Scientists world over have been unanimous in declaring these occurrences as a result of human caused climate change. Turbulent rains have caused massive floods in Central China and Europe; historic heat waves blew through western Canada.

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Earth's "vital signs" that point to the health of the planet are currently deteriorating at an alarming rate, a group of scientists announced on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Based on this, the researchers ascertained that severe effects of climate change would be felt soon.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pcq4J-7DEoY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

On Wednesday, researchers that constitute a group of over 14,000 professionals signed an international declaration calling recent events a "climate emergency" and added that governments across the globe had failed to acknowledge the crisis adequately.

The scientists also made a similar assessment in 2019, when they noted an "unprecedented surge" in climate-related disasters. An array of conditions were noted including record-breaking heatwaves, floods in South America and Southeast Asia, wildfires in Australia and the United states along with cyclones in Africa and South Asia.

The "vital signs" were measures from a key metric system which took into account greenhouse gas emissions, thickness of glaciers, sea-ice extent, and deforestation. The scientists found that 18 of these parameters hit record highs or lows.

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For instance, a dip in pollution was noted during the pandemic, with which it was also linked. But as countries resumed industrial activity, the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and methane hit an all-time high in 2021.

In Greenland and Antarctica, all-time low levels of ice mass were noted by scientists. They also found that glaciers are currently melting 31 per cent faster than they did 15 years ago.

Ocean heat and global sea levels have set new records since 2019. In 2020, the annual loss rate of the Amazon rainforest situated in Brazil hit a 12-year high.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-will-russias-nauka-do-at-the-international-space-station-401014" hreflang="en">What will Russia's 'Nauka' do at the International Space Station?</a>

The study was undertaken by the University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute. Researchers said there exists "mounting evidence" of humanity having crossed a number of climate tipping points which primarily include the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica.&nbsp;

Along with these events, the scientists also noted how climate change may now be irreversible on a scale of centuries, regardless of whether&nbsp;humans are able to cut down harmful emissions.

Earth's "vital signs" that point to the health of the planet are currently deteriorating at an alarming rate, a group of scientists announced on Wednesday. Based on this, the researchers ascertained that severe effects of climate change would be felt soon.

Earth's "vital signs" that point to the health of the planet are currently deteriorating at an alarming rate, a group of scientists announced on Wednesday. Based on this, the researchers ascertained that severe effects of climate change would be felt soon. On Wednesday, researchers that constitute a group of over 14,000 professionals signed an international declaration calling recent events a "climate emergency" and added that governments across the globe had failed to acknowledge the crisis adequately. The scientists also made a similar assessment in 2019, when they noted an "unprecedented surge" in climate-related disasters. An array of conditions were noted including record-breaking heatwaves, floods in South America and Southeast Asia, wildfires in Australia and the United states along with cyclones in Africa and South Asia. The "vital signs" were measures from a key metric system which took into account greenhouse gas emissions, thickness of glaciers, sea-ice extent, and deforestation. The scientists found that 18 of these parameters hit record highs or lows. Also read: Scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology For instance, a dip in pollution was noted during the pandemic, with which it was also linked. But as countries resumed industrial activity, the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and methane hit an all-time high in 2021. In Greenland and Antarctica, all-time low levels of ice mass were noted by scientists. They also found that glaciers are currently melting 31 per cent faster than they did 15 years ago. Ocean heat and global sea levels have set new records since 2019. In 2020, the annual loss rate of the Amazon rainforest situated in Brazil hit a 12-year high. Also read: What will Russia's 'Nauka' do at the International Space Station? The study was undertaken by the University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute. Researchers said there exists "mounting evidence" of humanity having crossed a number of climate tipping points which primarily include the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica. Along with these events, the scientists also noted how climate change may now be irreversible on a scale of centuries, regardless of whether humans are able to cut down harmful emissions.

Earth's 'vital signs' are worsening due to climate change, scientists warn

On the heels of jaw-dropping heat and flooding across three continents, nearly 200 nations gather Monday to validate a critical UN&nbsp;climate&nbsp;science report 100 days ahead of a political summit charged with keeping Earth liveable. &nbsp;

The world is a different place than in 2014 when the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on&nbsp;Climate&nbsp;Change (IPCC) issued its fifth comprehensive assessment of global heating, past and future.

Lingering doubts that warming was gathering pace or almost entirely human in origin, along with the falsely reassuring notion that&nbsp;climate&nbsp;impacts are tomorrow's problem, have since evaporated in the haze of record heat, wildfires and crippling droughts.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/why-are-climate-mysteries-puzzling-worlds-leading-scientists-400037">Why are climate 'mysteries' puzzling world's leading scientists?</a>

Indeed, an unprecedented cascade of lethal weather this summer -- Death Valley-like temperatures in western Canada, flash floods across western Europe, people drowning in rain-filled subway carriages in central China -– could make 2021 the year that&nbsp;climate&nbsp;predictions become a reality impossible to ignore.

Another milestone since the last IPCC tome: the Paris Agreement has been adopted, setting a collective target of capping the planet's surface temperature at "well below" two degrees Celsius (35.6 Fahrenheit) above late-19th century levels.

Carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels, methane leaks and agriculture has driven up the thermometer 1.1C so far.

The 2015 treaty also tacked on an aspirational limit of 1.5C, with many parties to the talks assuming it would remain just that -- aspirational, and thus easy to set aside.

"But then countries turned around and asked the IPCC to do a special report on it, and that changed the framing absolutely," IPCC lead author and palaeoclimatologist Peter Thorne of Maynooth University in Ireland, told AFP.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/many-leaders-slept-on-climate-crisis-will-they-act-on-what-they-feel-on-their-skins-now-398704" hreflang="en">Many leaders slept on climate crisis. Will they act on what they feel on their skins now?</a>

The resulting 2018 analysis revealed just how devastating an extra half-degree of warming would be, and today 1.5C is the only number on the table.&nbsp;

Low-balling the threat&nbsp;

"It became the de facto target", and proof of the IPCC's influence in shaping global policy, Thorne said in a Zoom interview. &nbsp;

A third sea change over the last seven years is in the science itself.

"Today we have better&nbsp;climate&nbsp;projection models, and longer observations with a much clearer signal of&nbsp;climate&nbsp;change," climatologist Robert Vautard, also an IPCC lead author and director of France's Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute, told AFP.&nbsp;

Arguably the biggest breakthrough is so-called attribution studies, which for the first time allow scientists to rapidly quantify the extent to which&nbsp;climate&nbsp;change has boosted an extreme weather event's intensity or likelihood.

Within days, for example, of the deadly "heat dome" that scorched Canada and the western US last month, the World Weather Attribution consortium calculated that the heatwave would have been virtually impossible without manmade warming.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poland-faces-first-citizen-lawsuits-over-climate-change-390695">Poland faces first citizen lawsuits over climate change</a>

But after-the-fact analysis is not the same as foresight, and the IPCC -- set up in 1988 to inform UN&nbsp;climate&nbsp;negotiations -- has been criticised by some for low-balling the danger, a pattern that Harvard science historian Naomi Oreskes has called "erring on the side of least drama".

"First, there is the general conservatism of science -- in many ways that's a good thing," she told AFP.

"But in the&nbsp;climate&nbsp;change arena, scientists have had to deal with an enormous political and cultural pressure not to 'exaggerate' the threat."

The IPCC, she added, must contend with direct interference from the governments on whose behalf it works.

"I think there's little doubt that the effect of outside pressure, overall, has been to cause its statements to fall on the 'less alarmed' rather than 'more alarmed' side of things."

From Monday, representatives from 195 nations, with scientists at their elbow, will vet a 20- to 30-page "summary for policymakers" line-by-line, word-by-word. &nbsp;

Low-probability, high-risk'&nbsp;

The virtual meeting for this first instalment -- covering physical science -- of the three-part report will take two weeks rather than the usual one, with the document's release slated for August 9.

Part two of the report, to be published in February 2022, covers impacts.

A leaked draft obtained by AFP warns that&nbsp;climate&nbsp;change will fundamentally reshape life on Earth in the coming decades even if planet-warming carbon pollution is tamed, and calls for "transformational change" lest future generations face far worse.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-an-idea-to-reverse-climate-change-alter-the-orbit-of-the-moon-390689">Here's an idea to reverse climate change: Alter the orbit of the Moon</a>

Part three, to be unveiled the following month, examines solutions for reducing emissions.

The part one report will project global temperature to 2100 under different emissions scenarios, some consistent with Paris Agreement goals and others that would, by the century's end, plunge today's children into a deeply uncomfortable world, three or four degrees above preindustrial levels.

Based almost entirely on published research, it could forecast -- even under optimistic scenarios -- a temporarily "overshoot" of the 1.5C target, and upwardly revised estimates for long-term sea-level rise.

If the International Energy Agency (IEA) projections this week of record carbon pollution by 2023 are right, such an overshoot could last a long time.&nbsp;

There will also be a new focus on so-called "low-probability, high-risk" events.&nbsp;

"Feedbacks which amplify change are stronger than we thought and we may be approaching some tipping point," said Tim Lenton, Director of the University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute.&nbsp;

Beyond yet-to-be-defined temperature thresholds, parts of the&nbsp;climate&nbsp;system could pass a point-of-no-return, including ice sheets holding metres' worth of sea-level rise and permafrost laden with twice more greenhouse gases than in the atmosphere.&nbsp;

On the heels of jaw-dropping heat and flooding across three continents, nearly 200 nations gather Monday to validate a critical UN climate science report 100 days ahead of a political summit charged with keeping Earth liveable.

On the heels of jaw-dropping heat and flooding across three continents, nearly 200 nations gather Monday to validate a critical UN climate science report 100 days ahead of a political summit charged with keeping Earth liveable. The world is a different place than in 2014 when the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its fifth comprehensive assessment of global heating, past and future. Lingering doubts that warming was gathering pace or almost entirely human in origin, along with the falsely reassuring notion that climate impacts are tomorrow's problem, have since evaporated in the haze of record heat, wildfires and crippling droughts. Also read | Why are climate 'mysteries' puzzling world's leading scientists? Indeed, an unprecedented cascade of lethal weather this summer -- Death Valley-like temperatures in western Canada, flash floods across western Europe, people drowning in rain-filled subway carriages in central China -– could make 2021 the year that climate predictions become a reality impossible to ignore. Another milestone since the last IPCC tome: the Paris Agreement has been adopted, setting a collective target of capping the planet's surface temperature at "well below" two degrees Celsius (35.6 Fahrenheit) above late-19th century levels. Carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels, methane leaks and agriculture has driven up the thermometer 1.1C so far. The 2015 treaty also tacked on an aspirational limit of 1.5C, with many parties to the talks assuming it would remain just that -- aspirational, and thus easy to set aside. "But then countries turned around and asked the IPCC to do a special report on it, and that changed the framing absolutely," IPCC lead author and palaeoclimatologist Peter Thorne of Maynooth University in Ireland, told AFP. Also read| Many leaders slept on climate crisis. Will they act on what they feel on their skins now? The resulting 2018 analysis revealed just how devastating an extra half-degree of warming would be, and today 1.5C is the only number on the table. Low-balling the threat "It became the de facto target", and proof of the IPCC's influence in shaping global policy, Thorne said in a Zoom interview. A third sea change over the last seven years is in the science itself. "Today we have better climate projection models, and longer observations with a much clearer signal of climate change," climatologist Robert Vautard, also an IPCC lead author and director of France's Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute, told AFP. Arguably the biggest breakthrough is so-called attribution studies, which for the first time allow scientists to rapidly quantify the extent to which climate change has boosted an extreme weather event's intensity or likelihood. Within days, for example, of the deadly "heat dome" that scorched Canada and the western US last month, the World Weather Attribution consortium calculated that the heatwave would have been virtually impossible without manmade warming. Also read | Poland faces first citizen lawsuits over climate change But after-the-fact analysis is not the same as foresight, and the IPCC -- set up in 1988 to inform UN climate negotiations -- has been criticised by some for low-balling the danger, a pattern that Harvard science historian Naomi Oreskes has called "erring on the side of least drama". "First, there is the general conservatism of science -- in many ways that's a good thing," she told AFP. "But in the climate change arena, scientists have had to deal with an enormous political and cultural pressure not to 'exaggerate' the threat." The IPCC, she added, must contend with direct interference from the governments on whose behalf it works. "I think there's little doubt that the effect of outside pressure, overall, has been to cause its statements to fall on the 'less alarmed' rather than 'more alarmed' side of things." From Monday, representatives from 195 nations, with scientists at their elbow, will vet a 20- to 30-page "summary for policymakers" line-by-line, word-by-word. Low-probability, high-risk' The virtual meeting for this first instalment -- covering physical science -- of the three-part report will take two weeks rather than the usual one, with the document's release slated for August 9. Part two of the report, to be published in February 2022, covers impacts. A leaked draft obtained by AFP warns that climate change will fundamentally reshape life on Earth in the coming decades even if planet-warming carbon pollution is tamed, and calls for "transformational change" lest future generations face far worse. Also read | Here's an idea to reverse climate change: Alter the orbit of the Moon Part three, to be unveiled the following month, examines solutions for reducing emissions. The part one report will project global temperature to 2100 under different emissions scenarios, some consistent with Paris Agreement goals and others that would, by the century's end, plunge today's children into a deeply uncomfortable world, three or four degrees above preindustrial levels. Based almost entirely on published research, it could forecast -- even under optimistic scenarios -- a temporarily "overshoot" of the 1.5C target, and upwardly revised estimates for long-term sea-level rise. If the International Energy Agency (IEA) projections this week of record carbon pollution by 2023 are right, such an overshoot could last a long time. There will also be a new focus on so-called "low-probability, high-risk" events. "Feedbacks which amplify change are stronger than we thought and we may be approaching some tipping point," said Tim Lenton, Director of the University of Exeter's Global Systems Institute. Beyond yet-to-be-defined temperature thresholds, parts of the climate system could pass a point-of-no-return, including ice sheets holding metres' worth of sea-level rise and permafrost laden with twice more greenhouse gases than in the atmosphere.

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Climate 'mysteries' are still puzzling the&nbsp;world's leading&nbsp;scientists the most despite making progress.

Heatwaves are&nbsp;one of the ''major mysteries'' science&nbsp;still has to unravel&nbsp;even as researchers are able to pinpoint with increasing accuracy exactly how human fossil fuel pollution is warming the planet and altering the climate

This&nbsp;particularly includes the tendency of current models to underestimate the intensity of these bursts of deadly, searing temperature.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-climate-change-super-charges-wildfires-399570/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to climatologist Robert Vautard, ''Today we have better climate projection models, and longer observations with a much clearer signal of climate change.''

Vautard is one of the authors of an upcoming assessment by the United Nations' panel of climate experts.&nbsp;

The assessment, the first part of a trio of reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), will be released on August 9 at the end of meetings starting Monday.

