Bees are the most important pollinators on the planet.

These golden-hued insects don't just eat sweet nectar while jumping from bloom to flower; they also transmit pollen between plants, which is an important function for plant reproduction.

Insects like bees, on the other hand, are in grave danger as the climate crisis worsens and their habitats and food sources are threatened by global warming.&nbsp;

According to new research, the climate crisis may result in more small-bodied bees but fewer bumblebees, with potentially "cascading" implications for plant pollination and ecosystems.

Over the course of eight years, scientists in the United States trapped and studied more than 20,000 bees in a region of the Rocky Mountains to see how different varieties of bees reacted to changing climatic conditions.

The authors of the study claimed that while environmental conditions varied from year to year, the sub-alpine region from which they gathered samples was "especially sensitive to climate change," with generally warmer spring temperatures and faster snow melt.&nbsp;

They discovered that as temperatures rose, larger-bodied bees and comb-building cavity nesters decreased in number, while smaller, soil-nesting bees increased.

Bees are the most important pollinators on the planet. These golden-hued insects don't just eat sweet nectar while jumping from bloom to flower; they also transmit pollen between plants, which is an important function for plant reproduction.

Bees are the most important pollinators on the planet. These golden-hued insects don't just eat sweet nectar while jumping from bloom to flower; they also transmit pollen between plants, which is an important function for plant reproduction. Insects like bees, on the other hand, are in grave danger as the climate crisis worsens and their habitats and food sources are threatened by global warming. According to new research, the climate crisis may result in more small-bodied bees but fewer bumblebees, with potentially "cascading" implications for plant pollination and ecosystems. Over the course of eight years, scientists in the United States trapped and studied more than 20,000 bees in a region of the Rocky Mountains to see how different varieties of bees reacted to changing climatic conditions. The authors of the study claimed that while environmental conditions varied from year to year, the sub-alpine region from which they gathered samples was "especially sensitive to climate change," with generally warmer spring temperatures and faster snow melt. They discovered that as temperatures rose, larger-bodied bees and comb-building cavity nesters decreased in number, while smaller, soil-nesting bees increased.

Study finds climate change could lead to a rise of smaller bees

Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Nepal's forest and environment minister weighed in on the climate crisis that the world is facing right and called it the "most serious issue", especially for the developing countries. He emphasised the impacts of climate change in Nepal.&nbsp;

While speaking during the WION Climate Summit, Yadav said that Nepal is "highly vulnerable" to climate change. He said that the recent climate-related incidents showed that sensitivity to climate change has been increasing. &nbsp;He said we need to be well prepared to cope with the issue.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-climate-summit-denmarks-ambassador-to-india-emphasised-the-need-of-individual-responsibility-462688">Denmark's Ambassador to India emphasised the need of individual responsibility</a>

"Due to geology and topography, microclimatic condition and the associated livelihood with climate-sensitive sector and limited financial institutional capacity, the climate-induced responsibility may increase," the minister said during his address at the summit.&nbsp;

The minister further said that Nepal has a very "low contribution" to greenhouse gas emission, but the climate vulnerability is "among the highest". Despite that Nepal has approved a long-run strategy for low greenhouse gas emissions, he said.&nbsp;

He added that development aiming to get net-zero by 2045 and submitted it to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-climate-summit-very-aggressive-period-for-electric-vehicles-says-mahua-acharya-462690">WION Climate Summit | Very aggressive period for electric vehicles, says Mahua Acharya</a>

He said climate change adaptation is the priority of Nepal in climate action, adding that recently National Adaptation Plan of Nepal has been approved and the country's adaptation actions will be guided by the programmes indicated by the National Adaptation Plan document.&nbsp;

He said that Nepal is committed to preparing and implementing a local adaptation plan of action for all municipalities by 2030. This is subsequently reflected in the nationally determined contribution.&nbsp;

He said Nepal needs "significant financial resources, technology and capacity development support" to implement policies and plans related to climate change.&nbsp;

He further added that global and regional partnerships are essential in combating the challenges posed by climate changes successfully.&nbsp;

Watch his address here:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gSFhTSZYQzw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Nepal's forest and environment minister weighed in on the climate crisis that the world is facing right and called it the "most serious issue", especially for the developing countries.

Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Nepal's forest and environment minister weighed in on the climate crisis that the world is facing right and called it the "most serious issue", especially for the developing countries. He emphasised the impacts of climate change in Nepal. While speaking during the WION Climate Summit, Yadav said that Nepal is "highly vulnerable" to climate change. He said that the recent climate-related incidents showed that sensitivity to climate change has been increasing. He said we need to be well prepared to cope with the issue. ALSO READ | Denmark's Ambassador to India emphasised the need of individual responsibility "Due to geology and topography, microclimatic condition and the associated livelihood with climate-sensitive sector and limited financial institutional capacity, the climate-induced responsibility may increase," the minister said during his address at the summit. The minister further said that Nepal has a very "low contribution" to greenhouse gas emission, but the climate vulnerability is "among the highest". Despite that Nepal has approved a long-run strategy for low greenhouse gas emissions, he said. He added that development aiming to get net-zero by 2045 and submitted it to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. ALSO READ | WION Climate Summit | Very aggressive period for electric vehicles, says Mahua Acharya He said climate change adaptation is the priority of Nepal in climate action, adding that recently National Adaptation Plan of Nepal has been approved and the country's adaptation actions will be guided by the programmes indicated by the National Adaptation Plan document. He said that Nepal is committed to preparing and implementing a local adaptation plan of action for all municipalities by 2030. This is subsequently reflected in the nationally determined contribution. He said Nepal needs "significant financial resources, technology and capacity development support" to implement policies and plans related to climate change. He further added that global and regional partnerships are essential in combating the challenges posed by climate changes successfully. Watch his address here: ×

WION Climate Summit: Nepal's environment minister urges for global partnerships to combat climate crisis

Denmark’s ambassador to India, Freddy Svane tells what can be done to deal with the ongoing climate crisis.

WION Climate Summit: Denmark’s ambassador to India speaks about the ongoing climate crisis

A landmark United Nations report has concluded that the risk of devastating wildfires around the world will surge in coming decades as climate change further intensifies what the report described as a “global wildfire crisis.”

The scientific assessment is the first by the organization’s environmental authority to evaluate wildfire risks worldwide. It was inspired by a string of deadly blazes around the globe in recent years, burning the American West, vast stretches of Australia and even the Arctic.

The images from those fires — cities glowing under orange skies, smoke billowing around tourist havens and heritage sites, woodland animals badly injured and killed — have become grim icons of this era of unsettled relations between humankind and nature.

“The heating of the planet is turning landscapes into tinderboxes,” said the report, which was published Wednesday by the U.N. Environment Program.

The report, produced by more than 50 researchers from six continents, estimated that the risk worldwide of highly devastating fires could increase by up to 57% by the end of the century, primarily because of climate change. The risks will not be distributed equally: Some regions are likely to see more fire activity, while others may experience less.

It is a stark warning about the increased heat and dryness that human-caused global warming is bringing about. Nations and localities need to prepare better for the dangers, the report’s authors said.

“There isn’t the right attention to fire from governments,” said Glynis Humphrey, a fire expert at the University of Cape Town and an author of the new report. More societies worldwide are learning the value of prescribed burns and other methods of preventing wildfires from raging out of control, she said. Yet public spending in developed nations is still heavily skewed toward firefighting instead of forest management.

In some regions with long histories of brush fires, such as eastern Australia and the western United States and Canada, they have become more intense over the past decade and are ravaging larger areas, the report found. But uncontrolled burning is also starting to occur in places where it had not been common before, such as Russia, northern India and Tibet. In parts of the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, by contrast, fire activity has declined over the past two decades, partly because drought has killed off more grass.

