The Thwaites Glacier has the potential to be a disaster for coastal communities around the world, as scientists have a fresh and disturbing update for us. West Antarctica is home to a huge sheet of floating ice – about the size of Great Britain – that is rapidly receding. According to a new study, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, glaciologists from California University of Irvine found that the warm water beneath the surface of the glacier causes the melting rate to increase faster. (Anish Vij, more at ladbible.com)

The era of low-cost air travel in Europe may be over for good, thanks in part to recent EU environmental policies. Overall, this is good news for the climate. But many people on low and middle incomes who used to travel within the EU will no longer be able to do so, or at least will be able to travel much less often. However, the same policies will have little or no effect on the use of the much more polluting private jets that typically cover the distances operated by commercial airlines and trains. This is a case of unfair sacrifice for climate action. Tackling this injustice should be a top priority for the next EU legislative term if fair and inclusive climate change is to be achieved. (Faust Corvina, more at ajupress.com)

F-gases are often used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances because they do not deplete the ozone layer of the atmosphere. However, F-gases are strong greenhouse gases with an even higher warming potential than carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ). They thus contribute to climate change to a large extent.

To control emissions from F-gases, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the European Union adopted two legislative acts: regulation on F-gases a the MAC directive (Mobile Air Conditioning systems) . The EEA contributes by collecting data on the production, import, export, disposal and use of F-gases in the EU as reported by companies. This data is published annually in the report on fluorinated greenhouse gases. (More on www.eea.europa.eu)

January 2024 was the first year in which global surface temperatures increased by 1.5°C above average. Although it is not known whether this trend will continue, it means that temperatures are approaching the threshold agreed in 2015 in the Paris Agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. With news like this, it's easy to feel like it's too late, that there's nothing we can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to make a difference. But a report from the Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI), a partnership between the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the University of Maryland, shows that the world's goal of keeping temperature rise below 1.5°C is still within reach. The study was led by the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland. (To JoAnna Wendel, more at phys.org)

In April, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of a group of senior citizens who claimed that the Swiss government's failure to meet climate change mitigation targets was adversely affecting their health, well-being and quality of life.

This landmark decision by Europe's highest human rights court not only confirms that climate change is closely linked to human rights, but actually holds all European governments accountable for taking tougher action to combat climate change. ( Kuan-Wei Chen , McGill University , Hoda Asgarian , Bond University, more at theconversation.com)

Microplastics in the ocean are well-documented risks that pose a direct threat to marine life such as turtles and fish. But a recent joint study revealed another, more insidious risk. These tiny particles not only threaten marine organisms, but also threaten the ocean's ability to mitigate climate change.

The impact of microplastics on the ocean

The ocean has long been a key part of the Earth's carbon cycle and acts as an important carbon sink.

This process involves the formation of what is often referred to as "marine snow", a phenomenon in which dead phytoplankton, tiny marine plants, clump together and sink into the ocean depths, effectively sequestering carbon from the atmosphere.

However, the introduction of microplastics into this environment is changing this age-old process. (Rodielon Putol, more at earth.com)

Few things in nature are as predictable as the tides in the ocean. These persistent, short-period, and large-scale phenomena, driven by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun, are apparent in almost all types of oceanographic and satellite observations. They also directly affect the rhythm of life of millions of people and countless ecosystems.

Recently, however, researchers have noticed subtle changes in surface measurements of tides that don't match changes in the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. Instead, the collected data and theory suggest that a warming ocean surface may be behind the observations. To investigate these phenomena, Dr. Michael Schindelegger of the University of Bonn is using supercomputing resources at the Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC) to better understand observational data collected from 1993–2020, improving the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) ocean circulation. models in process. (Sarah Waldrip, more at phys.org)

The Atlantic Overturning Circulation (AMOC) transports seawater across the Atlantic Ocean. For us in Western, Central and Northwestern Europe, it is a hot water heating system: it ensures that our winters are mild and the seas are generally ice-free in winter. AMOC is one of the basic elements of our earth's climate system. As a result of changing environmental conditions, it could "overturn", ie significantly weaken or even stop.

A study published in February in the journal "Science Advances" now provides further clear evidence that the Atlantic overturning circulation could indeed be overturning. We explain how likely this scenario is and what it could mean for us. (dr. Kilian Loesch, more at utopia.de)

Answer: The EU has a number of directives and regulations related to climate change as part of its ambitious environmental policy. Here are some of the key documents:

1. European climate policy:
   • European Green Deal: This ambitious plan sets the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. It contains various measures to promote a sustainable economy, biodiversity protection, clean energies and a circular economy.
2. Regulation on the European Climate Law (European Climate Law):
   • Adopted in 2021, this law legally enshrines the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
3. EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS):
   • One of the EU's main strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This system sets a limit on the total amount of emissions and enables the trading of emission quotas.
4. Energy Efficiency Directive:
   • It establishes binding measures to improve energy efficiency and the goal of achieving at least 32.5 % improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.
5. Renewable Energy Directive:
   • It sets the goal of achieving a 32 % share of renewable energy sources in total energy consumption in the EU by 2030.
6. Regulation on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (Effort Sharing Regulation):
   • It sets binding targets for individual member states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in sectors outside the EU ETS, such as transport, buildings and agriculture.
7. Air Quality Directive:
   • It sets limits for concentrations of harmful substances in the air to protect human health and the environment.
8. Package of measures "Fit for 55":
   • The package includes various legislative proposals to put the EU on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 % by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

These regulations and directives are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the EU's comprehensive approach to tackling climate change. If you are interested in specific details, you can visit the official website of the European Commission, where you will find the latest information and the full texts of the relevant documents. (Co2AI)

It is one of the areas most affected by climate change on our planet. The Mediterranean region experiences “  "critical conditions" of drought, scientists from the Joint Research Center of the European Commission warned in February. From Sardinia to Portugal, through the south of France and Spain, these regions have serious water shortages. The Maghreb is even considered in this report as “  extremely serious  ".

