Camels are at the heart of the Somali traditional life and economy, they have a price of their milk, meat and as a means of transport. But, millions of herders are now giving up traditional life and moving to cities. The change in climate has added to their troubles, forcing them to travel long distances for water and grazing camels.

Somalia: Herders giving up traditional life due to political instability, climate change

Rock art and cave paintings don't only tell stories about human history but also shed light on human perception as changes in nature and way of living transformed pre-historic hunter-gatherer humans into civilisation we see today. Rock art around the world has survived for thousands of years and has helped experts glean into the past. But some man-made modern-day changes pose a danger to this treasure which may be lost in a matter of years.

Global warming is not only posing threat to the present and future of human society but also damaging historical records stored in the form of rock art.

One of the effects of global warming is that it increases intensity of weather phenomena like cyclones. As these cyclones ravage the land, they also damage the rock art.

A Flinders University symposium held on Tuesday in Australia held discussions on this issue. The symposium was held in reaction to the sixth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. The report has warned of 'likely' rise in global temperature of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is likely to bring in more extreme weather events.

Experts discussed effect of Cyclone Monica which had hit Australia in 2006. This was one of Australia's most severe tropical storms. The storm smashed through Arnhem Land in 2006

Intensity of the storm was such that it blew down half the trees in a 50 km wide swathe of land. It destroyed some rock art sites. Fires that raged after this damaged the sites more.

Rock art and cave paintings don't only tell stories about human history but also shed light on human perception as changes in nature and way of living transformed pre-historic hunter-gatherer humans into civilisation we see today.

Rock art and cave paintings don't only tell stories about human history but also shed light on human perception as changes in nature and way of living transformed pre-historic hunter-gatherer humans into civilisation we see today. Rock art around the world has survived for thousands of years and has helped experts glean into the past. But some man-made modern-day changes pose a danger to this treasure which may be lost in a matter of years. Global warming is not only posing threat to the present and future of human society but also damaging historical records stored in the form of rock art. One of the effects of global warming is that it increases intensity of weather phenomena like cyclones. As these cyclones ravage the land, they also damage the rock art. A Flinders University symposium held on Tuesday in Australia held discussions on this issue. The symposium was held in reaction to the sixth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. The report has warned of 'likely' rise in global temperature of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is likely to bring in more extreme weather events. Experts discussed effect of Cyclone Monica which had hit Australia in 2006. This was one of Australia's most severe tropical storms. The storm smashed through Arnhem Land in 2006 Intensity of the storm was such that it blew down half the trees in a 50 km wide swathe of land. It destroyed some rock art sites. Fires that raged after this damaged the sites more.

Global warming is destroying pre-historic rock art, say experts

Defending its move on joining with India in changing “phase down" instead of "phase out" of coal in the final text of the COP26 conference declaration, China asked developed countries to stop using the coal first and provide financial aid to developing countries to adopt green technologies.

Responding to COP26 Chairman Alok Sharma’s comments highly critical of China and India for rejecting calls on “phasing out” coal firepower, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said:&nbsp;“To optimise energy structure and reduce the proportion of coal consumption is an incremental process. The varying national conditions, development stage and resources endowment of different countries should be respected.”

The official told a media briefing that a complete phase out of coal was not possible, as many developing, and least developed countries don’t have adequate finance for an alternate source of energy.

“In many developing countries, not everyone has access to electricity and energy supply is not adequate. Before asking all countries to stop using coal, consideration should be given to the energy shortfall in these countries to ensure their energy security,” he said.

“We encourage developed countries to take the lead in stopping using coal while providing ample funding, technological and capacity-building support for developing countries’ energy transition. We need concrete actions more than slogans,” Zhao added.

On Saturday, negotiators from nearly 200 countries accepted a new climate agreement after the COP26 summit in Glasgow concluded with the deal, which recognises India’s intervention for the world to “phase down” rather than “phase out” fossil fuels.

Alok Sharma said he was “deeply frustrated” after India, backed by China and other coal-dependent developing nations, refused to completely end use of coal energy.

(With inputs from agencies)

Defending its move on joining with India in changing “phase down" instead of "phase out" of coal in the final text of the COP26 conference declaration, China asked developed countries to stop using the coal first and provide financial aid to developing countries to adopt green technologies.

Defending its move on joining with India in changing “phase down" instead of "phase out" of coal in the final text of the COP26 conference declaration, China asked developed countries to stop using the coal first and provide financial aid to developing countries to adopt green technologies. Responding to COP26 Chairman Alok Sharma’s comments highly critical of China and India for rejecting calls on “phasing out” coal firepower, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said: “To optimise energy structure and reduce the proportion of coal consumption is an incremental process. The varying national conditions, development stage and resources endowment of different countries should be respected.” The official told a media briefing that a complete phase out of coal was not possible, as many developing, and least developed countries don’t have adequate finance for an alternate source of energy. “In many developing countries, not everyone has access to electricity and energy supply is not adequate. Before asking all countries to stop using coal, consideration should be given to the energy shortfall in these countries to ensure their energy security,” he said. “We encourage developed countries to take the lead in stopping using coal while providing ample funding, technological and capacity-building support for developing countries’ energy transition. We need concrete actions more than slogans,” Zhao added. On Saturday, negotiators from nearly 200 countries accepted a new climate agreement after the COP26 summit in Glasgow concluded with the deal, which recognises India’s intervention for the world to “phase down” rather than “phase out” fossil fuels. Alok Sharma said he was “deeply frustrated” after India, backed by China and other coal-dependent developing nations, refused to completely end use of coal energy. (With inputs from agencies)

COP26: China defends move on joining India to ‘phase down’ instead of ‘phase out’ coal

Bibba Thompson and the 75 older adults who live around her in a local government housing community in northern England do not look like revolutionaries.

But they are cheerfully taking part in a home energy trial that is billed by organizers as part of a new “green industrial revolution,” one they hope will put their little community at the forefront of global energy changes for the second time in three centuries.

Since August, Thompson, 58, and her neighbours in the hilltop village of Winlaton, outside Newcastle, have had their gas heaters and stoves fueled by a blend that includes up to 20% hydrogen. The reason? To reduce the climate-warming gases, like carbon dioxide, that are emitted by their appliances.

As the host of the United Nations climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, the British government has committed to one of the world’s most ambitious emission reduction targets, pledging to slash greenhouse gases by 78% by 2035. Home heating is one of the areas where it has to match its promises with action.

Trials in Australia and elsewhere have experimented with lower levels of hydrogen in the fuel blend, and the Netherlands allows blends of up to 12%, but the gas network operators organizing the 670-home Winlaton trial say this is the first time a 20% hydrogen blend has been put into an existing gas grid with normal gas appliances.

The firms argue that it is an important step toward reducing Britain’s greenhouse gas emissions, and they hope it will encourage the eventual use of 100% hydrogen in the home heaters that the government says account for about 14% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

With the government concentrating on supporting the use of hydrogen for industrial customers rather than home heating, the gas companies are desperate for their huge pipe networks to retain a central role in the nation’s heating, and part of their strategy is to convince the public that switching to hydrogen would be clean, easy, cheap and safe.

“A few people were dubious at first about ‘Is my boiler going to blow up?’ but it has all gone well and they are quite chuffed with it now,” said Thompson, who lives on site and manages the 55-unit complex for people over 65.

“The older ones think that cleaning up the environment is great for their grandkids, and it really strikes a chord here because of our history,” she said. “We might be just a little village but we have got a big coal heritage.”

Winlaton did indeed play a big role in the era that first unleashed fossil fuels on a mass scale.

A few hundred meters from Thompson’s housing project, just behind the library on Church Street, sits a 330-year-old forge, the last remnant of an operation that made Winlaton a crucial site in the Industrial Revolution.

The forge was part of an enterprise set up in 1691 by Ambrose Crowley that became the largest iron works in Europe, with hundreds of workers churning out nails and chains for the Royal Navy and other iron goods, including slave manacles for British colonies. That was years before the invention of the steam engine and other machines that are generally held to mark the start of the Industrial Revolution.

Val Scully, a trustee of the local heritage centre, said that Crowley’s key contribution was to pioneer mass production techniques and the creation of an industrial working class, who toiled side by side on weekly salaries. It was that system that allowed the inventions of the next decades to flourish and unleash the genie of coal power, a genie that much of the world is now desperately trying to put back in its bottle.

Tim Harwood, the head of hydrogen projects at Northern Gas Networks, a pipeline operator, said northeast England has a chance to be the home of “the next industrial revolution, a green one.”

The region is already an important focus of offshore wind energy and the government sees the industrial clusters around Newcastle and Hull as centers of what it hopes will be a conversion to clean-burning hydrogen.

Hydrogen’s lower calorific value means that rolling out a 20% blend to all natural gas customers would reduce their emissions from heating by 7%, trimming about 1% from total emissions in Britain. The big payoff would come with a switch to pure hydrogen, which could slice more than one-tenth off the nation’s emissions. But it would also require the installation of millions of new appliances — an enormous challenge.

Harwood said blending is “just a steppingstone and a way of stimulating the switch over to hydrogen.”

Many analysts and some government ministers doubt that the nation will be able to produce enough hydrogen in the foreseeable future to roll it out beyond heavy industries.

The challenges include getting the costs of production down quickly enough to reduce the subsidies needed to make hydrogen price-competitive and moving as quickly as possible from “blue hydrogen,” which is made with methane and requires the capture and underground storage of its own carbon emissions, to the cleaner “green hydrogen,” which needs more electricity to produce but has no carbon emissions.

The gas operators are trying to speed things up, and are keen not to be bypassed in the government’s drive to install the potentially cleaner electric heat pumps that are already popular in continental Europe.

“If you think about the 23 million customers in the U.K. that have a gas supply, we’re hoping to penetrate up to 16 million customers with hydrogen,” Harwood said.

“You couldn’t put a heat pump in most Winlaton homes,” he said, “because the housing stock is old, leaky and cold, and heat pumps don’t produce enough heat without special insulation.”

Current programs to upgrade the gas network by replacing metal pipes with hydrogen-ready plastic should be finished by the time enough hydrogen is being produced to consider switching heating to pure hydrogen, Harwood said, and the gas companies want the government to mandate as soon as possible that all new gas boilers must be capable of being converted to hydrogen.

The government has already announced plans for a “hydrogen village” trial in which about 2,000 properties will run on pure hydrogen from 2025, to be followed by a “hydrogen town” of up to 15,000 properties by 2030, but Harwood said the gas operators would prefer to see that schedule sped up.

Dave Tully, a 63-year-old former military police officer who lives in a two-bedroom terrace house in Winlaton, said he received leaflets about the 10-month trial and a free safety inspection of his appliances but he still felt “railroaded” into taking part.

“I think it was going to go ahead no matter what the public thought, but in the end, that’s probably fair enough,” he said. “It turns out it hasn’t changed the way our cooker or heater work at all and I suppose we have to do something about climate change, so this sort of thing is probably necessary.”

The hydrogen campaign in Winlaton has included invitations to two display homes, where locals can see that the 100% hydrogen stoves and heaters are the same size as existing gas appliances. The only noticeable difference is that the flame from the burners is orange rather than blue and has a broader “sunflower” shape to distribute the heat more widely, as hydrogen is lighter and its heat tends to rise more quickly.

Harwood said he hoped to see those new flames heating British cups of tea within a decade.

Bibba Thompson and the 75 older adults who live around her in a local government housing community in northern England do not look like revolutionaries. But they are cheerfully taking part in a home energy trial that is billed by organizers as part of a new “green industrial revolution,” one they hope will put their little community at the forefront of global energy changes for the second time in three centuries.

Bibba Thompson and the 75 older adults who live around her in a local government housing community in northern England do not look like revolutionaries. But they are cheerfully taking part in a home energy trial that is billed by organizers as part of a new “green industrial revolution,” one they hope will put their little community at the forefront of global energy changes for the second time in three centuries. Since August, Thompson, 58, and her neighbours in the hilltop village of Winlaton, outside Newcastle, have had their gas heaters and stoves fueled by a blend that includes up to 20% hydrogen. The reason? To reduce the climate-warming gases, like carbon dioxide, that are emitted by their appliances. As the host of the United Nations climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, the British government has committed to one of the world’s most ambitious emission reduction targets, pledging to slash greenhouse gases by 78% by 2035. Home heating is one of the areas where it has to match its promises with action. Trials in Australia and elsewhere have experimented with lower levels of hydrogen in the fuel blend, and the Netherlands allows blends of up to 12%, but the gas network operators organizing the 670-home Winlaton trial say this is the first time a 20% hydrogen blend has been put into an existing gas grid with normal gas appliances. The firms argue that it is an important step toward reducing Britain’s greenhouse gas emissions, and they hope it will encourage the eventual use of 100% hydrogen in the home heaters that the government says account for about 14% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. With the government concentrating on supporting the use of hydrogen for industrial customers rather than home heating, the gas companies are desperate for their huge pipe networks to retain a central role in the nation’s heating, and part of their strategy is to convince the public that switching to hydrogen would be clean, easy, cheap and safe. “A few people were dubious at first about ‘Is my boiler going to blow up?’ but it has all gone well and they are quite chuffed with it now,” said Thompson, who lives on site and manages the 55-unit complex for people over 65. “The older ones think that cleaning up the environment is great for their grandkids, and it really strikes a chord here because of our history,” she said. “We might be just a little village but we have got a big coal heritage.” Winlaton did indeed play a big role in the era that first unleashed fossil fuels on a mass scale. A few hundred meters from Thompson’s housing project, just behind the library on Church Street, sits a 330-year-old forge, the last remnant of an operation that made Winlaton a crucial site in the Industrial Revolution. The forge was part of an enterprise set up in 1691 by Ambrose Crowley that became the largest iron works in Europe, with hundreds of workers churning out nails and chains for the Royal Navy and other iron goods, including slave manacles for British colonies. That was years before the invention of the steam engine and other machines that are generally held to mark the start of the Industrial Revolution. Val Scully, a trustee of the local heritage centre, said that Crowley’s key contribution was to pioneer mass production techniques and the creation of an industrial working class, who toiled side by side on weekly salaries. It was that system that allowed the inventions of the next decades to flourish and unleash the genie of coal power, a genie that much of the world is now desperately trying to put back in its bottle. Tim Harwood, the head of hydrogen projects at Northern Gas Networks, a pipeline operator, said northeast England has a chance to be the home of “the next industrial revolution, a green one.” The region is already an important focus of offshore wind energy and the government sees the industrial clusters around Newcastle and Hull as centers of what it hopes will be a conversion to clean-burning hydrogen. Hydrogen’s lower calorific value means that rolling out a 20% blend to all natural gas customers would reduce their emissions from heating by 7%, trimming about 1% from total emissions in Britain. The big payoff would come with a switch to pure hydrogen, which could slice more than one-tenth off the nation’s emissions. But it would also require the installation of millions of new appliances — an enormous challenge. Harwood said blending is “just a steppingstone and a way of stimulating the switch over to hydrogen.” Many analysts and some government ministers doubt that the nation will be able to produce enough hydrogen in the foreseeable future to roll it out beyond heavy industries. The challenges include getting the costs of production down quickly enough to reduce the subsidies needed to make hydrogen price-competitive and moving as quickly as possible from “blue hydrogen,” which is made with methane and requires the capture and underground storage of its own carbon emissions, to the cleaner “green hydrogen,” which needs more electricity to produce but has no carbon emissions. The gas operators are trying to speed things up, and are keen not to be bypassed in the government’s drive to install the potentially cleaner electric heat pumps that are already popular in continental Europe. “If you think about the 23 million customers in the U.K. that have a gas supply, we’re hoping to penetrate up to 16 million customers with hydrogen,” Harwood said. “You couldn’t put a heat pump in most Winlaton homes,” he said, “because the housing stock is old, leaky and cold, and heat pumps don’t produce enough heat without special insulation.” Current programs to upgrade the gas network by replacing metal pipes with hydrogen-ready plastic should be finished by the time enough hydrogen is being produced to consider switching heating to pure hydrogen, Harwood said, and the gas companies want the government to mandate as soon as possible that all new gas boilers must be capable of being converted to hydrogen. The government has already announced plans for a “hydrogen village” trial in which about 2,000 properties will run on pure hydrogen from 2025, to be followed by a “hydrogen town” of up to 15,000 properties by 2030, but Harwood said the gas operators would prefer to see that schedule sped up. Dave Tully, a 63-year-old former military police officer who lives in a two-bedroom terrace house in Winlaton, said he received leaflets about the 10-month trial and a free safety inspection of his appliances but he still felt “railroaded” into taking part. “I think it was going to go ahead no matter what the public thought, but in the end, that’s probably fair enough,” he said. “It turns out it hasn’t changed the way our cooker or heater work at all and I suppose we have to do something about climate change, so this sort of thing is probably necessary.” The hydrogen campaign in Winlaton has included invitations to two display homes, where locals can see that the 100% hydrogen stoves and heaters are the same size as existing gas appliances. The only noticeable difference is that the flame from the burners is orange rather than blue and has a broader “sunflower” shape to distribute the heat more widely, as hydrogen is lighter and its heat tends to rise more quickly. Harwood said he hoped to see those new flames heating British cups of tea within a decade.

