More than 100 world leaders have promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, in the COP26 climate summit's first major deal.

COP26 Summit: World leaders promise to reverse deforestation by 2030

Speaking in a video message, Queen Elizabeth has told world leaders at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow that now is the 'time for action' on climate change and urged to show 'true statesmanship'.

Queen Elizabeth addresses world leaders at COP26 climate summit, urges 'true statesmanship'

The COP26 climate summit is underway in Glasglow. Nearly 120 countries are seeking consensus on rules to cut emissions, mechanisms to adapt to climate events, and compensation for nations for loss, damage.

Global leaders to reiterate pledge on climate in Glasglow

<p>In the midst of the world's fight against climate change and the UN's climate change summit, also known as&nbsp;COP26, beginning in Glasgow, several delegates arrived in private planes which spewed tonnes of CO2.</p>

<p>In their quest to save the planet from greenhouse gases, the top brass travelling to Scotland for COP26 will generate a staggering amount of emissions by using their private planes for the trip, reports claimed.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/trending/cop26-why-the-world-is-worried-about-china-and-co2-levels-425836" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/trending/cop26-why-the-world-is-worried-about-china-and-co2-levels-425836&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi8muKeqvfzAhVVXHwKHR9PCiQQFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ta-yuELA4tuj2woAqKnfv" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/cop26-why-the-world-is-worried-about-china-and-co2-levels-425836" target="_blank">COP26: Why the world is worried about China and CO2 levels</a></strong></p>

<p>According to reports, more than 400 private planes carrying business leaders and politicians to this week's conference will spew out 13,000 tons of CO2. Ironically, these bigwigs and their private jets' emissions will exceed the average annual emissions of roughly 1,600 Scots.</p>

<p>From Japan to the United States, to Israel to even the United Kingdom itself, world leaders and heads of state will be among those taking private jets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier today, US President Joe Biden arrived aboard Air Force One. The trip follows the president's trip from Washington to Rome for the G20 summit this weekend. Global leaders pledged "meaningful and effective" climate action at the G20 summit, but offered little information about how they will limit global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-can-get-real-on-coal-cars-cash-and-trees-uk-pm-johnson-warns-world-leaders-at-cop26-425888">We can get real on coal, cars, cash and trees, UK PM Johnson warns world leaders at COP26</a></strong></p>

<p>In the Vatican&nbsp;on Friday, while on his way to meet the Pope, Joe Biden deployed a massive motorcade, 85 gas-guzzling cars long parade to be exact. Today, according to reports, he had a similarly long entourage on his way from the airport to the summit venue.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here comes Biden at the Vatican to meet with the Pope ahead of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a> . His personal vehicle convoy puts your carbon footprint into the shade for the next 20 years, such is the hypocrisy of this Willy Waving fiasco! <a href="https://t.co/cnCAO1jJFv">pic.twitter.com/cnCAO1jJFv</a></p>
— PonteJack (@somersetlevel) <a href="https://twitter.com/somersetlevel/status/1454159632105185290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Critics on the internet have blasted Biden and others for their exorbitant displays. A number of the participants at COP26 have been called out for claiming to fight climate change while not reducing their enormous carbon footprints.</p>

<p>"Every world leader or dignitary that arrives to @COP26 by private jet is an eco-hypocrite. Fact." writes Nigel Farage, former politician, Leader of the UK Independence Party in a Twitter post.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Every world leader or dignitary that arrives to <a href="https://twitter.com/COP26?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@COP26</a> by private jet is an eco-hypocrite. Fact.</p>
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1454801203657908224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>For their use of private jets to travel to Rome and Scotland, Prince Charles, the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, are also among the leaders to have come under criticism. Earlier too, in June, Johnson raised eyebrows when instead of taking the train from London, he flew to Cornwall for the G7 summit.</p>

<p>Some other big names that are facing criticism include Jeff Bezos,&nbsp;Prince Albert of Monaco, and German chancellor Angela Merkel.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-country-could-be-underwater-by-the-end-of-the-century-425829">This country could be underwater by the end of the century</a></strong></p>

<p>Netizens around the world have taken to Twitter to call out these "climate leaders." Check out some of the tweets:&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hypocrite airways? Jeff Bezos's £48m Gulf Stream leads parade of 400 private jets into COP26 including Prince Albert of Monaco, scores of royals and dozens of 'green' CEOs- as huge traffic jam forces empty planes to fly 30 miles to park <a href="https://t.co/m0Kege65DH">pic.twitter.com/m0Kege65DH</a></p>
— Space-reporter-news (@Spacereportern1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Spacereportern1/status/1455147036894957575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jet fuel powered Police aircraft circles Glasgow all morning whilst a private jet from Athens lands during the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a> conference. I’m sure this is helping <a href="https://t.co/MQXLEiqh6m">pic.twitter.com/MQXLEiqh6m</a></p>
— shuggy hugman (@hughegarty) <a href="https://twitter.com/hughegarty/status/1455148310713577473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">400 private jets into <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a> COP26. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hypocrisy_galore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hypocrisy_galore</a>!<br />
<br />
If there is a climate change 1 minute before midnight disaster conference there is every chance that private jets will lead the parade. <a href="https://t.co/VDYPOIjvPC">pic.twitter.com/VDYPOIjvPC</a></p>
— Iqbal Latif (@ilatif) <a href="https://twitter.com/ilatif/status/1455146065628381189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Private Jet to Glasgow to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoP26</a><br />
Private Jet to Glasgow to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoP26</a><br />
Private Jet to Glasgow to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoP26</a><br />
Private Jet to Glasgow to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoP26</a><br />
Private Jet to Glasgow to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoP26</a><br />
Private Jet to Glasgow to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoP26</a><br />
Private Jet to Glasgow to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoP26</a><br />
Private Jet to Glasgow to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoP26</a><br />
ok..... <a href="https://t.co/Odq8K8Pc2Y">pic.twitter.com/Odq8K8Pc2Y</a></p>
— SweenFrank (@SweenFrank) <a href="https://twitter.com/SweenFrank/status/1455093945248145414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a> we're addicted to fossil fools alright they're all running the world into ruin!! How many private jets and helicopters were used to transport all these world leaders to Glasgow, technology is a wonderful thing this day and age, try using it!! <a href="https://t.co/plut8glvaY">pic.twitter.com/plut8glvaY</a></p>
— stuart hughes (@StuartHughes_) <a href="https://twitter.com/StuartHughes_/status/1455157240143532040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The spreader event where the celebrities arrive by private jets to talk to us about climate change. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a> <a href="https://t.co/QGyhz0kEYa">pic.twitter.com/QGyhz0kEYa</a></p>
— Tracey T (@ttnaturalhealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/ttnaturalhealth/status/1455094390418980867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Why is it always WE, when the one saying it doesnt believe things should apply to them?<br />
<br />
Flown the past few days to Italy, then Italy to Scotland by private jet for cop26.<br />
<br />
Needs to change the way WE do things? 🤔 <a href="https://t.co/c8g6qVxqM4">pic.twitter.com/c8g6qVxqM4</a></p>
— Drewski 💙 (@M1DNS) <a href="https://twitter.com/M1DNS/status/1455077165775589378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a> world “leaders” etc arriving in private jets large motor cage’s the worlds biggest polluters aren’t there and their lecturing us... <a href="https://t.co/E3LPNnSKiK">pic.twitter.com/E3LPNnSKiK</a></p>
— Tony Sharpe 🍺🎤🦢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🤘🏻 (@CelticWarrior_3) <a href="https://twitter.com/CelticWarrior_3/status/1455119685670821894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">They are laughing at you. The 400 private jets used by world ‘leaders’ to get to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a> pumped out 13,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, yet they want you to stop eating meat, to stop going on holiday, to buy a new electric car, &amp; to spend thousands of pounds on new boilers. <a href="https://t.co/Phj1wpQvKJ">pic.twitter.com/Phj1wpQvKJ</a></p>
— Matthew Firth (@MatthewPFirth) <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewPFirth/status/1455161739801239558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">UN Climate Change Conference Glasgow COP26<br />
<br />
Zero carbon?<br />
The travel arrangements of world leaders and their entourage are a sick joke.<br />
<br />
No covid jabs? No problem.<br />
Worldwide pandemic? Don't be silly.<br />
<br />
The utter hypocrisy of it all.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateHoax?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClimateHoax</a> <a href="https://t.co/gp5Tt19Y2J">https://t.co/gp5Tt19Y2J</a> <a href="https://t.co/NSloawqso2">pic.twitter.com/NSloawqso2</a></p>
— ♰Pureblood Fifi J (@fifi_j) <a href="https://twitter.com/fifi_j/status/1454149998745108487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>A Lund University study found that private jet travel emits about 40 times more CO2 per passenger than commercial air travel.</p>

<p>According to the non-profit group Finch's Transport and Environment, air emissions from private planes are soaring, contributing to the fact that around half of global aviation emissions come from 1 per cent&nbsp;of the world's population.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;COP26 Summit in Glasglow: Will the world succeed in averting climate disaster?</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cop26-summit-in-glasglow-will-the-world-succeed-in-averting-climate-disaster-425812/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>


In the midst of the world's fight against climate change and the UN's climate change summit, also known as COP26, beginning in Glasgow, several delegates arrived in private planes which spewed tonnes of CO2.

