A 2024 report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) analyses Trends and projections in climate change mitigation in Europe. Assesses progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, (viac…)

Document The European Environment Agency's "Trends and projections in Europe 2024" examines historical trends, recent progress and expected future developments in climate change mitigation through greenhouse gas emission reductions, renewable energy gains and improved energy efficiency. The report focuses on progress towards the EU's 2030 climate and energy targets, with a focus on 2023.

In 2023, total net greenhouse gas emissions in the EU decreased by 8 % compared to 2022, reaching 37 % below 1990 levels. This represents the largest year-on-year reduction in emissions in decades, excluding 2020, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction was mainly due to a decrease in emissions in the energy sector due to a significant increase in renewable energy production and a reduction in overall energy consumption.

Progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions varies significantly across economic sectors in Europe. Emissions in the energy supply sector have almost halved compared to 2005 levels, while industry has seen significant reductions of more than a third over the past two decades. These two sectors make up the bulk of the current European Emissions Trading System (ETS), which makes available the 2030 emission reduction target. On the other hand, sectors covered by the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), such as buildings, transport, waste and agriculture, are making slower progress. While the buildings sector has achieved significant emission reductions, the transport sector has shown little progress and has become the largest source of emissions in the EU.

As regards renewable energy, the share of EU gross final energy consumption produced from renewable energy sources has increased by an average of 0.8 % per year since 2005. This pace must triple by 2030 to meet the targets. In terms of energy efficiency, acceleration is needed to achieve the targets.

These latest trends highlight the need for sustained efforts to reduce emissions across the EU and make progress towards climate neutrality. Member States need to step up efforts to achieve the 2030 targets, in particular in sectors covered by the ESR. Maintaining the momentum towards climate neutrality will require a clear and predictable policy framework after 2030, including agreement on a recommended 90% reduction target for emissions by 2040 and ensuring sufficient investment in a carbon-neutral economy of the future. Spring

Glossary of key terms

• Climate neutrality: A state in which a balance is reached between greenhouse gas emissions and their removal from the atmosphere.
• Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG): Gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and contribute to climate change.
• Emissions Trading System (ETS): A system that sets a cap on total greenhouse gas emissions from certain sectors and allows companies to trade emission permits.
• Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR): A regulation that sets binding national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from sectors not covered by the ETS.
• Renewable energy sources: Energy sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar energy, wind energy, hydropower and biomass.
• Energy efficiency: Reducing energy consumption while maintaining or improving service levels.
• Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector: A sector that includes CO2 emissions and removals from forests, land and land-use change.
• Decarbonization: The process of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
• Fit for 55: A package of EU legislative proposals aimed at achieving the target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.
• National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP): A plan that each EU Member State draws up to achieve the EU's climate and energy targets by 2030.

Droughts have major social and ecological impacts, including shortages of drinking water, crop failures, tree mortality, forest fires, and reduced ecosystem productivity. Shifts in the hydrological cycle and continued warming with climate change are leading to rapidly evolving droughts that are more intense and longer lasting. . Extreme but short-term droughts (< 1 year) can have a wide range of consequences depending on the severity and timing of the drought, as well as the resilience of the ecosystem. (More on science.org)

The global economy could face a 50 trillion-euro loss of gross domestic product (GDP) between 2070 and 2090 due to catastrophic climate change shocks unless political leaders take immediate action to decarbonize and restore nature, a new report says. (More on theguardian.com)

Carbon Brief analyzed the data to compile its annual list of the 25 most talked about climate papers of the past year. The infographic above highlights the most talked about climate papers of 2024, while the article analyzes the top 25 research papers in more detail, including the diversity and country affiliation of the authors. Overall, Altmetric’s data reveals that the articles that generated the most online buzz in 2024 were linked to Covid-19 for the fourth year in a row, with five of the 10 most talked about papers of the year related to the virus.