Helping to fuel a green revolution

COP26 climate summit’s president Alok Sharma asked India and China to “explain themselves to poor nations” after they watered down the clause on ending the usage of coal.

Sharma said he was “deeply frustrated” after India, backed by China and other coal-dependent developing nations, rejected a clause calling for a “phase out” of coal-fired power, and changed the text to “phase down”.

Sharma’s comments came after UN climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, ended on Saturday with a deal that targeted fossil fuels for the first time.

“In terms of China and India, they will on this particular issue have to explain themselves,” Sharma told a news conference at Downing Street in London.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/late-change-over-coal-forces-cop26-president-alok-sharma-to-hold-back-tears-as-deal-gets-signed-429152">Late change over coal forces COP26 president Alok Sharma to hold back tears as deal gets signed</a>

In an interview to the Guardian, Sharma later said that he had no choice but to accept the compromise, because “it was my view that otherwise we might end up with no deal at all. We would have lost two years of really hard work, and would have ended up with nothing to show for it for developing countries.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was also present with Sharma at a news conference at Downing Street, said, “Whether the language was ‘phase down’ or ‘phase out’ doesn't seem to me as a speaker of English to make that much difference.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-us-china-promoted-coal-phase-down-concept-then-why-is-india-getting-disproportionate-blame-for-it-429295">COP26: US, China promoted 'coal phase down' concept. Then why is India getting disproportionate blame for it?</a>

“The direction of travel is pretty much the same,” he added.

Johnson said COP26 had delivered a mandate to cut the use of coal-powered generation that was backed up by real action from individual counties.

"When you add all that together, it is beyond question that Glasgow has sounded the death knell for coal power," he said at the press conference.

But he said his delight at the progress achieved was tinged by disappointment that the deal did not go further.

"Sadly, that's the nature of diplomacy," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

COP26 climate summit’s president Alok Sharma asked India and China to “explain themselves to poor nations” after they watered down the clause on ending the usage of coal.

COP26 climate summit’s president Alok Sharma asked India and China to “explain themselves to poor nations” after they watered down the clause on ending the usage of coal. Sharma said he was “deeply frustrated” after India, backed by China and other coal-dependent developing nations, rejected a clause calling for a “phase out” of coal-fired power, and changed the text to “phase down”. Sharma’s comments came after UN climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, ended on Saturday with a deal that targeted fossil fuels for the first time. “In terms of China and India, they will on this particular issue have to explain themselves,” Sharma told a news conference at Downing Street in London. Also read | Late change over coal forces COP26 president Alok Sharma to hold back tears as deal gets signed In an interview to the Guardian, Sharma later said that he had no choice but to accept the compromise, because “it was my view that otherwise we might end up with no deal at all. We would have lost two years of really hard work, and would have ended up with nothing to show for it for developing countries.” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was also present with Sharma at a news conference at Downing Street, said, “Whether the language was ‘phase down’ or ‘phase out’ doesn't seem to me as a speaker of English to make that much difference.” Also read | COP26: US, China promoted 'coal phase down' concept. Then why is India getting disproportionate blame for it? “The direction of travel is pretty much the same,” he added. Johnson said COP26 had delivered a mandate to cut the use of coal-powered generation that was backed up by real action from individual counties. "When you add all that together, it is beyond question that Glasgow has sounded the death knell for coal power," he said at the press conference. But he said his delight at the progress achieved was tinged by disappointment that the deal did not go further. "Sadly, that's the nature of diplomacy," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

COP26 president criticises India, China over coal use move

Taxidermists in Australia are restoring the country's last two flamingos.&nbsp;Known as Chile and Greater, the flamingos will be displayed by the South Australian Museum.

The flamingoes, that were both males, are being resurrected as gay emblems for the Feast festival in South Australia. They had died in 2018 and 2014 respectively.

''It is wonderful that their stories and that of their species can continue to be told,'' said Adelaide Zoo director Phil Ainsley.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/birds-in-amazon-turning-smaller-longer-winged-courtesy-climate-change-study-429020" hreflang="en">Birds in Amazon turning smaller, longer-winged, courtesy climate change: Study</a>

''Current biosecurity rules mean we can’t import flamingos anymore so for some visitors this could be the only chance to ever get up close to these birds,'' he added.

Greater had been at the zoo since the 1930s and is one of the oldest flamingos in the world.

Two 17-year-old boys had beaten it up and were charged with ill-treatment of an animal and faced a penalty of four years in jail.

Flamingoes, that feed on crustaceans, get their color from salt lakes. Ice Age marked the end of wild flamingoes in Australia.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/reproduction-without-mating-largest-land-birds-in-north-america-surprise-scientists-426643">Also read |&nbsp;Reproduction without mating? Largest land birds in North America surprise scientists</a>

After this age, they were only bred in zoos. With less water and increased concentration ratio in the water, flaminglets that were unable to fly usually die.

They are also suffering as a result of climate change and agricultural irrigation methods.

''The world and Australia got exceedingly dry because all the water was locked up in ice,'' said Flinders University vertebrate palaeontologist Trevor Worthy.

''The lakes dried out altogether, all at the same time all across Australia, so there was nowhere for them to go. Too many lakes dried out simultaneously … they were stuffed.''

They disappeared over 25,000 years ago as per the fossilised footprints and bones in creek discovered by scientists.

Taxidermists in Australia are restoring the country's last two flamingos. Known as Chile and Greater, the flamingos will be displayed by the South Australian Museum.

Taxidermists in Australia are restoring the country's last two flamingos. Known as Chile and Greater, the flamingos will be displayed by the South Australian Museum. The flamingoes, that were both males, are being resurrected as gay emblems for the Feast festival in South Australia. They had died in 2018 and 2014 respectively. ''It is wonderful that their stories and that of their species can continue to be told,'' said Adelaide Zoo director Phil Ainsley. Also read | Birds in Amazon turning smaller, longer-winged, courtesy climate change: Study ''Current biosecurity rules mean we can’t import flamingos anymore so for some visitors this could be the only chance to ever get up close to these birds,'' he added. Greater had been at the zoo since the 1930s and is one of the oldest flamingos in the world. Two 17-year-old boys had beaten it up and were charged with ill-treatment of an animal and faced a penalty of four years in jail. Flamingoes, that feed on crustaceans, get their color from salt lakes. Ice Age marked the end of wild flamingoes in Australia. Also read | Reproduction without mating? Largest land birds in North America surprise scientists After this age, they were only bred in zoos. With less water and increased concentration ratio in the water, flaminglets that were unable to fly usually die. They are also suffering as a result of climate change and agricultural irrigation methods. ''The world and Australia got exceedingly dry because all the water was locked up in ice,'' said Flinders University vertebrate palaeontologist Trevor Worthy. ''The lakes dried out altogether, all at the same time all across Australia, so there was nowhere for them to go. Too many lakes dried out simultaneously … they were stuffed.'' They disappeared over 25,000 years ago as per the fossilised footprints and bones in creek discovered by scientists.

These flamingos are being restored to become gay emblems in music festival

The climate change is real and has been affecting even the wildest parts of the Amazon untouched by humanity, said a study. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Over the past four decades, hotter and&nbsp;drier conditions in the region have led to a reduction in the body size of the birds. But it has also&nbsp;resulted in an increase in their wingspans, a study, which was published in the journal 'Science Advances', said on Friday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/under-attack-by-giant-hornets-bees-scream-as-rallying-call-for-defence-reveals-study-428901" hreflang="en">Under attack by giant hornets, bees scream as rallying call for defence, reveals study&nbsp;</a>

These alterations seem to be a response to nutritional and physiological challenges, especially in the June to November dry season. &nbsp;

Vitek Jirinec, an ecologist at the Integral Ecology Research Center and the paper's lead author told AFP, "The biggest takeaway for me is that this is happening far from direct human disturbance, such as deforestation, in the heart of the world's biggest rainforest. That is something to ponder on the last day of COP26." &nbsp; &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-8-big-cats-test-positive-for-covid-19-at-st-louis-zoo-428910" hreflang="en">US: 8 big cats test positive for COVID-19 at St. Louis Zoo</a>

The data collected on over 15,000 birds, which were caught, weighed, measured and tagged in over 40 years of field work, was analysed by Jirinec and his colleagues. &nbsp;

Nearly all the birds had become lighter since 1980s, found the researchers. Every decade, several species lost an average of two per cent body weight. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The climate change is real and has been affecting even the wildest parts of the Amazon untouched by humanity, said a study. Over the past four decades, hotter and drier conditions in the region have led to a reduction in the body size of the birds.

The climate change is real and has been affecting even the wildest parts of the Amazon untouched by humanity, said a study. Over the past four decades, hotter and drier conditions in the region have led to a reduction in the body size of the birds. But it has also resulted in an increase in their wingspans, a study, which was published in the journal 'Science Advances', said on Friday. Also Read: Under attack by giant hornets, bees scream as rallying call for defence, reveals study These alterations seem to be a response to nutritional and physiological challenges, especially in the June to November dry season. Vitek Jirinec, an ecologist at the Integral Ecology Research Center and the paper's lead author told AFP, "The biggest takeaway for me is that this is happening far from direct human disturbance, such as deforestation, in the heart of the world's biggest rainforest. That is something to ponder on the last day of COP26." Also Read: US: 8 big cats test positive for COVID-19 at St. Louis Zoo The data collected on over 15,000 birds, which were caught, weighed, measured and tagged in over 40 years of field work, was analysed by Jirinec and his colleagues. Nearly all the birds had become lighter since 1980s, found the researchers. Every decade, several species lost an average of two per cent body weight. (With inputs from agencies)

Birds in Amazon turning smaller, longer-winged, courtesy climate change: Study

International climate talks went into overtime Friday evening, as negotiators wrestled behind closed doors over several sticking points in an agreement that could determine whether nations can prevent the planet from growing dangerously hot by midcentury.

A draft agreement released Friday morning called for a doubling of money to help developing countries cope with climate impacts and said nations should strengthen their emissions-cutting targets by next year. The document urged countries to accelerate a coal phaseout and eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels.

Negotiators from about 200 countries worked into Saturday morning, arguing over several aspects of the document, including money for developing countries suffering the worst impacts, how to structure a global market for carbon, and whether countries should be asked to return next year with stronger emissions plans.

They even disputed whether the final agreement should mention the words “fossil fuels,” which have never before appeared in a global climate agreement even though their combustion is the principal cause of climate change.

One of the most divisive questions involves whether industrialized countries that have prospered by burning coal, oil and gas should pay developing countries for the irreparable harms they have caused.

The state of the negotiations reflected intensifying pressure on polluter countries to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions far more quickly than they have been willing but also to address the damage that those emissions have exacted on countries least responsible for the problem.

“There’s a huge disconnect between where we are, where we will be based on current projections and where we need to be in terms of what science is telling us,” said Saber Hossain Chowdhury, a negotiator from Bangladesh.

A new draft text was expected Saturday morning, according to summit organizers. To reach a final agreement, all parties must approve. By tradition, if one country objects to language in the agreement, the talks can deadlock.

The summit host, Britain, had said its goal was to ensure that the planet would not heat more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100, compared with preindustrial times. That is the threshold beyond which scientists say devastating heat waves, fires and floods become significantly more likely.

That goal is nowhere within reach.

The world has already warmed an average of 1.1 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution, although some places have already heated more than that. One analysis found that even if all the pledges made in Glasgow are kept, temperatures will still skyrocket by 2.4 degrees Celsius by 2100.

The Kenyan environment minister, Keriako Tobiko, noted that an average global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius would translate into 3 degrees in Africa, intensifying erratic patterns of rainfall and drought that are already punishing farmers.

“In Kenya and Africa, we cry, we bleed. We bleed when it rains, we cry when it doesn’t rain,” he said. “So for us, ambition, 1.5 is not a statistic. It is a matter of life and death.”

