Global temperatures between July 2023 and June 2024 have set alarming new records, with Earth experiencing a sustained period where temperatures were, on average, 1.64°C higher than preindustrial levels. This unprecedented heat, although not a definitive sign of failing climate targets, has heightened the frequency of extreme weather events, escalating concerns over potential tipping points in the climate system.
Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, stressed that these findings underscore a substantial and ongoing climate shift. Urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to mitigate further warming impacts and safeguard global ecosystems and communities. Read More
Labour’s victory in the general election marks the beginning of the UK’s transformation to a green, low-carbon economy, according to campaigners and experts, as the scale of the win became evident. Greenpeace described the Conservative party’s environmental U-turns as “as popular with voters as a root canal,” leading to their worst electoral defeat in modern history. The Green Party also achieved its strongest-ever performance, quadrupling its parliamentary representation.
This substantial victory gives Keir Starmer, the incoming prime minister, a strong mandate to implement bold actions on net zero and nature conservation. Ed Matthew, campaigns director at the E3G think tank, emphasized that reliance on oil and gas has fueled the cost of living crisis. He criticized Rishi Sunak’s delay and damage to clean energy policies, which could have reduced energy bills, calling it a “catastrophic political blunder.”
Matthew urged Starmer to fulfil his manifesto pledge to transform the UK into a “clean energy superpower,” noting that the landslide victory provides a historic public mandate to accelerate climate action, invest in future industries, and restore UK climate leadership.
Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth, highlighted the urgency for the new Labour government to address environmental issues, citing recent extreme weather events and the rapid global deterioration of the planet. He called for immediate action on climate change and nature conservation.
Edward Davey, the UK head of the World Resources Institute, pointed out the new government’s opportunity and responsibility to lead in reforming the UK’s energy system and industrial base and to demonstrate global leadership on climate, development, and nature.
The message is clear: Labour’s election victory is seen as a mandate to act decisively on environmental issues and position the UK as a leader in the fight against climate change. Read More
A new analysis has revealed that at least 97% of corals on a reef in the northern Great Barrier Reef perished during one of the most severe coral bleaching events ever recorded for the world’s most extensive reef system. Using high-resolution drone imagery, scientists from various institutions meticulously tracked the bleaching and subsequent death of corals at Lizard Island’s North Point reef.
This alarming discovery follows UNESCO’s call for the Australian government to swiftly release data on the extent of coral mortality from last summer’s mass bleaching. This event, marking the fifth in just eight years, saw unprecedented heat stress levels across parts of the World Heritage-listed reef.
Marine biologist Prof. Jane Williamson from Macquarie University, who was involved in the analysis, expressed her shock at the findings. Meanwhile, Australia’s environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, hailed UNESCO’s decision not to list the reef as “in danger” as a significant victory for the nation. However, Unesco emphasized the need for Australia to enhance its climate targets and curb land clearing, stressing the urgency of making the full extent of the coral damage public. Read More
Recent research shows that the climate crisis is driving an exponential rise in the most extreme wildfires across critical regions worldwide. These devastating wildfires result in catastrophic loss of human life, property, and wildlife, causing billions of dollars in damage. Scientists describe this as climate change “playing out in front of our eyes.”
Satellite data analysis revealed that the number of extreme fires had increased more than tenfold in temperate conifer forests, such as those in the western US and Mediterranean, over the past 20 years. In the vast boreal forests of northern Europe and Canada, the incidence of extreme fires has risen sevenfold. Australia has also become a hotspot for these devastating blazes.
The intensity of the worst wildfires has doubled since 2003, with the six years featuring the highest numbers of extreme fires all occurring since 2017. On average, extreme wildfires globally have more than doubled in frequency and intensity over the past two decades.
Researchers warn that the rise in these massive fires threatens to create a “scary” feedback loop, where the vast carbon emissions released by the fires lead to more global heating, which in turn causes more fires. Read More
Enormous islands of plastic float in our oceans, and microscopic particles of it are in our bodies. The durability, malleability, and low cost of plastics have made them ubiquitous, from packaging to clothing to aircraft parts. However, plastics have significant downsides, including environmental contamination, recycling challenges, and production emissions that surpass all air traffic combined.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences have now invented a groundbreaking material made from modified starch that can completely decompose in nature within just two months. This new material, derived from natural plant materials such as crops, offers a sustainable alternative for food packaging and many other applications. Read More
For generations, the people of Erakor village in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu enjoyed swimming in their local lagoon. Ken Andrew, a local chief, fondly recalls diving into its depths as a child, chasing the fish that thrived in its turquoise waters.
But now, at 52, Andrew has witnessed a troubling transformation: plastic pollution invading the lagoon. “The plastic would form a small island inside the lagoon; it was so thick,” Andrew recalls. “We used fishing nets to pull some of the trash out, but we didn’t know how to get rid of it all. We couldn’t conquer it; there was just too much.”
As residents struggled to clear Vanuatu’s waters of plastic, the country’s politicians began to explore a more proactive approach: tackling the waste directly at its source.
