The past century of human-induced warming has increased rainfall variability over 75% of the Earth’s land area – particularly over Australia, Europe and eastern North America, new research shows.
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Mounting evidence shows rainfall is becoming increasingly variable, making the dry times drier and the wet much wetter. New findings confirm research into rainfall variability in Australia.

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Landmark new research shows how global warming is messing with our rainfall

Fighting climate change is difficult partly because humans are weird. It’s difficult to get them to care about their own future well-being much less that of entire future generations. People blow retirement funds. You think they care about their imag... [4508 chars]

Equity investors seem blissfully unaware of what's headed their way. While they won't care much about future losses in the early days of climate change, these losses will become painful as global warming worsens. They mustn't say nobody warned them.

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Could the stock market’s next black swan be climate change?

In a bid to significantly boost Gujarat's green cover, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has expanded the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign into a mass public movement. The initiative aims to plant 12.20 crore trees across the state by September 2024, with ... [872 chars]

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expands 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign into a public movement, aiming to plant 12.20 crore trees by September 2024 and 17 crore by March 2025. The campaign, initiated by PM Narendra Modi to combat global warming, emphasizes large-scale tree planting as a tribute to motherhood.

Devdiscourse

Gujarat's Green Pledge: 17 Crore Trees by 2025 in 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' Campaign

On April 11, a small company called Graphyte began pumping out beige bricks, somewhat the consistency of particle board, from its new plant in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The bricks don’t look like much, but they come with a lofty goal: to help stop climat... [2936 chars]

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Global warming is causing sea ice in the Arctic Ocean to melt faster, which opens new shipping routes. That has Canada concerned that Russia and China, which already have stepped up activity in the region, could use the routes for military purposes, ... [1616 chars]

Global warming is causing sea ice in the Arctic Ocean to melt faster, which opens new shipping routes. That has Canada concerned that Russia and China, which already have stepped...

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As someone who has dedicated my life to understanding the ocean, I share others’ concerns about using the ocean to sequester our excess carbon. Intentionally manipulating the marine environment for our own benefit rightly worries many people. However... [10664 chars]

Reducing our carbon emissions to slow global warming is no longer enough. The ocean may be our best bet to store the excess carbon already in the Earth’s atmosphere.

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The ocean may be our best tool to fight climate change

Not all effects of climate change are visible to the naked eye. According to new research, the melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets through global warming is messing with the Earth's axis of rotation and even its core. "You can add Earth's rotati... [1890 chars]

Not all effects of climate change are visible to the naked eye. According to new research, the melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets through global warming is messing with...

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Methane is well known for coming from ruminants digestive system. What is less known is its important role in current climate change and what we could do to drastically reduce our emissions.
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If the fossil fuel industry tackles the methane leaks it generates before 2030, this could reduce global warming by 0.2°C by 2100.

Methane emissions are the low-hanging fruit of the climate transition

A delivery driver takes a break in the shade during high temperatures in Philadelphia on June 21, 2024. Joseph Lamberti/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Most Americans believe global warming won't impact them much. But it's already having a negative effect on household finances.

CNBC

How climate change may impact Americans' wallets

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Global warming has created ‘a clear and present risk’ of wildfires

Evening Standard

London 'well prepared' if wildfires return, fire chief says

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have suggested the use of a multimodal approach to quantify climate model uncertainty. The approach offers reliable climate change estimates and quantifies uncertainty among models crucial for informed climate planning and management.
Globally, researchers in climate change rely on the reports published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) through its three working groups to develop climate models. The global climate models (GCMs) are primary tools for the accurate prediction and demonstration of possible future impacts of climate change to policymakers. However, these models cannot be used for the regional assessment of climate.
Several researchers have, hence, advocated the use of the multimodal climate data to quantify uncertainty. They point to uncertainties in future projections, natural variability, model uncertainty, and aerosol forcing complexities for this. The two widely used models are Bayesin model averaging and reliability ensemble averaging (REA), said S. Mohan, professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, who is leading the research.
The REA model is used to address critical challenges in climate modelling in monsoon-prone regions such as India, offering valuable insights for climate change projections, he said. Research scholar Akash Sinha is also part of the research.
The REA method harnesses model bias in replicating present-day climate and projecting variations, allowing researchers to calculate the weightage for each model. 'The approach provides more dependable estimates of climate change variables and effectively quantifies uncertainty among diverse models, which is pivotal for making informed decisions in climate-related planning and management,' Mr. Mohan said.
Based on the latest IPCC report, the ensemble of 26 global climate models was used to evaluate the possible change in seasonal precipitation in Coimbatore, Rajkot, Udaipur, and Siliguri, cities with distinct climate conditions.
The study found that the performance of the models of the GCMs for the skewed distribution of rainfall is very poor. The REA method, however, predicted the most reliable estimate of the change in climatic variables and quantified the uncertainty among various models. The study has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Water and Climate Change.

