While Australia is yet to enter its hottest three months of the year, the northern half of the world just emerged from what has been the planet's warmest summer on record.
Temperatures in the northern hemisphere from June to August became the highest... [6715 chars]

After more than 12 months of record-breaking heat this year and last, the 2024 summer period in the northern hemisphere shatters records to become the hottest yet.

ABC News

Global warming induces hottest northern summer on record in 2024 as weather-related disasters feared to intensify

The aftermath of a forest fire in the Brasilia National Forest region in Brazil on September 4th, 2024. Photograph: SERGIO LIMA/AFP via Getty Images
The world is emerging from its warmest northern hemisphere summer since records began, the European U... [1981 chars]

Exceptional heat reported by Copernicus service increases the likelihood that 2024 will be planet’s warmest year as global warming intensifies

The Irish Times

Summer of 2024 was world’s hottest on record, EU climate change monitor says

Ground that typically remains frozen throughout the year is starting to thaw as a result of warmer temperatures brought about by climate change, Varner said. And the thaw, in turn, can release methane and carbon dioxide, emissions that make climate c... [2406 chars]

Ruth Varner, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, traveled north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden this summer to study methane emissions from thawing permafrost.

The Boston Globe

How one of the coldest places on earth is contributing to global warming

The world has just experienced its warmest northern hemisphere summer on record, announced the European Union's climate change monitoring service, Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), on Friday. This record-setting summer has underscored the inte... [939 chars]

The European Union's climate change monitoring service confirms that the past northern hemisphere summer was the hottest since records began. The Copernicus Climate Change Service highlights the exacerbation of global warming and its impact. Extreme weather events, driven by fossil fuel emissions and the El Nino phenomenon, will likely intensify if no urgent action is taken.

Devdiscourse

Record-Breaking Heat Waves: A New Climate Reality

Summer 2024 was the hottest ever recorded on Earth, with August becoming the thirteenth month in 14 where average temperatures exceeded 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
But according to the latest report from Copernicus Climate Change Service... [2931 chars]

"Just because our backyard has not been particularly warm this summer - does not mean global warming has gone away"

Irish Mirror

Summer 2024 was the hottest on record but Irish weather broke from the norm

Children play under a water sprinkler during a heat wave in Vienna, Austria, August 14, 2024. — Reuters
BRUSSELS: The world is emerging from its warmest northern hemisphere summer since records began, the European Union’s climate change monitoring se... [958 chars]

BRUSSELS: The world is emerging from its warmest northern hemisphere summer since records began, the European Union’s climate change monitoring service said on Friday, as global warming...

The News International

Summer of 2024 was world’s hottest on record, says EU monitor

The impact of global warming is costing African nations up to 5% of their economic output, the United Nations climate chief said on Thursday, calling for more investments to help adapt to climate change.
The 54-nation continent, which has borne the b... [2155 chars]

African nations are losing up to 5% of their economic output due to the impact of global warming, says the UN climate chief. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Africa receives only 1% of global climate finance. Calls for increased investments and innovative financing to mitigate climate change are growing.

Africa's Climate Crisis: A Call for Increased Investment

Bill Gates doesn't believe tech experts hold all the answers on how artificial intelligence will fully impact jobs and social activities in the future, but he does think it's important we all start working with AI tools now, given where the tech is h... [10273 chars]

I spoke with the tech pioneer about his new Netflix docuseries that touches on artificial intelligence, global warming and more.

CNET

Bill Gates Talks to CNET About AI, Misinformation and Climate Change

A mass die-off of fish at Greece’s port of Volos has caused quite a stink, leading the country to declare an emergency. This natural disaster occurred as the foul-smelling carcasses blanketed the coastal shoreline. The floating corpses created a silv... [2659 chars]

According to The New York Times report, a combination of poor water management and global warming most likely caused the deaths.

News18

At This Popular Tourist Port In Greece, Thousands Of Dead Fish Cause Unbearable Stench

July 22, 2024 was the hottest day in recorded human history, with a global average temperature of 17.16 C.
This followed the hottest June ever recorded, which followed the hottest May ever recorded. This all follows 2023, which was the hottest year o... [5101 chars]

With new temperature records being broken year-on-year, it may seem tempting to assume that the world will only get warmer. This is a false assumption, as warming is occurring, but it can be stopped.

The Conversation UK

Broken temperature records are alarming but it is not too late to limit global warming

Climate change is now having such a profound impact on our health, medical programs are changing the way they teach about it.
Scripps News spoke with an expert in a medical school program dedicated to training clinicians on the health effects of climate change.
"Our program is really focused on trying to scale up a climate-savvy health care workforce," said Dr. Jay Lemery, the director of Climate Change and Health Program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "When we think about climate change and how it affects our health right there, there's so many different things."
Lemery said medical professionals need to understand what's happening to the environment and how that might be affecting their patients.
RELATED STORY | Scripps News Reports: How climate change factors into the election
"Those extreme heat events can absolutely kill," Lemery said. "And we're going to be seeing warmer heat events and more frequently. And I think that that is increasing in the increasing years will be one of the worst scenarios."
Lemery is among the scientists and health experts across the world saying that climate change is directly affecting our health.
The World Health Organization reports that the changes present a fundamental threat to humans from extreme heat and wildfires to severe storms and hurricanes.
The WHO reports that 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. And between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year.
But there is a divide.
According to a joint report by Yale and George Mason University, only 52% of Americans think extreme weather poses a high or moderate risk to their community over the next 10 years.
"As the world gets warmer, we're seeing stronger storms, rising seas, more immigration problems because crop failures and health issues, diseases that would not be in certain areas are moving toward the poll because of a warmer world," said Mike Nelson, the Chief Meteorologist at the Scripps-owned Denver 7 news station.
Which is why part of the program is to better educate the public and work with broadcast meteorologists to get the word out about the dangers of climate change.
"Television meteorologists have a unique ability and I think responsibility to talk about climate change," Nelson said. "The trust bridge is important because we can teach our viewers about the impact of climate change on all aspects of life and health. In a warmer world, people that have respiratory problems are going to have more trouble. Kids that have asthma are going to have more problems and diseases are going to spread more rapidly."
RELATED STORY | Will climate change concerns impact young voters in November?

Medical professionals are changing their training due to climate change

In early July, temperatures in California's Death Valley National Park reached 125 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for nine straight days. That followed a June heatwave in the eastern U.S., with nearly 100 million under an excessive heat advisory. Then, in August, a heat wave in Chicago had districts canceling or dismissing classes early just as the school year had begun.
Scientists say extreme weather events like these are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Communicating the link between climate change and extreme weather is increasingly essential in encouraging climate action.
Faculty
Anthony Leiserowitz
"We have found that communicating these links can help depolarize the issue," said Anthony Leiserowitz, the founder and Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) at the Yale School of Environment. "Weather can help ground the conversation in lived experience, which is not interpreted by most Americans as 'political.'"
In 2023, YPCCC launched a program with Climate Central to inform and inspire climate action by communicating the links between climate change and extreme weather. During a panel that is part of a Climate Week NYC program series on scalable and transformative climate solutions hosted by Yale Planetary Solutions, YPCCC, Potential Energy Coalition, the Bezos Earth Fund, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, and the Global Strategic Communications Council will present research on attribution science, communication science, and examples of successful messages.
"As climate change intensifies extreme weather events, our research shows that half of Americans perceive this trend as a natural change, rather than what it really is: a fossil fuel pollution problem," said John Marshall, the CEO of Potential Energy Coalition. "By unifying around the right messages, we can help ordinary people understand how climate change already impacts the people and places they love today, and dramatically increase support for action."
Over the past decade, attribution science has emerged as a new capability to quantify climate change's role in individual extreme weather events such as heat waves, hurricanes, and wildfires. As people naturally seek out information during extreme weather events, it's an opportunity to build an understanding of climate change and increase support for climate action.
Weather can help ground the conversation in lived experience, which is not interpreted by most Americans as 'political.''
"Beyond the enormous scientific value of these advances, they also support the message that climate change is happening and human caused. It is not distant in time and space; it's very much here and now and will get much worse if we do not reduce carbon pollution quickly," said Leiserowitz.
In 2023, YPCCC researchers conducted an experiment around a July 2023 U.S. heat wave. They informed study participants that climate change made the heat wave at least five times more likely and also explored whether adding different explanations of the relationship between climate change and heat waves increased understanding. They found that expressing the magnitude as a percentage was more effective than the standard heat wave framing, leading to a six-percentage point increase in the belief that climate change made the July 2023 heat wave more likely.
"When we provide a short explanation of what climate change is and how it connects to extreme weather, large majorities of people immediately say climate change is happening, are worried about it, and support government action," Leiserowitz said.
About 17 years ago, YPCCC, in partnership with the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication conducted their first Climate Change in the American Mind nationally representative survey, in which researchers found that many Americans perceived climate change as a problem distant in time and space, not understanding that climate impacts were — even then — already having devastating impacts on people across the United States. As a result, many did not worry much about climate change or view it as a high priority. They also found that one of people's most trusted sources of information about climate change was meteorologists, particularly those who do daily TV broadcasts. It sparked a larger project to engage the nation's weather forecasters as climate communicators.
'We still have much to learn about how people respond to these messages, but so far we see pretty clearly across political and national boundaries that they do help people understand that climate change is happening, is already having serious consequences, and to support greater climate action,' Leiserowitz said.

The Link Between Climate Change and Extreme Weather

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Noted environmentalist and scientist Soumya Dutta has said that people who are least responsible for climate change are its worst victims.
Construction workers, kulis, rag-pickers, rickshaw pullers and gig workers have no role in precipitating climate change, but it is they who have to face its consequences, said Dutta, the former advisory board member, UN Climate Technology Centre and Network.
He was speaking on 'Climate Justice: Policies and Marginalised Communities' organised by Climate Justice Muhim (CJM) at Gandhi Bhavan on Sunday. The environmentalist said that farm labourers, small farmers, artisans and fishermen also suffer from the results of climate change, despite having no role in factors that are changing the climate of earth.
Dutta said climate change is not just an environmental problem but also a social and economic justice issue. 'We have to make such policies that not only protect the environment, but also take care of the interests of all sections of the society. It has to be ensured that no one is left behind in the efforts to tackle climate change," he said.
When one of the participants asked how marginalised communities can be protected from the damage caused by climate change, Dutta said that for this they have to work at many levels. 'First, we have to educate these communities and civil society about the effects of climate change. Second, we have to prepare them to deal with disasters, such as by giving disaster management training. Third, we have to make policies that provide economic and social security to these communities,' he said.
Responding to another question, Dutta said "Current policies and climate action plans are a start, but they are not enough. We need to set more ambitious and inclusive goals, as well as concrete action plans to achieve these goals." Senior journalist Rakesh Diwan presided over the event and was moderated by Rajesh Kumar.

