30 October 2020 – Many will be familiar with El Niño – the ocean-warming phenomenon that affects global weather patterns – but how about La Niña, which is linked to cooler sea temperatures?
Category: climate
UNFCCC’s Response Measures Committee holds virtual meeting
Kathmandu, 19 Oct (Prerna Bomzan): The third meeting of the UNFCCC’s Katowice Committee of Experts on the Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures (KCI) met in its first virtual setting from 5-9 October, to address agenda issues relating to…
‘Staggering’ rise in climate emergencies in last 20 years
12 October – The first 20 years of this century have seen a “staggering” rise in climate disasters, UN researchers said on Monday, while also maintaining that “almost all nations” have failed to prevent a “wave of death and illness”…
Provide ‘decisive leadership’ on climate action: UN chief
12 October – With nations striving to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impacts, efforts must focus on decarbonizing the global economy and building a more inclusive and resilient future, the UN Secretary-General said on Monday.
$100 bln corporate bailout for US Fossil Fuel Industry
“Big Oil’s $100 Billion Bender: How The U.S. Government Provided a Safety Net for the Flagging Fossil Fuel Industry”, says one report from Friends of the Earth US, Public Citizen, and BailoutWatch.
Peoples’ response to the High-Level Summit on Biodiversity
More than 100 organizations from around the world, the majority from the global South, have signed a letter raising critical points about the UN Summit on Biodiversity (30 September 2020), the biodiversity crisis and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
What Would the Buddha Do?
By David Loy Maybe every modern generation feels confronted by some crisis that will affect the fate of the world, but unless your head is buried in the sand (or some Buddhist equivalent) it’s impossible to be ignorant of the…
Record northern heat, fuels concerns on US wildfire disaster
5 September – The northern hemisphere experienced its warmest August ever, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday, amid searing conditions that have contributed to devastating wildfires on the west coast of the United States.
How Better Climate Data Can Help the Municipal Market
Paul Munday and Lisa Schroeer LONDON – The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of the possibility of “green swan” events and the opportunities for greater foresight regarding both chronic and acute risks, including those related to climate change. Scenario analysis,…
How the Pandemic Can Revolutionize Climate Policy
Roland Kupers AMSTERDAM – Economists have long dominated climate-policy debates, but have scant results to show for it. As with the ongoing global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, our best hope for tackling the climate crisis may instead lie with…
Tackling Climate and Rural Livelihood Crises in Dairy Sector
Scientific evidence mounts that our food system is responsible for up to 37% of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The global dairy industry has continued to expand and scale up into new territories through mergers and acquisitions, expanding its…
Death Valley temperature, likely highest since 1931: WMO
18 August 2020 – “All indications” suggest that the extreme temperature reading of 54.4 degrees Celsius recorded in California’s Death Valley on Sunday, is legitimate, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.
BD wants youths in global fight to achieve climate justice
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said the government wants to see the young people in the global fight to achieve climate justice for Bangladesh.
Make food systems climate-resilient with marginalized groups
By Nout van der Vaart ROTTERDAM/THE HAGUE, Jul 23 2020 (IPS) – At last week’s 2020 High Level Political Forum (HLPF), UN member states discussed how to get back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in light…
Climate emergency danger to peace, UN Security Council told
24 July 2020 – The climate emergency generated by global warming, is exacerbating existing risks to international peace and security, while also creating new ones, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Friday, making the case for swift…
Saima Wazed made CVF ‘Thematic Ambassador’
Dhaka, July 22: Saima Wazed Hossain, Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Autism, has been chosen as a “Thematic Ambassador” by Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) under the thematic domain of ‘Vulnerability’.
Rainfall likely to continue for 3 more days
Dhaka, July 21 – The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Tuesday forecast that rain or thundershowers may continue over the next 72 hours across the country.
Heavy rainfall swamps Dhaka, immobilize cars: Traffic chaos
Dhaka, July 20 – Torrential monsoon rain from Sunday midnight to Monday morning has swamped many parts of the capital, disrupting people’s movement and triggering traffic chaos.
Summers could soon be ‘too hot for humans’
Global warming will increase the chances of summer conditions that may be “too hot for humans” to work in, exposing millions of people to potentially life threatening conditions.
Climate change, conflict stalk world’s most vulnerable: ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called for mobilization from within and beyond the humanitarian sector so that climate action and finance reach conflict zones and to ensure that communities hit hardest get the support they need…
Germany approves coal phaseout by 2038
German lawmakers have backed a legislative package to end the use of coal in less than two decades. But activists have decried the measures, saying they aren’t bold enough to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Saved by the Pandemic?
by Mark Lynas HAY-ON-WYE – COVID-19 has killed more than 500,000 people worldwide, made millions more ill, and continues to wreak havoc. But as the saying goes – and without wishing to downplay this human tragedy in any way –…
What will power the post-pandemic global economic recovery?
27 June 2020 – As governments try to kick-start their economies, the UN is calling for recovery plans to be built around low-carbon technologies, to avoid a return to fossil fuel-based business as usual.
Extreme weather ‘record’ likely in Arctic Circle: WMO
23 June 2020 – Reports that temperatures in a Russian town in the Arctic Circle likely reached a record 38C (100.4F), last weekend, have been approved by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) pending final verification, it said on Tuesday.
New contract must with nature to keep drought, deserts away
17 June 2020 – The UN Secretary-General has called for “a new contract for nature” to address ongoing global challenges connected to land degradation, such as forced migration, hunger and climate change.
‘Aggressive action must to mitigate faster climate change’
A recent global survey conducted by the Tällberg Foundation showed widespread enthusiasm for aggressive action to mitigate accelerating climate change.
May warmest on record, CO2 levels hit new high in slowdown
6 June 2020 – Last month was the warmest May on record and carbon dioxide levels also hit a new high despite the economic slowdown from COVID-19, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday, in an urgent appeal for…
Save environment, prevent pandemics, nature’s clear message
5 June 2020 – On this year’s World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, the UN is drawing links between the health of the planet, and human health, and highlighting the importance of protecting biodiversity, the system that supports life.
The consequential effects of Covid-19 on the climate crisis
By Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin Okyenhene ACCRA Ghana, Jun 1 2020 (IPS) – The tragedy of the coronavirus pandemic and its associated challenges have thrown our world into chaos, with the virus destroying lives and livelihoods in its path. The…
Climate Targets and Industry Participation in the Recovery
by Henrik Poulsen, Mads Nipper, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen COPENHAGEN – The COVID-19 pandemic must not lead governments to lower their climate ambitions. Accelerating the transition to a low-carbon sustainable economy can both drive the recovery and build resilience for the…