Pope Francis has declared that the climate crisis has the planet "almost at tipping point", laying part of the blame at the door of the United States and its people for "irresponsible lifestyles". change, made the chilling remark at the start of a three-day climate summit to be held in the Vatican between May 15 and 17.

Francis, a native of Argentina, said he was "sincerely concerned" about "our suffering planet." Because of society's reluctance to take adequate steps to protect against climate change, the Catholic figure ominously predicted that "the world we live in is a collapse." (John O'sullivan, more at irishstar.com)

Today's rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is 10 times faster than at any other point in the past 50,000 years, researchers have found through a detailed chemical analysis of ancient Antarctic ice.

Findings published in journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences they provide important new understanding of periods of abrupt climate change in Earth's past and offer new insight into the potential impacts of climate change in the present.

"The study of the past teaches us how today is different. The rate of change of CO ₂ is truly unprecedented today," said Kathleen Wendt, assistant professor at Oregon State University's College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and lead author of the study. (Michelle Klampe, Oregon State University, more at phys.org)

Climate change scenarios were once terms used only in scientific publications. Today, however, they are ubiquitous in discussions about sustainability in a variety of industries, from investors to energy and the food and beverage sector. Consider any product in your home, from an Apple phone to Ben & Jerry's ice cream; companies use some climate scenarios to manage risks.

Climate scenarios are increasingly used as they have become a compliance requirement. In June last year, they were included in the global accounting and sustainability disclosure standards, IFRS, which are used in 168 countries. Under these standards, companies that identify climate change as a financial risk should use climate-related scenario assessments. (Simi Thambi, more at forbes.com)

Climate change is one of the most pressing problems of our time with far-reaching consequences for our planet and its inhabitants. As the next generation of leaders, innovators and citizens, schoolchildren must understand the complexities of climate change and its impact on the environment, human health and the economy. Educating school children about climate change is key to raising awareness, promoting sustainable practices and inspiring action. (Manaksha Memon, more at arynews.tv)

The report 2024 Europe of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change published in the journal The Lancet Public Health, with updated indicators, emphasizes the negative impacts of climate change on human health and their uneven distribution; delayed action to mitigate and adapt to climate change; and some missed opportunities to protect and improve health.

The report can be viewed in The Lancet and on the Lancet Countdown Europe website.

You can still join the virtual launch of the 2024 Lancet Countdown in Europe on 13 May 2024, 14:00-16:00 CEST. More information and registration can be found here. (More on climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu)

Tree mortality has increased significantly in Europe over the past three decades, the research team writes in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. The calculated limitation of species will make it difficult to cope with the impending loss of forests - especially with regard to the creation of mixed forests, which are considered to be particularly resistant to disturbances and therefore considered an important adaptation strategy in forestry. (Annett Stein, dpa/sbi, more at gmx.at)

According to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA), current efforts to limit carbon emissions are insufficient to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. This conclusion was reached by assessing the "emissions gap" between various national climate protection plans and what is actually needed to achieve this goal. This unprecedented study found a gap of up to 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) between current global carbon removal plans and what is needed by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of global warming, including heat waves, floods, droughts, melting ice and rising sea levels. (By Morgan Fromentin, more at msn.com)

The scientific community is again sounding the alarm: without a paradigm shift, the probability that we will experience the consequences of an increase in temperatures significantly above 1.5 °C according to the Paris Agreement is increasing. The majority of 380 of the 843 IPCC experts who responded to the Guardian survey predict that the internationally agreed temperature targets will be exceeded, which can have dramatic consequences for humanity and the planet. More specifically, 77 % of the 380 experts who are lead authors or reviewers of IPCC reports as of 2018 envision a future described as “polystop” characterized by famine, conflict and mass migration triggered by extreme weather events such as heat waves, fires, floods and storms. (Mama Nirina Rolland Randrianarivelo, more at tameteo.com)

Climate change has become a global problem as it has an increasing impact on the ecosystem and consequently on human lives. Humans influence the climate system and it is widely recognized that climate change is a major problem with physical, economic and social risks that have a direct impact on the environment.

In another way, climate change is the result of global warming, which is partly caused by greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity. In the long term, some specific economic sectors, such as agriculture, tourism, fishing, insurance and forestry, are seriously threatened by the effects of climate change on businesses, and the dependence of business production on the natural environment hinders the growth of these businesses. (Dr Rajib Chakraborty, more at observerbd.com)

Although there has been a significant increase in green investments in recent years, there is an annual gap of €406 billion that needs to be filled in order to achieve objectives of the European Union in the field of climate , as highlighted by a study recently published on Wednesday, February 21. The transition to a green and sustainable economy is a commitment that the EU has set for itself, with the dual goal of combating climate change and promoting the well-being of future generations. However, the funds needed to realize this vision are still insufficient. Europe is at a key crossroads: finding the resources needed to make it more sustainable  of the future or face the serious consequences of climate change. (Luigi Barbieri, more at tempoitalia.it)

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the biggest environmental challenges facing our planet today. Both phenomena are closely related and have devastating consequences for the Earth's ecosystem. Climate change is mainly caused by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, mainly due to human activities such as the use of fossil fuels and deforestation. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and cause global warming, which leads to extreme climate changes such as heat waves, droughts, floods and increasingly intense storms. (Theo Bianchi, more at ecoblog.it)

A group of climate experts have responded to a Guardian poll which revealed that hundreds of the world's leading climate scientists are predicting global warming above the international target of 1.5°C. In response, the UN issued a warning of an impending climate cliff.