Pressure mounted throughout the day to deliver a strong final document. At noon, more than 700 climate activists marched through the convention centre where the summit is being held, chanting “climate justice” and calling for more ambitious targets. They spilled out into the streets to join noisy throngs of more protesters.

The demonstrations enlivened the two-week proceedings, which have been dominated by well-crafted speeches onstage and arguments over verbs in small meeting rooms. But they also served as a reminder to politicians and diplomats of the demands of ordinary citizens. Midway through the summit, over the course of two days, more than 100,000 protesters filled the streets of Glasgow, many of them young people, angrily demanding that world leaders take aggressive action to deal with the climate crisis.

A British diplomat closely following the negotiations said talks would go down to the wire.

“There are a number of key issues still in play here, and we’re still some distance from reaching an outcome,” said David Waskow, international climate director at the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based environmental think tank.

The latest draft also “requests” nations to return every year to strengthen their emissions-cutting targets until the 1.5 degree Celsius goal is within reach. In diplomatic terms, that is tamer than “urges,” which was used in the previous draft.

Even at current temperatures, Chowdhury said, “We see the destruction, the devastation, the pain, the suffering that all countries of the world are facing.” He received sustained applause from delegates in the plenary hall.

The latest draft calls on countries to accelerate “the phaseout of unabated coal power and of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels.” Unabated coal refers to power plants that do not capture their carbon dioxide emissions using a nascent technology not currently available on a commercial scale. The language would allow power plants with the technology to continue burning coal and is a change from previous language asking nations to “accelerate the phasing out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels.”

John Kerry, U.S. special envoy for climate change, on Friday described fossil fuel subsidies as the “definition of insanity,” denouncing measures taken by governments that artificially lower the price of coal, oil or gas.

The world spends about $423 billion each year to subsidize oil, gas and coal, about four times the amount needed to help poor countries address climate change, according to the U.N. Development Program.

Officials from other countries argued that the words “unabated” and “inefficient” should be removed from the agreement.

“We need clear language on the need to eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies, not only the inefficient ones, and to accelerate the phaseout of coal power,” said Andrea Meza, Costa Rica’s environment minister.

“Weasel words,” Catherine Abreu, executive director of Destination Zero, an environmental group, called them.

Kerry defended the language about unabated coal, saying commercial carbon capture technology could be available in the future.

It is unclear whether the coal language will stay in the final version, considering that countries such as China, India, Poland and the United States still rely heavily on coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel.

In the negotiations Friday night, diplomats were wrestling over how to write regulations to govern the fast-growing global market in carbon offsets, in which one company or country compensates for its own emissions by paying someone else to reduce theirs. One of the thorniest technical issues is how to properly account for these global trades so that any reductions in emissions aren’t overestimated or double-counted, and negotiators still haven’t resolved debates over how best to do so.

It is common for U.N. climate conferences, which are supposed to run for two weeks, to go into overtime. Diplomats often don’t get down to the nitty-gritty details until the final night.

Lia Nicholson, who represents small island nations in the negotiations, said the group “finds ourselves at the final hours of this conference overwhelmed at the work still ahead of us.”

International climate talks went into overtime Friday evening, as negotiators wrestled behind closed doors over several sticking points in an agreement that could determine whether nations can prevent the planet from growing dangerously hot by midcentury.

International climate talks went into overtime Friday evening, as negotiators wrestled behind closed doors over several sticking points in an agreement that could determine whether nations can prevent the planet from growing dangerously hot by midcentury. A draft agreement released Friday morning called for a doubling of money to help developing countries cope with climate impacts and said nations should strengthen their emissions-cutting targets by next year. The document urged countries to accelerate a coal phaseout and eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels. Negotiators from about 200 countries worked into Saturday morning, arguing over several aspects of the document, including money for developing countries suffering the worst impacts, how to structure a global market for carbon, and whether countries should be asked to return next year with stronger emissions plans. They even disputed whether the final agreement should mention the words “fossil fuels,” which have never before appeared in a global climate agreement even though their combustion is the principal cause of climate change. One of the most divisive questions involves whether industrialized countries that have prospered by burning coal, oil and gas should pay developing countries for the irreparable harms they have caused. The state of the negotiations reflected intensifying pressure on polluter countries to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions far more quickly than they have been willing but also to address the damage that those emissions have exacted on countries least responsible for the problem. “There’s a huge disconnect between where we are, where we will be based on current projections and where we need to be in terms of what science is telling us,” said Saber Hossain Chowdhury, a negotiator from Bangladesh. A new draft text was expected Saturday morning, according to summit organizers. To reach a final agreement, all parties must approve. By tradition, if one country objects to language in the agreement, the talks can deadlock. The summit host, Britain, had said its goal was to ensure that the planet would not heat more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100, compared with preindustrial times. That is the threshold beyond which scientists say devastating heat waves, fires and floods become significantly more likely. That goal is nowhere within reach. The world has already warmed an average of 1.1 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution, although some places have already heated more than that. One analysis found that even if all the pledges made in Glasgow are kept, temperatures will still skyrocket by 2.4 degrees Celsius by 2100. The Kenyan environment minister, Keriako Tobiko, noted that an average global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius would translate into 3 degrees in Africa, intensifying erratic patterns of rainfall and drought that are already punishing farmers. “In Kenya and Africa, we cry, we bleed. We bleed when it rains, we cry when it doesn’t rain,” he said. “So for us, ambition, 1.5 is not a statistic. It is a matter of life and death.” Pressure mounted throughout the day to deliver a strong final document. At noon, more than 700 climate activists marched through the convention centre where the summit is being held, chanting “climate justice” and calling for more ambitious targets. They spilled out into the streets to join noisy throngs of more protesters. The demonstrations enlivened the two-week proceedings, which have been dominated by well-crafted speeches onstage and arguments over verbs in small meeting rooms. But they also served as a reminder to politicians and diplomats of the demands of ordinary citizens. Midway through the summit, over the course of two days, more than 100,000 protesters filled the streets of Glasgow, many of them young people, angrily demanding that world leaders take aggressive action to deal with the climate crisis. A British diplomat closely following the negotiations said talks would go down to the wire. “There are a number of key issues still in play here, and we’re still some distance from reaching an outcome,” said David Waskow, international climate director at the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based environmental think tank. The latest draft also “requests” nations to return every year to strengthen their emissions-cutting targets until the 1.5 degree Celsius goal is within reach. In diplomatic terms, that is tamer than “urges,” which was used in the previous draft. Even at current temperatures, Chowdhury said, “We see the destruction, the devastation, the pain, the suffering that all countries of the world are facing.” He received sustained applause from delegates in the plenary hall. The latest draft calls on countries to accelerate “the phaseout of unabated coal power and of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels.” Unabated coal refers to power plants that do not capture their carbon dioxide emissions using a nascent technology not currently available on a commercial scale. The language would allow power plants with the technology to continue burning coal and is a change from previous language asking nations to “accelerate the phasing out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels.” John Kerry, U.S. special envoy for climate change, on Friday described fossil fuel subsidies as the “definition of insanity,” denouncing measures taken by governments that artificially lower the price of coal, oil or gas. The world spends about $423 billion each year to subsidize oil, gas and coal, about four times the amount needed to help poor countries address climate change, according to the U.N. Development Program. Officials from other countries argued that the words “unabated” and “inefficient” should be removed from the agreement. “We need clear language on the need to eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies, not only the inefficient ones, and to accelerate the phaseout of coal power,” said Andrea Meza, Costa Rica’s environment minister. “Weasel words,” Catherine Abreu, executive director of Destination Zero, an environmental group, called them. Kerry defended the language about unabated coal, saying commercial carbon capture technology could be available in the future. It is unclear whether the coal language will stay in the final version, considering that countries such as China, India, Poland and the United States still rely heavily on coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. In the negotiations Friday night, diplomats were wrestling over how to write regulations to govern the fast-growing global market in carbon offsets, in which one company or country compensates for its own emissions by paying someone else to reduce theirs. One of the thorniest technical issues is how to properly account for these global trades so that any reductions in emissions aren’t overestimated or double-counted, and negotiators still haven’t resolved debates over how best to do so. It is common for U.N. climate conferences, which are supposed to run for two weeks, to go into overtime. Diplomats often don’t get down to the nitty-gritty details until the final night. Lia Nicholson, who represents small island nations in the negotiations, said the group “finds ourselves at the final hours of this conference overwhelmed at the work still ahead of us.”

Glasgow climate talks are down to the wire on money, ambition and fossil fuels

The latest draft in the COP26 summit has urged countries to curb their use of coal and act faster against climate change.

After two weeks of wrangling, the sleep-deprived negotiators hope to give the world a realistic chance of avoiding the worst effects of global warming.

They are struggling to bridge deep divisions holding up an ambitious deal to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial level as per the Paris Agreement.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-climate-summit-rally-for-action-against-climate-change-last-ditch-scramble-to-save-planet-428792/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Scientists say that to go beyond that limit would unleash extreme sea-level rise and catastrophic weather extremes, including crippling droughts, monstrous storms, and wildfires far worse than those the world is already suffering.

However, according to delegates, China and Russia want to remove the mention of polluting fuels. But they faced major resistance from the United States and the European Union.

The latest draft is trying to balance the demands of climate-vulnerable nations, big industrial powers, and those whose consumption or exports of fossil fuels are vital to their economic development.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/suffering-from-climate-change-canada-woman-first-in-world-with-such-diagnosis-428006">Also read |&nbsp;Suffering from 'climate change': Canada woman first in world with such diagnosis</a>

Slamming the language on fossil fuels, Greenpeace International chief Jennifer Morgan said ''it is far from what is needed but sends a signal –- I dare countries to take that out of the text right now".

"The US has to support the most vulnerable on the issue of loss and damage. They cannot avoid this issue any longer. Nor can the European Union," she added.

"I would call on President (Joe) Biden to do what's right, and support the most vulnerable in helping them deal with their losses."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/our-response-to-climate-change-is-missing-something-big-scientists-say-390706">Also read |&nbsp;Our response to climate change is missing something big, scientists say</a>

The national emissions-cutting pledges made so far would cap the average global temperature rise at only 2.4 Celsius in the fresh draft deal.

Rich countries have failed to meet a 12-year-old goal to provide $100 billion a year in so-called "climate finance" by 2020, undermining trust and making some developing countries more reluctant to curb their emissions.

The sum, which falls far short of what the United Nations says countries actually need, aims to both enable poor countries to transition their energy sources away from fossil fuels, and help them prepare for and manage increasingly extreme climate events.

The latest draft said rich countries should double the funding set aside for adaptation by 2025, from 2019 levels.

(With inputs from agencies)

The latest draft in the COP26 summit has urged countries to curb their use of coal and act faster against climate change. After two weeks of wrangling, the sleep-deprived negotiators hope to give the world a realistic chance of avoiding the worst effects of global warming.

The latest draft in the COP26 summit has urged countries to curb their use of coal and act faster against climate change. After two weeks of wrangling, the sleep-deprived negotiators hope to give the world a realistic chance of avoiding the worst effects of global warming. They are struggling to bridge deep divisions holding up an ambitious deal to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial level as per the Paris Agreement. Scientists say that to go beyond that limit would unleash extreme sea-level rise and catastrophic weather extremes, including crippling droughts, monstrous storms, and wildfires far worse than those the world is already suffering. However, according to delegates, China and Russia want to remove the mention of polluting fuels. But they faced major resistance from the United States and the European Union. The latest draft is trying to balance the demands of climate-vulnerable nations, big industrial powers, and those whose consumption or exports of fossil fuels are vital to their economic development. Also read | Suffering from 'climate change': Canada woman first in world with such diagnosis Slamming the language on fossil fuels, Greenpeace International chief Jennifer Morgan said ''it is far from what is needed but sends a signal –- I dare countries to take that out of the text right now". "The US has to support the most vulnerable on the issue of loss and damage. They cannot avoid this issue any longer. Nor can the European Union," she added. "I would call on President (Joe) Biden to do what's right, and support the most vulnerable in helping them deal with their losses." Also read | Our response to climate change is missing something big, scientists say The national emissions-cutting pledges made so far would cap the average global temperature rise at only 2.4 Celsius in the fresh draft deal. Rich countries have failed to meet a 12-year-old goal to provide $100 billion a year in so-called "climate finance" by 2020, undermining trust and making some developing countries more reluctant to curb their emissions. The sum, which falls far short of what the United Nations says countries actually need, aims to both enable poor countries to transition their energy sources away from fossil fuels, and help them prepare for and manage increasingly extreme climate events. The latest draft said rich countries should double the funding set aside for adaptation by 2025, from 2019 levels. (With inputs from agencies)

COP26 summit: Latest draft urges coal curbs, faster climate action

A new draft introduced at the COP26 summit has demanded more urgent action against climate change and the emission of carbon dioxide.

It presses countries to reach higher in their plans to tackle global warming but also tries to balance the demands of developing and richer nations.

Experts believe that its language is much softer and weaker than the previous one. However, it retains its core demand for countries to set tougher climate pledges next year.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cop26-draft-deal-calls-for-tougher-emission-pledges-limit-global-warming-and-more-428283/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Giving poor countries hope for more financial support to cope with global warming, negotiators at this year’s UN climate talks in Glasgow appeared to be backing away from a call to end all use of coal and phase out fossil fuel subsidies completely.

The new draft is a balancing act, trying to take in the demands of both climate-vulnerable nations and large economies reliant on fossil fuels.

After two weeks of round-the-clock negotiations, delegates produced a round-up of their progress, which urged governments to accelerate "the phaseout of unabated coal power and of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-climate-summit-draft-deal-urges-nations-to-speed-up-emission-goals-in-2022-428241">Also read |&nbsp;COP26 climate summit: Draft deal urges nations to speed up emission goals in 2022</a>

Delegates in Glasgow from nearly 200 nations are charged with keeping the Paris Agreement temperature goals alive even as climate-driven disasters hit countries the world over.&nbsp;

It had an aspirational target to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, and so avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The latest draft also adds wording that could create a fund to compensate countries for serious destruction resulting from climate change.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-if-scientists-are-wrong-about-the-age-of-continents-new-study-says-they-are-700-million-years-older-427935" hreflang="en">What if scientists are wrong about the age of continents? New study says they are 700 million years older</a>

Rich nations such as the United States, who have historically been the biggest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, are opposed to any legal obligation to pay for loss and damage suffered by poor countries.

To increase pressure for a strong deal, protesters planned to rally outside the COP26 venue, where activists had hung ribbons with messages imploring delegates to protect the Earth.