In the midst of the world's fight against climate change and the UN's climate change summit, also known as COP26, beginning in Glasgow, several delegates arrived in private planes which spewed tonnes of CO2. In their quest to save the planet from greenhouse gases, the top brass travelling to Scotland for COP26 will generate a staggering amount of emissions by using their private planes for the trip, reports claimed. Also read | COP26: Why the world is worried about China and CO2 levels According to reports, more than 400 private planes carrying business leaders and politicians to this week's conference will spew out 13,000 tons of CO2. Ironically, these bigwigs and their private jets' emissions will exceed the average annual emissions of roughly 1,600 Scots. From Japan to the United States, to Israel to even the United Kingdom itself, world leaders and heads of state will be among those taking private jets. Earlier today, US President Joe Biden arrived aboard Air Force One. The trip follows the president's trip from Washington to Rome for the G20 summit this weekend. Global leaders pledged "meaningful and effective" climate action at the G20 summit, but offered little information about how they will limit global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Also read | We can get real on coal, cars, cash and trees, UK PM Johnson warns world leaders at COP26 In the Vatican on Friday, while on his way to meet the Pope, Joe Biden deployed a massive motorcade, 85 gas-guzzling cars long parade to be exact. Today, according to reports, he had a similarly long entourage on his way from the airport to the summit venue. Here comes Biden at the Vatican to meet with the Pope ahead of #COP26 . His personal vehicle convoy puts your carbon footprint into the shade for the next 20 years, such is the hypocrisy of this Willy Waving fiasco! pic.twitter.com/cnCAO1jJFv — PonteJack (@somersetlevel) October 29, 2021 × Critics on the internet have blasted Biden and others for their exorbitant displays. A number of the participants at COP26 have been called out for claiming to fight climate change while not reducing their enormous carbon footprints. "Every world leader or dignitary that arrives to @COP26 by private jet is an eco-hypocrite. Fact." writes Nigel Farage, former politician, Leader of the UK Independence Party in a Twitter post. Every world leader or dignitary that arrives to @COP26 by private jet is an eco-hypocrite. Fact. — Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) October 31, 2021 × For their use of private jets to travel to Rome and Scotland, Prince Charles, the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, are also among the leaders to have come under criticism. Earlier too, in June, Johnson raised eyebrows when instead of taking the train from London, he flew to Cornwall for the G7 summit. Some other big names that are facing criticism include Jeff Bezos, Prince Albert of Monaco, and German chancellor Angela Merkel. Also read | This country could be underwater by the end of the century Netizens around the world have taken to Twitter to call out these "climate leaders." Check out some of the tweets: Hypocrite airways? Jeff Bezos's £48m Gulf Stream leads parade of 400 private jets into COP26 including Prince Albert of Monaco, scores of royals and dozens of 'green' CEOs- as huge traffic jam forces empty planes to fly 30 miles to park pic.twitter.com/m0Kege65DH — Space-reporter-news (@Spacereportern1) November 1, 2021 × Jet fuel powered Police aircraft circles Glasgow all morning whilst a private jet from Athens lands during the #COP26 conference. I’m sure this is helping pic.twitter.com/MQXLEiqh6m — shuggy hugman (@hughegarty) November 1, 2021 × 400 private jets into #COP26 COP26. #Hypocrisy_galore! If there is a climate change 1 minute before midnight disaster conference there is every chance that private jets will lead the parade. pic.twitter.com/VDYPOIjvPC — Iqbal Latif (@ilatif) November 1, 2021 × Private Jet to Glasgow to #CoP26 Private Jet to Glasgow to #CoP26 Private Jet to Glasgow to #CoP26 Private Jet to Glasgow to #CoP26 Private Jet to Glasgow to #CoP26 Private Jet to Glasgow to #CoP26 Private Jet to Glasgow to #CoP26 Private Jet to Glasgow to #CoP26 ok..... pic.twitter.com/Odq8K8Pc2Y — SweenFrank (@SweenFrank) November 1, 2021 × #COP26 we're addicted to fossil fools alright they're all running the world into ruin!! How many private jets and helicopters were used to transport all these world leaders to Glasgow, technology is a wonderful thing this day and age, try using it!! pic.twitter.com/plut8glvaY — stuart hughes (@StuartHughes_) November 1, 2021 × The spreader event where the celebrities arrive by private jets to talk to us about climate change. #COP26 pic.twitter.com/QGyhz0kEYa — Tracey T (@ttnaturalhealth) November 1, 2021 × Why is it always WE, when the one saying it doesnt believe things should apply to them? Flown the past few days to Italy, then Italy to Scotland by private jet for cop26. Needs to change the way WE do things? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/c8g6qVxqM4 — Drewski 💙 (@M1DNS) November 1, 2021 × #COP26 world “leaders” etc arriving in private jets large motor cage’s the worlds biggest polluters aren’t there and their lecturing us... pic.twitter.com/E3LPNnSKiK — Tony Sharpe 🍺🎤🦢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🤘🏻 (@CelticWarrior_3) November 1, 2021 × They are laughing at you. The 400 private jets used by world ‘leaders’ to get to #COP26 pumped out 13,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, yet they want you to stop eating meat, to stop going on holiday, to buy a new electric car, & to spend thousands of pounds on new boilers. pic.twitter.com/Phj1wpQvKJ — Matthew Firth (@MatthewPFirth) November 1, 2021 × UN Climate Change Conference Glasgow COP26 Zero carbon? The travel arrangements of world leaders and their entourage are a sick joke. No covid jabs? No problem. Worldwide pandemic? Don't be silly. The utter hypocrisy of it all.#ClimateHoax https://t.co/gp5Tt19Y2J pic.twitter.com/NSloawqso2 — ♰Pureblood Fifi J (@fifi_j) October 29, 2021 × A Lund University study found that private jet travel emits about 40 times more CO2 per passenger than commercial air travel. According to the non-profit group Finch's Transport and Environment, air emissions from private planes are soaring, contributing to the fact that around half of global aviation emissions come from 1 per cent of the world's population. Watch | COP26 Summit in Glasglow: Will the world succeed in averting climate disaster?

'Eco-hypocrite': Leaders, businessmen arrive in fuel-guzzling private jets at COP26

<p>The Maldives, an archipelago of low-lying islands in the Indian Ocean, faces a triple existential crisis brought about by climate change.</p>

<p>The rising sea levels are&nbsp;threatening to submerge some islands of the archipelago and scientists predict that this disaster could occur within the next decade.</p>

<p>Another threat to the under-pressure islands is the abrupt change in seasonal weather patterns.&nbsp;The frequency and intensity of monsoons and tropical storms have increased. It has accelerated the pace of coastal erosion.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/which-countries-and-blocs-are-major-players-at-the-glasgow-climate-summit-424619">Which countries and blocs are major players at the Glasgow climate summit?</a></strong></p>

<p>The resulting shrinkage of islands is pretty dramatic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the loss of atoll coral is perhaps one of the most pressing emergencies.&nbsp;As the sea temperatures rise, coral reefs are dying and this has devastating effects both on land and at sea.</p>

<p>Not only are coral reefs an essential part of the entire marine ecosystem, but they protect the island's coastline as well.</p>

<p>Azim Musthag, a marine scientist with the Small Island Research Group in Male, the capital of the Maldives, has been monitoring the island archipelago's coral reefs. He reports that his findings are troubling;&nbsp;most of the coral reefs are dead or aren't recovering quickly enough which&nbsp;is bad for a nation like the Maldives.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/developed-nations-enjoyed-fruits-of-energy-must-reduce-their-emissions-india-425696" hreflang="en">Developed nations enjoyed fruits of energy, must reduce their emissions: India</a></strong></p>

<p>He says that the coral reef is the basis of life in the Maldives. As a country in the middle of the Indian Ocean, without other sources of nutrients around, the reef supports nearly all of Maldives's marine life.</p>

<p>Musthag emphasized that it is time to act, adding that there is a need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or better yet bring them below zero.&nbsp;Investing in or restoring blue-carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass meadows, and natural forests is now a necessity.</p>

<p>He added that the time for action is less, and something needs to be done fast. He believes that the major countries and players are doing little about it, or aren't moving as fast&nbsp;as they need to.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-glasgow-fails-the-whole-thing-fails-uk-pm-johnson-warns-on-cop26-425669" hreflang="en">'If Glasgow fails, the whole thing fails': UK PM Johnson warns on COP26</a></strong></p>

<p>Climate change is increasing sea levels, and data for the Maldives indicates an increase of three to four millimetres over the past year alone.&nbsp;This means that in a decade's time, these low-lying islands could be buried completely underwater.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Maldives might end in 2100, government urges rich nations to meet emissions target</strong></p>

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<p>Dr Abdulla Naseer, Minister of State for Environment, is concerned that people may have to move to another island.</p>

<p>The Maldivian government may have to take extreme measures like forceful evacuation if a solution is not found soon.</p>

<p>For years, climate change has been hailed as a threat to the Maldives. Now, increasing pressure is looming over the islands. Already for too long now, the warning signs have been ignored.&nbsp;</p>


The Maldives, an archipelago of low-lying islands in the Indian Ocean, faces a triple existential crisis brought about by climate change. The rising sea levels are threatening to submerge some islands of the archipelago and scientists predict that this disaster could occur within the next decade.

The Maldives, an archipelago of low-lying islands in the Indian Ocean, faces a triple existential crisis brought about by climate change. The rising sea levels are threatening to submerge some islands of the archipelago and scientists predict that this disaster could occur within the next decade. Another threat to the under-pressure islands is the abrupt change in seasonal weather patterns. The frequency and intensity of monsoons and tropical storms have increased. It has accelerated the pace of coastal erosion. Also read | Which countries and blocs are major players at the Glasgow climate summit? The resulting shrinkage of islands is pretty dramatic. However, the loss of atoll coral is perhaps one of the most pressing emergencies. As the sea temperatures rise, coral reefs are dying and this has devastating effects both on land and at sea. Not only are coral reefs an essential part of the entire marine ecosystem, but they protect the island's coastline as well. Azim Musthag, a marine scientist with the Small Island Research Group in Male, the capital of the Maldives, has been monitoring the island archipelago's coral reefs. He reports that his findings are troubling; most of the coral reefs are dead or aren't recovering quickly enough which is bad for a nation like the Maldives. Also read | Developed nations enjoyed fruits of energy, must reduce their emissions: India He says that the coral reef is the basis of life in the Maldives. As a country in the middle of the Indian Ocean, without other sources of nutrients around, the reef supports nearly all of Maldives's marine life. Musthag emphasized that it is time to act, adding that there is a need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or better yet bring them below zero. Investing in or restoring blue-carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass meadows, and natural forests is now a necessity. He added that the time for action is less, and something needs to be done fast. He believes that the major countries and players are doing little about it, or aren't moving as fast as they need to. Also read | 'If Glasgow fails, the whole thing fails': UK PM Johnson warns on COP26 Climate change is increasing sea levels, and data for the Maldives indicates an increase of three to four millimetres over the past year alone. This means that in a decade's time, these low-lying islands could be buried completely underwater. Watch | Maldives might end in 2100, government urges rich nations to meet emissions target Dr Abdulla Naseer, Minister of State for Environment, is concerned that people may have to move to another island. The Maldivian government may have to take extreme measures like forceful evacuation if a solution is not found soon. For years, climate change has been hailed as a threat to the Maldives. Now, increasing pressure is looming over the islands. Already for too long now, the warning signs have been ignored.