Marginalised Sections Worst Victims Of Climate Change; Says Environmentalist & Scientist Soumya Dutta

Majorca could be 'like a desert' by 2050, according to a new report. The study, as highlighted by domestic news website the Majorca Daily Bulletin, has warned that the climate in Spain could be dramatically different by 2050 - all because of climate change.
A study by the Universitat Politència de Catalunya (UPC) in Barcelona concludes that Spain 'could change from a Mediterranean climate to a steppe climate' as a result of climate change, the university said in a statement today.
The study 'Spain: towards a drier and warmer climate', presented at the International Congress of Meteorology of the European Meteorological Society (EMS) in Barcelona, analyses the evolution of temperatures and precipitation from 1971 to 2022 throughout Spain and makes a projection of the mainland-Balearic climate until 2050.
READ MORE Martin Lewis urges UK households to 'stock up' on £1.65 essential before October
The research predicts that, if the warming trend experienced in recent years continues, by 2050 there will be a reduction in rainfall of between 14% and 20% compared to current precipitation. For this reason, it warns that global warming would cause a 'very marked' change in the Spanish climate by 2050.
The study goes on to warn the holiday hotspot in the European Union destination could be "desert-like". And the research predicts Barcelona on the mainland will change from a climate of mild, dry winters and hot summers to a steppe and semi-arid climate.
August 2024 was the warmest August in Spain since records began in 1961, according to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). With an average temperature of 25C, it surpassed the warmest August months to date, those of 2003 and 2023, which tied with 24.8C.
It comes weeks after a new Majorca sea temperature record was set. The temperature of the seawater at Sa Dragonera has set a new record of 31.87 degrees centigrade. The previous record recorded in the Balearics was two years ago on August 24, when the temperature of the sea at Sa Dragonera reached 31.36 °C.

Majorca could be 'a desert' by 2050 due to dramatic Balearic Island change

Recently, while searching on the internet for articles about climate change, I accidentally discovered an organization called Rare. Its global headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia, and its website states its mission is to help promote social change for people and nature. One of its programs, 'Climate Culture,' helps support 'communities, creators and partners who have the power to shift culture with the insights and tools that make high-impact climate-friendly changes.'
The phrase 'climate culture' got me thinking about Duluth and our communities, creators, and partners who unquestionably have some influence on our city's culture. It got me wondering if they are helping our city create a more sustainable and healthy culture for all of us.
Does Duluth embrace a culture that acknowledges and promotes a greater understanding of this climate-change world and thereby searches for those insights and tools to make high-impact choices that can make our city more climate resilient?
Kylie Flanagan, in her book, 'Climate Resilience: How We Keep Each Other Safe, Care for Our Communities, and Fight Back Against Climate Change,' dedicated a section to cultural strategy. She wrote, 'While the climate crisis represents both a literal and a figurative collapse of present worlds, it also serves as an invitation to dream up and actualize new worlds.'
With the 2018 climate vulnerability assessment for Duluth and the Duluth City Council passage of the emergency climate resolution in 2021, there appeared to be a growing public acknowledgment that the extraordinary challenge of this climate crisis would also present an extraordinary opportunity to dream up and actualize a new world for our city — a new world that could make Duluth more climate resilient and hopefully more environmentally just.
But that expectation or assumption by me, and probably many others around our city, may have been a little premature. You just have to look around and wonder what's happening. Right now, it seems like our city's culture does not recognize or accept the climate-change world in which we live.
Just look around at all the cars in town. We definitely live in a car-first city, a city where cars and drivers are given a higher priority than pedestrians. We pay more attention to and spend more money on the roads and highways than we do on the sidewalks, bike lanes, and public transportation.
In his book, 'A New Covenant With Nature,' Richard Heinberg wrote, 'A healthy culture is a pattern of human life that connects people to one another and to this environment in such a way as to maximize survival and happiness over the long term.' Heinberg proposes that to have what he calls 'cultural sanity' we need to stop destroying our soil, lives, and culture and instead search for the sources of rebirth and renewal.
In this climate emergency, do we exhibit a sense of sanity when it comes to addressing the numerous impacts of climate change? Is our city making a good-faith effort to search for and adapt those sources of rebirth and renewal in our individual and collective responses to public health and meeting the basic needs of our vulnerable populations?
About four weeks ago, a few of us were discussing the state of the city and talking about the different commissions that have been established by Duluth city government. Someone asked if the city would establish a climate commission, and the consensus was not by this current mayor or City Council. After that conversation, it became clear it would be the citizens of our city who need to take the lead to create such a commission. You might say this new climate commission could play a pivotal role in helping cultivate a climate culture for our future survival and happiness.
Brene Brown proposes in her book, 'Dare to Lead,' that we need brave leaders and courage cultures. We need leaders who are critical thinkers, inspire innovation, and understand the importance of empathy and relationship-building.
So, last month, we introduced the Duluth Climate Commission. It's a one-year, citizen-led initiative that will focus on identifying the climate changes that most concern people and then undertaking different climate actions or projects to address those concerns. This commission offers many of us that extraordinary opportunity to become brave leaders with the courage to directly address climate change.
There are no applications, membership fees, or waiting for some elected official to select you. Anyone who is concerned and wants to get involved is welcome. Just email us at risson1954@gmail.com .
Maybe you want to build more flower or vegetable gardens, offer community-education classes on climate change, provide support groups to people experiencing climate anxiety, coordinate tree planting, promote walking and biking clubs, or build a sustainable business. As Brown wrote, 'We know that the way to move information from your head to your heart is through your hands.'
It's truly a time for all hands on deck. We need to take all the information we have about climate change, explore the most creative and compassionate ways to respond to the various climate events we will be experiencing, and then get to work adapting to and mitigating this climate emergency.
Tone Lanzillo is a member of the Duluth/365 initiative on climate change and a regular contributor to the News Tribune Opinion page. He can be reached at risson1954@gmail.com.

Local View: Duluth City Hall seems suddenly lacking in climate leaders

President and founder of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP), Dr Priscilla Achakpa, has commended Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia for his commitment to tackling Climate Change through the development of a climate change policy that will protect the environment, effectively mitigate risks, and adapt to unavoidable impacts.
Dr Achakpa, who is a Climate change expert, disclosed this during the Stakeholders Consultation for Climate Change Strategies and Plan organised by the Benue State Government in conjunction with WEP in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, maintained that this commitment will put Benue on the centre stage to become a reference point on the issue of Climate change.
Recall that the Benue State Government inaugurated a Technical Working Committee during the stakeholder consultation workshop to develop a climate change policy that will protect the environment and effectively mitigate risks and adaptation to help the State reduce risk and the unavoidable impact of climate change.
Dr Achakpa said the impacts of climate change are being felt across Benue State with dire consequences on the agricultural sector, posing threats to the people and state.
Also speaking, the Director General of Benue State Council on Climate Change, Dr Dan Mailumo, lamented that climate change is not just an environmental concern but an economic, social, and humanitarian crisis that demands collective attention and action to mitigate risks.
Dr Mailumo noted that the global issue requires a local response in reducing risks and urged the stakeholders to develop comprehensive and coordinated strategies for building resilience, mobilising resources, and fostering collaboration to drive action in the state and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Climate Change, Prof Bemgba Anjembe, stated that climate change affects every facet of society, with attendant consequences for all populations.
Hence, a roadmap of plans is needed to guide collective efforts in adaptation in the years ahead.
In her remark, Seember Ugboho, acting Director of climate change at the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, said that developing a climate change policy will go a long way toward providing a guide for acceptable solutions.
'I want to commend the Benue State Government and all the stakeholders for commitment and step taking so far because this will bring succour to the Benue citizens.'

