Climate change and energy usage are the need of the hour in India. Energy, in particular, renewable and sustainable energy, is becoming increasingly necessary due to India’s exponentially increased levels of population, pollution, international presence and trade over the past few years. In fact, it is safe to say that the way India handles energy development will determine the long-term health of the economy. While it’s easy to say that India should adopt sustainable growth, implementation comes with multiple challenges for policymakers, the Centre and state governments. &nbsp;

For starters, the Centre needs to first sort out expenses and allocations of creating and enforcing green energy and its productive use across industries. Additionally, the Modi government also faces significant economic challenges which makes implementing sustainable growth tricky. First, unregulated markets are moving towards regulated markets, but the pace and trend is impossible to track. Next, new industries like e-commerce are growing exponentially, and once again, the pace is unpredictable over the next few years. Yet another factor is the unpredictability of the monsoon season annually. PM Modi needs to somehow integrate green technology and the economic agenda to work together. The aim? In no sector should the market break and cause environmental alarm. &nbsp;

The effects of climate change are now clearly visible with altering sea levels, melting ice caps and changing temperatures. Consequences can be detrimental, quickly fatal, on a large scale if action is not taken right away. The effects of climate change combined with Indian-linked disturbances such as flooding, droughts, pollution and over-exploitation of resources inevitably result in changes in agricultural productivity. This in turn, significantly impacts the Indian economy. &nbsp;

Let’s look at how India currently uses energy. At present, India’s energy is a combination of coal, nuclear energy, hydropower and bio-energy including wind, biogas, bio-diesel, etc.). It is also interesting to note that a significant portion of India’s primary energy comes from forest and agricultural waste. This includes animal waste, wood chips, biofuels, etc. And along with bio-energy, India now also produces the world’s cheapest solar power. &nbsp;

India’s growing population and growing GDP is already faced with the challenge of countering India’s climate change, water, energy and sustainable development. Consumption is increasing and citizens of New India are attaining a better quality of life. This will only increase which in turn rapidly depletes vital natural resources like water. And if India faces more years with weak monsoon, a crisis like what is happening in Chennai over the past four months will be nationwide. Although every Indian resident needs to play a part by adopting sustainable living, the government really needs to play a pro-active role in solving the problem and clearly guiding industries.&nbsp; 
 
This means that individual policies need to be made across every sector and implemented immediately. Furthermore, along with the current aggressive international relations focus, policy-makers should work on required policy adjustments for sustained growth. An excellent example is to try to copy the Nordic commitment; multiple countries are eliminating fossil fuels completely from energy sources by 2020.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The time has also come for energy usage and climate change to be addressed (instead of just discussed) at the international level. A body like the United Nations needs to actively step in and give directions for curbing large-scale environmental pollution in India. It also needs to see through implementation working with the centre. One way is to use existing schemes like Swachh Bharat and engage citizens on a larger scale. Furthermore, agencies like the IEA could also give directions or even help provide India with sustainable sources for development (in smart cities for example) and for global growth. &nbsp;

An important note in our favour: Green technology is not only cheaper, but also labour intensive. Skilled and unskilled employment will constantly be needed for the long-run with its use. In other words, the more we use green technology, the more employment increases. A win-win for India. &nbsp;

Over the next five years, it is essential that the Modi government strongly push and perfect schemes that implement both solar and bio-energy usage. One way to do this is to have the industry grant tax deductions or exemptions for research and development of green innovation. Bio-fuels should also have low taxes or be exempted from taxes completely and higher taxes should be imposed on fossil fuels and fossil-based chemicals. Additionally, green fuels should be exempted completely from taxes. During his election rallies, PM Modi also stressed that sugarcane is used in the production of biofuel; this production should increase exponentially. Modi should also introduce a severe tax or penalty for pollution and emissions as well. Water allocation and management should also be addressed as soon as possible through the new ministry created by the Centre. &nbsp;

NDA 2.0 under PM Modi has already begun these efforts. Moreover, in his latest Mann Ki Baat episode, the PM stressed the importance of conserving water to citizens. This has not only made them more conscious of the severity of the situation but engaged them to be more civically responsible. I am happy that this government cares and is all about action. The new term has only just begun, but I am confident that it is this Prime Minister who will propel New India forward, and that too, sustainably so. &nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

Climate change and energy usage are the need of the hour in India. Energy, in particular, renewable and sustainable energy, is becoming increasingly necessary due to India’s exponentially increased levels of population, pollution, international presence and trade over the past few years.

Climate change and energy usage are the need of the hour in India. Energy, in particular, renewable and sustainable energy, is becoming increasingly necessary due to India’s exponentially increased levels of population, pollution, international presence and trade over the past few years. In fact, it is safe to say that the way India handles energy development will determine the long-term health of the economy. While it’s easy to say that India should adopt sustainable growth, implementation comes with multiple challenges for policymakers, the Centre and state governments. For starters, the Centre needs to first sort out expenses and allocations of creating and enforcing green energy and its productive use across industries. Additionally, the Modi government also faces significant economic challenges which makes implementing sustainable growth tricky. First, unregulated markets are moving towards regulated markets, but the pace and trend is impossible to track. Next, new industries like e-commerce are growing exponentially, and once again, the pace is unpredictable over the next few years. Yet another factor is the unpredictability of the monsoon season annually. PM Modi needs to somehow integrate green technology and the economic agenda to work together. The aim? In no sector should the market break and cause environmental alarm. The effects of climate change are now clearly visible with altering sea levels, melting ice caps and changing temperatures. Consequences can be detrimental, quickly fatal, on a large scale if action is not taken right away. The effects of climate change combined with Indian-linked disturbances such as flooding, droughts, pollution and over-exploitation of resources inevitably result in changes in agricultural productivity. This in turn, significantly impacts the Indian economy. Let’s look at how India currently uses energy. At present, India’s energy is a combination of coal, nuclear energy, hydropower and bio-energy including wind, biogas, bio-diesel, etc.). It is also interesting to note that a significant portion of India’s primary energy comes from forest and agricultural waste. This includes animal waste, wood chips, biofuels, etc. And along with bio-energy, India now also produces the world’s cheapest solar power. India’s growing population and growing GDP is already faced with the challenge of countering India’s climate change, water, energy and sustainable development. Consumption is increasing and citizens of New India are attaining a better quality of life. This will only increase which in turn rapidly depletes vital natural resources like water. And if India faces more years with weak monsoon, a crisis like what is happening in Chennai over the past four months will be nationwide. Although every Indian resident needs to play a part by adopting sustainable living, the government really needs to play a pro-active role in solving the problem and clearly guiding industries. This means that individual policies need to be made across every sector and implemented immediately. Furthermore, along with the current aggressive international relations focus, policy-makers should work on required policy adjustments for sustained growth. An excellent example is to try to copy the Nordic commitment; multiple countries are eliminating fossil fuels completely from energy sources by 2020. The time has also come for energy usage and climate change to be addressed (instead of just discussed) at the international level. A body like the United Nations needs to actively step in and give directions for curbing large-scale environmental pollution in India. It also needs to see through implementation working with the centre. One way is to use existing schemes like Swachh Bharat and engage citizens on a larger scale. Furthermore, agencies like the IEA could also give directions or even help provide India with sustainable sources for development (in smart cities for example) and for global growth. An important note in our favour: Green technology is not only cheaper, but also labour intensive. Skilled and unskilled employment will constantly be needed for the long-run with its use. In other words, the more we use green technology, the more employment increases. A win-win for India. Over the next five years, it is essential that the Modi government strongly push and perfect schemes that implement both solar and bio-energy usage. One way to do this is to have the industry grant tax deductions or exemptions for research and development of green innovation. Bio-fuels should also have low taxes or be exempted from taxes completely and higher taxes should be imposed on fossil fuels and fossil-based chemicals. Additionally, green fuels should be exempted completely from taxes. During his election rallies, PM Modi also stressed that sugarcane is used in the production of biofuel; this production should increase exponentially. Modi should also introduce a severe tax or penalty for pollution and emissions as well. Water allocation and management should also be addressed as soon as possible through the new ministry created by the Centre. NDA 2.0 under PM Modi has already begun these efforts. Moreover, in his latest Mann Ki Baat episode, the PM stressed the importance of conserving water to citizens. This has not only made them more conscious of the severity of the situation but engaged them to be more civically responsible. I am happy that this government cares and is all about action. The new term has only just begun, but I am confident that it is this Prime Minister who will propel New India forward, and that too, sustainably so. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Energy, green technology to define New India

One of the fastest-sinking cities on earth, environmental experts warn that one third of it could be submerged by 2050 if current rates continue.

Indonesia is prone to floods, Jakarta could submerge by 2050

Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg will set sail for New York on Wednesday (August 14), crossing the Atlantic in a racing yacht with no shower or toilet to join protests in the United States and take part in a United Nations summit.

Climate campaigner Greta prepares to sail to the U.S

Many argue that climate change is not a recent problem and has been occurring for millions of years, citing examples of the Little Ice Age. What they fail to realise is that humans have much more to lose now than they had then. Further, today humans are in a position to prevent and reduce climate change because they are the ones causing it.

Having said that, humans are not the only species bearing the brunt of climate change. Insects are also feeling the heat. However, the insect, animal and avian world have been bearing the cross of human progress for centuries. Dodo’s, passenger pigeons, the cheetah in India and a host of other species have been squashed underfoot in the march of progress. It is reported that since humans overran the planet after the last ice age, more than 300 mammal species have been wiped out.

Did their disappearance have an impact on human existence? Nobody knows because neither are the consequences immediately visible nor is the connection between the extinction of species and its impact on humans easy to ascertain.

In the modern world, the first impacts of the use of chemical pesticides was documented in Rachel Carsen’s book ‘Silent Spring’. She observed the absence of bird song and related it to the use of pesticides. These chemicals were not only killing weeds and bugs, but also birds and other insects -natural predators of such bugs. Chemicals are very secular, they harm everyone without prejudice.

In time, pests not only became immune to pesticides, but their natural predators also reduced, resulting in more chemicals in the field. Exposure to chemicals also began to affect humans. Skin rashes, breathing problems and lower IQ in children were some of the problems that began to be reported from farms. The war on pests has resulted in collateral damage both on humans and other species.

A study by the Zoological Society of London and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) states that ‘we have wiped out 58 per cent of animal life between 1970 and 2012’. &nbsp;

Recent reports suggest insects are facing mass extinction. A study conducted in the rain forests of Puerto Rico reported a decline, by a factor of four or eight, in the number of insects and invertebrates caught in traps. While the number of insects caught in sticky traps declined by a factor of 60, all caused by chemical-intensive agriculture, climate change and urbanisation.

A global scientific review reported in The Guardian states that the global mass of insects is falling at the rate of 2.5 per cent a year. They could vanish within a century. These are food for other creatures higher up in the food chain. As per researchers, this decline has coincided with the loss of birds, lizards and frogs.

Now, why should this be a worry for us? It can be argued that this should be the least of our worries as we are on top of the food chain, can make babies and meat in the laboratory, and can harness the wind and sun.

We should be concerned and here is why. According to scientists, it would take almost 3 million years for evolution to naturally replace species made extinct by humans.

Insects are pollinators and waste management experts, controlling other insects, keeping the soil healthy while also serving the most important function – being food for those higher up the food chain.

In the absence of pollinators, many plant species will disappear. Sure, the argument can be made that humans will be able to recreate such plants in the laboratory.

Approximately 87 per cent of the over 300,000 species of plants need external pollinators, where would one begin?

There is enough proof to declare that our handling of excreta is not as good as that of the dung beetle. Can human’s copy the magic that the earthworm performs on the soil? That being said, seed companies develop seeds in the laboratories to be sold to farmers along with pesticides and other chemicals. So, some can argue that agriculture will not be affected by insect decline. However, chemical residue in food and water sources links back to pesticide and fertiliser use.

There have been five earlier mass extinctions in the last 4 billion years. These were caused by volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts and the ice age. Humans did not have much to lose then as they do now. One is not only speaking about death.

The development has inured many of us to a way of life far removed from hardships, money has been invested to ensure that one is not accosted by survival issues that our forefathers faced. The collapse of the insect world will potentially add to other woes destabilising the socio-economic system. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Is the decline of insects an existential threat like climate change? The answer is I don’t know, nor would I like to find out. &nbsp;

Are we equipped to battle a potential second existential threat? The answer is a NO, looking at the way we are handling the climate crisis.

Many in power either refuse to acknowledge the threat of Climate Change or don’t do enough to reduce the impact their economies have on the climate, for example moving to renewables from fossil fuels. Humanity is already paying for this dilly-dallying monetarily. According to a report by Christian Aid, the cost of 10 major climatic events in 2018, including the floods in Kerala, ranged from $1 billion to seven billion each.

Though there are many reports on the decline of insect populations, there is no official acknowledgement of this threat and its potential impacts. But should we wait for that? As individuals, there are many things that can be done. Going organic, using natural pesticides at home, growing home gardens are some of the day-to-day activities that come to mind. If you haven’t started as yet, there is no better time than now. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-bearing-brunt-of-climate-change-2778913">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Many argue that climate change is not a recent problem and has been occurring for millions of years, citing examples of the Little Ice Age. What they fail to realise is that humans have much more to lose now than they had then.

