Tuesday, July 1News That Matters

Tag: Climate Resilience

Heat Rising, Warnings Failing: Why Early Action Is Crucial to Combat Global Heatwaves

Heat Rising, Warnings Failing: Why Early Action Is Crucial to Combat Global Heatwaves

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
As scorching temperatures shatter records with alarming frequency, a new era of climate danger is unfolding across the globe. From the U.S. to South Asia, heatwaves are no longer rare occurrences they're becoming the new normal. Today, on Heat Action Day, as communities around the world raise awareness of the dangers of extreme heat, it is clear that awareness alone is not enough. Action must follow swiftly, inclusively, and equitably. Across every continent, extreme heat is quietly claiming lives and overwhelming systems. It spares no part of daily life: hospitals overflow, energy grids collapse, outdoor labor becomes perilous, and students struggle to learn inside sweltering classrooms. In Nepal’s rural Madesh region, a recent study by Mercy Corps lays bare the educational conseque...
Mangrove Forests Over 500 Metres Wide Proven to Cut Wave Energy by 75%, Prompting Policy Rethink

Mangrove Forests Over 500 Metres Wide Proven to Cut Wave Energy by 75%, Prompting Policy Rethink

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check
A global study based on more than 216,000 simulations has found that mangrove forests wider than 500 metres offer far more effective coastal protection than previously assumed. The research, led by the Deltares institute, shows that these broad mangrove belts reduce incoming wave heights by at least 70% regardless of wave intensity, water levels, or local conditions. Using the SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore) model, researchers analyzed 15,773 coastal locations worldwide with mangrove cover. From this dataset, 1,000 representative situations were selected to simulate wave reduction performance under a variety of environmental conditions. The results produced tens of millions of data points and highlighted a clear trend: wider mangroves are consistently more effective at weakening wave ...
UP Launches Green Drive: 35 Crore Saplings to Be Planted in One Week

UP Launches Green Drive: 35 Crore Saplings to Be Planted in One Week

Breaking News, Environment
In a landmark step toward environmental restoration and climate resilience, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced plans to plant a staggering 35 crore saplings across the state within a single week between July 1 and July 7, 2025. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized the importance of community participation in this massive afforestation drive, aimed at increasing the state's green cover to 20% by 2030. Speaking at a high-level review meeting, he described environmental conservation as a “collective responsibility” and a crucial pillar of sustainable development. Nurturing a Greener Tomorrow To support the campaign’s long-term impact, the government aims to nurture 50 crore saplings in nurseries, ensuring a wide diversity of species. These will include fruit-bearing, sha...
India Proposes Five-Point Global Plan to Protect Mountains at Sagarmatha Sambaad

India Proposes Five-Point Global Plan to Protect Mountains at Sagarmatha Sambaad

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
India reaffirmed its climate leadership at the international stage on Friday, as Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, addressed the inaugural Sagarmatha Sambaad in Kathmandu, Nepal. Representing India at the high-level global dialogue on “Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity,” Yadav unveiled a five-point global action plan to protect fragile mountain ecosystems and foster climate resilience across borders. The summit brought together environment ministers, climate leaders, and policymakers from around the world to discuss the rapidly escalating impacts of climate change on mountain regions, especially the Himalayas. Honouring Sagarmatha: A Shared Heritage Opening his address, Yadav praised Nepal’s initiative in convening the ...
Pikine Launches Parametric Flood Insurance to Boost Climate Resilience

Pikine Launches Parametric Flood Insurance to Boost Climate Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Pikine Senegal second-largest city with a population of 874,000 is taking a bold step toward climate resilience with the launch of a new index-based flood insurance scheme aimed at protecting its most vulnerable communities from the increasing threat of seasonal flooding. Located near the Senegal River estuary and composed of 12 densely populated communes, Pikine is highly exposed to flood risks especially during the rainy season from August to December. The city’s flood vulnerability has worsened due to a combination of deteriorating vegetation cover, failing drainage systems, and a rising groundwater table linked to decreased water extraction from the Thiaroye aquifer. To address this growing crisis, the InsuResilience Solutions Fund (ISF) has partnered with an international co...
Extreme Weather Surges Cost Trillions, Exposing Insurance Gaps and Need for Climate Resilience