Researchers at IIT-Madras come up with climate model for Indian regions

Climate change is not just an environmental issue but increasingly a humanitarian crisis, leading to widespread population displacement globally. As temperatures rise, sea levels swell, and extreme weather events become more frequent, we are witnessing homes destroyed and communities uprooted at an unprecedented rate. This phenomenon demands urgent attention from governments worldwide, prompting diverse responses to mitigate its impact on vulnerable populations.
ActionAid Association has conducted extensive research in India, highlighting the intricate intersection between climate change and population displacement. From the Sundarbans in West Bengal to the coastal regions of Odisha, communities are grappling with the harsh realities of climate-induced displacement. Rising sea levels threaten to inundate low-lying areas, forcing residents to abandon their homes and livelihoods. ActionAid Association's research indicates the urgency of addressing these challenges and calls for robust governmental interventions to protect affected communities.
Governments across the globe are increasingly recognising the severity of climate-induced displacement and are formulating diverse strategies to respond effectively. In Bangladesh, a country highly vulnerable to climate impacts, the government has initiated the construction of cyclone shelters and embankments to protect coastal communities. These measures aim to mitigate immediate risks and to build resilience against future climate threats.
In Europe, countries like Sweden have implemented policies to integrate climate refugees into their societies, offering asylum based on the impacts of environmental degradation in their home countries. This humanitarian approach sets a precedent for global solidarity in addressing the challenges posed by climate-induced displacement.
However, governmental responses vary significantly in their scope and effectiveness. In some regions, bureaucratic problems and political inertia hinder timely interventions, exacerbating the plight of displaced populations. Moreover, the lack of international consensus on defining and protecting climate refugees further complicates adequate support and protection efforts.
The response to climate change-induced population displacement starkly contrasts Global North and Global South countries, reflecting underlying inequalities in responsibility and capacity. Despite contributing less to greenhouse gas emissions historically, countries in the Global South bear the brunt of climate impacts due to their geographical vulnerability and limited resources for adaptation. These nations often face significant challenges in funding and implementing robust climate adaptation measures, exacerbating the plight of displaced populations. In contrast, the Global North, primarily responsible for historical emissions, tends to have greater financial resources and technological capabilities to mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, their responses have often been insufficient and disproportionately focused on domestic concerns rather than addressing the global repercussions of climate change.
To address these complexities, global cooperation and policy coherence are essential. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides a platform for dialogue and collaboration among nations to develop inclusive and sustainable solutions. Initiatives like the Green Climate Fund aim to mobilise financial resources to support adaptation and mitigation efforts in vulnerable regions. The loss and damage fund, agreed on at the COP 2023, is designed to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow onset events.
There is a critical need for the Global North to fulfil its commitments under international climate agreements by providing adequate funding and support to the Global South for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. This disparity indicates the urgency of global solidarity and equitable distribution of resources to effectively tackle the interconnected challenges of climate change and population displacement.
As the climate crisis intensifies, we must ensure that political will and international cooperation are strong so that climate migrants are treated with dignity and afforded the necessary support to rebuild their lives. Only through collective action can we mitigate the impacts of climate change and safeguard the fundamental rights of all affected populations worldwide. Sandeep Chachra is Executive Director, ActionAid Association.

Climate Change & Population Displacement: Government Responses and Actions Worldwide

Story Climate change literacy isn't just about facts and figures. It's about empowering people with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to become agents of change.
For Nepal, one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries due to a unique combination of geographic, hydrological, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, along with systemic challenges, climate literacy is more than a necessity; it's an urgent call to action.
Despite numerous studies on the impacts of climate change in the country, challenges such as limited resources, language barriers, and a lack of accessible educational materials hinder efforts to promote climate literacy, especially at the community level. Often, these studies and research are full of scientific jargon and data that are incomprehensible to the public. Therefore, making scientific knowledge accessible in local languages and simplistic terms is crucial.
To further this effort of making climate science more accessible, UNESCO, in collaboration with the Climate Action Campaign Network (CACN), organized a three-day workshop on "Strengthening Climate Literacy through Local Languages" in Chitwan from April 9 to 11, 2024.
The workshop convened 70 participants representing local government, schoolteachers, youth, and media personnel from the Chitwan District. During the workshop, the participants discussed the fundamentals of climate science and its effects on the environment, their livelihood, and Sustainable Development Goals. The knowledge and skills shared during the workshop aimed at encouraging the participants to act against climate change. The workshop highlighted the significance of climate change literacy in amplifying the knowledge of climate change adaptation at personal, community, and government levels.
As a science teacher, the training and materials have boosted my confidence and effectiveness in teaching. Moreover, with climate change and SDG topics now included in subjects like English and Social Studies, my colleague shared that the SDG posters are invaluable for teaching and developing elective questions. Such workshops should be conducted frequently to empower teachers and enhance education quality. Thank you to UNESCO and CACN for this opportunity. Santosh Kshetri, a local school teacher
The workshop provided more than just lectures and presentations. It was a platform for the local youth and media personnel to engage in meaningful discourses and discussions on gaps in climate change reporting, challenges in accessing climate-related information, and effective mitigation strategies. Using a classroom model for interactive learning, the workshop allowed participants to share their knowledge of climate change, the challenges they face, and possible solutions.
To measure the workshop's impact, pre- and post-surveys assessed participants' climate science knowledge and understanding of the SDGs, enabling progress tracking and identifying areas for improvement. The pre-assessment survey showed that the majority of the participants had never received training related to climate change, which was reflected in their responses to survey. Post-workshop, survey results indicated a dramatic improvement in participant understanding. Over 70% of respondents could accurately distinguish between weather and climate change, acknowledged human contributions to climate change, and identified technological innovation, electric technology, and renewable energy as potential solutions. This shows a significant shift in understanding and priorities regarding climate change and its solutions after the training sessions.
The training provided a detailed understanding of climate change, which is crucial for my role as a news reporter. Climate change is a complex and scientific topic, and the training helped me grasp and explain it more effectively in my reports. Given the current issues of floods, droughts, and monsoonal shifts, I can now report on these topics with greater accuracy and depth. Additionally, I've been able to transfer this knowledge to my family, especially my grandparents, with real-life examples. Sabita Adhikary, a local news reporter
One of the major highlights of the workshop was the distribution of climate literacy posters among the participants. These posters, now available in Nepali, were developed by the United Nations in Asia-Pacific jointly with UNESCO and other partner agencies to address and advance climate literacy. Translated into multiple languages globally, the posters aim to educate the public on climate change and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We have displayed the Climate Science Literacy posters on the walls of the ward office so that staff members and the public can see them whenever they visit. I have shared the knowledge gained from the training in the municipality forum to address policy programs for allocating budgets to climate change adaptation and mitigation and preserving water resources and wetlands. Birendra Mahato, a local ward officer.
At the end of the workshop, the participants left with more than just new knowledge and skills—they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose and the tools to make a tangible difference in their communities through their efforts at personal, professional, and community levels.
Through initiatives like this, Nepal is taking steps to empower its communities with climate literacy, overcoming language barriers towards a more inclusive approach to climate action. UNESCO remains committed to supporting this process to mitigate and adapt to climate change, to educate for sustainable development in the context of climate change, to assess the risks of natural disasters due to climate change, and to monitor the effects of climate change.
This article is related to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Climate Science Literacy Workshop: Climate Change Knowledge in Local Languages