It focuses on the&nbsp;science&nbsp;underpinning our understanding of things like temperature increases, rising ocean levels and extreme weather events.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/many-leaders-slept-on-climate-crisis-will-they-act-on-what-they-feel-on-their-skins-now-398704" hreflang="en">Many leaders slept on climate crisis. Will they act on what they feel on their skins now?</a>

This has progressed considerably since the last assessment in 2014, but so has climate change itself, with effects being felt ever more forcefully across the planet.&nbsp;

Scientists now have a greater understanding of the mechanisms behind "extreme phenomena, which now occur almost every week around the world", said Vautard, adding that this helps better quantify how these events will play out in the future.

In almost real time, researchers can pinpoint the role of climate change in a given disaster, something they were unable to do at all until very recently.

Now, so-called "attribution"&nbsp;science&nbsp;means we can say how probable an extreme weather event would have been had the climate not been changing at all.&nbsp;

For example, within days of the extraordinary "heat dome" that scorched the western United States and Canada at the end of June, scientists from the World Weather Attribution calculated that the heatwave would have been "almost impossible" without warming.&nbsp;

Despite these advances, Vautard said "major mysteries remain".&nbsp;

Scientists are still unsure what part clouds play "in the energy balance of the planet" and their influence on the climate's sensitivity to greenhouse gases, he said.&nbsp;

But it is "phenomenal temperatures", like those recorded in June in Canada or in Europe in 2019, that preoccupy the climatologist.&nbsp;

"What worries me the most are the heat waves" and the "thousands of deaths" they cause, said Vautard, who is director of France's Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute, a climate research and teaching centre.&nbsp;

With rainfall, scientists have a physical law that says water vapour increases by seven percent for every degree of warming, he said, with intense precipitation increasing by about the same amount.&nbsp;

But extreme heat is harder to predict.&nbsp;

"We know that heatwaves are more frequent, but we also know that our models underestimate the increasing intensity of these heatwaves, particularly in Europe, by a factor of two," he said.

Climate models have come a long way, even since 2014, but there is still room for improvement to reduce these uncertainties.&nbsp;

"Before we had models that represented the major phenomena in the atmosphere, in the oceans," said Vautard.&nbsp;

Today the models divide the planet's surface into grids, with each square around 10 kilometres (six miles).&nbsp;

But even now he said the "resolution of the models is not sufficient" for very localised phenomena.&nbsp;

The next generation of models should be able to add even more detail, going down to an area of about a kilometre.&nbsp;

That would give researchers a much better understanding of "small scale" events, like tornadoes, hail or storm systems that bring intense rain like those seen in parts of the Mediterranean in 2020.

Even on a global scale, some fundamental questions remain.&nbsp;

Perhaps one of the most ominous climate concepts to have become better understood in recent years is that of "tipping points".&nbsp;

These could be triggered for example by the melting of the ice caps or the decline of the Amazon rainforest, potentially swinging the climate system into dramatic and irreversible changes.&nbsp;

There are still "a lot of uncertainties and mysteries" about tipping points, Vautard said, including what level of temperature rise might set them off.&nbsp;

Currently, they are seen as low probability events, but he said that it is still crucial to know more about them given the "irreversible consequences on the scale of millennia" that they could cause.&nbsp;

Another crucial uncertainty is the state of the world's forests and oceans, which absorb about half of the CO2 emitted by humans.&nbsp;

"Will this carbon sink function continue to be effective or not?" Vautard said.

If they stop absorbing carbon,&nbsp;as has been found in areas of the Amazon, for example,&nbsp;then more C02 will accumulate in the atmosphere, raising temperatures even further.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"It is a concern," said Vautard.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Climate 'mysteries' are still puzzling the world's leading scientists the most despite making progress. Heatwaves are one of the ''major mysteries'' science still has to unravel even as researchers are able to pinpoint with increasing accuracy exactly how human fossil fuel pollution is warming the planet and altering the climate This particularly includes the tendency of current models to underestimate the intensity of these bursts of deadly, searing temperature.

Climate 'mysteries' are still puzzling the world's leading scientists the most despite making progress. Heatwaves are one of the ''major mysteries'' science still has to unravel even as researchers are able to pinpoint with increasing accuracy exactly how human fossil fuel pollution is warming the planet and altering the climate This particularly includes the tendency of current models to underestimate the intensity of these bursts of deadly, searing temperature. According to climatologist Robert Vautard, ''Today we have better climate projection models, and longer observations with a much clearer signal of climate change.'' Vautard is one of the authors of an upcoming assessment by the United Nations' panel of climate experts. The assessment, the first part of a trio of reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), will be released on August 9 at the end of meetings starting Monday. It focuses on the science underpinning our understanding of things like temperature increases, rising ocean levels and extreme weather events. Also read| Many leaders slept on climate crisis. Will they act on what they feel on their skins now? This has progressed considerably since the last assessment in 2014, but so has climate change itself, with effects being felt ever more forcefully across the planet. Scientists now have a greater understanding of the mechanisms behind "extreme phenomena, which now occur almost every week around the world", said Vautard, adding that this helps better quantify how these events will play out in the future. In almost real time, researchers can pinpoint the role of climate change in a given disaster, something they were unable to do at all until very recently. Now, so-called "attribution" science means we can say how probable an extreme weather event would have been had the climate not been changing at all. For example, within days of the extraordinary "heat dome" that scorched the western United States and Canada at the end of June, scientists from the World Weather Attribution calculated that the heatwave would have been "almost impossible" without warming. Despite these advances, Vautard said "major mysteries remain". Scientists are still unsure what part clouds play "in the energy balance of the planet" and their influence on the climate's sensitivity to greenhouse gases, he said. But it is "phenomenal temperatures", like those recorded in June in Canada or in Europe in 2019, that preoccupy the climatologist. "What worries me the most are the heat waves" and the "thousands of deaths" they cause, said Vautard, who is director of France's Pierre-Simon Laplace Institute, a climate research and teaching centre. With rainfall, scientists have a physical law that says water vapour increases by seven percent for every degree of warming, he said, with intense precipitation increasing by about the same amount. But extreme heat is harder to predict. "We know that heatwaves are more frequent, but we also know that our models underestimate the increasing intensity of these heatwaves, particularly in Europe, by a factor of two," he said. Climate models have come a long way, even since 2014, but there is still room for improvement to reduce these uncertainties. "Before we had models that represented the major phenomena in the atmosphere, in the oceans," said Vautard. Today the models divide the planet's surface into grids, with each square around 10 kilometres (six miles). But even now he said the "resolution of the models is not sufficient" for very localised phenomena. The next generation of models should be able to add even more detail, going down to an area of about a kilometre. That would give researchers a much better understanding of "small scale" events, like tornadoes, hail or storm systems that bring intense rain like those seen in parts of the Mediterranean in 2020. Even on a global scale, some fundamental questions remain. Perhaps one of the most ominous climate concepts to have become better understood in recent years is that of "tipping points". These could be triggered for example by the melting of the ice caps or the decline of the Amazon rainforest, potentially swinging the climate system into dramatic and irreversible changes. There are still "a lot of uncertainties and mysteries" about tipping points, Vautard said, including what level of temperature rise might set them off. Currently, they are seen as low probability events, but he said that it is still crucial to know more about them given the "irreversible consequences on the scale of millennia" that they could cause. Another crucial uncertainty is the state of the world's forests and oceans, which absorb about half of the CO2 emitted by humans. "Will this carbon sink function continue to be effective or not?" Vautard said. If they stop absorbing carbon, as has been found in areas of the Amazon, for example, then more C02 will accumulate in the atmosphere, raising temperatures even further. "It is a concern," said Vautard. (With inputs from agencies)

Why are climate 'mysteries' puzzling world's leading scientists?

Extreme weather has triggered forest fires in Canada, the US and Russia. Even Earth's coldest winter city in Siberia is burning.

Gravitas: Climate change super-charges wildfires

NASA's Landsat 8 satellite has captured mesmerising images of&nbsp;phytoplanktons,&nbsp;the base component of the marine food chain.

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Microscopic ocean plants called&nbsp;phytoplankton&nbsp;gobble up CO2 and drag it to the bottom of the ocean when they die.

Their colony size is limited by a lack of natural iron, but experiments have shown that sowing the ocean with iron sulphate powder creates large blooms.

Plankton include microscopic plants and animals, fish larvae, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that drift in the oceans.

By removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into organic carbon via photosynthesis, plankton provide a buffer against the increased carbon dioxide being generated by the burning of fossil fuels.

New research led by NASA researchers has found populations of the microscopic marine plants, phytoplankton, have decreased in the Northern Hemisphere.

An analysis using a NASA model in combination with ocean satellite data between 1998 and 2012, showed a 1 per cent&nbsp;decrease of phytoplankton per year.

NASA's Landsat 8 satellite has captured mesmerising images of phytoplanktons, the base component of the marine food chain. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) Microscopic ocean plants called phytoplankton gobble up CO2 and drag it to the bottom of the ocean when they die.

NASA's Landsat 8 satellite has captured mesmerising images of phytoplanktons, the base component of the marine food chain. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) Microscopic ocean plants called phytoplankton gobble up CO2 and drag it to the bottom of the ocean when they die. Their colony size is limited by a lack of natural iron, but experiments have shown that sowing the ocean with iron sulphate powder creates large blooms. Plankton include microscopic plants and animals, fish larvae, bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that drift in the oceans. By removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into organic carbon via photosynthesis, plankton provide a buffer against the increased carbon dioxide being generated by the burning of fossil fuels. New research led by NASA researchers has found populations of the microscopic marine plants, phytoplankton, have decreased in the Northern Hemisphere. An analysis using a NASA model in combination with ocean satellite data between 1998 and 2012, showed a 1 per cent decrease of phytoplankton per year.

'Summer is in full bloom': NASA shares satellite images of phytoplanktons

Despite spending similar amounts, men's purchases cause 16 per cent more climate-warming emissions than women's, a study has revealed.

The research published in Journal for Industrial Ecology finds that spending on petrol and diesel for cars was the greatest difference between men and women.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/study-says-eating-french-fries-good-for-health-395381">Study says eating french fries good for health</a>

According to researchers, gender differences in emissions have been remarkably understudied and should be acknowledged when action is taken against climate change.

The study compared the emissions produced by single men and women in Sweden, and found that food and holidays were responsible for more than half of all emissions. It was discovered that men and women, both, accounted for roughly one-third of their annual emissions during the holiday season.

According to the research findings, people's emissions can be reduced by 40 per cent if they chop meat and dairy from their diet and switch to train travel instead of flying or driving.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-largest-rotating-structures-in-the-universe-391915">Also read |&nbsp;Scientists discover largest rotating structures in the universe</a>

Researchers at Ecoloop in Sweden, who conducted the study, believe it's vital to take men's and women's differences into account in policymaking.

Annika Carlsson Kanyama, of Ecoloop, says that spending habits, in general, are very stereotypical as women spend more on home decorations, health and fashion, and men spend more on fuel for cars, eating out, alcohol and tobacco.

Due to insufficient data for individuals living in families, the research made use of data for individuals living alone.

The study suggests a change in dietary habits and holidaying ways to reduce the number of annual emissions produced by individuals, as these changes do not require any extra spending such as buying an electric car.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/drinking-coffee-reduces-risk-of-contracting-coronavirus-study-397490">Drinking coffee reduces risk of contracting coronavirus: Study</a>

A previous study from 2017 found that individuals can make the greatest difference in fighting climate change if they have fewer children, don't drive, or avoid flying.

Studies from 2010 and 2012 found that men spent more on energy and consumed more meat than women, which in turn resulted in high emissions.&nbsp;

Carlsson Kanyama, while expressing her surprise at the very limited amount of studies done on the gender differences in environmental impact, says that these differences are evident, and it doesn't seem likely they will disappear anytime soon.

Last week, the EU's green deal was criticised for omitting gender impact on climate.&nbsp;

According to Austria's climate minister, Leonore Gewessler, the climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges of our time, which affects both genders differently.

Women are disproportionately affected by energy poverty, and the road towards developing solutions and creating a transformation that works for everyone must take gender differences into account.

Despite spending similar amounts, men's purchases cause 16 per cent more climate-warming emissions than women's, a study has revealed. The research published in Journal for Industrial Ecology finds that spending on petrol and diesel for cars was the greatest difference between men and women.

Despite spending similar amounts, men's purchases cause 16 per cent more climate-warming emissions than women's, a study has revealed. The research published in Journal for Industrial Ecology finds that spending on petrol and diesel for cars was the greatest difference between men and women. Also read | Study says eating french fries good for health According to researchers, gender differences in emissions have been remarkably understudied and should be acknowledged when action is taken against climate change. The study compared the emissions produced by single men and women in Sweden, and found that food and holidays were responsible for more than half of all emissions. It was discovered that men and women, both, accounted for roughly one-third of their annual emissions during the holiday season. According to the research findings, people's emissions can be reduced by 40 per cent if they chop meat and dairy from their diet and switch to train travel instead of flying or driving. Also read | Scientists discover largest rotating structures in the universe Researchers at Ecoloop in Sweden, who conducted the study, believe it's vital to take men's and women's differences into account in policymaking. Annika Carlsson Kanyama, of Ecoloop, says that spending habits, in general, are very stereotypical as women spend more on home decorations, health and fashion, and men spend more on fuel for cars, eating out, alcohol and tobacco. Due to insufficient data for individuals living in families, the research made use of data for individuals living alone. The study suggests a change in dietary habits and holidaying ways to reduce the number of annual emissions produced by individuals, as these changes do not require any extra spending such as buying an electric car. Also read | Drinking coffee reduces risk of contracting coronavirus: Study A previous study from 2017 found that individuals can make the greatest difference in fighting climate change if they have fewer children, don't drive, or avoid flying. Studies from 2010 and 2012 found that men spent more on energy and consumed more meat than women, which in turn resulted in high emissions. Carlsson Kanyama, while expressing her surprise at the very limited amount of studies done on the gender differences in environmental impact, says that these differences are evident, and it doesn't seem likely they will disappear anytime soon. Last week, the EU's green deal was criticised for omitting gender impact on climate. According to Austria's climate minister, Leonore Gewessler, the climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges of our time, which affects both genders differently. Women are disproportionately affected by energy poverty, and the road towards developing solutions and creating a transformation that works for everyone must take gender differences into account.

'Change spending habits': Study reveals that men are worse for the planet

Hundreds of people went missing and more than 150&nbsp;died as unprecedented floods hit Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands this week.

The freak weather came just days after some parts of Europe witnessed yet another unusually hot summer.

Climate change is here, and it is here to stay.

And world leaders are doing catch-up, decades after scientists sounded the warning.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-fatal-flooding-in-western-germany-398443">In Pics | Fatal flooding in Western Germany</a>

This past week, European Union policymakers unveiled their most ambitious plan yet to tackle climate change, aiming to turn green goals into concrete action this decade, and in doing so lead the way for the world's other big economies.

While the bloc produces as much as 8 per cent of global emissions, it hopes its example will elicit ambitious action from other major economies when they meet in November in Glasgow for the next milestone UN climate conference.

However, poorer member states are wary of anything that will raise costs for the consumer, while regions that depend on coal-fired power plants and mines want guarantees of more support for a transformation that will cause dislocation and require mass retraining.

According to the UN's Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), this year, Australia has ranked among the top three countries for exported greenhouse gas emissions per capita and among the top 10 nations for per capita fossil fuel use.

