Page 12 - Global Warming

Tuesday broke Monday's global record for hottest day ever: Report

The entire planet sweltered for the two unofficial hottest days in human recordkeeping Monday and Tuesday, according to University of Maine scientists at the Climate Reanalyzer project. For two straight days, the global average temperature spiked into uncharted territory. After scientists talked about Monday's dramatic heat, Tuesday soared 0.17 degrees Celsius (0.31 degrees Fahrenheit) even hotter, which is a huge temperature jump in terms of global averages and records. The same University of Maine climate calculator based on satellite data and computer simulations forecasts a similar temperature for Wednesday that would be in record territory, with an Antarctica average that is a whopping 4.5 degrees Celsius (8.1 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the 1979-2000 average. High temperature records were surpassed July 3 and 4 in Quebec and northwestern Canada and Peru. Cities across the US from Medford, Oregon to Tampa, Florida have been hovering at all-time highs, said Zack Taylor, a

Monday was the hottest day ever as global temperatures rise, shows data

The average worldwide temperature was 17C (63F), just above the previous record of 16.9C reached in August 2016, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction

Himalayan glaciers may lose 75% of their ice by 2100, shows new study

The Hindu Kush Himalayan region is seeing a shrinking permafrost that can trigger more landslides, the study said

Need for systematic approach to food crisis as climate change looms: Report

There is a need to develop systematic and long-term approaches to food crisis response as climate change threatens to make 72 million more people undernourished by 2050, said a global report launched here on Monday. The "Global Food Policy Report (GFPR)" released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) called for a proactive approach to developing social protection systems that are highly adaptive, flexible, and inclusive, and can be quickly expanded when crises strike. There is a need to develop more systematic and long-term approaches to food crisis response that will be sustainable and help build greater resilience to similar and new shocks in the future, said the GFPR report. This approach should focus on three key areas: crisis prediction and preparation; building resilience before and during crises; and making crisis response supportive and inclusive of women, forced migrants, and other vulnerable groups, the GFPR authors said. According to the "Global Rep

Projections indicate Swiss approve climate bill amid melting glaciers

A majority of Swiss citizens on Sunday voted in favour of a bill aimed at introducing new climate measures to sharply curb the rich Alpine nation's greenhouse gas emissions, projections indicated. Projections by the GFS Bern Institute based on near-complete counting and released by public broadcaster SRF showed that 58.3% of voters were in favour of the bill. The margin of error was plus or minus 2 percentage points, SRF reported. Exact results are expected later in the day. The referendum was sparked by a campaign by scientists and environmentalists to save Switzerland's iconic glaciers, which are melting away at an alarming rate. Campaigners initially proposed even more ambitious measures but later backed a government plan that requires Switzerland to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. It also sets aside more than 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.357 billion) to help wean companies and homeowners off fossil fuels. The nationalist Swiss People's Party, which demanded the popular vot

Road to COP28: Bonn climate talks end without resolving finance differences

The two-week mid-year UN climate talks held in Germany's Bonn ended on Thursday without a resolution to the dispute between developed and developing countries over finance. The developed nations emphasised the urgent need for mitigation measures, while the developing countries demanded adequate financial support to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. These mid-year talks set the stage for political discussions at the annual Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change later in the year. Due to a stalemate on the issues of finance for mitigation, the governments could agree on the meeting's agenda only on the second-to-last day (Wednesday) of the conference. The developed countries wanted that the "Mitigation Work Programme", which calls for urgently scaling up emission reduction efforts in this crucial decade to fight climate change, be included in the agenda. The developing countries, however, strongly opposed this

Have taken significant strides in combating climate change: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government has made significant strides in combating climate change, achieving sustainable development goals and preserving India's rich biodiversity. The prime minister's remarks on Twitter came with the hashtag "9YearsOfSustainableGrowth". "In line with our traditions and ethos, we have focused on #9YearsOfSustainableGrowth. We have taken significant strides in combating climate change, achieving sustainable development goals and preserving India's rich biodiversity," Modi tweeted. His remarks came at a time the ruling BJP has been organising various programmes across the country as part of a mega public outreach to mark nine years of the Modi government. He also shared write-ups on his government's achievements in propelling LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

Top 5 GHG emitting nations responsible for 40% food supply emission in 2019

Food consumption in the five highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting countries, including India, was responsible for more than 40 per cent of global food supply chain emission in 2019, according to a study. The research, published in the journal Nature Food, found that action to protect the planet against the impact of climate change will fall short unless emissions are reduced from the global food system, which now makes up a third of man-made GHG emissions. The largest emission increase within food supply chains is triggered by beef and dairy consumption in rapidly developing countries, such as China and India, while emissions per head in developed countries with a high percentage of animal-based food declined, the researchers said. The team noted that the growth of the global population and rising demand for emission-intensive food are likely to boost emissions further. "A global shift in diets, including reducing excessive intake of red meat and improving shares of plant-based ..