While climate change is giving rise to more of the record warmth and dryness that have contributed to recent episodes of severe burning, the overall effect on fire risks is complex and can vary from place to place.

Researchers have determined that the extreme heat wave in the Pacific Northwest last year almost certainly would not have occurred without planetary warming caused by greenhouse-gas emissions. Scientists have also found the fingerprints of climate change on brush fires in Australia and extreme heat and burning in Siberia.

But hot weather and weak rainfall can also decrease the amount of vegetation that is available to feed fires. In other places, the decreased humidity can make vegetation more flammable, helping fires spread more easily.

After taking all these factors into account, the report still forecasts a significant increase in the global risk of extraordinary wildfires, even if nations manage to limit emissions of heat-trapping gases.

In a moderate scenario for global warming, the likelihood of extreme, catastrophic fires could increase by up to one-third by 2050 and up to 52% by 2100, the report estimates. If emissions are not curbed and the planet heats up more, wildfire risks could rise by up to 57% by the end of the century.

The increase in burning is projected to be especially large in places including the Arctic, said Douglas I. Kelley, a researcher at the UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology who conducted the data analysis for the report. The northern reaches of Russia and North America are already warming much more quickly than the rest of the globe. The intense Arctic fires of 2020 released more polluting gases into the atmosphere that June than in any other month in 18 years of data collection.

In more temperate regions of the United States and Asia, Kelley said, wildfires could increase as emissions rise because the higher amount of carbon dioxide in the air helps plants grow, resulting in more vegetation to fuel blazes.

The prolonged drought in the American West — the region’s worst, scientists say, in at least 1,200 years — has helped to spark wildfires earlier in the year. Forecasters are expecting the warmth and dryness to continue into this spring and beyond.

The U.N. report urges governments to become more proactive about fire hazards. Of every dollar spent in the United States on managing wildfires, almost 60 cents goes toward immediate firefighting responses, according to research cited in the report. Much less is spent on reducing fire risks in advance and helping communities recover in ways that could make them more resilient.

Peter Moore, a fire management consultant with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and an author of the report, said more countries could learn from Portugal, which drew up an ambitious national fire plan after two blazes killed more than 100 people in 2017. Decades of economic development there had caused a decrease in farmland and an expansion of poorly managed forests, making the landscape highly flammable.

“So when the wrong weather turned up, and then a series of ignitions happened, they had a series of dramatic and catastrophic fire events,” Moore said. In eastern Australia, western North America, Chile and elsewhere, he said, “those same conditions are starting to occur.”

Not all human development adds to fire risks. In the tropical grasslands of Africa, population density has increased, and farmers have converted more of the area into cropland and pasture. That has fragmented the savannas, making it harder for wildfires to spread. Researchers have used satellite data to estimate that, despite global warming, large decreases in Africa helped the total amount of burned land worldwide fall by a quarter between 1998 and 2015.

Many fires in Africa are set deliberately to clear away vegetation and avert wildfires that would be more severe and less controllable, said Humphrey of the University of Cape Town. Communities in many places have managed the land this way for centuries, and the U.N. report calls for such traditional knowledge to be better integrated into fire policies.

Humphrey said more governments needed to discover, or rediscover, what fire actually is: “something really critical for our planet, but that also needs to be managed.”

A landmark United Nations report has concluded that the risk of devastating wildfires around the world will surge in coming decades as climate change further intensifies what the report described as a “global wildfire crisis.