Many argue that climate change is not a recent problem and has been occurring for millions of years, citing examples of the Little Ice Age. What they fail to realise is that humans have much more to lose now than they had then. Further, today humans are in a position to prevent and reduce climate change because they are the ones causing it. Having said that, humans are not the only species bearing the brunt of climate change. Insects are also feeling the heat. However, the insect, animal and avian world have been bearing the cross of human progress for centuries. Dodo’s, passenger pigeons, the cheetah in India and a host of other species have been squashed underfoot in the march of progress. It is reported that since humans overran the planet after the last ice age, more than 300 mammal species have been wiped out. Did their disappearance have an impact on human existence? Nobody knows because neither are the consequences immediately visible nor is the connection between the extinction of species and its impact on humans easy to ascertain. In the modern world, the first impacts of the use of chemical pesticides was documented in Rachel Carsen’s book ‘Silent Spring’. She observed the absence of bird song and related it to the use of pesticides. These chemicals were not only killing weeds and bugs, but also birds and other insects -natural predators of such bugs. Chemicals are very secular, they harm everyone without prejudice. In time, pests not only became immune to pesticides, but their natural predators also reduced, resulting in more chemicals in the field. Exposure to chemicals also began to affect humans. Skin rashes, breathing problems and lower IQ in children were some of the problems that began to be reported from farms. The war on pests has resulted in collateral damage both on humans and other species. A study by the Zoological Society of London and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) states that ‘we have wiped out 58 per cent of animal life between 1970 and 2012’. Recent reports suggest insects are facing mass extinction. A study conducted in the rain forests of Puerto Rico reported a decline, by a factor of four or eight, in the number of insects and invertebrates caught in traps. While the number of insects caught in sticky traps declined by a factor of 60, all caused by chemical-intensive agriculture, climate change and urbanisation. A global scientific review reported in The Guardian states that the global mass of insects is falling at the rate of 2.5 per cent a year. They could vanish within a century. These are food for other creatures higher up in the food chain. As per researchers, this decline has coincided with the loss of birds, lizards and frogs. Now, why should this be a worry for us? It can be argued that this should be the least of our worries as we are on top of the food chain, can make babies and meat in the laboratory, and can harness the wind and sun. We should be concerned and here is why. According to scientists, it would take almost 3 million years for evolution to naturally replace species made extinct by humans. Insects are pollinators and waste management experts, controlling other insects, keeping the soil healthy while also serving the most important function – being food for those higher up the food chain. In the absence of pollinators, many plant species will disappear. Sure, the argument can be made that humans will be able to recreate such plants in the laboratory. Approximately 87 per cent of the over 300,000 species of plants need external pollinators, where would one begin? There is enough proof to declare that our handling of excreta is not as good as that of the dung beetle. Can human’s copy the magic that the earthworm performs on the soil? That being said, seed companies develop seeds in the laboratories to be sold to farmers along with pesticides and other chemicals. So, some can argue that agriculture will not be affected by insect decline. However, chemical residue in food and water sources links back to pesticide and fertiliser use. There have been five earlier mass extinctions in the last 4 billion years. These were caused by volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts and the ice age. Humans did not have much to lose then as they do now. One is not only speaking about death. The development has inured many of us to a way of life far removed from hardships, money has been invested to ensure that one is not accosted by survival issues that our forefathers faced. The collapse of the insect world will potentially add to other woes destabilising the socio-economic system. Is the decline of insects an existential threat like climate change? The answer is I don’t know, nor would I like to find out. Are we equipped to battle a potential second existential threat? The answer is a NO, looking at the way we are handling the climate crisis. Many in power either refuse to acknowledge the threat of Climate Change or don’t do enough to reduce the impact their economies have on the climate, for example moving to renewables from fossil fuels. Humanity is already paying for this dilly-dallying monetarily. According to a report by Christian Aid, the cost of 10 major climatic events in 2018, including the floods in Kerala, ranged from $1 billion to seven billion each. Though there are many reports on the decline of insect populations, there is no official acknowledgement of this threat and its potential impacts. But should we wait for that? As individuals, there are many things that can be done. Going organic, using natural pesticides at home, growing home gardens are some of the day-to-day activities that come to mind. If you haven’t started as yet, there is no better time than now. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Bearing brunt of climate change

UK's 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2002, in a sign of the effects of climate change, a report by the UK Met Office published on Wednesday shows.

On Monday, the UK's national weather service confirmed that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-record-high-temperature-of-387c-reached-on-july-25-weather-service-239392">Britain's highest ever temperature of 38.7 Celsius </a>(101.7 Fahrenheit) in Cambridge on July 25 during a heatwave which gripped Europe.

Climate scientists have said such heatwaves are becoming more frequent as a result of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions.

In a report published in the International Journal of Climatology, the Met Office extended its temperature records for Britain by 26 years back to 1884.

Analysing that data, it found that the warmest year on record in Britain was 2014; followed by 2006, 2011, 2007, 2017, 2003, 2018, 2004, 2002, and 2005.

"Looking back further into the UK's weather reveals a very interesting timeline with the top ten warmest years at the most recent end, since 2002," said Mark McCarthy, the head of the Met Office's National Climate Information Centre.

"Notably, 1892 is the coldest year in the series, when the average temperature was just over seven degrees. By contrast 2014, which was the warmest year in the series, saw an average temperature approaching 10 degrees Celsius," he added.

The top 10 coldest years in order were 1892, 1888, 1885, 1963, 1919, 1886, 1917, 1909, 1887, and 1962.

The report also said that although last year was the most significant snowfall since 2010, snow events have generally declined since the 1960s.

Over the past decade, summers have been 13% wetter and winters have been 12% wetter than in the period 1961-1990.

The average sea level around Britain was also the highest on record in 2015 and 2018 since records from 1901.

Commenting on the Met Office report, scientists said it was a sign of the "new normal".

"With global emissions of greenhouse gases on the rise, the UK will continue to get warmer and wetter as global warming accelerates. The science of climate change is now clear," said Michael Byrne, lecturer in Earth &amp; Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews.

Worldwide, average temperatures have risen 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels since the mid-1800s.

Governments have agreed to limit temperature rises to within 2C this century but current emissions cut pledges are not enough and put the world on course for a 3-5C rise.

UK's 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2002, in a sign of the effects of climate change, a report by the UK Met Office published on Wednesday shows.

UK's 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 2002, in a sign of the effects of climate change, a report by the UK Met Office published on Wednesday shows. On Monday, the UK's national weather service confirmed that Britain's highest ever temperature of 38.7 Celsius (101.7 Fahrenheit) in Cambridge on July 25 during a heatwave which gripped Europe. Climate scientists have said such heatwaves are becoming more frequent as a result of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions. In a report published in the International Journal of Climatology, the Met Office extended its temperature records for Britain by 26 years back to 1884. Analysing that data, it found that the warmest year on record in Britain was 2014; followed by 2006, 2011, 2007, 2017, 2003, 2018, 2004, 2002, and 2005. "Looking back further into the UK's weather reveals a very interesting timeline with the top ten warmest years at the most recent end, since 2002," said Mark McCarthy, the head of the Met Office's National Climate Information Centre. "Notably, 1892 is the coldest year in the series, when the average temperature was just over seven degrees. By contrast 2014, which was the warmest year in the series, saw an average temperature approaching 10 degrees Celsius," he added. The top 10 coldest years in order were 1892, 1888, 1885, 1963, 1919, 1886, 1917, 1909, 1887, and 1962. The report also said that although last year was the most significant snowfall since 2010, snow events have generally declined since the 1960s. Over the past decade, summers have been 13% wetter and winters have been 12% wetter than in the period 1961-1990. The average sea level around Britain was also the highest on record in 2015 and 2018 since records from 1901. Commenting on the Met Office report, scientists said it was a sign of the "new normal". "With global emissions of greenhouse gases on the rise, the UK will continue to get warmer and wetter as global warming accelerates. The science of climate change is now clear," said Michael Byrne, lecturer in Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews. Worldwide, average temperatures have risen 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels since the mid-1800s. Governments have agreed to limit temperature rises to within 2C this century but current emissions cut pledges are not enough and put the world on course for a 3-5C rise.

UK's 10 hottest years all occurred since 2002: Met Office

Driving <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-overcast-clouds-rain-expected-at-manchester-ahead-of-india-vs-new-zealand-semi-final-234185">rains</a> flooded parts of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/4th-july-celebrations-battle-tanks-arrive-in-washington-trump-promises-incredible-flyovers-biggest-ever-fireworks-232578">Washington, D.C.,</a> on Monday, shattering a daily record in just an hour, forcing 15 swift-water rescues from stranded cars and causing an undeniable leak in the White House.

"This is a life-threatening situation. Seek higher ground now!" the National Weather Service warned amid torrential <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/railway-services-resume-in-mumbai-amid-heavy-rains-no-water-logging-reported-234162">rains</a> that dropped 3.3 inches (8.4 cm) at Reagan National Airport from 9 a.m. through 10 a.m. ET (1200-1300 GMT), shattering in one hour the previous record of 2.2 inches (5.6 cm) set in 1958.

It was the seventh-wettest July day since record-keeping began in 1871, said NWS meteorologist Marc Chenard.

"They broke their daily record in an hour," he said.

Even more, rainfall was recorded further northwest, in Arlington, Virginia, where about 5 inches (12.7 cm) fell from 9 to 10 a.m., Chenard said.

The rains eased by late morning and were expected to end by midday, Chenard said.

Torrents of water streamed through the ceiling of Metro stations, and major arteries serving Washington's top museums and memorials shut down due to high water as local emergency personnel reported rescuing several people from cars. By midday, DC Fire and EMS said it had saved 15 drivers.

Firefighters used yellow rubber lifeboats to rescue those trapped by the flood waters.

Twitter images showed a photograph of a very wet floor beneath office chairs and desks on the basement level of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"White House is leaking," CNN journalist Betsy Klein tweeted with the picture.

Driving rains flooded parts of Washington, D.C., on Monday, shattering a daily record in just an hour, forcing 15 swift-water rescues from stranded cars and causing an undeniable leak in the White House.

Driving rains flooded parts of Washington, D.C., on Monday, shattering a daily record in just an hour, forcing 15 swift-water rescues from stranded cars and causing an undeniable leak in the White House. "This is a life-threatening situation. Seek higher ground now!" the National Weather Service warned amid torrential rains that dropped 3.3 inches (8.4 cm) at Reagan National Airport from 9 a.m. through 10 a.m. ET (1200-1300 GMT), shattering in one hour the previous record of 2.2 inches (5.6 cm) set in 1958. It was the seventh-wettest July day since record-keeping began in 1871, said NWS meteorologist Marc Chenard. "They broke their daily record in an hour," he said. Even more, rainfall was recorded further northwest, in Arlington, Virginia, where about 5 inches (12.7 cm) fell from 9 to 10 a.m., Chenard said. The rains eased by late morning and were expected to end by midday, Chenard said. Torrents of water streamed through the ceiling of Metro stations, and major arteries serving Washington's top museums and memorials shut down due to high water as local emergency personnel reported rescuing several people from cars. By midday, DC Fire and EMS said it had saved 15 drivers. Firefighters used yellow rubber lifeboats to rescue those trapped by the flood waters. Twitter images showed a photograph of a very wet floor beneath office chairs and desks on the basement level of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. "White House is leaking," CNN journalist Betsy Klein tweeted with the picture.

Life-threatening rains pound US capital; White House basement offices leak

A recent study has suggested that the process of reforestation around the world would be the most effective method to combat <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tornado-hits-northeast-china-as-more-extreme-weather-strikes-six-killed-190-injured-232916">climate change</a>.

Around 0.9 billion hectares of land worldwide would be suitable for reforestation, which could ultimately capture two-thirds of human-made carbon emissions.

Researchers investigated nature-based solutions to climate change. In the latest study published in the journal 'Science', researchers for the first time, showed where in the world new trees could grow and how much carbon they would store.

"One aspect was of particular importance to us as we did the calculations, we excluded cities or agricultural areas from the total restoration potential as these areas are needed for human life," study lead author Jean-Francois Bastin explained.

The researchers calculated that under the current climate conditions, Earth's land could support 4.4 billion hectares of continuous tree cover. That is 1.6 billion more than the currently existing 2.8 billion hectares.

Of these 1.6 billion hectares, 0.9 billion hectares fulfil the criterion of not being used by humans. This means that there is currently an area of the size of the US available for tree restoration.

Once mature, these new forests could store 205 billion tonnes of carbon,&nbsp;about two-thirds of the 300 billion tonnes of carbon that has been released into the atmosphere as a result of human activity since the Industrial Revolution.

"We all knew that restoring forests could play a part in tackling climate change, but we didn't really know how big the impact would be. Our study shows clearly that forest restoration is the best climate change solution available today. But we must act quickly, as new forests will take decades to mature and achieve their full potential as a source of natural carbon storage," said co-author of the study, Prof. Thomas Crowther.

The study also shows which parts of the world are most suited to forest restoration.

The greatest potential can be found in just six countries:

Russia (151 million hectares)&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/why-china-is-afraid-of-us-abrams-tanks-to-be-delivered-to-taiwan-234260#us-army-infantry-battalions-m1-abrams-tanks-234232">US</a> (103 million hectares)

Canada (78.4 million hectares)

Australia (58 million hectares)

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-slams-brazil-fix-after-copa-red-card-233729/amp">Brazil</a> (49.7 million hectares)

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sale-of-weapons-to-taiwan-violates-one-china-policy-cancel-it-immediately-china-to-us-234236">China</a> (40.2 million hectares).

Many current climate models are wrong in expecting climate change to increase global tree cover, the study warns. It finds that there is likely to be an increase in the area of northern boreal forests in regions such as Siberia, but tree cover there averages only 30 to 40 per cent.&nbsp;

These gains would be outweighed by the losses suffered in dense tropical forests, which typically have 90 to 100 per cent tree cover.

A recent study has suggested that the process of reforestation around the world would be the most effective method to combat climate change. Around 0.9 billion hectares of land worldwide would be suitable for reforestation, which could ultimately capture two-thirds of human-made carbon emissions.