A new era in coordinated climate action dawns as President Ramaphosa Assents the Climate Change Bill
The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has welcomed the signing of the Climate Change Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa into law, today 23 July 2024
The Climate Change Act sets out the legal mandate for countrywide climate change response, to enable the alignment of South Africa's climate change response policy and actions, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes our country fair contribution to the global climate change response.
While a few state departments and other government agencies have just transition outcomes explicitly outlined in their annual performance plans, the Act, now clearly instructs every organ of state to review and if necessary, revise, amend, coordinate and harmonise their policies and measures, programmes and decisions in order to ensure that the risks of climate change impacts and associated vulnerabilities are taken into consideration.
The Climate Change Act is South Africa's first comprehensive legislation to encourage the development of an effective climate change response and states as its purpose 'To enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society for South Africa in the context of sustainable development'.
'Undoubtedly, any successful climate action effort will require alignment of major social-economic, environmental and governance policies. We are entering a new phase of climate action and we believe the Climate Change Act, will foster institutional coherence and enhance climate change adaptation governance across the national, provincial and local layers of government 'said Dr Crispian Olver, PCC Commissioner and Executive Director.
'As we raise the curtain on the 7th administration of the Democratic Government of National Unity, we welcome this groundbreaking legalisation which not only clearly sets out the functions of the Presidential Climate Commission but outlines the role of provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts, to ensure the realisation of the vision for effective climate change response and just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society,' said Olver.
The Commission will contribute to strengthen its relations with government, particularly the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) as well as the National Treasury in giving life to the Act and ensure that a smooth evolution to a public entity and strengthens the work of the commission and improves its partnership with stakeholders and other role-players.
For all post-media interviews please contact:
Blessing Manale
Head of Communications and Outreach
Cell: 073 036 5381
E-mail: blessing@climatecommission.org.za

Presidential Climate Commission welcomes the signing of Climate Change Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa into law

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has welcomed the signing of the Climate Change Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday. The Climate Change Act sets out the legal mandate for countrywide climate change response, to enable the alignment of South Africa's climate change response policy and actions,
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We are entering a new phase of climate action, and we believe the Climate Change Act will foster institutional coherence and enhance climate change adaptation governance across the national, provincial and local layers of government,
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Signing of Climate Change Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed

The nonpartisan group Science Moms says its campaign of ads that show the harms that climate change brings to children is nonpartisan and meant to educate the public about climate impacts
Science Moms, a nonpartisan group started in 2021 by climate scientists, is launching the campaign to link global warming with 'unnatural disasters' — floods, wildfires and other extreme weather — and emphasize their impacts on families.
'Unnatural disasters caused by climate change are destroying the places we love and robbing our kids of a safe and beautiful world that they deserve,' she said. 'They are permanently changing the shape of our children's memories — of the things we had as children that we can't, because it's not available, give to our own kids.'
'If you knew this was your last trip to your favorite family camp spot before it went away, how would you spend it?' a narrator asks, before cutting to news clips of recent wildfires and floods. 'If you knew this was your last, best chance to protect the places you love, what would you do?"
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Ads Showing How Climate Change Harms Kids to Air in Swing States

Climate change is often framed as an environmental issue, a challenge for scientists and ecologists to solve. While this is undoubtedly true, it is increasingly evident that climate change is fundamentally a justice problem. It is a problem of equity, fairness, and unequal distribution of burdens and benefits.
Climate justice recognises that the impacts of climate change are not evenly distributed. Those who have contributed the least to the crisis often suffer the most. Island nations face the threat of disappearing altogether while coastal cities grapple with rising sea levels.
Extreme weather events, from droughts to floods, disproportionately affect marginalised communities. The Global South, home to the world's poorest and most vulnerable populations, bears the brunt of climate-induced disasters despite minimally contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Heat waves' escalating frequency and intensity in urban areas are exposing cities such as Lagos, Nigeria, and Nairobi, Kenya to unprecedented heat stress. These extreme temperatures disproportionately affect the urban poor, who often reside in densely populated areas with limited access to cooling infrastructure. The elderly, children and those with underlying health conditions, are particularly vulnerable.
Agriculture, the backbone of many African economies, is under siege from erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts and devastating floods that are disrupting traditional farming practices and decimating livelihoods. Small-scale farmers, who constitute a significant portion of the African population, bear the brunt of these shocks.
In the Sahel region, where desertification is advancing rapidly, climate change is acting as a threat multiplier where conflicts over scarce resources are intensifying. Coastal communities in countries like Nigeria and Mozambique are facing displacement and economic hardship due to sea-level rise and coastal erosion. These challenges disproportionately affect women and girls, who often bear the responsibility of providing food, water and care for their families.
Due to changing climatic conditions, malaria, dengue fever and other vector-borne illnesses are expanding their geographic range. These diseases immensely strain already fragile health systems, particularly in rural areas.
This intersection of climate change and existing social, economic and political inequalities demonstrates a complex web of injustices. The myriad ways climate change disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations underscores an urgent need for a climate justice framework that places equity and fairness at the core of climate action. Addressing climate change without considering its differential impacts on diverse communities is not only ineffective but also morally questionable.
The concept of climate justice encompasses a wide range of issues. It seeks to ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy is just and equitable, protecting the rights of workers and communities dependent on fossil fuels. It calls for redistributing resources and power to marginalised groups disproportionately affected by climate change. It also demands that decision-making processes be inclusive and participatory, giving a voice to those often excluded from the political arena.
At the heart of climate justice are six key pillars.
First, a just transition ensures that the shift to a green economy benefits all, especially workers in carbon-intensive industries. It requires policies that support job creation, retraining, and social safety nets.
Second, social, racial and environmental justice are interconnected. Climate policies must address systemic inequalities and prioritise the needs of marginalised communities.
Indigenous climate action recognises the vital role of indigenous people as stewards of the land and holders of invaluable traditional knowledge.
Community resilience and adaptation focuses on building the capacity of communities to withstand and recover from climate impacts.
Natural climate solutions harness the power of nature to mitigate climate change, such as protecting forests and restoring ecosystems.
Finally, climate education and engagement are essential for fostering a climate-conscious society and empowering individuals to take action.
Climate justice aims to achieve equitable access to natural resources, clean energy, and healthy living environments. This means ensuring that everyone has the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water and live in a safe and sustainable environment. It also implies a fair distribution of the benefits of climate action such as green jobs and renewable energy access.
To realise climate justice, several critical principles must guide our actions. These include respecting and protecting human rights, supporting the right to development for all, sharing benefits and burdens equitably, ensuring participatory, transparent, and accountable decision-making, promoting gender equality and equity, harnessing the transformative power of education, and fostering effective partnerships.
Climate change has a profound moral and ethical impact, and addressing it requires a fundamental shift in our values and priorities.

