climate risk Archives - Disasters News

Feb222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate change harsh challenges to Ladakh Changpa pastoralists impacting livestock and resources

For centuries, the Changpa nomads of Changthang, Ladakh, have led a semi-nomadic lifestyle, herding pashmina goats, sheep, yaks, and other livestock across the region’s rugged terrain. However, climate change is now threatening their age-old way of life, making survival in the harsh Himalayan landscape increasingly difficult. Dwindling Pastures and Water Scarcity The finest pashmina wool in the world comes from the Changpa’s goats, whose soft undercoat is a prized luxury. But rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are drastically altering the high-altitude ecosystem. Water sources are drying up, grasslands are shrinking, and extreme cold spells are becoming harsher, leaving the nomads and their livestock struggling for sustenance. In the past, Changpa herders followed s...

Feb182025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sargasso Sea: Earth’s Only Sea Without Shores Faces Climate Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The Sargasso Sea, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, is the only sea in the world that doesn’t touch any land. It is defined by four ocean currents the North Atlantic Current, Canary Current, North Atlantic Equatorial Current, and Antilles Current forming a natural boundary rather than a coastline. Instead of sandy shores, the sea is blanketed by large mats of Sargassum seaweed, giving it a distinctive appearance. This seaweed has been washing up on the shores of North America and the Caribbean, but out in the open sea, it serves as a haven for marine life. The Sargasso Sea Commission highlights the region’s ecological importance, noting it provides breeding grounds for endangered eels and migratory paths for species like sperm and humpback whales, tuna, and turtles. Historically a...

Feb172025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Risk Index Shows Global Toll of Extreme Weather, Calls for Urgent Action

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The Climate Risk Index (CRI) highlights the devastating impact of climate-related extreme weather events on countries, ranking them based on the economic and human toll experienced. Using data from the EM-DAT international disaster database, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, the CRI measures fatalities, affected populations, injuries, and homelessness to assess countries' vulnerability. The countries most affected by extreme weather rank highest on the CRI, serving as a stark warning of their exposure to frequent or severe climate disasters. The CRI takes both absolute and relative impacts into account, creating a comprehensive ranking based on six indicators: economic losses and fatalities, along with absolute and relative numbers of affected people. It provides insi...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

B.C. Health Workers Face Mounting Climate Crisis Strain

Breaking News, Climate Actions

British Columbia has faced a series of climate-related extreme weather events in recent years, with severe consequences for both residents and health services. The 2021 heat dome led to over 600 heat-related deaths and overwhelmed emergency services, while wildfires caused increased illnesses and forced the evacuation of thousands. B.C.’s health system, already strained by staffing shortages and burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic, has worked to respond to these emergencies. However, many health service workers reported physical and mental health challenges during and after climate events. Front-line staff, such as paramedics and home health workers, faced exposure to heat and poor air quality, especially when facilities lacked proper cooling and air filtration systems. The mental tol...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Among Top 10 Nations Hit Hard by Extreme Weather: CRI 2025

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Opinions

India recorded over 400 extreme weather events between 1993 and 2022, leading to nearly USD 180 billion in inflation-adjusted losses and at least 80,000 fatalities, according to the Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025 released by Germanwatch. The index, which ranks countries based on the economic and human toll of extreme weather, placed India among the top ten nations most affected during the 30-year period. The CRI used data from sources such as the EM-DAT international disaster database, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It analyzed 9,400 extreme weather events that resulted in over 7.65 lakh deaths globally and direct losses of USD 4.2 trillion. Dominica, China, and Honduras were the most affected, followed by Myanmar, Italy, India, Greece, Spain, Vanuatu, and the...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Panama Canal Faces Climate Risks But 2025 Brings Hope with High Water Levels

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The Panama Canal, a vital 82-kilometer shipping artery connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, has long been a key player in global trade. As much as 5% of the world’s shipping relies on the canal, making it essential for supply chains. However, recent years have highlighted a growing concern: climate-driven water shortages. Since its opening in 1914, the canal has operated through a system of locks, raising ships about 25 meters to cross Gatun Lake before lowering them again. The lake, fed by rainfall, is critical to ensuring smooth passage for massive Neopanamax vessels carrying over 13,000 cargo containers. Each day, about 7 billion liters of water are extracted from the lake to operate the locks, making consistent rainfall essential. Panama’s typically high annual rainfall ov...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Group Escalates Legal Fight Against Shell to Netherlands’ Supreme Court

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Friends of the Earth Netherlands (FOE) is taking its legal battle against British multinational oil and gas company Shell to the Netherlands' Supreme Court. The environmental group is demanding that Shell adopt a clearly defined carbon reduction target, arguing that without a legally binding mandate, the company will not take meaningful steps to curb its emissions. The case follows the November 12, 2024 ruling by the Hague Court of Appeal in the Milieudefensie et al. vs. Royal Dutch Shell case. The court acknowledged Shell’s “special responsibility” as a major oil and gas producer to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but stopped short of imposing an “absolute reduction” obligation, such as the 45% cut by 2030 ordered by a lower court in 2021. The court also noted that current EU law does ...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Corruption Undermining Climate Action in Sub-Saharan Africa, Warns New Transparency Report

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new report by Transparency International, released on February 11, 2025, highlights the devastating impact of systemic corruption on climate action in sub-Saharan Africa. Titled 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index: Corruption is Playing a Devastating Role in the Climate Crisis, the report reveals how weak anti-corruption measures are hindering efforts to combat climate change. Sub-Saharan African nations urgently need substantial climate finance to implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) climate action plans submitted to the United Nations. However, misappropriation, theft, and misallocation of climate funds are threatening these efforts. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks 180 countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption on a sca...

Feb82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Canada over 540,000 New Homes Built in flood-prone Areas to Tackle climate risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments

A groundbreaking report highlights how Canada can tackle its housing needs while avoiding catastrophic climate risks. It’s the first study in the country to quantify the economic damage of building homes in flood and wildfire-prone areas, urging a shift away from hazard zones to save billions and protect communities. The analysis warns that by 2030, over 540,000 new homes could be built in flood-prone areas, leading to $2 billion in annual damages. The financial burden will hit Manitoba and the Yukon hardest, with each new home in high-risk zones adding $1,200 per year in extra costs. The report calls for urgent action, recommending that housing developments be placed in safer areas. By planning smarter, Canada can prevent escalating disaster costs while ensuring its citizens have se...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Public Investment in Climate Finance & Care Services Essential for Adaptation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Climate finance plays a crucial role in addressing climate change, but one often-overlooked sector is care services the work of caring for people, both paid and unpaid, largely performed by women. As climate change intensifies, caregiving demands rise, yet infrastructure and resources remain inadequate. Why Care Services Matter in Climate Adaptation Extreme heat, floods, wildfires, and storms disproportionately impact vulnerable groups like young children and the elderly, increasing the need for healthcare, childcare, and elder care. However, most disaster preparedness plans fail to prioritize care services, leaving caregivers especially in urban informal settlements struggling with limited access to clean water, energy, and healthcare. Despite the growing urgency, climate finance...