A recent study has suggested that the process of reforestation around the world would be the most effective method to combat climate change. Around 0.9 billion hectares of land worldwide would be suitable for reforestation, which could ultimately capture two-thirds of human-made carbon emissions. Researchers investigated nature-based solutions to climate change. In the latest study published in the journal 'Science', researchers for the first time, showed where in the world new trees could grow and how much carbon they would store. "One aspect was of particular importance to us as we did the calculations, we excluded cities or agricultural areas from the total restoration potential as these areas are needed for human life," study lead author Jean-Francois Bastin explained. The researchers calculated that under the current climate conditions, Earth's land could support 4.4 billion hectares of continuous tree cover. That is 1.6 billion more than the currently existing 2.8 billion hectares. Of these 1.6 billion hectares, 0.9 billion hectares fulfil the criterion of not being used by humans. This means that there is currently an area of the size of the US available for tree restoration. Once mature, these new forests could store 205 billion tonnes of carbon, about two-thirds of the 300 billion tonnes of carbon that has been released into the atmosphere as a result of human activity since the Industrial Revolution. "We all knew that restoring forests could play a part in tackling climate change, but we didn't really know how big the impact would be. Our study shows clearly that forest restoration is the best climate change solution available today. But we must act quickly, as new forests will take decades to mature and achieve their full potential as a source of natural carbon storage," said co-author of the study, Prof. Thomas Crowther. The study also shows which parts of the world are most suited to forest restoration. The greatest potential can be found in just six countries: Russia (151 million hectares) US (103 million hectares) Canada (78.4 million hectares) Australia (58 million hectares) Brazil (49.7 million hectares) China (40.2 million hectares). Many current climate models are wrong in expecting climate change to increase global tree cover, the study warns. It finds that there is likely to be an increase in the area of northern boreal forests in regions such as Siberia, but tree cover there averages only 30 to 40 per cent. These gains would be outweighed by the losses suffered in dense tropical forests, which typically have 90 to 100 per cent tree cover.

Experts find land as big as US for reforestation to reverse climate change effects

G20 negotiators are wrangling over the wording of a summit communique on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-g20-agreement-if-paris-climate-change-not-mentioned-macron-230595">combatting climate change</a>, with the United States pushing to downgrade the language against European opposition, according to sources and drafts of the text.&nbsp;

The arguments are a reprise of tussles over global warming that have stymied talks in multilateral forums since US President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a landmark agreement to limit the effects of climate change.&nbsp;

The latest draft, seen by Reuters, includes language supporting implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement, and saying the accord signed by 200 nations is "irreversible".&nbsp;

An earlier draft, also seen by Reuters, did not include such language at the insistence of the United States, two sources familiar with the discussions over the communique told Reuters.&nbsp;

Further changes to the communique are likely before the final adoption of the text on Saturday by Group of 20 leaders in Osaka for this week's summit, but the inclusion of stronger language came as French President Emmanuel Macron said France will not accept a text that does not mention the Paris agreement.&nbsp;

"If we don't talk about the Paris Agreement and if we don`t get an agreement on it amongst the 20 members in the room, we are no longer capable of defending our climate change goals and France will not be part of this," he said in Tokyo on Wednesday before heading to Osaka.&nbsp;

France was one of the main drivers behind the Paris accord and the French parliament is now debating an energy bill that targets net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.&nbsp;

"Negotiations on the topic of climate will be especially difficult this time," a German government official said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Nations in Paris agreed to limit the global average rise from pre-industrial temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).&nbsp;

Current policies, though, put the world on track for at least a 3C rise by the end of the century, according to a United Nations report in 2016.&nbsp;

Investors managing more than $34 trillion in assets, nearly half the world`s invested capital, piled pressure on G20 leaders on Wednesday, demanding urgent action from governments on climate change.&nbsp;

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday also urged G20 countries to back more ambitious climate goals, among other international initiatives.&nbsp;

Summit host Japan has been criticized for backing the continued use of coal for power generation, one of the biggest sources of gas emissions that cause global warming.&nbsp;

G20 leaders will meet on Friday and Saturday.&nbsp;

G20 negotiators are wrangling over the wording of a summit communique on combatting climate change, with the United States pushing to downgrade the language against European opposition, according to sources and drafts of the text.

G20 negotiators are wrangling over the wording of a summit communique on combatting climate change, with the United States pushing to downgrade the language against European opposition, according to sources and drafts of the text. The arguments are a reprise of tussles over global warming that have stymied talks in multilateral forums since US President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a landmark agreement to limit the effects of climate change. The latest draft, seen by Reuters, includes language supporting implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement, and saying the accord signed by 200 nations is "irreversible". An earlier draft, also seen by Reuters, did not include such language at the insistence of the United States, two sources familiar with the discussions over the communique told Reuters. Further changes to the communique are likely before the final adoption of the text on Saturday by Group of 20 leaders in Osaka for this week's summit, but the inclusion of stronger language came as French President Emmanuel Macron said France will not accept a text that does not mention the Paris agreement. "If we don't talk about the Paris Agreement and if we don`t get an agreement on it amongst the 20 members in the room, we are no longer capable of defending our climate change goals and France will not be part of this," he said in Tokyo on Wednesday before heading to Osaka. France was one of the main drivers behind the Paris accord and the French parliament is now debating an energy bill that targets net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. "Negotiations on the topic of climate will be especially difficult this time," a German government official said on Wednesday. Nations in Paris agreed to limit the global average rise from pre-industrial temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Current policies, though, put the world on track for at least a 3C rise by the end of the century, according to a United Nations report in 2016. Investors managing more than $34 trillion in assets, nearly half the world`s invested capital, piled pressure on G20 leaders on Wednesday, demanding urgent action from governments on climate change. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday also urged G20 countries to back more ambitious climate goals, among other international initiatives. Summit host Japan has been criticized for backing the continued use of coal for power generation, one of the biggest sources of gas emissions that cause global warming. G20 leaders will meet on Friday and Saturday.

G20 members at odds over climate change for summit meeting: Sources

Climate change could wreak "irreversible damage" on the world's most precious ancient monuments and other cultural sites, experts warned Saturday as they pushed for UN protection for major global sites.

Academics and policymakers gathered in Athens for a meeting on the threats to world heritage called for an array of tools to predict, measure and counter the effects of climate change.

They are campaigning to have the issue included on the agenda at the UN Summit for Climate Change in New York in September.

Dimitrios Pandermalis, director of the city's Acropolis Museum said that while environmental damage and deterioration has always been a challenge for monuments, these threats are accelerating.

"The scale of things is different and the destruction can be irreversible," he said.&nbsp;

The UN Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) warned in October that warming was on track towards a catastrophic 3C or 4C rise, and that avoiding global chaos would require a major transformation.

"Climate change is a threat to our future, but also to our heritage, natural and cultural," said UN Secretary-General Anthony Guterres ahead of the summit.

"Extreme weather events and shifts in climate are taking a toll on ancient monuments and sites."

The Athens meeting called for improved tools to help gauge the threat posed by climate change and mitigate risks, like threat maps based on climatic projections.

The conference highlighted the challenges in preserving underwater heritage such as shipwrecks.

The Head of the Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology at the Academy of Athens warned that "with man-made global warming everything will become more acid in the atmosphere but also in the seas" posing a threat to submarine monuments. &nbsp;

The conference was jointly hosted by the Greek government, the UN and the UN's cultural agency UNESCO.

Climate change could wreak "irreversible damage" on the world's most precious ancient monuments and other cultural sites, experts warned Saturday as they pushed for UN protection for major global sites.

Climate change could wreak "irreversible damage" on the world's most precious ancient monuments and other cultural sites, experts warned Saturday as they pushed for UN protection for major global sites. Academics and policymakers gathered in Athens for a meeting on the threats to world heritage called for an array of tools to predict, measure and counter the effects of climate change. They are campaigning to have the issue included on the agenda at the UN Summit for Climate Change in New York in September. Dimitrios Pandermalis, director of the city's Acropolis Museum said that while environmental damage and deterioration has always been a challenge for monuments, these threats are accelerating. "The scale of things is different and the destruction can be irreversible," he said. The UN Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) warned in October that warming was on track towards a catastrophic 3C or 4C rise, and that avoiding global chaos would require a major transformation. "Climate change is a threat to our future, but also to our heritage, natural and cultural," said UN Secretary-General Anthony Guterres ahead of the summit. "Extreme weather events and shifts in climate are taking a toll on ancient monuments and sites." The Athens meeting called for improved tools to help gauge the threat posed by climate change and mitigate risks, like threat maps based on climatic projections. The conference highlighted the challenges in preserving underwater heritage such as shipwrecks. The Head of the Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology at the Academy of Athens warned that "with man-made global warming everything will become more acid in the atmosphere but also in the seas" posing a threat to submarine monuments. The conference was jointly hosted by the Greek government, the UN and the UN's cultural agency UNESCO.

Experts raise alarm over climate change threat to cultural heritage

Under pressure from frequent flyers alarmed over climate change, the airline industry says it is "hellbent" on reducing emissions — but the technology needed to drastically reduce its carbon footprint is still out of reach.

In recent months climate activists have stepped up efforts to convince travellers to boycott air travel, with Swedish schoolgirl and campaigner Greta Thunberg spearheading the trains-over-planes movement and making "flygskam", or flight shame, a buzzword in the Scandinavian country.

"The sector is under considerable pressure," admitted Alexandre de Juniac, chief executive of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), whose members met this week in Seoul.

The industry has been under fire over its carbon emissions, which at 285 grams of CO2 emitted per kilometre travelled by a passenger far exceed all other modes of transport. Road transportation follows at 158 and rail travel is at 14, according to European Environment Agency figures.

De Juniac said the industry was "hellbent" on lowering emissions but the sector is also accused of underestimating its environmental impact, with the IATA chief lobbying heavily against a "green tax" on aviation backed by several countries including the Netherlands.&nbsp;

"Often these taxes are absorbed in the budgets of states and are spent on whatever they want, except the environment," he said.&nbsp;

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimates that air transport is responsible for two per cent of global CO2 emissions -- roughly equivalent to the overall emissions of Germany, according to consulting firm Sia Partners.

But aircraft also emit particles such as nitrogen oxides, which can trap heat at high altitude, meaning the industry is actually responsible for five per cent of global warming, according to the Climate Action Network, an umbrella group of environmental NGOs.

The industry has committed to improving fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent per year from 2009 to 2020 and stabilising its CO2 emissions in preparation for a 50 percent reduction by 2050 compared to 2005.

It is a major challenge given that the number of passengers is expected to double over the next two decades to reach 8.2 billion in 2037.

- Biofuels, electric engines - 
Companies are banking on a new generation of less polluting planes with updated engines, aerodynamic modifications and fittings that weigh less -- among them tablets to replace heavy pilot manuals.

However Shukor Yusof, analyst with Malaysia-based Endau Analytics, told AFP the industry had made progress but "that all these technological advances to cut emissions are tough to implement quickly due to the nature of the industry hemmed by high costs and the fact that planes typically take decades before they are replaced".

Philippe Plouvier, associate director of consulting firm Boston Consulting Group in Paris, said "the constant renewal of the fleet is a major part of it (cutting emissions)", explaining that the latest models of large aircraft reduce CO2 by 20 to 25 per cent.&nbsp;

"But that only solves around 30 per cent of the problem," he said. The rest, he added, can only be resolved by developing sustainable biofuels or turning to electric power -- technology which is currently impractical.

Several airlines have begun testing biofuels but production costs remain high and industry experts do not believe electric engines will be rolled out commercially for another two decades.

"Batteries today are still too big and heavy to be used as the main source of power for aircraft," said Leithen Francis, managing director of Singapore-based aviation public relations agency Francis &amp; Low.

"Aircraft today take off heavy -- because the aircraft is carrying a full load of fuel -- but then the aircraft uses up its fuel during the flight and lands light.

"Aircraft powered by batteries will take off heavy and then have to land heavy, so developing aircraft that can do that -- without having a hard landings or causing structural damage to the airframe -- will be a challenge," Francis told AFP.

The ICAO says better management of air traffic can help and a new generation of more fuel-efficient plane designs is predicted within five or ten years.

But time is not on the aviation industry's side.

A landmark UN report last year concluded that CO2 emissions must drop 45 per cent by 2030 -- and reach "net zero" by 2050 -- if the rise in Earth's temperature is to be checked at the safer limit of 1.5C.

Plouvier of the Boston Consulting Group said to meet the 2050 goal, the aviation industry "must start today and very quickly". 
&nbsp;

Under pressure from frequent flyers alarmed over climate change, the airline industry says it is "hellbent" on reducing emissions — but the technology needed to drastically reduce its carbon footprint is still out of reach.

