UNESCO Archives - Disasters News

May142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Turkmenistan Leads Cryosphere Resilience Efforts with National Climate Workshop in Ashgabat

Ashgabat hosts critical regional initiative to transform climate strategies into national action as Central Asia responds to escalating cryosphere challenges Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, became a key hub of regional climate dialogue on May 12–13, 2025, as it hosted a high-level national workshop focused on translating Central Asia’s climate resilience strategies into actionable national plans. This pivotal event is part of a broader international initiative under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), dedicated to strengthening cryosphere monitoring and fostering sustainable development across Central Asia. The Ashgabat workshop, the fourth in a se...

Kallakkadal Crisis Rising Sea Shrinking Shore Threaten Lives in Kerala

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Since December, residents along Kerala’s Vembanad Lake India’s longest have been battling flood-like conditions in their homes. For Raphel Abraham a local from Edakochi, life has been nothing short of “hell,” as seawater continues to seep in forcing families to abandon their homes or endure prolonged waterlogging. The culprit? A mysterious sea phenomenon known as ‘kallakkadal’, which translates to “the sea that arrives like a thief.” Though traditionally observed in the pre-monsoon months (April–May), experts now believe that the waves behind kallakkadal swell waves traveling thousands of kilometers across the ocean may no longer follow a seasonal pattern. Approved by UNESCO in 2012 as a scientific term, kallakkadal is caused by large swell waves formed due to distant storms and cycl...

Kochi’s Bioluminescent Backwaters Hide an Ecological Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The shimmering blue glow lighting up Kochi’s backwaters has captivated visitors and flooded social media with breathtaking visuals. But beneath this dazzling display lies an ecological crisis that threatens marine life, disrupts local fisheries, and raises concerns about worsening environmental imbalances. Bioluminescence, locally known as kavaru, is caused by Noctiluca scintillans, a microscopic plankton that produces light when disturbed. While this natural phenomenon has become a seasonal spectacle in Kerala’s waters, scientists warn that its increasing frequency signals nutrient pollution, rising sea temperatures, and declining water quality. The same conditions fueling the glow high nitrate and phosphate levels from industrial runoff, rising salinity, and reduced rainfall are al...