This country could be underwater by the end of the century

In pics: Climate activists demand action ahead of COP26 summit

<p>This year, Florida has been dealing with a massive die-off of manatees, with 959 documented deaths as of Oct. 1. This has already been the deadliest year on record, and according to state estimates, further colder weather may cause another wave of deaths among the estimated 7,500 to 10,200 manatees along both Florida coasts.</p>

<p>Manatee deaths this year are expected to double the 593 recorded in 2020, and exceed the state's latest five-year average of 146 deaths, with no end to the die-off in sight.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iucns-red-list-puts-focus-back-on-worlds-endangered-species-410901">IUCN’s Red List puts focus back on world's endangered species</a></strong></p>

<p>"There is a huge sense of urgency," said Gil McRae, director of the state Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. "We're uncertain how long it's (high manatee deaths) going to be."</p>

<p>Who is to blame? Because of fertiliser runoff, wastewater discharges and deliberately diverted water from Lake Okeechobee to coastal estuaries, the seagrass on which so-called sea cows rely is dying.</p>

<p>Additionally, these pollutants can lead to algae blooms so dense that seagrass cannot get enough sunlight to survive. Since 2009, 58 per cent of the seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon has been lost.</p>

<p>Florida is at a crossroads with regards to water quality and climate, says JP Brooker, Florida director for the Ocean Conservancy environmental group.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/koalas-may-get-an-unfortunate-bump-up-from-vulnerable-to-endangered-392426">Koalas may get an unfortunate bump up: From vulnerable to endangered</a></strong></p>

<p>Because of human activity, Florida waters have become inhospitable to them, he added. “It's not just our manatees at risk, it's a coast-wide ecological problem.”</p>

<p>Florida legislators have approved $8 million in state funding for a manatee habitat restoration programme. However, with cooler winter months ahead, more manatees are likely to starve before the restoration work is complete if they congregate in warmer waters.</p>

<p>“Seagrass restoration doesn't happen overnight. We can't really start planting seagrass until we have water quality improvements,” said Michael Sole, vice chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.</p>

<p>“The winter is coming.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/polar-bears-return-to-pacific-arctic-for-first-time-in-20-years-423062">Polar bears return to Pacific Arctic for first time in 20 years</a></strong></p>

<p>During the upcoming legislative session, the commission is asking for an additional $7 million for projects such as seagrass restoration and manatee rehabilitation centres. Researchers are also studying whether humans can feed manatees without harming them, McRae said at a hearing last week.</p>

<p>“Those of you that have paid attention to feeding wildlife know that almost universally, it does more harm than good,” McRae told lawmakers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But if the manatees' numbers keep plummeting, “there's a possibility some level of supplemental feeding might be in order,” he said.</p>

<p>Manatees have struggled to withstand humans for decades. Boat strikes kill dozens of the slow-moving animals despite no-wake zones in areas the animals frequent, and many more bear lifelong scars from such encounters. There are also threats from red tide outbreaks and unusually cold weather.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Amid food scarcity, Florida manatees dying in record numbers</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/amid-food-scarcity-florida-manatees-dying-in-record-numbers-424500/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div>These gentle giants can weigh as much as 1,200 pounds (550 kilogrammes) and live up to 65 years or so. The manatee is Florida's official state mammal and is closely related to elephants.</div>

<p>Fish and Wildlife Service listed manatees as endangered in 1966, a designation that was downgraded to threatened in 2016. In an attempt to increase the chances of long-term recovery for manatees, a new campaign is underway to list the animals as endangered once again.</p>


This year, Florida has been dealing with a massive die-off of manatees, with 959 documented deaths as of Oct. 1. This has already been the deadliest year on record, and according to state estimates, further colder weather may cause another wave of deaths among the estimated 7,500 to 10,200 manatees along both Florida coasts.

This year, Florida has been dealing with a massive die-off of manatees, with 959 documented deaths as of Oct. 1. This has already been the deadliest year on record, and according to state estimates, further colder weather may cause another wave of deaths among the estimated 7,500 to 10,200 manatees along both Florida coasts. Manatee deaths this year are expected to double the 593 recorded in 2020, and exceed the state's latest five-year average of 146 deaths, with no end to the die-off in sight. Also read | IUCN’s Red List puts focus back on world's endangered species "There is a huge sense of urgency," said Gil McRae, director of the state Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. "We're uncertain how long it's (high manatee deaths) going to be." Who is to blame? Because of fertiliser runoff, wastewater discharges and deliberately diverted water from Lake Okeechobee to coastal estuaries, the seagrass on which so-called sea cows rely is dying. Additionally, these pollutants can lead to algae blooms so dense that seagrass cannot get enough sunlight to survive. Since 2009, 58 per cent of the seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon has been lost. Florida is at a crossroads with regards to water quality and climate, says JP Brooker, Florida director for the Ocean Conservancy environmental group. Also read | Koalas may get an unfortunate bump up: From vulnerable to endangered Because of human activity, Florida waters have become inhospitable to them, he added. “It's not just our manatees at risk, it's a coast-wide ecological problem.” Florida legislators have approved $8 million in state funding for a manatee habitat restoration programme. However, with cooler winter months ahead, more manatees are likely to starve before the restoration work is complete if they congregate in warmer waters. “Seagrass restoration doesn't happen overnight. We can't really start planting seagrass until we have water quality improvements,” said Michael Sole, vice chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “The winter is coming.” Also read | Polar bears return to Pacific Arctic for first time in 20 years During the upcoming legislative session, the commission is asking for an additional $7 million for projects such as seagrass restoration and manatee rehabilitation centres. Researchers are also studying whether humans can feed manatees without harming them, McRae said at a hearing last week. “Those of you that have paid attention to feeding wildlife know that almost universally, it does more harm than good,” McRae told lawmakers. But if the manatees' numbers keep plummeting, “there's a possibility some level of supplemental feeding might be in order,” he said. Manatees have struggled to withstand humans for decades. Boat strikes kill dozens of the slow-moving animals despite no-wake zones in areas the animals frequent, and many more bear lifelong scars from such encounters. There are also threats from red tide outbreaks and unusually cold weather. Watch | Amid food scarcity, Florida manatees dying in record numbers These gentle giants can weigh as much as 1,200 pounds (550 kilogrammes) and live up to 65 years or so. The manatee is Florida's official state mammal and is closely related to elephants. Fish and Wildlife Service listed manatees as endangered in 1966, a designation that was downgraded to threatened in 2016. In an attempt to increase the chances of long-term recovery for manatees, a new campaign is underway to list the animals as endangered once again.

Humanity's latest victim: Amid food scarcity, Florida manatees dying in record numbers

<p>The European Investment Bank published a survey on Wednesday showing that a majority of European Union citizens believe their governments will fail to tackle climate change, which Europeans see as the biggest challenge humanity faces in the 21st century.</p>

<p>In the EIB's climate survey of 27,700 respondents in 27 EU countries, 58 per cent of respondents believed that their countries would fail to drastically cut CO2 emissions by 2050.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-indigenous-islanders-file-lawsuit-against-government-demand-climate-action-424150" hreflang="en">Australian indigenous islanders file lawsuit against government, demand climate action</a></strong></p>

<p>However, EU citizens' lack of confidence in their governments' climate credentials contrasts with their own support for tougher policies.</p>

<p>70 per cent of EU respondents said they supported measures to reduce emissions by imposing changes on people's behaviour.</p>

<p>87 per cent of respondents said they would either completely or somewhat support the replacement of short-haul flights with trains, while 69 per cent said they would support a tax on polluting products.</p>

<p>Furthermore, 81 per cent of European Union citizens believe climate change is the biggest challenge humanity faces this century, and 75 per cent say they are more concerned about the climate crisis than their governments.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-youths-take-to-streets-in-fridays-for-future-climate-protests-423195" hreflang="en">In pics: Youths take to streets in Fridays for Future climate protests</a></strong></p>

<p>This poll was conducted after the devastating wildfires and fatal floods in August and September highlighted the reality of climate change for many Europeans.</p>

<p>With COP26,&nbsp;the UN climate summit in Scotland&nbsp;beginning on Sunday, Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of EIB, said that these demands from the public are a clear mandate for them to strengthen their efforts and give momentum to the green transition.</p>

<p>Among the world's largest economies, the European Union has set some of the most ambitious climate goals. The bloc has legally committed to reduce its net emissions to zero by 2050 and rapidly reduce them this decade.</p>

<p>Even though these goals apply to the EU's overall emissions, EU countries, including Denmark, France, Germany and Ireland, have also set their own national net-zero emissions goals.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;UN sounds alarm on climate crisis ahead of high stakes COP26 summit</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-sounds-alarm-on-climate-crisis-ahead-of-high-stakes-cop26-summit-424362/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>EU policymakers are negotiating new measures to deliver its climate goals, including higher taxes on polluting fuels and a new carbon market - proposals facing resistance from some countries that fear a public backlash to measures that would increase costs for households.</p>

<p>Policymakers in the EU are negotiating new measures to achieve these climate goals. The new measures will include higher taxes on polluting fuels and a new carbon market. However, the proposals are facing resistance from some countries which fear a negative reaction from the public on measures that could increase household costs.</p>


The European Investment Bank published a survey on Wednesday showing that a majority of European Union citizens believe their governments will fail to tackle climate change, which Europeans see as the biggest challenge humanity faces in the 21st century.

