Scientists at the world's northernmost year-round research station are racing to understand how the fastest-warming place on earth is changing. Researchers have been studying the polar region for decades and now they are trying to find out what these climate changes may mean for the planet's future.

Polar regions warming fastest- what does this mean earth's future?

Japan climate group calls for reforms. Somalia hit by drought, displaces around 1.4 million Somalis. Watch to know more.

Japan climate group calls for reforms; Somalia hit by climate crisis

Summers are here and so are the mosquitoes. While India is unable to eliminate dengue, climate change is making the weather more conducive to mosquitoes, which is helping vectors spread disease. Hem Kaur Saroya brings you the report.

Climate change key reason for rise in mosquitoes: Study

Escalating summer heat and droughts are impacting forests around the world, with trees browning early and some even experiencing die-back. Eric Njoka brings you the report.

Hot, dry weather turning trees brown

Do rising temperatures, melting ice, deforestation, and pollution levels bother you? Does the climate crisis stress you out? If the answer to all this is yes, then you could be suffering from eco-anxiety. Eric njoka brings you the report.

Here's how you can cope with climate anxiety

Social, political, and technological inertia mean the Paris agreement’s target of limiting global warming to 1.5°c above pre-industrial temperatures is likely to be missed. Hem Soraya brings you the report.

Are we too far from the 1.5°c target? | WION Climate Tracker

The intensity of extreme drought and rainfall has "sharply" increased over the past two decades. That's what a new study has confirmed. After a deadly landslide in Ecuador that killed at least 23 and injured dozens. Another landslide has been reported. In East Democratic Republic of Congo that killed at least 20 and injured several others.

Extreme weather: How it is connected to climate change

The intensity of extreme drought and rainfall has "sharply" increased over the past two decades. That's what a new study has confirmed. Rohit Wellington brings you the report.

Flooding & droughts to happen more often: Study

Scientists have yet again, sounded a warning over global warming and have said that melting ice in and around Antarctica is now threatening to dramatically slow deep-water currents in oceans across the world. This, in turn, can impact the spread of fresh water, oxygen and life-sustaining nutrients for centuries.

The model created as part of the study indicates faster Antarctic ice melts are driving a "substantial slowdown" of circulation of water in the ocean depths if global carbon emissions continue to remain high. The researchers have published their findings in the journal 'Nature' on Wednesday, reported AFP.

The "overturning circulation" of waters in the deepest reaches of the oceans would slow by 40 per cent by 2050 in a high-emissions scenario, according to the study, which warned of impacts that would last "for centuries to come".&nbsp;

Matthew England, climate professor at University of New South Wales (UNSW), says that if the model holds true, the deep ocean current will be "on a trajectory that looks headed towards collapse"

Trillions of tonnes of cold, highly salty and oxygen-rich water sinks around Antarctica each year, sending a deep-water current northwards to the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, scientists say.&nbsp;

The greater volumes of melting ice make the Antarctic waters less dense and salty, however, slowing the deep-water circulation with consequences for climate, sea level and marine ecosystems.&nbsp;

"If the oceans had lungs, this would be one of them," England said.&nbsp;

He added that if oceans become stagnant below 4000 metres, "this would trap nutrients in the deep ocean, reducing the nutrients available to support marine life near the ocean surface."

UNSW emeritus professor John Church, who was not involved in the study, said there were many uncertainties about the impact of a declining deep ocean circulation.&nbsp;

"But it seems almost certain that continuing on a high greenhouse gas emission pathway will lead to even more profound effects on the ocean and the climate system," Church said.&nbsp;

"The world urgently needs to drastically reduce our emissions to get off the high-emission pathway we are currently following."&nbsp;

The study team included lead author Qian Li of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-authors from the Australian National University and Australia's national research organisation CSIRO.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Scientists have yet again, sounded a warning over global warming and have said that melting ice in and around Antarctica is now threatening to dramatically slow deep-water currents in oceans across the world.

Scientists have yet again, sounded a warning over global warming and have said that melting ice in and around Antarctica is now threatening to dramatically slow deep-water currents in oceans across the world. This, in turn, can impact the spread of fresh water, oxygen and life-sustaining nutrients for centuries. The model created as part of the study indicates faster Antarctic ice melts are driving a "substantial slowdown" of circulation of water in the ocean depths if global carbon emissions continue to remain high. The researchers have published their findings in the journal 'Nature' on Wednesday, reported AFP. The "overturning circulation" of waters in the deepest reaches of the oceans would slow by 40 per cent by 2050 in a high-emissions scenario, according to the study, which warned of impacts that would last "for centuries to come". Matthew England, climate professor at University of New South Wales (UNSW), says that if the model holds true, the deep ocean current will be "on a trajectory that looks headed towards collapse" Trillions of tonnes of cold, highly salty and oxygen-rich water sinks around Antarctica each year, sending a deep-water current northwards to the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, scientists say. The greater volumes of melting ice make the Antarctic waters less dense and salty, however, slowing the deep-water circulation with consequences for climate, sea level and marine ecosystems. "If the oceans had lungs, this would be one of them," England said. He added that if oceans become stagnant below 4000 metres, "this would trap nutrients in the deep ocean, reducing the nutrients available to support marine life near the ocean surface." UNSW emeritus professor John Church, who was not involved in the study, said there were many uncertainties about the impact of a declining deep ocean circulation. "But it seems almost certain that continuing on a high greenhouse gas emission pathway will lead to even more profound effects on the ocean and the climate system," Church said. "The world urgently needs to drastically reduce our emissions to get off the high-emission pathway we are currently following." The study team included lead author Qian Li of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-authors from the Australian National University and Australia's national research organisation CSIRO. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Melting ice in Antarctica may impact oceans 'for centuries': Study

United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted to pass the resolution asking the world's top Court to define the obligations of states to combat climate change. The resolution was taken in a hope to drive countries in taking stronger measures and clarify international law on the same the historic resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the international court of justice.

Climate Change: UN votes to ask world court to rule on countries' climate duties

The United Nations general assembly on Wednesday voted to pass a resolution asking the world’s top court to define the obligations of states to combat climate change.