But several of the most shared studies were related to climate change, from how warming affects ocean currents, economics, and timekeeping, to efforts to map historical temperatures using proxy data. (More on carbonbrief.org)

This document, "Global Risks Report 2024" from the World Economic Forum, examines the most significant global risks over the next two and ten years. The report draws on two main sources:

• Global Risk Perceptions Survey, which gathers the views of approximately 1,500 world leaders from various sectors.
• CEO Opinion Survey, which identifies the risks that pose the most serious threat to each country over the next two years, based on responses from more than 11,000 business leaders from 113 economies.

The report's main findings highlight misinformation and disinformation as the biggest risk in the next two years. The report highlights the growing threat of disinformation spread through large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models and their potential to manipulate public opinion. Another significant risk is the erosion of human rights, which is closely linked to disinformation and censorship.

The report further examines four key structural forcesthat shape the global risk landscape:

1. Environmental changes: The growing risk of climate change and its impact on ecosystems and society.
2. Technological progress: The rapid development of AI and other technologies presents both opportunities and risks.
3. Economic trends: Changes in the global economy, such as rising inequality and the debt crisis.
4. Demographic changes: An aging population and increasing migration bring new challenges.

The report warns of a potential cascade of risks, where one risk can trigger another, and highlights the need for collective action to address these global challenges.

In addition, the report analyzes other key trends and risks, such as:

• The growing number of state armed conflicts.
• The impact of climate change on food production and flood risk.
• The risk associated with developing new biological weapons using AI.
• Labor shortages and growing inequality.
• The rise of crime and its connection to state fragility.

The report concludes with a call for strengthened international cooperation, emphasizing that addressing global risks requires joint efforts by governments, businesses and civil society. Spring

This document, entitled "How to create a climate story – A practical guide" from December 2024 serves as a tool for experts in the field of climate change adaptation in creating your own climate storiesThe handbook was created as part of the European research project REACHOUT.

Climate stories use storytelling to communicate topics related to climate change. Storytelling allows you to communicate complex scientific data, model results, and insights to your target audience in an engaging and understandable way. Stories help to bridge the gap between science and society by combining complex information with human and understandable elements.

Climate stories are most effective as a tool for communicating messages, knowledge, or information in a way that transforms or influences the listener. They can deepen understanding, change perspectives, or evoke emotional responses. However, they are not suitable for communicating detailed information, large data sets, or complex instructions.

The guide presents three interconnected development cycles for creating a climate story:

• Cycle 1 – Planning: Determining the story's purpose, main idea, identifying the audience, and finding the best way to connect with them and stakeholders.
• Cycle 2 – Proposal: Creating a storyboard that includes the plot line, visual style, characters, and mood of the story.
• Cycle 3 – Creation: Content production (media, graphics, data) and transformation of the story into a final product.

An important part of the creation process is interaction with stakeholders. Engaging individuals or organizations with an interest in the story allows them to contribute ideas, concepts, products, or solutions, leading to local engagement and support for the story.

The guide emphasizes the importance understanding the reason and motivation for creating a climate story and emphasizes choosing the right medium for story presentation.

The final part is devoted to spreading the climate story and measuring its impact. An engaging media campaign targeting specific audiences and strategies for launching the story are recommended. Various tools such as web analytics, surveys and interviews can be used to measure impact.

The guide also includes examples of climate stories from six European cities that illustrate the principles and techniques outlined. Spring

The story of Earth's climate can be found locked away in tiny shells scattered throughout ancient rocks. These seemingly modest remains have just helped scientists unravel one of the most significant climate mysteries in our planet's history. Researchers from the University of St Andrews have made remarkable discoveries about the fundamental role of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) in shaping the Earth's climate.

Study provides new insight into how CO ₂ regulated the warming and cooling of the Earth for hundreds of millions of years.

WHAT ₂ : the climate architect of the Earth

WHAT ₂ is the most influential greenhouse gas on Earth. It traps heat from the Sun by absorbing it and radiating some of it back to the planet's surface.