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It ranked second-worst for carbon pricing scores, between first-ranking Chile and the United States. The ranking is based on four indicators: per capita emissions from fossil fuel combustion, per capita CO2 emissions embodied in imports, per capita CO2 emissions embodied in exports, and carbon pricing score.

And yet, the county is in denial.

Australia took a group of ambassadors snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef on Thursday in a last-minute lobbying effort to keep the World Heritage site off UNESCO's endangered list.

Why? To keep the revenues generated by it, because an 'endangered' listing would mean Australia not being able to milk the reef's tourism potential.&nbsp;

Aside from its inestimable natural, scientific and environmental value, the 2,300-kilometre-long (1,400-mile) reef was worth an estimated $4.8 billion a year in tourism revenue for the Australian economy before the coronavirus pandemic.

Australia should have seen it coming. There have been several so-called 'bleaching incidents' of the reef's corals, which are very ecologically sensitive. Several warnings had been issued in the past.

And there has been no dearth of warnings about the impacts of climate change on people and the planet.

Nearly nine in 10 leading global climate economists think climate change will deepen income inequality between rich and poor countries, with most calling for urgent action to cut planet-warming emissions.

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According to the World Bank, without the right policies to keep the poor safe from extreme weather and rising seas, climate change could drive over 100 million more people into poverty by 2030.

Scientists have warned that failure to curb the world’s still-growing emissions could lead to crises from food and water shortages to worsening weather disasters and sea-level rise.

The growing impacts of climate change have already pushed more than 18 million people to migrate within South Asian countries, but that could more than triple if global warming continues on its current path.

Nearly 63 million people could be forced from their homes by 2050 in the region as rising seas and rivers swallow villages, and drought-hit land no longer supports crops, said ActionAid International and Climate Action Network South Asia in a report.

Researchers believe Indian monsoons are likely to become stronger and more erratic if global warming continues unchecked, threatening farming and incomes across the region

Monsoon rains will likely increase by about 5 per cent&nbsp;for every degree Celsius of warming, found the study of more than 30 state-of-the-art climate models from around the world, published in the journal Earth System Dynamics.

What are countries doing about it, beyond token statements?

India is examining setting a target of net zero emissions by 2050, according to media reports. An earlier ambition of 2047, to coincide with 100 years of independence, is being discussed among senior officials in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office.

If India does end up setting a target of no later than 2050, it will trump China's promise of 2060 and match the ambition set out by new US President Joe Biden.

Governments face a struggle to inject momentum into efforts to curb global warming, dogged by lack of consensus, scepticism and disruptive protests demanding more action.

Policymakers are under pressure as more extreme weather events, such as record floods in Europe and wildfires in Australia, Canada and the US, are linked to climate change.

According to many scientists, Russia, especially its Siberian and Arctic regions, is among the countries most exposed to climate change.

Russia has set numerous records in recent years and in June 2020 registered 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in the town of Verkhoyansk, the highest temperature recorded above the Arctic circle since measurements began.

The rising mercury levels have contributed to devastating floods and forest fires that have affected Siberia with increasing regularity.

They are also contributing to the melting of permafrost, which covers about two-thirds of Russia's vast territory.

The share of fossil fuels in the world's total energy mix is as high as a decade ago, despite the falling cost of renewables and pressure on governments to act on climate change, a report by green energy policy network REN21 showed.

Meanwhile, oil companies are dragging their feet on fighting climate change and are confronting pushback from investors and courts on policy change.

Investor support for climate concerns could force oil and gas companies to rethink how fast they pivot to other forms of energy.

There is now a 40 per cent chance that global temperatures will temporarily reach 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in the next five years and these odds are rising, as per a UN report.

This does not yet mean that the world would already be crossing the long-term warming 1.5-degree Celsius threshold set by the Paris Climate Accord, which scientists warn is the ceiling to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.&nbsp;

The Paris Accord target looks at temperature over a 30-year average, rather than a single year.

But it does underscore that "we are getting measurably and inexorably closer" to that threshold, according to World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

The next decade will require bigger adjustments, with a long-term eye on 2050, seen by scientists as a deadline for the world to reach net-zero carbon emissions or risk climate change becoming catastrophic.

While leaders have ignored climate change for as long as they can, citizens are ensuring that they wake up now.

In a handful of countries, they are suing their governments for negligence.

Leaders have ignored climate crisis till it literally banged on their doors in the form of floods and fires.

Here is hoping that they will&nbsp;feel the pinch at least now, when it is so close to their own skins.

Hundreds of people went missing and more than 150 died as unprecedented floods hit Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands this week. The freak weather came just days after some parts of Europe witnessed yet another unusually hot summer.

Hundreds of people went missing and more than 150 died as unprecedented floods hit Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands this week. The freak weather came just days after some parts of Europe witnessed yet another unusually hot summer. Climate change is here, and it is here to stay. And world leaders are doing catch-up, decades after scientists sounded the warning. In Pics | Fatal flooding in Western Germany This past week, European Union policymakers unveiled their most ambitious plan yet to tackle climate change, aiming to turn green goals into concrete action this decade, and in doing so lead the way for the world's other big economies. While the bloc produces as much as 8 per cent of global emissions, it hopes its example will elicit ambitious action from other major economies when they meet in November in Glasgow for the next milestone UN climate conference. However, poorer member states are wary of anything that will raise costs for the consumer, while regions that depend on coal-fired power plants and mines want guarantees of more support for a transformation that will cause dislocation and require mass retraining. According to the UN's Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), this year, Australia has ranked among the top three countries for exported greenhouse gas emissions per capita and among the top 10 nations for per capita fossil fuel use. It ranked second-worst for carbon pricing scores, between first-ranking Chile and the United States. The ranking is based on four indicators: per capita emissions from fossil fuel combustion, per capita CO2 emissions embodied in imports, per capita CO2 emissions embodied in exports, and carbon pricing score. And yet, the county is in denial. Australia took a group of ambassadors snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef on Thursday in a last-minute lobbying effort to keep the World Heritage site off UNESCO's endangered list. Why? To keep the revenues generated by it, because an 'endangered' listing would mean Australia not being able to milk the reef's tourism potential. Aside from its inestimable natural, scientific and environmental value, the 2,300-kilometre-long (1,400-mile) reef was worth an estimated $4.8 billion a year in tourism revenue for the Australian economy before the coronavirus pandemic. Australia should have seen it coming. There have been several so-called 'bleaching incidents' of the reef's corals, which are very ecologically sensitive. Several warnings had been issued in the past. And there has been no dearth of warnings about the impacts of climate change on people and the planet. Nearly nine in 10 leading global climate economists think climate change will deepen income inequality between rich and poor countries, with most calling for urgent action to cut planet-warming emissions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by UN Climate Change (@unclimatechange) According to the World Bank, without the right policies to keep the poor safe from extreme weather and rising seas, climate change could drive over 100 million more people into poverty by 2030. Scientists have warned that failure to curb the world’s still-growing emissions could lead to crises from food and water shortages to worsening weather disasters and sea-level rise. The growing impacts of climate change have already pushed more than 18 million people to migrate within South Asian countries, but that could more than triple if global warming continues on its current path. Nearly 63 million people could be forced from their homes by 2050 in the region as rising seas and rivers swallow villages, and drought-hit land no longer supports crops, said ActionAid International and Climate Action Network South Asia in a report. Researchers believe Indian monsoons are likely to become stronger and more erratic if global warming continues unchecked, threatening farming and incomes across the region Monsoon rains will likely increase by about 5 per cent for every degree Celsius of warming, found the study of more than 30 state-of-the-art climate models from around the world, published in the journal Earth System Dynamics. What are countries doing about it, beyond token statements? India is examining setting a target of net zero emissions by 2050, according to media reports. An earlier ambition of 2047, to coincide with 100 years of independence, is being discussed among senior officials in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office. If India does end up setting a target of no later than 2050, it will trump China's promise of 2060 and match the ambition set out by new US President Joe Biden. Governments face a struggle to inject momentum into efforts to curb global warming, dogged by lack of consensus, scepticism and disruptive protests demanding more action. Policymakers are under pressure as more extreme weather events, such as record floods in Europe and wildfires in Australia, Canada and the US, are linked to climate change. According to many scientists, Russia, especially its Siberian and Arctic regions, is among the countries most exposed to climate change. Russia has set numerous records in recent years and in June 2020 registered 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in the town of Verkhoyansk, the highest temperature recorded above the Arctic circle since measurements began. The rising mercury levels have contributed to devastating floods and forest fires that have affected Siberia with increasing regularity. They are also contributing to the melting of permafrost, which covers about two-thirds of Russia's vast territory. The share of fossil fuels in the world's total energy mix is as high as a decade ago, despite the falling cost of renewables and pressure on governments to act on climate change, a report by green energy policy network REN21 showed. Meanwhile, oil companies are dragging their feet on fighting climate change and are confronting pushback from investors and courts on policy change. Investor support for climate concerns could force oil and gas companies to rethink how fast they pivot to other forms of energy. There is now a 40 per cent chance that global temperatures will temporarily reach 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in the next five years and these odds are rising, as per a UN report. This does not yet mean that the world would already be crossing the long-term warming 1.5-degree Celsius threshold set by the Paris Climate Accord, which scientists warn is the ceiling to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change. The Paris Accord target looks at temperature over a 30-year average, rather than a single year. But it does underscore that "we are getting measurably and inexorably closer" to that threshold, according to World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. The next decade will require bigger adjustments, with a long-term eye on 2050, seen by scientists as a deadline for the world to reach net-zero carbon emissions or risk climate change becoming catastrophic. While leaders have ignored climate change for as long as they can, citizens are ensuring that they wake up now. In a handful of countries, they are suing their governments for negligence. Leaders have ignored climate crisis till it literally banged on their doors in the form of floods and fires. Here is hoping that they will feel the pinch at least now, when it is so close to their own skins.

Many leaders slept on climate crisis. Will they act on what they feel on their skins now?

Polar bears, ice melt, wind energy: all issues highlighted at a climate change-themed mini golf course in New York City. The Putting Green mini golf course opened earlier this month along a waterfront park in Brooklyn. Each of the 18 holes showcases a climate change problem or solution. A placard at each hole describes each theme.

Climate change-themed mini golf course seeks to educate and entertain in NYC

The Great Barrier Reef is not out of the water yet! Although the coral recovery in the reef had improved over the past year, the outlook for the reef's survival remains "very poor", scientists said on Monday.

Last month, UNESCO recommended that The Great Barrier Reef be put on the "endangered" list owing to the damage sustained by corals, largely attributed to climate change.

According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), the corals are currently in a "recovery window" after a decade of intense heat and cyclones.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-great-barrier-reef-downgraded-australia-blames-china-393216/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The institute added that such windows that could help the reef recover are becoming rare owing to the effects of climate change. The government agency has monitored the reef for 35 years, as stated in its annual report on Monday.

"The increasing prominence of climate-related extreme weather events and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks is causing more severe and frequent pressures, giving the reef fewer opportunities like this to recover," AFP quoted CEO Paul Hardisty as saying.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/china-denies-politics-behind-great-barrier-reefs-addition-to-endangered-list-398870" hreflang="en">China denies politics behind Great Barrier Reef's addition to endangered list</a>

In 2021, scientists surveyed 127 coral reef sites. They found that the hard coral cover had increased at 69 out of the 81 sites that were assessed in the last two years. Fast-growing Acropora corals have been credited for the spur in growth.

Another research undertaken last October revealed that the reef, which spans over 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) had lost half of its corals since 1995. Ocean heatwaves also caused major coral bleaching.

According to Britta Schaffelke, the research programme director at AIMS, the new growth points to the resilience of the reef, calling it a "glimmer of hope".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/australia-to-take-ambassadors-snorkelling-to-save-great-barrier-reef-status-398073" hreflang="en">Australia to take ambassadors snorkelling to save Great Barrier Reef status</a>

Even then, Schaffelke added that the "outlook into the future is still very poor because of the dangers of climate change and other factors that are impacting on the organisms that make up the reef."

To avoid a World Heritage Site downgrade, Australia has launched lobbying efforts to save the reef. UNESCO has urged Australia to pursue ambitious climate goals, like committing to net zero emissions by 2050 - something the country has shied from pursuing.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Great Barrier Reef is not out of the water yet! Although the coral recovery in the reef had improved over the past year, the outlook for the reef's survival remains "very poor", scientists said on Monday.

The Great Barrier Reef is not out of the water yet! Although the coral recovery in the reef had improved over the past year, the outlook for the reef's survival remains "very poor", scientists said on Monday. Last month, UNESCO recommended that The Great Barrier Reef be put on the "endangered" list owing to the damage sustained by corals, largely attributed to climate change. According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), the corals are currently in a "recovery window" after a decade of intense heat and cyclones. The institute added that such windows that could help the reef recover are becoming rare owing to the effects of climate change. The government agency has monitored the reef for 35 years, as stated in its annual report on Monday. "The increasing prominence of climate-related extreme weather events and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks is causing more severe and frequent pressures, giving the reef fewer opportunities like this to recover," AFP quoted CEO Paul Hardisty as saying. Also read: China denies politics behind Great Barrier Reef's addition to endangered list In 2021, scientists surveyed 127 coral reef sites. They found that the hard coral cover had increased at 69 out of the 81 sites that were assessed in the last two years. Fast-growing Acropora corals have been credited for the spur in growth. Another research undertaken last October revealed that the reef, which spans over 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) had lost half of its corals since 1995. Ocean heatwaves also caused major coral bleaching. According to Britta Schaffelke, the research programme director at AIMS, the new growth points to the resilience of the reef, calling it a "glimmer of hope". Also read: Australia to take ambassadors snorkelling to save Great Barrier Reef status Even then, Schaffelke added that the "outlook into the future is still very poor because of the dangers of climate change and other factors that are impacting on the organisms that make up the reef." To avoid a World Heritage Site downgrade, Australia has launched lobbying efforts to save the reef. UNESCO has urged Australia to pursue ambitious climate goals, like committing to net zero emissions by 2050 - something the country has shied from pursuing. (With inputs from agencies)

Despite recent recovery, Great Barrier Reef may not be able to survive climate change

Shot of coffee and teachings of climate: Gaza cafe promotes recycling

With extreme weather killing more than 150 people in Europe and searing heat across parts of North America, the debate around <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/climate-change">climate change</a> has grown more fierce in recent weeks.&nbsp;

But can global warming really be blamed for these very different, isolated events in different parts of the world?

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-us-canada-experience-heatwave-un-confirms-record-heat-in-antarctica-395224">As US &amp; Canada experience heatwave, UN confirms record heat in Antarctica</a>

According to Jean Jouzel, a climatologist and former vice-president of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is a "plausible" link, though it has not been proven yet.

"Unfortunately, we are in the early stages of global warming, and what lies ahead will be even worse," he told AFP.

"We must not kid ourselves that climate change is limited to a few isolated disasters or to one region or time period."