United Nations seeks court clarity on Climate change obligations

UN Adopts Landmark Resolution for Climate Action: What You Need to Know

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that the world is already only a few tenths of a degree away from the global target of limiting warming to 1.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that the world is already only a few tenths of a degree away from the global target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In its latest report on climate change, released on Monday (March 20), the IPCC said that there are multiple, feasible and effective options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change. "This Synthesis Report underscores the urgency of taking more ambitious action and shows that if we act now, we can still secure a liveable sustainable future for all," the report said. Back in 2018, the IPCC highlighted the unprecedented scale of the challenge needed to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But five years later, this challenge has even become greater because of a continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions. If left unchecked, climate change will undo a lot of the progress made over the past years in development. So what is climate change, what are its consequences and what are the solutions? What is climate change? According to the United Nations (UN), climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. The UN says that these shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. Climate change can affect our health, ability to grow food, housing, safety and work. "Some of us are already more vulnerable to climate impacts, such as people living in small island nations and other developing countries," the UN says. "Conditions like sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion have advanced to the point where whole communities have had to relocate, and protracted droughts are putting people at risk of famine. In the future, the number of “climate refugees” is expected to rise," it adds. What are the consequences? The UN says that the consequences of climate change include intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity. What happens if climate change is left unchecked? If left unchecked, climate change can undo a lot of the progress made over the past years in development. It can also exacerbate threats such as food and water scarcity, which can lead to conflict. The UN says that doing nothing will end up costing a lot more than if actions are taken now that will lead to more jobs, greater prosperity, and better lives for all while reducing greenhouse emissions and building climate resilience. Is climate change affecting people's lives? Yes, people's lives are being affected by climate change. Severe weather and rising sea levels are affecting people and their properties in developed and developing countries. The UN points out that climate change is especially affecting the poor and vulnerable, as well as marginalised groups like women, children and the elderly. What are the solutions? Climate change can be addressed, but the efforts have to be ramped up. The UN says that countries must transform their energy, industries, transport, food, agriculture and forestry systems to ensure that rise in global temperatures can be limited to well below two degrees, perhaps even 1.5. "We also need to anticipate, adapt and become resilient to the current and future impacts of climate change," the UN says. It points out that many climate change solutions can deliver economic benefits while improving lives, and protecting the environment. The UN also says that switching energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables like solar or wind will reduce the emissions driving climate change. Switching energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables like solar or wind will reduce the emissions driving climate change. "But we have to start right now. While a growing coalition of countries is committing to net zero emissions by 2050, about half of emissions cuts must be in place by 2030 to keep warming below 1.5°C. Fossil fuel production must decline by roughly 6 per cent per year between 2020 and 2030." The importance of keeping warming below 1.5ºCelsius In several UN reports, thousands of scientists and government reviewers have agreed that limiting global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius would help avoid the worst climate impacts and maintain a livable climate. Yet policies which are currently in place point to a 2.8°C temperature rise by the end of the century. The Synthesis report on Monday said that if temperatures are to be kept to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, deep, rapid, and sustained greenhouse gas emissions reductions will be needed in all sectors this decade. Emissions need to go down and be cut by almost half by 2030, if this goal has any chance of being achieved. On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the report as a “how-to guide to defuse the climate time bomb.” Guterres proposed to the G20 a "Climate Solidarity Pact,” where big emitters would make extra efforts to cut emissions, and wealthier countries would mobilise financial and technical resources to support emerging economies in a common effort to ensure that global temperatures do not rise by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: What is climate change? What are its consequences? | A lowdown

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the climate time bomb is ticking as he urged rich nations on Monday to slash emissions sooner after a new assessment from scientists said there was little time to lose in tackling climate change.

Climate time bomb is ticking, expect more floods, cyclones and droughts

A critical report on climate warned the world is set to cross the key 1.5°celsius global warming limit in about a decade. Is it too late?

UN chief says climate time bomb is ticking

Climate change is causing successive years of drought, forcing rural families in the horn of Africa deeper into poverty and hunger, and that's according to the United Nations. In Kenya, women who would normally work in agriculture, are resorting to grueling labour to keep their children fed and in school. here's a report.

World of Africa: Women crush ballast to make ends meet

Scotland has banned use of desflurane, an anaesthetic which poses a tremendous threat to the environment. In doing so, Scotland has become first country in the world to take such a step. According to UK's National Health Service (NHS), desflurane has a global warming potential 2500 times than that of carbon dioxide. Desflurane is commonly used to put a patient to sleep before a surgery.

Scottish ban on desflurane would cut emissions equal to powering 1700 homes a year.

Many hospitals in other parts of UK have started cutting down use of desflurane. BBC reported that 40 hospital trusts in England and a number of hospitals in Wales have stopped using desflurane.

NHS England is planning to introduce a ban on use of desflurane. Once in place, it would cut emissions equal to powering 11,000 homes every year.

It is expected that other countries, including those in Europe would impose ban on the use of desflurane.

"I realised in 2017 that the amount of desflurane we used in a typical day's work as an anaesthetist resulted in emissions equivalent to me driving 670 miles that day," said Dr Kenneth Barker, anaesthetist and clinical lead for Scotland's national green theatres programme.

"I decided to stop using it straight away and many fellow anaesthetists have got on board," he was quoted as saying&nbsp;by the BBC.

"When you are faced with something as obvious as this and with the significance it has to the environment - I am very glad we have got to this stage."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Scotland has banned use of desflurane, an anaesthetic which poses a tremendous threat to the environment. In doing so, Scotland has become first country in the world to take such a step.

Scotland has banned use of desflurane, an anaesthetic which poses a tremendous threat to the environment. In doing so, Scotland has become first country in the world to take such a step. According to UK's National Health Service (NHS), desflurane has a global warming potential 2500 times than that of carbon dioxide. Desflurane is commonly used to put a patient to sleep before a surgery. Scottish ban on desflurane would cut emissions equal to powering 1700 homes a year. Many hospitals in other parts of UK have started cutting down use of desflurane. BBC reported that 40 hospital trusts in England and a number of hospitals in Wales have stopped using desflurane. NHS England is planning to introduce a ban on use of desflurane. Once in place, it would cut emissions equal to powering 11,000 homes every year. It is expected that other countries, including those in Europe would impose ban on the use of desflurane. "I realised in 2017 that the amount of desflurane we used in a typical day's work as an anaesthetist resulted in emissions equivalent to me driving 670 miles that day," said Dr Kenneth Barker, anaesthetist and clinical lead for Scotland's national green theatres programme. "I decided to stop using it straight away and many fellow anaesthetists have got on board," he was quoted as saying by the BBC. "When you are faced with something as obvious as this and with the significance it has to the environment - I am very glad we have got to this stage." (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Scotland first to ban anaesthetic agent having global warming potential

Thermal expansion of seawater, glacier and ice-sheet melt and changes in groundwater storage are among the factors that have contributed in the rise in global sea level by about 20 cm over the past century, a new study published in a British journal has highlighted with a warning. "This trend is likely to accelerate in response to increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and anthropogenic warming," underlines the study published online this month by Nature. The response of the Antarctic ice-sheet (AIS) to greenhouse warming is highly unpredictable, researchers point out, stressing that lives of a large proportion of global population is at risk due to such uncertainties. Experts, who have conducted the study, have also warned that the collapse of ice sheets at both North Pole and South Pole could start sooner than expected.

If the world does not reach the net zero emissions goal by 2060, it could have an impact on water bodies worldwide, the researchers have demonstrated using simulations, stressing that sea levels could rise by five feet. “If we miss this emission goal, the ice sheets will disintegrate and melt at an accelerated pace, according to our calculations.” Professor Axel Timmermann, director of South Korea-based IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP), was quoted as saying in reports.

Also watch| WION Climate Tracker: Biodiversity suffers from global warming

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<h2>When UN Chief sounded alarm over rising sea levels</h2>

 
Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, earlier this month also spoke about the danger of rising sea levels at the Munich Security Conference. "Global average sea levels have risen faster since 1900 than over any preceding century in the last 3,000 years.&nbsp; The global ocean has warmed faster over the past century than at any time in the past 11,000 years," he said.

 
Citing findings of the World Meteorological Organization, he further said: "The WMO tells us that even if global heating is miraculously limited to 1.5 degrees, there will still be a sizeable sea level rise. Mega-cities on every continent will face serious impacts including Lagos, Maputo, Bangkok, Dhaka, Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai, Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires and Santiago.&nbsp; The danger is especially acute for nearly 900 million people who live in coastal zones at low elevations — that’s one out of ten people on earth."