The European Investment Bank published a survey on Wednesday showing that a majority of European Union citizens believe their governments will fail to tackle climate change, which Europeans see as the biggest challenge humanity faces in the 21st century. In the EIB's climate survey of 27,700 respondents in 27 EU countries, 58 per cent of respondents believed that their countries would fail to drastically cut CO2 emissions by 2050. Also read | Australian indigenous islanders file lawsuit against government, demand climate action However, EU citizens' lack of confidence in their governments' climate credentials contrasts with their own support for tougher policies. 70 per cent of EU respondents said they supported measures to reduce emissions by imposing changes on people's behaviour. 87 per cent of respondents said they would either completely or somewhat support the replacement of short-haul flights with trains, while 69 per cent said they would support a tax on polluting products. Furthermore, 81 per cent of European Union citizens believe climate change is the biggest challenge humanity faces this century, and 75 per cent say they are more concerned about the climate crisis than their governments. Also read | In pics: Youths take to streets in Fridays for Future climate protests This poll was conducted after the devastating wildfires and fatal floods in August and September highlighted the reality of climate change for many Europeans. With COP26, the UN climate summit in Scotland beginning on Sunday, Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of EIB, said that these demands from the public are a clear mandate for them to strengthen their efforts and give momentum to the green transition. Among the world's largest economies, the European Union has set some of the most ambitious climate goals. The bloc has legally committed to reduce its net emissions to zero by 2050 and rapidly reduce them this decade. Even though these goals apply to the EU's overall emissions, EU countries, including Denmark, France, Germany and Ireland, have also set their own national net-zero emissions goals. Watch | UN sounds alarm on climate crisis ahead of high stakes COP26 summit EU policymakers are negotiating new measures to deliver its climate goals, including higher taxes on polluting fuels and a new carbon market - proposals facing resistance from some countries that fear a public backlash to measures that would increase costs for households. Policymakers in the EU are negotiating new measures to achieve these climate goals. The new measures will include higher taxes on polluting fuels and a new carbon market. However, the proposals are facing resistance from some countries which fear a negative reaction from the public on measures that could increase household costs.

75% of Europeans are more concerned about the climate crisis than their governments: Survey

The United Nations report suggests that current commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions put the planet on track for a 2.7-degree Celsius temperature rise this century. This comes as another blaring warning ahead of the high-stakes COP26 climate summit.

UN sounds alarm on climate crisis ahead of high stakes COP26 summit

According to a recent study, climate change is causing plankton in the seas to move away from their habitats, and this could cause a 17% dip in marine life. Plankton are tiny ocean creatures carried by tides and currents.

Plankton migrate due to climate change, could cause 17% dip in marine life

<p>On Tuesday, indigenous residents of the low-lying Australian island of Torres Strait filed a landmark lawsuit against the Australian government.</p>

<p>The lawsuit is aimed at forcing the government to take steps to protect the islanders from climate change, by imposing deeper cuts on carbon emissions so as to combat the climate crisis. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-adopts-target-of-net-zero-emissions-by-2050-but-wont-legislate-goal-424095">Australia adopts target of net zero emissions by 2050 but won't legislate goal</a></strong></p>

<p>They say that rising sea levels pose an existential threat to their homelands and culture, thereby putting them at the frontline of the climate crisis.</p>

<p>Lawmakers representing traditional land owners of Boigu and Saibai, two of the hardest hit islands, want the Federal Court to order the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level that would prevent Torres Strait Islanders from ending up as climate refugees.</p>

<p>In terms of climate change class actions, this is believed to be the first to be launched by Indigenous Australians.</p>

<p>Australian officials unveiled a 2050 net-zero goal on the same day the lawsuit was filed; the plan, however, is light-on-detail and criticised for relying heavily on undeveloped technologies and carbon offsets.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Climate holdout Australia sets 2050 net zero emissions target</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/climate-holdout-australia-sets-2050-net-zero-emissions-target-424113/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The Torres Strait, also called Zenadth Kes, is a collection of 274 islands between Australia's mainland and Papua New Guinea. Fewer than 5,000 people live there.</p>

<p>In its lawsuit, the islanders claim that some islands are expected to become uninhabitable if global temperatures rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted that we could pass that threshold by 2030.</p>

<p>United Nations reports project the world will warm by 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, based on current global commitments.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-split-over-coal-15-degree-climate-limit-ahead-of-rome-summit-report-422972" hreflang="en">G20 split over coal, 1.5 degree climate limit ahead of Rome summit: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>The plaintiff, Paul Kabai, who lives on the island of Saibai, said that salt-ruined soils and worsening flooding were putting the health of his people at risk, leaving them facing a dire future.</p>

<p>"If you take away our homelands, we don't know who we are. We have a cultural responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen."</p>

<p>He said becoming a climate refugee means losing everything: their homes, their culture, their stories, and identity.<br />
In May, a federal judge ruled that expanding a coal mine near Sydney would cause climate-related harm to eight Australian teenagers. That judgement paved the way for this lawsuit.</p>

<p>People in Australia and around the world are increasingly turning to the courts in an effort to prod governments into taking action on climate change.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/planned-fossil-fuel-production-dangerously-out-of-sync-with-needed-emissions-cuts-un-422407" hreflang="en">Planned fossil fuel production 'dangerously out of sync' with needed emissions cuts: UN</a></strong></p>

<p>Earlier in 2019, a group of Torres Strait Islanders had filed a separate complaint with the United Nations, alleging that the authorities are failing to address climate change, which is a violation of their human rights.</p>

<p>The Australian government has asked for the complaint to be dismissed; however, the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva has not yet formally responded.</p>


On Tuesday, indigenous residents of the low-lying Australian island of Torres Strait filed a landmark lawsuit against the Australian government. The lawsuit is aimed at forcing the government to take steps to protect the islanders from climate change, by imposing deeper cuts on carbon emissions so as to combat the climate crisis.

On Tuesday, indigenous residents of the low-lying Australian island of Torres Strait filed a landmark lawsuit against the Australian government. The lawsuit is aimed at forcing the government to take steps to protect the islanders from climate change, by imposing deeper cuts on carbon emissions so as to combat the climate crisis. Also read | Australia adopts target of net zero emissions by 2050 but won't legislate goal They say that rising sea levels pose an existential threat to their homelands and culture, thereby putting them at the frontline of the climate crisis. Lawmakers representing traditional land owners of Boigu and Saibai, two of the hardest hit islands, want the Federal Court to order the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level that would prevent Torres Strait Islanders from ending up as climate refugees. In terms of climate change class actions, this is believed to be the first to be launched by Indigenous Australians. Australian officials unveiled a 2050 net-zero goal on the same day the lawsuit was filed; the plan, however, is light-on-detail and criticised for relying heavily on undeveloped technologies and carbon offsets. Watch | Climate holdout Australia sets 2050 net zero emissions target The Torres Strait, also called Zenadth Kes, is a collection of 274 islands between Australia's mainland and Papua New Guinea. Fewer than 5,000 people live there. In its lawsuit, the islanders claim that some islands are expected to become uninhabitable if global temperatures rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted that we could pass that threshold by 2030. United Nations reports project the world will warm by 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, based on current global commitments. Also read | G20 split over coal, 1.5 degree climate limit ahead of Rome summit: Report The plaintiff, Paul Kabai, who lives on the island of Saibai, said that salt-ruined soils and worsening flooding were putting the health of his people at risk, leaving them facing a dire future. "If you take away our homelands, we don't know who we are. We have a cultural responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen." He said becoming a climate refugee means losing everything: their homes, their culture, their stories, and identity. In May, a federal judge ruled that expanding a coal mine near Sydney would cause climate-related harm to eight Australian teenagers. That judgement paved the way for this lawsuit. People in Australia and around the world are increasingly turning to the courts in an effort to prod governments into taking action on climate change. Also read | Planned fossil fuel production 'dangerously out of sync' with needed emissions cuts: UN Earlier in 2019, a group of Torres Strait Islanders had filed a separate complaint with the United Nations, alleging that the authorities are failing to address climate change, which is a violation of their human rights. The Australian government has asked for the complaint to be dismissed; however, the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva has not yet formally responded.

Australian indigenous islanders file lawsuit against government, demand climate action

Global warming has increased temperatures in freshwater streams further threatening aquatic species and the latest victim of the ongoing climate crisis is California's spring- run chinook salmon which is fighting for survival especially at a time when extreme drought has gripped California.Our next report has more details.

Global warming increases temperatures in freshwater streams

For the first time in history- the United States intelligence community has published a report on climate change.The findings are bleak.The report warns that the climate crisis will ignite tensions across the world as countries will be forced to compete for scarce resources.

United States intelligence community publishes report on climate change

<p>A report by the UN's Environment Program found that nations are planning to produce more than double the amount of coal, oil, and gas consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>Merely ten days ahead of a climate summit that is being hailed as the key to the viability of the Paris Agreement temperature goals, the UNEP says that government plans for fossil fuel production this decade were "dangerously out of sync" with the needed emissions cuts.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/majority-of-fossil-fuels-should-remain-in-ground-to-fight-climate-change-crisis-411955">Majority of fossil fuels should 'remain in ground' to fight climate change crisis</a></strong></p>

<p>According to the UN, in order to limit warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, emissions must fall nearly 50 per cent by 2030 and to net-zero by mid-century.</p>

<p>However, the Production Gap report found that fossil fuel production would probably increase until at least 2040.</p>

<p>The report indicated that government plans are for about 240 per cent more coal, 57 per cent more oil and 71 per cent more natural gas production by 2030 than what the 1.5C target allows.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-report-must-be-death-knell-for-fossil-fuels-un-chief-404307">Climate report must be 'death knell' for fossil fuels: UN chief</a></strong></p>

<p>This decade, development plans would produce 110 per cent more fossil fuels than consistent to limiting global warming to 1.5C and 45 per cent more than necessary to limit global warming to 2C.</p>

<p>"The research is clear: global coal, oil and gas production must start declining immediately and steeply to be consistent with limiting long-term warming to 1.5C," said Ploy Achakulwisut, a lead report author from the Stockholm Environment Institute.</p>

<p>"However, governments continue to plan for and support levels of fossil fuel production that are vastly in excess of what we can safely burn."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/upcoming-un-climate-report-presents-starkest-warning-yet-403984" hreflang="en">Upcoming UN climate report presents 'starkest warning yet'</a></strong></p>

<p>Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries committed to cutting emissions by sweeping amounts to limit warming to between 1.5C and 2C. Additionally, every five years, each signatory is required to submit plans called National Determined Contributions, or NDCs, to reduce its emissions.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Scientists call for 'Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty'</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-call-for-fossil-fuel-non-proliferation-treaty-413570/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The UN said in an assessment last month that, "if" countries' latest NDCs are fulfilled, Earth will still be facing a "catastrophic" 2.7C of warming by 2100.</p>

<p>1.1C of warming has already increased the frequency of droughts, flooding, and storms, which are exacerbated by rising sea levels.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A report by the UN's Environment Program found that nations are planning to produce more than double the amount of coal, oil, and gas consistent with limiting global warming to 1.