In Europe, masses of air loaded with water were blocked at high altitudes by cold temperatures, leading them to stagnate for four days over the region and dump torrents of rain, Jouzel said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-change-responsible-for-europe-floods-says-dutch-pm-398676">Climate Change responsible for Europe floods, says Dutch PM</a>

"The phenomenon is familiar to meteorologists, but it has been 100 years since it last occurred on this scale," he said.

Huge rainfall&nbsp;

"In just two days, the region saw the same amount of rainfall it would normally experience in two or three months -- the kind of event that might sometimes be seen in Mediterranean climates in the autumn, but not at these latitudes."

Scientists will now have to analyse the event to determine precisely why it happened, he said.

"Science takes time, but I believe we will have an answer soon enough," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-93-dead-in-germany-belgium-floods-merkel-says-her-heart-goes-out-to-victims-398361">At least 93 dead in Germany, Belgium floods; Merkel says her 'heart goes out' to victims</a>

As to whether global warming was directly responsible for the catastrophe,&nbsp;the expert said: "We have our suspicions, but they are not scientific facts. We have to take the time to analyse the event."

On the other hand, the IPCC has for some time been predicting an intensification of extreme events of this kind, particularly rainfall, he points out.

"Scientists have already observed a sharp increase in extreme precipitation over the last 20 years, particularly in the Mediterranean," he said.

'Not up to the task'&nbsp;

"It is clear that if more water evaporates because it is warmer, that will technically lead to more precipitation and more episodes of violent rainfall."

There is a real risk that events like this will increase in the coming years and decades, Jouzel believes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-120-dead-in-western-europe-after-record-rainfall-wreaks-havoc-398646">Over 120 dead in western Europe after record rainfall wreaks havoc</a>

If the Earth's temperature rises by three or four degrees, events like droughts, heatwaves and floods will become more frequent and intense, he said.

Having the right infrastructure to deal with such events will then be the only way to avoid human tragedy -- such as the devastating effects of recent 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) temperatures in Canada.

"I don't think there is enough awareness, and I'm not sure that people understand the seriousness of the problem. The political decision-makers, in particular, are not up to the task," Jouzel said.

With extreme weather killing more than 150 people in Europe and searing heat across parts of North America, the debate around climate change has grown more fierce in recent weeks.

With extreme weather killing more than 150 people in Europe and searing heat across parts of North America, the debate around climate change has grown more fierce in recent weeks. But can global warming really be blamed for these very different, isolated events in different parts of the world? Also read | As US & Canada experience heatwave, UN confirms record heat in Antarctica According to Jean Jouzel, a climatologist and former vice-president of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is a "plausible" link, though it has not been proven yet. "Unfortunately, we are in the early stages of global warming, and what lies ahead will be even worse," he told AFP. "We must not kid ourselves that climate change is limited to a few isolated disasters or to one region or time period." In Europe, masses of air loaded with water were blocked at high altitudes by cold temperatures, leading them to stagnate for four days over the region and dump torrents of rain, Jouzel said. Also read | Climate Change responsible for Europe floods, says Dutch PM "The phenomenon is familiar to meteorologists, but it has been 100 years since it last occurred on this scale," he said. Huge rainfall "In just two days, the region saw the same amount of rainfall it would normally experience in two or three months -- the kind of event that might sometimes be seen in Mediterranean climates in the autumn, but not at these latitudes." Scientists will now have to analyse the event to determine precisely why it happened, he said. "Science takes time, but I believe we will have an answer soon enough," he said. Also read | At least 93 dead in Germany, Belgium floods; Merkel says her 'heart goes out' to victims As to whether global warming was directly responsible for the catastrophe, the expert said: "We have our suspicions, but they are not scientific facts. We have to take the time to analyse the event." On the other hand, the IPCC has for some time been predicting an intensification of extreme events of this kind, particularly rainfall, he points out. "Scientists have already observed a sharp increase in extreme precipitation over the last 20 years, particularly in the Mediterranean," he said. 'Not up to the task' "It is clear that if more water evaporates because it is warmer, that will technically lead to more precipitation and more episodes of violent rainfall." There is a real risk that events like this will increase in the coming years and decades, Jouzel believes. Also read | Over 120 dead in western Europe after record rainfall wreaks havoc If the Earth's temperature rises by three or four degrees, events like droughts, heatwaves and floods will become more frequent and intense, he said. Having the right infrastructure to deal with such events will then be the only way to avoid human tragedy -- such as the devastating effects of recent 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) temperatures in Canada. "I don't think there is enough awareness, and I'm not sure that people understand the seriousness of the problem. The political decision-makers, in particular, are not up to the task," Jouzel said.

Expert says warming link to Europe floods 'plausible'

A demonstrator was shot dead during&nbsp;protests&nbsp;against&nbsp;water&nbsp;shortages in drought-hit Khuzestan in southwestern&nbsp;Iran,&nbsp;state&nbsp;media&nbsp;reported Saturday, with an official blaming the death on "opportunists and rioters".

The demonstrator was&nbsp;killed&nbsp;in the Khuzestan province town of Shadegan, the official IRNA news agency said.

The province is&nbsp;Iran's main oil-producing region and one of its wealthiest, but it has been hit by a persistent drought that has led to tensions since late March.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-hassan-rouhani-issues-rare-apology-for-power-cuts-396591">Iran President Hassan Rouhani issues rare apology for power cuts</a>

"Last night (Friday), a number of Shadegan's people had gathered to protest&nbsp;water&nbsp;shortages due to the drought, during which opportunists and rioters shot dead one of the demonstrators," the county's acting governor, Omid Sabripour, told IRNA.

Sabripour said the perpetrators "sought to agitate the people by shooting in the air", and a "young Shadegan resident" was shot in the process.

In separate comments to the ISNA news agency, Sabripour said&nbsp;the shooting was directed at both the demonstrators and security forces.

He added that the victim was a "30-year-old passer-by" and that those responsible were identified.

Some were arrested on Friday night, with a manhunt launched for the others.

Iran&nbsp;has endured repeated droughts over the past&nbsp;decade, particularly in the south.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-detects-technical-fault-in-bushehr-nuclear-power-plant-392978">Iran detects 'technical fault' in Bushehr nuclear power plant</a>

Earlier this month, President Hassan Rouhani said the drought was "unprecedented", with average rainfall down 52 per cent compared to the previous year.

The Islamic republic has also experienced regular floods in recent years, made worse when torrential rain falls on sun-baked earth.

In other parts of the country, floods over the past three days have&nbsp;killed&nbsp;at least four people, with two others missing, Iranian Red Crescent Society spokesman Mohammad-Hassan Qosian told IRNA on Saturday.

Another person was&nbsp;killed&nbsp;by lightning.

'Insecurity'&nbsp;

Khuzestan's governor on Friday dismissed videos of&nbsp;protests&nbsp;as false.

"Some seek to agitate the people and publish fake videos," Qasem Soleimani-Dashtaki told IRNA.

Videos on social&nbsp;media&nbsp;apparently showed&nbsp;protests&nbsp;in several Khuzestan towns, including Susangerd, Mahshahr and Hamidiyeh as well as Shadegan.

Farsi-language&nbsp;media&nbsp;based abroad said security forces had cracked down on protesters demonstrating against severe&nbsp;water&nbsp;shortages&nbsp;on Thursday, but domestic&nbsp;media&nbsp;played down the reports.

Khuzestan MP Abdollah Izadpanah warned on Friday that "Khuzestan's insecurity means a lack of security for the whole country."

He blamed the&nbsp;water&nbsp;shortages on "mistakes and unjustified decisions" such as the extraction of&nbsp;water&nbsp;from Khuzestan's rivers to other provinces, ISNA reported.

On Friday, the government sent a delegation to Khuzestan to address the problem.

This month, rolling blackouts began in the capital Tehran and several other large cities, which officials blamed on the impact of the drought on hydroelectric power generation, as well as surging demand.

Power cuts in the peak summer months are not uncommon in&nbsp;Iran, but the ongoing drought has intensified the situation.

Khuzestan is home to a largely Sunni Arab minority, which has frequently complained of marginalisation in mainly Shiite&nbsp;Iran.

In 2019, the province was a hotspot of anti-government&nbsp;protests&nbsp;that had shaken other areas of the Islamic republic.

Over the years, blistering summer heatwaves and seasonal sandstorms blowing in from Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Iraq have dried up Khuzestan's once-fertile plains.

Scientists say climate change amplifies droughts, and their intensity and frequency, in turn, threaten food security.

A demonstrator was shot dead during protests against water shortages in drought-hit Khuzestan in southwestern Iran, state media reported Saturday, with an official blaming the death on "opportunists and rioters".

A demonstrator was shot dead during protests against water shortages in drought-hit Khuzestan in southwestern Iran, state media reported Saturday, with an official blaming the death on "opportunists and rioters". The demonstrator was killed in the Khuzestan province town of Shadegan, the official IRNA news agency said. The province is Iran's main oil-producing region and one of its wealthiest, but it has been hit by a persistent drought that has led to tensions since late March. Also read | Iran President Hassan Rouhani issues rare apology for power cuts "Last night (Friday), a number of Shadegan's people had gathered to protest water shortages due to the drought, during which opportunists and rioters shot dead one of the demonstrators," the county's acting governor, Omid Sabripour, told IRNA. Sabripour said the perpetrators "sought to agitate the people by shooting in the air", and a "young Shadegan resident" was shot in the process. In separate comments to the ISNA news agency, Sabripour said the shooting was directed at both the demonstrators and security forces. He added that the victim was a "30-year-old passer-by" and that those responsible were identified. Some were arrested on Friday night, with a manhunt launched for the others. Iran has endured repeated droughts over the past decade, particularly in the south. Also read | Iran detects 'technical fault' in Bushehr nuclear power plant Earlier this month, President Hassan Rouhani said the drought was "unprecedented", with average rainfall down 52 per cent compared to the previous year. The Islamic republic has also experienced regular floods in recent years, made worse when torrential rain falls on sun-baked earth. In other parts of the country, floods over the past three days have killed at least four people, with two others missing, Iranian Red Crescent Society spokesman Mohammad-Hassan Qosian told IRNA on Saturday. Another person was killed by lightning. 'Insecurity' Khuzestan's governor on Friday dismissed videos of protests as false. "Some seek to agitate the people and publish fake videos," Qasem Soleimani-Dashtaki told IRNA. Videos on social media apparently showed protests in several Khuzestan towns, including Susangerd, Mahshahr and Hamidiyeh as well as Shadegan. Farsi-language media based abroad said security forces had cracked down on protesters demonstrating against severe water shortages on Thursday, but domestic media played down the reports. Khuzestan MP Abdollah Izadpanah warned on Friday that "Khuzestan's insecurity means a lack of security for the whole country." He blamed the water shortages on "mistakes and unjustified decisions" such as the extraction of water from Khuzestan's rivers to other provinces, ISNA reported. On Friday, the government sent a delegation to Khuzestan to address the problem. This month, rolling blackouts began in the capital Tehran and several other large cities, which officials blamed on the impact of the drought on hydroelectric power generation, as well as surging demand. Power cuts in the peak summer months are not uncommon in Iran, but the ongoing drought has intensified the situation. Khuzestan is home to a largely Sunni Arab minority, which has frequently complained of marginalisation in mainly Shiite Iran. In 2019, the province was a hotspot of anti-government protests that had shaken other areas of the Islamic republic. Over the years, blistering summer heatwaves and seasonal sandstorms blowing in from Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Iraq have dried up Khuzestan's once-fertile plains. Scientists say climate change amplifies droughts, and their intensity and frequency, in turn, threaten food security.

One shot dead in Iran water shortage protests: State media

After an agonizing wait, Tim and Dee McCarley's prayers have been answered. Their home survived the flames. As the Bootleg Fire spread quickly across southern Oregon, the couple evacuated from their homes on Monday (July 12) and spent a sleepless night in the Klamath Falls evacuation center. On Tuesday (July 13), they were able to return to their neighborhood of High Country Ranch, a subdivision east of Sprague River, west of Bly. Several homes were burned to the ground but miraculously, the McCarley's house was untouched.

'It was like God's hand protected it': Oregon couple's home survives wildfire

Thousands of flamingoes were found dead in drone footage captured above the dry bed of Turkey's Lake Tuz. This has alarmed environmentalists and has prompted authorities to investigate the cause.

The drone footage from the area was captured on Wednesday (July 14). The footage shows hundreds of flaminglets partly buried in dried parts of Lake Tuz. Lake Tuz is in Turkey's Konya province.

Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli told reporters that initial analysis showed the Flamingoes were not poisoned.

Environmentalists say that agricultural irrigation practices in the region along with Climate Change and drought caused the deaths.

As per a report published by Turkish environmental foundation TEMA in 2020, the annual water reserve in central province of Konya's close basin was 4.5 billion cubic metres, while the consumption reached 6.5 billion cubic metres. Environmentalist and wildlife photographer Fahri Tunc said the canal that was built to deliver water to Lake Tuz is redirected for agricultural irrigation.

"This is the irrigation canal that comes from Konya. It needs to deliver water to Lake Tuz. As you can see, the water is not coming through. It stopped," Tunc said.

Statistics show that 5000-10,000 flaminglets are born in Lake Tuz every year.

Tunc said, this year, only 5,000 eggs have hatched and most of the birds died while seeking water on the surface of partially dried lake.

President of Doga (Nature) Association, Dicle Tuba Kilic said the only way to prevent mass flamingo deaths is to change the agricultural irrigation methods in region.

Pakdemirli said the deaths are not related to the irrigation practices in the region.

"I want to stress that there is no direct or indirect connection between this incident and the wells in the area or the agricultural irrigation," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Thousands of flamingoes were found dead in drone footage captured above the dry bed of Turkey's Lake Tuz. This has alarmed environmentalists and has prompted authorities to investigate the cause.

Thousands of flamingoes were found dead in drone footage captured above the dry bed of Turkey's Lake Tuz. This has alarmed environmentalists and has prompted authorities to investigate the cause. The drone footage from the area was captured on Wednesday (July 14). The footage shows hundreds of flaminglets partly buried in dried parts of Lake Tuz. Lake Tuz is in Turkey's Konya province. Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli told reporters that initial analysis showed the Flamingoes were not poisoned. Environmentalists say that agricultural irrigation practices in the region along with Climate Change and drought caused the deaths. As per a report published by Turkish environmental foundation TEMA in 2020, the annual water reserve in central province of Konya's close basin was 4.5 billion cubic metres, while the consumption reached 6.5 billion cubic metres. Environmentalist and wildlife photographer Fahri Tunc said the canal that was built to deliver water to Lake Tuz is redirected for agricultural irrigation. "This is the irrigation canal that comes from Konya. It needs to deliver water to Lake Tuz. As you can see, the water is not coming through. It stopped," Tunc said. Statistics show that 5000-10,000 flaminglets are born in Lake Tuz every year. Tunc said, this year, only 5,000 eggs have hatched and most of the birds died while seeking water on the surface of partially dried lake. President of Doga (Nature) Association, Dicle Tuba Kilic said the only way to prevent mass flamingo deaths is to change the agricultural irrigation methods in region. Pakdemirli said the deaths are not related to the irrigation practices in the region. "I want to stress that there is no direct or indirect connection between this incident and the wells in the area or the agricultural irrigation," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey: Drone footage shows thousands of dead flamingoes, investigation on

US climate envoy John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Moscow to discuss climate change. The two leaders said they will cooperate on the issues of common concern despite strangulations.