Under current national pledges to cut emissions this decade, researchers say the world's temperature would soar far beyond that limit, unleashing catastrophic sea level rises, droughts, storms, floods and wildfires.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A new draft introduced at the COP26 summit has demanded more urgent action against climate change and the emission of carbon dioxide. It presses countries to reach higher in their plans to tackle global warming but also tries to balance the demands of developing and richer nations.

A new draft introduced at the COP26 summit has demanded more urgent action against climate change and the emission of carbon dioxide. It presses countries to reach higher in their plans to tackle global warming but also tries to balance the demands of developing and richer nations. Experts believe that its language is much softer and weaker than the previous one. However, it retains its core demand for countries to set tougher climate pledges next year. Giving poor countries hope for more financial support to cope with global warming, negotiators at this year’s UN climate talks in Glasgow appeared to be backing away from a call to end all use of coal and phase out fossil fuel subsidies completely. The new draft is a balancing act, trying to take in the demands of both climate-vulnerable nations and large economies reliant on fossil fuels. After two weeks of round-the-clock negotiations, delegates produced a round-up of their progress, which urged governments to accelerate "the phaseout of unabated coal power and of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels". Also read | COP26 climate summit: Draft deal urges nations to speed up emission goals in 2022 Delegates in Glasgow from nearly 200 nations are charged with keeping the Paris Agreement temperature goals alive even as climate-driven disasters hit countries the world over. It had an aspirational target to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, and so avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The latest draft also adds wording that could create a fund to compensate countries for serious destruction resulting from climate change. Also read | What if scientists are wrong about the age of continents? New study says they are 700 million years older Rich nations such as the United States, who have historically been the biggest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, are opposed to any legal obligation to pay for loss and damage suffered by poor countries. To increase pressure for a strong deal, protesters planned to rally outside the COP26 venue, where activists had hung ribbons with messages imploring delegates to protect the Earth. Under current national pledges to cut emissions this decade, researchers say the world's temperature would soar far beyond that limit, unleashing catastrophic sea level rises, droughts, storms, floods and wildfires. (With inputs from agencies)

COP26 summit: New draft uses weaker language for action against emissions

A woman in Canada has been diagnosed with 'climate change'.The patient is in her 70s, her symptoms are very common. Are you too suffering from climate change? Find out in this report. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Canadian woman in her 70s diagnosed with Climate Change

Most of the developing nations, including China, India and African countries, have sought at least US $1.3 trillion per year from the wealthy countries in climate finance&nbsp;starting from 2030—a demand that would be most likely to cause further consternation even as countries at COP26 negotiate on the amount.

A group of 24 nations that call themselves Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs), as well as countries from Africa, on Monday evening put forward this demand in a proposal for enhanced finance flows that they are pushing for inclusion in the final decisions that will be agreed at the climate conference in Glasgow.

India is part of the LMDC grouping along with China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and others.

Earlier in 2009 at COP15, the world’s richest countries had pledged to provide $100 billion per year of climate finance for developing countries every year till 2020. In the Paris Agreement, this period was extended till 2025.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/johnson-cautious-over-fulfilling-un-climate-fund-pledges-414349">Johnson cautious over fulfilling UN climate fund pledges</a>

But the deal never materialised, with many rich nations admitting that they won’t be able to do so before 2023 — three years after the original deadline.

The LMDCs have proposed to the United Nations at the summit said that half of the money must be allotted for financing renewable energy in developing countries, and the other half to them from the effects of global warming.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-warns-climate-poses-emerging-threat-to-financial-system-422957">US warns climate poses ‘emerging threat’ to financial system</a>

These countries said that a “significant percentage” of climate finance, not less than $100 billion, should be in the form of grants, with at least $700 billion per year to be allotted to Africa alone.

The developing nations have argued that the enhanced climate finance is essential to driving their climate ambitions and preventing a global rise in temperatures beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels under the Paris Agreement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-calls-for-hike-in-climate-finance-to-1-trillion-426278">India calls for hike in climate finance to $1 trillion</a>

The developing countries have also said that climate finance must be clearly defined so that it is not mixed up with other kinds of existing financial flows.

During a high-level ministerial dialogue on Climate Finance in Glasgow on Tuesday, India called on the developed countries to accept its historical responsibility and sought enhanced financing.

“We record our deep disappointment with the deliberations in COP26 so far. Developed countries must accept the historical responsibility and provide the financial resources to the developing countries,” it said in a statement.

“Developed countries had taken a commitment in 2009 to mobilise $100 billion per year by 2020 for climate action by developing countries. The promise has not been met. Scaling up mobilisation is pertinent given the huge gap between the requirement and extent of mobilisation,” said the statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

Most of the developing nations, including China, India and African countries, have sought at least US $1.3 trillion per year from the wealthy countries in climate finance starting from 2030—a demand that would be most likely to cause further consternation even as countries at COP26 negotiate on the amount.

Most of the developing nations, including China, India and African countries, have sought at least US $1.3 trillion per year from the wealthy countries in climate finance starting from 2030—a demand that would be most likely to cause further consternation even as countries at COP26 negotiate on the amount. A group of 24 nations that call themselves Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs), as well as countries from Africa, on Monday evening put forward this demand in a proposal for enhanced finance flows that they are pushing for inclusion in the final decisions that will be agreed at the climate conference in Glasgow. India is part of the LMDC grouping along with China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and others. Earlier in 2009 at COP15, the world’s richest countries had pledged to provide $100 billion per year of climate finance for developing countries every year till 2020. In the Paris Agreement, this period was extended till 2025. Also read | Johnson cautious over fulfilling UN climate fund pledges But the deal never materialised, with many rich nations admitting that they won’t be able to do so before 2023 — three years after the original deadline. The LMDCs have proposed to the United Nations at the summit said that half of the money must be allotted for financing renewable energy in developing countries, and the other half to them from the effects of global warming. Also read | US warns climate poses ‘emerging threat’ to financial system These countries said that a “significant percentage” of climate finance, not less than $100 billion, should be in the form of grants, with at least $700 billion per year to be allotted to Africa alone. The developing nations have argued that the enhanced climate finance is essential to driving their climate ambitions and preventing a global rise in temperatures beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels under the Paris Agreement. Also read | India calls for hike in climate finance to $1 trillion The developing countries have also said that climate finance must be clearly defined so that it is not mixed up with other kinds of existing financial flows. During a high-level ministerial dialogue on Climate Finance in Glasgow on Tuesday, India called on the developed countries to accept its historical responsibility and sought enhanced financing. “We record our deep disappointment with the deliberations in COP26 so far. Developed countries must accept the historical responsibility and provide the financial resources to the developing countries,” it said in a statement. “Developed countries had taken a commitment in 2009 to mobilise $100 billion per year by 2020 for climate action by developing countries. The promise has not been met. Scaling up mobilisation is pertinent given the huge gap between the requirement and extent of mobilisation,” said the statement. (With inputs from agencies)

India, China, other developing nations propose $1.3 trillion per year in climate finance

Climate change is a phenomenon that impacts the world, no one gets spared from its devastating consequences. However, the effects are disproportionate. On Tuesday, the UN climate summit held a session on climate change and its impact on women in particular.

UN: 80% of people displaced by climate change are women | COP26 Climate Summit

The staff at Big Cabal, a media startup, wanted to ditch its diesel generator, but needed something to keep the office air conditioners running. The generator was noisy, expensive and, maybe worst of all, bad for the environment.

Hoping for a greener solution to its problem, Big Cabal in 2019 bought solar panels for its two-story office building.

But the leap to solar didn’t go according to plan — and the reasons illuminate the big challenges Africa faces from climate change. The region is rich in fossil fuels and is eager to use them to fix its notoriously unreliable power grids. But to slow global warming, nations must burn less oil and gas, not more. Meantime, Africa is heating up much faster than the rest of the world.

For starters, Big Cabal found that the solar panels cost about three times more than the generator in maintenance costs. And, even though the company’s finance manager, Sophia Abu, scouted for the most powerful units the company could afford, they still weren’t quite enough to run the air conditioners. So while Big Cabal’s staff, who write technology and culture news, sweltered in the summer heat, the AC units hummed cheerfully and pushed out warm air.

“We’ve had to buy more batteries, and more panels,” Abu said, as well as special air conditioners that work with solar inverters, devices that can accommodate battery storage.

Now, the diesel generator is back, screaming behind the office. The company switches between power from the local utility, the generator and the solar panels.

That juggling act gets to the heart of a big question facing African nations: Who gets to keep using fossil fuels, and for how long, during the transition to clean energy?

“When they say cut in Africa, what do they want to cut?” asked Titus Gwemende, Zimbabwe-based climate director at the Open Society Foundation, a grants organization. “There’s nothing to cut here. African countries are the ones on the receiving end of this problem. It’s the bigger emitters that should have the responsibility to cut,” he said. “We should be sensitive to history.”

A swift transition is crucial in the global fight against climate change. But not only would that be particularly costly in poorer nations, many African countries have an abundance of natural gas or other fossil fuels, and they argue forcefully that the rest of the world doesn’t have a right to tell them not to use it.

Proven crude oil reserves on the African continent total more than 100 billion barrels spanning 11 countries, with Libya and Nigeria among the 10 biggest producers globally. The region is rich in gas, too: Combined, Nigeria, Algeria and Mozambique hold about 6% of the world’s natural gas reserves.

As world leaders meet at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, some African leaders and activists are, for the first time, vocally opposing a speedier pivot to renewables for their countries. Instead, they are pressing for a slower transition, one that would embrace a continued reliance on fossil fuels — particularly natural gas, which burns more cleanly than coal or oil, but which still pumps planet-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Their calls come at an awkward time.

This year alone, scientists and researchers have issued numerous reports showing the damage that the widespread burning of fossil fuels has caused to the climate over the decades. The scientific findings highlight the urgency of switching to cleaner energy if the world is to prevent global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial times, a target set by the Paris accord, the agreement among nations to slow climate change.

Beyond that temperature threshold, scientists say, the risk of calamities like deadly heat waves, water shortages and ecosystem collapse grows sharply.

But in order to hit that target and avert the worst climate catastrophes, analysts here say, African nations should be supported financially by wealthier ones as they seek alternative pathways to reducing emissions. When the time comes, Gwemende said, developed countries should also transfer technical knowledge on renewables to Africa.

Pulling Away the Ladder

Insisting that African countries transition more swiftly to renewables, some analysts say, is akin to developed nations using a ladder to climb a wall, then pulling it up before developing countries can do the same.

Under growing pressure to act, development banks and richer countries alike have been rolling back their support for fossil fuel projects like coal-burning power plants.

In 2017, the World Bank cut funding for projects like these and began to invest more in renewable energy projects. And in Glasgow, rich countries like Britain, the United States, Canada and Denmark have pledged to stop spending on fossil fuel projects abroad by 2022, barring some exemptions&lt;strong&gt;.&lt;/strong&gt;

So far, at least one gas project in Mozambique, a gas-rich country in southern Africa, will not be going ahead according to the Africa Energy Chamber, an advisory firm. Oil giant BP has said it will roll back its oil and gas production, including on the continent.

African leaders are voicing their displeasure. In several seminars at the Glasgow climate conference, as well as in opinion pieces in recent months, they’ve taken sharp jabs at these cutbacks.

“Efforts to restrict fossil fuel investments in Africa are even harder to stomach because many of the wealthy countries behind them — including Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States — include natural gas in their own multidecade plans to transition to clean energy,” Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s vice president, wrote in Foreign Affairs in the run-up to the talks, known as COP26.

Nigeria depends largely on gas for electricity, and on crude for revenue. “Climate action shouldn’t mean strangling all fossil fuel projects but rather facilitating the flow of capital to the countries that need it most,” Osinbajo wrote.

Sub-Saharan Africa contributes about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, among the lowest of the world’s regions. Yet African countries are particularly hard hit by the consequences of climate change. The region is warming faster than the global average and experiencing bigger increases in sea-level rise.

Parts of East Africa haven’t seen rain in years and are battling droughts. The Sahel region of West Africa has recorded a sharp rise in conflicts between farmers and herders caused by vegetation loss. And in southern Madagascar, families are boiling cactus leaves for food in what the United Nations is calling one of the world’s first famines induced by climate change.

Yet, at the same time, the development stakes are particularly high for the continent, which is home to some 1.2 billion people, half of whom don’t have access to electricity — a group equivalent to the entire population of the European Union.

The problems in electrification are wide-ranging and vary from country to country: Absence of power-generating capacity, absence of technical expertise, and widespread corruption.

There are plans, under the African Union, to rely largely on renewables by 2050 but only a handful of countries like South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia and Morocco have high renewable capacities presently.

More Time, More Money

In the Lagos office, a ding announces a power cut. But the lights quickly blink on again, as the solar system takes over.

Big Cabal’s employees have settled into a routine with their complex mix of electricity sources. But it required much time and money.

It’s that time and money that African leaders say the continent needs more of, in order to make a transition to renewable power. Renewable technologies are expensive in almost all regions, but, on top of those costs, African countries also face the expenses of industrializing, providing better health care and building food and education systems.

However, getting world leaders to agree to keep funding oil and gas projects could prove difficult. In Glasgow, Britain and other rich countries have pledged to fund Africa with billions of dollars to increase warning systems, protect vulnerable communities in the Sahel, and, for coal-reliant South Africa, to help speed the transition to clean energy.

But some are not enthusiastic about the new announcements. The same countries promised $100 billion annually in 2009 to developing countries, but those funds have been slow to come. The announcements are only a first step, said Lily Odarno of the Clean Air Task Force, a Washington nonprofit. Until the money arrives, she said, “it’s better to wait and see.”

Meanwhile, the U.N.’s environmental agency says developing countries spend about $70 billion on adaptation costs — responding to floods and droughts, for example — annually.

Sidelining Africa’s concerns could have consequences, analysts say. Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to see doubled population growth rates by 2050 and Nigeria will overtake the United States to become the second-most-populous country in the world. Africa also has the fastest urban growth rate in the world. By 2050, these populations are likely to be using up a lot of energy, whether it is clean or not.

Some analysts argue that Africa’s leaders should, in fact, make faster progress on renewable energy, citing in particular the continent’s huge solar potential. Happy Khambule, a senior political adviser with Greenpeace Africa, said his organization rejected the calls to continue using fossil fuels on the continent and equated it with “burning up the house we all live in.”

But overall, the message from African leaders at this month’s Glasgow climate talks is that the continent should be able to stick with some fossil fuels as part of the transition, considering the region’s economic and historic realities.

