillover events” – instances where diseases jump from animals to humans. These events are responsible for the emergence of pandemics. The research analyzed e...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

UN Report says Global Emission Reductions Fall Short of Climate Goals by 2030 including worst impacts

Breaking News, Thoughts & Talks

A new report by the United Nations warns that global emissions are predicted to decrease by only 2 percent below 2019 levels by 2030, significantly below the required 43 percent reduction to avert the worst impacts of climate change. The report comes ahead of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, where countries are expected to push for stronger climate action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent by 2030 is crucial to limit temperature rise and avoid severe climate impacts such as droughts, heatwaves, and rainfall extremes. The report analyzed the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of 195 countries to the Paris Agreement, including 20 new or...