Lavrov-Kerry Meet: Leaders say they will cooperate on climate crisis

China&nbsp;has deployed thousands of boats and powered scoops to deal with a massive algae bloom that is threatening sea life, tourism, and water transport.

Climate change and pollution are thought to have contributed to the proliferation of the organic matter which contains a wide variety of micro-organisms and can flourish when nutrient-rich sewage flows into seawater.

Dozens of sea surface-cleaning and barrier-laying boats, as well as several other vessels, have been working to prevent the spread of the mucilage.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-sea-snot-outbreak-in-turkey-390034/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The thick layer of plants that has coated waters and clogged beaches in the Chinese port city of Qingdao. Such blooms can displace critical food sources for ocean animals while giving off a strong smell.

The bright green algae bloom is an annual phenomenon along the Shandong coastline since the first outbreak in 2008, and is believed to be caused by a combination of warming sea temperatures, and edible seaweed farming off the coast.

State media reported Thursday that the outbreak has spread over around 9,290 square kilometers (3,600 square miles).

Previously, dramatic drone footage showed boats, yachts and cargo ships anchored near Istanbul.

The thick, slimy layer of so-called "sea snot" is spreading in&nbsp;Turkey's Sea of Marmara to the south of Istanbul, at alarming levels, posing a growing threat to marine life and the fishing industry. Some has sunk below the waves, suffocating seabed life.

Algae blooms have started appearing more widely, with outbreaks seen from California to the Suez Canal.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

China has deployed thousands of boats and powered scoops to deal with a massive algae bloom that is threatening sea life, tourism, and water transport. Climate change and pollution are thought to have contributed to the proliferation of the organic matter which contains a wide variety of micro-organisms and can flourish when nutrient-rich sewage flows into seawater.

China has deployed thousands of boats and powered scoops to deal with a massive algae bloom that is threatening sea life, tourism, and water transport. Climate change and pollution are thought to have contributed to the proliferation of the organic matter which contains a wide variety of micro-organisms and can flourish when nutrient-rich sewage flows into seawater. Dozens of sea surface-cleaning and barrier-laying boats, as well as several other vessels, have been working to prevent the spread of the mucilage. The thick layer of plants that has coated waters and clogged beaches in the Chinese port city of Qingdao. Such blooms can displace critical food sources for ocean animals while giving off a strong smell. The bright green algae bloom is an annual phenomenon along the Shandong coastline since the first outbreak in 2008, and is believed to be caused by a combination of warming sea temperatures, and edible seaweed farming off the coast. State media reported Thursday that the outbreak has spread over around 9,290 square kilometers (3,600 square miles). Previously, dramatic drone footage showed boats, yachts and cargo ships anchored near Istanbul. The thick, slimy layer of so-called "sea snot" is spreading in Turkey's Sea of Marmara to the south of Istanbul, at alarming levels, posing a growing threat to marine life and the fishing industry. Some has sunk below the waves, suffocating seabed life. Algae blooms have started appearing more widely, with outbreaks seen from California to the Suez Canal. (With inputs from agencies)

China facing massive algae bloom threatening sea life, tourism and water transport

The climate monitoring service of the European Union (EU) reported June 2020 as the hottest ever recorded in North America, with a deadly heatwave engulfing parts of the continent. It says the record heat reflects global warming's impact on the Earth.

Record-breaking heat hit the Southwest, Northwest&nbsp;US reaching Canada, where three days in a row, British Columbia broke its all-time record daily temperature.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-heat-wave-british-columbia-sees-195-increase-in-sudden-deaths-with-486-cases-reported-395117">Canada heat wave: British Columbia sees 195% increase in sudden deaths with 486 cases reported</a>

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that the region was 1.2 degrees Celsius (34.2 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer in June than it had been from 1991 to 2020.

According to Julien Nicolas, a C3S climate scientist, these heatwaves are not isolated events. As per experts, a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/climate-change">warming climate </a>makes them more likely to occur.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-to-know-about-the-heat-wave-394925">What to know about the heat wave</a>

On a global scale, June 2021 will be the fourth hottest month, following the same month in 2018.

While northern Siberia also experienced one of the hottest summers on record, June was the second warmest on record for Europe.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-place-is-safe-reveal-scientists-amid-unprecedented-heatwave-in-parts-of-us-and-canada-395939">No place is safe, reveal scientists amid unprecedented heatwave in parts of US and Canada</a>

According to Nicolas, there is already widespread understanding that heatwaves are occurring more frequently, more intense, and longer bursts than in the past.

Last month's heatwaves across the US, western Russia, and northern Siberia are the latest in what he says will be a trend that will continue into the future.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/another-intense-heatwave-to-roast-canada-western-us-396579/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h3>A life-threatening situation</h3>

In addition to unusually dry conditions in these regions, both wildfires and heat <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/home-for-polar-bears-is-vulnerable-to-warming-says-study-395268">"posed threats to life,"</a> according to a C3S report.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Many fires raged across Canada over the past few days due to the deadly heatwave and dry conditions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/wildfire-ravages-canada-amid-record-heat-396331">Wildfire ravages Canada amid record heat</a>

Carlo Buontempo, the director of C3S, says that what's happening in Canada is a big leap in comparison to the previous records.

In his opinion, the recent heatwaves are a powerful reminder of the possible impacts climate change could have on our lives. As part of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the rise in global temperatures is to be limited to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, and 1.5 degrees, if possible. However, global temperatures have already witnessed an increase of some 1.1 degrees Celsius so far due to human activity, increasing fierce storms, extreme heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires.

There stands a 40 per cent chance that global temperatures are on course to surpass 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels within five years, according to the World Meteorological Organization and Britain's Met Office.

The climate monitoring service of the European Union (EU) reported June 2020 as the hottest ever recorded in North America, with a deadly heatwave engulfing parts of the continent.

The climate monitoring service of the European Union (EU) reported June 2020 as the hottest ever recorded in North America, with a deadly heatwave engulfing parts of the continent. It says the record heat reflects global warming's impact on the Earth. Record-breaking heat hit the Southwest, Northwest US reaching Canada, where three days in a row, British Columbia broke its all-time record daily temperature. Also read | Canada heat wave: British Columbia sees 195% increase in sudden deaths with 486 cases reported The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that the region was 1.2 degrees Celsius (34.2 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer in June than it had been from 1991 to 2020. According to Julien Nicolas, a C3S climate scientist, these heatwaves are not isolated events. As per experts, a warming climate makes them more likely to occur. Also read | What to know about the heat wave On a global scale, June 2021 will be the fourth hottest month, following the same month in 2018. While northern Siberia also experienced one of the hottest summers on record, June was the second warmest on record for Europe. Also read | No place is safe, reveal scientists amid unprecedented heatwave in parts of US and Canada According to Nicolas, there is already widespread understanding that heatwaves are occurring more frequently, more intense, and longer bursts than in the past. Last month's heatwaves across the US, western Russia, and northern Siberia are the latest in what he says will be a trend that will continue into the future. A life-threatening situation In addition to unusually dry conditions in these regions, both wildfires and heat "posed threats to life," according to a C3S report. Many fires raged across Canada over the past few days due to the deadly heatwave and dry conditions. Also read | Wildfire ravages Canada amid record heat Carlo Buontempo, the director of C3S, says that what's happening in Canada is a big leap in comparison to the previous records. In his opinion, the recent heatwaves are a powerful reminder of the possible impacts climate change could have on our lives. As part of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the rise in global temperatures is to be limited to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, and 1.5 degrees, if possible. However, global temperatures have already witnessed an increase of some 1.1 degrees Celsius so far due to human activity, increasing fierce storms, extreme heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires. There stands a 40 per cent chance that global temperatures are on course to surpass 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels within five years, according to the World Meteorological Organization and Britain's Met Office.

Heatwave: North America witnesses hottest June on record

A huge forest blaze in Cyprus has killed four people, destroyed homes and forced evacuations of villages as Greece, Israel and other countries deployed fire-fighting aircraft to the Mediterranean island.

The fire began Saturday afternoon and has swept through districts in the southern foothills of the Troodos mountains as the country grapples with a blistering heatwave.

"It is a tragedy," President Nicos Anastasiades said on Twitter, describing it as "the largest fire since 1974" when the island was divided after Turkey occupied its northern third.&nbsp;

The blaze had caused "loss of life" and destroyed property and forest lands, Anastasiades said, adding that&nbsp;"the government will provide immediate assistance to the victims and the families of the victims.

"We will not leave anyone abandoned in the destruction of the fire."

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said that four charred bodies were found outside the village of Odos in the Larnaca district. &nbsp;

"Forensic examiners are going to the scene for identification," he told reporters on Sunday.&nbsp;

"All the indications support the fact that these are the four missing persons we have been searching for since yesterday," he said, adding that all four of the dead are thought to be of Egyptian nationality.

The daily Phileleftheros newspaper said the four bodies were found about 400 metres (yards) from their burnt-out vehicle.

Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, said on Saturday its "aerial firefighting capacity" had been mobilised, with Italy and Greece sending planes to help.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said "two firefighting planes" would be sent. They were expected to arrive on Sunday.

Local media reported that a 67-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion he started the blaze.

A huge forest blaze in Cyprus has killed four people, destroyed homes and forced evacuations of villages as Greece, Israel and other countries deployed fire-fighting aircraft to the Mediterranean island.

A huge forest blaze in Cyprus has killed four people, destroyed homes and forced evacuations of villages as Greece, Israel and other countries deployed fire-fighting aircraft to the Mediterranean island. The fire began Saturday afternoon and has swept through districts in the southern foothills of the Troodos mountains as the country grapples with a blistering heatwave. "It is a tragedy," President Nicos Anastasiades said on Twitter, describing it as "the largest fire since 1974" when the island was divided after Turkey occupied its northern third. The blaze had caused "loss of life" and destroyed property and forest lands, Anastasiades said, adding that "the government will provide immediate assistance to the victims and the families of the victims. "We will not leave anyone abandoned in the destruction of the fire." Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said that four charred bodies were found outside the village of Odos in the Larnaca district. "Forensic examiners are going to the scene for identification," he told reporters on Sunday. "All the indications support the fact that these are the four missing persons we have been searching for since yesterday," he said, adding that all four of the dead are thought to be of Egyptian nationality. The daily Phileleftheros newspaper said the four bodies were found about 400 metres (yards) from their burnt-out vehicle. Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, said on Saturday its "aerial firefighting capacity" had been mobilised, with Italy and Greece sending planes to help. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said "two firefighting planes" would be sent. They were expected to arrive on Sunday. Local media reported that a 67-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion he started the blaze.

Four dead in Cyprus' worst forest fire in decades

The Canadian military was on standby Saturday to help evacuate towns and fight more than 170 wildfires fueled by a record-smashing heat wave and tinder-dry conditions as the government in Ottawa warned of a "long and challenging summer" ahead.

At least 174 fires were active in the western province of British Columbia, 78 of them sparked in the last two days, officials said. Most were caused by intense lightning storms.

The fires were north of the city of Kamloops, 350 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Vancouver.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/western-canada-lightning-strikes-up-tenfold-stoking-fires-395534" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/western-canada-lightning-strikes-up-tenfold-stoking-fires-395534&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjitfLPw8jxAhU3zDgGHcr4CFQQFjABegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0q0O5IU7DLus4FCrvRUpPn" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/western-canada-lightning-strikes-up-tenfold-stoking-fires-395534" target="_blank">Western&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;lightning strikes up tenfold, stoking fire</a>

"We saw 12,000 lightning strikes, roughly, yesterday," said Cliff Chapman, the director of provincial operations for British Columbia Wildfire Service, according to public broadcaster the CBC.

"Many of those lightning strikes were hitting near communities, (as) was seen in the Kamloops area."

While the immediate blame for the scorching heat has been placed on a high-pressure "heat dome" trapping warm air in the region, climate change is making record-setting temperatures more frequent.

Globally, the decade to 2019 was the hottest recorded, and the five hottest years on record have all occurred since 2012, according to climate.gov.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/fires-grip-california-tourist-spots-ahead-of-holiday-weekend-395517" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/fires-grip-california-tourist-spots-ahead-of-holiday-weekend-395517&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjitfLPw8jxAhU3zDgGHcr4CFQQFjADegQIAhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0U6K53BJxDxuhK2fhu9ojv" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fires-grip-california-tourist-spots-ahead-of-holiday-weekend-395517" target="_blank">Fires grip California tourist spots ahead of holiday weekend</a>

"The dry conditions and the extreme heat in British Columbia are unprecedented," Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Friday. "These wildfires show that we are in the earliest stages of what promises to be a long and challenging summer."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Friday with an incident response group that included several ministers, after earlier speaking with local, provincial and indigenous leaders.&nbsp;

"We will be there to help," he told reporters.

The response group said it would establish an operations center in Edmonton, with up to 350 military personnel providing logistical support to the region, according to Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan. Military aircraft are also being deployed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/military-put-on-standby-to-evacuate-canadas-fire-threatened-towns-395553" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/military-put-on-standby-to-evacuate-canadas-fire-threatened-towns-395553&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjitfLPw8jxAhU3zDgGHcr4CFQQFjAEegQICRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2tBqMfJCYWQhxMuvkSYNGa" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/military-put-on-standby-to-evacuate-canadas-fire-threatened-towns-395553" target="_blank">Military put on standby to evacuate&nbsp;Canada's&nbsp;fire-threatened towns</a>

Roughly 1,000 people have fled the wildfires in British Columbia, with many others still missing.

The British Columbia medical examiner's office said there had been 719 deaths in the past week, "three times more" than the average number recorded over the period.

Lisa Lapointe, the province's chief coroner, said the extreme weather was likely "a significant contributing factor."

The village of Lytton, 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Vancouver, was evacuated Wednesday after a fire flared up and spread quickly. Nearly 90 percent of the village was torched, according to Brad Vis, an MP for the area.

"We really just had to get out there and we had no choice," resident Gordon Murray told CBC.

"We grabbed the pets that we could find. We had to leave one behind. We grabbed our wallets and got in the car. We didn't have time for anything else."

On Tuesday, the village set a Canadian record of 49.6 degrees Celsius (121 degrees Fahrenheit).

Wide area affected

The heat wave continued to spread across central Canada on Saturday, also affecting the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as parts of the Northwest Territories and northern Ontario.

"A dangerous long-duration heat wave will continue," bringing "very warm temperatures over the next couple of days," Environment Canada warned in bulletins for British Columbia.

Lytton resident Jeff Chapman told the CBC he saw his parents die in the fire that engulfed the town.

With only minutes to react, the elderly couple sought shelter in a trench in their backyard, as Chapman ran for safety at nearby rail tracks. From that vantage, he said, he saw the fires sweep across and destroy most of the town.

British Columbia also warned of flooding from melting mountain snowcaps and glaciers.

Further south, the US states of Washington and Oregon have also suffered record temperatures.

The death toll in Oregon from heat-related causes has hit 94, the state's medical examiner said late Friday.