A report by the UN's Environment Program found that nations are planning to produce more than double the amount of coal, oil, and gas consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Merely ten days ahead of a climate summit that is being hailed as the key to the viability of the Paris Agreement temperature goals, the UNEP says that government plans for fossil fuel production this decade were "dangerously out of sync" with the needed emissions cuts. Also read | Majority of fossil fuels should 'remain in ground' to fight climate change crisis According to the UN, in order to limit warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, emissions must fall nearly 50 per cent by 2030 and to net-zero by mid-century. However, the Production Gap report found that fossil fuel production would probably increase until at least 2040. The report indicated that government plans are for about 240 per cent more coal, 57 per cent more oil and 71 per cent more natural gas production by 2030 than what the 1.5C target allows. Also read | Climate report must be 'death knell' for fossil fuels: UN chief This decade, development plans would produce 110 per cent more fossil fuels than consistent to limiting global warming to 1.5C and 45 per cent more than necessary to limit global warming to 2C. "The research is clear: global coal, oil and gas production must start declining immediately and steeply to be consistent with limiting long-term warming to 1.5C," said Ploy Achakulwisut, a lead report author from the Stockholm Environment Institute. "However, governments continue to plan for and support levels of fossil fuel production that are vastly in excess of what we can safely burn." Also read | Upcoming UN climate report presents 'starkest warning yet' Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries committed to cutting emissions by sweeping amounts to limit warming to between 1.5C and 2C. Additionally, every five years, each signatory is required to submit plans called National Determined Contributions, or NDCs, to reduce its emissions. Watch | Scientists call for 'Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty' The UN said in an assessment last month that, "if" countries' latest NDCs are fulfilled, Earth will still be facing a "catastrophic" 2.7C of warming by 2100. 1.1C of warming has already increased the frequency of droughts, flooding, and storms, which are exacerbated by rising sea levels. (With inputs from agencies)

Planned fossil fuel production 'dangerously out of sync' with needed emissions cuts: UN

<p>Climate change will cause many of Africa's rare glaciers to disappear within the next two decades, a new report warns. This comes amid sweeping predictions of extreme suffering for the continent that contributes least to global warming, yet suffers the most.</p>

<p>This report by the World Meteorological Organisation and other agencies, released just ahead of the UN climate conference starting Oct. 31, provides a grim reminder.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-queen-finds-world-leaders-irritating-because-they-only-talk-and-dont-act-420982" hreflang="en">COP26: Queen finds world leaders 'irritating' because they only 'talk' and don't 'act'</a></strong></p>

<p>Despite the 54 African&nbsp;countries being responsible for less than 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa's 1.3 billion people are extremely vulnerable, as the continent continues to warm at a faster rate than the world average.</p>

<p>According to the new report, the shrinking glaciers of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda are symbolic of the rapid and widespread changes to come.</p>

<p>The report goes on to say that&nbsp;Africa's current retreat rates are higher than the global average, and if this pattern continues, the continent will suffer total deglaciation by the mid-2040s.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-change-could-sink-small-states-says-commonwealth-chief-420623" hreflang="en">Climate change could sink small states, says Commonwealth chief</a></strong></p>

<p>WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas spoke at the report launch on Tuesday and said that Massive displacement, hunger and increasing climate shocks such as droughts and flooding are in the future, yet the lack of climate data in parts of Africa "is having a major impact" on disaster warnings for millions of people.</p>

<p>Leonel Correia Sacko with the African Union Commission writes in the report,&nbsp;“Not only are physical conditions getting worse, but also the number of people being affected is increasing.”</p>

<p>Sacko adds that up to 118 million extremely poor people; those living on less than $1.90 a day, will be exposed to drought, floods, and extreme heat by 2030 if proper measures are not taken.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Climate crisis hits South Africa's Cape Town</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/climate-crisis-hits-south-africas-cape-town-412585/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Even though the African continent faces significant threats, African voices are underrepresented at global climate meetings and among those who write the most important scientific assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.</p>

<p>The amount of African contributions to IPCC reports is extremely low, according to a multi-country research project called Future Climate for Africa.</p>

<p>UN reports that famine-like conditions have already been created by climate change on Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/madagascar-prays-for-rain-as-un-warns-of-climate-change-famine-420184" hreflang="en">Madagascar prays for rain as U.N. warns of 'climate change famine'</a></strong></p>

<p>The costs ahead are enormous. The report estimates that the cost of climate adaptation for sub-Saharan Africa will be between $30 and $50 billion each year over the next decade or about two to three per cent of GDP.</p>

<p>“The cost of adapting to climate change in Africa will rise to $50 billion per year by 2050, even assuming the international efforts to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.”</p>


Climate change will cause many of Africa's rare glaciers to disappear within the next two decades, a new report warns. This comes amid sweeping predictions of extreme suffering for the continent that contributes least to global warming, yet suffers the most.

Climate change will cause many of Africa's rare glaciers to disappear within the next two decades, a new report warns. This comes amid sweeping predictions of extreme suffering for the continent that contributes least to global warming, yet suffers the most. This report by the World Meteorological Organisation and other agencies, released just ahead of the UN climate conference starting Oct. 31, provides a grim reminder. Also read | COP26: Queen finds world leaders 'irritating' because they only 'talk' and don't 'act' Despite the 54 African countries being responsible for less than 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa's 1.3 billion people are extremely vulnerable, as the continent continues to warm at a faster rate than the world average. According to the new report, the shrinking glaciers of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda are symbolic of the rapid and widespread changes to come. The report goes on to say that Africa's current retreat rates are higher than the global average, and if this pattern continues, the continent will suffer total deglaciation by the mid-2040s. Also read | Climate change could sink small states, says Commonwealth chief WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas spoke at the report launch on Tuesday and said that Massive displacement, hunger and increasing climate shocks such as droughts and flooding are in the future, yet the lack of climate data in parts of Africa "is having a major impact" on disaster warnings for millions of people. Leonel Correia Sacko with the African Union Commission writes in the report, “Not only are physical conditions getting worse, but also the number of people being affected is increasing.” Sacko adds that up to 118 million extremely poor people; those living on less than $1.90 a day, will be exposed to drought, floods, and extreme heat by 2030 if proper measures are not taken. Watch | Climate crisis hits South Africa's Cape Town Even though the African continent faces significant threats, African voices are underrepresented at global climate meetings and among those who write the most important scientific assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The amount of African contributions to IPCC reports is extremely low, according to a multi-country research project called Future Climate for Africa. UN reports that famine-like conditions have already been created by climate change on Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. Also read | Madagascar prays for rain as U.N. warns of 'climate change famine' The costs ahead are enormous. The report estimates that the cost of climate adaptation for sub-Saharan Africa will be between $30 and $50 billion each year over the next decade or about two to three per cent of GDP. “The cost of adapting to climate change in Africa will rise to $50 billion per year by 2050, even assuming the international efforts to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.”

Africa: The continent with low emissions and high suffering, risks losing rare glaciers to global warming

With the global temperature rising Russia stands to pay a higher cost than most other nations, and the telltale signs are all too visible now.

15 million homes in Russia at risk due to ice melt

<p>The most powerful part of President Joe Biden’s climate agenda — a program to rapidly replace the nation’s coal- and gas-fired power plants with wind, solar and nuclear energy — will likely be dropped from the massive budget bill pending in Congress, according to congressional staffers and lobbyists familiar with the matter.</p>

<p>Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from coal-rich West Virginia whose vote is crucial to passage of the bill, has told the White House that he strongly opposes the clean electricity program, according to three of those people. As a result, White House staffers are now rewriting the legislation without that climate provision and are trying to cobble together a mix of other policies that could also cut emissions.</p>

<p>A White House spokesperson, Vedant Patel, declined to comment on the specifics of the bill, saying, “The White House is laser focused on advancing the president’s climate goals and positioning the United States to meet its emission targets in a way that grows domestic industries and good jobs.”</p>

<p>A spokesperson for Manchin, Sam Runyon, wrote in an email, “Sen. Manchin has clearly expressed his concerns about using taxpayer dollars to pay private companies to do things they’re already doing. He continues to support efforts to combat climate change while protecting American energy independence and ensuring our energy reliability.”</p>

<p>West Virginia’s other senator, Republican Shelley Moore Capito, said she was “vehemently opposed” to the clean electricity program because it is “designed to ultimately eliminate coal and natural gas from our electricity mix, and would be absolutely devastating for my state.”</p>

<p>The $150 billion clean electricity program was the muscle behind Biden’s ambitious climate agenda. It would reward utilities that switched from burning fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and penalize those that did not.</p>

<p>Experts have said that over the next decade the policy would dramatically reduce the greenhouse gases that are heating the planet and that it would be the strongest climate change policy ever enacted by the United States.</p>

<p>“This is absolutely the most important climate policy in the package,” said Leah Stokes, an expert on climate policy, who has been advising Senate Democrats on how to craft the program. “We fundamentally need it to meet our climate goals. That’s just the reality. And now we can’t. So this is pretty sad.”</p>

<p>The setback also means President Joe Biden will have a weakened hand when he travels to Glasgow, Scotland, in two weeks for a major United Nations climate change summit. He had hoped to point to the clean electricity program as evidence that the United States, which is historically the largest emitter of planet-warming pollution, was serious about changing course and leading a global effort to fight climate change. Biden has vowed that the United States will cut its emissions 50% from 2005 levels by 2030.</p>

