Tuesday, July 1News That Matters

Tag: climate

Africa Climate Wake-Up Nearly Half Say Governments Must Lead Fight Against Global Warming

Africa Climate Wake-Up Nearly Half Say Governments Must Lead Fight Against Global Warming

Breaking News, Climate Actions
In a sweeping new survey that reflects the growing urgency of the climate crisis in Africa, nearly half of those aware of climate change across the continent believe their own governments should bear the primary responsibility for combating its impacts. The findings, published in the journal Nature, draw from Afrobarometer  the largest public opinion survey in Africa and shed light on how citizens across 39 countries are assigning blame and demanding accountability for a crisis that is fast reshaping their lives. Of the 53,444 people surveyed, 26,735 respondents said they were aware of climate change. Among this informed group, 45 per cent pointed to their national governments as the ones who must lead the charge against the unfolding environmental crisis. Another 30 per cent placed tha...
India Opens High-Altitude Climate Research Centre in Himalayas Boosts Global Role in Climate Science

India Opens High-Altitude Climate Research Centre in Himalayas Boosts Global Role in Climate Science

Breaking News, Climate Actions
India has taken a major step forward in global climate leadership by inaugurating its first Himalayan High Altitude Atmospheric and Climate Research Centre at Nathatop in Jammu & Kashmir. The cutting-edge facility, located 2,250 meters above sea level, was opened by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and is poised to play a vital role in understanding and tackling the complex challenges of climate change, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region. Calling it a “major leap” in India’s climate journey, Dr. Singh emphasized that the Centre would position the country as a global hub for atmospheric and climate science. Strategically located in a low-pollution zone ideal for high-accuracy studies, the research station is expected to significantly boost scientific underst...
Australia  Faces 37% Spike in Heatwave Hazards: New Report Warns of Climate Health Crisis

Australia Faces 37% Spike in Heatwave Hazards: New Report Warns of Climate Health Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Australia has recorded a sharp 37 per cent rise in health-threatening heatwaves over the past two decades, according to the latest MJA–Lancet Countdown report released this week. The findings come as part of a broader annual assessment tracking how climate change is impacting public health across the nation. Lead author Professor Paul Beggs from Macquarie University, who heads the Lancet Countdown Centre in Oceania, stressed that the data highlights the need for consistent, long-term tracking of climate risks in Australia. “The frequency of health-damaging heat has increased substantially since the 1970s,” he said. The 2024 report covers five major domains: health impacts, adaptation, mitigation efforts, economics, and public engagement. One standout concern is the growing intersecti...
India Temperature Trends Remain a Mystery, Says Harvard Atmospheric Scientist

India Temperature Trends Remain a Mystery, Says Harvard Atmospheric Scientist

Breaking News, Climate Actions
India temperature trends continue to baffle climate scientists with one of the leading voices in atmospheric science, Dr. Loretta J Mickley of Harvard University, admitting that experts still don’t fully understand the forces shaping the country’s warming patterns. In an interview wirh Mickley explored the complex role aerosols play in India’s climate and why projections for the future remain highly uncertain. Despite decades of rising global temperatures, India has warmed only about half as much as the rest of the Northern Hemisphere since 1950, based on NASA data using 1951–1980 as a baseline. While this may seem like a positive anomaly, it raises significant scientific questions. Mickley, senior research fellow and co-lead of the Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group at Harvard Say...
Experts Stress Urgent Need for Gender-Disaggregated Data in Climate Disaster Policies as Odisha Pioneers Inclusive Risk

Experts Stress Urgent Need for Gender-Disaggregated Data in Climate Disaster Policies as Odisha Pioneers Inclusive Risk