Under pressure from frequent flyers alarmed over climate change, the airline industry says it is "hellbent" on reducing emissions — but the technology needed to drastically reduce its carbon footprint is still out of reach. In recent months climate activists have stepped up efforts to convince travellers to boycott air travel, with Swedish schoolgirl and campaigner Greta Thunberg spearheading the trains-over-planes movement and making "flygskam", or flight shame, a buzzword in the Scandinavian country. "The sector is under considerable pressure," admitted Alexandre de Juniac, chief executive of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), whose members met this week in Seoul. The industry has been under fire over its carbon emissions, which at 285 grams of CO2 emitted per kilometre travelled by a passenger far exceed all other modes of transport. Road transportation follows at 158 and rail travel is at 14, according to European Environment Agency figures. De Juniac said the industry was "hellbent" on lowering emissions but the sector is also accused of underestimating its environmental impact, with the IATA chief lobbying heavily against a "green tax" on aviation backed by several countries including the Netherlands. "Often these taxes are absorbed in the budgets of states and are spent on whatever they want, except the environment," he said. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimates that air transport is responsible for two per cent of global CO2 emissions -- roughly equivalent to the overall emissions of Germany, according to consulting firm Sia Partners. But aircraft also emit particles such as nitrogen oxides, which can trap heat at high altitude, meaning the industry is actually responsible for five per cent of global warming, according to the Climate Action Network, an umbrella group of environmental NGOs. The industry has committed to improving fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent per year from 2009 to 2020 and stabilising its CO2 emissions in preparation for a 50 percent reduction by 2050 compared to 2005. It is a major challenge given that the number of passengers is expected to double over the next two decades to reach 8.2 billion in 2037. - Biofuels, electric engines - Companies are banking on a new generation of less polluting planes with updated engines, aerodynamic modifications and fittings that weigh less -- among them tablets to replace heavy pilot manuals. However Shukor Yusof, analyst with Malaysia-based Endau Analytics, told AFP the industry had made progress but "that all these technological advances to cut emissions are tough to implement quickly due to the nature of the industry hemmed by high costs and the fact that planes typically take decades before they are replaced". Philippe Plouvier, associate director of consulting firm Boston Consulting Group in Paris, said "the constant renewal of the fleet is a major part of it (cutting emissions)", explaining that the latest models of large aircraft reduce CO2 by 20 to 25 per cent. "But that only solves around 30 per cent of the problem," he said. The rest, he added, can only be resolved by developing sustainable biofuels or turning to electric power -- technology which is currently impractical. Several airlines have begun testing biofuels but production costs remain high and industry experts do not believe electric engines will be rolled out commercially for another two decades. "Batteries today are still too big and heavy to be used as the main source of power for aircraft," said Leithen Francis, managing director of Singapore-based aviation public relations agency Francis & Low. "Aircraft today take off heavy -- because the aircraft is carrying a full load of fuel -- but then the aircraft uses up its fuel during the flight and lands light. "Aircraft powered by batteries will take off heavy and then have to land heavy, so developing aircraft that can do that -- without having a hard landings or causing structural damage to the airframe -- will be a challenge," Francis told AFP. The ICAO says better management of air traffic can help and a new generation of more fuel-efficient plane designs is predicted within five or ten years. But time is not on the aviation industry's side. A landmark UN report last year concluded that CO2 emissions must drop 45 per cent by 2030 -- and reach "net zero" by 2050 -- if the rise in Earth's temperature is to be checked at the safer limit of 1.5C. Plouvier of the Boston Consulting Group said to meet the 2050 goal, the aviation industry "must start today and very quickly".

Pressure mounts on aviation industry over climate change

For the German island of Langeoog and its residents, the politics of climate change has become an issue of survival.

Climate concerns spur Green surge in Germany

After 11 days of protests over climate change in London, protesters announce a pause to their campaign.

WION Gravitas: 'Pause' in climate change protests in London

Teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg urged British politicians on Tuesday (April 23) to listen to the science on climate change and criticised previous generations for "selling" their children's future.

'Our future was sold', Thunberg tells UK politicians

This year's Earth Day is being marked Monday (April 22), and advocates of edible insects are singing the environmental benefits of sprinkling your dishes with crickets, grasshoppers and ants. Gourmands concur and say the insects are a treat.

Bite back and munch on insects, environmentalists say

Climate change protesters continued their demonstration across London on Friday. The Extinction Rebellion group has set up camps at major points in the UK capital including Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge and Westminster.

Activists keep up climate protests in London

Gravitas: Why good climate policy does not mean good politics

China expects to make the first trade on the long-awaited national emission trading scheme in 2020, a senior climate official said on Saturday, as part of Beijing's efforts to fulfill its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emission.

China has spent two years on legal and technical infrastructure construction after it announced its plans to launch the nationwide emission trading scheme (ETS) in 2017.

It began setting up pilot trading platforms in 2013 in seven regions across the country but they have not been brought under a unified scheme yet.

"China will speed up construction of the national carbon trading scheme this year and aim to carry out the first trade among coal-fired power utilities in 2020," Jiang Zhaoli, vice director of the climate change department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said at an industrial conference.

Coal-fired power is the first industry included into the national ETS, covering around 3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emitted in China every year.

China will promote carbon trade in power sectors, Jiang said, adding the government will also include more high-energy consuming industries such as steel, non-ferrous and construction materials, into the scheme.

"We will explore carbon derivatives trading and non-gratuitous allocation of emission quotas in 2021-2025," said Jiang.

The nationwide ETS aims to cover 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emission per annum from around 100,000 industrial plants when the trading scheme is fully launched.

The ETS is designed to encourage power utilities and manufacturers to reduce emissions through a market mechanism. Some scholars in China, however, are questioning the necessity of the ETS due to overlapping of policies.

On the whole, China also plans to introduce a carbon tax and a renewable power quota system with a similar aim of boosting clean energy consumption and cutting emission at industrial plants.

China said it has cut carbon intensity by 45.8 per cent in 2018 from the level in 2005, exceeding the target of lowering it 45 per cent by 2020.

It also pledged to bring emission to a peak by around 2030 as part of its commitments to the 2015 Paris accord.

China expects to make the first trade on the long-awaited national emission trading scheme in 2020, a senior climate official said on Saturday, as part of Beijing's efforts to fulfill its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emission.

China expects to make the first trade on the long-awaited national emission trading scheme in 2020, a senior climate official said on Saturday, as part of Beijing's efforts to fulfill its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emission. China has spent two years on legal and technical infrastructure construction after it announced its plans to launch the nationwide emission trading scheme (ETS) in 2017. It began setting up pilot trading platforms in 2013 in seven regions across the country but they have not been brought under a unified scheme yet. "China will speed up construction of the national carbon trading scheme this year and aim to carry out the first trade among coal-fired power utilities in 2020," Jiang Zhaoli, vice director of the climate change department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said at an industrial conference. Coal-fired power is the first industry included into the national ETS, covering around 3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emitted in China every year. China will promote carbon trade in power sectors, Jiang said, adding the government will also include more high-energy consuming industries such as steel, non-ferrous and construction materials, into the scheme. "We will explore carbon derivatives trading and non-gratuitous allocation of emission quotas in 2021-2025," said Jiang. The nationwide ETS aims to cover 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emission per annum from around 100,000 industrial plants when the trading scheme is fully launched. The ETS is designed to encourage power utilities and manufacturers to reduce emissions through a market mechanism. Some scholars in China, however, are questioning the necessity of the ETS due to overlapping of policies. On the whole, China also plans to introduce a carbon tax and a renewable power quota system with a similar aim of boosting clean energy consumption and cutting emission at industrial plants. China said it has cut carbon intensity by 45.8 per cent in 2018 from the level in 2005, exceeding the target of lowering it 45 per cent by 2020. It also pledged to bring emission to a peak by around 2030 as part of its commitments to the 2015 Paris accord.

China expects first trade in national emissions scheme in 2020

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday she was "very encouraged" by the Senate vote this week on the "Green New Deal," the sweeping climate policy resolution she introduced last month, even though the Senate defeated it.

The non-binding resolution, which proposes to eliminate US greenhouse gas emissions within a decade, lost 57-0 in the Senate, with 43 Democrats voting "present."

"You had the Republicans voting 'no' and you had virtually the entire Democratic caucus voting 'present,' even those in tough states," Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday. "That is an extraordinary amount of unity within the Senate to actually vote in that cohesive of a bloc, so I'm very encouraged."

The Green New Deal, unveiled last month by Ocasio-Cortez and US Senator Edward Markey, marks the first formal attempt by lawmakers to define potential legislation to create government-led investments in clean energy and infrastructure to transition the US economy away from fossil fuels.

The plan's name is an homage to the New Deal of the 1930s, a series of government-led programs and projects that President Franklin Roosevelt implemented to aid Americans during the Great Depression.

CELEBRITY STATUS

A rising political star and leader of the progressive left, Ocasio-Cortez defeated a longtime Democratic lawmaker in a 2018 primary to become the youngest woman in Congress at age 29, representing New York's 14th district in the House.

Her bold stance on climate policy and her strong social media presence have launched her to celebrity status among progressives nationwide.

Republicans have criticized the Green New Deal since its inception for being too radical, and have used the plan and Ocasio-Cortez herself, as rallying points to demonize the Democratic Party.

"The Green New Deal is a wonderful illustration of just how extreme the Democrats have become," Republican Senator Ted Cruz tweeted on Tuesday, calling it "a radical socialist proposal."

The Trump administration does not believe action on climate change is necessary and has instead focused on increasing production of oil, gas and coal on federal and private lands.

At a Trump rally in Michigan on Thursday, crowds chanted "AOC sucks!" according to television coverage of the event.

Ocasio-Cortez shrugged off Republicans' insults on Friday at a town hall hosted by MSNBC in her district in The Bronx.

"I didn't expect them to make total fools of themselves," she said of her critics.

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday she was "very encouraged" by the Senate vote this week on the "Green New Deal," the sweeping climate policy resolution she introduced last month, even though the Senate defeated it.

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday she was "very encouraged" by the Senate vote this week on the "Green New Deal," the sweeping climate policy resolution she introduced last month, even though the Senate defeated it. The non-binding resolution, which proposes to eliminate US greenhouse gas emissions within a decade, lost 57-0 in the Senate, with 43 Democrats voting "present." "You had the Republicans voting 'no' and you had virtually the entire Democratic caucus voting 'present,' even those in tough states," Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday. "That is an extraordinary amount of unity within the Senate to actually vote in that cohesive of a bloc, so I'm very encouraged." The Green New Deal, unveiled last month by Ocasio-Cortez and US Senator Edward Markey, marks the first formal attempt by lawmakers to define potential legislation to create government-led investments in clean energy and infrastructure to transition the US economy away from fossil fuels. The plan's name is an homage to the New Deal of the 1930s, a series of government-led programs and projects that President Franklin Roosevelt implemented to aid Americans during the Great Depression. CELEBRITY STATUS A rising political star and leader of the progressive left, Ocasio-Cortez defeated a longtime Democratic lawmaker in a 2018 primary to become the youngest woman in Congress at age 29, representing New York's 14th district in the House. Her bold stance on climate policy and her strong social media presence have launched her to celebrity status among progressives nationwide. Republicans have criticized the Green New Deal since its inception for being too radical, and have used the plan and Ocasio-Cortez herself, as rallying points to demonize the Democratic Party. "The Green New Deal is a wonderful illustration of just how extreme the Democrats have become," Republican Senator Ted Cruz tweeted on Tuesday, calling it "a radical socialist proposal." The Trump administration does not believe action on climate change is necessary and has instead focused on increasing production of oil, gas and coal on federal and private lands. At a Trump rally in Michigan on Thursday, crowds chanted "AOC sucks!" according to television coverage of the event. Ocasio-Cortez shrugged off Republicans' insults on Friday at a town hall hosted by MSNBC in her district in The Bronx. "I didn't expect them to make total fools of themselves," she said of her critics.

US Rep. Ocasio-Cortez 'encouraged' despite Senate rejecting 'Green New Deal'

Air quality in the national capital nosedived to 'very poor' on Sunday morning and is likely get worse in the next couple of days.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) data, the air quality of Delhi showed levels of prominent pollutants PM (particulate matter) 10 at 369, which is considered as 'very poor'.

An AQI between the range of 51 to 100 is considered as satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 falls under the poor category, whereas 401-500 range is severe.

The organisation has advised the people residing in Delhi to avoid all physical activities outdoors and warned asthmatics to keep relief medicines handy. "Stop any activity level if you experience any usual coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, breathing difficulty, or fatigue," it added.

In November last year, SAFAR had conducted a study which revealed that 41 per cent of the pollution in Delhi was caused by the transport sector. It had also stated that "after transport, wind-blown dust is the second major contributor with 21.5 per cent followed by Industries at 18.6 per cent."

"The other minor contributors are Power and Residential sectors contributing about 4.9 and 3 per cent respectively. Others contribute about 11 per cent. Residential Sector includes slum, crop Residue, cow dung, a street vendor, household, DG Set, wood burning, etc while other Sector includes MSW Plants, MSW Open Burning, Crematory, Aviation, Incense Stick, Brick Kiln," the state-run body had revealed.

Air quality in Mumbai has gotten worse with the climatic change after hazy conditions covered the regions' skyline yesterday. The AQI is hovering at 259 and is likely to get higher in the next few days.

During winter season each year, most of northern India suffers from a spike in toxicity in the air due to the change in weather patterns and crop residue burning in states such as Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Not only that, a dip in temperature along with low wind speed also tends to trap air pollutants closer to the ground.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) data, the air quality of Delhi showed levels of prominent pollutants PM (particulate matter) 10 at 369, which is considered as 'very poor'.

Air quality in the national capital nosedived to 'very poor' on Sunday morning and is likely get worse in the next couple of days. According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) data, the air quality of Delhi showed levels of prominent pollutants PM (particulate matter) 10 at 369, which is considered as 'very poor'. An AQI between the range of 51 to 100 is considered as satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 falls under the poor category, whereas 401-500 range is severe. The organisation has advised the people residing in Delhi to avoid all physical activities outdoors and warned asthmatics to keep relief medicines handy. "Stop any activity level if you experience any usual coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, breathing difficulty, or fatigue," it added. In November last year, SAFAR had conducted a study which revealed that 41 per cent of the pollution in Delhi was caused by the transport sector. It had also stated that "after transport, wind-blown dust is the second major contributor with 21.5 per cent followed by Industries at 18.6 per cent." "The other minor contributors are Power and Residential sectors contributing about 4.9 and 3 per cent respectively. Others contribute about 11 per cent. Residential Sector includes slum, crop Residue, cow dung, a street vendor, household, DG Set, wood burning, etc while other Sector includes MSW Plants, MSW Open Burning, Crematory, Aviation, Incense Stick, Brick Kiln," the state-run body had revealed. Air quality in Mumbai has gotten worse with the climatic change after hazy conditions covered the regions' skyline yesterday. The AQI is hovering at 259 and is likely to get higher in the next few days. During winter season each year, most of northern India suffers from a spike in toxicity in the air due to the change in weather patterns and crop residue burning in states such as Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Not only that, a dip in temperature along with low wind speed also tends to trap air pollutants closer to the ground.

