climate crisis Archives - Page 11 of 15

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

WMO Launches Climate Services Dashboard to Boost Global Climate Action

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

As climate change accelerates, the demand for climate services that utilize scientific knowledge for mitigation, adaptation, and resilience is growing. In response, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has launched the Climate Services Dashboard, an innovative platform designed to improve global climate service capacities and support data-driven decision-making for effective climate action. The interactive dashboard offers a comprehensive tool for decision-makers, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), and development partners. It tracks essential data related to climate policy integration, climate service capabilities, and investment trends. This tool helps ensure that climate services play a vital role in supporting national climate action plans and sust...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Kobe 1995 Deadly Earthquake Legacy Shapes Japan’s Disaster Preparedness

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check

On January 17, 1995, a devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Kobe, Japan, killing over 6,400 people and leaving a lasting impact on the country’s disaster preparedness. The Hanshin region bore the brunt of the destruction, with tens of thousands injured and hundreds of thousands displaced. The economic toll was staggering, reaching approximately $130 billion as infrastructure, homes, and businesses crumbled under the quake’s force. The disaster exposed critical weaknesses in urban planning and construction, prompting sweeping reforms. Stricter building codes, retrofitting programs, and advancements in early warning systems became the foundation of Japan’s strengthened approach to earthquake resilience. The tragedy also led to a surge in earthquake insurance coverage, bolstering fi...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sikkim Flood Disaster Highlights Growing Climate Risks in the Himalayas

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

An international research team has concluded that the devastating flood disaster in Sikkim, India, in October 2023 was caused by the collapse of 14.7 million cubic meters of frozen moraine material into South Lhonak Lake, triggering a tsunami-like flood wave that reached up to 20 meters in height. This tragic event, which claimed at least 55 lives and caused widespread damage along the Teesta River, serves as a stark reminder of the escalating dangers posed by climate change in high mountain regions. A Massive Tsunami-like Wave On October 3, 2023, the collapse of frozen moraine material into the lake unleashed a catastrophic glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), releasing about 50 million cubic meters of water—equivalent to the volume of 20,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The flood c...

Feb12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Economic Survey Flags Climate Finance Gap, Stresses Urgent Adaptation Needs

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks

The Economic Survey 2024-25, released on January 31, highlights India's urgent need for climate adaptation measures while criticizing the lack of international climate finance. The report warns that reliance on domestic resources could hinder development goals. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is formulating a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to align with sustainable development and climate resilience strategies. Meanwhile, the Initial Adaptation Communication (IAC) submitted to the UNFCCC outlines India’s vulnerability assessment and adaptation efforts across key sectors. In agriculture, India is focusing on climate-resilient crops, groundwater conservation, and soil health. Urban adaptation measures include improved water management under AMRUT, verti...

Feb12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Bhutan Bolsters Climate Resilience with Advanced Hydromet Services

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutan a nation renowned for pioneering Gross National Happiness faces growing threats from climate-induced disasters. Yet, within this challenge lies an opportunity to revolutionize its approach to weather, water, and early warning systems. Recent climate events highlight the urgency. A flash flood in August, intensified by upstream landslides, affected 70 households in Thimphu. In 2023, another flood claimed 23 lives and damaged the Yungichhu hydropower project. Severe rainfall in 2021 destroyed 2,400 metric tons of crops across 18 Dzongkhags. With 700 glaciers and 567 glacial lakes 17 posing high GLOF risks Bhutan’s vulnerability is evident, particularly for its agriculture-dependent workforce. For a decade, Bhutan’s National Centre for Hydro...

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mira Bhayandar Unveils Climate Action Plan to Achieve Net-Zero by 2047

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Mira Bhayandar, a fast-growing satellite city of Greater Mumbai, has launched an ambitious Climate Action Plan aiming for net-zero emissions by 2047. This makes it the fifth city in Maharashtra after Mumbai, Sholapur, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar to develop a strategic roadmap for climate resilience. The Mira Bhayandar City Climate Action Plan 2024-2047, prepared jointly by the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India and the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), was unveiled in Mumbai on January 29. It sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 36%, focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency in buildings, and improved waste management. Rising Urbanization and Emissions Mira Bhayandar has seen a 50% increase in built-up areas since 2005, with urban ...

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Pacific Islands Turn to Innovative Insurance for Climate Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Each November, Pacific communities brace for the annual cyclone season a six-month period that tests their resilience against extreme weather. For many Pacific Islanders, cyclones and floods are more than just natural disasters; they are stark reminders of a changing climate that continues to threaten lives and livelihoods. Ironically, the people least responsible for global emissions face the harshest consequences. Extreme weather events not only destroy homes and infrastructure but also push entire communities into poverty, stretching already debt-ridden governments to their limits. Yet, amid these challenges, the Pacific's renowned resilience shines through. A Region No Stranger to Disaster The Pacific has witnessed some of the most devastating tropical cyclones in history. In ...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Made LA Wildfires 35% More Likely, Study Finds

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check

Los Angeles witnessed one of its worst wildfire outbreaks in January 2025, and according to a new World Weather Attribution (WWA) report, human-induced climate change played a key role in making the conditions 35% more likely. The fires, which began on January 7 in Palisades and Eaton counties, quickly spread, fueled by dry vegetation and strong Santa Ana winds. Over the following weeks, additional fires erupted in San Diego County, ultimately burning over 57,000 acres and causing 28 deaths. For the first time in history, global temperatures surpassed 1.5°C in 2024. The WWA report warns that if temperatures rise to 2.6°C by 2100, the likelihood of such wildfire-friendly conditions will increase by another 35%. Clair Barnes, a researcher at Imperial College London, emphasized how p...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Centre Approves ₹3,027 Crore for Disaster Mitigation Projects

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Fact Check

New Delhi: The Union Government has approved ₹3,027.86 crore for disaster mitigation projects across multiple states, focusing on drought resilience and lightning safety. The decision was made by a high-level committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and comprising Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and NITI Aayog Vice Chairman. Major Allocations of ₹2,022.16 crore for drought mitigation in 12 most drought-prone states are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. ₹186.78 crore for lightning safety measures in 10 state are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh,...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Why Some Communities Resist Climate Relocation Despite Rising Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Cecilia has lived in Carahatas, a coastal village in Cuba, her entire life. Even as scientists predict that parts of her hometown may be underwater within 50 years due to rising sea levels, she refuses to leave. Like many locals, she believes her community can cope with climate change and flooding, despite government plans to gradually relocate residents to higher ground. Carahatas is not alone. Across the world, communities face increasingly extreme weather events, including droughts, heat waves, landslides, floods, hurricanes, and tropical storms. While governments and experts often propose relocation as a solution, many people refuse to move. Why do they stay despite the risks? A recent study led by Université de Montréal architecture professor Gonzalo Lizarralde sheds light on th...