Three wildfires in drought-hit northern California have scorched nearly 40,000 acres (16,200 hectares), including a popular tourist lake preparing to welcome visitors for the July 4 holiday weekend. Evacuation orders were in place along stretches of Shasta Lake.

Around 40 structures were destroyed.

The Canadian military was on standby Saturday to help evacuate towns and fight more than 170 wildfires fueled by a record-smashing heat wave and tinder-dry conditions as the government in Ottawa warned of a "long and challenging summer" ahead.

The Canadian military was on standby Saturday to help evacuate towns and fight more than 170 wildfires fueled by a record-smashing heat wave and tinder-dry conditions as the government in Ottawa warned of a "long and challenging summer" ahead. At least 174 fires were active in the western province of British Columbia, 78 of them sparked in the last two days, officials said. Most were caused by intense lightning storms. The fires were north of the city of Kamloops, 350 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Vancouver. Also read | Western Canada lightning strikes up tenfold, stoking fire "We saw 12,000 lightning strikes, roughly, yesterday," said Cliff Chapman, the director of provincial operations for British Columbia Wildfire Service, according to public broadcaster the CBC. "Many of those lightning strikes were hitting near communities, (as) was seen in the Kamloops area." While the immediate blame for the scorching heat has been placed on a high-pressure "heat dome" trapping warm air in the region, climate change is making record-setting temperatures more frequent. Globally, the decade to 2019 was the hottest recorded, and the five hottest years on record have all occurred since 2012, according to climate.gov. Also read | Fires grip California tourist spots ahead of holiday weekend "The dry conditions and the extreme heat in British Columbia are unprecedented," Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Friday. "These wildfires show that we are in the earliest stages of what promises to be a long and challenging summer." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Friday with an incident response group that included several ministers, after earlier speaking with local, provincial and indigenous leaders. "We will be there to help," he told reporters. The response group said it would establish an operations center in Edmonton, with up to 350 military personnel providing logistical support to the region, according to Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan. Military aircraft are also being deployed. Also read | Military put on standby to evacuate Canada's fire-threatened towns Roughly 1,000 people have fled the wildfires in British Columbia, with many others still missing. The British Columbia medical examiner's office said there had been 719 deaths in the past week, "three times more" than the average number recorded over the period. Lisa Lapointe, the province's chief coroner, said the extreme weather was likely "a significant contributing factor." The village of Lytton, 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Vancouver, was evacuated Wednesday after a fire flared up and spread quickly. Nearly 90 percent of the village was torched, according to Brad Vis, an MP for the area. "We really just had to get out there and we had no choice," resident Gordon Murray told CBC. "We grabbed the pets that we could find. We had to leave one behind. We grabbed our wallets and got in the car. We didn't have time for anything else." On Tuesday, the village set a Canadian record of 49.6 degrees Celsius (121 degrees Fahrenheit). Wide area affected The heat wave continued to spread across central Canada on Saturday, also affecting the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as parts of the Northwest Territories and northern Ontario. "A dangerous long-duration heat wave will continue," bringing "very warm temperatures over the next couple of days," Environment Canada warned in bulletins for British Columbia. Lytton resident Jeff Chapman told the CBC he saw his parents die in the fire that engulfed the town. With only minutes to react, the elderly couple sought shelter in a trench in their backyard, as Chapman ran for safety at nearby rail tracks. From that vantage, he said, he saw the fires sweep across and destroy most of the town. British Columbia also warned of flooding from melting mountain snowcaps and glaciers. Further south, the US states of Washington and Oregon have also suffered record temperatures. The death toll in Oregon from heat-related causes has hit 94, the state's medical examiner said late Friday. Three wildfires in drought-hit northern California have scorched nearly 40,000 acres (16,200 hectares), including a popular tourist lake preparing to welcome visitors for the July 4 holiday weekend. Evacuation orders were in place along stretches of Shasta Lake. Around 40 structures were destroyed.

Canadian military on alert as wildfires rage

As an unprecedented heatwave ripped across the United States and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadians-pack-into-cooling-centres-as-heatwave-death-toll-doubles-395110">Canada</a>, the UN on Thursday recognised a new record high temperature for Antarctica at 18.3 degrees Celsius (64.9 degrees Fahrenheit) which occurred last year.

"Verification of this maximum temperature record is important because it helps us to build up a picture of the weather and climate in one of Earth's final frontiers," Petteri Taala, UN's World Meteorological Organization secretary-general said.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/heatwave-leads-to-over-300-sudden-deaths-in-canada-395028/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The previous highest temperature recorded in Antarctica was in 2015 at 17.5C (63.5F) at Esperanza.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-catastrophic-heatwave-delivers-high-temperatures-in-various-areas-395068">In Pics:&nbsp;Catastrophic heatwave delivers high temperatures in various areas</a>

"The Antarctic Peninsula is among the fastest-warming regions of the planet -- almost 3C over the last 50 years," Taala said&nbsp;while adding, "the new temperature record is therefore consistent with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-change-caused-1500-deaths-in-uk-during-heatwaves-study-claims-367420">climate change</a> we are observing."

UN's revelation comes as an unprecedented heatwave swept western Canada as British Columbia set a Canadian record high temperature on Tuesday of 49.6 degrees Celsius.

Several areas were evacuated in Lytton as wildfires spread rapidly. The heatwave has since continued to move eastward into the central <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-heat-wave-british-columbia-sees-195-increase-in-sudden-deaths-with-486-cases-reported-395117">Canadian</a> prairies.&nbsp;

Eugene in the western United States recorded 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius). Portland in the United States also fell to the baking Sun as Amazon opened part of its Seattle headquarters to the public as a cooling-off location.

Canada issued heatwave alerts in British Columbia, Alberta, and parts of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and the Northwest Territories warning hot condictions&nbsp;will persist through this week.

World Meteorological Organization said an "exceptional and dangerous heatwave" is breaking in the northwestern United States&nbsp;and western Canada.

The US desert southwest and California had also experienced&nbsp;heatwaves. The UN informed that other parts of the northern hemisphere have also been hit with exceptional early hot summer conditions, including north Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, eastern Europe, Iran and the northwestern Indian continent.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As an unprecedented heatwave ripped across the United States and Canada, the UN on Thursday recognised a new record high temperature for Antarctica at 18.3 degrees Celsius (64.

As an unprecedented heatwave ripped across the United States and Canada, the UN on Thursday recognised a new record high temperature for Antarctica at 18.3 degrees Celsius (64.9 degrees Fahrenheit) which occurred last year. "Verification of this maximum temperature record is important because it helps us to build up a picture of the weather and climate in one of Earth's final frontiers," Petteri Taala, UN's World Meteorological Organization secretary-general said. Watch: The previous highest temperature recorded in Antarctica was in 2015 at 17.5C (63.5F) at Esperanza. In Pics: Catastrophic heatwave delivers high temperatures in various areas "The Antarctic Peninsula is among the fastest-warming regions of the planet -- almost 3C over the last 50 years," Taala said while adding, "the new temperature record is therefore consistent with the climate change we are observing." UN's revelation comes as an unprecedented heatwave swept western Canada as British Columbia set a Canadian record high temperature on Tuesday of 49.6 degrees Celsius. Several areas were evacuated in Lytton as wildfires spread rapidly. The heatwave has since continued to move eastward into the central Canadian prairies. Eugene in the western United States recorded 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius). Portland in the United States also fell to the baking Sun as Amazon opened part of its Seattle headquarters to the public as a cooling-off location. Canada issued heatwave alerts in British Columbia, Alberta, and parts of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and the Northwest Territories warning hot condictions will persist through this week. World Meteorological Organization said an "exceptional and dangerous heatwave" is breaking in the northwestern United States and western Canada. The US desert southwest and California had also experienced heatwaves. The UN informed that other parts of the northern hemisphere have also been hit with exceptional early hot summer conditions, including north Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, eastern Europe, Iran and the northwestern Indian continent. (With inputs from Agencies)

As US & Canada experience heatwave, UN confirms record heat in Antarctica

A new study finds that in the future unless global emissions are reduced, up to 410 million people will be at risk from sea level rises.

Published in the journal, Nature Communications, the paper finds that currently, 267 million people worldwide live on land less than 2 metres above sea level, this number is expected to rise to 410 million by the year 2100.

Researchers predict this by using Lidar, a remote sensing method, that pulsates laser light across coastal areas to measure elevation on the Earth’s surface.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/melting-of-antarctic-ice-sheet-could-raise-sea-levels-by-20-new-study-finds-382373">Melting of Antarctic ice sheet could raise sea levels by 20%, new study finds</a>

Currently, the tropics are most at risk land at 62 per cent, with Indonesia facing the highest threat of land at risk worldwide. According to their predictions, in the future threat to the tropics will increase by 10 per cent, making the population here 72 per cent at risk worldwide, while 59 per cent of the Tropical Asian population will also be at risk.

The lead author of the study Dr Aljosja Hooijer said that while the research was inherently uncertain, for long-term flood prevention higher focus must be given to tropical regions.

A specialist water resources expert for Deltares, Hooijer&nbsp;says that while there are many scientists around the world, looking at long-term scenarios, the urgency is for now. Every day in different parts of the world sea-level rise is happening, mostly in the tropics. “And not just in south-east Asia, it’s also for instance in the Niger delta and Lagos.”

Stressing that this study was not a sea-level rise research project, Dr Hooijer says that the new elevation data model relied on accurate data, which due to its high costs is often not available in all parts of the world adding that the Lidar test of even a small country like the Netherlands can cost up to tens of millions of euros. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/past-ice-melts-may-be-responsible-for-sea-levels-to-rise-10-times-faster-than-today-study-374807">Past ice melts may be responsible for sea levels to rise 10 times faster than today: Study</a>

A frequent and continuous rise in sea levels, caused by the climate emergency has led to a higher number of frequent and severe storms to occur, which in turn lead to an increase in flood risks in coastal environments.

&nbsp;A survey published last year by Climate and Atmospheric Science aggregated the views of around 106 specialists, also suggested that rising sea levels can reach as high as five metres by 2300, and coastal cities should prepare for such an occurrence.

&nbsp;

A new study finds that in the future unless global emissions are reduced, up to 410 million people will be at risk from sea level rises. Published in the journal, Nature Communications, the paper finds that currently, 267 million people worldwide live on land less than 2 metres above sea level, this number is expected to rise to 410 million by the year 2100.

A new study finds that in the future unless global emissions are reduced, up to 410 million people will be at risk from sea level rises. Published in the journal, Nature Communications, the paper finds that currently, 267 million people worldwide live on land less than 2 metres above sea level, this number is expected to rise to 410 million by the year 2100. Researchers predict this by using Lidar, a remote sensing method, that pulsates laser light across coastal areas to measure elevation on the Earth’s surface. Also read | Melting of Antarctic ice sheet could raise sea levels by 20%, new study finds Currently, the tropics are most at risk land at 62 per cent, with Indonesia facing the highest threat of land at risk worldwide. According to their predictions, in the future threat to the tropics will increase by 10 per cent, making the population here 72 per cent at risk worldwide, while 59 per cent of the Tropical Asian population will also be at risk. The lead author of the study Dr Aljosja Hooijer said that while the research was inherently uncertain, for long-term flood prevention higher focus must be given to tropical regions. A specialist water resources expert for Deltares, Hooijer says that while there are many scientists around the world, looking at long-term scenarios, the urgency is for now. Every day in different parts of the world sea-level rise is happening, mostly in the tropics. “And not just in south-east Asia, it’s also for instance in the Niger delta and Lagos.” Stressing that this study was not a sea-level rise research project, Dr Hooijer says that the new elevation data model relied on accurate data, which due to its high costs is often not available in all parts of the world adding that the Lidar test of even a small country like the Netherlands can cost up to tens of millions of euros. Also read | Past ice melts may be responsible for sea levels to rise 10 times faster than today: Study A frequent and continuous rise in sea levels, caused by the climate emergency has led to a higher number of frequent and severe storms to occur, which in turn lead to an increase in flood risks in coastal environments. A survey published last year by Climate and Atmospheric Science aggregated the views of around 106 specialists, also suggested that rising sea levels can reach as high as five metres by 2300, and coastal cities should prepare for such an occurrence.

Rising sea level can endanger 410 million by 2100: Study

Britain's&nbsp;Prince&nbsp;Charles said Wednesday that&nbsp;India, whose solar power efforts are an example to the world, has a vital role to play in the global search for nature-based and technology-driven solutions which are critical to accelerating the move towards a zero-carbon future.

In an address to the&nbsp;India Global Forum session on Climate Action, the&nbsp;72-year-old heir to the British throne and environmental campaigner,&nbsp;called upon Indian entrepreneurs and CEOs to join the Sustainable Markets India Council, launched to seek out sustainable investments to influence an acceleration towards climate action goals.

''With India's global reach and robust private sector, I believe there are some key ways we can work together to accelerate our efforts and build a more sustainable future. Firstly, we need to focus on accelerating the flow of private capital to support the transition,'' said&nbsp;Prince Charles.

The royal laid out the vision behind his Sustainable Markets Initiative, which he launched in January 2020, to get CEOs from almost every sector together with the express aim of identifying obstacles to progress and finding game-changing ways to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon future.

The efforts have identified large financing gaps&nbsp;around sustainable initiatives, in the areas of green energy, water, sanitation, transport, and other critical infrastructure.

''In January this year, I launched the Terra Carta as the mandate of my Sustainable Markets Initiative and the basis of a recovery plan for nature, people, and the planet. At this historic tipping point, the Terra Carta offers a roadmap for acceleration towards a genuinely sustainable future, one that harnesses the power of nature combined with the transformative innovation and resources of the private sector,''&nbsp;he said.

Prince Charles focussed specifically on the need for a clear set of "global farm metrics" to create sustainable supply chains.

''With agriculture being so critical to the Indian economy, there is a real opportunity to explore how such metrics could support the lives and livelihoods of farmers in India as well as wider supply chains and markets,''&nbsp;he said.

''With India being a global centre of technology and innovation, combined with a deep connection to nature and harmony, you have an absolutely vital role to play in this effort. Particularly, in view of India's wealth of entrepreneurial talent,''&nbsp;he said, adding that India would play an ''essential part''&nbsp;as these efforts are further developed at the COP26 UN climate summit, to be hosted by the UK in Glasgow in November.

Previously,&nbsp;in an address to the Group of Seven nations, Charles had urged the leaders to tackle climate change like they did the pandemic.

"Climate change and biodiversity loss represent a borderless crisis, the solutions to which have been argued about and postponed for far too long,"&nbsp;Charles&nbsp;said.

Advocacy groups believe that&nbsp;the G7 and other rich nations have&nbsp;to deliver on a promise of $100 billion a year in financing to help poor countries overhaul their economies and adapt to the impacts of climate change, or risk failure at November's climate summit.

(With inputs from agencies)

Britain's Prince Charles said Wednesday that India, whose solar power efforts are an example to the world, has a vital role to play in the global search for nature-based and technology-driven solutions which are critical to accelerating the move towards a zero-carbon future.