Climate change isn't just an environmental issue - it is a justice issue too

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has welcomed the signing of the Climate Change Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa, into law.
"We welcome this ground-breaking legislation, which not only clearly sets out the functions of the PCC but outlines the role that provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts, to ensure the realisation of the vision for effective climate change response and just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society," PCC Commissioner and Executive Director, Dr Crispian Olver, said on Tuesday.
The Climate Change Act sets out the legal mandate for countrywide climate change response, to enable the alignment of South Africa's climate change response policy and actions, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa's country fair contribution to the global climate change response.
READ | SA's response to climate change outlined in new law
While a few state departments and other government agencies have just transition outcomes explicitly outlined in their annual performance plans, the Act now clearly instructs every organ of state to review and if necessary, revise, amend, coordinate and harmonise their policies and measures, programmes and decisions in order to ensure that the risks of climate change impacts and associated vulnerabilities are taken into consideration.
Olver said the Climate Change Act is South Africa's first comprehensive legislation to encourage the development of an effective climate change response.
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"To enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society for South Africa in the context of sustainable development.
"Undoubtedly, any successful climate action effort will require alignment of major social-economic, environmental and governance policies. We are entering a new phase of climate action and we believe the Climate Change Act, will foster institutional coherence and enhance climate change adaptation governance across the national, provincial and local layers of government," Olver said.
The Commission will contribute to strengthen its relations with government, particularly the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) as well as the National Treasury in giving life to the Act and ensuring that a smooth evolution to a public entity. It will also strengthen the work of the commission and improve its partnership with stakeholders and other role-players.

South Africa: New Law On Climate Change Response Welcomed

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He added that the move would help to gradually transition from a coal city to a pioneer in clean energy solutions and set ambitious targets for renewable energy generation in the face of greenhouse emissions. The SSG said Enugu State has a rich history that is 'deeply intertwined with coal production and the energy sector' which many communities economically benefited from in the past.'This transition is more than an obligation; it is an opportunity—an opportunity to reinvent ourselves, to innovate, and to lead in the face of global change,' he said.
'We must support communities and workers in this sector through this transition by investing in training and reskilling programmes, ensuring that everyone has a role in the green economy.'Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Sam Ugwu, said the reality of climate change was no longer a distant threat but a pressing challenge that demands immediate and concerted action by everyone.
Mr Ugwu commended the state governor, Peter Mbah, for showing 'deep interest' in the climate crisis by devoting a huge part of the State Ministry of Environment to climate change.On his part, the senior adviser to the governor, Chukwumerije Okereke, focused primarily on how to increase the generation of renewable energy to serve millions of people and also empower economic resources in the state.
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How we plan to tackle climate change

ISLAMABAD - Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Romina, Khurshid Alam lauded the UK's support for Pakistan's climate action as the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and government of United Kingdom have agreed to enhance collaboration to address climate change and environmental issues in Pakistan. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, and a UK Embassy delegation met her led by Development Director, Jo Moire, on Friday, a news release said. She said this collaboration marks a significant step forward in the fight against climate change, and both countries are committed to working together to address this global challenge. Khurshid Alam stressed the importance of bridging civil society, academia, and corporate sectors in both nations to tackle the pressing issues of climate change and environmental degradation.
Democracy Needs Constant Renewal
She highlighted the urgent need for tangible actions to mitigate global warming impacts, preemptively address flood risks, and support vulnerable farming communities.
The Coordinator noted that shifting weather patterns have significantly impacted agricultural productivity threatening food security and livelihoods with the country facing billions of dollars in economic losses from climate-related disasters in the past.
The UK delegation presented a report to the Coordinator aimed at bolstering Pakistan's climate resilience, and both sides agreed to work together to implement sustainable agricultural practices and mitigate future impacts. Tags:

Romina Khurshid lauds UK support for Pakistan's climate action

resident Cyril Ramaphosa's signing of the Climate Change Bill into law on Tuesday marks the dawn of a new era in coordinated climate action for South Africa, the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has said.
The Act sets out the legal mandate for a nationwide climate change response to align policy and actions, including mitigation and adaptation, 'which also constitutes our country's fair contribution to the global climate change response', the commission said.
'While a few state departments and other government agencies have just transition outcomes explicitly outlined in their annual performance plans, the Act now clearly instructs every organ of state to review and if necessary, revise, amend, coordinate and harmonise their policies and measures, programmes and decisions to ensure that the risks of climate change impacts and associated vulnerabilities are taken into consideration,' it said.
The new law is the country's first comprehensive piece of legislation to encourage the development of an effective climate change response.
The Act incorporates the country's Paris Agreement targets or nationally determined contributions into domestic law.
'Undoubtedly any successful climate action effort will require alignment of major social-economic, environmental and governance policies,' said Crispian Olver, the executive director of the PCC.
'We are entering a new phase of climate action and we believe the Climate Change Act will foster institutional coherence and enhance climate change adaptation governance across the national, provincial and local layers of government.'
The legislation not only clearly sets out the functions of the PCC, but outlines the role that provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts 'to ensure the realisation of the vision for effective climate change response and just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society', he said.
The presidency said the Act enables the alignment of policies that influence the country's response to climate change 'to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions'.
The law aims to enhance the country's ability and capacity to over time reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses and promoting opportunities for new jobs in the green economy.
James Reeler, the senior manager for climate action at World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa, welcomed the passing of the Act after nearly 10 years of discussions and seven years after the first draft Bill was published.
'Over this same period South Africa has emitted over four billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, and the evidence of climate change impacts on people's lives and livelihoods has become increasingly apparent. The importance of this framework law in guiding our response to this crisis cannot be overstated,' he said.
'The hard work still has to be done but the Climate Change Act provides a key legal framework for the country — and all its citizens — to steer away from the damaging and inequitable future that was otherwise locked in, and realise a vision for sustainable development.'
The Centre for Environmental Rights welcomes the 'express formalisation' of a comprehensive climate change response in the country's domestic law, said Brandon Abdinor, a climate advocacy lawyer at the organisation.
'In addition to the legislated management of climate change adaptation and mitigation, the Climate Change Act imposes duties across organs of state affected by climate change to harmonise their laws, policies, programmes and decisions with the principles and objectives of the Act.'
He said climate change mitigation, or the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, now has a legal basis with the upcoming allocation of carbon budgets to significant emitters.
'While the Act could have been stronger in making excess greenhouse gas emissions an offence, at least there are now tools in place to assist the monitoring of emissions and mitigation plans, which will effectively start to compel heavy emitters to engage with decarbonising their businesses,' Abdinor said.
Abdinor said policymakers and state decision-makers were now obliged to work with climate adaptation needs based on the best available science, which would accelerate the protection of vulnerable and at-risk people.
The presidency said the Act sets out the functions of the PCC, which includes providing advice on the country's climate change response to ensure the vision is realised for effective climate change response and the long-term just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society.
The PCC said it would strengthen its relations with the government, particularly the department of forestry, fisheries, and the environment and the treasury 'in giving life to the Act' and to ensure a smooth evolution to a public entity.
Abdinor added that the formalisation of the PCC as a statutory body would help give this forum the legal status that it needed. 'In addition to commissioning and producing science-based research reports, the forum hosts the challenging negotiations between social partners — that is business, labour, civil society and government — on how to implement a just transition that leaves no one behind and how to decarbonise our society and economy in a just and equitable manner.'

Ramaphosa signs crucial Climate Change Bill into law

by Christina Hirsch on July 21, 2024
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (CIG) present Climate Change & Seattle's Parks, a webinar to explore expected impacts on Seattle's parks from climate change. In this presentation and conversation, we will examine how climate change is affecting Seattle's parks and share some of the actions we are taking to create a more resilient parks and recreation system. Join CIG's Dr. Meade Krosby, University Director of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, and Todd Burley, SPR's Sustainability Advisor, to learn about this issue and have your questions answered by the experts!
Thursday August 8, 202412:00 – 1:00 p.m.Register Here >>
About the Presenters:
Dr. Meade Krosby
Dr. Meade Krosby is University Director of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center and Senior Scientist with the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington. She works closely with policymakers and resource managers to provide the science, tools and guidance needed to address climate risks facing Northwest communities and ecosystems. Dr. Krosby serves on the U.S. Department of the Interior's Advisory Council on Climate Adaptation Science, and is a chapter lead author for the US Geological Survey's upcoming Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment for North America. She received a B.S. in Biology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Washington.
Todd Burley
Todd Burley is the Sustainability Advisor for Seattle Parks and Recreation, working within the department and with others locally and globally to advance environmental solutions in the city. He holds a Masters in Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College and a B.A. in Advocating Sustainability from Western Washington University. In 2022 he collaboratively released SPR's Climate Resiliency in Seattle's Parks and Recreation System , a document outlining actions the department is taking to be more resilient.

Climate Change & Seattle's Parks

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the Climate Change Bill on Tuesday, July 23, setting forth a comprehensive national response to climate change.
This landmark legislation aims to enhance South Africa's capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build climate resilience, and promote new job opportunities in the green economy.
The Climate Change Act is designed to align policies that impact South Africa's climate change response, ensuring a smooth transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.
It strengthens coordination between national sector departments and sets the framework for meeting the commitments outlined in South Africa's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
South Africa's NDCs represent the country's commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as part of global climate change mitigation efforts. As one of over 190 signatories to the Paris Agreement, South Africa's actions are crucial in the global fight against climate change.
The Act aims to address climate impacts across various sectors, including water resources, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, human health, energy, industry, human settlements, disaster management, and biodiversity.
'The Climate Change Act is a critical framework for guiding our response to the climate crisis,' said James Reeler, WWF South Africa's senior manager for climate action.
'After nearly ten years of engagement, it is heartening to see this Act finally passed. Over this period, South Africa has emitted over 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, and the evidence of climate change impacts on people's lives and livelihoods has become increasingly apparent.'
The Act formalises the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), providing key advisory support to the government on climate mitigation and adaptation. Louise Naudé, WWF's senior climate change engagement specialist and commissioner on the PCC, emphasised the commission's role.
'The act formalises the PCC as a Schedule 3 entity with a strong advisory role to the government. The effective relations we've built with the presidency and key ministries will persist, ensuring that diverse views are considered and based on solid evidence,' Naudé said.
The law also mandates national, provincial, and municipal governments to integrate climate change considerations into their planning and operations.
This approach aims to raise awareness and ensure that local communities can participate in climate-related discussions, fostering a climate-resilient development path.
Despite this progress, challenges remain. Regulations governing carbon budgets for high-emitting companies and sectoral emission targets are still pending. The effective implementation of these regulations is crucial for achieving the Act's objectives.
'The hard work still lies ahead, but the Climate Change Act provides a key legal framework for South Africa to steer towards a sustainable future,' Reeler noted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa signs Climate Change Bill into law