This natural process keeps the Earth warm enough to support life. However, when CO levels ₂ in the atmosphere will increase, the planet will warm, leading to significant climate change. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)

The year 2024 was marked by a series of extreme weather events that forced billions of people to confront the harsh reality of a changing climate. Persistent droughts have gripped southern Africa and Central America, while devastating floods have swept through Spain. Hurricane Helene has unleashed its fury in the southeastern United States. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)

The ocean plays a critical role in the Earth's climate system by acting as its primary heat sink. It absorbs 90 % excess heat generated by global warming , thereby helping to regulate global weather patterns. This regulation occurs when the ocean transfers heat and moisture to the atmosphere, affecting everything from precipitation to storm intensity. (More on earth.com)

Melting ice sheets are often seen in the media as synonymous with climate change, conjuring up images of lone polar bears floating on ever-shrinking ice floes. While impacts such as sea level rise and salinity changes are commonly cited, one lesser-known consequence is the impact on volcanoes. (More on phys.org)

Global deforestation rates have decreased, but forests remain under significant pressure. Growing demand for forest products and climate-related challenges have led to calls for better conservation measures. The European Union had 160 million hectares in 2022 forest , which accounts for 39 percent of its land, an increase of 8.3 million hectares since 2000. The largest forest areas are in Sweden, Finland and Spain. (More on euractiv.com)

Meteorologists and climatologists from around the world have presented their first forecasts for spring 2025, indicating a continuation of the global warming trend. Based on the latest climate models, average temperatures are expected to be higher than the long-term average again, which could have significant impacts on weather, ecosystems and human activities.

Expected temperature anomalies

Spring 2025 is forecast to bring average temperatures 1 to 1.5°C above normal in many regions. This temperature anomaly is associated with the continued increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂), which reached record levels exceeding 420 ppm in 2023.

Impact on weather and climate

Higher temperatures can lead to:

– An earlier onset of the growing season, which will affect agriculture and may disrupt traditional growing cycles.

– Increased frequency of extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts or intense rainfall.

– Melting of snow and glaciers, which will affect water supplies in mountainous areas and may lead to floods.

Impacts on ecosystems and society

– Agriculture: Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns can affect crop yields, increasing the risk of pests and diseases.

– Public health: Heat waves can pose a health risk, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.

– Biodiversity: Climate change can disrupt natural habitats, threaten temperature-sensitive species and promote the spread of invasive species.

Causes of continued warming

The main factors contributing to global warming are:

– Burning fossil fuels: Oil, coal and natural gas are the main sources of CO₂.

– Deforestation: The loss of forests reduces the planet's ability to absorb CO₂.

– Agriculture: Methane (CH₄) emissions from animal production and rice fields contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Challenges and measures

Meteorologists emphasize the need to:

– Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions: Switching to renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency and promoting sustainable transport.

– Climate change adaptation: Investments in resilient infrastructure, sustainable agricultural practices and protection of water resources.

– International cooperation: Implementation of global agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, to address climate challenges in a coordinated manner.

The predictions for spring 2025 are further evidence that the trend of global warming continues and its impacts are becoming increasingly noticeable. It is imperative that governments, organizations and individuals take concrete steps to mitigate climate change and adapt to new conditions. Only by working together can we ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. Spring

The Climate Pact brings people and organizations together for a common goal: climate action. Together, our community has achieved significant milestones, driven by unwavering commitment, collaboration, and passion. Check out our poster and see the special moments of 2024. Spring

Document addresses the issue of climate misinformation, particularly in the context of cities and their efforts to combat climate change. Climate misinformation poses a threat because it undermines public trust in scientists, institutions and elected officials, making it difficult to implement climate policies. The document cites examples of disinformation campaigns targeting mayors, such as Rafal Trzaskowski in Warsaw and Sadiq Khan in London.

Disinformation is spread mainly through digital platforms that favor controversial content and lack sufficient oversight over the spread of false information. The document distinguishes between disinformation, which is deliberately spread with the aim of manipulating, and misinformation, which is spread unintentionally.

The document identifies several strategies to combat climate disinformation:

• Informing citizens: Providing clear and accurate information on climate policies and solutions.
• Public involvement: Engaging communities in climate discussions and decision-making.
• Inspiration for the event: Highlighting successful climate initiatives and their positive impacts.
• Empowering people: Equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools to enforce measures.