Toxic air leaves Delhiites gasping for breath

Last year was the fourth warmest on record, extending a scorching streak driven by rising concentrations of man-made greenhouse gases, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service said on Monday.

Average world surface air temperatures were 14.7 Celsius (58.5 Fahrenheit) in 2018, 0.2C less than 2016 which was the hottest year on record, it said in the first global assessment of temperatures based on full-year data.

The year 2016 was boosted by an El Nino event that warmed the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

"In 2018, we have again seen a very warm year, the fourth warmest on record," Jean-Noël Thépaut, head of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said in a statement.

"Dramatic climatic events like the warm and dry summer in large parts of Europe or the increasing temperature around the Arctic regions are alarming signs to all of us," he added.

The years 2017 and 2015 were also fractionally warmer than 2018 in records dating back to the 19th century, Copernicus said.

Almost 200 nations agreed to a "rule book" to govern the Paris climate agreement in talks in Poland last month, even though critics said it was insufficient to prevent dangerous levels of global warming.

The 2015 Paris accord seeks to end the fossil fuel era this century by shifting to cleaner energies such as wind and solar power. US President Donald Trump plans to pull out and instead promote the US fossil fuel industry.

The Copernicus report confirms projections by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in November that 2018 would be fourth warmest, after a cool start to the year.

Last year was the fourth warmest on record, extending a scorching streak driven by rising concentrations of man-made greenhouse gases, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service said on Monday.

Last year was the fourth warmest on record, extending a scorching streak driven by rising concentrations of man-made greenhouse gases, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service said on Monday. Average world surface air temperatures were 14.7 Celsius (58.5 Fahrenheit) in 2018, 0.2C less than 2016 which was the hottest year on record, it said in the first global assessment of temperatures based on full-year data. The year 2016 was boosted by an El Nino event that warmed the surface of the Pacific Ocean. "In 2018, we have again seen a very warm year, the fourth warmest on record," Jean-Noël Thépaut, head of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said in a statement. "Dramatic climatic events like the warm and dry summer in large parts of Europe or the increasing temperature around the Arctic regions are alarming signs to all of us," he added. The years 2017 and 2015 were also fractionally warmer than 2018 in records dating back to the 19th century, Copernicus said. Almost 200 nations agreed to a "rule book" to govern the Paris climate agreement in talks in Poland last month, even though critics said it was insufficient to prevent dangerous levels of global warming. The 2015 Paris accord seeks to end the fossil fuel era this century by shifting to cleaner energies such as wind and solar power. US President Donald Trump plans to pull out and instead promote the US fossil fuel industry. The Copernicus report confirms projections by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in November that 2018 would be fourth warmest, after a cool start to the year.

2018 was the fourth-warmest year ever

After extended hours of negotiations, the COP 24 held in Katowice, Poland, finally sent out a sigh of ‘temporary’ relief.&nbsp;

The rule book for implementing the Paris Agreement is an important milestone in the ‘global’ quest to address climate change in accordance with the principle of equity and common, but with differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.&nbsp;

Dodging the skepticism rooted in the hard negotiations and slow progress in the run-up to COP 24, an agreement, even if with rued nods from many parties, is a positive step.&nbsp;

However, the unfolding of the negotiations warrants that developing countries invest in greater scrutiny of the implementation as well as subsequent discussions at COPs.&nbsp;

For over a decade now, the meaning of ‘global’ quest is being, subtly, pushed towards, what may be called, Third World’s burden irrespective of respective capabilities and responsibilities.

Many influential thought leaders from the developed world, while revealing their helplessness with, and discounting the withdrawal of the USA from the Paris Agreement by citing the commitments from the various state governments and cities, urge the developing countries, particularly China and India, to take on greater commitments without taking into account their own roles and responsibilities.

This convolution of differentiation was obvious at least in four instances during proceedings of the COP24: First, the unwillingness of industrialised countries to include providing credible and verifiable information on financial flows in the Global Stock Take process was in clear defiance of the objective of the Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement aims to ensure financial flows consistent with the requirements of the climate resilient low-carbon development pathways.&nbsp;

After doing away with the distinction between Annex I and non-Annex I countries, providing climate finance to developing countries is the most significant substantive parameter of ensuring equity.&nbsp;

The diplomatic keenness of France to protect the Paris Agreement, by announcing annual replenishment to GCF, when the finance agenda was to become a point of deadlock explains the centrality of finance to successful climate negotiations, as well as ‘global’ climate action.

Second, the opposition to the use of accumulated credits from the market mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol in the new market mechanism under the Paris Agreement by many developed countries is equivalent of arguing for quantified emission reduction targets for developing countries, post-facto, when the relevant global agreement did not require them to have any.&nbsp;

The argument that the new rules are stricter, leading to the issues of environmental integrity, is not merely a technical point. It is symptomatic of political cunningness of trickery by rules.

Doubts over environmental integrity of certain Clean Development Projects (CDM) had been discussed in great detail during the reform debates and many proposals were made, including the use of a discount rate. These options are valid for the new market mechanism as well.

Discarding a celebrated market mechanism’s legacy in its next avatar and putting developing countries in a disadvantageous position must be understood as the reflection of the core political design of industrialised countries.

Third, the opposition by developed countries to the flexibilities given to developing countries in complying with the reporting requirements, along with the demands for greater details, leaves the process of Global Stock Take far from being congenially resolved.&nbsp;

The proposal to divide the rule-book into multiple agreements, which was rightly opposed by developing countries, was a clever attempt by developed countries at keeping the developing country parties under undue pressure of ‘global’ (read Northern) scrutiny.&nbsp;

Finally, as has been much debated, the unwillingness of some of the developed countries to ‘welcome’ the 1.5 degrees report from the IPCC – despite having asked for this assessment – is a clear indication of their unwillingness to adopt stricter mitigation measures today, even though this may result in significantly larger impacts in the world and on those that have greater vulnerabilities and lower adaptive capacities.&nbsp;

We are once again proving that we are not able to deal with the science truly, in face of political compulsions. To sum up, as noted by India in her formal reservation statement, implementation of the principle of equity and differentiation is constantly being undermined.&nbsp;

Having done away with the top-down distinction between industrialised and developing countries, now the attempt is to erase it, if not reverse it, through the details of implementation of the Paris Agreement.&nbsp;

Both the governments as well as the researchers in developing countries, therefore, need to be extra vigilant in tracking climate policy globally and nationally. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-cop-24-developed-nations-unwilling-to-adopt-stricter-mitigation-measures-2697234">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

After extended hours of negotiations, the COP 24 held in Katowice, Poland, finally sent out a sigh of ‘temporary’ relief. The rule book for implementing the Paris Agreement is an important milestone in the ‘global’ quest to address climate change in accordance with the principle of equity and common, but with differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.

After extended hours of negotiations, the COP 24 held in Katowice, Poland, finally sent out a sigh of ‘temporary’ relief. The rule book for implementing the Paris Agreement is an important milestone in the ‘global’ quest to address climate change in accordance with the principle of equity and common, but with differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities. Dodging the skepticism rooted in the hard negotiations and slow progress in the run-up to COP 24, an agreement, even if with rued nods from many parties, is a positive step. However, the unfolding of the negotiations warrants that developing countries invest in greater scrutiny of the implementation as well as subsequent discussions at COPs. For over a decade now, the meaning of ‘global’ quest is being, subtly, pushed towards, what may be called, Third World’s burden irrespective of respective capabilities and responsibilities. Many influential thought leaders from the developed world, while revealing their helplessness with, and discounting the withdrawal of the USA from the Paris Agreement by citing the commitments from the various state governments and cities, urge the developing countries, particularly China and India, to take on greater commitments without taking into account their own roles and responsibilities. This convolution of differentiation was obvious at least in four instances during proceedings of the COP24: First, the unwillingness of industrialised countries to include providing credible and verifiable information on financial flows in the Global Stock Take process was in clear defiance of the objective of the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement aims to ensure financial flows consistent with the requirements of the climate resilient low-carbon development pathways. After doing away with the distinction between Annex I and non-Annex I countries, providing climate finance to developing countries is the most significant substantive parameter of ensuring equity. The diplomatic keenness of France to protect the Paris Agreement, by announcing annual replenishment to GCF, when the finance agenda was to become a point of deadlock explains the centrality of finance to successful climate negotiations, as well as ‘global’ climate action. Second, the opposition to the use of accumulated credits from the market mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol in the new market mechanism under the Paris Agreement by many developed countries is equivalent of arguing for quantified emission reduction targets for developing countries, post-facto, when the relevant global agreement did not require them to have any. The argument that the new rules are stricter, leading to the issues of environmental integrity, is not merely a technical point. It is symptomatic of political cunningness of trickery by rules. Doubts over environmental integrity of certain Clean Development Projects (CDM) had been discussed in great detail during the reform debates and many proposals were made, including the use of a discount rate. These options are valid for the new market mechanism as well. Discarding a celebrated market mechanism’s legacy in its next avatar and putting developing countries in a disadvantageous position must be understood as the reflection of the core political design of industrialised countries. Third, the opposition by developed countries to the flexibilities given to developing countries in complying with the reporting requirements, along with the demands for greater details, leaves the process of Global Stock Take far from being congenially resolved. The proposal to divide the rule-book into multiple agreements, which was rightly opposed by developing countries, was a clever attempt by developed countries at keeping the developing country parties under undue pressure of ‘global’ (read Northern) scrutiny. Finally, as has been much debated, the unwillingness of some of the developed countries to ‘welcome’ the 1.5 degrees report from the IPCC – despite having asked for this assessment – is a clear indication of their unwillingness to adopt stricter mitigation measures today, even though this may result in significantly larger impacts in the world and on those that have greater vulnerabilities and lower adaptive capacities. We are once again proving that we are not able to deal with the science truly, in face of political compulsions. To sum up, as noted by India in her formal reservation statement, implementation of the principle of equity and differentiation is constantly being undermined. Having done away with the top-down distinction between industrialised and developing countries, now the attempt is to erase it, if not reverse it, through the details of implementation of the Paris Agreement. Both the governments as well as the researchers in developing countries, therefore, need to be extra vigilant in tracking climate policy globally and nationally. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

COP 24: Developed nations unwilling to adopt stricter mitigation measures to address climate change

In <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nations-reach-deal-to-bring-landmark-2015-paris-climate-treaty-to-life-184369">UN climate talks</a> ending Saturday in Katowice, Poland delivered a milestone rulebook for the Paris climate treaty but failed to dial up national efforts to slash carbon emissions.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/paris-agreement-isnt-working-out-so-well-trump-tweets-after-protests-182481">195-nation pact</a> calls for capping the rise in Earth's temperature at "well under" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and 1.5C if possible.

Here are three key outcomes from the 13-day meeting:

&nbsp;Not ambitious enough?&nbsp;

After a sobering UN report in October showed the need for slashing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50 per cent by 2030 to cap global warming at 1.5C, the world and especially poor countries already reeling from climate-addled extreme weather looked to the UN talks for a sign that nations would ramp up voluntary carbon-cutting pledges.

Even if fulfilled, these promises will see temperatures rise more than 3C above pre-industrial levels, a recipe for global chaos, say scientists. On current trends, the increase would be higher still.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The binding decisions assiduously avoid a clear call for higher ambition in reducing greenhouse gas pollution before 2020, when the Paris Agreement becomes operational.&nbsp;

Parties to the 195-nation talks could not even agree to "welcome" the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on 1.5C, as urged by at-risk nations.

"What we've seen in Poland reveals a fundamental lack of understanding of our current crisis," said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF's Climate and Energy Practice. "We need all countries to commit to raising climate ambition before 2020."

'Loss and damage'&nbsp;

The Paris Agreement guarantees smaller developing countries&nbsp;historically blameless for global warming $100 billion (88.5 billion euros) per year starting from 2020 to green their economies and cope with future climate impacts.&nbsp;

The rules also enjoin rich nations to boost support over the next two years, and provide hard data on where future financial flows will come from.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Climate-vulnerable nations were also hoping to get some visibility on what happens after 2025, when the $100-billion pledge expires, as well as on vaguely worded commitments to provide a separate stream of money&nbsp;under the heading "loss and damage"&nbsp;to help cope with climate impacts here and now.

The run-up to Katowice saw a new round of pledges, including 1.5 billion euros from Germany and 500 million euros from Norway for the Green Climate Fund. The new decisions also allay some of the concerns about the opaqueness of future financing though not after 2025.&nbsp;

"It's good that some of this predictability has been achieved," said Mohamed Adow, Climate Lead for Christian Aid. "But rich countries have been allowed to count almost anything and everything as climate finance, including commercial loans."

Global economy&nbsp;

Nations pressing for urgent action also sought language in the final "COP decisions" that would highlight the need to boost financing beyond climate-specific sectors such as the development of renewables or efficiency improvements in buildings.

Facing down the existential threat of climate change also means "making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development" across the entire global economy, the Paris Agreement says.

The complicated Katowice decisions will give cover both to nations that seek to expand the climate imperative as broadly as possible, and those who prefer a narrow interpretation, experts said.

"Markets play a very important role if we are going to be ambitious," Canadian environment minister Catherine McKenna told AFP. "We need to use the private sector, we need the billions to flow into trillions."&nbsp; &nbsp;

In UN climate talks ending Saturday in Katowice, Poland delivered a milestone rulebook for the Paris climate treaty but failed to dial up national efforts to slash carbon emissions.