<p>The rest of the world remains deeply wary of the United States’ commitment to tackling global warming after four years in which former President Donald Trump openly mocked the science of climate change and enacted policies that encouraged more drilling and burning of fossil fuels.</p>

<p>“This will create a huge problem for the White House in Glasgow,” said David G. Victor, co-director of the Deep Decarbonization Initiative at the University of California, San Diego.“ If you see the president coming in and saying all the right things with all the right aspirations and then one of the earliest tests of whether he can deliver falls apart, it creates the question of whether you can believe him.”</p>

<p>Democrats had hoped to include the clean electricity program in their sweeping budget bill that would also expand the social safety net, which they plan to muscle through using a fast-track process known as reconciliation that would allow them to pass it without any Republican votes. The party is still trying to figure out how to pass the budget bill along with a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill.</p>

<p>For weeks, Democratic leaders have vowed that the clean electricity program was a nonnegotiable part of the legislation. Progressive Democrats held rallies chanting “No climate, no deal!”</p>

<p>Biden had hoped enactment of the legislation would clean up the electricity sector, which produces about one-quarter of the country’s greenhouse gases. He wanted a program with impacts that would last well after he leaves office, regardless of who occupies the White House.</p>

<p>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at an event in San Francisco on Friday morning that she was still pushing for the strongest possible climate change provisions in the bill.</p>

<p>“What we’re here today about is specifically about the climate piece," Pelosi said. "This is our moment. We cannot – we don’t have any more time to wait."</p>

<p>Democratic presidents have tried but failed to enact climate change legislation since the Clinton administration. During a year of record and deadly droughts, wildfires, storms and floods that scientists say are worsened by climate change, Democrats had hoped to finally garner enough political support to enact a strong climate law, even as scientific reports say that the window is rapidly closing to avoid the most devastating impacts of a warming planet.</p>

<p>A major scientific report released in August concluded that countries must immediately shift away from burning fossil fuels in order to avoid a future of severe drought, intense heat waves, water shortages, devastating storms, rising seas and ecosystem collapse. To avert catastrophe, scientists say nations must keep the average global temperature from increasing 1.5 Celsius above preindustrial levels. But as countries continue to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the average global temperature has already risen by about 1.1 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>Even as Pelosi vowed in San Francisco to protect those climate provisions, at least four people in Washington close to the negotiations called the clean electricity program “dead.”</p>

<p>Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., the chief author of the program, said that while dropping it might win Manchin’s vote on the budget bill, it could cost hers — and those of other Democrats focused on the environment.</p>

<p>“We must have strong climate action in the Build Back Better budget," she said. "I’m open to all approaches, but as I’ve said, I will not support a budget deal that does not get us where we need to go on climate action. There are 50 Democratic senators, and it’s going to take every one of our votes to get this budget passed.”</p>

<p>Manchin, who has personal financial ties to the coal industry, had initially intended to write the details of the program as the chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Manchin was considering a clean electricity program that would reward utilities for switching from coal to natural gas, which is less polluting but still emits carbon dioxide and can leak methane, another greenhouse gas. Manchin’s home state, West Virginia, is one of the nation’s top producers of coal and gas.</p>

<p>But in recent days, Manchin indicated to the administration that he was now completely opposed to a clean energy program, people familiar with the discussions said.</p>

<p>As a result, White House staffers are scrambling to calculate the impact on emissions from other climate measures in the bill, including tax incentives for renewable energy producers and tax credits for consumers who purchase electric vehicles. Unlike a clean energy program, tax incentives tend to expire after a set period of time, and do not have the market-shifting power of a more durable strategy.</p>

<p>Those other programs include about $300 billion to extend existing tax credits for utilities, commercial businesses and homeowners that use or generate electricity from zero-carbon sources such as wind and solar and $32 billion in tax credits for individuals who purchase electric vehicles. It could also include $13.5 billion for electric car charging stations and $9 billion to update the electric grid, making it more conducive to transmitting wind and solar power, and $17.5 billion to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from federal buildings and vehicles.</p>

<p>But, analysts say, while those spending programs will help make it easier and cheaper for the U.S. economy to transition to a lower-emissions future, they are unlikely to lead to the same kind of rapid reduction in emissions that the clean electricity program would have.</p>

<p>“To clean up the electricity system as rapidly as possible, you need an incentive to add clean energy and a penalty that is a disincentive for dirty sources of energy,” Victor said. “A carrot and stick. These tax incentives are carrots. But there’s no more stick.”</p>

<p>It is also possible that Democrats may try to push through the clean electricity program as a stand-alone bill — but the timeline for doing so is narrowing, with the 2022 midterm elections approaching.</p>


The most powerful part of President Joe Biden’s climate agenda — a program to rapidly replace the nation’s coal- and gas-fired power plants with wind, solar and nuclear energy — will likely be dropped from the massive budget bill pending in Congress, according to congressional staffers and lobbyists familiar with the matter.

The most powerful part of President Joe Biden’s climate agenda — a program to rapidly replace the nation’s coal- and gas-fired power plants with wind, solar and nuclear energy — will likely be dropped from the massive budget bill pending in Congress, according to congressional staffers and lobbyists familiar with the matter. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from coal-rich West Virginia whose vote is crucial to passage of the bill, has told the White House that he strongly opposes the clean electricity program, according to three of those people. As a result, White House staffers are now rewriting the legislation without that climate provision and are trying to cobble together a mix of other policies that could also cut emissions. A White House spokesperson, Vedant Patel, declined to comment on the specifics of the bill, saying, “The White House is laser focused on advancing the president’s climate goals and positioning the United States to meet its emission targets in a way that grows domestic industries and good jobs.” A spokesperson for Manchin, Sam Runyon, wrote in an email, “Sen. Manchin has clearly expressed his concerns about using taxpayer dollars to pay private companies to do things they’re already doing. He continues to support efforts to combat climate change while protecting American energy independence and ensuring our energy reliability.” West Virginia’s other senator, Republican Shelley Moore Capito, said she was “vehemently opposed” to the clean electricity program because it is “designed to ultimately eliminate coal and natural gas from our electricity mix, and would be absolutely devastating for my state.” The $150 billion clean electricity program was the muscle behind Biden’s ambitious climate agenda. It would reward utilities that switched from burning fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and penalize those that did not. Experts have said that over the next decade the policy would dramatically reduce the greenhouse gases that are heating the planet and that it would be the strongest climate change policy ever enacted by the United States. “This is absolutely the most important climate policy in the package,” said Leah Stokes, an expert on climate policy, who has been advising Senate Democrats on how to craft the program. “We fundamentally need it to meet our climate goals. That’s just the reality. And now we can’t. So this is pretty sad.” The setback also means President Joe Biden will have a weakened hand when he travels to Glasgow, Scotland, in two weeks for a major United Nations climate change summit. He had hoped to point to the clean electricity program as evidence that the United States, which is historically the largest emitter of planet-warming pollution, was serious about changing course and leading a global effort to fight climate change. Biden has vowed that the United States will cut its emissions 50% from 2005 levels by 2030. The rest of the world remains deeply wary of the United States’ commitment to tackling global warming after four years in which former President Donald Trump openly mocked the science of climate change and enacted policies that encouraged more drilling and burning of fossil fuels. “This will create a huge problem for the White House in Glasgow,” said David G. Victor, co-director of the Deep Decarbonization Initiative at the University of California, San Diego.“ If you see the president coming in and saying all the right things with all the right aspirations and then one of the earliest tests of whether he can deliver falls apart, it creates the question of whether you can believe him.” Democrats had hoped to include the clean electricity program in their sweeping budget bill that would also expand the social safety net, which they plan to muscle through using a fast-track process known as reconciliation that would allow them to pass it without any Republican votes. The party is still trying to figure out how to pass the budget bill along with a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill. For weeks, Democratic leaders have vowed that the clean electricity program was a nonnegotiable part of the legislation. Progressive Democrats held rallies chanting “No climate, no deal!” Biden had hoped enactment of the legislation would clean up the electricity sector, which produces about one-quarter of the country’s greenhouse gases. He wanted a program with impacts that would last well after he leaves office, regardless of who occupies the White House. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at an event in San Francisco on Friday morning that she was still pushing for the strongest possible climate change provisions in the bill. “What we’re here today about is specifically about the climate piece," Pelosi said. "This is our moment. We cannot – we don’t have any more time to wait." Democratic presidents have tried but failed to enact climate change legislation since the Clinton administration. During a year of record and deadly droughts, wildfires, storms and floods that scientists say are worsened by climate change, Democrats had hoped to finally garner enough political support to enact a strong climate law, even as scientific reports say that the window is rapidly closing to avoid the most devastating impacts of a warming planet. A major scientific report released in August concluded that countries must immediately shift away from burning fossil fuels in order to avoid a future of severe drought, intense heat waves, water shortages, devastating storms, rising seas and ecosystem collapse. To avert catastrophe, scientists say nations must keep the average global temperature from increasing 1.5 Celsius above preindustrial levels. But as countries continue to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the average global temperature has already risen by about 1.1 degrees Celsius. Even as Pelosi vowed in San Francisco to protect those climate provisions, at least four people in Washington close to the negotiations called the clean electricity program “dead.” Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., the chief author of the program, said that while dropping it might win Manchin’s vote on the budget bill, it could cost hers — and those of other Democrats focused on the environment. “We must have strong climate action in the Build Back Better budget," she said. "I’m open to all approaches, but as I’ve said, I will not support a budget deal that does not get us where we need to go on climate action. There are 50 Democratic senators, and it’s going to take every one of our votes to get this budget passed.” Manchin, who has personal financial ties to the coal industry, had initially intended to write the details of the program as the chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Manchin was considering a clean electricity program that would reward utilities for switching from coal to natural gas, which is less polluting but still emits carbon dioxide and can leak methane, another greenhouse gas. Manchin’s home state, West Virginia, is one of the nation’s top producers of coal and gas. But in recent days, Manchin indicated to the administration that he was now completely opposed to a clean energy program, people familiar with the discussions said. As a result, White House staffers are scrambling to calculate the impact on emissions from other climate measures in the bill, including tax incentives for renewable energy producers and tax credits for consumers who purchase electric vehicles. Unlike a clean energy program, tax incentives tend to expire after a set period of time, and do not have the market-shifting power of a more durable strategy. Those other programs include about $300 billion to extend existing tax credits for utilities, commercial businesses and homeowners that use or generate electricity from zero-carbon sources such as wind and solar and $32 billion in tax credits for individuals who purchase electric vehicles. It could also include $13.5 billion for electric car charging stations and $9 billion to update the electric grid, making it more conducive to transmitting wind and solar power, and $17.5 billion to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from federal buildings and vehicles. But, analysts say, while those spending programs will help make it easier and cheaper for the U.S. economy to transition to a lower-emissions future, they are unlikely to lead to the same kind of rapid reduction in emissions that the clean electricity program would have. “To clean up the electricity system as rapidly as possible, you need an incentive to add clean energy and a penalty that is a disincentive for dirty sources of energy,” Victor said. “A carrot and stick. These tax incentives are carrots. But there’s no more stick.” It is also possible that Democrats may try to push through the clean electricity program as a stand-alone bill — but the timeline for doing so is narrowing, with the 2022 midterm elections approaching.

