Chronic respiratory diseases are one of the leading causes of death in Europe and it is estimated that more than a third of these deaths are caused by preventable environmental factors. Key interventions include reducing pollution, energy poverty and exposure to risk at work, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published today. (More on eea.europa.eu)

A UN biodiversity meeting this month failed to reach an agreement on funding. The world is far from ready for the "calamity" caused by climate change and must urgently prepare for even worse in the future, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday.

Global efforts to adapt to climate change—from building defensive sea walls to growing drought-resistant crops—have not kept pace as global warming accelerates the frequency and intensity of disasters. (Agence France-Presse, more at ndtv.com)

Northern permafrost regions, areas of permanently frozen ground, are undergoing rapid changes due to global warming. These changes pose a potential risk to the climate, (more…)

Today, the European Commission is taking further steps to support Member States affected by unprecedented climate disasters. As announced by European Commission President von der Leyen during her visit to Poland on 19 September 2024, the Commission is proposing amendments to three EU regulations to ensure the rapid mobilization of EU funds to support disaster recovery. (More on ec.europa.eu)

Tackling methane – and fast – has been declared a critical priority by world leaders and fossil fuel managers, many of whom have signed an accelerating series of pledges from 2021 to bolster their green credentials. The new commitments are among the key outcomes of successive annual UN climate conferences, and major polluters insist they are making progress. (by Aaron Clark and Zachary R Mider, Bloomberg News, more at phys.org)

Climate change is no longer a distant threat that haunts textbooks or ecologists' lectures. It has become part of our everyday reality and many experts warn that if we do not act immediately, (more…)

The European Union has been involved in the issue of climate security for a long time, but its approach is not without shortcomings. The sources analyze in detail the activities of the EU in this area and emphasize the complexity of the problem. (more…)

Total net greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union fell by 8 % last year, marking significant progress towards climate neutrality for the EU. The huge drop was driven by a significant drop in coal consumption and growth in renewables, and supported by reduced energy consumption across Europe, according to estimates in the European Environment Agency's (EEA) latest 'Trends and Forecasts' report published today. The EEA's annual review of the EU's progress towards its energy and climate targets highlights that EU Member States will need to maintain this pace of progress to achieve Europe's climate and energy targets. (More on eea.europa.eu)

Excessively hot or cold temperatures currently cause 407,000 deaths per year. Heat-related deaths, which are now six times more common in the south than in northern Europe, will be 9.3 times more common in the south than in the north by 2100. The first pan-European assessment reveals that even if current climate policies succeed in limiting global temperature rise to 3°C, heat-related mortality may increase. Without additional adaptation measures, an additional 55,000 deaths could occur annually by the end of this century. This 13.5 % increase in temperature-related deaths highlights the costs of delaying climate action. (More on joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu)

We have reached alarming new records in the health risks associated with a warming climate, according to the 8th annual Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. This year, the world's citizens faced an average of 50 more days of extreme heat, exposing millions of people to unprecedented health risks. The report also states that 48 % of global land area will experience severe drought in 2023 – the second highest level on record. This, along with intense heat waves, contributed to severe food insecurity for an estimated 151 million more people than in previous years. (Andrei Ionescu, more at earth.com)

 

If you're not a tree hugger now, you might want to be one soon. A recent report revealed that more than one in three tree species are at risk of extinction. The global assessment of trees is part of the update of the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The report was released to coincide with the UN COP16 Biodiversity Summit.

The numbers paint an alarming picture. Of the estimated 58,000 species believed to exist worldwide, more than 16,000 tree species are threatened with extinction. In other words, more than a third of all tree species are threatened. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)

Photosynthesis forms the basis of life on Earth, but climate change is increasingly threatening this essential process. With advanced tools, scientists can now study how changes in temperature, humidity and light affect photosynthesis and thus the future of ecosystems. (Andrei Ionescu, more at earth.com)

One of those who predicted the end of the world was Stephen Hawking. In a documentary titled "In Search of a New World," the physicist warned that humanity could use the planet until the year 2600, as it would then turn into a "huge fireball." The reasons that led him to this idea include global warming, climate change and the greenhouse effect.

NASA believes that the end of the world will be inevitable if energy consumption continues at this rate

NASA also confirmed Hawking's theory. It is true that the Air and Space Organization does not give an exact date for determining the end of the world, but it guarantees that if humanity continues to consume energy resources at this rate, its end will come sooner than expected. If urgent action is not taken, the destruction of our planet will be inevitable.