Also read: <a href="wionews.com/world/first-time-in-52-years-worlds-longest-skating-rink-to-close-due-to-global-warming-565094">For the first time in 52 years, world’s longest skating rink to close due to global warming</a>

Last year, a group of 28 sea-level scientists and practitioners of the World Climate Research Programme, which was established in 1980 under the joint sponsorship of WMO and the International Council for Science (ICSU), revealed their findings. "The collapse of major Antarctic ice shelves at the end of the century followed by increased discharge of ice may lead to a 9-10 meter catastrophic sea-level rise by 2300 under a strong warming scenario," the group underlined. "Fulfilling the Paris Agreement will greatly reduce the potential or high-end sea-level rise to 2.2-2.5 m, but not stop sea-level rise to 2300. Hence, we need to be prepared to both mitigate climate change and adapt in coastal areas—but such adaptation is feasible for this magnitude of change over multiple centuries in many places," a statement further&nbsp; pointed out.

&nbsp;

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Thermal expansion of seawater, glacier and ice-sheet melt and changes in groundwater storage are among the factors that have contributed in the rise in global sea level by about 20 cm over the past century, a new study published in a British journal has highlighted with a warning.

Thermal expansion of seawater, glacier and ice-sheet melt and changes in groundwater storage are among the factors that have contributed in the rise in global sea level by about 20 cm over the past century, a new study published in a British journal has highlighted with a warning. "This trend is likely to accelerate in response to increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and anthropogenic warming," underlines the study published online this month by Nature. The response of the Antarctic ice-sheet (AIS) to greenhouse warming is highly unpredictable, researchers point out, stressing that lives of a large proportion of global population is at risk due to such uncertainties. Experts, who have conducted the study, have also warned that the collapse of ice sheets at both North Pole and South Pole could start sooner than expected. If the world does not reach the net zero emissions goal by 2060, it could have an impact on water bodies worldwide, the researchers have demonstrated using simulations, stressing that sea levels could rise by five feet. “If we miss this emission goal, the ice sheets will disintegrate and melt at an accelerated pace, according to our calculations.” Professor Axel Timmermann, director of South Korea-based IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP), was quoted as saying in reports. Also watch| WION Climate Tracker: Biodiversity suffers from global warming × When UN Chief sounded alarm over rising sea levels Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, earlier this month also spoke about the danger of rising sea levels at the Munich Security Conference. "Global average sea levels have risen faster since 1900 than over any preceding century in the last 3,000 years. The global ocean has warmed faster over the past century than at any time in the past 11,000 years," he said. Citing findings of the World Meteorological Organization, he further said: "The WMO tells us that even if global heating is miraculously limited to 1.5 degrees, there will still be a sizeable sea level rise. Mega-cities on every continent will face serious impacts including Lagos, Maputo, Bangkok, Dhaka, Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai, Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires and Santiago. The danger is especially acute for nearly 900 million people who live in coastal zones at low elevations — that’s one out of ten people on earth." Also read: For the first time in 52 years, world’s longest skating rink to close due to global warming Last year, a group of 28 sea-level scientists and practitioners of the World Climate Research Programme, which was established in 1980 under the joint sponsorship of WMO and the International Council for Science (ICSU), revealed their findings. "The collapse of major Antarctic ice shelves at the end of the century followed by increased discharge of ice may lead to a 9-10 meter catastrophic sea-level rise by 2300 under a strong warming scenario," the group underlined. "Fulfilling the Paris Agreement will greatly reduce the potential or high-end sea-level rise to 2.2-2.5 m, but not stop sea-level rise to 2300. Hence, we need to be prepared to both mitigate climate change and adapt in coastal areas—but such adaptation is feasible for this magnitude of change over multiple centuries in many places," a statement further pointed out. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

A warning on ice sheets collapse at both poles in new study

The Rideau Canal Skateway, which is a 7.8-kilometre long (5-mile) stretch of frozen water and is an iconic tourist place as well as a mode of transport in the capital city of Canada, is likely to remain closed for the first time since it was built in 1971. &nbsp;

Ottawa is seeing unusually warm weather as temperatures soared as high as 10ºC (50ºF) which led to occasional puddles and cracks above the patch of ice, which usually remains strong to handle around 20,000 skaters a day.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/global-rankings-predict-high-risk-to-indian-states-due-to-climate-change-564342">Global rankings predict high risk to Indian states due to climate change</a>

“I’m devastated,” Barbara Hyde said, as she strolled along the canal’s sidewalk, where usually she would skate around 10 to 20 times in a normal season. “I can’t believe I’m not skating. It’s ridiculous,” she said.

The closure of the skating rink will deprive visitors and residents of a unique feature of one of the coldest capital cities in the world. The place not only brings tourism dollars during the Winterlude festival in February, but it is also a key part of the city’s fabric.

Ottawa Tourism’s spokesperson Jantine Van Kregten said, “As an Ottawan it’s sad; that’s the best word I can use. If you had asked me whether it was possible that we could go a winter without opening, I would not have believed it.”

With the closure of the frozen canal, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the organisers of the winter festival were forced to become creative. The ice dragon boat, the hockey matches and the annual curling were cancelled.

WATCH | WION Climate Tracker | How climate crisis is hurting our health?

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The Winterlude Triathlon, in which people usually skate, run for a combined 19 kilometres and cross-country ski switched their skis and snow shoes this year. Early in the festival, ice sculptures along Sparks Street were carved near Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, however, they did not last long in the heat.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Rideau Canal Skateway, which is a 7.8-kilometre long (5-mile) stretch of frozen water and is an iconic tourist place as well as a mode of transport in the capital city of Canada, is likely to remain closed for the first time since it was built in 1971.

The Rideau Canal Skateway, which is a 7.8-kilometre long (5-mile) stretch of frozen water and is an iconic tourist place as well as a mode of transport in the capital city of Canada, is likely to remain closed for the first time since it was built in 1971. Ottawa is seeing unusually warm weather as temperatures soared as high as 10ºC (50ºF) which led to occasional puddles and cracks above the patch of ice, which usually remains strong to handle around 20,000 skaters a day. ALSO READ | Global rankings predict high risk to Indian states due to climate change “I’m devastated,” Barbara Hyde said, as she strolled along the canal’s sidewalk, where usually she would skate around 10 to 20 times in a normal season. “I can’t believe I’m not skating. It’s ridiculous,” she said. The closure of the skating rink will deprive visitors and residents of a unique feature of one of the coldest capital cities in the world. The place not only brings tourism dollars during the Winterlude festival in February, but it is also a key part of the city’s fabric. Ottawa Tourism’s spokesperson Jantine Van Kregten said, “As an Ottawan it’s sad; that’s the best word I can use. If you had asked me whether it was possible that we could go a winter without opening, I would not have believed it.” With the closure of the frozen canal, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the organisers of the winter festival were forced to become creative. The ice dragon boat, the hockey matches and the annual curling were cancelled. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker | How climate crisis is hurting our health? The Winterlude Triathlon, in which people usually skate, run for a combined 19 kilometres and cross-country ski switched their skis and snow shoes this year. Early in the festival, ice sculptures along Sparks Street were carved near Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, however, they did not last long in the heat. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

For the first time in 52 years, world’s longest skating rink to close due to global warming

Climate change is causing all sorts of visible changes around us. From the increased intensity of storms to melting glaciers, the effects are very apparent. Now another such development has made scientists take note. Ice in Antarctica has recorded a record low for a second year now. On February 13 this year, the ice extent of Antarctica dropped to just 737,000 square miles (1.91 square kilometres).

