The Earth's climate system continues to deteriorate rapidly, with global temperatures on track to exceed 2°C of warming by the end of this century, which is alarming for years to come. This warning comes from (more…)
The impact of climate change on migration, both current and future, has received considerable public and political attention in the last decade. A new IIASA-led study has provided the first comprehensive analysis of how climate factors—specifically drought and drought—affect internal migration.
While public debate often focuses on international migration, existing scientific evidence suggests that when climate factors drive migration, it often results in short-distance movements within national borders. However, there is a lack of scientific studies investigating climate-induced internal migration in different countries.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change used census microdata from 72 countries between 1960 and 2016 to provide the first global assessment of how environmental stress affects migration across national borders.
“Our analysis shows that internal migration – which we defined as movement between sub-national regions within a country – is increasing in regions affected by drought and aridification, especially in hyperarid and arid regions. The effects are most pronounced in agriculturally dependent and rural areas. " where livelihoods are very sensitive to changing climatic conditions. (Ansa Heyl, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, more at phys.org)
Atmospheric rivers—those long, narrow bands of water vapor in the sky that bring heavy rain and storms to the U.S. West Coast and many other areas—are moving toward higher latitudes, changing the world's weather.
This shift is exacerbating droughts in some regions, intensifying floods in others, and threatening the water resources that many communities rely on. When atmospheric rivers reach far north into the Arctic, they can also melt sea ice, affecting global climate.
In a new study published in Science Advances , University of California, Santa Barbara, climate scientist Qinghua Ding and I show that atmospheric rivers have shifted about 6 to 10 degrees toward the two poles over the past four decades. (Zhe Li, The Conversation, more at phys.org)
The world may already be at a tipping point when it comes to climate change, yet our leaders still seem to be in denial about the reality we must face. So, how late is too late to make the changes necessary for the survival of human life on Earth?
It's so absurd. It is abundantly clear that you cannot have infinite economic growth on a planet of limited resources, which seems to be the goal of our politicians.
We are now seeing the consequence of 50 years of ignoring this information, because the climate movement was fundamentally developed during those 1970s when I was a teenager, as well as when I first became aware of it. (More on taxresearch.org.uk)
Our world is witnessing profound climate change that threatens to change the face of the Earth as we know it. From the melting of ice at the poles to the escalation of destructive storms and hurricanes, climate change is no longer just an environmental problem, but an existential threat to humanity. These accelerating changes reflect a profound crisis that can no longer be ignored. Are we ready to face this challenge? Climate change is not a new phenomenon, but rather the result of decades of neglecting the issues of greenhouse gases, deforestation and carbon emissions. Humanity has ignored repeated warnings for decades, and now we are paying the price. Average global temperatures continue to rise, disrupting the balance of ecosystems and climate. (ندى محر عبدربه, صنعة مُگوتوم, more at arabiaweather.co
Using data from an instrument designed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the nonprofit organization Carbon Mapper has published the first detections of methane and carbon dioxide from the Tanager-1 satellite. The detections highlight methane plumes in Pakistan and Texas, as well as carbon dioxide plumes in South Africa.
The data contributes to Carbon Mapper's goal to identify and measure greenhouse gas emissions from point sources on a global scale and to make this information available and accessible. (More on jpl.nasa.gov)
A study of scenarios where the world temporarily exceeds 1.5°C of warming compared to pre-industrial levels raises concerns about consequences that may not be reversible for decades or longer.
Researchers warn that sea level rise could be as much as another 40 centimeters due to maximum warming under exceedance scenarios.
what's next?
Climate scientists are urging policymakers to focus on reducing emissions rather than on expensive attempts to capture or remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the Earth's atmosphere. (Peter de Kruijff, more at abc.net.au)
The EU is making progress towards climate neutrality, but the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from transport is relatively stagnant. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published today, the transport sector's transition to sustainability is hampered by increasing demand for transport and the slow growth of sustainable modes of transport for both passenger and freight transport. (More on eea.europa.eu)
The course was developed through a partnership between the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE); Global Nursing Working Group (GNWG)/Nursing Climate Resources for Health Education (N-CRHE); Alliance of Nurses for a Healthy Environment (AHNE), Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) and Climate Action Nurses (CAN).
The main objectives of the course are:
You can participate via a live or recorded meeting. Each participant who attends at least 7 of the 10 live zoom sessions OR watches the recordings AND passes the final course exam with a score of 70 % or higher will receive a certificate of participation.
You can register here .
According to an alarming annual climate report, the Earth's vital functions show a rapidly deteriorating state. As we approach the UN summit, the urgent need for immediate climate action has never been greater. The report was prepared by an international coalition led by scientists from Oregon State University (OSU). It issues a chilling warning that the Earth is heading into a "critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis" that requires swift and decisive action.
Dangerous times on planet earth
The detailed report, titled "State of the Climate Report 2024: Dangerous Times for Planet Earth," identifies several areas — including energy, pollutants, nature, food and the economy — where policy changes are essential.
"Much of the very fabric of life on our planet is threatened," said William Ripple, a professor in the OSU College of Forestry. "We are already in the midst of a sudden climate shock that threatens life on Earth like nothing humans have ever seen."(Rodielon Putol, more at earth.com)
Researchers from the University of Oxford's Department of Earth Sciences have shown that rock weathering in the Canadian Arctic will accelerate as temperatures rise, triggering a positive feedback loop that will release more and more CO 2 into the atmosphere. The findings were published in the journal Science Advances. For sensitive regions such as the Arctic, where surface air temperatures are warming nearly four times faster than the global average, understanding the potential contribution of atmospheric CO 2 from weathering is particularly important. (Oxford University, more at phys.org)
As we approach the second half of 2024, a worrying trend has taken hold around the world. Temperatures soared to unprecedented heights, pushing the global average to an unprecedented 17.16 °C (62.89 °F) in July and intensifying drought conditions worldwide.