Climate Change: Expert Hails Governor Alia's Policy

By Leocadia Bongben
A new study finds that climate change is affecting the distribution and spread of food-borne diseases.
An increase in the number and severity of heatwaves, droughts, and heavy precipitation events are all expected to lead to a rise in food-borne diseases, hitting Africa and Asia particularly hard.
Investing in research and innovation can provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of climate change-pathogen interactions and novel solutions for mitigating effects.
For example, the Cameroon National Climate Observatory, ONACC, already provides national sectors, such as agriculture, livestock, and health with forecast climate information translated into local languages to facilitate monitoring in the context of global warming.
Climate change threatens public health by affecting the distribution and spread of food-borne pathogens, according to a recent study by food scientists from Benha University in Egypt published in Nature. Food-borne pathogens are microorganisms that can cause illness when consumed via food or water sources.
The authors found that changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, shifting consumer behavior, and altered distributions of food-borne pathogens increase exposure risk for humans and animals.
'This study aims to highlight the connections between climate change and public health, raise awareness, promote discussion on effective mitigation strategies, advocate for increased investment in research and the development of local expertise, and promote partnerships between African researchers and international organizations to share knowledge and resources,' Dr. Ahmed Alhussaini Hamad, one of the study's authors, told Mongabay in an interview by email.
The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 10 people fall ill every year because of eating contaminated food. Contaminated food has been identified as the cause of 600 million food-borne diseases and 420,000 deaths annually, according to the study. Africa alone contributes to 91 million cases of illness and 137,000 deaths annually—over a quarter of all deaths. Among these diseases, diarrheal diseases account for 70 % of the overall burden. The impact of climate change on diarrheal diseases is expected to be more significant in Asia and Africa, Hamad and colleagues state.
Climate change is also projected to contribute to a surge in the incidence of food-borne illnesses globally, according to the study. For example, an increase in the number and severity of heatwaves, droughts, and heavy precipitation events are all expected to lead to a rise in food-borne pathogens.
This news is especially worrisome for Africa. Low-income countries in Africa are often disproportionately affected by climate change due to their geographic locations, reliance on agriculture, and limited resources for adaptation and mitigation, according to Hamad.
For African countries, Hamad says, 'rising numbers of food-borne illnesses can strain already overburdened health systems. And, food contamination can lead to significant financial losses in the agricultural sector.'
The Cameroon example
According to Hamad, five food-borne diseases—Salmonellosis, Campylobacteriosis, Listeriosis, cholera and Aflatoxin Poisoning have a link with climate change. For example, he says that variations in the water temperature and quality affect the vibrio cholerae-bacteria that causes cholera.
In Africa, Cameroon has been grappling with cholera in recent years. A study in Infectious Disease Monitoring indicates that 'the absence of water channels in some cities of Cameroon and the presence of garbage everywhere have favored the multiplication of V. cholerae in the environment over time that triggered a new outbreak in 2018.' In July 2018, when the Cameroon government declared a cholera outbreak, 470 cases and 34 deaths were registered. Cameroon has reported 20,649 cases and 484 deaths cumulatively from January 1, 2022, to March 7, 2024.
Dr. Rene Ramses Meyong, a climatologist at the National Climate Change Observatory in Cameroon, told Mongabay that the link between climate change and food-borne diseases is hinged on the mechanisms by which climate affects the reproduction and propagation dynamics of pathogens whether bacteria, viruses, parasites, natural toxins, etc. The epidemiological profile of any disease can be modulated by the dynamics of climate parameters in the short, medium, or long term.
'The work of the observatory has revealed that, since at least 1950, climate disruption has been reflected at the local level by an increase in average temperatures across the five agro-ecological zones, instability in the start and end dates of the seasons, high spatial and temporal variability in rainfall, and an upsurge in extreme weather situations (floods, droughts, etc.). Assuming that the disturbances impact food production, processing, and storage techniques, it is reasonable to assume that a portion of the elevated risk of food-borne illness transmission throughout the nation's five agroecological zones can be attributed to climate change,' the climatologist says.
The study on climate changes and foodborne pathogens suggests that changes in food production and trade can introduce new sources of contamination. Meyong says it's realistic to assume climate change is raising the risk of food-borne illnesses in Cameroon given its impact across the country. The climatologist has also linked potential sources of contamination in Cameroon to the overuse of chemicals.
'To meet the growing demand on the consumer market, many actors are forced to use significantly more chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers, etc.) during the manufacturing process, contributing to the rise in anti-microbial resistance,' says Meyong, adding that 'chemical exposure can also raise the danger of severe poisoning or the spread of chronic diseases like cancer.'
The climatologist expressed concern about the storage conditions of foodstuffs displayed in some Cameroon markets. 'Poor display conditions for foodstuffs, coupled with unfavorable weather conditions, exacerbate the risk of contamination by food-borne bacteria like Vibrio cholerae.'
The study published in Nature in June 2024 recommends monitoring the impact of climate change on food-borne pathogens to develop strategies to mitigate its effects on human health and understand the science behind the link between climate change and food-borne diseases.
Meyong states that the climate observatory already provides national sectors, such as agriculture, livestock, and health with forecast climate information (climatological services) translated into local languages to facilitate monitoring in the context of global warming.
Mitigation strategies
By adopting climate-smart agriculture methods— such as integrating agronomic practices, and conservation agriculture, among others — the study by Egyptian scientists suggests farmers can reduce the impact of climate change on their crops and minimize the likelihood of foodborne pathogen contamination.
In addition, mitigation strategies are improving food safety protocols and regulations, enhancing surveillance programs, and investing in research to understand the relationship between climate change and foodborne illness could help mitigate the health impact.
The study further suggests investing in research and innovation that can provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of climate change-pathogen interactions and novel solutions for mitigating these effects. This includes developing new technologies and tools for detecting, tracking, and managing food-borne pathogens in a changing environment.
'Little is known to date about the link between the dynamics of climate change, in the context of global warming,… and the incidence of food-borne diseases in Central Africa in general and in Cameroon in particular,' says Meyong. 'This is still an area to be explored to provide decision-makers with evidence-based data.'
The study shows that understanding the complex interactions among food systems, pathogen populations, and climate variables is essential for formulating appropriate policies and readiness for public health emergencies, among other challenges.
'Safe food is crucial for maintaining food security and public health. And, empowering countries to develop targeted strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on food safety is crucial,' says Hamad.
Citation:
Awad, A. D., Masoud, A. H., Hamad, A. (2024). Climate changes and food-borne pathogens: the impact on human health and mitigation strategy. Climatic Change, 177:92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-024-03748-9.
***
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Climate Change Threatens Public Health, Raising the Spread of Food-Borne Diseases

Environment and Climate Change Canada
The Métis Nation has a deep connection to the natural environment and a history of adaptation and resiliency that positions them to be a leader in the fight against climate change. The Government of Canada recognizes that a full and effective partnership with the Métis Nation is crucial to advancing shared climate priorities and building resilience for future generations.
Today, the Goose Moon Table (previously the Métis Nation-Canada Joint Table on Clean Growth and Climate Change) released its first annual progress report detailing the fruits of that partnership.
Since 2017, the Métis National Council, its Governing Members, and federal officials have met nine times. During these meetings, they have strengthened relationships, shared information on joint policy development, and identified Métis-specific considerations for designing federal climate programs and delivering funding. This report documents those positive steps taken toward building a stronger Nation-to-Nation climate partnership that is outcome-oriented, rooted in Métis culture, and focused on enhancing the relationship to each other and to the land and water.
In April 2024, the Métis Nation released its National Climate Change Strategy, which outlines priorities, calls to action, and Métis-led solutions to address the changing climate.
For 2024, the Goose Moon Table committed to holding discussions and making progress in key areas, including: Advancing Métis Nation climate priorities
Continuous improvement of federal programs and policy work
Self-determination through the Métis Nation's Climate Leadership Agenda
The Métis Nation and federal representatives continue to express a commitment to working together and remaining accountable for progress to advance Métis Nation climate leadership.

Métis Nation Climate Action Progress in Goose Moon Report

You may notice, now and again, the ISO name and logo being used as a quality label by public, non-profit or for-profit organizations. If you were to look a little more often, you will likely see ISO is much more ubiquitous than you first thought.
ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization. Initiated in 1947, its members (currently 128 full members) are national standards organizations, like Standards Council of Canada or the American National Standards Institute. ISO has, in its life span, published over 25,000 standards covering technology, management and manufacturing through the work of expert technical committees concerning a wide range of industries.
ISO standards affect the decisions and operations of millions of organizations around the world. It is this ubiquity that makes ISO's recent decision on climate change significant.
Read more: Bold climate action benefits more than just the environment – it's also great for business
ISO climate change commitments
In February 2024, ISO, jointly with the non-governmental International Accreditation Forum, released an amendment to all ISO management system standards. This amendment requires two things of organizations certifying against the standards. First, they are to consider whether climate change might affect the achievement of the goals their management systems aim to accomplish. Second, they must consider whether any stakeholders have needs or expectations related to climate change.
These amendments are consistent with a broader climate change commitment – the London Declaration – that ISO adopted in September 2021 which committed the organization to three key actions:
ISO will account for climate change in all new and revised standards. It will further include civil society and those affected by climate change in its standards work. It will develop a reporting framework to keep track of its efforts on climate change.
The amendments to existing standards may seem small. Yet, they may matter more than one thinks. Let us explain.
ISO's broad reach
For the first decades of ISO's existence, it focused on standards that improved the free flow of traded goods. A prominent case of this was the standard on shipping containers, which was first released in 1970 and has contributed to increasing trade by some estimates more than free trade agreements.
The focus of ISO has since expanded. Now management system standards are a crucial part of its work. Management system standards seek to identify repeatable procedures that, if used by organizations, can help these organizations better achieve their goals. Two notable examples are the ISO 9001 quality management systems standard, released in 1987, and the ISO 14001 environmental management systems standard, released in 1996.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
As of today, there are over 80 such management system standards. Some of these are sector or issue specific applications of quality management. Issues covered include environment, health care, medical devices, indoor air quality, information technologies, event sustainability, tourism, food safety and anti-bribery.
Not all these standards are widely used. But some are. In 2022, ISO reported that 1,265,216 certificates were issued for ISO 9001, with 529,853 for ISO 14001. Another five standards boast certificate numbers in the tens of thousands. This means that millions of organizations regularly consider ISO standards when making operational decisions.
It is in this context that the climate-change amendments could matter. Except for ISO 14001, few of the other management system standards are explicitly about environmental issues like climate change. But now, those organizations using these standards will need to reflect on how climate change might affect their goals and the needs and expectations of their stakeholders.
Given the system-wide causes and effects of climate change, it is hard to think of an organization whose activities are not, in some way, climate-related.
Raising awareness and spurring action
Climate change cannot be tackled by just asking organizations to voluntarily devise their own goals and consider climate change in relation to those goals. Voluntary actions can be used to greenwash and reduce the perception that government action is needed. In the best case we can hope that ISO-like standards work to complement government rather than work against effective public policies.
Read more: Slow mining could be a solution to overconsumption in an increasingly fast-paced world
We can envision that the ISO amendments will expand the range of organizations that actively think about their operations in the context of climate change. The amendments are not optional for those that certify. Auditors are already offering guidance on how they will be assessing performance against these changes.
For some organizations, the amendments will require little change. But for others, the process that they will need to undertake to conform with the amendments presents an opening for greater awareness about and possible action on climate change.
Heightened awareness may assist organizations to better identify roles they can play with others to support bolder policy actions from governments going forward. The amendments are also an invitation for stakeholders to push organizations to do more by noting their needs and expectations around action on climate change.

How a small update in global standards can contribute to climate change awareness

Majorca could be 'like a desert' by 2050, according to a new report. The study, as highlighted by domestic news website the Majorca Daily Bulletin, has warned that the climate in Spain could be dramatically different by 2050 - all because of climate change.
A study by the Universitat Politència de Catalunya (UPC) in Barcelona concludes that Spain 'could change from a Mediterranean climate to a steppe climate' as a result of climate change, the university said in a statement today.
The study 'Spain: towards a drier and warmer climate', presented at the International Congress of Meteorology of the European Meteorological Society (EMS) in Barcelona, analyses the evolution of temperatures and precipitation from 1971 to 2022 throughout Spain and makes a projection of the mainland-Balearic climate until 2050.
The research predicts that, if the warming trend experienced in recent years continues, by 2050 there will be a reduction in rainfall of between 14% and 20% compared to current precipitation. For this reason, it warns that global warming would cause a 'very marked' change in the Spanish climate by 2050.
The study goes on to warn the holiday hotspot in the European Union destination could be "desert-like". And the research predicts Barcelona on the mainland will change from a climate of mild, dry winters and hot summers to a steppe and semi-arid climate.
August 2024 was the warmest August in Spain since records began in 1961, according to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). With an average temperature of 25C, it surpassed the warmest August months to date, those of 2003 and 2023, which tied with 24.8C.
It comes weeks after a new Majorca sea temperature record was set. The temperature of the seawater at Sa Dragonera has set a new record of 31.87 degrees centigrade. The previous record recorded in the Balearics was two years ago on August 24, when the temperature of the sea at Sa Dragonera reached 31.36 °C.