Previous record for the lowest ice extent was of 741,000 square miles (1.92 million square kilometres) recorded on February 25 last year. The numbers are released by USA's National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)

"It’s “not just ‘barely a record low,’” said Ted Scambos, a glaciologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, he was quoted by CNN.

Ice mass in the Arctic around North Pole has shown a consistent downward trend over years but that in Antarctic has swung between highs and lows. In 2014, the ice mass reached a record high of 7.76 million square miles. This made scientists think that Antarctica is relatively insulated from the effects of Climate Change.

But 2016 onwards, scientists and researchers began witnessing a downward trend and after two years of record lows, it has got them worried.&nbsp;

“The question is, has climate change reached Antarctica? Is this the beginning of the end? Will the sea ice disappear for good in the coming years in the summer?” Christian Haas, head of the Sea Ice Physics Research Section at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany. Haas was quoted by the CNN.

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Climate change is causing all sorts of visible changes around us. From the increased intensity of storms to melting glaciers, the effects are very apparent. Now another such development has made scientists take note.

Climate change is causing all sorts of visible changes around us. From the increased intensity of storms to melting glaciers, the effects are very apparent. Now another such development has made scientists take note. Ice in Antarctica has recorded a record low for a second year now. On February 13 this year, the ice extent of Antarctica dropped to just 737,000 square miles (1.91 square kilometres). Previous record for the lowest ice extent was of 741,000 square miles (1.92 million square kilometres) recorded on February 25 last year. The numbers are released by USA's National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) "It’s “not just ‘barely a record low,’” said Ted Scambos, a glaciologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, he was quoted by CNN. Ice mass in the Arctic around North Pole has shown a consistent downward trend over years but that in Antarctic has swung between highs and lows. In 2014, the ice mass reached a record high of 7.76 million square miles. This made scientists think that Antarctica is relatively insulated from the effects of Climate Change. But 2016 onwards, scientists and researchers began witnessing a downward trend and after two years of record lows, it has got them worried. “The question is, has climate change reached Antarctica? Is this the beginning of the end? Will the sea ice disappear for good in the coming years in the summer?” Christian Haas, head of the Sea Ice Physics Research Section at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany. Haas was quoted by the CNN. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Antarctic ice registers record low for second year

Representatives from 193 member nations of the United Nations convened on Monday (February 20) in the United States city of New York and for the next two weeks will negotiate its long-awaited treaty to protect the world’s oceans. This meeting comes after decades of formal and informal talks which opened with cautious optimism as many hope to make a decision at the end of it. The global agreement will protect and manage nearly two-thirds of the world’s oceans that lie beyond countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) known as the high seas.

What do we know about the meeting so far?

The talks which opened on Monday will go on till March 3 and are supposed to be the final round of negotiations after no agreement has been reached after more than 15 years. Notably, this is the third time in less than one year that delegates have gathered at the UN headquarters and due to the historic deal reached by the end of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference or COP15 in Montreal, Canada many are hopeful.&nbsp;

“I hope we've come together here with a will to get us to the finish line,” said conference chair Rena Lee, addressing the delegates as the talks began, reported AFP. She added, “an agreement that is universal, that is effective, that is implementable and that is future proofed is within our reach.” The President of the Intergovernmental Conference also encouraged delegates to build on the progress made during the August session, last year and focus on developing an agreement “that will bridge the existing gaps.”

The fifth session of the conference was convened following the General Assembly resolution 77/248 on “Oceans and the law of the sea”. The aim of these rounds of talks is to finalise an international legally binding agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas which are beyond national jurisdiction under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.&nbsp;

What per cent of our oceans are protected?

Last year, ministers and government officials from about 190 countries in Montreal signed an agreement known as 30 by 30 which committed to protecting 30 per cent of land and water which are considered pillars of biodiversity by 2030. Prior to this, only 17 per cent of terrestrial and 10 per cent of marine areas were protected.&nbsp;

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only eight per of the world’s marine areas are protected which includes 1.4 per cent of the high seas. The areas of the high seas that are protected fall under North East Atlantic and Antarctic oceans but they are regional and not global, or even binding for all governments, said Jessica Battle, a senior expert on ocean policy and governance at the World Wide Fund for Nature, as per Al Jazeera.&nbsp;

Why is this agreement important?

As mentioned earlier, the agreement will focus on the high seas which begin at the border of countries' EEZ and extend up to 200 nautical miles, or 370 kilometres from the coast and therefore fall under the jurisdiction of no country. Notably, the high seas make up more than 60 per cent of the world’s oceans and almost half of the planet’s surface but receive little to no&nbsp;attention since there are no borders.&nbsp;

Last month UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Humanity has been waging a senseless and self-defeating war on nature, and the ocean is on the front lines of the battle,” and called on the nations to finish the delayed negotiations. The oceans contribute significantly to global climate as well as provide oxygen, drive weather systems, and store a quarter of human-generated carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas heating up the planet.&nbsp;

The ocean supports a huge range of biodiversity and is home to possibly millions of species which are yet to be discovered. According to IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, at least 10 per cent of underwater plants and animals assessed are under threat of going extinct. Additionally, oceans have been subjected to overfishing, depleting not only the fish stocks but also their ability to rebuild, said Battle, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

She also addresses the lesser-known phenomenon of “bycatch” which means that fish that is accidentally caught is later discarded as waste. It is estimated that bycatch accounts for at least 40 per cent of the world’s global commercial catch. Not to mention the human-induced climate change which has adversely affected ocean health and caused coral reefs to bleach and forced fish to migrate to cooler waters.

What’s the problem?

The UN draft treaty is said to include provisions to protect the world’s oceans from overfishing, pollution and other threats but&nbsp;also comprises parenthetical clauses and multiple options which reflect the long list of contentious issues at hand. The delegates are reportedly divided on one core issue which is how would these sanctuary zones be established. Additionally, there is no agreement on the assessment of the environmental impact of activities like mining in the high seas, reported AFP.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the debate on the division of future profits collected by pharmaceutical, chemical or cosmetic manufacturers, for example from newly discovered marine substances also remains unresolved. As developing countries have argued that they will not be able to afford costly research and fear they might get left behind. This is something that observers had accused rich countries, particularly&nbsp;European Union member states, of doing during the previous session in August 2022, as per reports.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Representatives from 193 member nations of the United Nations convened on Monday (February 20) in the United States city of New York and for the next two weeks will negotiate its long-awaited treaty to protect the world’s oceans.

Representatives from 193 member nations of the United Nations convened on Monday (February 20) in the United States city of New York and for the next two weeks will negotiate its long-awaited treaty to protect the world’s oceans. This meeting comes after decades of formal and informal talks which opened with cautious optimism as many hope to make a decision at the end of it. The global agreement will protect and manage nearly two-thirds of the world’s oceans that lie beyond countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) known as the high seas. What do we know about the meeting so far? The talks which opened on Monday will go on till March 3 and are supposed to be the final round of negotiations after no agreement has been reached after more than 15 years. Notably, this is the third time in less than one year that delegates have gathered at the UN headquarters and due to the historic deal reached by the end of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference or COP15 in Montreal, Canada many are hopeful. “I hope we've come together here with a will to get us to the finish line,” said conference chair Rena Lee, addressing the delegates as the talks began, reported AFP. She added, “an agreement that is universal, that is effective, that is implementable and that is future proofed is within our reach.” The President of the Intergovernmental Conference also encouraged delegates to build on the progress made during the August session, last year and focus on developing an agreement “that will bridge the existing gaps.” The fifth session of the conference was convened following the General Assembly resolution 77/248 on “Oceans and the law of the sea”. The aim of these rounds of talks is to finalise an international legally binding agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas which are beyond national jurisdiction under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. What per cent of our oceans are protected? Last year, ministers and government officials from about 190 countries in Montreal signed an agreement known as 30 by 30 which committed to protecting 30 per cent of land and water which are considered pillars of biodiversity by 2030. Prior to this, only 17 per cent of terrestrial and 10 per cent of marine areas were protected. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only eight per of the world’s marine areas are protected which includes 1.4 per cent of the high seas. The areas of the high seas that are protected fall under North East Atlantic and Antarctic oceans but they are regional and not global, or even binding for all governments, said Jessica Battle, a senior expert on ocean policy and governance at the World Wide Fund for Nature, as per Al Jazeera. Why is this agreement important? As mentioned earlier, the agreement will focus on the high seas which begin at the border of countries' EEZ and extend up to 200 nautical miles, or 370 kilometres from the coast and therefore fall under the jurisdiction of no country. Notably, the high seas make up more than 60 per cent of the world’s oceans and almost half of the planet’s surface but receive little to no attention since there are no borders. Last month UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Humanity has been waging a senseless and self-defeating war on nature, and the ocean is on the front lines of the battle,” and called on the nations to finish the delayed negotiations. The oceans contribute significantly to global climate as well as provide oxygen, drive weather systems, and store a quarter of human-generated carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas heating up the planet. The ocean supports a huge range of biodiversity and is home to possibly millions of species which are yet to be discovered. According to IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, at least 10 per cent of underwater plants and animals assessed are under threat of going extinct. Additionally, oceans have been subjected to overfishing, depleting not only the fish stocks but also their ability to rebuild, said Battle, as per Reuters. She also addresses the lesser-known phenomenon of “bycatch” which means that fish that is accidentally caught is later discarded as waste. It is estimated that bycatch accounts for at least 40 per cent of the world’s global commercial catch. Not to mention the human-induced climate change which has adversely affected ocean health and caused coral reefs to bleach and forced fish to migrate to cooler waters. What’s the problem? The UN draft treaty is said to include provisions to protect the world’s oceans from overfishing, pollution and other threats but also comprises parenthetical clauses and multiple options which reflect the long list of contentious issues at hand. The delegates are reportedly divided on one core issue which is how would these sanctuary zones be established. Additionally, there is no agreement on the assessment of the environmental impact of activities like mining in the high seas, reported AFP. Meanwhile, the debate on the division of future profits collected by pharmaceutical, chemical or cosmetic manufacturers, for example from newly discovered marine substances also remains unresolved. As developing countries have argued that they will not be able to afford costly research and fear they might get left behind. This is something that observers had accused rich countries, particularly European Union member states, of doing during the previous session in August 2022, as per reports. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | UN ocean treaty talks resume: Why the deal to protect the world’s oceans is so important

Have you ever thought of dust as a solution to global warming? Not some ordinary amount of dust. Experts say massive tons of dust particles could reduce earthbound sunlight by 1 to 2 percent. Paving way for a cooler and sustainable earth.

Lunar dust to make a sustainable earth

The people living in the Swiss canton of Valais have been habituated to seeing snow-clad mountainsides in winter and ones filled with edelweiss flowers in summer.&nbsp;However, with the intensifying global warming, the slopes seem to be getting strangely colonised by an invasive species – cacti, commonly known to survive in hot and dry regions.

According to the authorities, species of cactus which belong to the genus Opuntia, commonly called prickly pears, have been proliferating in various parts of Valais and encroaching on the region's natural reserves and becoming a threat to biodiversity.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-propose-mining-moon-dust-spreading-around-earth-to-fight-global-warming-560270">Scientists propose mining Moon dust, using it to shield Earth from harsh Sun to curb global warming</a>

“A lover of dry and hot climates, this invasive and non-native plant is not welcome in the perimeter of prairies and dry pastures of national importance,” stated the municipality of Fully in the Rhone valley, in the press release issued to announce the uprooting campaign.

Opuntia species and similar kinds of cacti have also grown on a few hills around Sion, the capital of Valais, where it is estimated that Opuntia plants now fall in 23-30 per cent part of the low vegetation cover.

Their growth has also been reported in neighbouring Alpine regions, which include Grisons and Ticino in Switzerland, and Italy's Aosta valley and Valtellina.

Biologist Yann Triponez, who works in the nature protection service of the canton of Valais, said, “In some parts of Valais, we estimate that the cacti can occupy one-third of the available surface.”

He stated that Opuntia has been growing in Valais at least since the late 18th century when it travelled all the way from North America.

WATCH | Climate crisis puts marine ecosystem in peril

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However, the authorities feel that the warmer climate in the Alps, longer vegetation periods and declining snow cover have been creating ideal environmental conditions for them to grow.

“These species bear -10C or -15C without any problem,” Peter Oliver Baumgartner, a retired geology professor, said.

“But they want to be in a dry place and don’t like snow cover,” he added. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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The people living in the Swiss canton of Valais have been habituated to seeing snow-clad mountainsides in winter and ones filled with edelweiss flowers in summer.

The people living in the Swiss canton of Valais have been habituated to seeing snow-clad mountainsides in winter and ones filled with edelweiss flowers in summer. However, with the intensifying global warming, the slopes seem to be getting strangely colonised by an invasive species – cacti, commonly known to survive in hot and dry regions. According to the authorities, species of cactus which belong to the genus Opuntia, commonly called prickly pears, have been proliferating in various parts of Valais and encroaching on the region's natural reserves and becoming a threat to biodiversity. ALSO READ | Scientists propose mining Moon dust, using it to shield Earth from harsh Sun to curb global warming “A lover of dry and hot climates, this invasive and non-native plant is not welcome in the perimeter of prairies and dry pastures of national importance,” stated the municipality of Fully in the Rhone valley, in the press release issued to announce the uprooting campaign. Opuntia species and similar kinds of cacti have also grown on a few hills around Sion, the capital of Valais, where it is estimated that Opuntia plants now fall in 23-30 per cent part of the low vegetation cover. Their growth has also been reported in neighbouring Alpine regions, which include Grisons and Ticino in Switzerland, and Italy's Aosta valley and Valtellina. Biologist Yann Triponez, who works in the nature protection service of the canton of Valais, said, “In some parts of Valais, we estimate that the cacti can occupy one-third of the available surface.” He stated that Opuntia has been growing in Valais at least since the late 18th century when it travelled all the way from North America. WATCH | Climate crisis puts marine ecosystem in peril However, the authorities feel that the warmer climate in the Alps, longer vegetation periods and declining snow cover have been creating ideal environmental conditions for them to grow. “These species bear -10C or -15C without any problem,” Peter Oliver Baumgartner, a retired geology professor, said. “But they want to be in a dry place and don’t like snow cover,” he added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Global warming: Cacti colonise Swiss mountainsides as snow cover recedes, threaten biodiversity

Summer is coming. At least in half the world. Those soon to be in the grip of sweaty months may be busy in making plans of an escape. Whatever these plans are, they may just not be enough to stop the greatest temperature rise phenomenon...global warming.&nbsp;Scientists, however,&nbsp;have come to the rescue in this regard.