This searing escalation of global heat is not isolated – its consequences are reflected in ecosystems, economies and the daily lives of millions of people.
Impacts of global drought
Such extreme heat has culminated in accelerated evaporation of soil water, leaving vegetation in a fragile state and stressing biodiversity in many regions of the world.
Coupled with atypically low rainfall, major river basins such as the Amazon, La Plata and Zambezi have seen shrinking water flows, which has significantly affected the wider ecosystems and economies associated with them. (Rodielon Putol, more at earth.com)
The phenomenon, which usually occurs every two to seven years, causes El Niño to produce much warmer than average ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific, greatly affecting weather around the world.
The Quelccaya Ice Sheet (QIC) in the Peruvian Andes has been shown to be sensitive to these climate changes, but the extent to which El Niño contributes to its continued shrinkage has been unclear until now.
Now, using images captured by NASA's Landsat satellites over the past four decades, researchers have confirmed that the regional warming that regularly causes El Niño has indeed led to a drastic reduction in its snowpack. The study, led by Kara Lamantia, a graduate student at Ohio State University's Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, found that between 1985 and 2022, the QIC lost about 58 % of its snowpack and about 37 % of its total area. (TatyaWoodall, The Ohio State University, more at phys.org)
The world faces unprecedented environmental health challenges, exacerbated by rapid urbanization, industrialization and climate change. The adverse effects of air pollution, climate variability and unsustainable energy practices on public health require immediate attention and action. The Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) on Air Pollution and Health and the Technical Advisory Group on Air Pollution and Health (GAPH-TAG) were convened by WHO in 2019 and 2021 and act as advisory bodies to WHO by providing program (SAG) technical (GAPH-TAG) guidelines and inputs to support the work of the organization in various important areas. The session will focus on exposure to ambient/indoor air pollution, associated health effects and co-benefits (eg climate) of mitigation strategies. This meeting will provide a platform to:
(More on who.int)
As climate scientists sound the alarm about an unrealistic path to 1.5°C - just as the Arctic burns, the Amazon is cleared and America recovers from the deadliest hurricane in two decades - the key to the future of the planet is how governments reshape their policies.
As well as consumer behavior. The climate crisis affects everyone, everywhere in the world, and it is extremely important to take individual action. A new survey of nearly 19,000 people by consulting firm Bain & Company found that 76 % of the world's population say that practicing an ecological lifestyle is effective and important.
The survey, which comes as the world deals with two geopolitical wars, the rise of artificial intelligence and continued inflation, found that 61 % people in the 10 countries covered are now more worried about the climate crisis than they were two years ago. often prompted by personal experience of extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent as the world warms and our atmosphere becomes heavier on carbon. (Anay Mridul, more at greenqueen.com)
Obligations under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) were due to apply from 30 December 2024. The European Commission has now proposed a 12-month delay to allow for a 12-month phase-in period to ensure effective implementation. Following the approval of the proposed postponement by the European Parliament and the Council, the EUDR obligations would take effect from 30 December 2025 (and from 30 June 2026 for SMEs).
The EUDR applies to "relevant commodities" ( cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy and timber ) and specified derivative products. It is prohibited to import, make available or export such products to the EU unless they are "deforestation free" and manufactured in accordance with the relevant laws of the country of manufacture. For more information, see our overviews of the EUDR. (Suzanne Kearney, Aisling Carey, Golda Hession, more at lexology.com)
The EU Covenant of Mayors Award is back and offers cities a great opportunity to shine a light on their projects aimed at decarbonising the heating and cooling sector. This year's award is closely linked to the Cities Heat Detox campaign, which focuses on cleaner and more sustainable heating and cooling solutions.
The award recognizes cities' achievements in implementing innovative projects that contribute to local decarbonisation strategies and impact the air quality, economic strength and resilience of their communities.
The award is not only a recognition of your efforts, but also offers a platform to inspire other cities in Europe and beyond. This is your chance to highlight the progress your city has made in the fight against climate change and promote your innovative approach to creating greener, healthier and more sustainable cities and towns. (More on eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu)
The European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) has opened a call for a second national expert (SNE). The purpose of the VNE position is to strengthen and develop relations between national institutions in EU member states while remaining at the service of their employer. In particular, ECDC is looking for candidates with expertise in climate change and environmental determinants to contribute to its disease programmes.
Applicants can apply until November 15, 2024. Learn more about the role here.
Heat waves, floods, fires and other weather extremes – the symptoms of the climate crisis are all around us. But sustainable cooling could help beat the heat while reducing emissions. Rethinking how we stay cool could help solve today's cooling paradox — in which heat waves and extreme temperatures caused by the climate crisis are forcing people in many parts of the world to turn on their air conditioners, which release gases that further contribute to climate change.
What is sustainable cooling?
As the name suggests, sustainable cooling is more climate-friendly than traditional cooling. It focuses on improving the efficiency of cooling solutions along with measures that reduce the ambient temperature in buildings and urban environments. ( Johnny Wood, Madeleine North, more at weforum.org)
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