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has welcomed the signing of the Climate Change Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday.
The Climate Change Act sets out the legal mandate for countrywide climate change response, to enable the alignment of South Africa's climate change response policy and actions, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa's fair contribution to the global climate change response.
Dr Crispian Olver, PCC commissioner and executive director, said any successful climate action effort would require alignment of major socio-economic, environmental and governance policies.
'We are entering a new phase of climate action, and we believe the Climate Change Act will foster institutional coherence and enhance climate change adaptation governance across the national, provincial and local layers of government,' Olver said.
While a few state departments and other government agencies have just transition outcomes explicitly outlined in their annual performance plans, the act now clearly instructs every organ of state to review and, if necessary, revise, amend, co-ordinate, and harmonise their policies and measures, programmes, and decisions in order to ensure that the risks of climate change impacts and associated vulnerabilities are taken into consideration.
The Climate Change Act is South Africa's first comprehensive legislation to encourage the development of an effective climate change response, and states as its purpose: 'To enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society for South Africa in the context of sustainable development.'
James Reeler, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) senior manager for climate action, said it was heartening to see this act finally passed after nearly 10 years of engagement, and seven years after the first draft bill was published.
'Over this same period South Africa has emitted over 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide, and the evidence of climate change impacts on people's lives and livelihoods has become increasingly apparent,' he said.
'The importance of this framework law in guiding our response to this crisis cannot be overstated.'
Reeler said that while the hard work still has to be done, the Climate Change Act provides a key legal framework for the country and all its citizens to steer away from the damaging and inequitable future that was otherwise locked in, and realise a vision for sustainable development.
Ewald Kellerman, head of sustainability strategy at Absa Group, said the Climate Change Act marked a significant milestone in South Africa's climate action efforts.
Kellerman said South Africa now possessed a robust regulatory framework that builds on existing legislation, such as the Carbon Tax Act.
He said the act aligned with the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, aiming for a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.
'The Climate Change Act includes provisions for sectoral emissions targets and carbon budgets for large emitters, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across various industries. This framework addresses both mitigation and adaptation strategies, emphasising the need for a just transition to a decarbonised economy while considering economic realities and potential transition risks, such as increased costs for high-emission businesses,' Kellerman said.
'Although the act does not prescribe specific targets or enforce a net-zero transition, it provides a clear framework for achieving long-term climate goals, balancing the speed of transition with economic needs. This strategic approach positions South Africa favourably in the international economy, potentially enhancing trade opportunities and offering protection against border adjustment mechanism.'

) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Efforts to Mitigate Effects of Climate Change Posted On: 22 JUL 2024 3:57PM by PIB Delhi As per India's Third National Communication submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), India experiences climate change

Efforts to Mitigate Effects of Climate Change (Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of the Republic of India)

Chris Hildreth
Guest columnist
Project 2025, the brainchild of the Heritage Foundation (a conservative think tank) is a plan for a sprawling, multifaceted effort to reshape the United States. If implemented, it will fundamentally change the country. Their plan for climate change alone is nothing short of cataclysmic.
Project 2025's response to climate change as outlined in Chapter 12, "Department of Energy and Related Commissions," will have disastrous outcomes in the United States. It will shut down climate change research, encourage more fossil fuel extraction and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act.

Jacksonville environmentalist: Project 2025 could be disastrous on climate change alone

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
BY RACHEL FRAZIN - 07/18/24 9:00 AM ET
SHAREPOST In this Aug. 17, 2021, file photo, embers light up hillsides as the Dixie Fire burns near Milford in Lassen County, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A total of 123 members of the House and Senate deny the scientific consensus that climate change is occurring as a result of human activity, according to an analysis from the liberal Center for American Progress.
In a new report , first shared with The Hill, analyzing public statements made by lawmakers, the think tank determined these climate deniers are all Republicans and include prominent members of House leadership.
It defined climate deniers as lawmakers who say any of the following: climate change is not real, it is not primarily caused by humans, the science is not settled on climate change, extreme weather is not caused by climate change, or climate change is actually beneficial.
The report does not consider lawmakers who acknowledge that climate change is real but oppose climate actions to be deniers.
While the 123 members identified in the report are a significant contingent, they also represent a steady decline from the past several years, down from 180 in the 115th Congress. The last Congress saw 139 climate deniers.
However, Trevor Higgins, the Center for American Progress's senior vice president for energy and environment, said it's still 'concerning that there are 123 members of Congress who still …question the validity of the scientific consensus that our burning fossil fuels is causing the planet to warm.'
'It's also concerning because it's so obvious what the facts are, and to watch so many members of Congress pretend that the science is not settled, it just reveals a willingness to disregard truth,' Higgins said.
Several of the members identified in the report hold key positions in Republican leadership or on committees.
The Center identified both House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) as among the deniers.
Their analysis also listed members who hold key positions with influence over climate and environment policy such as House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) as well as Reps. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) and Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who are all top Republicans on subcommittees in charge of funding either the Environmental Protection Agency and Interior Department or the Energy Department.
Spokespeople for these lawmakers did not respond to The Hill's request for comment.
The report also found the lawmakers who deny climate science have together received $52 million in lifetime campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry.
Of the 123 identified senators and congresspeople, 90 have also denied the results of the 2020 election the report found.
Yet Higgins noted that just because a lawmaker acknowledges climate science does not necessarily mean that drives them to support climate action.
'There actually are a number of members of Congress who now say that they are willing to accept scientific findings, but they still oppose climate action,' he said.
Human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, is driving climate change, which causes more frequent and intense storms.

123 House and Senate Republicans deny climate science: Analysis BY RACHEL FRAZIN

Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.
South Africa has passed its first Climate Change Act, a sweeping law that will set limits for big greenhouse gas emitters and require that every town and city publish an adaptation plan with the objective of meeting the country's carbon emissions reduction commitments in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
South Africa is a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the 190-plus members of which are parties to the 2016 Paris Agreement.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Climate Change Bill into law. The new law establishes a national response to climate change, including actions for mitigation and adaptation, which constitute South Africa's 'fair contribution to the global climate change response,' a press release from the South African government said.
'This is very significant in that it's the first time that our climate change response is directly brought into domestic law,' said Brandon Abdinor, a lawyer with the South African nonprofit Centre for Environmental Rights, as Reuters reported. 'A lot of work needs to be done, but this act puts the basic architecture in place for that to happen.'
The Climate Change Act requires all provinces and municipalities to assess the risks of climate change and come up with a response plan.
'South Africa's mitigation measures are a response to climate change impacts that are increasingly experienced across a number of sectors including water resources; agriculture and food production; forestry and fisheries; human health; energy generation; industry; human settlements and migration; disaster management; biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems. These impacts will disproportionately affect poor communities and vulnerable groups and could affect South Africa's ability to meet its development and economic growth goals, including job creation and poverty reduction,' the press release said.
Emissions targets will be established for every high-emitting sector of government, including transportation, agriculture and industry, reported Reuters. The relevant minister for each sector will be required to adopt measures to achieve the goals.
The Climate Change Act also mandates that the environment minister specify a carbon budget for large companies and set a cap on their emissions over the course of a specific period.
Abinor said the carbon budget allocations had not been set and that the law doesn't make it illegal to exceed the limit, which climate advocates had pushed for. He added that those that exceed their budget will likely be required to pay a higher carbon tax.
'The law also sets out to enhance South Africa's ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy,' the press release said.
The new law enables the alignment of climate change response policies to ensure the country's transition to a climate resilient and low-carbon economy and society will not be limited by policy contradictions.
'The Climate Change Act is a tool for all South Africans. We call on citizens, businesses, and civil society to engage actively in using this law to push for urgent climate action,' said Harald Winkler, a climate policy expert at the University of Cape Town, on social media. 'The Climate Change Act enshrines principles of equity and just transition. Let's use this to prioritize the needs of vulnerable communities in our climate response.'

