Climate change is one of the most pressing concerns lately. The crisis has been making billions of lives difficult across the globe. It is being held responsible for extreme natural disasters such as storms and bushfires, and for elevating temperatures to unprecedented levels.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service recently confirmed 2023 as the hottest year on record. In addition, it has raised concerns over global mean temperatures between February 2023 and January 2024 crossing the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold.
7 notable nature and climate stories from last week
Prospect of dimming the sun
In order to keep global heating in check, Switzerland has initiated a debate on whether the “risks, benefits and uncertainties” of solar geoengineering should be studied by a UN expert group. The proposal has been submitted to the UN Environment Assembly starting today in Kenya.
Meeting COP28 goals ahead of COP29
The International Energy Agency (IEA) organised a high-level meeting on February 20 to chalk out a plan to deliver on the crucial energy commitments made at the recently concluded COP28 Summit in Dubai before the COP29 climate conference begins in Baku later this year.
Meet ‘super commuter’ Tim Chen
Canada’s housing crisis is keeping rent prices high. Tim Chen, a student at the University of British Columbia (UBC), recently made headlines after sharing that his regular airplane commute between Calgary and Vancouver is much cheaper than renting a place in Vancouver.
Climate change and human health
Researchers part of a recent study have identified different direct links between climate change and child health. The strongest of them is a 60% elevated risk on average of preterm birth from exposure to temperature extremes. Respiratory diseases and mortality are also in the limelight.
China’s 2025 climate targets – meet or miss?
The second-largest economy globally is currently off track on all of its core 2025 climate objectives, despite clean energy significantly driving the country’s economic growth, according to an analysis conducted by Lauri Myllyvirta at CREA.
Forestation has notable side effects
Forestation – the restoration and expansion of forests – increases atmospheric carbon dioxide removal, helping address climate change. But certain side effects such as changes to other greenhouse gases and the reflectivity of the land surface may cancel out the positives.
Scientists turning climate activists
Immensely frustrated over ever-more dire forecasts and extreme natural disasters triggered by climate change not provoking an effective and enough political response, several scientists across the globe are becoming climate activists to save the planet.