Here's how climate change is fueling wildfires in the US and Canada

The fires sending smoke across North America are part of a global trend toward more frequent and more destructive blazes, says Thomas Smith of the London School of Economics

World's biggest cos made no progress on limiting global warming since 2018

The vast majority of worlds biggest companies have done almost nothing in past five years to cut their planet-heating pollution enough to avoid catastrophic climate change, according to a media report

Equity, CBDR must be central to discussion on transition pathways: India

The principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) must be central to discussions on plans for fair and equitable transition to low-carbon economies, India has said at the ongoing Bonn climate talks. At COP27 in Egypt's Sharm el Sheikh, parties to the Paris Agreement had introduced a 'Just Transition Work Programme' to ensure the development of low-carbon pathways that include socio-economic dimensions aligned with nationally defined development priorities. At an informal discussion on the 'Just Transition Work Programme' at Bonn on Tuesday and Wednesday, India said discussions around just transition pathways must not focus only on mitigation but also take into consideration the challenges in adaptation and the means of implementation. "This is why we believe that linkages of just transitions should not just be with the mitigation work programme but must also foreground discussions on aspects of adaptation and means of implementation we concur with other

10 mn saplings to be planted on Gandhi Jayanti in Kamrup district: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the people of the state will join hands to plant 100 lakh saplings on Gandhi Jayanti this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced 'Mission Life' to bring about a 'Jan Andolan' (People's movement) which will be at the forefront of the global climate action narrative, the chief minister said while participating in a tree plantation programme 'Amri Plantation' at Chandubi in Kamrup Rural district. The plantation of 100 lakh saplings on October 2 will help mitigate climate change, and expand our tree economy as the state government will offer Rs 300 per sapling and lead to a 38 per cent increase in forest cover by the year 2028, Sarma said. The temperatures have been rising and 'I sympathise with everyone experiencing the scorching heat in the state but we have to take steps to bring back temperatures to optimal level', the chief minister said. 'We will have to take steps to increase the forest cover, phase away ..

Climate change: Arctic may be ice free in summer by 2030s, warn scientists

Decreased ice cover has a significant and lasting impact on weather patterns, human populations, and ecosystems

Sikkim CM Tamang urges people to plant trees, not leave any land barren

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang asked people to plant trees on barren land. Addressing a gathering after planting an 'Arucha' sapling on a government college campus on Monday, he said people should try to mitigate the impact of climate change and global warming by planting more trees and ensuring that no land remained barren in the state. Tamang urged people to make the state government's 'Mero Rukh Mero Santati' (My Tree, My Offspring) scheme successful by planting 100 saplings every time a baby is born. He had launched the scheme in February to strengthen the bond between nature and people. Sikkim, located in the Eastern Himalayas, has one of the highest forest cover in the country at over 47 per cent of the land mass.

We must encourage tech transfer to deal pollution challenges: NHRC

Adopting a rights-based approach to environmental protection ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can live in a clean and safe environment, NHRC chairperson justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra said on Monday. In a written message on World Environment Day, issued by the National Human Rights Commission on Monday, he said environmental protection has a "vital connection" with human rights. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually on June 5 since 1973, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world, the UN says on its website. "The day reminds us that sustainable development envisages protecting the environment, which is crucial for human existence. Adopting a rights-based approach to environmental protection ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can live in a clean and safe environment," justi

SC's intervention positively impacted Taj city's environment: Activists

The 'Green Activists' of the Agra city on Monday said that the cumulative impact of dozens of pollution abatement measures at the intervention of the SC has made Taj city environment cleaner

HP CM Sukhu flags off awareness rally on World Environment Day in Shimla

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday flagged off an awareness rally here on the occasion of World Environment Day. Students of Government Senior Secondary Schools Portmore, Sanjauli and Shimla Public School, as well as volunteers from the Shimla Municipal Corporation, took part in the rally, an official statement said. Sukhu flagged off the awareness rally from his official residence Oakover, it said. Emphasising that the state government has implemented several measures for the preservation of the environment, Sukhu said Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to ban single-use plastic. Recognised as Devbhoomi, Himachal Pradesh aims to instil a sense of environmental consciousness among the youth through awareness drives, he said. Cyclists also joined the rally, the statement said. Highlighting the state's commitment towards the preservation of the environment, Sukhu said that the state government has presented a green budget, which incorpo

World Environment Day 2023: A global call to action for sustainable future

Established by the United Nations in 1972, World Environment Day serves as a global platform to engage people and governments in environmental initiatives that promote sustainable development

Legal issues in green finance need to be cleared up

The central bank has identified renewable energy, waste management, clean transport, energy efficiency, and afforestation as projects to be funded from green deposits

Humans exceeded 7 of 9 'safe limits' for life on planet: Research

Humans have crossed seven of the nine "safe limits" that allow for human life on earth, according to a new study.