South Africa Passes Its First Climate Change Act

As parts of Oregon are under a heat advisory and multiple wildfires burn across the state, a report out Friday highlights the connection between climate change and health, finding some communities are continuing to bear the brunt from extreme weather events more than others.
But an increase in climate action and resiliency programs can help provide more relief to those communities, the report says.
The Oregon Health Authority's Climate and Health in Oregon report examines how climate change impacted residents' health in 2023. It found that some Oregonians, particularly low-income people and members of communities of color and rural communities, are more significantly affected by extreme weather like heat waves, drought and wildfires.
FILE: An undated image shared on July 14, 2024, by the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office shows crews working to stop the Lone Rock Fire, burning in north-central Oregon. A report on climate change and health was issued Friday by the Oregon Health Authority, on a day when unseasonably early wildfires filled skies with smoke and forecasters issued heat advisories.
Courtesy of Gilliam County Sheriff's Office
The report calls on the state to continue to prioritize recently adopted climate action programs and legislation that focus on community resiliency, energy efficiency retrofits and green infrastructure for vulnerable Oregonians.
And it found there is still hope for these communities to adapt to climate change.
The study says climate change-driven extreme weather events are guiding state, city and tribal leaders on what investments are needed to be better prepared.
'The Climate and Health in Oregon report reflects the fact that extreme climate effects are our past, present and future, and we need to accept this reality by better understanding these events and helping communities mitigate the health risks associated with them,' OHA's interim public health division director Cara Biddlecom said in a statement.
Oregon's understanding of the connections between climate change and health is growing, but the report said more work is needed to help all communities across the state better adapt to the changing climate. The burning of fossil fuels is contributing to human-caused climate change that has resulted in more extreme weather events like heat waves, wildfires and drought.
FILE: A festival-goer cools down at a free water and misting station at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Ore., July 6, 2024. Hot weather led to hospitalizations in Oregon last year, a report on climate change and health has found.
Anna Lueck / OPB
OHA's environmental health manager Gabriela Goldfarb said the report focused on three main areas.
'Where did we see health hazards that were driven by climate change and who is most at risk or impacted?' she said. 'Second, what actions are we seeing across Oregon in the public health system and beyond to protect families from these risks and then third, what are we seeing on the horizon for climate and health in Oregon?'
Goldfarb said 2023 was a mild year in terms of extreme weather-related health risks, but the agency still saw some impacts.
'Last summer, people in areas of the state that are less accustomed to hot weather were arriving at emergency departments with heat-related illness concerns at greater than expected levels,' she said. 'That started even when temperatures were only in the 80s.'
Last year, nearly 1.7 million Oregonians living in 12 counties, mostly rural, experienced 14 or more days above 80 degrees at the same time as wildfires led to moderate air quality, according to the study. Climate change is also affecting overnight temperatures. Warmer nights that do not drop below 65 degrees hinder the ability to cool off or find relief for people who don't have air conditioners or cooling devices.
FILE: Transition Projects team members Bess Turner, left, and outreach supervisor Tara Slak pull a cart full of water, electrolyte packs and cooling rags to distribute in downtown Portland, July 5, 2024. Transition Projects serves people experiencing homelessness, who are some of the most vulnerable to extreme weather.
Anna Lueck / OPB
'We saw, generally statewide, certain communities of color coming into emergency departments for the respiratory concerns at double or nearly double the rate of state residents overall,' she said.
Heat-related deaths have also increased.
Prior to 2021, Oregon did not see more than four heat related deaths per year. Since then, there have been more than 100, with cardiovascular disease contributing to 25% of those deaths. People 50 years and older accounted for 87% of heat-related deaths between 2021 through 2023.
The Climate and Health in Oregon study also found communities hit hardest from the 2020 Labor Day fires and the 2021 heat dome are still recovering.
Climate change is also affecting mental health. In 2022, OHA released a study on Climate Change and Youth Mental Health in Oregon, which highlighted how extreme weather events are creating fear, frustration, and hopelessness among young people. More climate action and resiliency programs
Despite its focus on the challenges Oregon faces, the study also identified bright spots.
The state is developing programs and providing rebates that help the most vulnerable Oregonians adapt to the changing climate, Goldfarb said.
Cities like Portland have created programs that help low income and people of color get free portable AC units installed in their homes. The state also passed legislation that created a goal of installing 500,000 heat pumps across Oregon by 2030.
Earlier this month, OHA announced it has delivered 412 air conditioners as a result of Senate Bill 1536.
FILE: A window air conditioning unit. Programs that expand access to air conditioning and heat pumps, especially for more vulnerable Oregonians, are a source of hope at a time when the climate is changing.
Courtney Sherwood / OPB
Those kinds of electrification programs not only improve overall health, they also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Goldfarb said.
But although the state and other organizations are working on getting cooling devices in vulnerable Oregonians' homes, the rise in energy rates affects when people use these devices.
Joel Iboa, executive director of Oregon Just Transition Alliance, said low-income people and people of color have long felt the impacts of climate change and shouldn't have to choose between the higher utility costs that come with using their cooling devices to find relief from extreme heat or having enough money to feed their families.
Iboa pointed to the state's Climate Protection Program, presently on hold, which would reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuel companies in Oregon. The program would also create a community climate investment program that could fund projects like adding more renewable energy to the power grid and retrofitting homes for people most impacted by climate change that could help lower energy bills.
The program is currently undergoing a second rule-making process after the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled the program invalid.
'Oregon's Climate Protection Program aims to subdue extreme weather events by reducing emissions from big polluters, and we need strong support for it because fossil fuel companies shouldn't decide our health outcomes or future,' Iboa said Moving forward: A focus on water
In 2024, Goldfarb said, the Oregon Health Authority will focus on water insecurity in relation to ongoing drought as concerns over water supply and groundwater contamination continue to grow.
Overall, she said, climate change isn't going anywhere.
FILE: A 2010 photo of drought-parched farmland in the Klamath Basin. The effects of climate change on water insecurity, groundwater and drought will be an area of focus for the Oregon Health Authority.
JEFF BARNARD / AP
'We have to find every tool possible to build climate resilience,' she said.
Climate affects people in a serious way, she said, and it will get worse. But she said the agency is seeing more opportunities for people to protect their families and adapt to climate change.
'That's the encouraging thing that there are actions that we can take and a lot of those actions also reduce the source of the problem, which is greenhouse gasses,' she said.
The report was completed in response to former Gov. Kate Brown's executive order 20-04, which directed state agencies to act and regulate greenhouse gas emissions and study the harmful effects of climate change.