A landmark United Nations report has concluded that the risk of devastating wildfires around the world will surge in coming decades as climate change further intensifies what the report described as a “global wildfire crisis.” The scientific assessment is the first by the organization’s environmental authority to evaluate wildfire risks worldwide. It was inspired by a string of deadly blazes around the globe in recent years, burning the American West, vast stretches of Australia and even the Arctic. The images from those fires — cities glowing under orange skies, smoke billowing around tourist havens and heritage sites, woodland animals badly injured and killed — have become grim icons of this era of unsettled relations between humankind and nature. “The heating of the planet is turning landscapes into tinderboxes,” said the report, which was published Wednesday by the U.N. Environment Program. The report, produced by more than 50 researchers from six continents, estimated that the risk worldwide of highly devastating fires could increase by up to 57% by the end of the century, primarily because of climate change. The risks will not be distributed equally: Some regions are likely to see more fire activity, while others may experience less. It is a stark warning about the increased heat and dryness that human-caused global warming is bringing about. Nations and localities need to prepare better for the dangers, the report’s authors said. “There isn’t the right attention to fire from governments,” said Glynis Humphrey, a fire expert at the University of Cape Town and an author of the new report. More societies worldwide are learning the value of prescribed burns and other methods of preventing wildfires from raging out of control, she said. Yet public spending in developed nations is still heavily skewed toward firefighting instead of forest management. In some regions with long histories of brush fires, such as eastern Australia and the western United States and Canada, they have become more intense over the past decade and are ravaging larger areas, the report found. But uncontrolled burning is also starting to occur in places where it had not been common before, such as Russia, northern India and Tibet. In parts of the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, by contrast, fire activity has declined over the past two decades, partly because drought has killed off more grass. While climate change is giving rise to more of the record warmth and dryness that have contributed to recent episodes of severe burning, the overall effect on fire risks is complex and can vary from place to place. Researchers have determined that the extreme heat wave in the Pacific Northwest last year almost certainly would not have occurred without planetary warming caused by greenhouse-gas emissions. Scientists have also found the fingerprints of climate change on brush fires in Australia and extreme heat and burning in Siberia. But hot weather and weak rainfall can also decrease the amount of vegetation that is available to feed fires. In other places, the decreased humidity can make vegetation more flammable, helping fires spread more easily. After taking all these factors into account, the report still forecasts a significant increase in the global risk of extraordinary wildfires, even if nations manage to limit emissions of heat-trapping gases. In a moderate scenario for global warming, the likelihood of extreme, catastrophic fires could increase by up to one-third by 2050 and up to 52% by 2100, the report estimates. If emissions are not curbed and the planet heats up more, wildfire risks could rise by up to 57% by the end of the century. The increase in burning is projected to be especially large in places including the Arctic, said Douglas I. Kelley, a researcher at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology who conducted the data analysis for the report. The northern reaches of Russia and North America are already warming much more quickly than the rest of the globe. The intense Arctic fires of 2020 released more polluting gases into the atmosphere that June than in any other month in 18 years of data collection. In more temperate regions of the United States and Asia, Kelley said, wildfires could increase as emissions rise because the higher amount of carbon dioxide in the air helps plants grow, resulting in more vegetation to fuel blazes. The prolonged drought in the American West — the region’s worst, scientists say, in at least 1,200 years — has helped to spark wildfires earlier in the year. Forecasters are expecting the warmth and dryness to continue into this spring and beyond. The U.N. report urges governments to become more proactive about fire hazards. Of every dollar spent in the United States on managing wildfires, almost 60 cents goes toward immediate firefighting responses, according to research cited in the report. Much less is spent on reducing fire risks in advance and helping communities recover in ways that could make them more resilient. Peter Moore, a fire management consultant with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and an author of the report, said more countries could learn from Portugal, which drew up an ambitious national fire plan after two blazes killed more than 100 people in 2017. Decades of economic development there had caused a decrease in farmland and an expansion of poorly managed forests, making the landscape highly flammable. “So when the wrong weather turned up, and then a series of ignitions happened, they had a series of dramatic and catastrophic fire events,” Moore said. In eastern Australia, western North America, Chile and elsewhere, he said, “those same conditions are starting to occur.” Not all human development adds to fire risks. In the tropical grasslands of Africa, population density has increased, and farmers have converted more of the area into cropland and pasture. That has fragmented the savannas, making it harder for wildfires to spread. Researchers have used satellite data to estimate that, despite global warming, large decreases in Africa helped the total amount of burned land worldwide fall by a quarter between 1998 and 2015. Many fires in Africa are set deliberately to clear away vegetation and avert wildfires that would be more severe and less controllable, said Humphrey of the University of Cape Town. Communities in many places have managed the land this way for centuries, and the U.N. report calls for such traditional knowledge to be better integrated into fire policies. Humphrey said more governments needed to discover, or rediscover, what fire actually is: “something really critical for our planet, but that also needs to be managed.”