The declarations of some of the most respected climate figures are a sign of deep despair that must act as a wake-up call for urgent and radical action to end the use of fossil fuels and save millions of lives and livelihoods. According to many experts the 1.5°C target hangs in the balance , but it is not yet necessary that it be exceeded if a dramatic change in the pace of climate action is to be achieved.

The Guardian gathered the views of nearly 400 senior authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. Almost 80 %s expect an increase of at least 2.5°C from pre-industrial levels, a catastrophic level of warming, while only 6 %s think it will stay within the 1.5°C limit. Many expressed their personal concerns about the lack of climate action. (Francesca Zavettieri, more at meteoweb.eu)

Currently, the fight against climate change is one of the most important tasks we face. With the increasing occurrence of extreme weather conditions and threats to biodiversity, it is necessary to look for new and innovative ways to minimize the negative impact of human activities on the environment.

One of the most promising tools in the fight against climate change is the use of artificial intelligence. This technology has enormous potential to streamline and improve our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the planet.

One of the newest and most innovative projects in the field of using artificial intelligence in the fight against climate change is the CO2AI project. This project uses advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze data related to CO2 emissions and identify the most effective ways to reduce these emissions.

Thanks to artificial intelligence, it is possible to more accurately predict the development of climate change and propose specific measures to mitigate it. In addition, artificial intelligence can help optimize the use of renewable energy sources and streamline processes within industry and transport.

The CO2AI project is an example of how artificial intelligence can be used to support sustainable development and protect the environment. We believe that in the future we will increasingly use technological innovations to solve global environmental challenges and together achieve positive changes for our planet. (In the lower right corner of our information portal co2news.sk)

We tend to think of earthquakes as purely geological events—the result of shifting tectonic plates and swirling pressure deep beneath our feet. But what if our weather and climate change can also play a role? A new study led by MIT scientists suggests that heavy rains and snowstorms caused by climate change have the potential to trigger earthquakes. The focus of the MIT study was a region in Japan called the Noto Peninsula. This finger-shaped landmass has been experiencing earthquakes for more than a decade. The specific type of earthquake activity observed is known as an earthquake swarm, which is characterized by a series of smaller earthquakes occurring continuously without a clear main event. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)

The study revealed that climate change will have a dramatic impact on where malaria is prevalent, with current outbreaks improving but affecting new areas. Hotter and drier temperatures will reduce mosquito breeding sites in Africa, while areas that are currently unaffected will become susceptible, such as southern Europe.

The researchers studied the impact of rainfall and water flows that caused flooding and led to the creation of surface water suitable for mosquito breeding. (Nicky Harley, more at thenationalnews.com)

The findings point to the potential of developing accurate prognostic and therapeutic interventions. These organs have a complex and multidirectional communication system that touches everything from our gastrointestinal tract to our nervous system. Whether it's our brain that affects hunger or the liver that affects mental health, understanding the gut-liver-brain communication or "axis" is critical to protecting human health.

The study, using mouse models, is one of the first to fill the gap in knowledge about the effects of heat stress at the molecular level of this key biological conversation. (BRIANNA ALDRICH-UC IRVINE, more at future.org)

Generative artificial intelligence and social media may undermine efforts to tackle climate change, researchers say in a new forum paper published in the journal Global Environmental Politics.

UBC professor Dr. Hamish van der Ven and his colleagues argue that generative AI – including large language models such as chatGPT – and social media can distract from pressing global issues, promote feelings of hopelessness and reduce creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

The common perception is that AI, social media and other technological products and platforms are either neutral or potentially positive in terms of their impact on climate change action. (University of British Columbia, more at phys.org)

The EEA report "Responding to the impacts of climate change on human health in Europe: focus on floods, droughts and water quality" highlights the worsening water-related impacts of climate change on health and well-being that are already being felt across Europe. Rapid implementation and better coordination of efforts by governments, water authorities and health care providers is urgently needed to prevent and reduce health impacts. The EEA report seeks to inspire action by showing various examples of practical solutions implemented in EEA member and cooperating countries. (More on climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu)

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) European Parliament and Council Directive (EU) 2024/1760 is set to become law as part of a fundamental overhaul of corporate commitments to human rights, environmental standards and climate change. In this article, we focus on the climate-related obligations enshrined in CS3D: the obligation imposed on companies to adopt and implement climate change plans. (More on globalcompliancenews.com)