Posts in category: Related News / Articles

Tucked away in an office park hundreds of miles from the southeast Florida coast, where North America’s only barrier reef is at dire risk, a collection of brain corals performed a once-a-year feature: producing a constellation of egg sacks, each a bundle of hope.

The brain corals, with their geometric groove design, are among more than 500 coral specimens arranged within rows of tanks inside the Florida Coral Rescue Center. This facility is staffed by SeaWorld and funded by Disney, the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Located a few miles from the theme parks, off a congested highway, this nondescript facility plays a crucial role in coral conservation.

A half-dozen conservationists gathered here on a recent evening and invested a year’s worth of work in this event. They calibrated the lighting to emulate the days, nights, and seasons of the Florida Keys, from where many of the corals were rescued. They meticulously maintained the water inside the tanks, ensuring the chemistry and temperature were precise to recreate conditions that would signal to the corals it was time to spawn.

Their efforts paid off. Slowly, the egg bundles, each no larger than a pea and filled with 10 to 15 eggs, rose to the surface, where they were collected with nets. In time, the eggs would be fertilized, and baby corals would be raised in hopes of eventually transplanting them back to the reefs, giving them a fighting chance against the heat and disease that threaten their existence. Read More

News Credit: Inside Climate News
Picture Credit: Katey Lesneski/NOAA

As long-term investors, insurers play a pivotal role in driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. In the UK alone, the insurance industry manages investments totalling £1.8 trillion. Across Europe, insurers invest over €10.6 trillion in the EU economy. Their vested interest in responsible investment stems from the direct consequences that climate change and a disorderly transition can have on their businesses and policyholders.

According to Aon’s Climate and Catastrophe Insight 2024 report, the direct economic cost of the physical impacts of natural disasters last year totalled $380 billion, 22 per cent above the 21st-century average. Most, if not all, insured risks are directly or indirectly exposed to the physical or transition risks of climate change. Read More

News Credit: AON

For the past year, consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble has been conducting a unique experiment, monitoring the water usage of 10 American families. Far from Orwellian, this study aims to see if families can thrive using just a quarter of their usual water consumption with the help of P&G’s water-saving products.

Featured in the new documentary “Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey,” voiced by Liam Neeson, the experiment showcases how small changes in daily habits facilitated by innovative products can significantly reduce water use. This effort is part of P&G’s broader mission to address global water scarcity, including recycling over 3 billion litres of water annually in its facilities.

P&G is also a founding member of the 50L Home Coalition, alongside partners like Ikea and Kohler, expanding the experiment in Los Angeles. The goal? To use real-world data to drive innovation and make sustainability irresistible to consumers. “Sustainability cannot scale if there’s not a business driver,” says P&G.

By turning sustainability into a business imperative, P&G aims to take charge of creating products that help save the planet, one household at a time. Read More

News Credit: TCD (The Cool Down)

Image: Freepik

The Paris Olympics aims to halve the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of previous games, targeting a maximum carbon budget of 1.58 Mt CO2 eq. This ambitious goal faces significant challenges, especially considering that the Tokyo 2020 Games, held during a pandemic without spectators, still generated nearly 2 Mt CO2 eq.

The primary emission sources for the 2024 Olympics are expected to be:

• Travel: Participants’ and spectators’ travel could account for a quarter of emissions.
• Construction: Permanent and temporary infrastructure could contribute another 25%.
• Operations: Catering, accommodation, and logistics will make up the final quarter.

Uncertainties remain, particularly with transport and the construction of a new motorway junction, which could increase emissions. The true carbon footprint will be revealed post-games, with a promise of transparent and independently verified reporting.

Can Paris achieve its “green games” promise amidst these challenges? The answer will unfold as the event draws nearer. Read More

News Credit: Red Blue and Green

An international conference on renewable energy, hosted by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in collaboration with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has highlighted the low investment in renewable energy across Africa.

Arina Anisie, an international analyst on renewable energy innovation for developing countries at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in the United Arab Emirates, revealed these findings during a virtual Lead Paper presentation in Nsukka yesterday. The conference was organized by the Sustainable, Clean, and Emerging Energy Technologies Group (SCEET-G) UNN under the theme “Clean Energy Systems for Sustainable Power and Environment.” Read More

News Credit: The Sun (Voice of the Nation)

A new study published in Science reveals that climate change is dramatically altering global rainfall patterns and intensifying tropical storms. This research comes in the wake of Typhoon Gaemi, the year’s most powerful storm, which recently battered Taiwan, the Philippines, and China.

Led by Zhang Wenxia at the China Academy of Sciences, researchers found that 75% of the world’s land area has experienced increased “precipitation variability” – wider swings between wet and dry weather. Warming temperatures are enhancing the atmosphere’s moisture-holding capacity, leading to more intense weather events.

“This is going to increase as global warming continues, enhancing the chances of droughts and floods,” Steven Sherwood, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, told Reuters. The study suggests that while tropical storms may become less frequent, they are likely to grow more powerful.