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
As climate disasters intensify across the globe experts are raising concerns over the lack of gender-disaggregated data in disaster response and policy formulation. Women, particularly those in vulnerable communities bear the brunt of climate-induced crises, yet there is a glaring gap in data collection that could inform targeted policies and resources. A recent scoping study by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development highlights that women and children are 14 times more likely to perish in disasters compared to men. Despite this alarming statistic, essential data such as the number of women affected, their socioeconomic status, and their specific needs often remain unavailable making it difficult to craft inclusive climate resilience policies. Women at the Heart of Disaster...
Global Climate Monitoring Boosted as GTN-R Joins GCOS Affiliated Networks

Global Climate Monitoring Boosted as GTN-R Joins GCOS Affiliated Networks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Tech
In a major development for climate observation and water cycle research, the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) has officially accredited the Global Terrestrial Network for River Discharge (GTN-R) as one of its GCOS Affiliated Networks. This recognition marks a crucial step in strengthening global freshwater monitoring and advancing the understanding of climate dynamics. GTN-R plays a vital role within the Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC), an institution that has been functioning under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) since 1988. Operated by the German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), GRDC has long served as a key hub for river discharge data worldwide. GTN-R, a specialized subset within GRDC, comprises more than 300 river discharge gauging stations strategically pos...
Ozone Layer Healing as Harmful Chemicals Decline, MIT Study Confirms

Ozone Layer Healing as Harmful Chemicals Decline, MIT Study Confirms

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check, Learning & Developments
A new study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has confirmed that the ozone layer over Antarctica is recovering, thanks to global efforts to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The study published in Nature on March 5, 2025, provides the strongest evidence yet that human intervention, rather than natural climate variations, is responsible for this progress. The ozone layer, located in the stratosphere 15 to 30 kilometers above Earth, acts as a protective shield, absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. In 1985, scientists discovered a recurring seasonal “hole” in the ozone over Antarctica, allowing dangerous UV radiation to reach Earth's surface, increasing the risk of skin cancer and environmental damage. MIT scientist Susan...
Donald Trump shockwaves across the global climate community And Projects

Donald Trump shockwaves across the global climate community And Projects

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Thoughts & Talks
The re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States has sent shockwaves across the global climate community. Within days of assuming office, Trump has issued executive orders reversing environmental regulations, including the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Climate Agreement. Climate experts warn that this move, coupled with the rapid rise of Trumpism, could have disastrous consequences for the planet. According to Harjeet Singh, a global climate activist and founding director of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, “This is a massive setback for global climate action. The second term of Trump is set to be far worse than the first, with a more organized and determined push for fossil fuels.” Trump’s Climate Policies: A Systematic Attack on Progress During his first ...
Women in Least Developed Nations Struggle for Voice in Climate Talks

Women in Least Developed Nations Struggle for Voice in Climate Talks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks
A recent study has revealed that women from the world’s least developed countries (LDCs) face significant barriers to participating in global climate negotiations. Conducted by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the research highlights the gender imbalance in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) discussions, particularly among delegates from the 45 LDCs. Since 2008, women have made up only one in three UNFCCC delegates, with just 10% serving as heads of delegation. The study, which included surveys and case studies from Rwanda, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone, found that cultural norms, restrictive laws, and institutional barriers limit women’s roles in climate talks. Limited access to education, training, financial resources, and ...
World Sets Record January Heat Despite La Nina Scientists Debate Accelerating Global Warming

World Sets Record January Heat Despite La Nina Scientists Debate Accelerating Global Warming

Breaking News, Climate Actions
The world warmed to a new monthly heat record this January, despite cooling factors like a La Nina event and an abnormally chilly United States, according to the European climate service Copernicus. This surprising temperature rise is sparking debate among scientists, with some arguing that global warming is accelerating. Copernicus reported that January 2025 was 0.09 degrees Celsius warmer than January 2024, the previous hottest January on record. It was also 1.75 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels. This marks the 18th month out of the last 19 in which the world hit or surpassed the 1.5-degree warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement. However, scientists only consider the threshold breached when temperatures stay above it for 20 consecutive years. Copernicus has t...