Small island nations like Vanuatu face unique challenges regarding plastic pollution. Many rely heavily on imported goods, leading to a constant influx of plastic packaging. Additionally, ocean currents bring plastic waste from across the globe into Pacific waters, where it ultimately washes up on the shores of these islands.
Recognizing the severity of the issue, the community’s outcry led the government to implement a ban on certain single-use plastic products. This decisive action has been instrumental in drastically cutting down the plastic pollution that once choked Vanuatu’s beautiful lagoons. Read More
Egypt has successfully secured $2 billion in budget support from significant development partners, including the World Bank (WB), the European Union (EU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and South Korea. Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation, announced this milestone.
This financial assistance aims to bolster structural reform initiatives designed to enhance the growth of Egypt’s private sector. The World Bank Group has approved a financing package of $700 million, consisting of $500 million from the World Bank and $200 million from other partners. This funding is part of the World Bank’s broader commitment to provide $6 billion over three years to support Egypt’s economic and structural reforms, with $3 billion allocated to the government and another $3 billion dedicated to empowering the private sector. The loan has a repayment period of 35 years, including a 5-year grace period.
During the Egyptian-European Investment Conference, Egypt secured a €1 billion ($1.069 billion) agreement with the EU. This initial instalment is part of a more significant €5 billion allocation, set to be disbursed in the latter half of 2024. The EU has committed to providing macroeconomic and budgetary support, with the remaining €4 billion scheduled for release between 2025 and 2027.
Additionally, Egypt signed a $131 million agreement with the AfDB to boost the private sector during Minister Al-Mashat’s visit to Kenya for the AfDB’s annual meetings in June.
Furthermore, the Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KDCF) has provided $100 million as part of a sideline arrangement during the Korea-Africa Summit. Minister Al-Mashat also mentioned ongoing negotiations with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to secure $300 million in financing. Read More
New Mexico has endured a harrowing week, facing both fire and flood. Just days after fast-moving fires tore through drought-stricken landscapes and communities, a tropical storm swept north, bringing torrential rain and golf ball-sized hail to the freshly burned slopes.
As these duelling extremes collided, charred debris flowed into neighbourhoods, firefighting crews were temporarily evacuated, and emergency officials shifted from fire support to flood rescues. Strong winds compounded the chaos, lifting dried soils into one of the largest dust storms the state has ever witnessed.
In the arid southwest, where fire risks typically rise with spring temperatures and are quelled by summer monsoons, such weather patterns aren’t unusual. However, the climate crisis has intensified these conditions, leading to more frequent and severe catastrophes.
Dr. Jeremy Klass, recovery and mitigation bureau chief of New Mexico’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, remarked, “We are used to these disasters, but I don’t think this agency has ever dealt with anything like this. We are dealing with two disasters right on top of one another.”
The South Fork and Salt fires, currently at 0% containment, continue to burn, with communities in the south bracing for more rain. After igniting on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, the fires quickly spread, scorching over 23,400 acres and destroying neighbourhoods.
Officials estimate that 1,400 structures have been lost to the flames, with the final count of burned buildings still underway. Tragically, at least two people died while fleeing the fires, and roughly 8,000 people have been displaced, anxiously awaiting news of what remains of their homes when they are allowed to return. Read More
A significant early-season heat wave is set to impact western North America, bringing potentially record-breaking temperatures and raising wildfire risks, signalling the onset of a scorching summer. A mighty high-pressure ridge, known as a heat dome, will drive unusually high temperatures across California by mid-week, extending into the Pacific Northwest and Southwestern Canada, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA.
The heat wave is expected to last 10 to 14 days, with Northern California and the Sierra Nevada foothills experiencing the highest temperatures. The Sacramento Valley could see widespread triple-digit temperatures, potentially exceeding 110 degrees, which is about 20 degrees above normal. The National Weather Service forecasts that far northern California will likely see its first 100-degree day of the year by Wednesday, while the Central Valley is under an excessive heat watch, with the San Joaquin Valley possibly reaching 110 degrees.
This event resembles the historic heat dome of June and July 2021, which lasted 27 days and caused hundreds of deaths, marine life die-offs, crop losses, and infrastructure damage. Although this year’s heat wave is predicted to be less intense, it could still exacerbate the fire season, especially with the increased vegetation from recent wet winters. California has already experienced several small fires, including a 1,300-acre blaze in Santa Barbara County, highlighting the heightened fire risk from the incoming heat. Read More
News Credit: Los Angeles Times
Picture Credit: The latest seasonal outlook from NOAA indicates a high likelihood of warmer-than-normal temperatures across most of the U.S. in June, July and August. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Green aviation policies should be abandoned if the costs outweigh the benefits, according to the head of the world’s most influential airline organization. Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) and former British Airways CEO, emphasized that achieving net zero by 2050 is “existential, not optional.”
However, he suggested that governments should have the courage to halt green policies and shift strategies if they fail to deliver the intended results. Read More