Typhoon Gaemi exemplified this trend, making landfall in Taiwan as the strongest storm in eight years. With wind speeds reaching 227 kph (141 mph), it caused widespread closures and evacuations across the region.

Climate models predict that global warming will strengthen typhoons. “Warmer sea surface temperatures favour tropical cyclone development,” notes Sachie Kanada from Nagoya University.

Recent reports from China and Taiwan support these findings. China’s climate report shows fewer typhoons but increased intensity since the 1990s. Taiwan’s report also indicates fewer but more intense storms.

Feng Xiangbo, a researcher at the University of Reading, states that for each 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature, water vapour capacity in the lower atmosphere rises by 7%. This underscores the urgency of addressing climate change to mitigate its impact on storm intensity and rainfall patterns.

In India, a breach in the Munak Canal caused knee-deep waterlogging, highlighting the growing challenges of managing water resources and protecting communities from extreme weather.

The findings emphasize the urgent need for action to combat climate change and protect communities from its increasingly severe impacts. Read More

News Credit: Kashmir Reader

Picture: FreePik

In India, economic reforms have significantly impacted business education, making it more industry-focused as programs adapt to better prepare students for the job market. B-Schools have mandated internships to ensure students gain real-world experience, aligning education with the shifting demands of businesses.

The rise of new industries like analytics, e-commerce, and information technology has necessitated curriculum modifications, leading to the introduction of new-age specializations such as Business Analytics to meet the increased demand for data-driven decision-making. Read More

News Credit: The Hindu

Picture Credit: FreePik

A new study finds that air pollution breathed in during childhood is a significant factor in adult lung health.

The study’s origins date back to 1992, when researchers began investigating the effects of air pollution on groups of children in California. Some of these children are now in their 40s. Dr. Erika Garcia and colleagues from the University of Southern California decided to follow up on their health. More than 1,300 individuals responded to detailed questionnaires about their income, lifestyle (including smoking), homes, and health. This data was then matched against their childhood health records and the local air pollution levels during their upbringing.

The study’s first finding revealed that individuals with higher childhood exposure to particle pollution and nitrogen dioxide were more likely to exhibit bronchitic symptoms as adults. This relationship was powerful for those who had developed asthma and lung problems as children, indicating a lasting vulnerability into adulthood.

The second unexpected finding was that a relationship existed between childhood air pollution and adult bronchitic symptoms, even for those who did not have lung problems as children. This suggests that early exposure to polluted air has long-term health implications, regardless of childhood respiratory health. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit: Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images

New data shared exclusively with the Guardian reveals that a surge in new oil and gas exploration in 2024 threatens to unleash nearly 12 billion tonnes of planet-heating emissions, with the world’s wealthiest countries—such as the US and the UK—leading the charge despite their climate commitments.

The new oil and gas field licenses projected to be awarded globally this year are set to generate the highest level of emissions since 2018, even as heatwaves, wildfires, drought, and floods cause widespread death and destruction. Analysis by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) indicates that the emissions from these upcoming and current oil and gas fields will total 11.9 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases over their lifetimes, equivalent to China’s annual carbon pollution. This figure surpasses the combined emissions from licenses awarded over the past four years.

In addition, fossil fuel companies have been investing more in developing new oil and gas sites than at any time since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, where global governments pledged to reduce emissions and curb global heating. Despite being economically best placed to lead the transition to cleaner energy, wealthy nations with low economic dependence on fossil fuels are spearheading this latest expansion. In 2023 alone, these countries issued 825 new licenses, the highest number on record.

The paradox of wealthy nations driving fossil fuel expansion while committing to climate goals highlights a significant challenge in the global fight against climate change. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit: The Guardian/Getty Images/Alamy

Climate activists have disrupted flights at Frankfurt and Oslo airports on the second day of coordinated “oil kills” protests across Europe and North America.

Demanding an end to fossil fuels by 2030, supporters of Letzte Generation (Last Generation) briefly suspended flights at Frankfurt airport on Thursday morning. The activists cut a wire fence, entered on bicycles and skateboards, and glued themselves to the tarmac.

In Oslo, protesters from Folk Mot Fossilmakta and Scientist Rebellion Norway caused large queues by blocking a check-in lane with a banner that read: “Fast track to phase out.”

“I would rather not be here today, but I can no longer stand and watch as our elected officials do too little, too slowly,” said Ina Nagler, a climate researcher who took part in the Oslo protest. “The science is clear: We must drastically reduce the use of fossil fuels during this decade.”

The protests, which aim to pressure governments to accelerate the transition to a clean economy, have disrupted airports at the start of the busy summer season. On Wednesday morning, activists disrupted travel plans at airports from Helsinki to Barcelona. Further airport protests are expected in the US and Canada on Thursday.

Authorities have criticized the protests. The campaign group Oil Kills reported that police had arrested 37 of the 91 activists involved, with 14 still in custody. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit: Timm Reichert/Reuters