Thursday, October 30News That Matters

Tag: climate goals

Climate Change to Cause Over 2.3 Million Additional Heat-Related Deaths in Europe by 2099

Climate Change to Cause Over 2.3 Million Additional Heat-Related Deaths in Europe by 2099

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A modelling study led by the Environment & Health Modelling (EHM) Lab at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) reveals alarming projections for the impact of climate change on temperature-related deaths across Europe. Published in Nature Medicine, the study predicts a substantial rise in deaths from heat, far outweighing any reduction in cold-related fatalities. Without immediate action to reduce carbon emissions, climate change could result in over 2.3 million additional temperature-related deaths across 854 European cities by the end of this century. The Mediterranean region, Central Europe, and the Balkans are identified as particularly vulnerable areas, with major cities like Barcelona, Rome, and Madrid expected to bear the brunt of this crisis. Adaptat...
Climate Crisis Deepens Food Security Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean

Climate Crisis Deepens Food Security Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Changing patterns of climate variability and extreme weather events are intensifying food security challenges across Latin America and the Caribbean, as highlighted in the 2024 Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition report. With the region ranked as the second-most exposed to extreme weather globally, after Asia, the cascading effects of climate change are exacerbating structural inequalities and worsening malnutrition in all its forms. The report reveals that extreme weather events, such as storms, floods, and droughts, are frequent in 74% of the region’s countries. Of these, over half face increased vulnerability, making them more susceptible to undernourishment. Between 2019 and 2023, the prevalence of hunger rose by 1.5 percentage points in nations grappling with climate e...
Haridwar’s Waste Crisis Mirrors Urban India’s Struggle with Modernization

Haridwar’s Waste Crisis Mirrors Urban India’s Struggle with Modernization

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Haridwar, a city revered as the gateway of the Ganga into the plains, is a spiritual and cultural hub visited by millions annually. Yet, its divine significance is shadowed by an escalating waste management crisis that underscores urban India’s battle to reconcile its traditions with the demands of modernization. As one of India’s holiest cities, Haridwar attracts over 40 million pilgrims every year. This influx overwhelms its infrastructure, with the city generating 260-300 metric tons of waste daily, surging to nearly 6,000 tons during peak religious festivals like the Kanwar Yatra. This monumental waste burden exposes systemic inefficiencies and the broader challenges faced by Indian cities striving for sustainable development. The waste generated in Haridwar is as diverse as its ...
Extreme Climatic Events Transform Over 7,500 Greenland Lakes from Carbon Sinks to Sources

Extreme Climatic Events Transform Over 7,500 Greenland Lakes from Carbon Sinks to Sources

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
Over 7,500 lakes in western Greenland have undergone a significant ecological transformation due to extreme climatic conditions. Atmospheric rivers (ARs) have turned these lakes from carbon sinks into carbon sources, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has revealed. In September 2022, record heat and heavy rains driven by ARs altered the physical, biological, and biogeochemical characteristics of these lakes. ARs, often referred to as “rivers in the sky,” are narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport water vapor outside tropical areas, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The influx of rainfall instead of snow, alongside remnants of Hurricane Fiona, caused unprecedented melting of the Greenland...
Global Risks 2025 Cyber Threats Top Concerns as Climate Change Rises

Global Risks 2025 Cyber Threats Top Concerns as Climate Change Rises

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment, Learning & Developments
As businesses prepare for 2025, the Allianz Risk Barometer reveals a landscape dominated by interlinked global challenges. Cyber-attacks, particularly data breaches, have been identified as the leading risk, with 38% of companies marking them as their top concern. Following closely are business interruptions (31%) and natural catastrophes (29%). Climate change climbs to its highest-ever position at #5, reflecting a year marked by extreme weather and record-breaking temperatures. Cybersecurity remains the top concern for businesses worldwide for the fourth consecutive year. The increasing sophistication of cyber threats, exacerbated by advances in artificial intelligence, has businesses on edge. Data breaches remain the most feared cyber incident, followed by attacks on critical infrastr...
2025 NDC Update: Bridging Adaptation Plans with Paris Agreement Goals

2025 NDC Update: Bridging Adaptation Plans with Paris Agreement Goals

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
As the 2025 update to nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement approaches, a new briefing highlights the opportunity for countries to align their NDCs with their national adaptation plans (NAPs). The review assesses how adaptation-related information presented in these key documents can be better integrated, offering a roadmap for policymakers to strengthen climate action. This briefing is particularly aimed at national policymakers and NAP teams responsible for adaptation planning and implementation. It underscores the critical role of the 2025 NDC update in enhancing the coherence between the NAP process and NDC commitments, ensuring that adaptation measures are effectively mainstreamed into national climate strategies. By synthesizing insights from coun...
UN Report World Stalls on 1.5°C Climate Target, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Surge in 2023

UN Report World Stalls on 1.5°C Climate Target, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Surge in 2023

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
The latest United Nations report on climate action reveals alarming findings for 2023, showing that the world has made no progress in curbing temperature rise to the critical 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Instead, global greenhouse gas emissions rose by 1.3% compared to 2022, signaling a widening gap between current climate policies and the ambitious goals set under the Paris Agreement. The annual Emissions Gap Report 2024, published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), highlights that despite international pledges, there has been no significant shift in policy implementation to meet the 2030 nationally determined contributions (NDCs). These NDCs, updated every five years, are part of a global effort to limit warming to well below 2°C, with a strong push for the 1.5°C target. ...
Understanding on How Climate Change Impacting Human Health

Understanding on How Climate Change Impacting Human Health

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations
Climate change is not just about melting ice caps and rising sea levels; it poses a significant threat to human health worldwide. From extreme weather events to changes in air and water quality, the effects of climate change ripple through various aspects of our lives, impacting physical, mental, and community health. Here’s a comprehensive look at how climate change affects human health and what can be done to mitigate these risks. Temperature-Related Impacts As global temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with extreme heat. Heatwaves become more frequent and intense, leading to heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, dehydration, and cardiovascular/respiratory problems. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and those w...
Climate Change to Shrink Global GDP by Almost a Fifth by 2050, Study Warns

Climate Change to Shrink Global GDP by Almost a Fifth by 2050, Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
In a stark warning, researchers revealed on Wednesday that climate change caused by carbon dioxide emissions already present in the atmosphere will lead to a substantial contraction of global GDP by 2050, amounting to nearly US$38 trillion, or almost a fifth of the total. Published in the journal Nature, the study underscores the urgent need for aggressive carbon emission reduction efforts to mitigate the economic fallout. Even under the most aggressive emission reduction scenarios, the researchers caution that significant economic losses are inevitable. The study predicts that economic repercussions from climate change could escalate to tens of trillions of dollars annually by 2100 if global warming exceeds two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. With Earth's average surfac...
Heavy Rains and Lightning Kill Dozens Across Pakistan, Triggering State of Emergency

Heavy Rains and Lightning Kill Dozens Across Pakistan, Triggering State of Emergency

Breaking News, Disasters
Lightning and heavy rains have claimed the lives of at least 49 people across Pakistan in the past three days, officials announced on Monday. The devastating weather conditions prompted authorities in the country’s southwest to declare a state of emergency. Reports indicate that several deaths occurred when lightning struck farmers who were out harvesting wheat. Additionally, heavy rains led to the collapse of dozens of houses in the northwest and eastern Punjab province. Arfan Kathia, a spokesman for the provincial disaster management authority, revealed that 21 people lost their lives in Punjab, where further rains are expected in the coming week. Khursheed Anwar, another spokesman for the disaster management authority, confirmed that 21 people died in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkh...