Climate extremes such as heat waves, droughts, river floods, crop failures, forest fires and tropical cyclones are increasing under the influence of human-induced climate change. Although it is clear that the intensity, frequency and duration (more…)
The Slovak Republic annually prepares and submits Information message on Emission Inventory (SK IIR), which represents the official document on the Slovak Republic's emission inventory under the Convention on (more…)
The role of data visualization and information design in news on the state of the climate in Europe (ESOTC) has become increasingly important over the years. 2024 edition continues this trend: from custom envelope design to over 130 (more…)
Changes in water availability have a fundamental impact on ecosystem processes and societies at global and regional scales. Climate model projections for the 21st century indicate a trend (more…)
In the context of a dynamic and complex world, the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic (SAO SR) focuses not only on long-term problems of sustainability of public finances, but also on (more…)
🥵 CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere have reached new records despite the relative stabilization of emissions, with human carbon emissions stagnating at around 10.2 GtC per year, but natural carbon sinks (forests, soils, oceans) (more…)
The world is at a crossroads. The impacts of climate change are destabilizing societies, causing conflict and deepening economic hardship.Instead of rising to this challenge, too (more…)
The latest climate bulletin from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reports that April 2025 was the second warmest April on record worldwide. It was the 21st month in the last 22 months in which the global average surface air temperature was more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. More on climate.copernicus.eu
Europe is at a crossroads. Political pressure to delay or mitigate environmental measures is constantly undermining the ambitious direction of the European Green Deal. Creators (more…)
Air pollution and climate change are urgent global problems, with urban areas contributing significantly to both pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. (more…)
Low rainfall, dry soils and shrinking rivers are putting pressure on ecosystems, agriculture and transport routes across Europe and neighbouring regions. (more…)
From South Asia to North America, extreme heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense and widespread. In April 2024, temperatures in Jaipur, India, reached 44°C and in Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan, a scorching 50°C, as a heat wave swept across South Asia. Experts now warn that these conditions are fast becoming the new normal in many parts of the world.
According to NASA, there is “unmistakable evidence that the Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate.” To support this, the Copernicus Earth observation program confirmed that on July 22, 2024, the highest average daily temperature in the world was measured – 17.16 °C since records began in 1940.
This Statista map highlights a selection of national and continental temperature records over the past six years. (Bruno Venditti, more at visualcapitalist.com)
Global warming, driven by rising atmospheric greenhouse gases, continues to occur and manifests itself in a variety of ways, with 2024 being the warmest year on record for global surface atmospheric temperatures. More than 90 % of the Earth’s energy imbalance has accumulated in the ocean over the past half century, leading to record highs in temperature and ocean heat content (OHC) year after year. These changes in OHC affect air-sea and ice-sea interactions, and thus have significant impacts on other components of the climate system.
Despite continued warming, it has been difficult to discern meaningful patterns so far. However, when looking at the ocean as zonal averages across latitude bands, striking patterns of change emerge. An analysis of the period from 2000 to 2023, when the availability of reliable data has improved, shows a clear picture. While the ocean is warming almost everywhere, the most significant increases in heat content are observed in mid-latitudes. Specifically, strong warming occurs in regions near 40°N and 40°–45°S. In contrast, only small warming is observed in subtropical regions near 20°N and 25°–30°S. These patterns are most evident in zonally averaged ocean heat content and are also noticeable in sea surface temperatures.
The strongest warming is recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, where aerosol effects are small. Nevertheless, sea surface temperatures (SST) have increased more in the Northern Hemisphere, especially after 2020. This contrast with the Southern Hemisphere results, among other things, from stronger winds, greater mixing, and a deeper mixed layer in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as the much larger extent of the ocean in the Southern Hemisphere.
The patterns of OHC changes are not directly linked to radiation at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). Rather, they appear in net surface energy fluxes and derived ocean heat transport, underscoring their connected (tied) origin. A key role in these changes is played by changes in atmospheric circulation, particularly through the poleward shift of ocean jet streams and storm tracks. These changes in the atmosphere are reflected in the surface wind-driven ocean Ekman transport.
Energy balance analyses show that the combination of TOA radiation and atmospheric energy transports leads to estimates of net surface energy fluxes (Fs). These surface fluxes have a pronounced meridional structure that resembles the pattern of OHC changes. Combining Fs with OHC changes yields the ocean heat divergence (OEDIV), which shows the divergence of heat away from the equator and some subtropics and the convergence of heat toward the midlatitudes.
The meridional ocean heat transport (MHT), derived from OEDIV, clearly shows this redistribution of heat. For example, in the Northern Hemisphere, the anomalous southern MHT peaks from 40° to 50°N, while the anomalous northern MHT from 10° to 35°N combine to contribute to convergence near 40°N. In the Southern Hemisphere, the anomalous southern MHT from the equator to 40°S and the slightly northern anomalous MHT from 40° to 65°S lead to huge convergence of heat near 40°SThis divergence of heat away from the subtropics towards the midlatitudes is evident in both hemispheres and provides a viable explanation for OHC patterns.
Changes in surface wind stress, a key driver of ocean currents, also play a role. Shifts in zonal wind stress lead to anomalous Ekman convergence near 40°S and 50°N, which contributes to changes in OHC and sea level changes. The observed poleward shift of the zonal mean jet stream in both hemispheres, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere, is associated with changes in atmospheric and oceanic circulation.