FROM Greta Thunberg to Australia's Anjali Sharma and Malaysia's Braden Yong, there are plenty of people in Generation Z who are taking action on climate.
Gen Z is growing up in an era where the impacts of climate change are both immediate and undeniable and it's leaving them feeling powerless.
Gen Z – those born between 1995 and 2010 – make up 30% of the global population.
Unlike previous generations, who had time to gradually adjust to the realities of environmental transformations, Gen Z is acutely aware of the ecological crises unfolding around them, leading to a deep sense of environmental anxiety.
As a result, many digitally connected, globally aware Gen Zers experience intense climate anxiety, characterised by chronic fear, distress and deep concern for the planet's future.
They often feel let down by older generations, governments and institutions, whose actions seem inadequate in the face of the growing evidence about the environmental threats the world.
Many young people have expressed significant worry and many experiencing severe climate anxiety.
This anxiety manifests in various forms, including eco-anxiety, solastalgia (distress triggered by environmental changes) and climate grief, reflecting the complex emotional landscape of a generation coming of age amid a global environmental emergency.
The situation Gen Z faces and their future prospects are further exacerbated by the complexity of other developments resulting in what is known as a polycrisis, a 'great disagreement, confusion, or suffering that is caused by many different problems happening at the same time so that they together have a very big effect.'
Existential threat
Eco-anxiety, a chronic fear of an environmental catastrophe, arises from the perception that climate change poses an existential threat.
For many in Gen Z, the overwhelming nature of this threat leads to persistent worry and stress. This is also fuelled by the sense of urgency and responsibility they think they have to comply with.
Gen Z are witnessing their local natural environments and the broader global ecosystem undergo rapid, often destructive and irreversible changes, including biodiversity loss, species extinction and the degradation of ecosystems.
Many experience profound grief which is tied not just to physical harms, but also to the loss of hope for a stable and prosperous future.
With many of the world's Gen Zs believing that climate change is human-made, young people are experiencing heightened levels of stress, anxiety and depression as they grapple with the realities of a warming planet .
For some members of Gen Z, the constant stream of climate-related news, coupled with personal experiences of climate related calamities, such as wildfires, floods, droughts or cyclones, leads to a form of trauma that can have long-lasting effects on mental health.
A generational crisis
For Gen Z, climate change anxiety is not just about fear of environmental destruction; it is also about grappling with a crisis of identity and purpose.
As they come of age in a world that seems increasingly unstable and unpredictable, many young people are questioning what kind of future they can expect to have, and whether it is even ethical to plan for the future in traditional ways, such as pursuing professional careers, starting families or buying homes, when the planet is in such peril.
This crisis of identity is further complicated by the pressure to act.
Many young people feel a deep sense of responsibility to address climate change, but this can also ignite feelings of guilt and shame when they perceive their actions as insufficient.
The weight of this responsibility can be overwhelming, leading to burnout and a sense of futility.
In response to these challenges, some members of Gen Z are channelling their anxiety into activism.
Climate activism is seen as a way to regain a sense of control and agency in the face of overwhelming challenges.
This activism takes many forms, from participating in global climate strikes to advocating for sustainable policies at the local level. However, activism is not a panacea for climate anxiety.
While it can provide a sense of purpose and community, activism can also be exhausting. The constant need to fight for change, coupled with the slow pace of progress, can lead to burnout and exacerbate mental health issues.
Additionally, the pressure to always be 'on' and engaged in activism can be mentally and emotionally draining, leading to further feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Mental health support
Given the significant mental health challenges posed by climate change anxiety, there is a growing recognition of the need for robust mental health support for Gen Z.
This support must be tailored to address the unique challenges of climate anxiety, experiencing unprecedented levels of fear and despair, and feelings of hopelessness that are so prevalent among young people.
There is a need for more mental health professionals trained to understand and address eco-anxiety and related issues. Therapeutic interventions that focus on building resilience, fostering a sense of agency and helping young people navigate their complex emotions are crucial.
Building supportive communities where young people can share their experiences, particularly positive outcomes, and feelings about climate change is also important.
These communities can provide a sense of solidarity and help combat the isolation that often accompanies climate anxiety. Schools and educational institutions can play a key role in addressing climate anxiety by incorporating discussions about mental health and climate change into their curricula.
By providing young people with the tools to understand and cope with their emotions, educational initiatives can help mitigate the psychological impacts of climate anxiety.
The challenges posed by climate change anxiety for Gen Z are indeed profound and multifaceted.
However, with the climate crisis in a time of polycrisis worsening, Gen Z's involvement in shaping a resilient and sustainable future is critical.
Their unique perspective and relentless drive for change position them as key players in responding to global warming as well as in bridging generational divides, fostering global cooperation and ensuring that climate action is grounded in science and equity. — 360info

Green and anxious

BANGKOK, 9 September 2024 – UNICEF Thailand today launched the #CountMeIn campaign to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on children and youth and amplify their voices in climate discussions and actions. The campaign's theme, "Voice of Children, Told by Children, Action by Children," highlights the need to listen to young people as the world confronts the climate crisis.
A key component of the #CountMeIn campaign is a series of photo stories that capture the experiences of children affected by recent flooding in Thailand's northern and central regions. These images offer a poignant look at how climate-induced disasters disrupt young lives, revealing the challenges they face in a changing environment.
The campaign also highlights the personal stories of children and youth whose lives have been affected by climate change. In Chiang Mai, a young person lost her mother to lung cancer, as a result of worsening air pollution PM2.5 in the region. A girl from Khun Samut Chin community in Samut Prakarn Province, shared the devastation of losing her home three times due to climate-induced flooding. Another youth, passionate about wildlife photography, observed a decline in wildlife species, while a boy in Yala mourned the loss of his school uniform and learning materials, all swept away by major flooding in his area in 2023.
"The weather has become increasingly extreme. It feels like our family is constantly saving money just to prepare for the next renovation, not knowing when the next natural disaster will strike," said Arisa Pholthaisong, a 19-year-old mother of a one-year-old and a passionate advocate from Khun Samut Chin community. Raised in a coastal community severely impacted by climate change, Arisa, like her parents, has learned to adapt to the ever-changing and extreme weather conditions. This relentless erosion has swallowed up a kilometer of land and rendered many homes uninhabitable due to frequent and intense flooding. "I'm not sure if my daughter will be able to live here when she grows up."
Kyungsun Kim, UNICEF Representative for Thailand emphasized the critical need for action. 'Climate change affects all aspects of children's lives, yet their voices are the least heard,' said Kim. 'The #CountMeIn campaign is not just about raising awareness, it's about ensuring that children's perspectives are central to climate action. We must always remember that the future we are shaping belongs to them, and it is our responsibility to include them in climate conversations and decisions.'
Last month, UNICEF, the Department of Climate Change and Environment, and partners launched the ' Active Learning on Biodiversity and Climate Change Handbook, ' also known as the ABC Handbook, to help children and young people learn more about climate change and how to protect the environment. The handbook gives teachers and students easy-to-understand information and fun activities to help them learn. The ABC Handbook will be distributed to schools across Thailand so children can learn what climate change and biodiversity is, how it affects the world around them, and what they can do to help.
Paula Taylor, Friend of UNICEF, joined the campaign, contributing a short video featuring her young children discussing the importance of clean air and blue skies. In addition, climate influencers Baitong, Jareerat Petsom and Kong GreenGreen have joined #CountMeIn, participating in UNICEF field visits to Khon Kaen and Samut Prakarn provinces to listen to children affected by the climate crisis.
The #CountMeIn campaign uses a nationwide poll and UNICEF's U-Report poll to collect children's voices, needs, and recommendations regarding climate change. A youth consultation led by UNICEF's Young People Advisory Board will be organized early October to craft opinions and suggestions from young people, which will then be presented to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Azerbaijan this November. UNICEF also supports youth representatives to join COP29, aiming to elevate children as key stakeholders in the climate crisis and encourage adults to actively listen to and involve them in climate-related actions.
"We hope this campaign will promote a deeper understanding of the short-term and long-term impacts of climate change on children and young people,' said 23-year-old Sippotai Ketjinda, one of the four youth representatives who will be joining COP29. ' Although they are a generation that contributes less to greenhouse gas emissions than the generations that came before them, it is crucial to engage them and support them in taking action on climate action, as they are physically and mentally empowered and can see new solutions to old problems."

UNICEF launches #CountMeIn campaign to amplify children's voices on climate crisis in Thailand

New analysis from USA TODAY and the Climate Impact Lab also shows that temperatures in Wisconsin are expected to continue to increase several degrees in the next two decades as the state faces the consequences of climate change.
Researchers analyzed county-level temperature projections to assess how annual warming and extreme heat are expected to change from 2020 to 2040. The report found that parts of the Great Plains and the Midwest are projected to warm by more than 3 degrees.
In Wisconsin, climate change means the state could see more extremely hot days over the coming decades, which could be dangerous for public health in many urban areas, and damaging to harvests in rural areas.
Here's a look at how climate change could impact Wisconsin and the U.S., according to the report.
Milwaukee could see a significant change in temperature in next two decades
Milwaukee could see a significant increase in temperatures over the next two decades. Average annual temperatures could increase 2.81 degrees, meaning the city would experience two additional days above 90 degrees, according to the report.
Exposure to extreme heat can be uncomfortable at best, making it difficult to focus when learning or working. At worst, it can be deadly. Heat is already the leading cause of climate-related deaths in the U.S., and more days above 90 degrees may increase the number of heat-related deaths and illness.
According to a separate research from the U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index, Milwaukee County is one of the most vulnerable areas to climate risk in the state, and the north and south sides are some of the most vulnerable areas of the city.
Pollution is a leading factor for Milwaukee's climate vulnerability, according to the report. Certain Milwaukee communities have higher pollution because of their close proximity to waste management facilities and brownfields, former industrial sites that are likely contaminated and currently abandoned or unused.
How will temperatures increase in your county?
Here's a look at how much temperatures could increase in your county, according to the analysis from USA TODAY. The data includes every county in the United States.
Type your county into the search bar below to see the results.
Which Wisconsin counties are most at risk?
These are the Wisconsin counties at the most risk for significant temperatures increases in the next two decades, according to analysis from USA TODAY and the Climate Impact Lab.
What are the causes of climate change?
Scientists agree that the largest contributor of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels like gas, oil and coal. The climate is changing as the earth is warming. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average annual global temperatures have increased since the 1960s.
Wisconsin has become 2 degrees Fahrenheit warmer and 4.5 inches wetter since the 1950s. The greatest warming happens during winter and largest precipitation increase during summer.
Increasing carbon dioxide emissions is due to human activity. Scientists have found the source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through measurements of Antarctic ice cores spanning back 800,000 years, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The changing climate leads to extreme weather events, and while some communities have the resources to endure the impact, many have poor infrastructure and other systemic issues that put them at a higher risk.
RELATED: Democrats are worlds apart from the GOP on climate change. Here's what their platform says.
RELATED: Emergency department visits from heat rose 25% in Wisconsin in 2024
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Climate Change in Wisconsin: How much warmer will it get in Milwaukee?