“It will be a successful COP if the bulk of the action is done by countries outside the continent,” said Gwemende, of Open Society Foundation. “It will be successful if the moneys are dispensed by the big emitters. But our work should go beyond COP. There’s more work to do after.” 
&nbsp;

The staff at Big Cabal, a media startup, wanted to ditch its diesel generator, but needed something to keep the office air conditioners running. The generator was noisy, expensive and, maybe worst of all, bad for the environment.

The staff at Big Cabal, a media startup, wanted to ditch its diesel generator, but needed something to keep the office air conditioners running. The generator was noisy, expensive and, maybe worst of all, bad for the environment. Hoping for a greener solution to its problem, Big Cabal in 2019 bought solar panels for its two-story office building. But the leap to solar didn’t go according to plan — and the reasons illuminate the big challenges Africa faces from climate change. The region is rich in fossil fuels and is eager to use them to fix its notoriously unreliable power grids. But to slow global warming, nations must burn less oil and gas, not more. Meantime, Africa is heating up much faster than the rest of the world. For starters, Big Cabal found that the solar panels cost about three times more than the generator in maintenance costs. And, even though the company’s finance manager, Sophia Abu, scouted for the most powerful units the company could afford, they still weren’t quite enough to run the air conditioners. So while Big Cabal’s staff, who write technology and culture news, sweltered in the summer heat, the AC units hummed cheerfully and pushed out warm air. “We’ve had to buy more batteries, and more panels,” Abu said, as well as special air conditioners that work with solar inverters, devices that can accommodate battery storage. Now, the diesel generator is back, screaming behind the office. The company switches between power from the local utility, the generator and the solar panels. That juggling act gets to the heart of a big question facing African nations: Who gets to keep using fossil fuels, and for how long, during the transition to clean energy? “When they say cut in Africa, what do they want to cut?” asked Titus Gwemende, Zimbabwe-based climate director at the Open Society Foundation, a grants organization. “There’s nothing to cut here. African countries are the ones on the receiving end of this problem. It’s the bigger emitters that should have the responsibility to cut,” he said. “We should be sensitive to history.” A swift transition is crucial in the global fight against climate change. But not only would that be particularly costly in poorer nations, many African countries have an abundance of natural gas or other fossil fuels, and they argue forcefully that the rest of the world doesn’t have a right to tell them not to use it. Proven crude oil reserves on the African continent total more than 100 billion barrels spanning 11 countries, with Libya and Nigeria among the 10 biggest producers globally. The region is rich in gas, too: Combined, Nigeria, Algeria and Mozambique hold about 6% of the world’s natural gas reserves. As world leaders meet at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, some African leaders and activists are, for the first time, vocally opposing a speedier pivot to renewables for their countries. Instead, they are pressing for a slower transition, one that would embrace a continued reliance on fossil fuels — particularly natural gas, which burns more cleanly than coal or oil, but which still pumps planet-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Their calls come at an awkward time. This year alone, scientists and researchers have issued numerous reports showing the damage that the widespread burning of fossil fuels has caused to the climate over the decades. The scientific findings highlight the urgency of switching to cleaner energy if the world is to prevent global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial times, a target set by the Paris accord, the agreement among nations to slow climate change. Beyond that temperature threshold, scientists say, the risk of calamities like deadly heat waves, water shortages and ecosystem collapse grows sharply. But in order to hit that target and avert the worst climate catastrophes, analysts here say, African nations should be supported financially by wealthier ones as they seek alternative pathways to reducing emissions. When the time comes, Gwemende said, developed countries should also transfer technical knowledge on renewables to Africa. Pulling Away the Ladder Insisting that African countries transition more swiftly to renewables, some analysts say, is akin to developed nations using a ladder to climb a wall, then pulling it up before developing countries can do the same. Under growing pressure to act, development banks and richer countries alike have been rolling back their support for fossil fuel projects like coal-burning power plants. In 2017, the World Bank cut funding for projects like these and began to invest more in renewable energy projects. And in Glasgow, rich countries like Britain, the United States, Canada and Denmark have pledged to stop spending on fossil fuel projects abroad by 2022, barring some exemptions. So far, at least one gas project in Mozambique, a gas-rich country in southern Africa, will not be going ahead according to the Africa Energy Chamber, an advisory firm. Oil giant BP has said it will roll back its oil and gas production, including on the continent. African leaders are voicing their displeasure. In several seminars at the Glasgow climate conference, as well as in opinion pieces in recent months, they’ve taken sharp jabs at these cutbacks. “Efforts to restrict fossil fuel investments in Africa are even harder to stomach because many of the wealthy countries behind them — including Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States — include natural gas in their own multidecade plans to transition to clean energy,” Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s vice president, wrote in Foreign Affairs in the run-up to the talks, known as COP26. Nigeria depends largely on gas for electricity, and on crude for revenue. “Climate action shouldn’t mean strangling all fossil fuel projects but rather facilitating the flow of capital to the countries that need it most,” Osinbajo wrote. Sub-Saharan Africa contributes about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, among the lowest of the world’s regions. Yet African countries are particularly hard hit by the consequences of climate change. The region is warming faster than the global average and experiencing bigger increases in sea-level rise. Parts of East Africa haven’t seen rain in years and are battling droughts. The Sahel region of West Africa has recorded a sharp rise in conflicts between farmers and herders caused by vegetation loss. And in southern Madagascar, families are boiling cactus leaves for food in what the United Nations is calling one of the world’s first famines induced by climate change. Yet, at the same time, the development stakes are particularly high for the continent, which is home to some 1.2 billion people, half of whom don’t have access to electricity — a group equivalent to the entire population of the European Union. The problems in electrification are wide-ranging and vary from country to country: Absence of power-generating capacity, absence of technical expertise, and widespread corruption. There are plans, under the African Union, to rely largely on renewables by 2050 but only a handful of countries like South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia and Morocco have high renewable capacities presently. More Time, More Money In the Lagos office, a ding announces a power cut. But the lights quickly blink on again, as the solar system takes over. Big Cabal’s employees have settled into a routine with their complex mix of electricity sources. But it required much time and money. It’s that time and money that African leaders say the continent needs more of, in order to make a transition to renewable power. Renewable technologies are expensive in almost all regions, but, on top of those costs, African countries also face the expenses of industrializing, providing better health care and building food and education systems. However, getting world leaders to agree to keep funding oil and gas projects could prove difficult. In Glasgow, Britain and other rich countries have pledged to fund Africa with billions of dollars to increase warning systems, protect vulnerable communities in the Sahel, and, for coal-reliant South Africa, to help speed the transition to clean energy. But some are not enthusiastic about the new announcements. The same countries promised $100 billion annually in 2009 to developing countries, but those funds have been slow to come. The announcements are only a first step, said Lily Odarno of the Clean Air Task Force, a Washington nonprofit. Until the money arrives, she said, “it’s better to wait and see.” Meanwhile, the U.N.’s environmental agency says developing countries spend about $70 billion on adaptation costs — responding to floods and droughts, for example — annually. Sidelining Africa’s concerns could have consequences, analysts say. Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to see doubled population growth rates by 2050 and Nigeria will overtake the United States to become the second-most-populous country in the world. Africa also has the fastest urban growth rate in the world. By 2050, these populations are likely to be using up a lot of energy, whether it is clean or not. Some analysts argue that Africa’s leaders should, in fact, make faster progress on renewable energy, citing in particular the continent’s huge solar potential. Happy Khambule, a senior political adviser with Greenpeace Africa, said his organization rejected the calls to continue using fossil fuels on the continent and equated it with “burning up the house we all live in.” But overall, the message from African leaders at this month’s Glasgow climate talks is that the continent should be able to stick with some fossil fuels as part of the transition, considering the region’s economic and historic realities. “It will be a successful COP if the bulk of the action is done by countries outside the continent,” said Gwemende, of Open Society Foundation. “It will be successful if the moneys are dispensed by the big emitters. But our work should go beyond COP. There’s more work to do after.”

The world needs to quit oil and gas. Africa has an idea: Rich countries first.

To highlight the effects of climate of change, the foreign minister of Tuvalu, a low-lying island in the south Pacific, filmed his speech to COP26 climate summit standing knee-deep in the ocean to show how the nation is vulnerable to the climate crisis.

Images of Simon Kofe standing in a suit and tie&nbsp;with his trouser legs rolled up&nbsp;have been shared widely on social media.

The video was shot by public broadcaster&nbsp;TVBC&nbsp;at the far end of Fongafale, the main islet of the capital Funafuti, a government official said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/5-takeaways-from-the-first-days-of-the-climate-summit-427300">5 takeaways from the first days of the climate summit</a>

“The statement juxtaposes the COP26 setting with the real-life situations faced in Tuvalu due to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise and highlights the bold action Tuvalu is taking to address the very pressing issues of human mobility under climate change,” Kofe told news agency Reuters, ahead of the broadcast of his video message.

Tuvalu, which is about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, is made up of nine small islands and has a population of around 12,000.

Its tourism website, Timeless Tuvalu, warns that by the end of the century it could be underwater.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greta-thunberg-calls-cop26-climate-summit-a-failure-427044">Greta Thunberg calls COP26 climate summit 'a failure'</a>

“School pupils are learning about the effects of climate change and “could be the last generation of children to grow up in Tuvalu,” the website states, while adding that many people have already emigrated to New Zealand.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/cop26-why-the-world-is-worried-about-china-and-co2-levels-425836">COP26: Why the world is worried about China and CO2 levels</a>

According to the&nbsp;World Bank, western Pacific ocean levels have risen at two to three times faster than the global average. They are forecast to rise between 0.5 and 1.1 metres before the end of the century.

Many big polluters have vowed to&nbsp;intensify their carbon cuts over the coming decades&nbsp;with some aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But Pacific Island leaders have demanded immediate action, pointing out that&nbsp;the very survival of their low-lying countries is at stake.

(With inputs from agencies)

To highlight the effects of climate of change, the foreign minister of Tuvalu, a low-lying island in the south Pacific, filmed his speech to COP26 climate summit standing knee-deep in the ocean to show how the nation is vulnerable to the climate crisis.

To highlight the effects of climate of change, the foreign minister of Tuvalu, a low-lying island in the south Pacific, filmed his speech to COP26 climate summit standing knee-deep in the ocean to show how the nation is vulnerable to the climate crisis. Images of Simon Kofe standing in a suit and tie with his trouser legs rolled up have been shared widely on social media. The video was shot by public broadcaster TVBC at the far end of Fongafale, the main islet of the capital Funafuti, a government official said. Also read | 5 takeaways from the first days of the climate summit “The statement juxtaposes the COP26 setting with the real-life situations faced in Tuvalu due to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise and highlights the bold action Tuvalu is taking to address the very pressing issues of human mobility under climate change,” Kofe told news agency Reuters, ahead of the broadcast of his video message. Tuvalu, which is about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, is made up of nine small islands and has a population of around 12,000. Its tourism website, Timeless Tuvalu, warns that by the end of the century it could be underwater. Also read | Greta Thunberg calls COP26 climate summit 'a failure' “School pupils are learning about the effects of climate change and “could be the last generation of children to grow up in Tuvalu,” the website states, while adding that many people have already emigrated to New Zealand. Also read | COP26: Why the world is worried about China and CO2 levels According to the World Bank, western Pacific ocean levels have risen at two to three times faster than the global average. They are forecast to rise between 0.5 and 1.1 metres before the end of the century. Many big polluters have vowed to intensify their carbon cuts over the coming decades with some aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But Pacific Island leaders have demanded immediate action, pointing out that the very survival of their low-lying countries is at stake. (With inputs from agencies)

Minister of Tuvalu island films his COP26 speech knee-deep in ocean to highlight climate crisis

So you've called your boss/ teacher to say that you won't come because of (fake) fever at least once right? And as these stories go usually, you were asked to come nonetheless. Fever, cold, cough are such a passe.

Next time you want to score a holiday, try saying you are suffering from climate change. This may add some gravitas to your charade.&nbsp;

This may actually be a thing if what has happened in Canada catches on. A woman there has become world's first person to have been diagnosed as suffering from climate change.

Yep, that apparently is a thing now.

Times Colonist, a local media outlet has quoted Dr Kyle Merritt of Kootenay Lake Hospital who has made the diagnosis.

Record-breaking heatwave conditions have been witnessed in Canada this year. The country, which is famous for its freezing climes has recorded temperatures soaring up to 49.5 degrees Celsius this year.&nbsp;

According to Reuters tally, 233 people died in British Columbia in June alone.

“All of her health problems have all been worsened. And she's really struggling to stay hydrated,” said Dr Merritt about the woman who has been diagnosed as suffering from climate change.

Climate change and global warming as we know, refer to a gradual increase in average global temperatures. Though the temperature may rise by just a couple degrees Celsius, it may have catastrophic effect for the world with polar ice caps melting, sea levels rising and heatwave conditions as witnessed in Canada this year.

So you've called your boss/ teacher to say that you won't come because of (fake) fever at least once right? And as these stories go usually, you were asked to come nonetheless.

So you've called your boss/ teacher to say that you won't come because of (fake) fever at least once right? And as these stories go usually, you were asked to come nonetheless. Fever, cold, cough are such a passe. Next time you want to score a holiday, try saying you are suffering from climate change. This may add some gravitas to your charade. This may actually be a thing if what has happened in Canada catches on. A woman there has become world's first person to have been diagnosed as suffering from climate change. Yep, that apparently is a thing now. Times Colonist, a local media outlet has quoted Dr Kyle Merritt of Kootenay Lake Hospital who has made the diagnosis. Record-breaking heatwave conditions have been witnessed in Canada this year. The country, which is famous for its freezing climes has recorded temperatures soaring up to 49.5 degrees Celsius this year. According to Reuters tally, 233 people died in British Columbia in June alone. “All of her health problems have all been worsened. And she's really struggling to stay hydrated,” said Dr Merritt about the woman who has been diagnosed as suffering from climate change. Climate change and global warming as we know, refer to a gradual increase in average global temperatures. Though the temperature may rise by just a couple degrees Celsius, it may have catastrophic effect for the world with polar ice caps melting, sea levels rising and heatwave conditions as witnessed in Canada this year.

Suffering from 'climate change': Canada woman first in world with such diagnosis

Scientists have warned that one billion people could suffer the severe impact of a mere rise of two degrees in global temperature.

The research, released by the Met Office of the United Kingdom, portrays a ''scary vision of the future,'' with experts saying that the world is ''woefully underprepared'' for what lies ahead.

The analysis is based on the research conducted by the Helix project, funded by the European Union. It maps the risks of climate disasters.