A study has proposed that if we mine Moon (Yes that one!) and scatter the dirt around Earth, the sunlight can be dimmed a bit and it would take the edge off rising temperatures.

Ben Bromley, a theoretical physicist at the University of Utah has led the research which has been published in the scientific journal PLOS Climate.

The proposed "moonshot" idea proposes creating a "solar shield" by scattering millions of tonnes of dust mined from the Moon. The dust would be scattered in space about 1 million miles from the Earth.

“A really exciting part of our study was the realisation that the natural lunar dust grains are just the right size and composition for efficiently scattering sunlight away from Earth,” said Ben Bromley, as quoted by The Guardian.

“Since it takes much less energy to launch these grains from the moon’s surface, as compared with an Earth launch, the ‘moonshot’ idea really stood out for us.”

But why Moon dust? Bromley and his associates say the particles from the Moon are of the right size to scatter the sunlight. But the team also considered coal and sea salt which they say can dim the Sun by 2 per cent. But Moon dust was found to be an ideal candidate.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/discovery-of-saturn-like-ring-around-trans-neptunian-object-quaoar-amazes-astronomers-560149">Discovery of Saturn-like ring around trans-Neptunian object Quaoar amazes astronomers</a>

But mining such huge quantity of dust and carefully projecting it around the Earth would be a major engineering operation.&nbsp;While Bromley and his team propose such a radical idea to tackle global warming, he&nbsp;underlines that his study does not mean that world should not focus on reducing carbon emissions.

“Nothing should distract us from reducing greenhouse gas emissions here on Earth,” he said. “Our strategy may just be a moonshot, but we should explore all possibilities, in case we need more time to do the work here at home.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Summer is coming. At least in half the world. Those soon to be in the grip of sweaty months may be busy in making plans of an escape. Whatever these plans are, they may just not be enough to stop the greatest temperature rise phenomenon.

Summer is coming. At least in half the world. Those soon to be in the grip of sweaty months may be busy in making plans of an escape. Whatever these plans are, they may just not be enough to stop the greatest temperature rise phenomenon...global warming. Scientists, however, have come to the rescue in this regard. A study has proposed that if we mine Moon (Yes that one!) and scatter the dirt around Earth, the sunlight can be dimmed a bit and it would take the edge off rising temperatures. Ben Bromley, a theoretical physicist at the University of Utah has led the research which has been published in the scientific journal PLOS Climate. The proposed "moonshot" idea proposes creating a "solar shield" by scattering millions of tonnes of dust mined from the Moon. The dust would be scattered in space about 1 million miles from the Earth. “A really exciting part of our study was the realisation that the natural lunar dust grains are just the right size and composition for efficiently scattering sunlight away from Earth,” said Ben Bromley, as quoted by The Guardian. “Since it takes much less energy to launch these grains from the moon’s surface, as compared with an Earth launch, the ‘moonshot’ idea really stood out for us.” But why Moon dust? Bromley and his associates say the particles from the Moon are of the right size to scatter the sunlight. But the team also considered coal and sea salt which they say can dim the Sun by 2 per cent. But Moon dust was found to be an ideal candidate. Also Read | Discovery of Saturn-like ring around trans-Neptunian object Quaoar amazes astronomers But mining such huge quantity of dust and carefully projecting it around the Earth would be a major engineering operation. While Bromley and his team propose such a radical idea to tackle global warming, he underlines that his study does not mean that world should not focus on reducing carbon emissions. “Nothing should distract us from reducing greenhouse gas emissions here on Earth,” he said. “Our strategy may just be a moonshot, but we should explore all possibilities, in case we need more time to do the work here at home.” (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Scientists propose mining Moon dust, using it to shield Earth from harsh Sun to curb global warming

A new study assisted by artificial intelligence has revealed that the Earth will breach the 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold over industrial levels within the next decade. The report sounds alarm bells over global warming and its catastrophic effects on the environment.

Researchers at Stanford University and Colorado State University also found that Earth is on track to exceed the two degree Celsius warming mark, and there is a 50 per cent chance that that might happen by the middle of the century. Scientists identify the mark as a tipping point for the Earth.

“We have very clear evidence of the impact on different ecosystems from the one Celsius of global warming that’s already happened,” Stanford University climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh, who co-authored the study, told Guardian. “This new study, using a new method, adds to the evidence that we certainly will face continuing changes in climate that intensify the impacts we are already feeling.”

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/climate-extremes-in-amazon-rainforest-directly-impact-those-in-tibetan-plateau-556681">Climate extremes in Amazon rainforest directly impact those in Tibetan Plateau</a>

A type of AI that recognizes relationships in vast sets of data was used for the study. Scientists trained the system to analyse global climate model simulations. It was then asked to determine timelines for given temperature thresholds.

The results it threw up show that there is a near 70 per cent chance that the two-degree threshold would be crossed between 2044 and 2065. This is even if emissions register a rapid decline.&nbsp;

To understand how accurate the model is, historical measurements were also entered into the system to evaluate current levels of heating already noted. Using data from 1980 to 2021, the AI threw correct prediction on the 1.1 degree Celsius warming reached by 2022.&nbsp;

The United Nations Paris agreement outlines the two temperature thresholds as crisis points. Nearly 200 countries have signed the landmark pact, in which they have pledged to keep heating well below two degrees. It also recognises that aiming for 1.5 degree Celsius “would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change”.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A new study assisted by artificial intelligence has revealed that the Earth will breach the 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold over industrial levels within the next decade.

A new study assisted by artificial intelligence has revealed that the Earth will breach the 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold over industrial levels within the next decade. The report sounds alarm bells over global warming and its catastrophic effects on the environment. Researchers at Stanford University and Colorado State University also found that Earth is on track to exceed the two degree Celsius warming mark, and there is a 50 per cent chance that that might happen by the middle of the century. Scientists identify the mark as a tipping point for the Earth. “We have very clear evidence of the impact on different ecosystems from the one Celsius of global warming that’s already happened,” Stanford University climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh, who co-authored the study, told Guardian. “This new study, using a new method, adds to the evidence that we certainly will face continuing changes in climate that intensify the impacts we are already feeling.” Also Read | Climate extremes in Amazon rainforest directly impact those in Tibetan Plateau A type of AI that recognizes relationships in vast sets of data was used for the study. Scientists trained the system to analyse global climate model simulations. It was then asked to determine timelines for given temperature thresholds. The results it threw up show that there is a near 70 per cent chance that the two-degree threshold would be crossed between 2044 and 2065. This is even if emissions register a rapid decline. To understand how accurate the model is, historical measurements were also entered into the system to evaluate current levels of heating already noted. Using data from 1980 to 2021, the AI threw correct prediction on the 1.1 degree Celsius warming reached by 2022. The United Nations Paris agreement outlines the two temperature thresholds as crisis points. Nearly 200 countries have signed the landmark pact, in which they have pledged to keep heating well below two degrees. It also recognises that aiming for 1.5 degree Celsius “would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Earth will exceed 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold in the next decade: Study

The El Nino climate phenomenon later this year may make 2023 to record ‘off the charts’ temperatures causing unprecedented heatwaves, scientists have warned. The El Nino refers to the warming of sea surface temperatures. Such warming often peaks during December.&nbsp;El Nino occurs irregularly, from two years to a decade and can disrupt normal weather patterns globally.