How much will climate change warm Wisconsin? Here's the latest data

How about this breathless article title from JAMA (thanks to Stephen Shipman): ' Medical Schools Are Updating Their Curricula as Climate Change Becomes Impossible to Ignore '.
'Climate change' is indeed impossible to ignore. Not changes in the climate, which are easy to miss, mostly because nobody can really see them, and the ones that can be seen aren't that interesting. But ' climate change ' is right there on every propagandist's lips every day. You couldn't avoid 'climate change' if you tried.
Still, it's hard to see why medical schools would install 'climate change' propaganda as a mandatory part of the curriculum. Don't they already have enough bones and names of lucrative pills to memorize? What part of 'climate change' is medical? Can you catch 'climate change'? Maybe some develop a tic, treatable, one hopes, when a politician trying to sell 'solutions' mentions 'climate change'? Ask your doctor if 'climate change' is right for you?
Third sentence in this erstwhile medical journal's article on 'climate change' begins, 'George Floyd's death at the hands of police officers…' Dude, even I know this isn't 'climate change'. Or is it? Must be, because they go on, 'Suddenly…Zoom rooms were buzzing with conversations about social justice and health disparities.' Those must have been rousing discussions. 'Saint Floyd died of metastatic 'climate change'!'
By the time of Floyd's deification, continues some female named Kline, who shows no evidence of having any training in the physics of fluid flow on a differentially heated rotating sphere, 'it felt like climate change was already becoming inexorable'. If it's inexorable, lady, then you don't have to worry about stopping it. You can't. You'll soon be joining Floyd in the great Medical School In The Sky. 'Climate change' is gonna getcha. It's going to get all of us. Inexorably.
Maybe all this is medical after all (thanks to Tom Horrell for the tip). Take this headline: ' Rising temps, rising anxiety: Climate change creates emerging mental health challenge '.
'Climate change' propaganda is having a terrible toll on the 'mental health' of the nervous. Climate anxiety! It has struck down many already. See if your eyes don't fill with salt water after reading this:
It hit Olivia Collins not long ago, The wave of worry surprised her since she's immersed in the subject from working at Miami's CLEO institute, which is dedicated to climate education and advocacy. The unsettling feeling suddenly washed over her after she read 'The Light Pirate,' a novel set in near-future Florida about a child born out of a devastating hurricane who has to navigate a world undergoing frightening change.
The wave of worry that she professionally and dedicatedly for a long time concentrates her every waking hour on educating and advocating for surprised her.
I mean, how could she have seen it coming?
Let's see what Experts have to say about climate anxiety. 'Experts,' the article continues, 'at Yale University,' and therefore the best kind of Experts, 'define it this way: distress about climate change and its impacts on the landscape and human existence.' Impacts on human existence are one thing, but on the landscape, too!
[Climate anxiety] can manifest as intrusive thoughts or troubled feelings about the future of the world. Also called 'eco-anxiety,' it can take the form of 'eco-guilt,' a feeling of not doing enough personally, or even 'eco-rage,' an elevated anger that everybody else isn't doing enough to deal with looming threats.'
George Floyd choked to death on eco-rage?
Don't scoff, because do you know what researchers have found? I'll tell you what researchers have found. 'Worries about what rising temperatures and seas will do to the world are increasingly common, researchers have found'. Amazing what researchers can found when they research, ain't it.
Now it's obvious that climate anxiety inexorably leads to climate grief. And once you catch that, well, there's not much you can do. Except, says NPR, turn to a 'new kind of chaplain'. One that specializes in the kind of witchcraft that dispels (good pun!) climate grief. Here are the thoughts of one of the witches:
'I just thought how on Earth are we ever going to get this problem solved if we can't even talk about it and get good information from the newspapers that we think are the guardians of truth?' she said. 'And then I just thought, 'Wow, I am fried.''
One toke over the line, my dear.
I know I'm over the word limit, my friends, but I had to bring you this description of the coven's activities:
On a chilly morning in January, Sustaining Climate Activists gathered in a library conference room.
'Just breathe normally,' the group's co-facilitator, the Rev. Liz Olson, a certified hospital chaplain, said in a soothing yet commanding voice to the dozen people sitting with her.
'You can use this breathing any time you are panicking or worrying, knowing that we have this symbiotic relationship with the plants and the trees, and that as you are exhaling they are inhaling, and as you are inhaling, they are exhaling. We are always connected to the plants and the trees.'
A few seats to Olson's right, Ware held her head erect and eyes closed.
Over the next 90 minutes, Olson guided the group as they shared whatever was troubling them. The ensuing conversation, which was confidential, included discussion of current events, personal health issues and relationships with family and friends.
Participants sipped coffee, nibbled homemade oatmeal raisin cookies, passed around a box of Kleenex and examined a color wheel with the names of hues replaced by emotions — fear, anger, loneliness and anxiety.
It was that point, I suspect, they tuned into NPR and lets the (radio) waves wash over them.

Women Find A Solution To 'Climate Change' Anxiety

There is a shifting pattern of extreme climate events across Indian districts according to a new report released on Friday. Some floodprone areas are now becoming susceptible to droughts and vice versa; often a combination of both hazards are being seen, the report added.
In the past two decades more than 80% districts in Gujarat have witnessed an increased frequency and intensity of extreme floods as per the analysis by IPE Global and Esri-India. This may explain the devastating floods in Saurashtra this year too.
ALSO READ- 'Global approach to deal with climate change flawed'
The number of districts that have transitioned from experiencing floods to facing droughts (149) surpasses those that have shifted from droughts to floods (110).
In Southern India, states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, are witnessing a notable increase in drought conditions. as are parts of western and central India.
'The findings indicate that drought events are becoming more severe across the Indian subcontinent which can also be linked to increase in number of heat wave days,' the report states.
Over 85% of Indian districts are prone to flood, drought, cyclone and heat waves, and 45% of them are witnessing a swapping trend, according to the analysis.
ALSO READ- Climate change disrupting education outcomes, increasing learning loss: UNESCO report
The frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of these climate extremes have also risen in recent decades by four-fold.
Using a penta-decadal analysis, the study compiles a catalogue of extreme climate events over a 50-year historical period from 1973 to 2023 by employing spatial and temporal modelling.
'The current trend of catastrophic climate extremes that makes 9 out 10 Indians exposed to extreme climate events are a result of 0.6 °C temperature rise in the last century. El Nino is gaining momentum and making its early presence felt across the globe with India facing the extreme events turbulence more in patterns than waves,' said Abinash Mohanty, Head- Climate Change and Sustainability Practice at IPE Global and the author of the study. One of the findings of the study was that at least 60% of districts in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam witness more than one extreme climate event.
ALSO READ- In Pics: World records hottest summer ever amid climate change woes
'Recent Kerala landslides triggered by incessant and erratic rainfall episodes, floods in Gujarat, disappearance of Om Parvat's snow cover and the cities getting paralysed with sudden and abrupt downpour is a testament that climate has changed. Our analysis suggests that more than 1.47 billion Indians will be highly exposed to climate extremes by 2036,' added Mohanty, who believes 'embracing hyper-granular risk assessments and establish climate-risk observatories and infrastructure climate fund should become a national imperative .'
HT reported on June 25 that India's summer monsoon is undergoing significant changes, influencing not just agriculture — for which the rains are a lifeblood — but also the length and intensity of the summer.
Recent data from the India Meteorological Department showed a trend of weaker monsoon rainfall in June, followed by prolonged, heavy rainfall in September. This shift is accompanied by rising temperatures during monsoon months and an increase in the number of dry days over eastern India.

Pattern of extreme climate events across India changing: Study

The Carnic region is a climate change adaptation model region. The KLAR project, where regions face up to the consequences of climate change, will break new ground in the coming years. "We are aware that adaptation and climate protection must go hand in hand," says Kötschach Mauthen's mayor Josef Zoppoth.
His municipality and the municipalities of Lesachtal, Dellach, Kirchbach, Hermagor, Gitschtal, Weißensee and St. Stefan will be launching the KLAR project in the coming days. The program is currently supporting 91 Austrian regions with over 800 municipalities. "The priority is to reduce the damage caused by climate impacts," says the mayor.
Because climate change cannot be denied. "These have a profound impact on the Southern Alps, and therefore on the Carnic region, which has already experienced twice as much warming as the average. Extreme events such as heat, drought, heavy rainfall and storms are the result," says Jürgen Themessl, Head of Office.
Project already approved
The eight municipalities in the climate change adaptation region want to develop their own strategies and make positive use of the changes brought about by climate change. The project has already been submitted and approved. There are 224,000 euros available. Working groups are now being set up.

