Advanced Al systems are coming under increasing criticism for how much energy they consume. However, it is important to remember that Al could also contribute in various ways to our response to climate change. Climate change can be broken down into a number of smaller problems that need to be addressed as part of an overall adaptation and mitigation strategy. These include identifying sources of emissions, improving the production and use of renewable energy, and predicting disasters such as floods and fires.

My own research focuses on how Al can be used to predict greenhouse gas emissions from cities and farms, or to understand changes in vegetation, biodiversity, and terrain from satellite imagery.

Here are four different areas where Al has already managed to tackle some of the smaller tasks needed to confront the climate crisis more broadly. (The Conversation, more at newskarnataka.com)

Earth Day is coming up on April 22. Wondering what action you can take that day to make the planet a better place? Will it be taking out the trash, planting trees, installing a rain barrel, getting a compost bin?

All these activities are great. But I have a suggestion that won't hurt your back, won't require mechanical skills, and won't cost you anything. Have a conversation about the climate! Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe says it's the most impactful thing you can do to slow climate change. Although climate change is a huge threat to all life on this planet, only "environmentalists" seem to talk about it ( More on baltimoresun.com)

The results obtained by researchers coordinated by Leonie Wenz indicate that the world economy will see a reduction in income of approximately 19 % by 2049 compared to a scenario in which climate change is absent: damage that is already six times greater than the costs associated with reducing and mitigating global warming, as is stipulated in the Paris Climate Agreement. "The advantage of this study is that it shows that the consequences of the climate crisis will appear already in 2050, that is, not in the distant future. In addition - adds Lamperti - the estimate is independent of the emission reduction policies that can be implemented, the decline in income will occur in any scenario, and this emphasizes the urgency of finding adaptation policies that are often left aside in the public debate. The model suggests that economic losses will affect all regions of the globe, except for those in high latitudes such as Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia and northern Russia, where higher temperatures will have a positive effect on incomes. (More on interris.it)

In 2009, countries around the world gathered in Copenhagen with pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change. But a recent study paints a disappointing picture of progress: lots of promises, not much follow-through. Have many countries abandoned their climate commitments?

The 2009 Copenhagen Summit, formally known as the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties ( COP15 ) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ), was a critical event with high expectations for the advancement of global climate policy.

The summit brought together leaders and delegates from around the world to create a comprehensive and legally binding agreement to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)

In recent decades, our planet has experienced rapid and worrying climate change, a phenomenon triggered mainly by human activity, which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The consequences of global warming are tangible and its impact is increasingly evident: devastating fires, melting glaciers, rising temperatures and intense rainfall. The main cause of this phenomenon is the greenhouse effect, a process vital to life on Earth, which has been altered by the excessive release of greenhouse gases due to industrial activity and the use of fossil fuels. These gases trap the sun's heat in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise, with disastrous consequences for the environment and life on Earth. It is essential to address the climate crisis with urgency and determination. We can start by adopting more sustainable behaviour in our daily lives. Reducing electricity consumption, using environmentally friendly means of transport such as bicycles or public transport, and reducing the consumption of non-recyclable materials are just some of the measures we can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. Waste management is another critical area where we can make a difference. The way we manage waste has a direct impact on the health of the environment. Plastics in particular are becoming an increasing threat to marine and terrestrial ecosystems. We must adopt effective recycling practices and limit the use of single-use plastics to prevent further damage to natural habitats and wildlife. Awareness of our impact on the environment must spread to all levels of society. Governments must take responsibility for implementing effective environmental policies and promoting renewable energy sources. Companies must adopt sustainable practices in the production and distribution of their products. And as individuals, we must actively work to reduce our ecological footprint and protect the planet for future generations. Pollution and global warming are not just environmental problems, but existential threats that require concrete and immediate action. The time for inaction is over. We must act now to protect our planet and ensure a sustainable future for all. Every small gesture counts, and together we can make a difference. (The Rest of the Carlino)

Climate change has led to more frequent and extreme weather events, including floods, storms, droughts and fires. As we continue to experience and witness these events, we are more likely to be exposed to traumatic incidents such as destruction, loss of communities, serious injury and death. As a result, many of us may begin to experience higher levels of anxiety and distress.

Here are some tips you can use to manage climate anxiety. (More on colorado.edu)

As carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere, the Earth will get warmer. Exactly how much warming will result from a certain increase in CO ₂ however, is being investigated. The relationship between CO ₂ and warming, known as climate sensitivity, determines what future we should expect as CO levels ₂ they keep rising. New research led by the University of Washington analyzes the last ice age, when much of North America was covered by ice, to better understand the relationship between CO ₂ and global temperature. It found that while most future warming estimates remain unchanged, the absolute worst-case scenario is unlikely. (University of Washington, more at phys.org)

In the years 2021-2027, more than 1.2 trillion euros from EU funds will be invested in six complex areas. With a funding rate of 70-100 % and an additional 25 % overheads on top, European Union R&D grants can significantly impact your competitiveness, technology and research leadership. Rolls-Royce, for example, received around €70 million in Horizon 2020 grants.

