Thursday, October 9News That Matters

Tag: study

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

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...
Climate Crisis hits African Mountains Harder than Expected

Climate Crisis hits African Mountains Harder than Expected

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments
A new study from the University of York reveals that climate change is impacting mountain communities in equatorial Africa far more severely than previously thought, demanding urgent adaptation measures. Researchers interviewed 1,500 smallholder farmers across ten mountain regions in eight countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda and found widespread reports of rising temperatures, declining rainfall, increased extreme weather, and unpredictable seasons. These shifts are disrupting agriculture, reducing crop yields, and worsening food security for millions. Communities are adapting by changing farming methods, diversifying livelihoods, and improving water and soil management, but responses vary significantly across regions. Experts stress that a one-size-fits-all appro...
Study Warns World Cup 2026 Stadiums Face Extreme Heat Risk

Study Warns World Cup 2026 Stadiums Face Extreme Heat Risk

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
A new study has raised serious concerns about the impact of extreme heat on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that nearly 90 percent of the tournament’s stadiums could face dangerous temperatures. Researchers found that 14 of the 16 host venues across the United States, Canada, and Mexico are at risk of exceeding critical heat stress levels, potentially affecting players, officials, and spectators. The research, conducted by Brunel University London, Queen’s University Belfast, and other institutions, analyzed 20 years of weather data and found that heat stress levels could surpass the 28°C threshold set by governing bodies as unsafe for play. If the summer of 2026 is hotter than average, as climate trends suggest, at least nine stadiums could see these extreme conditions for half the to...
Hidden Risk Behind Earthquake Destruction: How Migration Shapes Disaster Impact

Hidden Risk Behind Earthquake Destruction: How Migration Shapes Disaster Impact

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check
A new study has uncovered a hidden factor behind the devastating impact of earthquakes in suburban areas migration. Researchers at the University of Washington found that workers moving from rural regions to city outskirts often live in low-quality housing, making them more vulnerable to destruction when a major quake strikes. The study, published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, analyzed the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan, which killed over 2,400 people. Surprisingly, the most severe damage was not in city centers but in suburban areas where migrants had settled. Similar patterns were observed in past earthquakes in China, Chile, and Nepal. Lead researcher Tzu-Hsin Karen Chen explained that many migrants do not officially update their residence, leading to underestim...
Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check, Learning & Developments
A vast majority of earthquakes occur within the infamous Ring of Fire, a seismic hotspot encircling the Pacific Ocean. Yet, when these earthquakes strike, the areas that experience the most intense shaking aren’t always the ones that suffer the worst destruction. Recent research has uncovered a hidden factor contributing to earthquake devastation: migration patterns and housing vulnerabilities. The 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake Case Study Taiwan’s catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999, which claimed over 2,400 lives, presented an unexpected pattern of destruction. Contrary to expectations, the worst damage was not in the bustling city centers but in the suburbs and outer regions. Similar trends have been observed in earthquakes that hit China, Chile, and Nepal, raising questions about wh...
Greenland Ice Sheet Cracking at Alarming Rate, Study Warns

Greenland Ice Sheet Cracking at Alarming Rate, Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Over the past five years, an astonishing 930 million cubic meters of crevasses have opened across Greenland’s ice sheet equivalent to a crack the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza forming every few days. This rapid increase in fracturing, particularly in the ice sheet’s fast-moving regions, could trigger a dangerous feedback loop that accelerates ice loss and raises global sea levels. A new multi-year study, led by researchers from the University of Florida and Durham University, provides the first large-scale analysis of Greenland’s glacier crevasses, spanning 2016 to 2021. The findings reveal significant variations across the ice sheet, with some areas especially in the west initially experiencing fewer crevasses, only to see an uptick in recent years. Overall, the study detected a sh...
New Study Warns of Potential 1.9 Metre Sea-Level Rise by 2100 Under High Emissions Scenario

New Study Warns of Potential 1.9 Metre Sea-Level Rise by 2100 Under High Emissions Scenario

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Learning & Developments
An international team of researchers from NTU Singapore and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands has projected a significant rise in global sea levels if carbon dioxide emissions continue to increase. According to their findings, published in the scientific journal Earth's Future, sea levels could rise between 0.5 and 1.9 meters by the year 2100 under a high-emission scenario. The upper limit of this range is nearly 90 centimeters higher than the latest United Nations (UN) projection, which estimates a rise of 0.6 to 1.0 meters. This study provides a "very likely range" (indicating a 90% probability of occurrence), offering a new dimension to sea-level projections. Previously, projections from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were based o...
Expert Calls for Stronger Climate Risk Response to Tackle Extreme Events

Expert Calls for Stronger Climate Risk Response to Tackle Extreme Events

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments
Katharine Mach, a climate risk management specialist and chair at the University of Miami’s Department of Environmental Science and Policy, emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive risk-response framework to address the increasing complexity of climate change. Drawing insights from her research on hazards like wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat, she outlines key strategies for adaptation and highlights challenges in implementation. Adapting to climate change means preparing for current risks and anticipating future challenges. With global temperatures surpassing a 1.5°C increase for the first time in 2024, communities are grappling with unprecedented climate extremes. Mach stresses that adaptation is crucial to ensuring safety and resilience in the face of these challenges. ...
Study Finds Climate Change Fuels Rise in Multi-Year Droughts

Study Finds Climate Change Fuels Rise in Multi-Year Droughts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Learning & Developments
A groundbreaking 40-year study has revealed a troubling surge in long-lasting, multi-year droughts (MYDs), which have become more frequent, drier, and expansive with the warming climate. The findings, published in Science on January 16, emphasize the global challenge posed by these persistent dry spells, warning of their devastating impact on ecosystems, agriculture, and water resources. Between 1980 and 2018, global terrestrial land affected by MYDs expanded at an alarming rate of 50,000 square kilometers annually. Researchers documented 13,176 MYD events during this period, each lasting at least two consecutive years. These droughts not only grew in size but also experienced significant temperature anomalies in affected regions. Notably, the study identified 10 of the most severe M...
Megaberg A23a Threatens Wildlife Haven South Georgia

Megaberg A23a Threatens Wildlife Haven South Georgia

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check
A23a, the world’s largest iceberg, weighing over a trillion tons, is on a collision course with South Georgia, a remote British island in Antarctica. According to a BBC report, this "megaberg," spanning 3,900 square kilometers about three times the size of New York City is currently just 280 kilometers from the island and is expected to make contact within two to four weeks, depending on ocean currents. A Wildlife Haven at Risk South Georgia, often called a wildlife paradise, is home to large populations of king penguins, elephant seals, and fur seals. Experts warn that if A23a grounds near the island, fragmented icebergs could block access to vital feeding grounds for years. Marine ecologist Mark Belchier, who advises South Georgia's government, explained the region’s vulnerabili...