In UN climate talks ending Saturday in Katowice, Poland delivered a milestone rulebook for the Paris climate treaty but failed to dial up national efforts to slash carbon emissions. The 195-nation pact calls for capping the rise in Earth's temperature at "well under" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and 1.5C if possible. Here are three key outcomes from the 13-day meeting: Not ambitious enough? After a sobering UN report in October showed the need for slashing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50 per cent by 2030 to cap global warming at 1.5C, the world and especially poor countries already reeling from climate-addled extreme weather looked to the UN talks for a sign that nations would ramp up voluntary carbon-cutting pledges. Even if fulfilled, these promises will see temperatures rise more than 3C above pre-industrial levels, a recipe for global chaos, say scientists. On current trends, the increase would be higher still. The binding decisions assiduously avoid a clear call for higher ambition in reducing greenhouse gas pollution before 2020, when the Paris Agreement becomes operational. Parties to the 195-nation talks could not even agree to "welcome" the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on 1.5C, as urged by at-risk nations. "What we've seen in Poland reveals a fundamental lack of understanding of our current crisis," said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, leader of WWF's Climate and Energy Practice. "We need all countries to commit to raising climate ambition before 2020." 'Loss and damage' The Paris Agreement guarantees smaller developing countries historically blameless for global warming $100 billion (88.5 billion euros) per year starting from 2020 to green their economies and cope with future climate impacts. The rules also enjoin rich nations to boost support over the next two years, and provide hard data on where future financial flows will come from. Climate-vulnerable nations were also hoping to get some visibility on what happens after 2025, when the $100-billion pledge expires, as well as on vaguely worded commitments to provide a separate stream of money under the heading "loss and damage" to help cope with climate impacts here and now. The run-up to Katowice saw a new round of pledges, including 1.5 billion euros from Germany and 500 million euros from Norway for the Green Climate Fund. The new decisions also allay some of the concerns about the opaqueness of future financing though not after 2025. "It's good that some of this predictability has been achieved," said Mohamed Adow, Climate Lead for Christian Aid. "But rich countries have been allowed to count almost anything and everything as climate finance, including commercial loans." Global economy Nations pressing for urgent action also sought language in the final "COP decisions" that would highlight the need to boost financing beyond climate-specific sectors such as the development of renewables or efficiency improvements in buildings. Facing down the existential threat of climate change also means "making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development" across the entire global economy, the Paris Agreement says. The complicated Katowice decisions will give cover both to nations that seek to expand the climate imperative as broadly as possible, and those who prefer a narrow interpretation, experts said. "Markets play a very important role if we are going to be ambitious," Canadian environment minister Catherine McKenna told AFP. "We need to use the private sector, we need the billions to flow into trillions."

Katowice climate summit: Three key outcomes

The Maldives will do all in its power to keep "our heads above water", the head of its delegation at UN climate talks said on Thursday in an impassioned appeal for nations to overcome their divisions over how to tackle global warming.

The low-lying Maldives is among countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as rising sea levels and coral reef deterioration.

"We are not prepared to die. We are not going to become the first victims of the climate crisis. Instead, we are going to do everything in our power to keep our heads above water," Mohamed Nasheed told delegates at the talks in Katowice, Poland.

"Climate change is a national security issue for us. It is an existential threat," he said, adding that a rise in global temperatures could still be avoided but countries had to unite.

Nasheed was the Maldives'&nbsp;first democratically elected leader but was ousted in 2012 in a coup, imprisoned then granted asylum in Britain.

The Maldives' current president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, invited Nasheed to head the country's negotiating delegation at the Katowice talks, which are aimed at agreeing rules for implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

With less than two days until the conference is formally scheduled to end, delegates are still grappling with many issues - not just how the accord will be implemeted - including finance, strengthening emissions cuts and monitoring action.

A draft, more concise text of the deal should be available later on Thursday but it is expected to still be laden with brackets for wording to be decided on and gaps.

Since last addressing a UN climate conference in 2009, Nasheed said he had been deposed in a coup, imprisoned and then forced into exile.

"But almost 10 years since I was last at these climate negotiations, I must say, nothing much seems to have changed. We are still using the same old, dinosaur language," he said.

"Carbon emissions are rising, rising and rising and all we seem to be doing is talking, talking and talking."&nbsp;

The Maldives will do all in its power to keep "our heads above water", the head of its delegation at UN climate talks said on Thursday in an impassioned appeal for nations to overcome their divisions over how to tackle global warming.

The Maldives will do all in its power to keep "our heads above water", the head of its delegation at UN climate talks said on Thursday in an impassioned appeal for nations to overcome their divisions over how to tackle global warming. The low-lying Maldives is among countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as rising sea levels and coral reef deterioration. "We are not prepared to die. We are not going to become the first victims of the climate crisis. Instead, we are going to do everything in our power to keep our heads above water," Mohamed Nasheed told delegates at the talks in Katowice, Poland. "Climate change is a national security issue for us. It is an existential threat," he said, adding that a rise in global temperatures could still be avoided but countries had to unite. Nasheed was the Maldives' first democratically elected leader but was ousted in 2012 in a coup, imprisoned then granted asylum in Britain. The Maldives' current president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, invited Nasheed to head the country's negotiating delegation at the Katowice talks, which are aimed at agreeing rules for implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. With less than two days until the conference is formally scheduled to end, delegates are still grappling with many issues - not just how the accord will be implemeted - including finance, strengthening emissions cuts and monitoring action. A draft, more concise text of the deal should be available later on Thursday but it is expected to still be laden with brackets for wording to be decided on and gaps. Since last addressing a UN climate conference in 2009, Nasheed said he had been deposed in a coup, imprisoned and then forced into exile. "But almost 10 years since I was last at these climate negotiations, I must say, nothing much seems to have changed. We are still using the same old, dinosaur language," he said. "Carbon emissions are rising, rising and rising and all we seem to be doing is talking, talking and talking."

Maldives tells UN climate talks: 'We are not prepared to die'

Dismayed by the German government's failure to meet climate protection targets, dairy farmer Heiner Luetke Schwienhorst has filed a lawsuit against Berlin to force it into action.

"Some describe this as a fight between David and Goliath. To me, that's beside the point," said Schwienhorst, who suffered his poorest harvest in three decades after a record drought.

"The attitude of political representatives, the way they trivialise climate targets by giving up what they have set, is something that we need to bring to political accountability. That is important," he told AFP.

Together with two other farmers and Greenpeace, Schwienhorst has launched a challenge against the German government for having "given up" trying to achieve cuts in greenhouse gas emissions set out under its own climate target, as well as under European law.

A dairy farmer near Hamburg and a livestock farmer on the North Sea island of Pellworm have joined the first such lawsuit to seek "climate protection, not monetary compensation".

Berlin had pledged to take action to slash greenhouse gas emissions in Germany by 40 per cent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.

But in its latest annual climate protection report published in June, the government admitted that it was now expecting to achieve 32 per cent in reductions compared to 1990.

The shortfall of 8 percentage points is equivalent to about 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

"It was clear in the climate protection report that the government is not planning to take further measures in order to reach the target. Instead, it has simply given up," said Anike Peters of Greenpeace.

"We're saying we're not going to accept this. Because it's not about a lack of technical possibilities to reach the target, rather it's about a lack of political will.

'Do what you promised'

With the help of lawyer Roda Verheyen, the plaintiffs lodged their case at the administrative court in Berlin at the end of October.

The court now needs to decide if there is any merit to the case.

Verheyen is no stranger to such climate cases.&nbsp;

In another high profile case in Germany, she helped bring to court a challenge by a Peruvian farmer against energy giant RWE over climate change damage in the Andes.

While the initial ruling went against them, the case is now at the appeals court.

Verheyen said that in her latest case, the issue is whether the government can be held liable for failing to implement climate protection measures, as the targets it set are not written into law.

"Here the plaintiff families say, yes. Do what you've promised, government, implement the 2020 climate protection goal."

The environment ministry, which is taking the lead in responding to the case, said the plaintiffs had every right to bring the issue to court "to seek public attention" and increase the pressure for better climate protection.

"Although Germany's climate protection efforts have made progress, they have not yet reached our goals," ministry spokesman Andreas Kuebler told AFP. "That's why we're focusing on getting ahead in climate protection.

"We are united in the same goal," Kuebler said. It was up to the court to decide whether the legal action was justified.

'Frightening'

For Schwienhorst, who has run the dairy farm in Vetschau, eastern Germany, for 30 years, the impact of a warming Earth is apparent.

Compared to the 1990s, the period of vegetation growth in a year has lengthened, while maximum temperatures have also pushed above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

"The change in the last decades is already impressive. But what happened this summer is simply frightening," he said, referring to a record drought unseen in Germany since 1911.

The dry spell has stretched from late spring, even halting water traffic across the country, including on the Rhine, one of Europe's busiest commercial arteries.

"We are still now in the phase when rain isn't expected. I'm speechless," said Schwienhorst. That those who dismiss such weather phenomena as one-offs are "impertinent", he added.

The climate also has a direct impact on his livelihood.

A summer with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius put the cows under great stress, and the drought meant his poorest harvest in the last three decades.

Schwienhorst pointed to the barn, which was far from full. This year's cereal crop -- for human consumption -- was 35 per cent below the previous year.

His losses in livestock feed crop were even more serious: up to 50 per cent, forcing him to buy 400 bales of hay.

Crucially, the farm has been forced to use up a rolling four-month reserve of feed for the cows by the summer.

"There's still hope that this weather will turn, that after this dry phase a wet phase will come. But looking at the trend, change is happening. That is indisputable."

Dismayed by the German government's failure to meet climate protection targets, dairy farmer Heiner Luetke Schwienhorst has filed a lawsuit against Berlin to force it into action.

Dismayed by the German government's failure to meet climate protection targets, dairy farmer Heiner Luetke Schwienhorst has filed a lawsuit against Berlin to force it into action. "Some describe this as a fight between David and Goliath. To me, that's beside the point," said Schwienhorst, who suffered his poorest harvest in three decades after a record drought. "The attitude of political representatives, the way they trivialise climate targets by giving up what they have set, is something that we need to bring to political accountability. That is important," he told AFP. Together with two other farmers and Greenpeace, Schwienhorst has launched a challenge against the German government for having "given up" trying to achieve cuts in greenhouse gas emissions set out under its own climate target, as well as under European law. A dairy farmer near Hamburg and a livestock farmer on the North Sea island of Pellworm have joined the first such lawsuit to seek "climate protection, not monetary compensation". Berlin had pledged to take action to slash greenhouse gas emissions in Germany by 40 per cent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. But in its latest annual climate protection report published in June, the government admitted that it was now expecting to achieve 32 per cent in reductions compared to 1990. The shortfall of 8 percentage points is equivalent to about 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. "It was clear in the climate protection report that the government is not planning to take further measures in order to reach the target. Instead, it has simply given up," said Anike Peters of Greenpeace. "We're saying we're not going to accept this. Because it's not about a lack of technical possibilities to reach the target, rather it's about a lack of political will. 'Do what you promised' With the help of lawyer Roda Verheyen, the plaintiffs lodged their case at the administrative court in Berlin at the end of October. The court now needs to decide if there is any merit to the case. Verheyen is no stranger to such climate cases. In another high profile case in Germany, she helped bring to court a challenge by a Peruvian farmer against energy giant RWE over climate change damage in the Andes. While the initial ruling went against them, the case is now at the appeals court. Verheyen said that in her latest case, the issue is whether the government can be held liable for failing to implement climate protection measures, as the targets it set are not written into law. "Here the plaintiff families say, yes. Do what you've promised, government, implement the 2020 climate protection goal." The environment ministry, which is taking the lead in responding to the case, said the plaintiffs had every right to bring the issue to court "to seek public attention" and increase the pressure for better climate protection. "Although Germany's climate protection efforts have made progress, they have not yet reached our goals," ministry spokesman Andreas Kuebler told AFP. "That's why we're focusing on getting ahead in climate protection. "We are united in the same goal," Kuebler said. It was up to the court to decide whether the legal action was justified. 'Frightening' For Schwienhorst, who has run the dairy farm in Vetschau, eastern Germany, for 30 years, the impact of a warming Earth is apparent. Compared to the 1990s, the period of vegetation growth in a year has lengthened, while maximum temperatures have also pushed above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). "The change in the last decades is already impressive. But what happened this summer is simply frightening," he said, referring to a record drought unseen in Germany since 1911. The dry spell has stretched from late spring, even halting water traffic across the country, including on the Rhine, one of Europe's busiest commercial arteries. "We are still now in the phase when rain isn't expected. I'm speechless," said Schwienhorst. That those who dismiss such weather phenomena as one-offs are "impertinent", he added. The climate also has a direct impact on his livelihood. A summer with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius put the cows under great stress, and the drought meant his poorest harvest in the last three decades. Schwienhorst pointed to the barn, which was far from full. This year's cereal crop -- for human consumption -- was 35 per cent below the previous year. His losses in livestock feed crop were even more serious: up to 50 per cent, forcing him to buy 400 bales of hay. Crucially, the farm has been forced to use up a rolling four-month reserve of feed for the cows by the summer. "There's still hope that this weather will turn, that after this dry phase a wet phase will come. But looking at the trend, change is happening. That is indisputable."

German farmer sues government over failure to meet climate protection targets

As the caravan of mostly Honduran migrants heads towards the US border, the region's environment minister and experts have warned that the increasing climate change will swell Central America's migration to the US.

"The next migrants are going to be climate migrants," El Salvador's Environment and Natural Resources Minister Lina Pohl told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Panama.

The Conference also highlighted that climate change had resulted in prolonged periods of drought and rain in the region, damaging&nbsp;the crops of poorer subsistence farmers. The changes further compel the people to move to a different place for better opportunities.

Pohl also said that Central America has had recurrent losses in agriculture, with populations increasingly faced with fewer opportunities for work and development.

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The Ministers also added that five Central American countries Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic were among the 15 most vulnerable states to climate change.

Climate change had a major impact on migration, the ministers at the Conference said, adding that the&nbsp;countries which did not have food security experienced major migration.

The Honduras' deputy environment minister Elvin Rodas said that the all Central American countries were suffering.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

As the caravan of mostly Honduran migrants heads towards the US border, the region's environment minister and experts have warned that the increasing climate change will swell Central America's migration to the US.