In 2016, the hottest year in history, a similar El Nino event had swept the world.

Will 2023 be the hottest year on record?

So far, the forecast suggests that 2023 may not succeed 2016 as the hottest year on record. This is because the heating effects of El Nino can take months to be felt. This implies that not 2023 but 2024 may well take over 2016 as the hottest year on record.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/did-cops-of-2022-catch-up-with-earths-climate-change-runner-543025">Did COPs of 2022 catch up with Earth's climate change runner?</a>

The name ‘El Nino’ refers to the warming of sea surface temperatures that often peaks during December. In the past, the El Nino weather phenomenon has been known to bring long droughts all over the world.&nbsp;

The 1.5 degree target: El Nino to play spoiler

Meanwhile, the Met Office in the United Kingdom confirmed that the next big El Nino could take the world over 1.5 degree Celsius target. The global consensus on climate change aims to limit the global temperature rise within 1.5 degree Celsius.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-temperature-to-rise-by-27c-scientists-issue-red-alert-431446">Earth temperature to rise by 2.7C: Scientists issue red alert</a>

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“It’s very likely that the next big El Nino could take us over 1.5 degree Celsius,” Professor Adam Scaife, the head of long-range prediction at the UK Met Office said in an official statement.&nbsp;

“We know that under climate change, the impacts of El Nino events are going to get stronger, and you have to add that to the effects of climate change itself, which is growing all the time,” he said.

“You put those two things together, and we are likely to see unprecedented heatwaves during the next El Nino.”

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The El Nino climate phenomenon later this year may make 2023 to record ‘off the charts’ temperatures causing unprecedented heatwaves, scientists have warned. The El Nino refers to the warming of sea surface temperatures.

The El Nino climate phenomenon later this year may make 2023 to record ‘off the charts’ temperatures causing unprecedented heatwaves, scientists have warned. The El Nino refers to the warming of sea surface temperatures. Such warming often peaks during December. El Nino occurs irregularly, from two years to a decade and can disrupt normal weather patterns globally. In 2016, the hottest year in history, a similar El Nino event had swept the world. Will 2023 be the hottest year on record? So far, the forecast suggests that 2023 may not succeed 2016 as the hottest year on record. This is because the heating effects of El Nino can take months to be felt. This implies that not 2023 but 2024 may well take over 2016 as the hottest year on record. ALSO READ | Did COPs of 2022 catch up with Earth's climate change runner? The name ‘El Nino’ refers to the warming of sea surface temperatures that often peaks during December. In the past, the El Nino weather phenomenon has been known to bring long droughts all over the world. The 1.5 degree target: El Nino to play spoiler Meanwhile, the Met Office in the United Kingdom confirmed that the next big El Nino could take the world over 1.5 degree Celsius target. The global consensus on climate change aims to limit the global temperature rise within 1.5 degree Celsius. ALSO WATCH | Earth temperature to rise by 2.7C: Scientists issue red alert × “It’s very likely that the next big El Nino could take us over 1.5 degree Celsius,” Professor Adam Scaife, the head of long-range prediction at the UK Met Office said in an official statement. “We know that under climate change, the impacts of El Nino events are going to get stronger, and you have to add that to the effects of climate change itself, which is growing all the time,” he said. “You put those two things together, and we are likely to see unprecedented heatwaves during the next El Nino.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

El Nino’s 2023 return to give ‘off the charts’ rise in global temperatures

Requiring fossil fuel companies to pay to clean up their carbon emissions could help curb dangerous global warming at a relatively affordable cost, a study says. Watch this report to know more.

WION Climate Tracker | Study: Fossil fuel companies should be accountable for polluting

According to a report by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), published on Tuesday the last eight years have been the warmest on record despite the La Niña weather pattern, a Spanish word that translates to “little girl” and is referred to as “a cold event”. Additionally, last year was the fifth-warmest year for the planet since records began in the 19th century while also Europe witnessed its warmest summer in 2022 and the second warmest year overall, said the report.&nbsp;

Scientists have attributed this average rise in temperatures throughout the year in 2022 to an unprecedented number of natural disasters which brought record heat waves across Europe, India and Pakistan, followed by Islamabad facing deadly floods, and a near-record low amount of Antarctic sea ice. “2022 was yet another year of climate extremes across Europe and globally,” said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europe-faces-climate-change-heat-with-warm-winters-549184">Europe faces climate change heat with warm winters as temperatures break records</a>

She added, “These events highlight that we are already experiencing the devastating consequences of our warming world.” The temperatures in Europe have increased by more than twice the global average over the past three decades marked by the highest rate of increase than any other continent in the world, the report noted.&nbsp;

The annual average temperature reached 1.2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level, marking the eighth consecutive time that the temperatures were at least one degree above the 1850-1900 reference period, said the report. In this context, the report also mentions the La Niña phenomenon, which has been witnessed consecutively for the past three years as it typically leads to cooler global average temperatures. &nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-counting-the-cost-of-climate-change-in-2022-547114">WION Climate Tracker: Counting the cost of climate change in 2022</a>

This comes after most countries had agreed to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius under the Paris Agreement of 2015, at the time scientists had said it would limit climate impacts to manageable levels. The limit was also identified as a key threshold, the breach of which could lead to a significant rise in extreme weather events and make irreversible changes to the planet.&nbsp;

According to Copernicus, the hottest years on record starting from the warmest one seven years ago, have been 2016, 2020, 2019, 2017, and 2022. The negative effects of global warming were seen across the world last year, as China and western Europe reported the adverse effects of weather conditions on their agriculture, energy management, and river transport.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merciless-weather-owed-to-climate-change-thrashed-the-world-in-2022-540733">Merciless weather owed to climate change thrashed the world in 2022</a>

For the first time in over six decades, the temperature recorded at Antarctica’s Vostok Station in March 2022 did not have a negative reading which is typically measured in Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, northern India and Pakistan witnessed a two-month heatwave in spring with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, said the report. European countries like France, Britain, Spain and Italy, recorded new average high-temperature records last year while the continent faced its second hottest year ever.&nbsp;

The EU climate monitoring service also highlighted the rise in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and methane which are said to be the two main greenhouse gases which significantly contribute to global warming. According to the report, carbon dioxide levels increased to 417 parts per million, the highest in over two million years and methane rose to 1,894 parts per billion which was the highest level in the past 800,000 years.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/human-induced-climate-change-made-summer-drought-at-least-20-times-more-likely-study-finds-523077">Human-induced climate change made summer drought ‘at least 20 times’ more likely, study finds</a>

A report by the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), released on Tuesday, noted how the country witnessed 18 disasters last year which cost more than $1 billion. To put this into perspective, the number was the highest since 1980 and the agency expects to see similar patterns in the upcoming year.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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According to a report by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), published on Tuesday the last eight years have been the warmest on record despite the La Niña weather pattern, a Spanish word that translates to “little girl” and is referred to as “a cold event”.