Key to Biden’s climate agenda likely to be cut because of Manchin opposition

Madagascar prays for rain as U.N. warns of 'climate change famine'

Indonesian officials and researchers are working to preserve a small pocket of forest on the heavily populated island of Java as the habitat of the Javan gibbon, which they say is endangered by climate change and human encroachment.

Indonesia races to preserve Java gibbon's home that aids in vegetation growth

UN wants to declare access to a safe environment a human right, but US, UK are opposing the move. Joe Biden had made tall promises on climate, Boris Johnson wanted to help countries at the forefront of the climate crisis. What happened? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: UN proposes to make safe environment a human right

Pope Francis has said that the Earth will become uninhabitable if there is no concrete action taken on climate change. He further asserted the complexity of the ecological crisis.

Pope Francis talks about climate change, pollution and development

A 13-inch tear in a pipe might be reason behind California oil spill

<p>On Monday, German officials unveiled what they claimed would be the world's first commercial synthetic kerosene plant in a bid to reduce the climate impact of flying.</p>

<p>Located near Germany's northwest border with the Netherlands, the facility in Werlte will produce hydrogen using water and electricity from nearby wind farms. With the addition of carbon dioxide, hydrogen is converted into crude, which is then refined into jet fuel.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hydrogen-needs-12-tn-for-zero-emissions-goal-iea-418145">Hydrogen needs $1.2 tn for zero emissions goal: IEA</a></strong></p>

<p>About 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, come from the aviation industry. In spite of the trend to electrify other forms of transportation, making large, battery-powered planes remains an extremely daunting task.</p>

<p>According to experts, using e-fuels to replace fossil fuels without requiring substantial modifications to aircraft could be a solution to the problem.</p>

<p>As synthetic kerosene releases no more CO2 into the atmosphere during combustion than it has removed during production, this fuel can be described as carbon-neutral.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-change-is-a-hammer-hitting-us-on-the-head-developing-nations-say-405011">Climate change is a ‘hammer hitting us on the head,’ developing nations say</a></strong></p>

<p>As of early next year, this new plant will be capable of producing only a small quantity of eight barrels per day. Comparatively, in 2019, commercial airlines around the world consumed almost 2.3 billion barrels of kerosene.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the amount of oil it can produce would only be enough to fill one small passenger plane once every three weeks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The organisations behind the project say their goal is to help demonstrate that the process can be technologically feasible and, with enough demand, once scaled up, it can also prove to be economically viable.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Global warming kills 14% of Coral reefs</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-warming-kills-14-of-coral-reefs-418423/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Atmosfair, a German non-profit group is this project's leader. The group offers companies and individuals means to neutralize carbon emissions. Germany's national carrier Lufthansa will be the first to use the synthetic kerosene or e-fuel, produced at this plant, which was built with engineering giant Siemens' help.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


On Monday, German officials unveiled what they claimed would be the world's first commercial synthetic kerosene plant in a bid to reduce the climate impact of flying.

On Monday, German officials unveiled what they claimed would be the world's first commercial synthetic kerosene plant in a bid to reduce the climate impact of flying. Located near Germany's northwest border with the Netherlands, the facility in Werlte will produce hydrogen using water and electricity from nearby wind farms. With the addition of carbon dioxide, hydrogen is converted into crude, which is then refined into jet fuel. Also read | Hydrogen needs $1.2 tn for zero emissions goal: IEA About 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, come from the aviation industry. In spite of the trend to electrify other forms of transportation, making large, battery-powered planes remains an extremely daunting task. According to experts, using e-fuels to replace fossil fuels without requiring substantial modifications to aircraft could be a solution to the problem. As synthetic kerosene releases no more CO2 into the atmosphere during combustion than it has removed during production, this fuel can be described as carbon-neutral. Also read | Climate change is a ‘hammer hitting us on the head,’ developing nations say As of early next year, this new plant will be capable of producing only a small quantity of eight barrels per day. Comparatively, in 2019, commercial airlines around the world consumed almost 2.3 billion barrels of kerosene. While the amount of oil it can produce would only be enough to fill one small passenger plane once every three weeks. The organisations behind the project say their goal is to help demonstrate that the process can be technologically feasible and, with enough demand, once scaled up, it can also prove to be economically viable. Watch | Global warming kills 14% of Coral reefs Atmosfair, a German non-profit group is this project's leader. The group offers companies and individuals means to neutralize carbon emissions. Germany's national carrier Lufthansa will be the first to use the synthetic kerosene or e-fuel, produced at this plant, which was built with engineering giant Siemens' help. (With inputs from agencies)

In a bid to combat climate impact, cut carbon footprint, Germany unveils synthetic kerosene plant

<p>According to a study, warming ocean waters have&nbsp;led to a drop in Earth's brightness.</p>

<p>Our planet now reflects about half a watt less light per square metre than it did 20 years ago,&nbsp;with most of the drop occurring in the last three years of Earthshine data.</p>

<p>As part of the study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, researchers used decades of Earthshine measurements to come up with their conclusion.&nbsp;Earthshine is the light reflected from the Earth that illuminates the surface of the moon.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-have-every-right-to-be-angry-boris-johnson-tells-climate-activists-417389">'You have every right to be angry', Boris Johnson tells climate activists</a></strong></p>

<p>Researchers estimate that the decrease in reflected light is the equivalent of a 0.5 per cent decrease in the Earth's reflectance.</p>

<p>According to the researchers, Earth reflects about 30 per cent of the sunlight it receives.</p>

<p>Philip Goode, a researcher at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the lead author of the study, says that&nbsp;"The albedo drop was such a surprise to us when we analysed the last three years of data after 17 years of nearly flat albedo,".</p>

<p>In his statement, Goode is referring to the Earthshine data gathered by the Big Bear Solar Observatory in Southern California from 1998 to 2017.</p>

<p>The researchers said the dimming trend became apparent when the latest data was added to the previous years.</p>

<p>They noted&nbsp;that solar brightness and the planet's reflectivity are two features that affect the amount of net sunlight reaching the Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/since-1950s-coral-cover-reduced-by-half-in-world-finds-report-414010">Since 1950s, coral cover reduced by half in world, finds report</a></strong></p>

<p>Observations by the researchers did not correlate with the periodic changes in the Sun's brightness, meaning something on Earth is responsible for changes in Earth's reflectiveness.</p>

<p>According to NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) project, there has also been a reduction in bright, reflective low-lying clouds over the eastern Pacific Ocean in recent years.</p>

<p>That is the same area where increases in sea surface temperatures have been recorded because of the reversal of a climatic condition with likely connections to global climate change, according to the researchers.</p>

<p>According to them, the dimming of the Earth is also evident in how much more solar energy is being captured by Earth's climate system.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-warming-effects-frances-highest-peak-mont-blanc-shrinks-417053/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>According to the researchers, this additional solar energy can contribute to global warming once it reaches Earth's atmosphere and oceans.</p>

<p>"It's actually quite concerning," said Edward Schwieterman, a planetary scientist at the University of California at Riverside who was not involved in the study.</p>

<p>Many scientists had hoped that a warmer Earth might lead to more clouds and higher albedo, which would then help to moderate warming and balance the climate system, he said.</p>

<p>"But this shows the opposite is true,"&nbsp;Schwieterman added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


According to a study, warming ocean waters have led to a drop in Earth's brightness. Our planet now reflects about half a watt less light per square metre than it did 20 years ago, with most of the drop occurring in the last three years of Earthshine data.