The paper provides examples of cities that have successfully implemented these strategies, such as Despenaderos in Argentina, Paris in France, and Guelph in Canada.

An important part of combating disinformation is effective communication about climate action. The document emphasizes the following principles:

• Stay positive: Focus on the benefits of climate action.
• Focus on the benefits: Explain the benefits of the measures in a way that people understand.
• Be specific: Talk about specific issues and use facts and figures.
• It's about people: Communicate with people on their level and respect them.

The document emphasizes that the fight against disinformation is complex and requires joint efforts from governments, institutions and individuals. With the advent of artificial intelligence, it will be even more difficult to distinguish between truth and lies, so it is important to build strategies to explain the benefits of climate action and refute misinformation.

The document also includes a glossary with definitions of key terms and a list of resources with more information on climate disinformation.

The Global Health Resilience group in the Earth Sciences Department at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) has three new positions available:

The year 2024 is confirmed by the service Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) as the world's warmest year on record and the first calendar year in which the global average temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. C3S is implemented on behalf of the European Commission by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), whose scientists monitor key climate indicators and document unprecedented daily, monthly and annual temperature records through 2024. Human-induced climate change remains the main driver of extreme air and sea surface temperatures; while other factors, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), have also contributed to the unusual temperatures observed throughout the year.

Global efforts to tackle climate change will suffer a severe blow if US President-elect Donald Trump again pulls the country out of the Paris Agreement, the EU's climate policy chief has warned.

Document presents a new method called Wasserstein Stability Analysis (WSA) for detecting changes in the probability distribution of climate data, which overcomes the limitations of traditional trend analysis based on average values.

Key ideas and facts:

• Inadequacy of average value analysis: While averages are useful for capturing overall energy conditions and filtering out noise in the data, with the advent of the big data era, it is becoming important to uncover deeper patterns and correlations in complex, high-resolution data sets. Changes in probability distributions that may be important for understanding climate change remain hidden when analyzing averages.
• Wasserstein distance: WSA uses Wasserstein distance (W-distance), a metric that quantifies the distance and similarities between two probability distributions. This metric has proven useful in various fields of climatology, but its potential in analyzing the physical properties of big data has remained largely unexplored.
• Detection of shifts in extreme events: By applying WSA to air temperature data from 1998-2013, the authors identified significant shifts in extreme events. For example, the eastern equatorial Pacific experienced a decrease in hot extremes and an increase in cold extremes, suggesting a temperature shift toward a La Niña-like phenomenon, even though no significant trend in average temperature was observed.
• Impact of melting sea ice: WSA also revealed significant changes in the probability distribution of air temperature in the Arctic regions. In the Barents and Kara Seas, where sea ice has been significantly reduced, WSA showed a weakening of the physical constraints on maximum air temperature, leading to changes in the shape of the probability distribution. This change is not easily detected using traditional trend analysis.
• Significance for climate modeling: The authors emphasize that the ability of WSA to detect changes in the probability distribution associated with sea ice melt could be a valuable tool in the development and validation of climate models. Improved sea ice modeling was one of the most significant advances in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report compared to previous reports.

Quotes from the article:

• "While averages represent important statistical properties of data sets, capture overall energy conditions, and filter out noise in low-quality data sets well, the advent of the big data era requires new methodologies."
• "In this study, we applied W-distance to the physical analysis of climate data from the early 21st century. By using W-distance, we introduce a new method – Wasserstein stability analysis (WSA) – aimed at revealing the variability of the probability density function (PDF) under climate change."
• "The results show that despite a non-significant trend, the equatorial eastern Pacific experienced a decrease in hot extremes and an increase in cold extremes, suggesting a La Niña-like temperature shift."
• "The findings suggest that sea ice strongly limits hot extremes of air temperature near the surface. This influence diminishes as sea ice melts."

WSA appears to be a promising tool for investigating climate change dynamics, providing valuable information for a better understanding of climate evolution. WSA reveals changes in probability distributions that may be overlooked by traditional trend analysis, thereby allowing deeper insight into complex climate processes, such as shifts in extreme events and the impact of sea ice melt.

Global warming is progressing faster than the best models can keep up.