According to a report by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), published on Tuesday the last eight years have been the warmest on record despite the La Niña weather pattern, a Spanish word that translates to “little girl” and is referred to as “a cold event”. Additionally, last year was the fifth-warmest year for the planet since records began in the 19th century while also Europe witnessed its warmest summer in 2022 and the second warmest year overall, said the report. Scientists have attributed this average rise in temperatures throughout the year in 2022 to an unprecedented number of natural disasters which brought record heat waves across Europe, India and Pakistan, followed by Islamabad facing deadly floods, and a near-record low amount of Antarctic sea ice. “2022 was yet another year of climate extremes across Europe and globally,” said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. ALSO READ | Europe faces climate change heat with warm winters as temperatures break records She added, “These events highlight that we are already experiencing the devastating consequences of our warming world.” The temperatures in Europe have increased by more than twice the global average over the past three decades marked by the highest rate of increase than any other continent in the world, the report noted. The annual average temperature reached 1.2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level, marking the eighth consecutive time that the temperatures were at least one degree above the 1850-1900 reference period, said the report. In this context, the report also mentions the La Niña phenomenon, which has been witnessed consecutively for the past three years as it typically leads to cooler global average temperatures. ALSO WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Counting the cost of climate change in 2022 This comes after most countries had agreed to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius under the Paris Agreement of 2015, at the time scientists had said it would limit climate impacts to manageable levels. The limit was also identified as a key threshold, the breach of which could lead to a significant rise in extreme weather events and make irreversible changes to the planet. According to Copernicus, the hottest years on record starting from the warmest one seven years ago, have been 2016, 2020, 2019, 2017, and 2022. The negative effects of global warming were seen across the world last year, as China and western Europe reported the adverse effects of weather conditions on their agriculture, energy management, and river transport. ALSO READ | Merciless weather owed to climate change thrashed the world in 2022 For the first time in over six decades, the temperature recorded at Antarctica’s Vostok Station in March 2022 did not have a negative reading which is typically measured in Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, northern India and Pakistan witnessed a two-month heatwave in spring with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, said the report. European countries like France, Britain, Spain and Italy, recorded new average high-temperature records last year while the continent faced its second hottest year ever. The EU climate monitoring service also highlighted the rise in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and methane which are said to be the two main greenhouse gases which significantly contribute to global warming. According to the report, carbon dioxide levels increased to 417 parts per million, the highest in over two million years and methane rose to 1,894 parts per billion which was the highest level in the past 800,000 years. ALSO READ | Human-induced climate change made summer drought ‘at least 20 times’ more likely, study finds A report by the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), released on Tuesday, noted how the country witnessed 18 disasters last year which cost more than $1 billion. To put this into perspective, the number was the highest since 1980 and the agency expects to see similar patterns in the upcoming year. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Last eight years have been the warmest on record across the world: Report

A study, published in the journal Science on Thursday, found that 80 per cent, or 4 out of every 5 glaciers, would likely disappear by the end of this century at current&nbsp;climate change&nbsp;trends. The findings showed that the world's glaciers are shrinking and disappearing faster than scientists previously thought and in the coming years, that could be a key contributor to sea level rise, a threat to the millions of people living near the coastlines.

But if the world manages to fulfil international goals and meet the best-case climate scenario,&nbsp;technically possible but unlikely according to several experts, less than half the globe's glaciers will move towards extinction, the study concluded. Well-known and small glaciers will be the first to go extinct, the authors of the study stated.

The study examined all of the world's 215,000 land-based glaciers, except the ones on ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, with the help of computer simulations that calculate, using different levels of warming, how many glaciers could disappear and how much it would contribute to sea level rise.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-science-backed-tips-for-sticking-to-your-new-year-2023-resolutions-549041">Science-backed tips for sticking to your New Year 2023 resolutions</a>

Projected glacial mass loss by 2100 ranges from 38.7 trillion metric tonnes to 64.4 trillion tonnes, which depends&nbsp;on several factors including&nbsp;how much the globe warms and how much coal, oil and gas is burned.

Since the world is currently on track for a 2.7-degree Celsius (4.9-degree Fahrenheit) temperature rise since pre-industrial times, we could be losing 32 per cent of the world’s glacier mass or 48.5 trillion metric tonnes of ice by 2100. This means that about&nbsp;68 per cent of the glaciers might disappear by the end of this century.

The study calculates that all that melting glaciers can raise the world’s sea level anywhere from 90mm (3.5 inches) in the best-case scenario to 166mm in the worst-case scenario, which is an increase of four per cent to 14 per cent to previous projections. The study’s lead author David Rounce confirmed that&nbsp;the sea level can rise by 115 millimetres (4.5 inches) in present scenarios.

Researchers also stated that&nbsp;future sea level rise will be driven more by melting ice sheets than glaciers. And, added that&nbsp;the loss of glaciers is about more than just rising seas. It means increased risk from flood events, shrinking water supplies&nbsp;and losing historic ice-covered spots from Alaska to the Alps to the area near Mount Everest’s base camp.

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A study, published in the journal Science on Thursday, found that 80 per cent, or 4 out of every 5 glaciers, would likely disappear by the end of this century at current climate change trends.

A study, published in the journal Science on Thursday, found that 80 per cent, or 4 out of every 5 glaciers, would likely disappear by the end of this century at current climate change trends. The findings showed that the world's glaciers are shrinking and disappearing faster than scientists previously thought and in the coming years, that could be a key contributor to sea level rise, a threat to the millions of people living near the coastlines. But if the world manages to fulfil international goals and meet the best-case climate scenario, technically possible but unlikely according to several experts, less than half the globe's glaciers will move towards extinction, the study concluded. Well-known and small glaciers will be the first to go extinct, the authors of the study stated. The study examined all of the world's 215,000 land-based glaciers, except the ones on ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, with the help of computer simulations that calculate, using different levels of warming, how many glaciers could disappear and how much it would contribute to sea level rise. Also read: Science-backed tips for sticking to your New Year 2023 resolutions Projected glacial mass loss by 2100 ranges from 38.7 trillion metric tonnes to 64.4 trillion tonnes, which depends on several factors including how much the globe warms and how much coal, oil and gas is burned. Since the world is currently on track for a 2.7-degree Celsius (4.9-degree Fahrenheit) temperature rise since pre-industrial times, we could be losing 32 per cent of the world’s glacier mass or 48.5 trillion metric tonnes of ice by 2100. This means that about 68 per cent of the glaciers might disappear by the end of this century. The study calculates that all that melting glaciers can raise the world’s sea level anywhere from 90mm (3.5 inches) in the best-case scenario to 166mm in the worst-case scenario, which is an increase of four per cent to 14 per cent to previous projections. The study’s lead author David Rounce confirmed that the sea level can rise by 115 millimetres (4.5 inches) in present scenarios. Researchers also stated that future sea level rise will be driven more by melting ice sheets than glaciers. And, added that the loss of glaciers is about more than just rising seas. It means increased risk from flood events, shrinking water supplies and losing historic ice-covered spots from Alaska to the Alps to the area near Mount Everest’s base camp. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

4 out of 5 glaciers projected to disappear by 2100, study finds

The past eight years are on track to be the eight warmest on record, fuelled by ever-rising greenhouse gas concentrations and accumulated heat. Watch this report to know more.

WION Climate Tracker: 2013-2022 global temperature estimated around 1.14 Degree Celsius

The threat posed by climate change to biodiversity is expected to increase, yet thriving ecosystems also have the capacity to help reduce the impacts of climate change.

WION Climate Tracker: Biodiversity suffers from global warming

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