Pakistan was the second country in a matter of months to be compelled by a court to protect its citizens from the dangers of a warming climate. The high court of justice in the capital city of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Lahore, recently ruled that the country must do more to protect its citizens from climate change, ordering the creation of a “climate council” to ensure … [Read more...]
Spring heat wave hits South Africa
Southern hemisphere heat waves are back and the northeastern provinces are frying. The South African Weather Service has issued a heat wave warning for the northeastern provinces of Gauteng (which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria), Mpumalanga and Limpopo, which contains the Kruger National Park. Weather forecaster, Vanepia Phakula, said the warning continued through to … [Read more...]
These are the countries most at risk from climate change
Climate change can affect countries and regions in terms of economic and environmental impact. Standard & Poor's has assessed the effects of climate change on a country's economy by evaluating the percentage of population living in coastal areas, the percentage of agriculture that makes up a country's gross domestic product and the vulnerability index developed by the … [Read more...]
Africa advised to take DIY approach to climate resilience
African countries would do well to take their own lead in finding ways to better adapt to and mitigate the changes that climate may impose on future generations instead of relying only on foreign aid. This was one of the messages that rang out during the international scientific conference on ‘Our Common Future under Climate Change’ held earlier this month in Paris, six … [Read more...]
Man-made climate change: 4 continents hit by historic droughts
Four continents around the world are currently experiencing historic droughts affecting millions of people, and experts warn that this is the effect of man-made climate change. Severe dry spells are being felt not only in North America, but also in South America, Asia and Africa. Peter Gleick, president of the global water think tank Pacific Institute based in Oakland, … [Read more...]
Climate change threatening booming coastal cities
Governments across the world have failed to grasp the risk that population booms in coastal cities pose as climate change continues to cause rises in sea levels and extreme weather events. This was indicated by a recent study led by Georgina Mace, ecosystem professor at University College London. Mace is director of the UCL Centre for Biodiversity and Environment … [Read more...]
Why reports about Earth’s upcoming ‘mini ice age’ are dead wrong
U.K. tabloids, conservative media, and others are (mis)reporting that the Earth will enter a “mini ice age” in the 2030s. In fact, not only is the story wrong, the reverse is actually true. The Earth is headed toward an imminent speed-up in global warming, as many recent studies have made clear, like this June study by NOAA. Indeed, a March study, entitled “Near-term … [Read more...]
Experts flay Nigeria’s dalliance with coal
Nigeria’s decision to adopt coal as alternative source of generating electricity has attracted several reactions among industry players over the long term health and environmental effects on host communities. The stakeholders who gathered on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, to brainstorm the preferred energy mix for the country raised worrisome questions, particularly … [Read more...]
Temperatures soar as heatwave sweeps across Europe
A heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with temperatures set to exceed 40C in some countries. The summer heat has taken hold of Italy, with temperatures over 35C in many cities. Rome's zoo is helping animals deal with the high temperatures by handing out iced treats and encouraging frequent bathing in cold water. Iced lollies made with yogurt and fruit were a hit with the … [Read more...]
Minimizing the risks of extreme weather the focus of UQAM gathering
There’s nothing worse than having to go to summer school on a rainy, miserable Monday. Unless, of course, you’re a climate expert trying to boost your expertise on how to minimize the risks of climate and climate change. For the climatology crowd gathered at the Université du Québec à Montréal on Monday, the soggy weather here was negligible; they are far more concerned with … [Read more...]
Texas flooding: death toll rises to 24
Three more bodies have been found in the flooding in Texas, officials said Saturday, bringing the total to 24 in a state walloped this week by heavy rains and powerful storms. Another seven people have died in Oklahoma. The three latest deaths were announced by officials in Hays County, where a group of people got swept away while in a vacation house last weekend. The … [Read more...]
Heat wave eases in India after killing nearly 2,000 people
Showers and thunderstorms in parts of southern India on Saturday helped eased a weekslong summer heat wave that has claimed nearly 2,000 lives. The intense heat, however, was expected to continue in some areas of worst-hit Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states for another 24 hours, said Y.K. Reddy, an Indian Meteorological Department director. Heat-related conditions, … [Read more...]
Malawi faces ‘unprecedented’ flood disaster
The waters may be receding and the rainfall subsiding but Malawi is only now coming to terms with the "unprecedented" floods that hit the southern half of the country last week. At least 176 people lost their lives and another 200,000 have been displaced when heavy rains submerged homes, schools, and in places, washing away an entire village. The Malawi Defence Force has … [Read more...]