The 15-fold increase in the numbers exposed today can lead to a severe heatwave crisis across the world.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-if-scientists-are-wrong-about-the-age-of-continents-new-study-says-they-are-700-million-years-older-427935" hreflang="en">What if scientists are wrong about the age of continents? New study says they are 700 million years older</a>

The findings have been published during a landmark United Nations climate summit in Scotland being held to keep alive the possibility of capping global warming at 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels, the limit beyond which the world will be courting devastating climate impacts.&nbsp;

The Glasgow gathering, which runs to November 12, comes as an accelerating onslaught of extreme weather events across the world underscores the devastating impacts of climate change from 150 years of burning fossil fuels.&nbsp;

''Any one of the climate impacts presents a scary vision of the future. But, of course, severe climate change will drive many impacts, and our maps show that some regions will be affected by multiple factors,'' said Andy Wiltshire, at the Met Office.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/third-of-human-population-to-be-displaced-if-climate-change-not-curbed-427759" hreflang="en">Third of human population to be displaced if climate change not curbed</a>

Meanwhile, Albert Klein Tank, director of the Met Office Hadley Centre, said ''These maps reveal areas of the world where the gravest impacts are projected to occur. However, all regions of the world,&nbsp;including the UK and Europe,&nbsp;are expected to suffer continued impacts from climate change.''

At a UN climate summit 12 years ago in Copenhagen, rich nations promised to hand developing countries $100 billion a year by 2020 to help them adapt to climate change.

The target was missed and at COP26, richer nations have said they will meet the goal in 2023 at the latest, with some hoping it could be delivered a year earlier.

Scientists have warned that one billion people could suffer the severe impact of a mere rise of two degrees in global temperature. The research, released by the Met Office of the United Kingdom, portrays a ''scary vision of the future,'' with experts saying that the world is ''woefully underprepared'' for what lies ahead.

Scientists have warned that one billion people could suffer the severe impact of a mere rise of two degrees in global temperature. The research, released by the Met Office of the United Kingdom, portrays a ''scary vision of the future,'' with experts saying that the world is ''woefully underprepared'' for what lies ahead. The analysis is based on the research conducted by the Helix project, funded by the European Union. It maps the risks of climate disasters. The 15-fold increase in the numbers exposed today can lead to a severe heatwave crisis across the world. Also read | What if scientists are wrong about the age of continents? New study says they are 700 million years older The findings have been published during a landmark United Nations climate summit in Scotland being held to keep alive the possibility of capping global warming at 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels, the limit beyond which the world will be courting devastating climate impacts. The Glasgow gathering, which runs to November 12, comes as an accelerating onslaught of extreme weather events across the world underscores the devastating impacts of climate change from 150 years of burning fossil fuels. ''Any one of the climate impacts presents a scary vision of the future. But, of course, severe climate change will drive many impacts, and our maps show that some regions will be affected by multiple factors,'' said Andy Wiltshire, at the Met Office. Also read | Third of human population to be displaced if climate change not curbed Meanwhile, Albert Klein Tank, director of the Met Office Hadley Centre, said ''These maps reveal areas of the world where the gravest impacts are projected to occur. However, all regions of the world, including the UK and Europe, are expected to suffer continued impacts from climate change.'' At a UN climate summit 12 years ago in Copenhagen, rich nations promised to hand developing countries $100 billion a year by 2020 to help them adapt to climate change. The target was missed and at COP26, richer nations have said they will meet the goal in 2023 at the latest, with some hoping it could be delivered a year earlier.

'Scary vision of future': Rise in temperature by just 2C will make 1 billion people suffer

Since the beginning of this year, the world witnessed record-breaking summer temperatures, multiple wildfires, numerous floods and unexpected winters, these are all consequences of climate change but it has also impacted the economy, here's how!

Climate change's impact on world's poorest economies

Days after rejecting an agreement to phase out use of coal at the COP 26 climate summit, Australia on Monday asserted that it plans to sell coal for “decades into the future”.

During the COP 26 UN climate summit in Glasgow, over 40 countries on Thursday pledged to eliminate coal use within decades to keep the average surface temperature of the Earth between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Major coal consumers such as China, the United States and Australia did not sign up.

“We have said very clearly we are not closing coal mines and we are not closing coal-fired power stations,” Australian Minister for Resources Keith Pitt told Australian broadcaster ABC.

Defending Australia’s decision, Pitt said Australia had some of the world's highest quality coal.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/consigning-coal-to-history-over-40-countries-agree-to-phase-out-dirtiest-fossil-fuel-426548">'Consigning coal to history': Over 40 countries agree to phase out dirtiest fossil fuel</a>

“And that is why we will continue to have markets for decades into the future. And if they're buying... well, we are selling,” he said.

The minister claimed that demand for coal is expected to rise until 2030, adding, “If we aren’t to win that market, somebody else will.

Pitt said that around 300,000 Australians' jobs were reliant on the coal sector.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-urges-australia-to-speed-up-efforts-to-drop-coal-410926">UN urges Australia to speed up efforts to drop coal</a>

“I would much rather it be Australia's high-quality product, delivering Australian jobs and building Australia's economy than coming from Indonesia or Russia or elsewhere.”

Australia is one of the world's largest producers of coal and natural gas, but has also suffered under increasingly extreme climate-fuelled droughts, floods and bushfires in recent years.

Greenhouse emissions from the burning of coal are the largest contributor to&nbsp;climate change.

It is widely used because it is cheap and abundant in local supply. Wealthy countries have invested heavily to shift their industries and energy sectors onto cleaner sources.

In 2019, 37 per cent of the world's electricity was produced by coal. Although the global pipeline for new coal power projects has shrivelled in recent years.

(With inputs from agencies)

Days after rejecting an agreement to phase out use of coal at the COP 26 climate summit, Australia on Monday asserted that it plans to sell coal for “decades into the future”.

Days after rejecting an agreement to phase out use of coal at the COP 26 climate summit, Australia on Monday asserted that it plans to sell coal for “decades into the future”. During the COP 26 UN climate summit in Glasgow, over 40 countries on Thursday pledged to eliminate coal use within decades to keep the average surface temperature of the Earth between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Major coal consumers such as China, the United States and Australia did not sign up. “We have said very clearly we are not closing coal mines and we are not closing coal-fired power stations,” Australian Minister for Resources Keith Pitt told Australian broadcaster ABC. Defending Australia’s decision, Pitt said Australia had some of the world's highest quality coal. Also read | 'Consigning coal to history': Over 40 countries agree to phase out dirtiest fossil fuel “And that is why we will continue to have markets for decades into the future. And if they're buying... well, we are selling,” he said. The minister claimed that demand for coal is expected to rise until 2030, adding, “If we aren’t to win that market, somebody else will. Pitt said that around 300,000 Australians' jobs were reliant on the coal sector. Also read | UN urges Australia to speed up efforts to drop coal “I would much rather it be Australia's high-quality product, delivering Australian jobs and building Australia's economy than coming from Indonesia or Russia or elsewhere.” Australia is one of the world's largest producers of coal and natural gas, but has also suffered under increasingly extreme climate-fuelled droughts, floods and bushfires in recent years. Greenhouse emissions from the burning of coal are the largest contributor to climate change. It is widely used because it is cheap and abundant in local supply. Wealthy countries have invested heavily to shift their industries and energy sectors onto cleaner sources. In 2019, 37 per cent of the world's electricity was produced by coal. Although the global pipeline for new coal power projects has shrivelled in recent years. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia vows to sell coal for 'decades into the future' despite climate warning

International lawmakers, business leaders, and activists are convening in Glasglow, UK for the second week on the United Nations' COP26 climate summit. WION tells you more.

COP26 kicks off second week in Glasgow, setting reliable rules for Carbon markets on agenda

Climate change is ruining our agricultural fields. So, what will we humans eat in the future? Experts say traditional agriculture may collapse in 3 decades. By 2040, a lot of the food we consume will be grown in labs. Is lab food the future? Listen in to Palki Sharma.

Gravitas Plus: Is lab food the future?

For more than two decades, promoters and purveyors of nuclear energy felt shunned at UN climate change conferences.

At the COP26 summit underway in Glasgow, however, they have been welcomed with open arms, the UN's top nuclear regulator told AFP.

The spectre of Chernobyl and Fukushima, along with the enduring problem of nuclear waste, kept energy generated by splitting atoms on the sidelines, even if that energy was virtually carbon free.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greta-thunberg-calls-cop26-climate-summit-a-failure-427044">Greta Thunberg calls COP26 climate summit 'a failure'</a>

But as the climate crisis deepens and the need to transition away from fossil fuels becomes urgent, attitudes may be shifting.

"Nuclear energy is part of the solution to global warming, there's no way around it," said Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in an interview.

It already accounts for a quarter of "clean" -- that is, carbon-free -- energy worldwide, and Grossi said this COP26 is the first where it has "had a seat at the table".

"The winds are changing."

To have even a 50/50 chance of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- the threshold for dangerous tipping points that could trigger runaway warming -- global greenhouse emissions must be slashed by almost half within a decade, scientists say.

But things are still moving in the wrong direction: a report on Thursday said emissions in 2021 are approaching record levels.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned they could hit new heights by 2023.

That is helping refocus attention on nuclear.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/5-takeaways-from-the-first-days-of-the-climate-summit-427300">5 takeaways from the first days of the climate summit</a>

"At the 2015 COP in Paris, nuclear wasn't welcome," said Callum Thomas, head of a recruitment firm for the nuclear industry, who was spotted at COP26 sporting a T-shirt saying "Let's Talk Nuclear".

"There was a belief it was not needed. Now many countries are looking at the feasibility, especially with the rise in gas prices."

<h2>'Never stops'&nbsp;</h2>

From the time he took the IAEA's helm nearly two years ago, Grossi, an Argentine diplomat, has been a tireless advocate for the industry.

At his first COP in Madrid he "went in spite of the general assumption that nuclear would not be welcome".

On the contrary in Glasgow, where nearly 200 countries are still trying to put flesh on the bone of the 2015 Paris Agreement, he said "nuclear is not only welcome, but is generating a lot of interest".

Grossi argues that the technology can not only speed the transition away from fossil fuels, but also power research on technologies needed for adapting to climate impacts, from finding drought-resistant crops to eradicating mosquitos. &nbsp;

He acknowledges that it carries serious risks. &nbsp;

The meltdown of three reactors at Japan's Fukushima power plant in 2011 following an earthquake and a tsunami profoundly shook confidence in nuclear.

The industry also has yet to find a way to dispose of nuclear waste, which remains highly radioactive for thousands of years.

But Grossi said these issues are not disqualifying, arguing that statistically the technology has fewer negative consequences than many other forms of energy.

It could also be a complement to renewables.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-calls-cop26-deforestation-pledge-unfair-says-development-wont-stop-in-the-name-of-emissions-426834">Indonesia calls COP26 deforestation pledge ‘unfair’, says development ‘won’t stop in the name of emissions</a>’

"Nuclear energy goes on and on for the entire year, it never stops," he said.

Even so, with prolonged construction times, many argue that it is too late to build enough nuclear capacity to effectively join the battle against global warming.

But Grossi said he thinks part of the answer lies in keeping existing reactors up and running.&nbsp;

<h2>100-year-old reactors?&nbsp;</h2>

Many power plants designed to run for 40 years are now licensed for 60 years under strict national safety standards supervised by the IAEA, he said.

"What could be more efficient than a facility that you build that gives you energy for close to 100 years?" he said.

He acknowledged that plants running that long might be a "bit of a provocation".

"But it still might be possible."

In their projections on how to limit the rise in global temperatures and satisfy a growing global demand for energy at the same time, the IEA takes all non-carbon sources on board.

The UN's climate science advisory panel, the IPCC, has also given a place to nuclear in its models, even as it says that its deployment "could be limited by social preferences."

Indeed, attitudes towards nuclear power vary sharply across nations.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-might-as-well-bomb-us-says-president-of-palau-at-cop26-climate-summit-426376">'You might as well bomb us,' says president of Palau at COP26 climate summit</a>

While New Zealand and Germany are opposed, India is in discussions with French energy giant EDF to build what would be the largest nuclear power plant in the world.

Meanwhile, both Canada and the United States are developing so-called "small modular reactors", although only Russia has put into operation a floating reactor using this technology.

Price is also not the barrier it used to be, said Grossi.

"Countries see in smaller units a very interesting alternative, which is not in the range of billions but of hundreds of millions," he said. "When it comes to energy projects, this is quite affordable."

For more than two decades, promoters and purveyors of nuclear energy felt shunned at UN climate change conferences. At the COP26 summit underway in Glasgow, however, they have been welcomed with open arms, the UN's top nuclear regulator told AFP.

For more than two decades, promoters and purveyors of nuclear energy felt shunned at UN climate change conferences. At the COP26 summit underway in Glasgow, however, they have been welcomed with open arms, the UN's top nuclear regulator told AFP. The spectre of Chernobyl and Fukushima, along with the enduring problem of nuclear waste, kept energy generated by splitting atoms on the sidelines, even if that energy was virtually carbon free. Also Read | Greta Thunberg calls COP26 climate summit 'a failure' But as the climate crisis deepens and the need to transition away from fossil fuels becomes urgent, attitudes may be shifting. "Nuclear energy is part of the solution to global warming, there's no way around it," said Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in an interview. It already accounts for a quarter of "clean" -- that is, carbon-free -- energy worldwide, and Grossi said this COP26 is the first where it has "had a seat at the table". "The winds are changing." To have even a 50/50 chance of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels -- the threshold for dangerous tipping points that could trigger runaway warming -- global greenhouse emissions must be slashed by almost half within a decade, scientists say. But things are still moving in the wrong direction: a report on Thursday said emissions in 2021 are approaching record levels. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned they could hit new heights by 2023. That is helping refocus attention on nuclear. Also Read | 5 takeaways from the first days of the climate summit "At the 2015 COP in Paris, nuclear wasn't welcome," said Callum Thomas, head of a recruitment firm for the nuclear industry, who was spotted at COP26 sporting a T-shirt saying "Let's Talk Nuclear". "There was a belief it was not needed. Now many countries are looking at the feasibility, especially with the rise in gas prices." 'Never stops' From the time he took the IAEA's helm nearly two years ago, Grossi, an Argentine diplomat, has been a tireless advocate for the industry. At his first COP in Madrid he "went in spite of the general assumption that nuclear would not be welcome". On the contrary in Glasgow, where nearly 200 countries are still trying to put flesh on the bone of the 2015 Paris Agreement, he said "nuclear is not only welcome, but is generating a lot of interest". Grossi argues that the technology can not only speed the transition away from fossil fuels, but also power research on technologies needed for adapting to climate impacts, from finding drought-resistant crops to eradicating mosquitos. He acknowledges that it carries serious risks. The meltdown of three reactors at Japan's Fukushima power plant in 2011 following an earthquake and a tsunami profoundly shook confidence in nuclear. The industry also has yet to find a way to dispose of nuclear waste, which remains highly radioactive for thousands of years. But Grossi said these issues are not disqualifying, arguing that statistically the technology has fewer negative consequences than many other forms of energy. It could also be a complement to renewables. Also Read | Indonesia calls COP26 deforestation pledge ‘unfair’, says development ‘won’t stop in the name of emissions’ "Nuclear energy goes on and on for the entire year, it never stops," he said. Even so, with prolonged construction times, many argue that it is too late to build enough nuclear capacity to effectively join the battle against global warming. But Grossi said he thinks part of the answer lies in keeping existing reactors up and running. 100-year-old reactors? Many power plants designed to run for 40 years are now licensed for 60 years under strict national safety standards supervised by the IAEA, he said. "What could be more efficient than a facility that you build that gives you energy for close to 100 years?" he said. He acknowledged that plants running that long might be a "bit of a provocation". "But it still might be possible." In their projections on how to limit the rise in global temperatures and satisfy a growing global demand for energy at the same time, the IEA takes all non-carbon sources on board. The UN's climate science advisory panel, the IPCC, has also given a place to nuclear in its models, even as it says that its deployment "could be limited by social preferences." Indeed, attitudes towards nuclear power vary sharply across nations. Also Read | 'You might as well bomb us,' says president of Palau at COP26 climate summit While New Zealand and Germany are opposed, India is in discussions with French energy giant EDF to build what would be the largest nuclear power plant in the world. Meanwhile, both Canada and the United States are developing so-called "small modular reactors", although only Russia has put into operation a floating reactor using this technology. Price is also not the barrier it used to be, said Grossi. "Countries see in smaller units a very interesting alternative, which is not in the range of billions but of hundreds of millions," he said. "When it comes to energy projects, this is quite affordable."