This is not an exceptional episode, but rather a persistent phenomenon that occurs over several years and is caused by a combination of high temperatures and a lack of precipitation. "  The observed increase in temperatures in this area is higher than the global average," says hydroclimatologist Yves Tramblay, researcher at the Research Institute for Development and co-author of the chapter of the sixth IPCC report dedicated to this region. The planet is warming and the Mediterranean Sea a little faster. ( Authors: Justine Guitton-Boussion, Augustin Campos (in Sicily), Alban Elkaïm (in Spain), Driss Rejichi (in Tunisia), more at reporterre.net)

Many of the effects of climate disruption are already being felt. One particularly tough place is the ocean. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the seas have absorbed more than 90 percent of the heat energy trapped by greenhouse gases since the beginning of the industrial age. And just as with IPCC scientists, marine scientists are overcome with sadness and despair as their work suffers from the climate crisis.

Bob Berwyn, a reporter for Inside Climate News, has been on the ocean waves for more than a decade and has observed this ecological sadness throughout his reporting. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.  (Interview with Aynsley O'Neill, more at insideclimatenews.org)

In terms of economic damage, the climate crisis may be six times worse than previously thought. According to new research, global warming is reducing wealth at a rate corresponding to the level of financial losses of permanent war. It is clear that the researchers are only referring to the economic losses and not the endless suffering and death that war causes. New research they conducted  Adrien Bilal  and Diego R. Känzig, economists from Harvard and Northwestern University, showed that a 1°C increase in global temperature leads to a 12 % decline in global gross domestic product (GDP), a much higher estimate than previous analyses. The world has already warmed by more than 1°C since pre-industrial times, and many climate scientists predict a 3°C increase by the end of this century due to continued fossil fuel consumption. (More on iconameteo.it)

As of May 20, new rules for the protection of the environment through the Criminal Code came into force.

New directive on environmental crime will help achieve the goals of the European Green Deal by combating the most serious environmental crimes that can have devastating effects on both the environment and human health through criminal law.

The new directive will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date list of environmental crimes that will address the most serious violations of environmental obligations. Member States will have to ensure that these violations constitute criminal offenses in their national law. (More on environment.ec.europa.eu)

A recent World Bank policy paper explained how climate change has affected educational outcomes around the world and made some suggestions for how to deal with it.

He noted that extreme weather events have forced school closures and affected more than five million people over the past two decades. Heat waves, floods, cyclones and other calamities result in the frequent closing of schools and other educational institutions.

When disasters persist, schools remain closed for long periods. They are also used as evacuation centers. There are cases where school buildings have collapsed due to disasters. (More on deccanherald.com)

In order to support Member States in the implementation of the revised LULUCF Regulation, the European Commission, DG CLIMA and the EEA commissioned a consortium of suppliers to prepare a handbook that would provide guidelines and guidelines for the implementation of the updated Regulation.

The aim of this manual is to :

• Please explain all elements of the LULUCF Regulation including reporting requirements and reporting policies. He does it by providing practical tips, examples and case studies from Member States. 
• Enable increasing the quality of emissions and captures of greenhouse gases in data on the inventory of emissions of the LULUCF sector using the latest methodologies and monitoring data.
• Spread knowledge and experience on how monitoring of greenhouse gases in the land sector can be improved to reflect the effects of policies and measures.

Guide it is intended not only for emission inventory experts, but also for those involved in the creation of land use policy , its implementation, monitoring and reporting, including forestry and agricultural policy experts. (More on climate-energy.eea.europa.eu)

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal will transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy that will ensure:

• no net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
• economic growth separated from the use of resources
• there is no person and no place left

The European Green Deal is also our lifeline against the COVID-19 pandemic. One third of 1.8 billion euros  investments from the NextGenerationEU recovery plan and the seven-year EU budget will finance the European Green Deal. (More on commission.europa.eu)

In recent years, a troubling shadow has been spreading across Europe's shores: dengue fever. This viral disease, originally confined to the tropics, is making its way further north, driven by climate change and globalization. Recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and public health institutes indicate a dramatic increase in cases, causing alarm not only in traditionally affected countries but also in Europe. Dengue fever, caused by the Flavi virus, has seen a dramatic increase in the past two decades. From 2000 to 2019, reported cases increased from 500,000 to 5.2 million. This increase is not limited to tropical countries; Europe itself has seen a growing number of indigenous infections, ie cases of infections not imported by travelers. In 2023, Italy reported 82 cases, France 43 and Spain 3. These numbers, although seemingly small, represent only the tip of the iceberg, as many mild or asymptomatic infections went unreported. (Antonio Capobianco, more at italiaglobale.it)

Climate change represents one of the greatest challenges of our time, with effects that go far beyond the natural environment and affect economies and societies on a global scale. A recent study highlighted how these climate changes could have a significant impact on international trade with major economic losses. Global trade is largely dependent on strategic sea routes known as critical transit points, such as the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, and the Turkish Straits. These areas are essential for the global movement of goods, including agricultural products, which represent a significant share of international trade. A study by an international team led by Ramón Key investigated how climate change could affect these key areas, using advanced models to predict global economic consequences. (Zarina Chiarenzova, more at notizie.com)