According to a study, warming ocean waters have led to a drop in Earth's brightness. Our planet now reflects about half a watt less light per square metre than it did 20 years ago, with most of the drop occurring in the last three years of Earthshine data. As part of the study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, researchers used decades of Earthshine measurements to come up with their conclusion. Earthshine is the light reflected from the Earth that illuminates the surface of the moon. Also read | 'You have every right to be angry', Boris Johnson tells climate activists Researchers estimate that the decrease in reflected light is the equivalent of a 0.5 per cent decrease in the Earth's reflectance. According to the researchers, Earth reflects about 30 per cent of the sunlight it receives. Philip Goode, a researcher at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the lead author of the study, says that "The albedo drop was such a surprise to us when we analysed the last three years of data after 17 years of nearly flat albedo,". In his statement, Goode is referring to the Earthshine data gathered by the Big Bear Solar Observatory in Southern California from 1998 to 2017. The researchers said the dimming trend became apparent when the latest data was added to the previous years. They noted that solar brightness and the planet's reflectivity are two features that affect the amount of net sunlight reaching the Earth. Also read | Since 1950s, coral cover reduced by half in world, finds report Observations by the researchers did not correlate with the periodic changes in the Sun's brightness, meaning something on Earth is responsible for changes in Earth's reflectiveness. According to NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) project, there has also been a reduction in bright, reflective low-lying clouds over the eastern Pacific Ocean in recent years. That is the same area where increases in sea surface temperatures have been recorded because of the reversal of a climatic condition with likely connections to global climate change, according to the researchers. According to them, the dimming of the Earth is also evident in how much more solar energy is being captured by Earth's climate system. According to the researchers, this additional solar energy can contribute to global warming once it reaches Earth's atmosphere and oceans. "It's actually quite concerning," said Edward Schwieterman, a planetary scientist at the University of California at Riverside who was not involved in the study. Many scientists had hoped that a warmer Earth might lead to more clouds and higher albedo, which would then help to moderate warming and balance the climate system, he said. "But this shows the opposite is true," Schwieterman added. (With inputs from agencies)

Study shows Earth's brightness is dropping because of climate change

<p class="MsoNormal">As young climate activists took to streets to protest against the worsening climate crisis, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed with them and said “you have every right to be angry”.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Johnson believes the young people around the world are paying the price for the reckless actions of previous generations and it is high time people change their habits.</p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><strong>Have a look |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/fridays-for-future-greta-thunberg-comes-in-support-of-young-climate-activists-in-milan-ahead-of-cop-26-417347">'Fridays for future': Greta Thunberg comes in support of young climate activists in Milan, ahead of COP 26</a></strong></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">"Young people around the world are already paying the price for the reckless actions of their elders," said Johnson. "Hundreds of millions of you are facing rising seas, failing crops, burning forests, and evermore ferocious storms, daily challenges that lead to lost opportunity. And your future is literally being stolen before your eyes."<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">His statement comes a little after hundreds of young activists took to streets along with Greta Thunberg to raise their voices against climate crisis. They also interrupted Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s speech.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">The protests got a bit heated as some protestors clashed with the local police and some violent blows were reportedly exchanged.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Talking about the protests, Johnson said he observed the rallies and feels the young people have right to be angry over this issue.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">"I saw the protesters earlier on. And frankly, you have every right to be angry with those who aren't doing enough to stop it."<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">However, he also said he has hopes with the upcoming COP26 meeting which is scheduled to start in November in Glasgow. He labelled it as "the beginning of the end of climate change."<o:p></o:p></p>


As young climate activists took to streets to protest against the worsening climate crisis, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed with them and said “you have every right to be angry”.

As young climate activists took to streets to protest against the worsening climate crisis, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed with them and said “you have every right to be angry”. Johnson believes the young people around the world are paying the price for the reckless actions of previous generations and it is high time people change their habits. Have a look | 'Fridays for future': Greta Thunberg comes in support of young climate activists in Milan, ahead of COP 26 "Young people around the world are already paying the price for the reckless actions of their elders," said Johnson. "Hundreds of millions of you are facing rising seas, failing crops, burning forests, and evermore ferocious storms, daily challenges that lead to lost opportunity. And your future is literally being stolen before your eyes." His statement comes a little after hundreds of young activists took to streets along with Greta Thunberg to raise their voices against climate crisis. They also interrupted Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s speech. The protests got a bit heated as some protestors clashed with the local police and some violent blows were reportedly exchanged. Talking about the protests, Johnson said he observed the rallies and feels the young people have right to be angry over this issue. "I saw the protesters earlier on. And frankly, you have every right to be angry with those who aren't doing enough to stop it." However, he also said he has hopes with the upcoming COP26 meeting which is scheduled to start in November in Glasgow. He labelled it as "the beginning of the end of climate change."

'You have every right to be angry', Boris Johnson tells climate activists

<p>Climate economist Nicholas Stern has said that the developing countries could receive long-promised funds, which will help them in tackling the climate crisis as soon as next year.</p>

<p>Recent promises of additional cash from the US, the EU and others have lifted the prospects.</p>

<p>Lord Stern, the chair of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at the London School of Economics, told The Guardian, in an interview: "I think that we will probably hit the $100bn for next year."</p>

<p>“We could start to get bilateral flows from donor countries to poor nations, approaching $50bn to $60bn because if the US came up then others would come up as well. The finance which went to the fossil fuels, which the G7 agreed to phase out quickly, could be reoriented towards renewables.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-gunman-in-deadly-mass-shooting-at-kroger-in-tennessee-identified-as-29-year-old-store-vendor-415830"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US: Gunman in deadly mass shooting at Kroger in Tennessee, identified as 29-year-old store vendor</strong></a></p>

<p>He also predicted that the global publicly funded development banks, such as the World Bank, would also step up their efforts at a series of meetings next month. “</p>

<p>They will be increasing their volumes and they will be increasing the proportions focused on climate. So my own view is we must push very hard to get the $100 billion, it’s not going to be this year so it should be next year, and I think it could well be," he said.</p>


Climate economist Nicholas Stern has said that the developing countries could receive long-promised funds, which will help them in tackling the climate crisis as soon as next year.

Climate economist Nicholas Stern has said that the developing countries could receive long-promised funds, which will help them in tackling the climate crisis as soon as next year. Recent promises of additional cash from the US, the EU and others have lifted the prospects. Lord Stern, the chair of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at the London School of Economics, told The Guardian, in an interview: "I think that we will probably hit the $100bn for next year." “We could start to get bilateral flows from donor countries to poor nations, approaching $50bn to $60bn because if the US came up then others would come up as well. The finance which went to the fossil fuels, which the G7 agreed to phase out quickly, could be reoriented towards renewables.” Also read | US: Gunman in deadly mass shooting at Kroger in Tennessee, identified as 29-year-old store vendor He also predicted that the global publicly funded development banks, such as the World Bank, would also step up their efforts at a series of meetings next month. “ They will be increasing their volumes and they will be increasing the proportions focused on climate. So my own view is we must push very hard to get the $100 billion, it’s not going to be this year so it should be next year, and I think it could well be," he said.

Developing countries to soon receive their long-promised funds for tackling climate crisis

US President Joe Biden used his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly to describe a world where American civic leadership, rather than military power, acts as the driving force to resolve persistent problems like coronavirus, climate change, and cyberwar. WION's Susan Tehrani brings you more on this.

WION-USA Direct: Pandemic and climate crisis are borderless says Joe Biden

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Both leaders are expected to discuss issues like China, the climate crisis & the COVID-19 pandemic.

WION-USA Direct: US & UK leaders to discuss China, climate & COVID during 76th UNGA session

Cape Town, the city built around the sea, is under climate crisis. The residents of this city are opposing the demolition drive near the coast.

Climate crisis hits South Africa's Cape Town

<p>If the world wants to control the ongoing climate crisis, the vast majority of fossil fuel reserves owned by developed countries and companies should remain in the ground, an analysis has claimed.</p>

<p>A group of researchers have described the climate change situation to be "absolutely desperate" and have said that 90 per cent of coal and 60 per cent of oil and gas reserves could not be extracted if there is even some chance of keeping global heating below 1.5 C.</p>

<p>This research has highlighted the gap between the reality of the situation and the goals set by world leaders in the Paris Agreement.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/as-earth-warms-up-animals-are-shape-shifting-to-survive-better-study-411890" hreflang="en">As Earth warms up, animals are 'shape-shifting' to survive better: Study</a></strong></p>

<p>"The (analysis) implies that many operational and planned fossil fuel projects (are) unviable,"&nbsp;the scientists said.</p>

<p>Experts have said that the new plans of fossil fuel industry make sense only if the leaders and countries believe that the oil, gas and coal production has already peaked and a decline of three per cent will now be commencing.</p>

<p>They also warned that countries who rely heavily on fossil fuel revenue, such as Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, are the ones who will be at greater risk.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-shark-toothed-dinosaur-gave-tough-competition-to-t-rex-411826" hreflang="en">This 'shark-toothed' dinosaur gave tough competition to T-Rex</a></strong></p>

<p>The analysis has stated that US, Russia and the former Soviet states will have to keep 97 per cent of coal reserves in the ground to make sure the temperature stays below 2.5 C, while China will have to keep 76 per cent in the ground.</p>

<p>Similarly, all Middle Eastern states should keep two-thirds oil reserves on ground and Canada should keep 83 per cent oil from tar sands should be left untouched.</p>

<p>"It is absolutely desperate," said Prof. Paul Ekins of University College London, and one of the research team. "We are nowhere near the Paris target in terms of the fossil fuels people are planning to produce."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


If the world wants to control the ongoing climate crisis, the vast majority of fossil fuel reserves owned by developed countries and companies should remain in the ground, an analysis has claimed.

If the world wants to control the ongoing climate crisis, the vast majority of fossil fuel reserves owned by developed countries and companies should remain in the ground, an analysis has claimed. A group of researchers have described the climate change situation to be "absolutely desperate" and have said that 90 per cent of coal and 60 per cent of oil and gas reserves could not be extracted if there is even some chance of keeping global heating below 1.5 C. This research has highlighted the gap between the reality of the situation and the goals set by world leaders in the Paris Agreement. Also read | As Earth warms up, animals are 'shape-shifting' to survive better: Study "The (analysis) implies that many operational and planned fossil fuel projects (are) unviable," the scientists said. Experts have said that the new plans of fossil fuel industry make sense only if the leaders and countries believe that the oil, gas and coal production has already peaked and a decline of three per cent will now be commencing. They also warned that countries who rely heavily on fossil fuel revenue, such as Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, are the ones who will be at greater risk. Also read | This 'shark-toothed' dinosaur gave tough competition to T-Rex The analysis has stated that US, Russia and the former Soviet states will have to keep 97 per cent of coal reserves in the ground to make sure the temperature stays below 2.5 C, while China will have to keep 76 per cent in the ground. Similarly, all Middle Eastern states should keep two-thirds oil reserves on ground and Canada should keep 83 per cent oil from tar sands should be left untouched. "It is absolutely desperate," said Prof. Paul Ekins of University College London, and one of the research team. "We are nowhere near the Paris target in terms of the fossil fuels people are planning to produce." (With inputs from agencies)

Majority of fossil fuels should 'remain in ground' to fight climate change crisis

The UN has warned that extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent and costly. Calling for better mitigation plans, experts said that the situation continues to worsen.

UN says weather disasters becoming costlier, calls for better mitigation plan

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