This is why NASA conducts interception programs to observe our planet from the inside and from space. In recent years, it has created a new program to help identify potential threats to Earth, such as an asteroid impact. It also continuously works to mitigate climate change and devotes resources to Earth observation. (Alexandra, jeunesexpress.ca)

The Arctic is warming three to four times faster than the global average. But new research suggests slowing a key ocean current could reduce projected Arctic warming by up to 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Enacting strong policies to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources, along with a rapid, legally implemented phase-out of fossil fuels, may be our best hope for limiting global warming. We are already seeing extreme weather that is more intense and more frequent than many climate science predictions. Just look at the recent floods, fires and droughts in Austria, Myanmar, Poland, Germany, Australia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nigeria. We saw the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Helena and Hurricane Milton in the US. And that's just in the last month.  (Katherine Quinn, more at climatechangenews.com)

Biodiversity and climate are interconnected. The loss or deterioration of ecosystems and their plants or animals leads to the release of stored carbon into the atmosphere, which accelerates climate change. At the same time, worsening climate change is causing further loss of biodiversity (more…)

The UN has released a report that warns of catastrophic levels of global warming. The report states that the world is on track to increase the global temperature by 3.1°C by the end of the century. If emissions are not significantly reduced, the world will have to deal with the serious consequences of climate change. The report emphasizes the need for international cooperation in reducing emissions, developing renewable energy sources and protecting natural resources.

What are the main obstacles and opportunities for addressing climate change?

The main obstacle in the fight against climate change is the constantly rising level of greenhouse gas emissions. A report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) states that emissions will increase by 1.3 % in 2023 compared to 2022. The G20 countries are responsible for 77 % of these emissions. If this trend continues, the world is headed for a 3.1°C warming by the end of the century.

Another obstacle is insufficient fulfillment of climate commitments. Even if countries stick to their current 2030 action plans, warming could range between 2.6°C and 2.8°C. The problem is that most countries are nowhere near fulfilling these plans.

Options for solving climate change are focused on reducing emissions and adapting to changed climate conditions.

Reducing emissions requires:

• Radical reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 42 % by 2030 and by 57 % by 2035.
• Switching to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower.
• Improving energy efficiency and moving away from fossil fuels.
• Protection and restoration of natural habitats such as forests and mangroves that absorb carbon.

Adaptation to changed climatic conditions includes:

• Development and implementation of strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change such as droughts, floods and extreme weather.
• Investments in infrastructure resistant to climate change.

In addition to government policies and technological innovation, individuals and communities also play a key role.

Steps at individual and community level:

• Reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste and choosing sustainable transport.
• Supporting community initiatives such as urban gardening, tree planting and local energy cooperatives.

Technological innovations offer hope in the fight against climate change.

• Advances in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower are reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Improved battery storage technologies and smart grids enable better management of energy distribution and consumption.
• Artificial intelligence and data analysis optimize energy use and reduce waste.
• Carbon capture technologies reduce emissions from industry.

Global cooperation, investment in technology and behavioral change at all levels are essential to succeed in the fight against climate change. (More on unep.org, CO2Al)

 

According to a new report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), current policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would lead to " catastrophic " warming of 3.1 °C per century compared to pre-industrial times. States must take climate action in the coming months  "jump forward" , otherwise the hope of keeping global warming below 1.5°C "she will be dead soon", he warns The UN on Thursday in its report, which points to the lack of significant progress in this area. last year. "We are playing with fire, but (...) there is nothing left to lose" , because "populations around the world are already paying a high price" for inaction in the face of global warming, the UN secretary general said. General Antonio Guterres. (More on  unep.org)

Global greenhouse gas emissions are set to hit a new high in 2023, after a 1.3 percent increase since 2022, according to data from UNEP's 2024 Emissions Caps report released on Thursday.

Last year, total greenhouse gas emissions reached 57.1 gigatons of CO2 equivalent. In 2023, the energy sector was the largest contributor to emissions with 15.1 GtCO2e, followed by transport (8.4 GtCO2e), agriculture (6.5 GtCO2e) and industry (6.5 GtCO2e). Within transport, the subcategory of road vehicles produced the most emissions (11 percent), while air transport and other modes of transport accounted for two percent each. Agriculture was also responsible for an 11 percent share of global emissions, of which six percent was attributed to livestock and five percent to burning biomass, land and rice. (Anna Fleck, more at statista.com)