Britain's Prince Charles said Wednesday that India, whose solar power efforts are an example to the world, has a vital role to play in the global search for nature-based and technology-driven solutions which are critical to accelerating the move towards a zero-carbon future. In an address to the India Global Forum session on Climate Action, the 72-year-old heir to the British throne and environmental campaigner, called upon Indian entrepreneurs and CEOs to join the Sustainable Markets India Council, launched to seek out sustainable investments to influence an acceleration towards climate action goals. ''With India's global reach and robust private sector, I believe there are some key ways we can work together to accelerate our efforts and build a more sustainable future. Firstly, we need to focus on accelerating the flow of private capital to support the transition,'' said Prince Charles. The royal laid out the vision behind his Sustainable Markets Initiative, which he launched in January 2020, to get CEOs from almost every sector together with the express aim of identifying obstacles to progress and finding game-changing ways to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon future. The efforts have identified large financing gaps around sustainable initiatives, in the areas of green energy, water, sanitation, transport, and other critical infrastructure. ''In January this year, I launched the Terra Carta as the mandate of my Sustainable Markets Initiative and the basis of a recovery plan for nature, people, and the planet. At this historic tipping point, the Terra Carta offers a roadmap for acceleration towards a genuinely sustainable future, one that harnesses the power of nature combined with the transformative innovation and resources of the private sector,'' he said. Prince Charles focussed specifically on the need for a clear set of "global farm metrics" to create sustainable supply chains. ''With agriculture being so critical to the Indian economy, there is a real opportunity to explore how such metrics could support the lives and livelihoods of farmers in India as well as wider supply chains and markets,'' he said. ''With India being a global centre of technology and innovation, combined with a deep connection to nature and harmony, you have an absolutely vital role to play in this effort. Particularly, in view of India's wealth of entrepreneurial talent,'' he said, adding that India would play an ''essential part'' as these efforts are further developed at the COP26 UN climate summit, to be hosted by the UK in Glasgow in November. Previously, in an address to the Group of Seven nations, Charles had urged the leaders to tackle climate change like they did the pandemic. "Climate change and biodiversity loss represent a borderless crisis, the solutions to which have been argued about and postponed for far too long," Charles said. Advocacy groups believe that the G7 and other rich nations have to deliver on a promise of $100 billion a year in financing to help poor countries overhaul their economies and adapt to the impacts of climate change, or risk failure at November's climate summit. (With inputs from agencies)

'Leading by example': Prince Charles praises India's solar power efforts

According to newly released satellite photos, the ground temperature in at least one site in Siberia reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius) on the shortest day of the year.

It's another hot Siberian summer, and it won't be the last. That’s bad news for permafrost.

The European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel satellites measured the 118-degree-Fahrenheit temperature on the ground in Verkhojansk, Yakutia, Eastern Siberia.

Other high temperatures in the region included 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in Govorovo and 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) in Saskylah, which set a new record for the city.&nbsp;

The European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel satellites measured the 118-degree-Fahrenheit temperature on the ground in Verkhojansk, Yakutia, Eastern Siberia.

Other high temperatures in the region included 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in Govorovo and 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) in Saskylah, which set a new record for the city.&nbsp;

Heat waves are expected to grow more often and strong as global temperatures rise as a result of climate change, and their effects will be more widespread.

Rising mercury levels have aided in the destructive floods and forest fires that have become more common in Siberia.

They are also causing permafrost to melt, which covers around two-thirds of Russia's vast land.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

According to newly released satellite photos, the ground temperature in at least one site in Siberia reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius) on the shortest day of the year.

According to newly released satellite photos, the ground temperature in at least one site in Siberia reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius) on the shortest day of the year. It's another hot Siberian summer, and it won't be the last. That’s bad news for permafrost. The European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel satellites measured the 118-degree-Fahrenheit temperature on the ground in Verkhojansk, Yakutia, Eastern Siberia. Other high temperatures in the region included 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in Govorovo and 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) in Saskylah, which set a new record for the city. The European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel satellites measured the 118-degree-Fahrenheit temperature on the ground in Verkhojansk, Yakutia, Eastern Siberia. Other high temperatures in the region included 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in Govorovo and 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) in Saskylah, which set a new record for the city. Heat waves are expected to grow more often and strong as global temperatures rise as a result of climate change, and their effects will be more widespread. Rising mercury levels have aided in the destructive floods and forest fires that have become more common in Siberia. They are also causing permafrost to melt, which covers around two-thirds of Russia's vast land. (With inputs from agencies)

Ground temperatures hit 118 degrees in the Arctic circle

The potent greenhouse&nbsp;gas&nbsp;methane&nbsp;is spewing out of natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;European Union because of leaks and venting, video footage made available to Reuters shows.

Using a 100,000 euro ($119,000) infrared camera, non-profit Clean Air Task Force (CATF) found&nbsp;methane&nbsp;seeping into the atmosphere at 123 oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;sites in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Romania this year.

Methane, the biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide (CO2), is the main component of natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;and over 80 times more potent than CO2 in its first 20 years in the air.

Currently, the EU does not regulate&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions in the energy sector, meaning companies running the sites surveyed by CATF are not breaking laws because of leaks or venting.

While some member states require firms to report some emissions there is no overarching framework forcing them to monitor smaller leaks, or fix them.

That's set to change.

The EU is proposing laws this year that will force oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;companies to monitor and report&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions, as well as improve the detection and repair of leaks.

In the energy sector,&nbsp;methane&nbsp;is emitted intentionally through venting and by accident from sites such as&nbsp;gas&nbsp;storage tanks, liquefied natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;(LNG) terminals, pipeline compressor stations and oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;processing sites.

CATF visited over 200 sites in seven EU countries and filmed emissions with the infrared camera in public vantage points to detect hydrocarbons invisible to the naked eye, such as&nbsp;methane.

"Once you see it, you can't unsee it," said CATF's James Turitto, who filmed the emissions. "If we have any hope of achieving only a 1.5 Celsius rise in average global temperatures, we must stop these leaks."

Altogether, CATF counted 271 incidents, with some sites leaching&nbsp;methane&nbsp;from several places.

Turitto said over 90% of the sites he visited in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Romania were emitting&nbsp;methane&nbsp;while his hit rate in Germany and Austria was lower.

LEAKS AND HOLES

A selection of the CATF thermography, which shows hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, was reviewed by five technical experts contacted by Reuters.

Given emissions were at installations handling natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;- and&nbsp;methane&nbsp;is its main component - they concluded the emissions recorded by CATF were almost certainly&nbsp;methane.

At one&nbsp;gas&nbsp;plant owned by Italy's Eni near the town of Pineto on the country's Adriatic coast,&nbsp;methane&nbsp;appears to be&nbsp;leaking&nbsp;from a rusty hole in the side of a tank.

The footage captures a snapshot of each site's emissions on a given day so it cannot quantify the amount of&nbsp;methane&nbsp;being emitted over longer periods.

What it does reveal is emissions that could be avoided if&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;owners used commercially available measurement and abatement technology, emissions experts said.

"If there are cracks in the storage tanks, it is a relatively easy fix to patch the tanks," said Jonathan Dorn, an air quality expert at Abt Associates.

Turitto said he called an emergency number for reporting leaks at the Eni site but the line was dead.

Eni said the leak at Pineto was from a water tank which would have had negligible amounts of&nbsp;gas&nbsp;and that it had been detected and fixed during regular maintenance.

"We are strengthening our efforts in the implementation of periodic leak detection and repair monitoring campaigns," Eni said, adding that it was supportive of EU regulations to address&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions.

COMPANIES ON NOTICE

Brussels put energy companies on notice in October that it would target them with new rules on&nbsp;gas&nbsp;leaks and was also considering restrictions on venting or flaring of&nbsp;methane.

"The Commission calls on companies in the oil,&nbsp;gas&nbsp;and coal sectors to set up more robust leak detection and repair programmes to prepare for upcoming proposals for legislation that would make such programmes mandatory," it said.

An EU official told Reuters this month that because the EU has few&nbsp;methane&nbsp;"super emitters", the legislation would focus on tackling the smaller but far more frequent emissions that occur throughout energy sector&nbsp;infrastructure.

"The first thing is to really try to address these more diffused emissions of&nbsp;methane, covering the whole energy sector," the official, who declined to be named, said.

Experts say the new rules will shake things up for every oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;firm in&nbsp;Europe, not least because the EU is considering forcing companies to find and fix even the smallest leaks.

"Each company has a lot to do," said Andris Piebalgs, professor at the Florence School of Regulation and a former EU energy commissioner.

It is unlikely the new rules would take effect before 2023 but Brussels wants to get them in place early enough to contribute to its goal of cutting net emissions of all greenhouse&nbsp;gases by 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels.

INTENTIONAL EMISSIONS

The EU is not alone. US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's administration plans to propose new rules this year to reduce&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions.

The New York Times used an infrared camera to identify large&nbsp;methane&nbsp;leaks at U.S. oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;sites in 2019 while satellite footage made available to Reuters revealed massive&nbsp;methane&nbsp;leaks from Russian&nbsp;gas&nbsp;pipelines. https://nyti.ms/3iCpJyn

CATF's footage shows Italian energy company SNAM was venting hydrocarbons consistently over three dates during a two-week period from two stacks at its Panigaglia LNG terminal near La Spezia on the Mediterranean coast.

Tim Doty, a consultant in thermographic imaging in the energy sector and a former official at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said the footage showed the stacks were "openly venting hydrocarbon emissions".

At a SNAM underground storage facility at Minerbio near Bologna, the infrared footage showed a plume of&nbsp;methane&nbsp;flowing out of a vent stack.

SNAM said it was a member of the Oil and&nbsp;Gas&nbsp;Methane&nbsp;Partnership (OGMP), a voluntary group of energy companies that is committed to improving&nbsp;methane&nbsp;measurement and abatement. Eni is also a member.

"Emissions recorded by CATF at the Minerbio and Bordolano storage sites are fugitive emissions resulting from blowdown valves that are internally&nbsp;leaking&nbsp;... the full replacement, starting in 2021, will be completed in 2024," SNAM said.

"The (Panigaglia) emission recorded by CATF at the vent stacks was due to the temporary mechanical failure of an air compressor," it said. "We are confident to be able to fix the air compressor during the second half of 2021."

HUNTING THE SOURCE

An expert with nearly two decades of experience at major oil companies who advises U.S. firms and authorities on&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions said the CATF footage showed the EU had a problem.

"There is this urban legend that the U.S. natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;system is disproportionately leaky compared to the rest of the world," said the expert, who declined to be named. "When I look at these videos, they don't seem very different than the United States."

Globally, the concentration of&nbsp;methane&nbsp;in the atmosphere is rising. The U.N. said in April that without deep cuts in&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions this decade, the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting&nbsp;warming&nbsp;to 1.5 Celsius would slip out of reach.

Once&nbsp;methane&nbsp;is in the atmosphere, it is all but impossible to trace it back to a specific source which means better monitoring at the point of emission is key.

A growing web of satellites searching for&nbsp;methane&nbsp;means major leaks of thousands of tonnes a year are easier to identify but many smaller leaks go unnoticed.

In Hungary, the footage showed a MOL site which separates&nbsp;gas&nbsp;from oil venting emissions.

The Hungarian energy company said it was aware of the emissions and they were an unavoidable part of normal and safe operations to avoid pressure building up in storage tanks.

MOL said there were no existing regulations requiring it to measure or report emissions but it aimed to end routine&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions from&nbsp;gas&nbsp;activities by 2030.

In Austria, at an OMV oil facility near onshore wells north of Vienna, the camera showed a number of smaller leaks.

OMV said it fully supported new EU&nbsp;methane&nbsp;rules. It said the minor leaks at the site had been fixed and it was planning to replace pressure regulation systems that release&nbsp;methane&nbsp;with equipment that stops such emissions.

"The presence of these emissions indicates that this site has ongoing maintenance issues," said Doty, pointing to four different sources. "These emissions are very troubling."

The potent greenhouse gas methane is spewing out of natural gas infrastructure across the European Union because of leaks and venting, video footage made available to Reuters shows.

The potent greenhouse gas methane is spewing out of natural gas infrastructure across the European Union because of leaks and venting, video footage made available to Reuters shows. Using a 100,000 euro ($119,000) infrared camera, non-profit Clean Air Task Force (CATF) found methane seeping into the atmosphere at 123 oil and gas sites in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Romania this year. Methane, the biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide (CO2), is the main component of natural gas and over 80 times more potent than CO2 in its first 20 years in the air. Currently, the EU does not regulate methane emissions in the energy sector, meaning companies running the sites surveyed by CATF are not breaking laws because of leaks or venting. While some member states require firms to report some emissions there is no overarching framework forcing them to monitor smaller leaks, or fix them. That's set to change. The EU is proposing laws this year that will force oil and gas companies to monitor and report methane emissions, as well as improve the detection and repair of leaks. In the energy sector, methane is emitted intentionally through venting and by accident from sites such as gas storage tanks, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, pipeline compressor stations and oil and gas processing sites. CATF visited over 200 sites in seven EU countries and filmed emissions with the infrared camera in public vantage points to detect hydrocarbons invisible to the naked eye, such as methane. "Once you see it, you can't unsee it," said CATF's James Turitto, who filmed the emissions. "If we have any hope of achieving only a 1.5 Celsius rise in average global temperatures, we must stop these leaks." Altogether, CATF counted 271 incidents, with some sites leaching methane from several places. Turitto said over 90% of the sites he visited in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Romania were emitting methane while his hit rate in Germany and Austria was lower. LEAKS AND HOLES A selection of the CATF thermography, which shows hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, was reviewed by five technical experts contacted by Reuters. Given emissions were at installations handling natural gas - and methane is its main component - they concluded the emissions recorded by CATF were almost certainly methane. At one gas plant owned by Italy's Eni near the town of Pineto on the country's Adriatic coast, methane appears to be leaking from a rusty hole in the side of a tank. The footage captures a snapshot of each site's emissions on a given day so it cannot quantify the amount of methane being emitted over longer periods. What it does reveal is emissions that could be avoided if infrastructure owners used commercially available measurement and abatement technology, emissions experts said. "If there are cracks in the storage tanks, it is a relatively easy fix to patch the tanks," said Jonathan Dorn, an air quality expert at Abt Associates. Turitto said he called an emergency number for reporting leaks at the Eni site but the line was dead. Eni said the leak at Pineto was from a water tank which would have had negligible amounts of gas and that it had been detected and fixed during regular maintenance. "We are strengthening our efforts in the implementation of periodic leak detection and repair monitoring campaigns," Eni said, adding that it was supportive of EU regulations to address methane emissions. COMPANIES ON NOTICE Brussels put energy companies on notice in October that it would target them with new rules on gas leaks and was also considering restrictions on venting or flaring of methane. "The Commission calls on companies in the oil, gas and coal sectors to set up more robust leak detection and repair programmes to prepare for upcoming proposals for legislation that would make such programmes mandatory," it said. An EU official told Reuters this month that because the EU has few methane "super emitters", the legislation would focus on tackling the smaller but far more frequent emissions that occur throughout energy sector infrastructure. "The first thing is to really try to address these more diffused emissions of methane, covering the whole energy sector," the official, who declined to be named, said. Experts say the new rules will shake things up for every oil and gas firm in Europe, not least because the EU is considering forcing companies to find and fix even the smallest leaks. "Each company has a lot to do," said Andris Piebalgs, professor at the Florence School of Regulation and a former EU energy commissioner. It is unlikely the new rules would take effect before 2023 but Brussels wants to get them in place early enough to contribute to its goal of cutting net emissions of all greenhouse gases by 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels. INTENTIONAL EMISSIONS The EU is not alone. US President Joe Biden's administration plans to propose new rules this year to reduce methane emissions. The New York Times used an infrared camera to identify large methane leaks at U.S. oil and gas sites in 2019 while satellite footage made available to Reuters revealed massive methane leaks from Russian gas pipelines. https://nyti.ms/3iCpJyn CATF's footage shows Italian energy company SNAM was venting hydrocarbons consistently over three dates during a two-week period from two stacks at its Panigaglia LNG terminal near La Spezia on the Mediterranean coast. Tim Doty, a consultant in thermographic imaging in the energy sector and a former official at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said the footage showed the stacks were "openly venting hydrocarbon emissions". At a SNAM underground storage facility at Minerbio near Bologna, the infrared footage showed a plume of methane flowing out of a vent stack. SNAM said it was a member of the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP), a voluntary group of energy companies that is committed to improving methane measurement and abatement. Eni is also a member. "Emissions recorded by CATF at the Minerbio and Bordolano storage sites are fugitive emissions resulting from blowdown valves that are internally leaking ... the full replacement, starting in 2021, will be completed in 2024," SNAM said. "The (Panigaglia) emission recorded by CATF at the vent stacks was due to the temporary mechanical failure of an air compressor," it said. "We are confident to be able to fix the air compressor during the second half of 2021." HUNTING THE SOURCE An expert with nearly two decades of experience at major oil companies who advises U.S. firms and authorities on methane emissions said the CATF footage showed the EU had a problem. "There is this urban legend that the U.S. natural gas system is disproportionately leaky compared to the rest of the world," said the expert, who declined to be named. "When I look at these videos, they don't seem very different than the United States." Globally, the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is rising. The U.N. said in April that without deep cuts in methane emissions this decade, the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5 Celsius would slip out of reach. Once methane is in the atmosphere, it is all but impossible to trace it back to a specific source which means better monitoring at the point of emission is key. A growing web of satellites searching for methane means major leaks of thousands of tonnes a year are easier to identify but many smaller leaks go unnoticed. In Hungary, the footage showed a MOL site which separates gas from oil venting emissions. The Hungarian energy company said it was aware of the emissions and they were an unavoidable part of normal and safe operations to avoid pressure building up in storage tanks. MOL said there were no existing regulations requiring it to measure or report emissions but it aimed to end routine methane emissions from gas activities by 2030. In Austria, at an OMV oil facility near onshore wells north of Vienna, the camera showed a number of smaller leaks. OMV said it fully supported new EU methane rules. It said the minor leaks at the site had been fixed and it was planning to replace pressure regulation systems that release methane with equipment that stops such emissions. "The presence of these emissions indicates that this site has ongoing maintenance issues," said Doty, pointing to four different sources. "These emissions are very troubling."