As the caravan of mostly Honduran migrants heads towards the US border, the region's environment minister and experts have warned that the increasing climate change will swell Central America's migration to the US. "The next migrants are going to be climate migrants," El Salvador's Environment and Natural Resources Minister Lina Pohl told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Panama. The Conference also highlighted that climate change had resulted in prolonged periods of drought and rain in the region, damaging the crops of poorer subsistence farmers. The changes further compel the people to move to a different place for better opportunities. Pohl also said that Central America has had recurrent losses in agriculture, with populations increasingly faced with fewer opportunities for work and development. × The Ministers also added that five Central American countries Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic were among the 15 most vulnerable states to climate change. Climate change had a major impact on migration, the ministers at the Conference said, adding that the countries which did not have food security experienced major migration. The Honduras' deputy environment minister Elvin Rodas said that the all Central American countries were suffering. (With inputs from AFP)

Climate change swelling Central American migration to US: Experts

Recent extreme weather events, such as floods in Kerala, wildfires in Uttarakhand and heat waves in the north and the east, have demonstrated how vulnerable India is to climate change.&nbsp;

Such events, which cause widespread destruction and impact the availability of food and water, are likely to become more frequent and intense in India because of rising average temperatures.

A new report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a global body of climate change scientists, will assess how effective the initiatives of all nations, including India, are in mitigating the rise in global temperatures.

Early leaks of the report indicate its findings are likely to be disquieting. "Climate scientists are struggling to find the right words for very bad news," said the headline of a story in the Washington Post on October 3, 2018.

In the next 10 years the world may reach its carbon pollution quota, the amount of carbon it can release into the atmosphere before the global temperature rises by 1.5 degree Celsius, the Washington Post report said. This could be disquieting news for India, the world’s third-largest carbon polluter after China and the United States.&nbsp;

The IPCC report is also likely to recommend “stricter” climate actions by governments, allowing the use of only a third of the coal being consumed today by 2030, Bloomberg reported on September 30, 2018, quoting the leaked draft of the report. The aim is to keep warming down to 1.5 degree celsius since the industrial era began in 1800.

Here is the problem for India: It is the second-largest coal consumer after China, putting at risk the lives of 600 million Indians to disasters caused by climate change.

Coal currently feeds about 27 per cent of the world’s and 60 per cent of India's energy demand. “Under a bolder outlook that assumes quicker action to protect the atmosphere, coal use would fall to 13 per cent of the energy market by 2040,” Bloomberg said on September 30, 2018, referring to the IPCCs draft recommendation.

As part of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5-2 degree celsius, India had agreed to cut carbon pollution by raising its renewable power capacity to 40 per cent by 2030 — from 20 per cent in 2018, increase its forest cover, build climate-resilient cities and improve solid-waste management.

Here is where India stands on these pledges today:

Currently, renewable power capacity in India is 20 per cent of installed capacity.

The country’s forest area rose by 1 per cent over two years until 2017, covering 24 per cent of India. But the figure is slightly exaggerated and includes degraded forests and plantations, FactChecker reported on July 4, 2018&nbsp;. Only 24 per cent of the country’s solid waste collected annually by municipalities is processed.

Are India’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reduce greenhouse emissions ambitious enough to help limit global warming to 1.5 degree celsius? No, according to the Climate Action Tracker, an independent scientific group tracking climate actions of the nations.

India’s commitments “are not fully consistent” with the Paris Agreement, the report said. If India achieves all its targets, warming could be held below 2 degree celsius but would still be “too high” to be consistent with the 1.5-degree-celsius limit.

Four looming climate-change threats for India

Increasing heat wave episodes: If there are no changes in the current emissions and environment policies, India’s average annual temperatures are expected to rise by 1.5-3 degree celsius by 2050. Temperatures will rise by 1-2 degree celsius even if preventive measures on the lines of the Paris Agreement are implemented, said a World Bank-study published in June, 2018.

Over 4,800 Indians died due to heat waves across the country over four years up to 2017, with the highest number of deaths in 2015. These heat-wave events are likely to worsen: Under the current emission scenario, they could increase 75 times by the end of the century, gripping the entire stretch from Uttar Pradesh in the north to the southern peninsular.&nbsp;

Their frequency will also increase by 3-9 events in the next 30 years, reaching 18-30 events by the final quarter of the century.

The frequency of severe heat waves in India will rise 30 times by the end of the century, even if India adheres to the Paris Agreement and the global mean temperature rise is limited below 2 degree celsius. If not, even a humid seaside city like Kolkata could experience temperature conditions equivalent to its deadly 2015-heat-wave every year.

Water crisis: The other effects of a two degree celsius rise in the global mean temperature over India could be on the availability of water. The annual runoff in the Ganga river basin is expected to decrease by about 20 per cent and this could worsen the current water crisis. Nearly 600 million Indians are facing high-to-extreme water stress because more than 40 per cent of the annually available surface water is being used. About 2,00,000 people are dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water, a situation likely to worsen because of water shortage by 2050.

Lower living standards for 600 million Indians: By 2050, rising temperatures and changing monsoon rainfall patterns could cost India 2.8 per cent of its gross domestic product and could lower the living standards for nearly 600 million people living in "hotspots" — areas vulnerable to changes in average temperature and rainfall, according to the June 2018 World Bank-study.

Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are predicted to be India's top two climate hot spot states by 2050, followed by Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Jharkhand, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh make up the rest of the 10 worst-affected states. In all 10 states, hotter days and erratic rainfall would increase the stress on farmers, said the study.

Nutrition crisis: The rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) in atmosphere is making our food less nutritious, according to a September 2018-study by the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University. It is also making crops such as rice and wheat less nutritious and could result in 175 million people — 1.9 per cent of the global population — becoming zinc-deficient and 122 million protein-deficient by 2050. 
 
(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-india-s-vulnerability-to-climate-threats-2675705">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

Recent extreme weather events, such as floods in Kerala, wildfires in Uttarakhand and heat waves in the north and the east, have demonstrated how vulnerable India is to climate change.

Recent extreme weather events, such as floods in Kerala, wildfires in Uttarakhand and heat waves in the north and the east, have demonstrated how vulnerable India is to climate change. Such events, which cause widespread destruction and impact the availability of food and water, are likely to become more frequent and intense in India because of rising average temperatures. A new report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a global body of climate change scientists, will assess how effective the initiatives of all nations, including India, are in mitigating the rise in global temperatures. Early leaks of the report indicate its findings are likely to be disquieting. "Climate scientists are struggling to find the right words for very bad news," said the headline of a story in the Washington Post on October 3, 2018. In the next 10 years the world may reach its carbon pollution quota, the amount of carbon it can release into the atmosphere before the global temperature rises by 1.5 degree Celsius, the Washington Post report said. This could be disquieting news for India, the world’s third-largest carbon polluter after China and the United States. The IPCC report is also likely to recommend “stricter” climate actions by governments, allowing the use of only a third of the coal being consumed today by 2030, Bloomberg reported on September 30, 2018, quoting the leaked draft of the report. The aim is to keep warming down to 1.5 degree celsius since the industrial era began in 1800. Here is the problem for India: It is the second-largest coal consumer after China, putting at risk the lives of 600 million Indians to disasters caused by climate change. Coal currently feeds about 27 per cent of the world’s and 60 per cent of India's energy demand. “Under a bolder outlook that assumes quicker action to protect the atmosphere, coal use would fall to 13 per cent of the energy market by 2040,” Bloomberg said on September 30, 2018, referring to the IPCCs draft recommendation. As part of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5-2 degree celsius, India had agreed to cut carbon pollution by raising its renewable power capacity to 40 per cent by 2030 — from 20 per cent in 2018, increase its forest cover, build climate-resilient cities and improve solid-waste management. Here is where India stands on these pledges today: Currently, renewable power capacity in India is 20 per cent of installed capacity. The country’s forest area rose by 1 per cent over two years until 2017, covering 24 per cent of India. But the figure is slightly exaggerated and includes degraded forests and plantations, FactChecker reported on July 4, 2018 . Only 24 per cent of the country’s solid waste collected annually by municipalities is processed. Are India’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reduce greenhouse emissions ambitious enough to help limit global warming to 1.5 degree celsius? No, according to the Climate Action Tracker, an independent scientific group tracking climate actions of the nations. India’s commitments “are not fully consistent” with the Paris Agreement, the report said. If India achieves all its targets, warming could be held below 2 degree celsius but would still be “too high” to be consistent with the 1.5-degree-celsius limit. Four looming climate-change threats for India Increasing heat wave episodes: If there are no changes in the current emissions and environment policies, India’s average annual temperatures are expected to rise by 1.5-3 degree celsius by 2050. Temperatures will rise by 1-2 degree celsius even if preventive measures on the lines of the Paris Agreement are implemented, said a World Bank-study published in June, 2018. Over 4,800 Indians died due to heat waves across the country over four years up to 2017, with the highest number of deaths in 2015. These heat-wave events are likely to worsen: Under the current emission scenario, they could increase 75 times by the end of the century, gripping the entire stretch from Uttar Pradesh in the north to the southern peninsular. Their frequency will also increase by 3-9 events in the next 30 years, reaching 18-30 events by the final quarter of the century. The frequency of severe heat waves in India will rise 30 times by the end of the century, even if India adheres to the Paris Agreement and the global mean temperature rise is limited below 2 degree celsius. If not, even a humid seaside city like Kolkata could experience temperature conditions equivalent to its deadly 2015-heat-wave every year. Water crisis: The other effects of a two degree celsius rise in the global mean temperature over India could be on the availability of water. The annual runoff in the Ganga river basin is expected to decrease by about 20 per cent and this could worsen the current water crisis. Nearly 600 million Indians are facing high-to-extreme water stress because more than 40 per cent of the annually available surface water is being used. About 2,00,000 people are dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water, a situation likely to worsen because of water shortage by 2050. Lower living standards for 600 million Indians: By 2050, rising temperatures and changing monsoon rainfall patterns could cost India 2.8 per cent of its gross domestic product and could lower the living standards for nearly 600 million people living in "hotspots" — areas vulnerable to changes in average temperature and rainfall, according to the June 2018 World Bank-study. Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are predicted to be India's top two climate hot spot states by 2050, followed by Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Jharkhand, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh make up the rest of the 10 worst-affected states. In all 10 states, hotter days and erratic rainfall would increase the stress on farmers, said the study. Nutrition crisis: The rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) in atmosphere is making our food less nutritious, according to a September 2018-study by the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University. It is also making crops such as rice and wheat less nutritious and could result in 175 million people — 1.9 per cent of the global population — becoming zinc-deficient and 122 million protein-deficient by 2050. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

India’s vulnerability to climate threats

The world's nations will gather at a UN conference in South Korea on Monday to review and approve a 20-page bombshell -- distilled from more than 6,000 scientific studies -- laying out narrowing options for staving off climate catastrophe.

When the 195 countries who signed off on the Paris Agreement in 2015 requested a report from UN-led scientists on the feasibility of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, the gesture seemed to many unnecessary.

The treaty, after all, enjoined the world to block the rise in Earth's surface temperature at "well below" 2C (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to preindustrial levels, adding a safety buffer to the two degree threshold long seen as the guardrail for a climate-safe world.&nbsp;

Since then, however, a crescendo of deadly heatwaves, floods, wildfires and superstorms engorged by rising seas -- with less than 1C warming so far -- has convinced scientists that the danger cursor needed to be reset.

"There is increasing and very robust evidence of truly severe and catastrophic risks even at the lower bounds of these temperature targets," said Peter Frumhoff, director of science and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Washington-based research and advocacy group.

The promise of "pursuing efforts" to limit warming to 1.5C -- added to the Paris treaty at the last minute, in part to assuage poor nations who felt short-changed on other fronts -- caught scientists off-guard.

"There wasn't very much literature on 1.5C warming three years ago," said Jim Skea, a professor of at Imperial College London's Centre for Environmental Policy, and a co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), the UN science body charged with writing the "Special Report" on 1.5C. &nbsp;

But is it feasible?

Of hundreds of climate models in 2015 projecting a low-carbon future, only two or three aimed for a 1.5C global warming cap.

The 20-page Summary Policy Makers -- which will be collectively scrutinised, line-by-line, by hundreds of diplomats through Friday -- contains several benchmark findings, according to a draft obtained by AFP.

At current levels of greenhouse gas emissions, for example, the Earth's surface will heat up beyond the 1.5C threshold by 2040, the report concludes with "high confidence".

To have a fighting chance of staying under the 1.5C cap, the global economy must, by 2050, become "carbon neutral", meaning no additional CO2 can be allowed to leach into the atmosphere.

In addition, the report suggests that carbon dioxide emissions from human activity will need to peak in 2020 and curve sharply downward from there.&nbsp;

So far, we are still moving in the wrong direction: after remaining stable for three years -- raising hopes the peak had come -- emissions rose in 2017 to historic levels. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

For many scientists, these targets are technically feasible but politically or socially unrealistic, along with the broader 1.5C goal.

"The feasibility is probably going to remain an open question, even after the report comes out," said Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University.

A main focus of the underlying, 400-page report -- written by a team of 86 authors, supported by another 150 scientists -- is the difference a half-degree Celsius can make in terms of impacts.&nbsp;

"When we're talking about 1.5C it's not just to protect a few dozen small island nations," said Henri Waisman, a senior researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, and a coordinating author of the report.

"It's to avoid dramatic impacts that become exponentially more dramatic when we go from 1.5C to 2C."

Tipping points

What used to be once-a-century heatwaves in southern and central Europe, for example, are projected to occur four out of 10 summers in a 1.5C world, and six out of ten in a 2C world.

Many tropical fisheries are likely to collapse somewhere between the 1.5C and 2C benchmark, as fish seek cooler waters; staple food crops will decline in yield and nutrition an extra 10 to 15 per cent; coral reefs that may have a chance of surviving if air temperatures remain below 1.5C will very likely perish with an additional half-degree of warming.