Whether you are looking for funding for research, innovation and digitization or a green transition, we can support you in securing millions of euros in European funding. (More on ec.europa.eu)

As scientists warn of climate change and temperatures around the world continue to rise at an alarming rate, NASA has estimated which areas of the Earth will be most vulnerable in 30 years. Will the place you live still be habitable in 30 years? Temperature records are breaking, and experts predict this is just the beginning. In April, France just experienced its hottest day ever for this time of year. Temperatures have been above normal for 26 consecutive months. The years 2022 and 2023 The two hottest years on record were in France. The observation is the same all over the world, where it has never been as hot as in 2023. (Nastase Montel, more at santemagazine.fr)

The EUCRA report builds on and complements the existing knowledge base on climate impacts and risks for Europe, including recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, as well as the results of EU-funded research and development projects and national climate risk assessments. The findings in this first-of-its-kind assessment are synthesised to support strategic policy-making. (EUCRA report)

Humanity has just two years left to "save the world" by making dramatic changes to the way it spews out heat-trapping emissions, and even less time to act to raise the funding for such a massive shift. The head of the UN Climate Agency informed about it.

As the world's governments face a 2025 deadline for new and stronger plans to curb carbon pollution, nearly half the world's population will vote in elections this year and crucial global finance meetings will be held in Washington this month, UN climate executive Simon Simon said. Stiell. On April 10, he knows his warning may sound melodramatic. But he said action over the next two years was "inevitable". (More on japannews.yomiuri.co.jp)

In a fascinating study that sheds light on the complex relationship between plants and climate, scientists have found that ecosystems can have a significant impact on the world's climate. The extent of this influence depends mostly on the combination of plants present, as recent research led by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg ( MLU ) reveals.

Using a combination of satellite data and approximately 50,000 vegetation records from across Europe, the researchers determined the significant role of local plant diversity. They found that it accounts for about five percent of regional climate regulation. (Rodielon Putol, more at earth.com)

Recent aerial and satellite surveys show that landfills and oil and gas operations around the world are releasing far more methane, a potent greenhouse gas, than governments realized. That’s a problem for the climate as well as for human health. It’s also why the U.S. government is tightening regulations on methane leaks and wasteful venting, most recently from oil and gas wells on public lands. The good news is that many of these leaks can be fixed—if they’re caught quickly.

Riley Duren, a research fellow at the University of Arizona and a former NASA engineer and scientist, leads the nonprofit Carbon Mapper, which is planning a satellite constellation to monitor methane. Its first satellite, a partnership with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Earth-imaging company Planet Labs, is scheduled to launch in 2024. (Riley Duren, The Conversation, more at phys.org)

The EU must integrate its financial, energy and telecoms markets or face losing its “economic security” and falling behind the US and China, a new report has warned. Enrico Letta, the former Italian prime minister tasked by European leaders to assess the state of the EU’s dysfunctional single market, told the Financial Times that further European integration is a matter of survival in the global economy. (Paola Tamma, more on Financial Times)

This year, the conference is held under the auspices of the Belgian EU Presidency and in collaboration with the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF). The event is a key opportunity for the European and international circular economy community to meet, exchange views and follow engaging discussions on the role of the circular economy across sectors and borders, this year focusing on how to “turn circular visions into action”.

The conference will reflect on the last ten years of circular economy implementation worldwide and in Europe. The conference comes at a crucial moment when “a slight decoupling of EU resource consumption from economic growth can be observed”, but where more needs to be done to ensure the EU reaches its 2030 circularity targets, according to a recent EEA report on Accelerating the circular economy in Europe – status and outlook for 2024 .  

The Commission is today stepping up its efforts to support the solar sector in Europe through European Solar Charter . The Charter, signed today by the Commission – represented by EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson – energy ministers from 23 EU countries and industry representatives in the informal Energy Council, sets out a series of voluntary measures to be taken to support the EU photovoltaic sector. (More on energy.ec.europa.eu)

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "rapid and far-reaching change" is necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change. "However, the transformation of the economy towards climate neutrality always involves a certain amount of economic stress – some industries and jobs disappear while others are created," explains Johannes Stangl of the Complexity Science Hub (CSH). When it comes to climate policy measures, how can economic damage be minimized? (Complexity Science Hub, more at phys.org)

Have you heard about the European Commission's Green Deal or the Circular Economy Action Plan? Are you aware that the European Union is considering new legislation on sustainability and the circular economy?

You may be aware of these topics but have put them on the “I’ll deal with it later” pile. This would be an understandable approach, knowing that the new legislation is several years away and will be implemented at EU Member State level.

In this briefing, we tell you why you should pay attention to these developments now if your business manufactures or supplies products to the EU. (More on womblebonddickinson.com)

The ECGTD is legislation that applies in the EU. It concerns sustainability and contains new measures to give EU consumers the information and protection they need to make more sustainable purchasing decisions. The ECGTD is part of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

The ECGTD amends the following EU legislation:  Consumer Rights Directive  (CRD) and  The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive practices  (UCPD).

The ECGTD entered into force on 26 March 2024. However, Member States have 24 months to transpose it into national law and 30 months to enforce it. This means that businesses will have to start complying with the directive from September 2026. ( Peter Snaith, Sarah Daun, Victoria Ferguson, more on lexology.com)

As the world approaches the 1.5 degree Celsius limit, a handful of countries are leading the way in preventing climate catastrophe. The Climate Change Performance Index 2024 is an annual global assessment of climate action efforts. It assesses the progress and policies of 63 countries across four categories: greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy. Each country is rated on a 100-point scale, with emissions carrying the highest weight of 40 % and the remaining 20 %. However, no country managed to achieve a good overall score in all categories, the report said. In addition, no country holds the top two positions in the renewable energy category. Here are the top countries in the Climate Change Performance Index for 2024. (Christina Miller, more at ceoworld.biz)