Climate forecasters warn of a 'global wildfire crisis'

While climate change disrupts farming practices, a crop named false banana could be the answer to food scarcity issues. Scientists say that it has the potential to feed more than 100 million people. Watch the video to know more

A crop virtually unknown outside Ethiopia is the answer to food scarcity

According to the world meteorological organization, the years from 2015 to 2021 are on track to be the seven hottest on record. The UN agency has warned that the planet was heading into uncharted territory the global warming from greenhouse gas emissions threatens average temperatures.

UN agency says planet in heading into 'unchartered territory'

In what can be called an effect of the climate crisis, the Arctic region seems to have been witnessing an unprecedented spike in lightning in 2021.&nbsp;Earlier, lightnings used to be rare in the region. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2021, Arctic region, which is the Earth’s northernmost, saw 7,278 lightning strikes. This count is nearly double of what had been witnessed in the last nine years combined. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-provide-comfort-us-president-visits-wildfire-ravaged-colorado-443068" hreflang="en">To provide comfort, US President visits wildfire-ravaged Colorado</a>

These latest findings were published in the Finnish firm Vaisala’s annual lightning report. &nbsp;

This phenomenon is worrying scientists as the region’s air typically lacks the convective heat required to create lightning. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Vaisala’s meteorologist and lightning applications manager, Chris Vagasky, said, “Over the last 10 years, overall lightning counts north of the Arctic Circle have been fairly consistent. But at the highest latitudes of the planet – north of 80° – the increase has been drastic. Such a significant shift certainly causes you to raise your eyebrows.” &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-food-prices-rose-sharply-during-2021-hitting-a-10-year-high-un-442881" hreflang="en">Global food prices rose ‘sharply’ during 2021, hitting a 10-year high: UN</a>

The temperatures have been consistently rising in the Arctic at a rate of at least three times the global average. So, tracking the lightning in the region seems to have become an important indicator of the climate crisis. &nbsp;

“Changes in the Arctic can mean changes in the weather at home. All weather is local, but what happens at your house depends on how the atmosphere is behaving elsewhere throughout the world. Changes to conditions in the Arctic could cause more extreme cold outbreaks, more heatwaves, or extreme changes in precipitation to Europe,” Vagasky said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In what can be called an effect of the climate crisis, the Arctic region seems to have been witnessing an unprecedented spike in lightning in 2021. Earlier, lightnings used to be rare in the region.

In what can be called an effect of the climate crisis, the Arctic region seems to have been witnessing an unprecedented spike in lightning in 2021. Earlier, lightnings used to be rare in the region. In 2021, Arctic region, which is the Earth’s northernmost, saw 7,278 lightning strikes. This count is nearly double of what had been witnessed in the last nine years combined. Also Read: To provide comfort, US President visits wildfire-ravaged Colorado These latest findings were published in the Finnish firm Vaisala’s annual lightning report. This phenomenon is worrying scientists as the region’s air typically lacks the convective heat required to create lightning. Vaisala’s meteorologist and lightning applications manager, Chris Vagasky, said, “Over the last 10 years, overall lightning counts north of the Arctic Circle have been fairly consistent. But at the highest latitudes of the planet – north of 80° – the increase has been drastic. Such a significant shift certainly causes you to raise your eyebrows.” Also Read | Global food prices rose ‘sharply’ during 2021, hitting a 10-year high: UN The temperatures have been consistently rising in the Arctic at a rate of at least three times the global average. So, tracking the lightning in the region seems to have become an important indicator of the climate crisis. “Changes in the Arctic can mean changes in the weather at home. All weather is local, but what happens at your house depends on how the atmosphere is behaving elsewhere throughout the world. Changes to conditions in the Arctic could cause more extreme cold outbreaks, more heatwaves, or extreme changes in precipitation to Europe,” Vagasky said. (With inputs from agencies)