It is important to note that in addition to human-caused warming, internal natural variabilityFor example, ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) causes large interannual variability in the deep tropics, although it is less visible in extratropical zonal averages. The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) also modulates ENSO and may have played a role in SST anomalies in recent years.
In conclusion, the characteristic patterns of global warming, most clearly visible in the zonally averaged OHC, are primarily the result of systematic redistribution of heat from global warming through coupled changes in atmospheric circulation and ocean currentsThese changes have a profound impact on the local climate. Spring
Glossary of key terms:
The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched its groundbreaking Biomass satellite, which is designed to provide an unprecedented view of the world's forests and their key role in the Earth's carbon cycle. The satellite launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on April 29, 2025.
Biomass separated from the upper part of the rocket less than an hour after liftoff, and ESA's control center in Germany received the first signal confirming its functionality in orbit. The launch and initial orbit phase will take place in the coming days, during which all systems will be carefully checked and complex maneuvers will be performed on the deployment of a 12-meter network reflector supported by a 7.5-meter boom.
The Biomass mission is designed to provide essential information about the state of our forests and how they are changing, and to deepen our understanding of the role of forests in the carbon cycle. Forests are crucial to the Earth's carbon cycle because they absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide, helping to regulate the planet's temperature. They are estimated to absorb around 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. However, deforestation and degradation, particularly in tropical regions, are releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
The main problem for scientists and politicians is lack of accurate data on how much carbon forests store and how these stocks are changing due to factors such as rising temperatures, increasing atmospheric CO2 levels, and human-induced land use changes.
Biomass is the first satellite equipped P-band synthetic aperture radar, which is able to penetrate tree crowns and measure woody biomass – trunks, branches and stems – where most of the forest’s carbon is stored. These measurements serve as surrogate indicators for carbon storage, which is the mission’s primary goal.
Biomass satellite data significantly reduce uncertainties in estimates of carbon stocks and flows, including those related to land use change, forest loss and regrowth. The mission was developed by more than 50 companies, led by Airbus UK. The Biomass satellite joins the prestigious family of ESA Earth Explorers missions, which continue to deliver groundbreaking discoveries and advance scientific knowledge about our planet. In addition to measuring biomass, the data will contribute to a better understanding of habitat loss and its impact on biodiversity, mapping subsurface geology in deserts, ice sheet structures and forest floor topography.
Thanks to the Biomass satellite, ESA is poised to gain Key new data on how much carbon is stored in the world's forests, thereby helping to fill gaps in our knowledge of the carbon cycle and ultimately the Earth's climate system. Spring
The fight against climate change and efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from Agenda 2030 are two major global commitments. These goals, although separate, are significantly interconnected (more…)
Climate change cannot be communicated on its own, as decades of awareness-raising and public engagement initiatives have shown. There is growing evidence (more…)
🥱 Climate apathy – a feeling of helplessness, fatigue and disinterest in climate change – has become increasingly widespread in recent years. While awareness of the urgent need for climate action is growing, many people are closing themselves off to the topic out of a sense of overload and pessimism. This apathy is hampering political ambitions and social initiatives and is a significant obstacle to real climate action.
What is climate apathy?
Climate apathy is characterized by a loss of motivation to act, even when one is aware of the problem and recognizes its seriousness. People suffering from apathy feel that their individual efforts are “sand-dusting” on the vast global emissions, which discourages them from lifestyle changes and social engagement. This phenomenon is different from ignorance – it is a conscious resignation due to emotional fatigue and a sense of helplessness.
Psychological causes
Why is apathy growing?
Massive information noise
In the age of social media, we are bombarded with news of climate catastrophes, expert warnings, and conflicting political debates. This information overload without a clear way out leads to a feeling of burnout.
Insufficient systems support
Without policies that facilitate the transition to renewables, energy-efficient buildings, and clean transportation, it is difficult for individuals to maintain their commitment. If governments and businesses fail to offer real alternatives, many will walk away in disgust.
Polarization and disinformation
Climate change has become part of a political battle, leading to a division in society. Where skepticism prevails, apathy grows – people prefer to avoid the topic altogether rather than argue about it.
Consequences of climate apathy
How to turn apathy into action?
1. Focus on local solutions
Local projects – community gardens, apartment building insulation, or electricity-sharing programs – show concrete benefits and give people the feeling that their efforts have a real impact.
2. Strengthening social support
When friends, family, or colleagues are involved in climate change, our commitment increases. Organizing smaller groups, discussion evenings, or volunteer events creates a sense of community.
3. Connecting with other values
We can present climate action as a path to a healthier life (cleaner air), savings in the household, or improving the quality of public space.
4. Political involvement
Not only voting in elections, but also writing petitions, lobbying for laws, or participating in municipal councils will show that the public's voice is heard.
5. Positive communication
Instead of fearing disasters, it is more effective to point to successful examples – cities that have reduced emissions or communities that have restored native wetlands and mitigated floods.
Climate apathy poses a real threat because it hinders the social and political shifts needed to avert the worst impacts of the crisis. The solution lies in a combination of emotional support, concrete local projects, and systemic reforms. If we can turn apathy into support, we will gain enormous strength in the fight for a sustainable future. Spring
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