Extreme Weather Surges Cost Trillions, Exposing Insurance Gaps and Need for Climate Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
Rising losses from floods, fires and storms reveal urgent call for public-private action in climate risk management. Over the last decade, extreme weather events from tornados and hurricanes to floods and wildfires have inflicted a staggering toll on both people and economies worldwide. Between 2014 and 2023, these events caused around USD 2 trillion in economic losses globally, and the outlook is only becoming more concerning. Driven by shifting climate patterns, storms are growing more frequent and severe, with rising sea levels, erratic precipitation, and warming temperatures disrupting ecosystems, food production, and public health. The compounding impact of these changes threatens to cause long-term environmental and financial damage. Insurance supports recovery but cover...
New Zealand Unveils Major Environmental Reporting Changes to Support Its Net-Zero Goals

New Zealand Unveils Major Environmental Reporting Changes to Support Its Net-Zero Goals

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
In a bold move to elevate its environmental governance New Zealand has announced sweeping reforms to its national environmental reporting framework aiming to deliver more accurate, accessible and actionable climate and ecological data. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds unveiled the changes this week describing them as a crucial shift from reactive crisis management to proactive evidence based environmental decision-making. These reforms are set to align New Zealand with global best practices while helping communities and businesses plan for an increasingly unpredictable future. At the core of the reforms is an amended Environmental Reporting Act, replacing the current six-monthly reporting cycle with a more strategic annual model. The new framework also integrates analysis of envir...
Himalayan Snowfall Crisis Major River Basins Record Sharpest Decline in Snow Persistence

Himalayan Snowfall Crisis Major River Basins Record Sharpest Decline in Snow Persistence

Breaking News, Climate Actions
In a concerning climate signal all three major river basins of the Indian Subcontinent the Ganga Indus and Brahmaputra are witnessing their steepest declines in snow persistence, a new report warns. The findings, released by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on April 21, 2025, reveal that the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region is experiencing its third consecutive below-normal snow year. Snow persistence defined as the duration snow remains on the ground after snowfall is a key indicator for seasonal water availability. A drop in this metric threatens water security for millions, as snowmelt feeds major rivers across South Asia. The Ganga basin, which saw its highest snow persistence of +30.2% in 2015, has plummeted to a 23-year low of -24.1% in 2025...
Telangana Leads Nation in Heatwave Response with New Relief Measures

Telangana Leads Nation in Heatwave Response with New Relief Measures

Breaking News, Climate Actions
In a landmark step toward climate resilience Telangana has officially declared heatwave and sunstroke as 'State-Specific Disasters' making it possibly the first Indian state to do so. The announcement includes a significant ₹4 lakh ex gratia for families of victims who lose their lives due to extreme heat. This decision marks a shift from the earlier Apathbandhu scheme, which provided ₹50,000 compensation. The move comes in response to the growing but often under-reported impact of heatwaves on vulnerable populations especially the elderly, children, and women. According to the latest Government Order, 28 of Telangana’s 33 districts have already endured over 15 days of intense heatwave conditions this year. The state is now rolling out district-specific heatwave action plans, increas...
India Prepares First-Ever National Adaptation Plan to Combat Climate Crisis

India Prepares First-Ever National Adaptation Plan to Combat Climate Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions
As climate-related disasters escalate, India is gearing up to launch its first-ever National Adaptation Plan (NAP) a landmark policy initiative aimed at reducing the vulnerability of communities across the country. The plan focuses on enhancing adaptive capacities and resilience at a national level, integrating climate adaptation into existing policies and development strategies. A Comprehensive Framework for Climate Resilience NAP is being developed through multi-stakeholder consultations, bringing together government bodies, scientific institutions, and disaster management experts. A crucial step in this process was a national workshop held on February 10-11 at the Integrated Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability (ICARS) at IIT Roorkee’...