Adapting to climate change: an opportunity for change

A Non-governmental organisation – the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation has urged Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and the state House of Assembly members to ensure the speedy passage of the climate change bill in the House so that the governor can also immediately assent to it as a law.
While speaking at the tension soaked public hearing on the bill on Friday at the state Assembly complex, the Executive Director of GIFSEP, Dr. David Terhemen Mike said that the law creating the commission for climate change will be the compass for Adamawa State to fight climate change.
He noted that climate change is a global phenomenon and that only institutions backed by laws have the capacity to fight climate change.
Mike pointed out that establishing a commission backed by law is a legal instrument that can help to attract funds for international donor agencies, noting that a department under a ministry lacks sure powers at the international level.
He disclosed that the National Council on Climate Change failed to achieve the aim of its establishment because there is no law backing it operations.
'I think Adamawa Assembly will learn from the mistake of the Federal Government by establishing a council instead of a commission that is a product of National Assembly law,' he advised.
Mike insisted that the war against climate change is very important because it is anti-developmental and that it causes insecurity due to its negative effects on the environment.
However, there was a mild drama at the public hearing room, as some staff of the Ministry of Environment led by Director of Forestry Sarah Gundiri, with her team members Adamu Ishaya who is the Assistant Director Degradation Control, and Haruna Isa, the Chief Forestry Officer, protested vehemently over the proposed climate change bill.
Gundiri who was visibly angry said that the proposed bill was not designed in the interest of the state, arguing that climate change is a unit under her department and that there was no need for such a commission.
She stressed that the commission will bring more financial burden on the government and that the functions of the commission will be a duplication of her department's duties.
While responding to Gundiri and her team's argument, the representative of the Speaker of the Assembly Umar Bobbo Ismail, who is a member representing the Fufore Constituency, said that the commission's duties has nothing to do with the operations of the Ministry of Environment.
He said, 'you as a director of forestry may be moved to the commission because of your vast experience, all the staff of the commission will be drawn from different ministries, in fact, the Ministry of Agriculture is more central to the proposed commission, so there is no additional financial burden,' he explained.
The Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Mr. Yohanna Jauro, who is the initiator of the climate change bill that has passed the third reading in the Assembly, pointed out that he initiated the bill in the best interest of the residents of the state.
'Farmers are suffering climate change more than anyone. The flooding is part of climate change, draught is part of climate change, and Adamawa State residents are 85 per cent farmers. So, what is the personal interest in this bill,' he queried.
Gundiri, who was to later fume out of the public hearing room, could be heard murmuring some words to her colleagues in the Ministry of Environment.

NGO tasks Fintiri, Adamawa lawmakers on climate change law

This video was supported by funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Maria Temming: In 2021, a historic heat wave baked the Pacific Northwest killing hundreds of people and fueling wildfires. Researchers later reported that human-caused climate change made this heat wave at least 150 times more likely.
But how do scientists figure out how much climate change is to blame for a specific weather event?
Researchers use a variety of techniques for this work, which is called extreme event attribution. One method compares the world we have today–which has warmed 1.2 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution –with what the world would look like without climate change. Researchers estimate what that second world would look like based on historic trends in weather data and climate models.
Scientists can then see if a specific weather event is more likely or severe in the real world than it would have been in a world without climate change.
Another technique uses computer models to recreate specific weather events.
For instance, they might simulate how powerful a hurricane would have been, if Earth's oceans were slightly cooler. If the hurricane would not have been as intense, that would suggest all the heat added to Earth's oceans by global warming made the real-life hurricane worse.
Hundreds of studies have investigated the role of global warming in natural disasters around the world. And many have found that climate change made these events more likely or more severe.
Climate change tripled the risk of Hurricane Harvey's record rainfall over Texas in 2017. It made Australia's devastating wildfires in 2019 and 2020 at least 30 percent more likely. And in some cases, scientists have determined that a weather event would have been virtually impossible without climate change, such as a heat wave that cooked Siberia in 2020.
To do attribution studies like these, researchers typically need long-term weather data, models that can realistically simulate Earth's climate in a certain area and a good understanding of the physical processes that drive extreme weather. This makes some types of extreme weather easier to study than others.
Heat waves are fairly easy to tie to climate change, because we have lots of long-term temperature records from around the globe, and computer models simulate temperature well.
It's harder to pick out the fingerprints of climate change on heavy rainfall events in many parts of the world, because we have fewer long-term precipitation records, and computer models have a harder time rendering this weather.
Meanwhile, tornadoes are typically too small to directly simulate with existing climate models.
And individual wildfires are especially hard to link to climate change, because they depend on many non-weather factors, like land management. Large parts of the world, including regions in Africa and South America, don't have the long-term weather records or region-specific climate models to do attribution studies.
So we need more data and better models to better understand how climate change is affecting weather in those areas.
This type of research doesn't just underscore how climate change is already impacting our daily lives, it can offer clues about the types of weather we should expect and prepare for as our world continues to warm.

How much is climate change to blame for extreme weather?

Flooding in Nigeria has become an annual catastrophe that wreaks havoc across the nation, displacing thousands, destroying properties and causing untold suffering. Each rainy season, the nation braces for the inevitable: swollen rivers, submerged homes and communities stranded by rising waters. But as we witness these disasters unfold year after year, we must confront a pressing question: Are these floods simply a manifestation of climate change, or are they the result of government failure to develop adequate infrastructure to manage water flow?
There is no denying that climate change plays a significant role in the increased frequency and severity of floods in Nigeria. Changes in global weather patterns have led to more intense and unpredictable rainfall, which contributes to flooding.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has reported that climate change exacerbates extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, which Nigeria has experienced in recent years.
Nigeria's geographical location also makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change. The country is situated in a region where the climate is already volatile, with the northern part of the country facing desertification and the southern part dealing with excessive rainfall and flooding. This dual challenge is a clear indication that Nigeria is on the front lines of the climate crisis.
While climate change is a contributing factor, it cannot be the sole scapegoat for Nigeria's flooding woes. A significant part of the problem lies in the government's consistent failure to develop and maintain adequate infrastructure that can handle heavy rainfall and manage water flow. The lack of proper urban planning, inadequate drainage systems, and insufficient investment in flood control measures have left many communities vulnerable to flooding.
Nigeria's major cities, such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja, are plagued by poor drainage systems that quickly become overwhelmed during heavy rains. The government's failure to enforce building regulations has also led to the construction of structures on floodplains and other vulnerable areas, exacerbating the impact of floods.
Furthermore, the absence of effective waste management systems means that drains are often clogged with debris, reducing their capacity to channel water away from populated areas.
The paradox in Nigeria's flood crisis lies in the coexistence of both climate change and governmental failure as primary causes. It is a complex interplay where one issue exacerbates the other. Climate change-induced heavy rains would not cause as much devastation if there were proper infrastructure in place to manage water flow. Conversely, the impact of inadequate infrastructure is magnified by the increasing intensity of rainfall due to climate change.
Nigeria's government must recognize that while they cannot control the climate, they have the power and responsibility to build resilient systems that can mitigate the effects of climate change. This involves investing in modern drainage systems, enforcing strict building codes, ensuring proper waste management, and engaging in comprehensive urban planning that considers the changing climate.
Addressing Nigeria's flood problem requires a multi-faceted approach. First and foremost, the government must acknowledge its role in the crisis and take immediate steps to improve infrastructure. This includes repairing and upgrading existing drainage systems, constructing new ones where needed, and developing sustainable urban planning policies that prevent construction in flood-prone areas.
In addition, there must be a greater emphasis on climate change adaptation strategies. This involves creating early warning systems for floods, educating communities about the risks and responses to flooding, and investing in research to better understand the impacts of climate change on Nigeria's hydrology.
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International cooperation is also crucial. Nigeria should seek technical and financial support from international bodies to help build its resilience against climate-induced disasters. Moreover, there needs to be a national policy framework that integrates climate adaptation with disaster risk management.
Nigeria's flood crisis is not solely a result of climate change or governmental failure, but rather a combination of both. The government must rise to the challenge by investing in the necessary infrastructure and implementing effective policies that address both immediate needs and long-term resilience. Only then can Nigeria hope to mitigate the devastating impacts of floods and protect its citizens from future disasters.

Nigeria: Flooding in Nigeria - A Case of Climate Change or Governmental Failure?