Climate crisis could give nuclear energy a second wind

Several major coal-using nations have pledged for the first time to phase out their use of the heavily-polluting fossil fuel, while others announced commitments to end investment in new coal-fired power plants.

COP26 Climate Summit: Several countries set coal phase out deadline

Bad weather in Europe's top wine-making countries means 2021 will be an extremely low year for wine production, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) said on Thursday.

The Paris-based industry body said that world wine production volume is expected to come in at around 250 million hectalitres, a drop of four percent from last year and seven percent below the 20-year average.

"The 2021 wine production can be considered extremely low, only slightly above the historically small production of 2017," said the OIV.

"This is the result of unfavourable climatic conditions that severely impacted the major wine-producing countries in Europe this year," it added.

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Italy, Spain, and France are Europe's leading wine producers and account for 45 percent of the total. They saw their output plummet 22 million hectalitres thanks to spring frosts, hail storms, and deluges of rain.

France's production level was knocked back all the way to 1957.

If wine growers adapted relatively well to the Covid-19 crisis last year, they are now "confronting a much greater problem than the pandemic: climate change," OIV director Pau Roca said.

He said adverse weather events were occurring more and more frequently.&nbsp;

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While "there is no vaccine" against climate change, Roca said "there are long-term solutions which will require major efforts in terms of sustainable practices for cultivating vines and producing wine".

He said adaption is an "urgent necessity" for the industry.

The impact of the low production level this year, the third in a row, is still unclear due to the volatility caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the OIV said.&nbsp;

If consumption fell last year by three percent due to the impact of Covid-related restrictions, it is expected to rebound by two percent this year, and could return to pre-pandemic levels except in China.&nbsp;

Bad weather in Europe's top wine-making countries means 2021 will be an extremely low year for wine production, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) said on Thursday.

Bad weather in Europe's top wine-making countries means 2021 will be an extremely low year for wine production, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) said on Thursday. The Paris-based industry body said that world wine production volume is expected to come in at around 250 million hectalitres, a drop of four percent from last year and seven percent below the 20-year average. "The 2021 wine production can be considered extremely low, only slightly above the historically small production of 2017," said the OIV. "This is the result of unfavourable climatic conditions that severely impacted the major wine-producing countries in Europe this year," it added. Also read | Space-aged Bordeaux wine offered for private sale by Christie's Italy, Spain, and France are Europe's leading wine producers and account for 45 percent of the total. They saw their output plummet 22 million hectalitres thanks to spring frosts, hail storms, and deluges of rain. France's production level was knocked back all the way to 1957. If wine growers adapted relatively well to the Covid-19 crisis last year, they are now "confronting a much greater problem than the pandemic: climate change," OIV director Pau Roca said. He said adverse weather events were occurring more and more frequently. Also read | End of an era for Bernadino sparkling wine, here is all you need to know While "there is no vaccine" against climate change, Roca said "there are long-term solutions which will require major efforts in terms of sustainable practices for cultivating vines and producing wine". He said adaption is an "urgent necessity" for the industry. The impact of the low production level this year, the third in a row, is still unclear due to the volatility caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the OIV said. If consumption fell last year by three percent due to the impact of Covid-related restrictions, it is expected to rebound by two percent this year, and could return to pre-pandemic levels except in China.

'Extremely low' wine production in Europe due to bad weather

A new study has revealed that only two per cent of Australia's Great Barrier Reef has escaped bleaching since 1998.

The research, conducted by the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Biology.

According to the study's lead author Terry Hughes, ''Five bouts of mass bleaching since 1998 have turned the Great Barrier Reef into a checkerboard of reefs with very different recent histories, ranging from two percent of reefs that have escaped bleaching altogether, to 80 per cent that have now bleached severely at least once since 2016.''

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He has warned that the reef will survive if global warming is kept to 1.5 degrees.

''If we go to 3, 4 degrees of global average warming which is tragically the trajectory we are currently on, then there won't be much left of the Great Barrier Reef or any other coral reefs throughout the tropics,'' Hughes said.

The findings come during a landmark United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, where Australia committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 but failed to announce a more ambitious 2030 target.

Bleaching occurs when healthy corals become stressed by spikes in ocean temperatures, causing them to expel algae living in their tissues which drains them of their vibrant colours.&nbsp;

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Meanwhile, co-author Sean Connolly said, ''Corals still need time to recover before another round of heat stress so they can make babies that will disperse, settle and recover the depleted parts of the reef.''

"Action to curb climate change is crucial."

It comes after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lobbied to keep the Great Barrier Reef off the 'in danger' list issued by the World Heritage Committee.

Eighty percent of the World Heritage-listed wonder has been bleached severely at least once since 2016.

In July, scientists working under the government said that corals have shown some signs of recovery since the last bleaching but admit the long-term outlook for the 2,300-kilometre-long (1,400-mile-long) ecosystem is "very poor".

Cyclones and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish also cause damage to the reef.

A new study has revealed that only two per cent of Australia's Great Barrier Reef has escaped bleaching since 1998. The research, conducted by the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Biology.

A new study has revealed that only two per cent of Australia's Great Barrier Reef has escaped bleaching since 1998. The research, conducted by the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Biology. According to the study's lead author Terry Hughes, ''Five bouts of mass bleaching since 1998 have turned the Great Barrier Reef into a checkerboard of reefs with very different recent histories, ranging from two percent of reefs that have escaped bleaching altogether, to 80 per cent that have now bleached severely at least once since 2016.'' Also read | What is World Heritage List and why is Great Barrier Reef facing a downgrade? He has warned that the reef will survive if global warming is kept to 1.5 degrees. ''If we go to 3, 4 degrees of global average warming which is tragically the trajectory we are currently on, then there won't be much left of the Great Barrier Reef or any other coral reefs throughout the tropics,'' Hughes said. The findings come during a landmark United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, where Australia committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 but failed to announce a more ambitious 2030 target. Bleaching occurs when healthy corals become stressed by spikes in ocean temperatures, causing them to expel algae living in their tissues which drains them of their vibrant colours. Also read | World leaders at COP26 vow to cut methane emissions by 30% Meanwhile, co-author Sean Connolly said, ''Corals still need time to recover before another round of heat stress so they can make babies that will disperse, settle and recover the depleted parts of the reef.'' "Action to curb climate change is crucial." It comes after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lobbied to keep the Great Barrier Reef off the 'in danger' list issued by the World Heritage Committee. Eighty percent of the World Heritage-listed wonder has been bleached severely at least once since 2016. In July, scientists working under the government said that corals have shown some signs of recovery since the last bleaching but admit the long-term outlook for the 2,300-kilometre-long (1,400-mile-long) ecosystem is "very poor". Cyclones and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish also cause damage to the reef.

Research reveals only 2% of Australia's Great Barrier Reef escaped bleaching

Russia and China have defended their measures on climate change in the face of criticism from US President Joe Biden, and both nations have criticised the US for 'backsliding' on its climate plans.&nbsp;

The Kremlin stated that a potential second summit between Biden and President Vladimir Putin would provide an opportunity to further examine the problem.

Biden chastised the presidents of China and Russia for declining to attend the United Nations climate meeting in Scotland on Tuesday, accusing them of a lack of leadership. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-slams-russia-china-for-missing-cop26-426258">US President Joe Biden slams Russia, China for missing COP26</a>

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, told reporters that global warming was causing not just Russia's vast arctic wildness, but also Californian woods to burn.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | US President Biden criticises China and Russia for missing COP26 Climate Summit

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-biden-criticises-china-and-russia-for-missing-cop26-climate-summit-426383/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Peskov added: "I'm convinced that when the presidents next talk - the usefulness of which we have already agreed on, as we've mentioned before - I think President Putin will have an excellent opportunity to tell President Biden about what we're doing on climate."

Xie Zhenhua, China's main climate negotiator in Glasgow, criticised Biden's predecessor Donald Trump for withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement, saying it was time to "work harder and catch up."

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, slammed the United States' "empty slogans" on climate change.&nbsp;

"China has been earnestly supporting #ClimateAction. We are not the ones who withdrew from the Paris Agreement. The US, however, has back-pedalled on its climate policies many times. Instead of blame-shifting, what it should do now is to shoulder responsibility and take concrete actions, " he added.

China had alleged that Xi sent a written statement for the summit instead of giving an address by video conference after the organisers did not provide a link.

Beijing has vowed to reach an emissions peak by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060, among other ambitions. 
 
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(With inputs from agencies)

Russia and China have defended their measures on climate change in the face of criticism from US President Joe Biden, and both nations have criticised the US for 'backsliding' on its climate plans.

Russia and China have defended their measures on climate change in the face of criticism from US President Joe Biden, and both nations have criticised the US for 'backsliding' on its climate plans. The Kremlin stated that a potential second summit between Biden and President Vladimir Putin would provide an opportunity to further examine the problem. Biden chastised the presidents of China and Russia for declining to attend the United Nations climate meeting in Scotland on Tuesday, accusing them of a lack of leadership. Also read | US President Joe Biden slams Russia, China for missing COP26 Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, told reporters that global warming was causing not just Russia's vast arctic wildness, but also Californian woods to burn. Watch | US President Biden criticises China and Russia for missing COP26 Climate Summit Peskov added: "I'm convinced that when the presidents next talk - the usefulness of which we have already agreed on, as we've mentioned before - I think President Putin will have an excellent opportunity to tell President Biden about what we're doing on climate." Xie Zhenhua, China's main climate negotiator in Glasgow, criticised Biden's predecessor Donald Trump for withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement, saying it was time to "work harder and catch up." Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, slammed the United States' "empty slogans" on climate change. "China has been earnestly supporting #ClimateAction. We are not the ones who withdrew from the Paris Agreement. The US, however, has back-pedalled on its climate policies many times. Instead of blame-shifting, what it should do now is to shoulder responsibility and take concrete actions, " he added. China had alleged that Xi sent a written statement for the summit instead of giving an address by video conference after the organisers did not provide a link. Beijing has vowed to reach an emissions peak by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060, among other ambitions. Also read | China making rapid progress in development of silos missiles: Report (With inputs from agencies)

COP26: China, Russia hit back at Biden's jibe, slam US on climate policies

Developing countries need up to 10 times more funding to protect themselves from increasingly ferocious effects of climate change than the world has currently earmarked, the UN said on Thursday.&nbsp;

While the COP26 meeting tries to wrestle down emissions and keep warming within the Paris deal target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, a new report from United Nations Environment Programme highlights the need to prepare countries for effects that are already starting to be felt. &nbsp;

"Even if we were to turn off the tap on greenhouse gas emissions today, the impacts of climate change would be with us for many decades to come," said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.&nbsp;

"We need a step-change in adaptation ambition for funding and implementation to significantly reduce damages and losses from climate change. And we need it now."

Slammed by storms, floods and droughts intensified by global warming, the world's poorest nations have put at the heart of the COP26 climate negotiations calls for richer countries to honour a pledge to provide $100 billion annually.&nbsp;

But only a part of that funding promise -- which is now not set to be met until next year at the earliest -- is set aside for adaptation measures that would help nations reduce the exposure of people and property to the growing threats of climate change. &nbsp;

- 'Skydiving without a parachute' - 
The UNEP report found that developing countries alone will need to spend up to $300 billion a year on such measures by 2030, and up to $500 billion annually by 2050.

"Overall, estimated adaptation costs in developing countries are five to 10 times greater than current public adaptation finance flows, and the gap is widening," UNEP said.

In 2019, wealthy countries provided $79.6 billion in climate assistance to developing countries -- but two-thirds of that was for efforts to reduce emissions, with adaptation given lower priority.

On Monday, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley told COP26 delegates failure to provide nations with the funds to protect themselves and adapt to climate change was "measured in lives and livelihoods in our communities and that, my friends, is immoral and unjust".&nbsp;

With 1.1C of warming since the mid 19th Century, the world has seen a torrent of deadly weather disasters intensified by climate change in recent months, from asphalt-melting heat waves to flash floods and untameable wildfires.

UNEP said governments had so far missed an opportunity to use the Covid-19 pandemic to prioritise green recovery spending.&nbsp;

"By failing to invest in climate adaptation, it seems like we've gone sky diving and decided we don't need a parachute," said Brian O'Callaghan, of the Oxford University economic recovery project and one of the authors of the UNEP report.&nbsp;

Developing countries need up to 10 times more funding to protect themselves from increasingly ferocious effects of climate change than the world has currently earmarked, the UN said on Thursday.