Gas infrastructure across Europe leaking planet-warming methane

When Rep. John Curtis quietly approached fellow Republicans to invite them to discuss climate change at a clandestine meeting in his home state of Utah, he hoped a half-dozen members might attend.

Soon the guest list blew past expectations as lawmakers heard about the gathering and asked to be included. For two days in February, 24 Republicans gathered in a ballroom of the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City where they brainstormed ways to get their party to engage on a planetary problem it has ignored for decades.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/our-response-to-climate-change-is-missing-something-big-scientists-say-390706">Our response to climate change is missing something big, scientists say</a>

“Some came with the promise of being anonymous. It’s terrible that Republicans can’t even go talk about it without being embarrassed,” Curtis said in an interview.

For four years under President Donald Trump, even uttering the phrase “climate change” was verboten for many Republicans. His administration scrubbed the words from federal websites, tried to censor testimony to Congress and mocked the science linking rising fossil fuel emissions to a warming planet.

Now, many in the Republican Party are coming to terms with what polls have been saying for years: Independents, suburban voters and especially young Republicans are worried about climate change and want the government to take action.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-trump-gone-nato-wages-war-on-climate-threat-391185">With Trump gone, NATO wages war on climate threat</a>

“There is a recognition within the GOP that if the party is going to be competitive in national elections, in purple states and purple districts, there needs to be some type of credible position on climate change,” said George David Banks, a former adviser to Trump and now a senior fellow at the nonprofit Bipartisan Policy Center, a centrist Washington think tank. Republicans realize it is now “a political liability” to dismiss or even avoid discussing climate change, he said.

In Utah, where the furtive climate meeting occurred, a group of state Republican lawmakers this month called for polluters to pay a price for emitting carbon dioxide, the main heat-trapping gas.

The same week in Miami, a group of young Republicans carrying signs that read “This Is What an Environmentalist Looks Like,” held what was billed as the first rally for “conservative” climate action.

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House Republican leader, plans to start a Republican task force on climate change, his staff confirmed. McCarthy declined a request for an interview.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/we-could-lose-these-species-if-climate-change-heats-earth-by-over-15deg-celsius-388984">We could lose these species if climate change heats Earth by over 1.5° Celsius</a>

And on Wednesday Curtis plans to announce the formation of the Conservative Climate Caucus, aimed at educating his party about global warming and developing policies to counter what the caucus terms “radical progressive climate proposals.” So far 38 Republican House members have joined, his staff said.

“It’s my hope that any Republican that belongs to this caucus, if asked about climate in a town-hall meeting, will feel very comfortable talking about it,” Curtis said, adding, “I fear that too often Republicans have simply said what they don’t like without adding on ‘but here’s our ideas.’”

Those ideas include limited government, free-market policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions, as formulated by new conservative think tanks. One is C3 Solutions, which is co-led by a former aide to the late Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who called global warming “crap.” The organization also recently attracted an energy policy expert from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative group that until recently promoted vociferous critics of climate change.

A package of bills McCarthy introduced on Earth Day championed carbon capture, a nascent and expensive technology that catches carbon emissions generated by power plants or factories and stores them before they escape into the atmosphere. It also promoted tree planting and expansion of nuclear energy, a carbon-free power source that many Republicans prefer over wind or solar energy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-idea-to-reverse-climate-change-alter-the-orbit-of-the-moon-390689">US lawmaker's idea to reverse climate change: Alter the orbit of the Moon</a>

Those policies would do little to reduce the fossil fuel emissions that are driving up average global temperatures and causing more extreme heat, drought and wildfires; more intense storms; and rapid extinction of plant and wildlife species. Republicans have not offered any specific targets for cutting emissions.

Meanwhile, McCarthy and other Republicans remain opposed to President Joe Biden’s climate proposals, which include a clean electricity standard, which would require utilities to gradually increase the amount of electricity they produce from wind, solar and other renewable sources until they are no longer burning fossil fuels. And leading Republicans continue to spread a lie that Biden wants to force Americans to stop eating hamburgers, because of the environmental harm caused by beef production.

Still, the fact that a growing number of Republicans are crafting a climate strategy is significant.

“For two decades there were virtually no Republicans responsibly engaged on climate change. What you’re seeing today is the construction of the policymaking apparatus on the right in the climate space,” said Alex Flint, director of Alliance for Market Solutions, a conservative nonprofit group that promotes a tax on carbon emissions.

Benji Backer, the founder of the American Conservative Coalition who organized the Miami rally and also helped to put together the Utah meeting, said it is time for Republicans to embrace a climate change agenda.

“The conservative movement has to lean into this and it can’t be behind closed doors anymore,” he said. He described the Utah meeting as “almost like a ‘come to Jesus’ moment, where people started to realize we could take the offensive on these issues and become leaders, and we don’t have to keep being defensive.”

Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund welcomed the Republican shift. “It’s good that we’re no longer arguing over a problem, but discussing solutions,” he said. But he also noted that the Republican policies make only marginal reductions in emissions and propose investment in technologies not readily available.

“We need bold policies now to drive the emissions reductions that science requires,” Krupp said.

Critics question whether the recent moves by Republicans amount to little more than a rebranding campaign, lacking in substance.

Myron Ebell, director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Energy and Environment, who has long attacked the science of climate change, called the Republican moves “a way to win some suburban voters. I don’t take it very seriously.”

The proof is in behaviour, not rhetoric, said Rep. Kathy Castor, the Democratic chairwoman of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

“All of this is just greenwashing until they start to align their votes,” Castor said. “You can talk until the cows come home, but you have to follow it up with real action.”

But Curtis, holding a framed 1979 Jerusalem Post front page that he keeps in his office showing the famous “triple handshake” between President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin — a souvenir from his time on a Brigham Young University study program in Israel — said he keeps the photo as a reminder that even the most bitter of enemies can find common ground.

“If we’re not successful working with Democrats then we’ll fail,” Curtis said. “If this is only about getting Republicans talking about climate and it just increases the partisan nature of climate, that’s a failure for me. We have to learn how to engage our Democratic colleagues to move forward legislation.”

When Rep. John Curtis quietly approached fellow Republicans to invite them to discuss climate change at a clandestine meeting in his home state of Utah, he hoped a half-dozen members might attend.

When Rep. John Curtis quietly approached fellow Republicans to invite them to discuss climate change at a clandestine meeting in his home state of Utah, he hoped a half-dozen members might attend. Soon the guest list blew past expectations as lawmakers heard about the gathering and asked to be included. For two days in February, 24 Republicans gathered in a ballroom of the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City where they brainstormed ways to get their party to engage on a planetary problem it has ignored for decades. Also read | Our response to climate change is missing something big, scientists say “Some came with the promise of being anonymous. It’s terrible that Republicans can’t even go talk about it without being embarrassed,” Curtis said in an interview. For four years under President Donald Trump, even uttering the phrase “climate change” was verboten for many Republicans. His administration scrubbed the words from federal websites, tried to censor testimony to Congress and mocked the science linking rising fossil fuel emissions to a warming planet. Now, many in the Republican Party are coming to terms with what polls have been saying for years: Independents, suburban voters and especially young Republicans are worried about climate change and want the government to take action. Also read | With Trump gone, NATO wages war on climate threat “There is a recognition within the GOP that if the party is going to be competitive in national elections, in purple states and purple districts, there needs to be some type of credible position on climate change,” said George David Banks, a former adviser to Trump and now a senior fellow at the nonprofit Bipartisan Policy Center, a centrist Washington think tank. Republicans realize it is now “a political liability” to dismiss or even avoid discussing climate change, he said. In Utah, where the furtive climate meeting occurred, a group of state Republican lawmakers this month called for polluters to pay a price for emitting carbon dioxide, the main heat-trapping gas. The same week in Miami, a group of young Republicans carrying signs that read “This Is What an Environmentalist Looks Like,” held what was billed as the first rally for “conservative” climate action. On Capitol Hill, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House Republican leader, plans to start a Republican task force on climate change, his staff confirmed. McCarthy declined a request for an interview. Also read | We could lose these species if climate change heats Earth by over 1.5° Celsius And on Wednesday Curtis plans to announce the formation of the Conservative Climate Caucus, aimed at educating his party about global warming and developing policies to counter what the caucus terms “radical progressive climate proposals.” So far 38 Republican House members have joined, his staff said. “It’s my hope that any Republican that belongs to this caucus, if asked about climate in a town-hall meeting, will feel very comfortable talking about it,” Curtis said, adding, “I fear that too often Republicans have simply said what they don’t like without adding on ‘but here’s our ideas.’” Those ideas include limited government, free-market policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions, as formulated by new conservative think tanks. One is C3 Solutions, which is co-led by a former aide to the late Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who called global warming “crap.” The organization also recently attracted an energy policy expert from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative group that until recently promoted vociferous critics of climate change. A package of bills McCarthy introduced on Earth Day championed carbon capture, a nascent and expensive technology that catches carbon emissions generated by power plants or factories and stores them before they escape into the atmosphere. It also promoted tree planting and expansion of nuclear energy, a carbon-free power source that many Republicans prefer over wind or solar energy. Also read | US lawmaker's idea to reverse climate change: Alter the orbit of the Moon Those policies would do little to reduce the fossil fuel emissions that are driving up average global temperatures and causing more extreme heat, drought and wildfires; more intense storms; and rapid extinction of plant and wildlife species. Republicans have not offered any specific targets for cutting emissions. Meanwhile, McCarthy and other Republicans remain opposed to President Joe Biden’s climate proposals, which include a clean electricity standard, which would require utilities to gradually increase the amount of electricity they produce from wind, solar and other renewable sources until they are no longer burning fossil fuels. And leading Republicans continue to spread a lie that Biden wants to force Americans to stop eating hamburgers, because of the environmental harm caused by beef production. Still, the fact that a growing number of Republicans are crafting a climate strategy is significant. “For two decades there were virtually no Republicans responsibly engaged on climate change. What you’re seeing today is the construction of the policymaking apparatus on the right in the climate space,” said Alex Flint, director of Alliance for Market Solutions, a conservative nonprofit group that promotes a tax on carbon emissions. Benji Backer, the founder of the American Conservative Coalition who organized the Miami rally and also helped to put together the Utah meeting, said it is time for Republicans to embrace a climate change agenda. “The conservative movement has to lean into this and it can’t be behind closed doors anymore,” he said. He described the Utah meeting as “almost like a ‘come to Jesus’ moment, where people started to realize we could take the offensive on these issues and become leaders, and we don’t have to keep being defensive.” Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund welcomed the Republican shift. “It’s good that we’re no longer arguing over a problem, but discussing solutions,” he said. But he also noted that the Republican policies make only marginal reductions in emissions and propose investment in technologies not readily available. “We need bold policies now to drive the emissions reductions that science requires,” Krupp said. Critics question whether the recent moves by Republicans amount to little more than a rebranding campaign, lacking in substance. Myron Ebell, director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Energy and Environment, who has long attacked the science of climate change, called the Republican moves “a way to win some suburban voters. I don’t take it very seriously.” The proof is in behaviour, not rhetoric, said Rep. Kathy Castor, the Democratic chairwoman of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. “All of this is just greenwashing until they start to align their votes,” Castor said. “You can talk until the cows come home, but you have to follow it up with real action.” But Curtis, holding a framed 1979 Jerusalem Post front page that he keeps in his office showing the famous “triple handshake” between President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin — a souvenir from his time on a Brigham Young University study program in Israel — said he keeps the photo as a reminder that even the most bitter of enemies can find common ground. “If we’re not successful working with Democrats then we’ll fail,” Curtis said. “If this is only about getting Republicans talking about climate and it just increases the partisan nature of climate, that’s a failure for me. We have to learn how to engage our Democratic colleagues to move forward legislation.”

Some Republicans find failure to grapple with climate change a ‘political liability’

Australia said it will strongly oppose a China-chaired UNESCO plan to list the Great Barrier Reef as a heritage site “in danger” over deterioration caused by climate change.

Australia hits back at China-chaired UNESCO over Barrier Reef's heritage status

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