Recently Dubai Conference on climate change Cup 28 Ayesha Amin and Hara Amjad from Pakistan who were awarded the 'Gender Just Solution Award' were among those who were given special honors for their outstanding work.
Hara Amjad runs an NGO called ' Dastak ', while Ayesha Amin heads an NGO called 'Bethak' which Equality guild Works in the context of
Most of the work of 'Dastak' is in northern areas of Pakistan while 'Beethak' is active in South Pakistan.
What is the relationship between climate change and gender equality and what are the solutions? In this regard, we met Ayesha Amin, CEO of 'Bethak' and congratulated her on the award as well as asked dozens of questions for public information, which are now available.
On the question regarding the relationship between gender equality and climate change, Ayesha Amin explained that every year this award is given to three individuals or organizations who are responsible for gender-based issues related to climate change. Suggest a solution.
Ayesha Amin's organizations 'Bethak' and 'Dastak' have emphasized on a special kind of preparations for solving and redressing the special problems faced by women after the flood disasters in Pakistan last year, and one such The list is ready, which is sorely needed in such disaster-stricken areas.
He said that whenever such a calamity occurs, it has been observed that the specific needs of women in the disaster areas are completely neglected.
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'Women need certain items during menstruation, if there are no sanitary pads, at least clean water is needed for washing clothes, similarly there is no separate toilet facility for women, when the victims So when the aid is collected, it does not include the specific goods for women, it is not included in this aid packet, similarly the needs of pregnant women are not included in the victims' camp.
In this regard, he said that the flood victims were already devastated, in such a situation, the girls who were facing menstruation for the first time, it was very difficult and painful for them, we also explained to them that This is a natural process and also told the government how to take care of their needs.
'Many places did not have sanitary pads and women were making ends meet by tearing their dupatta, which is hazardous to health as there was no clean cloth and clean water for washing.' Apart from this, there were various insects in the camp, there were even scorpions, but there were also attacks on women.
He said that the camps built for the flood victims in Pakistan either did not have toilets and even if there were, they were not separated for women. , which was a problem.
Keeping all these issues in mind, Ayesha Amin has prepared a list by consulting more than 40 non-governmental organizations working for the relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people and taking the opinion of more than 5000 affected women. have been asked to distribute relief items like ration bags as well as these items to the affected women.
Ayesha Amin has been awarded by Cop28 for creating the same toolkit.
Now Ayesha Amin says that she did this work keeping in mind the local needs and now she wants it to be introduced at the global level so that these items are provided to women in case of natural calamities in other countries as well. can go
Ayesha Amin said that so far the government of Pakistan has not contacted her at any level, but she wants to cooperate with the government because this toolkit is for the government but there is silence so far.
In Dubai, he had contacted members of the government but none of them came to the award ceremony despite being invited.
Ayesha Amin said that there were one awardee each from Bangladesh and Africa, whose countries had many people present, but none for her. This work is such that the help of the government is needed, it will not be done, but the situation is desperate.
'Essentially any disaster results in government agencies creating a dashboard of what supplies are needed and how much, it doesn't even include menstrual pads, that's a problem that has to be solved.'
He further said that 'Similarly, there are security issues for women in relief camps, for which it is necessary that women officers visit every camp regularly, in our social system, women cannot tell their problems to men, so There must be women officers.'
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#Cop #Pakistani #women #win #Gender #Solution #Award
2024-09-08 22:32:22
⁢ How do gender-sensitive approaches ⁣in climate action alleviate the disproportionate impacts‌ of climate change on women?
The Inseparable Link between Climate Change and Gender Equality: Solutions and ‌Challenges
Recently, Ayesha Amin and ​Hara Amjad from Pakistan were awarded​ the 'Gender Just Solution Award'​ at the Dubai Conference on climate change, also known as Cup 28. This recognition highlights the⁢ crucial role that gender equality plays in addressing the impacts of climate change. In this article,‍ we will delve into the relationship between climate change and gender equality, and explore the solutions and ‍challenges that come with⁢ it.
The Disproportionate Impact of Climate Change⁤ on Women
Climate change increases gender inequality, reduces women's ability‍ to ‍be financially independent, and​ has an overall negative impact on their social and economic well-being [[2]]. Women, especially those ⁤living in poverty, are more vulnerable ⁣to the impacts of climate‍ change due to​ their limited access to resources, education, and​ healthcare [[1]]. In ‌situations of poverty, women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change [[1]].
The Importance of Gender-Sensitive Approaches to Climate Change
Ayesha Amin's organization, 'Bethak', emphasizes the need ⁤for gender-sensitive approaches to addressing climate⁣ change. She explained that women need to be involved in the​ decision-making process to ensure that their specific needs are taken into​ account.​ In the context‌ of disaster relief,⁣ for example, women need access to sanitary pads, clean water, and​ separate toilet facilities. These basic‌ necessities​ are often overlooked in​ aid‌ packets,​ leading ⁢to further distress for ⁤women in already dire situations [[3]].
The 'Gender Just Solution Award' ⁢and Its Significance
Ayesha Amin's award-winning toolkit highlights the importance of including women's needs in disaster relief efforts. Her organization, 'Bethak', has ⁣prepared a list of essential items that should be distributed to affected women, including sanitary pads, clean water, and separate toilet facilities. This toolkit is a crucial ‍step towards recognizing ‌the gendered impact of ‍climate change​ and⁤ promoting gender equality in disaster relief efforts.
Challenges and Solutions
One ‍of ‌the major⁤ challenges in addressing ⁢the relationship between climate change and gender equality is ​the lack of ⁢government support. Ayesha Amin noted⁤ that ⁣despite being awarded for her work, the government of Pakistan‍ has‍ not contacted her to discuss the implementation of ⁣her ⁤toolkit. This lack of government support highlights ⁣the need⁤ for greater collaboration between ⁤NGOs⁤ and government agencies to address the gendered impacts of climate change.
Another⁤ challenge is the need for greater awareness and education about the relationship⁣ between climate change and gender equality. Ayesha Amin emphasized the importance of educating women about their own bodies and health, particularly during ‍menstruation. She also stressed the need for women officers to be⁤ present in relief camps to address the specific⁣ needs of women.
Conclusion
the relationship⁣ between ⁣climate ⁢change ‌and gender equality is ⁢complex and multifaceted. ‍Addressing this relationship⁤ requires ‍a gender-sensitive approach that takes into account the specific needs and challenges​ faced ⁤by women. The 'Gender Just Solution Award' is a crucial step towards promoting​ gender equality in disaster relief efforts, and Ayesha Amin's ⁢toolkit is⁤ a vital resource for addressing the‌ gendered impacts of climate change. However, greater government support and awareness are needed to ensure that women's voices are heard and their needs are met in the face of climate change.
References:
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Gender responsive just transitions climate action partnership
Climate Change and Gender Equality: A Critical Connection
The recent Dubai Conference on climate change, also known as COP28, brought together global leaders to discuss the pressing issue of climate change and its far-reaching implications. Among the notable attendees were Ayesha Amin and Hara Amjad from Pakistan, who were honored with the 'Gender Just Solution Award' for their outstanding work in addressing gender-based issues related to climate change.
The Intersection of Climate Change and Gender Equality
Ayesha Amin, CEO of 'Bethak', an NGO focused on gender equality, emphasized the critical connection between climate change and gender equality. She explained that every year, three individuals or organizations are recognized for their efforts in addressing gender-based issues related to climate change and suggesting solutions.
The relationship between climate change and gender equality is multifaceted. Climate change disproportionately affects women, particularly in disaster-stricken areas where their specific needs are often neglected. For instance, during menstruation, women require access to sanitary pads, clean water, and separate toilet facilities. In the absence of these basic necessities, women are forced to resort to hazardous alternatives, such as using cloth torn from their dupatta.
The Need for Gender-Responsive Climate Action
The flood disasters in Pakistan last year highlighted the importance of gender-responsive climate action. Ayesha Amin's organizations, 'Bethak' and 'Dastak', have developed a specialized toolkit to address the unique challenges faced by women in disaster situations. This toolkit is designed to provide essential items, such as sanitary pads, clean water, and separate toilet facilities, to affected women.
The award-winning toolkit is the result of consultative efforts with over 40 non-governmental organizations and more than 5,000 affected women. Ayesha Amin's work has not only addressed local needs but also has the potential to be replicated globally, ensuring that women's needs are prioritized in natural disaster response and rehabilitation efforts.
International Commitment to Gender-Responsive Climate Action
The COP28 conference emphasized the need for gender-responsive climate action, with 198 countries committing to gender-responsive approaches in combating climate change [2]. The U.S. Government has also announced a $1.4 billion investment in the Women in the Sustainable Economy (WISE) initiative, aimed at advancing women's participation in climate efforts [3].
Building a Global Movement
Ayesha Amin's work serves as a powerful example of the critical role that women play in addressing climate change. Her commitment to introducing the toolkit at the global level underscores the need for a coordinated international response to gender-based issues in climate change.
The silence from the Pakistani government on Ayesha Amin's work is concerning, and it is essential that governments worldwide recognize the importance of gender-responsive climate action and collaborate with organizations like 'Bethak' and 'Dastak' to address the needs of women in disaster situations.
the relationship between climate change and gender equality is complex and multifaceted. It is essential that we prioritize gender-responsive climate action, recognizing the unique challenges faced by women in disaster situations and working towards a more inclusive and equitable response to climate change.

Pakistani Trailblazers Shine at COP28 with ‘Gender Just Solution Award

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 13, 2024 /CNW/ - Environmental education among Canada's younger generations fosters the ability of youth to understand and critically evaluate the complex interplay between human activities, ecological systems, and the changing climate.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has announced the awarding of $2.9 million to eight Canadian organizations for projects dedicated to environmental education and climate literacy. Environment and Climate Change Canada's support for these eight projects contributes to the Government of Canada's strategy to inform, engage, and mobilize Canadians for climate action.
Funded projects include the Centre for Global Education, which will develop the innovative Advanced Placement (AP) Nature and Earth Seminar program designed to redefine education by integrating knowledge from Indigenous communities with contemporary ecological concerns. Specifically designed to support historically marginalized young people, the program gives them the opportunity to become agents of change in their communities, fostering a generation of informed, committed, and proactive environmental stewards.
The Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier will be setting up an exhibition and a bilingual online educational program focusing on the impact of climate change on human health, and the importance of individual and collective climate action.
The Foundation for Environmental Stewardship will develop a net-zero solutions portal with video modules and educational kits for schools. This organization, which aims to support young people in getting climate action off the ground in Canada, will also implement a mentoring program for young people on net-zero solutions in rural communities across Canada, with support for the professional development of their educators.
Lakehead University will receive support for its Accelerating Climate Change Education (CCE) in Teacher Education project, which aims to support climate change education in pre-service and in-service teacher training across Canada through consultations, webinars, online courses, and resources.
Thanks to the support announced today, the partners behind these projects will positively impact the advancement of environmental education by supporting teacher training programs, improving access to environmental education resources, and conducting further research to find evidence-based solutions for environmental education in Canada.
Funded projects will aim to develop knowledge, tools, or skills for young Canadians, their families, and their educators, with a primary focus on preparing young people for the future and contributing to Canada's climate goals, such as becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Quotes
"In this back-to-school season, I am delighted to announce our support for these organizations and their environmental education projects that are working for future generations. People of all generations need to understand climate issues, if they are to make a difference. Likewise, they need to know what they can do, how they can do it, and how it will affect them and their community." – The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2024/13/c5899.html

Government of Canada advances environmental education across Canada with $2.9 million investment

WASHINGTON, DC — In a warming world, where climate change and extreme weather events are predicted to dramatically alter patterns of how, when and where people move, anticipating the pain points that could undermine public support for smart policy solutions is essential. A new issue brief out today explores what is known about public opinion of climate migrants and the factors that shape these attitudes; it also offers recommendations on how to more effectively create an environment that enables the development of strategies that are in the interest of host communities and the climate displaced alike.
In Public Opinion of Climate Migrants: Understanding What Factors Trigger Anxiety or Support, Migration Policy Institute (MPI) analysts Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan and Lawrence Huang assess polling and experimental data from around the world to understand how climate mobility triggers public solidarity or opposition.
How climate mobility incites support or resistance is neither easy to predict, nor is it static or fixed. Climate migration may trigger anxiety if accompanied by a sense of disorder, unfairness or loss of control, Banulescu-Bogdan and Huang write. But they also note that communities can rally to support significant numbers of displaced individuals, given the right conditions.
Public opinion surveys and experimental data, while limited in nature, suggest that:
Climate migrants do not necessarily elicit more support or sympathy than other types of migrants, even as some advocates and others can presume greater acceptance for people who are forced to move due to life-threatening circumstances.
People displaced by visible, sudden-onset disasters may receive significant solidarity in the short term—but this may not last, in particular if the displacement becomes protracted or permanent.
It is the unpredictability of future climate mobility—rather than the numbers alone—that is likely to trigger public anxiety.
Host communities' own struggles with climate-change impacts may make them less welcoming.
The way leaders discuss climate migration can shape how the public views policy decisions, such as expanding legal pathways for climate-affected people or investing in climate action, the brief notes. Existing narratives around climate migration—including those of urgency and victimhood or those that frame climate migrants as positive contributors—can backfire at times. 'Climate migration has become a buzzword in migration policy, and while this opens up space for policy reform, not all migration communications and policy discussions need to be linked to climate change, especially if this is more likely to alienate audiences rather than encourage action,' the authors write.
Beyond being strategic about whether to engage in climate migration narratives at all, the brief offers several other recommendations. Policymakers should:
Mobilize action by recommending practical steps people can take rather than by assigning blame for climate change and displacement.
Be realistic about both the costs and benefits that migration brings.
Help communities prepare for immigration with investments (such as in housing) that benefit disadvantaged members of host communities as well, not just migrants.
'There is space for pragmatic and bold narrative interventions on climate mobility, as long as these messages are communicated strategically and accompanied by practical, on-the-ground initiatives to support both migrants and host communities,' the authors conclude.
The brief is the first of four being published over the next several weeks on issues related to climate change and migration. Forthcoming research in the series, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, will address the links between climate mobility and the green transition, international protection and development.
The public opinion brief is available at: www.migrationpolicy.org/research/public-opinion-climate-migrants.
Tune in to MPI's podcast, Changing Climate, Changing Migration, for smart discussions with top experts globally on the nexus between climate change and migration. And check out a related special issue of articles on climate migration published in MPI's magazine, the Migration Information Source.
To access all of MPI's work on climate change, check out: www.migrationpolicy.org/topics/climate-change.