Developing countries need up to 10 times more funding to protect themselves from increasingly ferocious effects of climate change than the world has currently earmarked, the UN said on Thursday. While the COP26 meeting tries to wrestle down emissions and keep warming within the Paris deal target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, a new report from United Nations Environment Programme highlights the need to prepare countries for effects that are already starting to be felt. "Even if we were to turn off the tap on greenhouse gas emissions today, the impacts of climate change would be with us for many decades to come," said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. "We need a step-change in adaptation ambition for funding and implementation to significantly reduce damages and losses from climate change. And we need it now." Slammed by storms, floods and droughts intensified by global warming, the world's poorest nations have put at the heart of the COP26 climate negotiations calls for richer countries to honour a pledge to provide $100 billion annually. But only a part of that funding promise -- which is now not set to be met until next year at the earliest -- is set aside for adaptation measures that would help nations reduce the exposure of people and property to the growing threats of climate change. - 'Skydiving without a parachute' - The UNEP report found that developing countries alone will need to spend up to $300 billion a year on such measures by 2030, and up to $500 billion annually by 2050. "Overall, estimated adaptation costs in developing countries are five to 10 times greater than current public adaptation finance flows, and the gap is widening," UNEP said. In 2019, wealthy countries provided $79.6 billion in climate assistance to developing countries -- but two-thirds of that was for efforts to reduce emissions, with adaptation given lower priority. On Monday, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley told COP26 delegates failure to provide nations with the funds to protect themselves and adapt to climate change was "measured in lives and livelihoods in our communities and that, my friends, is immoral and unjust". With 1.1C of warming since the mid 19th Century, the world has seen a torrent of deadly weather disasters intensified by climate change in recent months, from asphalt-melting heat waves to flash floods and untameable wildfires. UNEP said governments had so far missed an opportunity to use the Covid-19 pandemic to prioritise green recovery spending. "By failing to invest in climate adaptation, it seems like we've gone sky diving and decided we don't need a parachute," said Brian O'Callaghan, of the Oxford University economic recovery project and one of the authors of the UNEP report.

Climate adaptation cash one tenth of amount needed: UN

Global CO2 emissions caused mainly by burning fossil fuels are set to rebound in 2021 to pre-Covid levels, with China's share increasing to nearly a third of the total, according to an assessment published Thursday.

Overall, CO2 pollution this year will be just shy of the record set in 2019, according to the annual report from the Global Carbon Project consortium, released as nearly 200 nations at the COP26 climate summit confront the threat of catastrophic warming.

Emissions from gas and highly polluting coal will rise this year by more than they dropped in 2020 due to the pandemic-driven economic slowdown.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-biden-criticises-china-and-russia-for-missing-cop26-climate-summit-426383/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Capping the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels,&nbsp;as per the Paris Agreement, would limit mortality and damage, but requires slashing carbon emissions nearly in half by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, the UN's climate science authority has warned.&nbsp;

"This report is a reality check," co-author Corrine Le Querre, a professor of climate change science at Britain's University of East Anglia, told AFP.&nbsp;

"It shows what's happening in the real world while we are here in Glasgow talking about tackling climate change."

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Waiting for the peak&nbsp;

The new report will come as bad news at the 13-day COP26 meeting, where a diplomatic spat saw the United States accuse China and Russia of failing to step up their climate action ambitions.

China on its own will account for 31 percent of global emissions this year after its economy accelerated out of the economic lull ahead of others.

Carbon pollution from oil remains well below 2019 levels, but could surge as the transport and aviation sectors recover from pandemic disruption, said the study in the journal Earth System Science Data.

Taken together, the findings mean that future C02 emissions could eclipse the 40-billion tonne record set in 2019, which some have predicted -- and many hoped, would be a peak.

"We cannot rule out more overall growth of emissions in 2022 as the transport sector continues to recover," Le Quere said. "We are bound to have ups and downs over the next few years."

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The latest figures are in line with a recent International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast that emissions from energy would hit an all-time high in 2023, "with no clear peak in sight".

"Perhaps we will start talking about peak emissions in 2023 or 2024?", said Glen Peters, research director at the Centre for International Climate Research in Oslo and a co-author of the report.

China surge&nbsp;

Looking at the national level, the report found a return to pre-Covid patterns among the world top four carbon polluters, which account for 60 percent of global CO2 emissions.

In China, which has pledged to peak its emissions by 2030, and reach net-zero by 2060,&nbsp;economic growth spurred by government incentives will see emissions grow 5.5 percent this year compared to 2019, the last year not affected by Covid. &nbsp;

"The rebound in China was robust," said Peters. "It looks like China is in a phase of strong growth again."

2021 emissions in the US and EU will drop 3.7 and 4.2 percent, respectively, and their share of global emissions will stand at 14 and 7 percent.

The wild card that could determine how quickly the world can finally bend the emissions downward is coal, the report made clear.

"Mostly it's about coal now," said Le Quere. "This is where the big uncertainties are."

Very little of the trillions of dollars chanelled to post-pandemic recovery was earmarked for green development, a trend that is continuing, she said.

'It is possible'&nbsp;

"Economic incentives now are about driving consumption, and this is really pushing industry, production and coal." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Worldwide, decarbonisation,&nbsp;mainly switching from fossil fuels to renewable,&nbsp;continues to be outpaced by the demand for energy, adding to emissions.

But the report was not bereft of positive signals.&nbsp;

Twenty-three countries accounting for a quarter of global emissions over the last decade,&nbsp;including the US, Japan, Germany, France, and Britain,&nbsp;simultaneously saw strong growth and a significant decline in emissions, showing that the two can be decoupled.&nbsp;

For 15 of these nations, this held true even when the carbon emissions from the production of imported goods was included. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"This shows that these countries know how to do it, they demonstrate it's possible."

But the finding makes clear how daunting the Paris Agreement goals are, she added.

"If you want to reach net zero by 2050, you need to decrease emissions, on average, by 1.4 billion tonnes per year," she said.&nbsp;

Global CO2 emissions caused mainly by burning fossil fuels are set to rebound in 2021 to pre-Covid levels, with China's share increasing to nearly a third of the total, according to an assessment published Thursday.

Global CO2 emissions caused mainly by burning fossil fuels are set to rebound in 2021 to pre-Covid levels, with China's share increasing to nearly a third of the total, according to an assessment published Thursday. Overall, CO2 pollution this year will be just shy of the record set in 2019, according to the annual report from the Global Carbon Project consortium, released as nearly 200 nations at the COP26 climate summit confront the threat of catastrophic warming. Emissions from gas and highly polluting coal will rise this year by more than they dropped in 2020 due to the pandemic-driven economic slowdown. Capping the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as per the Paris Agreement, would limit mortality and damage, but requires slashing carbon emissions nearly in half by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, the UN's climate science authority has warned. "This report is a reality check," co-author Corrine Le Querre, a professor of climate change science at Britain's University of East Anglia, told AFP. "It shows what's happening in the real world while we are here in Glasgow talking about tackling climate change." Also read | 'Consigning coal to history': Over 40 countries agree to phase out dirtiest fossil fuel Waiting for the peak The new report will come as bad news at the 13-day COP26 meeting, where a diplomatic spat saw the United States accuse China and Russia of failing to step up their climate action ambitions. China on its own will account for 31 percent of global emissions this year after its economy accelerated out of the economic lull ahead of others. Carbon pollution from oil remains well below 2019 levels, but could surge as the transport and aviation sectors recover from pandemic disruption, said the study in the journal Earth System Science Data. Taken together, the findings mean that future C02 emissions could eclipse the 40-billion tonne record set in 2019, which some have predicted -- and many hoped, would be a peak. "We cannot rule out more overall growth of emissions in 2022 as the transport sector continues to recover," Le Quere said. "We are bound to have ups and downs over the next few years." Also read | Oxford college to change its name after £155m donation; environmentalists unhappy The latest figures are in line with a recent International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast that emissions from energy would hit an all-time high in 2023, "with no clear peak in sight". "Perhaps we will start talking about peak emissions in 2023 or 2024?", said Glen Peters, research director at the Centre for International Climate Research in Oslo and a co-author of the report. China surge Looking at the national level, the report found a return to pre-Covid patterns among the world top four carbon polluters, which account for 60 percent of global CO2 emissions. In China, which has pledged to peak its emissions by 2030, and reach net-zero by 2060, economic growth spurred by government incentives will see emissions grow 5.5 percent this year compared to 2019, the last year not affected by Covid. "The rebound in China was robust," said Peters. "It looks like China is in a phase of strong growth again." 2021 emissions in the US and EU will drop 3.7 and 4.2 percent, respectively, and their share of global emissions will stand at 14 and 7 percent. The wild card that could determine how quickly the world can finally bend the emissions downward is coal, the report made clear. "Mostly it's about coal now," said Le Quere. "This is where the big uncertainties are." Very little of the trillions of dollars chanelled to post-pandemic recovery was earmarked for green development, a trend that is continuing, she said. 'It is possible' "Economic incentives now are about driving consumption, and this is really pushing industry, production and coal." Worldwide, decarbonisation, mainly switching from fossil fuels to renewable, continues to be outpaced by the demand for energy, adding to emissions. But the report was not bereft of positive signals. Twenty-three countries accounting for a quarter of global emissions over the last decade, including the US, Japan, Germany, France, and Britain, simultaneously saw strong growth and a significant decline in emissions, showing that the two can be decoupled. For 15 of these nations, this held true even when the carbon emissions from the production of imported goods was included. "This shows that these countries know how to do it, they demonstrate it's possible." But the finding makes clear how daunting the Paris Agreement goals are, she added. "If you want to reach net zero by 2050, you need to decrease emissions, on average, by 1.4 billion tonnes per year," she said.

Climate 'reality check': Global CO2 emissions near record levels in 2021

The forest fires regularly destroying the Western United States are the result of climate change caused largely by human activity, according to a study published Monday.

From 2001 to 2018, fires destroyed an average of 13,500 square kilometres (5,200 square miles) per year in the American west, double what they destroyed between 1984 and 2000.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eco-hypocrite-leaders-businessmen-arrive-in-fuel-guzzling-private-jets-at-cop26-425903" hreflang="en">'Eco-hypocrite': Leaders, businessmen arrive in fuel-guzzling private jets at COP26</a>

"It's happened so much faster than we previously anticipated," Rong Fu, who led the study published by the US National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), told the Los Angeles Times.

As a result of such a significant deterioration of weather conditions in such a short time, a team of American researchers led by Fu analyzed the "vapor pressure deficit" (VPD), which measures how dry the air is.

As an indicator of water in the atmosphere, the VPD represents the difference between the amount that is actually present in the atmosphere and the maximum amount that could exist in the atmosphere. As deficits grow, soil and plants lose more water, drying out and creating conditions that fuel fires.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-climate-summit-world-leaders-pledge-to-end-deforestation-by-2030-425988">COP26 climate summit: World leaders pledge to end deforestation by 2030</a>

According to scientists, wildfires in the western United States are correlated with this deficit during the warm season. The study found that the number of high VPD days between May and September increased 94 per cent between 2001 and 2008 compared to the preceding period.

Fu and her colleagues calculated that "natural" atmospheric variations were responsible for only a 32 per cent increase in VPD. Global warming, which is largely the result of human activities, is responsible for the remaining 68 per cent of the increase in atmospheric water deficit.

"Prior to 2000, we can explain this fire weather pretty well just using weather patterns," said Fu, a climatologist at the University of California UCLA. "But now we can only explain 30 percent of what we see with fire weather."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/by-2030-climate-change-may-trigger-24-dip-in-global-corn-yields-says-study-426059">By 2030, climate change may trigger 24% dip in global corn yields, says study</a>

The study found that up to 88 per cent of anomalies in the VPD could be explained by anthropogenic or human origin warming.

According to the study, in August 2020, when California experienced the largest fire ever recorded in the region,&nbsp;the August Complex Fire, which burned nearly 4,200 square kilometres (1,600 square miles), anthropogenic warming was responsible for about half of the "unprecedented high" moisture deficit.

Climate experts claim that the planet has already warmed about 1.1 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times due to greenhouse gases generated by humans. The warming that has been caused primarily by burning fossil fuels has occurred largely in the last 50 years.

(With inputs from agencies)

The forest fires regularly destroying the Western United States are the result of climate change caused largely by human activity, according to a study published Monday.

The forest fires regularly destroying the Western United States are the result of climate change caused largely by human activity, according to a study published Monday. From 2001 to 2018, fires destroyed an average of 13,500 square kilometres (5,200 square miles) per year in the American west, double what they destroyed between 1984 and 2000. Also read | 'Eco-hypocrite': Leaders, businessmen arrive in fuel-guzzling private jets at COP26 "It's happened so much faster than we previously anticipated," Rong Fu, who led the study published by the US National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), told the Los Angeles Times. As a result of such a significant deterioration of weather conditions in such a short time, a team of American researchers led by Fu analyzed the "vapor pressure deficit" (VPD), which measures how dry the air is. As an indicator of water in the atmosphere, the VPD represents the difference between the amount that is actually present in the atmosphere and the maximum amount that could exist in the atmosphere. As deficits grow, soil and plants lose more water, drying out and creating conditions that fuel fires. Also read | COP26 climate summit: World leaders pledge to end deforestation by 2030 According to scientists, wildfires in the western United States are correlated with this deficit during the warm season. The study found that the number of high VPD days between May and September increased 94 per cent between 2001 and 2008 compared to the preceding period. Fu and her colleagues calculated that "natural" atmospheric variations were responsible for only a 32 per cent increase in VPD. Global warming, which is largely the result of human activities, is responsible for the remaining 68 per cent of the increase in atmospheric water deficit. "Prior to 2000, we can explain this fire weather pretty well just using weather patterns," said Fu, a climatologist at the University of California UCLA. "But now we can only explain 30 percent of what we see with fire weather." Also read | By 2030, climate change may trigger 24% dip in global corn yields, says study The study found that up to 88 per cent of anomalies in the VPD could be explained by anthropogenic or human origin warming. According to the study, in August 2020, when California experienced the largest fire ever recorded in the region, the August Complex Fire, which burned nearly 4,200 square kilometres (1,600 square miles), anthropogenic warming was responsible for about half of the "unprecedented high" moisture deficit. Climate experts claim that the planet has already warmed about 1.1 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times due to greenhouse gases generated by humans. The warming that has been caused primarily by burning fossil fuels has occurred largely in the last 50 years. (With inputs from agencies)

Study finds humans, climate change largely responsible for fires in US

During COP26 summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country had five climate-related pledges, including meeting 50% of its energy needs by renewable means by 2030. PM Modi also pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

PM Modi highlights India's climate action plan at COP26 summit

On the second day of United Nations COP26 Climate summit, more than 100 world leaders promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030.

COP26 Summit Day 2: Over 100 world leaders pledge to halt deforestation

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