Climate crisis effect? Arctic region witnesses massive 7,278 lightning strikes in 2021

The deserts never sit still, give them half a chance, and the desert suns will slowly expand their frontiers. 15 years ago, 20 African nations in the Sahel region joined hands to halt the expanding Sahara desert, but how far have they succeeded?

A Great 'Green Wall' in Sahara to stop ever-expanding Sahara desert

Costa Rica's once dense forests were known for a healthy population of howler monkeys. However, with urbanization and commercial developmental projects, monkeys have been pushed out of the forests, onto rooftops and power lines where they face the risk of electrocution. Our report gets you the complete story.

Costa Rica: Howler monkeys pushed out of the forests on to power lines

In 2019 residents of Kinshasa witnessed the worst of climate change. Heavy rainfall and unexpected flooding claimed some 40 lives and two years later, the worst fears of the inhabitants are close to becoming a reality.

Kinshasa residents fear an all-encompassing erosion

A UN agency has confirmed an Arctic temperature record of over 38 degree Celsius in a Siberian town last year during the prolonged heat wave there.

New record high temperature set in the Arctic last year

Russia has vetoed a first-of-its-kind UN security council resolution casting the climate crisis as a threat to international peace and security.

Russia vetoes UNSC resolution linking climate crisis to international peace and security

United Nations President Joe Biden has asked the government's agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to find out whether the deadly tornadoes were caused by the climate crisis.&nbsp;

Dozens of tornadoes ripped through at least six states (Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee) late Friday and early Saturday, causing massive destruction of life and property.&nbsp;

The latest information from the US authorities confirmed that the death toll in the worst-affected state Kentucky stood at 64 on Monday (December 13). At least 14 people were killed in four other US states

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said, "There will be more. We believe it will certainly be above 70, maybe even 80."&nbsp;

IN PICS | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/tornadoes-in-us-before-and-after-satellite-images-show-massive-destruction-436366#massive-destruction-436357">Tornadoes in US: Before and after satellite images show massive destruction</a>

Biden also confirmed that he will visit Kentucky on Wednesday (December 15) to survey the damage. It has been conveyed by the White House that Biden would travel to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for a storm briefing, and Mayfield and Dawson Springs, Kentucky.&nbsp;

When the initial damages were reported, Biden had asked EPA to find whether climate crisis has played a role in the devastating tornadoes.&nbsp;

"The specific impact on these specific storms, I can't say at this point. I'm going to be asking the EPA and others to take a look at that," Biden said in a briefing.&nbsp;

He added, "But the fact is that we know everything is more intense when the climate is warming. And obviously, it has some impact here."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-deadliest-tornado-hits-kentucky-436698/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Victor Gensini, a professor in geographic and atmospheric sciences at Northern Illinois University said that unusually high temperatures and humidity created the environment for such an extreme weather event at this time of year.&nbsp;

In recent years, analysts have been working to find out the links between an increase in global temperatures and how it is becoming a catalyst for the rising intensity of unseasonal severe weather events.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

United Nations President Joe Biden has asked the government's agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to find out whether the deadly tornadoes were caused by the climate crisis.