New Analysis Examines the Factors that Shape Public Opinion of Climate Migrants and How to Build the Space for Smart Policy Conversations

12 September 2024, Niue - Accessing climate finance to help build a resilient Niue is at the core of ongoing work by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC). Building capacity to help achieve successful climate change project implementation is at the core of a three-day introductory training now underway.
Working with participants from a wide range of sectors within Niue, the training begins with the three-day programme and is followed by online training through the PCCC. Through this introductory training, participants are learning about project planning, design and the skills required for project planning and development, particularly those funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
This is the first such training to be delivered through GCF readiness support and will be a platform for future training specific to the capacity building needs and demands across the Pacific Islands.
'The work we are doing here is critical for taking the resilience of Niue a step further,' said the Director of Climate Change Resilience for SPREP, Ms Tagaloa Cooper.
'The readiness support provided to Niue and other countries across our Pacific to enhance access to climate finance is a high priority for SPREP and the PCCC. What is unique about this, as we have heard from you, is that we are seeing the wide range of sectors in this room learning about this issue and growing knowledge for action, for the first time.'
As recorded by the Green Climate Fund, to date Niue currently has a GCF portfolio of USD 9.5 Million through the Enhancing Climate Information and Knowledge Services for resilience in 5 island countries of the Pacific Ocean Project, and USD 1.3 Million through Readiness Projects.
Work is ongoing for Niue to access more of the Climate Finance available in the face of climate change impacts forecasted, but already being felt now.
Ninety percent of Niue's artefacts housed in the national museum, along with archives and records, were destroyed during Tropical Cyclone Heta in 2004. The category five cyclone, a sudden onset event left death and destruction behind. The loss of two lives were mourned, with homes and government infrastructure destroyed to the value of 90 million NZD. The Loss and Damage of Niue's cultural artefacts from this 2004 event are still being felt today.
'While Niue has progressed well given our resources and capacity in accessing climate finance, we are working towards growing our abilities, and our Green Climate Fund portfolio,' said Mrs Annmarie Aholima, Project Manager for the Readiness Program working within the Niue Project Management Coordination Unit.
'We look forward to working with you all to making this happen. The stronger our ability to access climate funding for a resilient Niue, the stronger our legacy is for Niue's future in the face of climate change impacts.'
The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) hosted at SPREP has delivered numerous trainings for the Pacific region on diverse climate change thematic areas with over 1000 people trained since 2020
The outcomes of this particular training in Niue will strengthen capacities to execute and facilitate the problem and objective trees analysis and logical framework development for climate change project formulation as well as an understanding of a theory of change and the formulation of a logical framework.
The PCCC Training for Niue on the Fundamental of Project Development and Design for Climate Finance Access to the Multilateral Climate Change Funds is held from 10 to 12 September 2024 bringing together participants from the Disaster Management Office, Water Sector, Environment Department, Aviation, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment, Public Service Commission, Chamber of Commerce and the Project Management Coordination Unit.

Enabling Niue to access climate finance

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry's acting deputy for gender equality, Rini Handayani, has emphasized the importance of women's role as agents of change in climate policy-making.
"How do women become agents of change in climate policy? As they are not victims, but they are pioneers," she said during a discussion on the National Action Plan for Gender and Climate Change (RAN GPI) here on Tuesday.
The discussion involved participants from the business world and media, who explored good practices for mitigating climate change.
"We, together with partners in the business sector, and the media, prepare a report on the National Action Plan on Gender and Climate Change, and this report will be presented at the Conference of the Parties (COP 29) in Azerbaijan," she informed.
She added that at COP29, the Indonesian delegation will share the actions taken by the country to address climate change.
Meanwhile, the RAN GPI document, which was unveiled on March 28, 2024, has been prepared with the goal of mainstreaming gender issues in climate development and actions.
"The implementation of GPI RAN will be conveyed at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan," Handayani said.
The basis for GPI RAN is the Paris Agreement, which promotes human rights, gender equality, and equal access for women in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
The ministry earlier said that women are more susceptible to the negative impacts of climate change due to several factors, such as the traditional roles of genders.
It cited limited access to resources, restricted mobility, poverty, and social consequences of policies as other factors that contribute to women's vulnerability to climate change impacts.

Ministry advocates for women's role in climate action

Sustainable fashion is increasingly being embraced across the globe in an attempt to create a positive environmental and social impact. In the wake of rising climate-related disasters across the country, Pakistani fashion brands are also gradually trying to ensure that their fashion practices result in a minimal environmental cost, while simultaneously raising public awareness about the importance of sustainability.
In this vein, the pertinent and socially relevant fashion campaign 'Sinking into Sustainability' attempts to sound the alarm bells about rising concerns regarding climate change and global warming. This campaign, presented by Icon in collaboration with the designer Ibraheem Rayeen, sheds light upon the rapid impacts of climate change that we are witnessing in the form of rising sea levels, coastal erosion, increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, glaciers and polar ice caps melting at an accelerated pace, changes in precipitation patterns and droughts, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem disruption, and non-organic environmental pollution.
In this high fashion visual representation of the climate crisis, we are shown a furnished, yet partially submerged, room strewn with plastic waste material that symbolises humanity's negative impact on the global environment and on aquatic life. The models Abeer Asad and Zara Ahmed, seen here reclining on chairs or on a bed in restful yet commanding postures, are dressed by Rayeen in high fashion, reusable clothing with funky colours and bold patterns. The vibrancy of the fluorescent colours contrasts starkly with the grim reality of their surroundings. The models' relaxed, almost apathetic demeanour, along with their steely gaze, suggests that they have already surrendered to the situation at hand.
In the hope of calling attention to the importance of mitigating the rise of climate change, Icon, in collaboration with the designer Ibraheem Rayeen, presents a high fashion editorial shoot titled 'Sinking into Sustainability'
But, humankind is not the only victim of this calamity. The stranded alligator that sits perched on the bed with its mouth agape carries with it a sense of ominous foreboding, as if representing the consequences of human actions on a rapidly worsening environment. These images, like showcasing a room from the sinking Titanic, warn us that the human race must mend its ways before we hit our very own 'iceberg.'
The vibrancy of the fluorescent colours contrasts starkly with the grim reality of their surroundings. The models' relaxed, almost apathetic demeanour, along with their steely gaze, suggests that they have already surrendered to the situation at hand.
Fashion has the power to raise awareness and inspire action. It must be used as a tool to call attention to, and help address, the factors that are feeding global warming so that we as can reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a transition to renewable energy sources, increase energy efficiency and carbon capture, reduce dependency on fossil fuels in the transportation and industry sectors, embrace carbon offsetting and reforestation, and implement climate resilient agricultural practices, among other environmentally conservative measures.
Photography: MHM | Concept & producer: Syed Qazaffi | Set & art direction: Ahmed Shah | Hair & make-up: Saleha Mahmood | Customised design by Ibraheem Rayeen | Models: Abeer Asad & Zara Ahmed | Coordination: Umer Mushtaq. | Special thanks to Hasan Anwar
Due to its commitment to sustainability, Glasgow was chosen to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in 2021, highlighting the city's dedication to addressing climate change. Such events can make an impact by raising awareness and educating audiences, influencing behavioural change and encouraging sustainable practices, supporting climate change research and initiatives, fostering global cooperation and collaboration, and showcasing innovative solutions and climate leadership.
During COP26, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action put forth new commitments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Let's hope all industries champion such changes, and let us work together to mitigate the effects of climate change and create a more sustainable future for all humankind.
Published in Dawn, ICON, September 8th, 2024

STYLE: FASHION FOR CHANGE

For insurance companies, sometimes it's 'out of sight, out of mind' when it comes to managing for climate change.
A new University of Iowa study finds that insurance companies are more likely to strengthen their climate change risk management strategies when a natural catastrophe hits the state where it's headquartered. But if the catastrophe hits a few states over, companies are less likely to change their climate change strategies, even if it's a market where they have lots of policyholders.
'Firms seem to invest in better processes and take it more seriously if it happens in their own backyard,' said Thomas Berry-Stoelzle, associate professor of finance at the Tippie College of Business and study co-author. 'You'd think they would be more likely to take those steps if something hits the parts of the country where they sell the most policies, but that doesn't seem to be the case.'
The researchers analyzed climate risk disclosure documents property casualty insurance companies file with state insurance commissioners each year, showing what the companies do to better manage the risk of disasters caused by climate change. They compared that to a database of natural disasters that hit the United States between 2012 and 2020 and found companies were more likely to improve their climate change risk management quality after storms hit their home state than storms that hit another state.
Why? Berry-Stoelzle said it's an example of personal bias and salience, the idea that we're more likely to respond to things that personally and more immediately affect us. The insurance company CEO whose roof was blown off by a tornado, for instance, is more likely to conclude their company needs to better address climate change risk than if the CEO only saw something on the news.
As a warming planet causes more frequent and more damaging storms, insurance companies will increasingly be on the hook for payouts that will eat into their profits. Addressing the quality of their climate change strategies will help firms to manage their payouts while staying in business.
'Their reports are very detailed and show many of them take climate change seriously,' Berry-Stoelzle said.

When climate change hits close to home

Climate change and overfishing force fish to migrate and become 'climate refugees,' so to say. A mountain of dogfish (Squalus acanthias) caught during a trawl survey. California, Southern California Bight. John Wallace, NOAA/NMFS/NWFSC/FRAMD Public Domain Climate change and overfishing cause fish to shrink and force

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