Most worrying of all, perhaps, are temperature "tipping points" that could push methane-laden permafrost and the icesheets of Greenland and West Antarctica -- which hold enough frozen water to lift global oceans by a dozen metres (nearly 40 feet) -- beyond the point of no return. &nbsp;

Some experts, however, worry that focusing on the contrast between a 1.5C and 2C world obscures the fact we are currently on a trajectory that will crash through both these thresholds.

"I don't think 2C is safe, and I would never want to argue it," said Frumhoff. "By many measures, 1.5C is not enough."

"But while we might call 2C an upper bound, let's not pretend that we're on a 2C path -- we are way above that," he told AFP.

Even taking into account voluntary national pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions, submitted in annex to the Paris treaty, the Earth is on track to heat up by an unliveable 3.5C or more by century's end.

"If we want to save ourselves from the disasters that are looming, we only have unrealistic options left," said Kaisa Kosonen, Greenpeace IPPC campaign lead.

"We have to try to make the impossible possible."

The world's nations will gather at a UN conference in South Korea on Monday to review and approve a 20-page bombshell -- distilled from more than 6,000 scientific studies -- laying out narrowing options for staving off climate catastrophe.

The world's nations will gather at a UN conference in South Korea on Monday to review and approve a 20-page bombshell -- distilled from more than 6,000 scientific studies -- laying out narrowing options for staving off climate catastrophe. When the 195 countries who signed off on the Paris Agreement in 2015 requested a report from UN-led scientists on the feasibility of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, the gesture seemed to many unnecessary. The treaty, after all, enjoined the world to block the rise in Earth's surface temperature at "well below" 2C (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to preindustrial levels, adding a safety buffer to the two degree threshold long seen as the guardrail for a climate-safe world. Since then, however, a crescendo of deadly heatwaves, floods, wildfires and superstorms engorged by rising seas -- with less than 1C warming so far -- has convinced scientists that the danger cursor needed to be reset. "There is increasing and very robust evidence of truly severe and catastrophic risks even at the lower bounds of these temperature targets," said Peter Frumhoff, director of science and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Washington-based research and advocacy group. The promise of "pursuing efforts" to limit warming to 1.5C -- added to the Paris treaty at the last minute, in part to assuage poor nations who felt short-changed on other fronts -- caught scientists off-guard. "There wasn't very much literature on 1.5C warming three years ago," said Jim Skea, a professor of at Imperial College London's Centre for Environmental Policy, and a co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), the UN science body charged with writing the "Special Report" on 1.5C. But is it feasible? Of hundreds of climate models in 2015 projecting a low-carbon future, only two or three aimed for a 1.5C global warming cap. The 20-page Summary Policy Makers -- which will be collectively scrutinised, line-by-line, by hundreds of diplomats through Friday -- contains several benchmark findings, according to a draft obtained by AFP. At current levels of greenhouse gas emissions, for example, the Earth's surface will heat up beyond the 1.5C threshold by 2040, the report concludes with "high confidence". To have a fighting chance of staying under the 1.5C cap, the global economy must, by 2050, become "carbon neutral", meaning no additional CO2 can be allowed to leach into the atmosphere. In addition, the report suggests that carbon dioxide emissions from human activity will need to peak in 2020 and curve sharply downward from there. So far, we are still moving in the wrong direction: after remaining stable for three years -- raising hopes the peak had come -- emissions rose in 2017 to historic levels. For many scientists, these targets are technically feasible but politically or socially unrealistic, along with the broader 1.5C goal. "The feasibility is probably going to remain an open question, even after the report comes out," said Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University. A main focus of the underlying, 400-page report -- written by a team of 86 authors, supported by another 150 scientists -- is the difference a half-degree Celsius can make in terms of impacts. "When we're talking about 1.5C it's not just to protect a few dozen small island nations," said Henri Waisman, a senior researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, and a coordinating author of the report. "It's to avoid dramatic impacts that become exponentially more dramatic when we go from 1.5C to 2C." Tipping points What used to be once-a-century heatwaves in southern and central Europe, for example, are projected to occur four out of 10 summers in a 1.5C world, and six out of ten in a 2C world. Many tropical fisheries are likely to collapse somewhere between the 1.5C and 2C benchmark, as fish seek cooler waters; staple food crops will decline in yield and nutrition an extra 10 to 15 per cent; coral reefs that may have a chance of surviving if air temperatures remain below 1.5C will very likely perish with an additional half-degree of warming. Most worrying of all, perhaps, are temperature "tipping points" that could push methane-laden permafrost and the icesheets of Greenland and West Antarctica -- which hold enough frozen water to lift global oceans by a dozen metres (nearly 40 feet) -- beyond the point of no return. Some experts, however, worry that focusing on the contrast between a 1.5C and 2C world obscures the fact we are currently on a trajectory that will crash through both these thresholds. "I don't think 2C is safe, and I would never want to argue it," said Frumhoff. "By many measures, 1.5C is not enough." "But while we might call 2C an upper bound, let's not pretend that we're on a 2C path -- we are way above that," he told AFP. Even taking into account voluntary national pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions, submitted in annex to the Paris treaty, the Earth is on track to heat up by an unliveable 3.5C or more by century's end. "If we want to save ourselves from the disasters that are looming, we only have unrealistic options left," said Kaisa Kosonen, Greenpeace IPPC campaign lead. "We have to try to make the impossible possible."

UN report confronts nations with tough choices on climate

Terrorism, climate change, reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and Sustainable Development Goals are some of the issues that External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj is likely to touch upon during her speech at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly on Saturday evening.

On terrorism, it is expected that apart from regional and global challenges, Swaraj will also talk about issues related to Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. EAM had raised the issue during the meeting of Foreign Ministers of SAARC countries on the sidelines of UNGA&nbsp;also where she emphasised it as "single largest threat to peace and stability" in the region.

A victim of terror attacks, India has been pushing for Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) for global cooperation in combating the menace.

CCIT will provide a legal framework to prevent global funding and safe havens to the terror groups. India had proposed CCIT in 1996 and it is, however, still under discussion.

Swaraj is also expected to touch upon the issue of much-needed reforms in the United Nations Security Council. India has been making strong diplomatic efforts for the expansion of the UN body to allow more members in Permanent and Non-Permanent category.&nbsp;

According to sources, the minister may also touch upon SDG and the recent Indian flagship initiatives to achieve these targets. India is also expected to reiterate its obligation on climate change and its commitment to address this

Terrorism, climate change, reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and Sustainable Development Goals are some of the issues that External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj is likely to touch upon during her speech at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly on Saturday evening.

Terrorism, climate change, reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and Sustainable Development Goals are some of the issues that External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj is likely to touch upon during her speech at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly on Saturday evening. On terrorism, it is expected that apart from regional and global challenges, Swaraj will also talk about issues related to Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. EAM had raised the issue during the meeting of Foreign Ministers of SAARC countries on the sidelines of UNGA also where she emphasised it as "single largest threat to peace and stability" in the region. A victim of terror attacks, India has been pushing for Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) for global cooperation in combating the menace. CCIT will provide a legal framework to prevent global funding and safe havens to the terror groups. India had proposed CCIT in 1996 and it is, however, still under discussion. Swaraj is also expected to touch upon the issue of much-needed reforms in the United Nations Security Council. India has been making strong diplomatic efforts for the expansion of the UN body to allow more members in Permanent and Non-Permanent category. According to sources, the minister may also touch upon SDG and the recent Indian flagship initiatives to achieve these targets. India is also expected to reiterate its obligation on climate change and its commitment to address this

Sushma Swaraj likely to focus on terrorism, climate change at UNGA

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a warning of a&nbsp;thunderstorm&nbsp;with strong winds and rain in various parts of&nbsp;Uttar Pradesh.

As per the weather department, the change in climate will be witnessed in many districts over the next three hours.

A&nbsp;thunderstorm&nbsp;accompanied with rain is very likely to occur over some areas in Gorakhpur, Santkabir Nagar, Ballia, Deoria, Kushinagar, Mahrajganj districts and adjoining areas.

Wind speed as high as 60 Km/h gusting over 80 Km/h is likely to reach during&nbsp;Squall.

Squall&nbsp;is very likely to occur over some areas in Azamgarh, Mau, Ghazipur districts and adjoining areas. Wind speed as high as 60 Km/h gusting over 80 Km/h is likely to reach during&nbsp;Squall.

The warning comes two days after a deadly storm claimed over 30 lives in various states across the country including&nbsp;Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

On May 2, at least 100 people died in north India and some other states, owing to&nbsp;thunderstorms.

As per the weather department, the change in climate will be witnessed in many districts over the next three hours

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a warning of a thunderstorm with strong winds and rain in various parts of Uttar Pradesh. As per the weather department, the change in climate will be witnessed in many districts over the next three hours. A thunderstorm accompanied with rain is very likely to occur over some areas in Gorakhpur, Santkabir Nagar, Ballia, Deoria, Kushinagar, Mahrajganj districts and adjoining areas. Wind speed as high as 60 Km/h gusting over 80 Km/h is likely to reach during Squall. Squall is very likely to occur over some areas in Azamgarh, Mau, Ghazipur districts and adjoining areas. Wind speed as high as 60 Km/h gusting over 80 Km/h is likely to reach during Squall. The warning comes two days after a deadly storm claimed over 30 lives in various states across the country including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. On May 2, at least 100 people died in north India and some other states, owing to thunderstorms.

Thunderstorm with squall likely to hit Uttar Pradesh today

One-third of central Tokyo could be left under water and nearly four million people affected if a super typhoon strikes the capital causing storm surges, a new study from local authorities has warned.

The Tokyo metropolitan government unveiled its first estimate of the Japanese capital's vulnerability to damage from typhoon-related high tidal waves Friday, as risks of storm damage continue to increase globally.

According to the report, 212 square kilometres (85 square miles), or one-third of the capital's central area, could be inundated to a maximum depth of 10 metres (33 feet) if a super typhoon creates high tidal waves.

A severe event of this type would be estimated to affect as many as 3.95 million people in the city, flooding business and entertainment districts as well as major railway stations, the local government said.

Tokyo has a population of 13.7 million people.

In particular, Tokyo's eastern zone near Arakawa river would be flooded for more than a week if rising tidal waves at Tokyo Port break through river levees.

Based on the estimate, the Tokyo government said it plans to update evacuation measures and review how it sends warning messages to local residents.

Big storms regularly hit the Japanese archipelago, triggering landslides and floods that have often led to sizable casualties.

The Tokyo metropolitan government unveiled its first estimate of the Japanese capital's vulnerability to damage from typhoon-related high tidal waves Friday

One-third of central Tokyo could be left under water and nearly four million people affected if a super typhoon strikes the capital causing storm surges, a new study from local authorities has warned. The Tokyo metropolitan government unveiled its first estimate of the Japanese capital's vulnerability to damage from typhoon-related high tidal waves Friday, as risks of storm damage continue to increase globally. According to the report, 212 square kilometres (85 square miles), or one-third of the capital's central area, could be inundated to a maximum depth of 10 metres (33 feet) if a super typhoon creates high tidal waves. A severe event of this type would be estimated to affect as many as 3.95 million people in the city, flooding business and entertainment districts as well as major railway stations, the local government said. Tokyo has a population of 13.7 million people. In particular, Tokyo's eastern zone near Arakawa river would be flooded for more than a week if rising tidal waves at Tokyo Port break through river levees. Based on the estimate, the Tokyo government said it plans to update evacuation measures and review how it sends warning messages to local residents. Big storms regularly hit the Japanese archipelago, triggering landslides and floods that have often led to sizable casualties.

Super typhoon may flood one-third of central Tokyo: Survey

The North Pole is experiencing a sudden surge in temperatures which has left the environmentalists and experts stunned. The North Pole is usually at its coldest around this time of the year. Despite this, the region has seen a historic thaw after an enormous storm pumped an intense pulse of heat through the Greenland Sea.

It is unlikely for the North Pole to get the sight of the Sun until till March 20;&nbsp;meanwhile, the temperature in the region has already mounted to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, around 2 degree Celsius.&nbsp;

According to Zack Labe, a climate scientist from the University of California at Irvine, this is one of the most expansive warm intrusions to have hit the region for the longest time.&nbsp;

&quot;No other warm intrusions were very close to this,&quot; Labe said in an interview, describing a data set maintained by the Danish Meteorological Institute that dated back to 1958. &quot;I was taken by surprise how expansive this warm intrusion was,&quot; Labe noted.&nbsp;

Some of the previously conducted studies have noted climatic intrusions to have become more frequent ever since the 1980s.&nbsp;

The change in temperature&nbsp;has been linked to the decline of winter sea ice in the Arctic; January&#39;s ice extent was the lowest on record.

With inputs from ANI&nbsp;

Some of the previously conducted studies have noted similar climatic intrusions to have become more frequent ever since the 1980s

The North Pole is experiencing a sudden surge in temperatures which has left the environmentalists and experts stunned. The North Pole is usually at its coldest around this time of the year. Despite this, the region has seen a historic thaw after an enormous storm pumped an intense pulse of heat through the Greenland Sea. It is unlikely for the North Pole to get the sight of the Sun until till March 20; meanwhile, the temperature in the region has already mounted to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, around 2 degree Celsius. According to Zack Labe, a climate scientist from the University of California at Irvine, this is one of the most expansive warm intrusions to have hit the region for the longest time. "No other warm intrusions were very close to this," Labe said in an interview, describing a data set maintained by the Danish Meteorological Institute that dated back to 1958. "I was taken by surprise how expansive this warm intrusion was," Labe noted. Some of the previously conducted studies have noted climatic intrusions to have become more frequent ever since the 1980s. The change in temperature has been linked to the decline of winter sea ice in the Arctic; January's ice extent was the lowest on record. With inputs from ANI

Temperatures soar at North Pole in warmest climatic intrusion

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