United Nations President Joe Biden has asked the government's agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to find out whether the deadly tornadoes were caused by the climate crisis. Dozens of tornadoes ripped through at least six states (Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee) late Friday and early Saturday, causing massive destruction of life and property. The latest information from the US authorities confirmed that the death toll in the worst-affected state Kentucky stood at 64 on Monday (December 13). At least 14 people were killed in four other US states Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said, "There will be more. We believe it will certainly be above 70, maybe even 80." IN PICS | Tornadoes in US: Before and after satellite images show massive destruction Biden also confirmed that he will visit Kentucky on Wednesday (December 15) to survey the damage. It has been conveyed by the White House that Biden would travel to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for a storm briefing, and Mayfield and Dawson Springs, Kentucky. When the initial damages were reported, Biden had asked EPA to find whether climate crisis has played a role in the devastating tornadoes. "The specific impact on these specific storms, I can't say at this point. I'm going to be asking the EPA and others to take a look at that," Biden said in a briefing. He added, "But the fact is that we know everything is more intense when the climate is warming. And obviously, it has some impact here." × Victor Gensini, a professor in geographic and atmospheric sciences at Northern Illinois University said that unusually high temperatures and humidity created the environment for such an extreme weather event at this time of year. In recent years, analysts have been working to find out the links between an increase in global temperatures and how it is becoming a catalyst for the rising intensity of unseasonal severe weather events. (With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden asks EPA to probe role of climate crisis in deadly tornadoes

Bolivia was once home to the world's highest Ski resorts. As global warming took a toll on the country, the resort has now reduced to an example of the devastating impact of climate change.

World's highest Ski resort in Bolivia shuts down as glacier near it recedes

A new study revealed that as the climate crisis has been warming up the planet's northern ice cover, rainfall could replace snow in the Arctic region. WION tells you more.

New study reveals Arctic could get more rain than snowfall by 2060

The second largest lake in Turkey, Lake Tuz has become the latest casualty of climate change. The water body has completely dried up leaving agriculture and tourism struggling for survival.

Second largest lake in Turkey, Lake Tuz dries up due to climate change

Rising sea levels have posed a threat to the fragile ecosystem in France. It is one of the largest wetlands in Europe and a host to an extraordinary variety of wildlife and vegetation.

France: Rising sea level endanger the balance of the unique eco system

The idea of "The great green wall" was introduced in 2007 as an effort to limit the desertification and contain the Sahara desert. But with climate change in full swing, and with its rising temperatures and lack of rainfall mllions of trees that were part of the green wall, died. Authorities now have to come up with alternatives. Take a look at our next report to know more.

Millions of trees that were part of the great green wall die

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Climate crisis could give nuclear energy a second wind

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

COP26 Climate Summit: Several countries set coal phase out deadline

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

While addressing COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow President Joe Biden said that the US is ready to be a leader again in the fight against climate change. Biden also apologised for former US President Donald Trump's climate actions.

US ready to lead world in climate fight, says Biden at COP26 summit

Kremlin spokesman has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow, UK.

Putin skips COP26 climate summit, cites COVID outbreak as key cause

Historic climate talks involving more than 120 world leaders are underway in Glasglow, UK. The conference came just days after the historic G20 summit in Rome, Italy. The COP26 summit is being touted as humanity's last chance to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 Degrees Celsius.

COP26 Summit: World leaders unite in call for urgent action against climate crisis

While delivering the national address as a ‘representative’ of developing nations, Indian PM Narendra Modi outlined a five-point plan to fight the devastating effects of global warming and climate change. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India will reach net-zero carbon emission by 2070.

India to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, says PM Modi at COP26 summit

World leaders are facing calls for urgent action to limit dangerous temperature rises as they gather for a historic COP26 Climate summit in Glasglow, UK.

COP26 Summit in Glasglow: World leaders face urgent call to tackle climate crisis

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the climate change is a huge threat and the past few decades have proven that nobody has remained untouched by it.

Climate change is a massive threat to the world, says Indian PM Modi at COP26 Summit

climate-crisis

Climate Crisis, News on Climate Crisis, stories on Climate Crisis, articles on Climate Crisis, Climate Crisis stories at Wion, Climate Crisis news, Climate Crisis latest news