Oregonians most vulnerable to climate change still bear its brunt, but a state report sees hope

The global book publishing industry has shown resilience and growth despite challenges such as the digital revolution, economic fluctuations, and the global pandemic. One of the most significant trends within this industry is the increasing focus on climate change literature. This genre has seen a notable rise in the past decade, reflecting the growing environmental awareness and urgency among the global population.
Statistical insight
According to various online sources, climate change books have become a prominent category in bookstores worldwide. In the past decade, the number of titles addressing climate change has more than tripled. In 2021 alone, over 2,500 new books on climate change were published globally, compared to fewer than 800 titles in 2011. According to The Bookseller, climate change books accounted for about 2% of all non-fiction titles published in 2021, a significant increase from 0.6% a decade earlier. By 2023, the number of new climate change book titles published annually had increased to over 3,000, reflecting ongoing interest and concern about environmental issues.
The need for greater visibility and popularity
Despite the encouraging increase in climate change publications, these books often lack the visibility and shelf space they deserve in bookshops. This lack of prominence can hinder their potential impact. Here are several reasons why climate change books should be more visible and popular, with a particular emphasis on the role of major booksellers:
The growing number of books on climate change signifies heightened public interest and awareness. However, for these books to effectively educate and inform a broader audience, they need to be more prominently displayed and accessible in bookshops. Greater visibility would ensure wider dissemination of critical information, helping to educate the public about the science, impacts, and solutions related to climate change.
Publishers respond to market demand, and the increase in climate change titles suggests a substantial market for such content. In 2023, climate change books represented approximately 5% of non-fiction sales in major markets like the United States and Europe, indicating a growing consumer base for this genre. However, amplifying the visibility and popularity of these books would signal to publishers that there is even more significant demand, potentially driving further investment in high-quality, impactful climate literature.
Books on climate change often serve as influential texts for policymakers, activists, and educators. They contribute to the broader discourse on environmental policy and action, potentially driving legislative and societal changes. More prominent shelf space and visibility in bookshops could accelerate the influence of these books on policy and action.
The proliferation of climate change literature reflects a cultural shift towards sustainability and environmental responsibility. It indicates that climate change is not only a scientific and political issue but also a cultural and social one. Increasing the visibility and popularity of these books could deepen this cultural shift, embedding environmental consciousness more deeply into societal norms.
Prominent advocates: Bill Gates and book reading
Prominent figures such as Bill Gates have played a significant role in promoting book reading, including books on climate change. Gates, known for his avid reading habits, frequently shares book recommendations through his blog and social media channels. His endorsement of climate change books has significantly boosted their visibility and credibility. For instance, Gates' book 'How to Avoid a Climate Disaster' has become a key text in climate change literature, further amplifying public interest in the subject. His influence underscores the importance of high-profile endorsements in increasing the popularity and impact of climate change books.
Print vs. digital: A balancing act
While digital books have certainly carved out a significant niche, according to some experts accounting for about 20% of total book sales globally, print books remain dominant. In the United States, print books made up around 75% of the trade book revenue in 2022. Audiobooks, though still a smaller segment, are the fastest-growing format, with revenues increasing by 12% in the same year. By 2023, the audiobook market had grown even further, with a 15% increase in revenue, reflecting a broader trend towards digital consumption. This trend highlights the enduring appeal of physical books, including those on climate change, and the importance of their physical presence in bookstores.
Book sales in key markets
The visibility and popularity of climate change books are significantly influenced by major booksellers and market trends in key regions:
In 2023, the UK book market saw a 2% increase in overall book sales, with climate change books contributing to a significant portion of the non-fiction category. Major retailers like Waterstones and WHSmith reported higher demand for environmental literature.
The book market in Israel has shown steady growth, with a 3% increase in book sales in 2023. Climate change books have started gaining traction, particularly among younger readers and academic institutions.
China, one of the largest book markets globally, reported a 5% increase in book sales in 2023. Environmental books, including those on climate change, are becoming increasingly popular as the government and public emphasize sustainability and environmental education.
The Indian book market experienced a 4% growth in 2023. Climate change books are gaining prominence, especially in urban areas and among educational institutions focusing on sustainability and environmental sciences.
The role of major booksellers
The visibility and popularity of climate change books are significantly influenced by major booksellers. To enhance their impact, major booksellers should consider offering climate change books at more affordable prices and giving them more prominent shelf space. Some of the biggest book sellers globally include:
As the largest online retailer, Amazon plays a crucial role in the distribution and visibility of climate change books. Its recommendation algorithms and customer reviews can significantly impact book sales. By featuring climate change books more prominently and offering discounts, Amazon could further boost their visibility and sales. The company co-founded The Climate Pledge in 2019, which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement targets. Amazon has launched the Climate Pledge Fund. Moreover, Amazon has rolled out over 15,000 electric delivery vehicles and announced other initiatives.
In the United States, Barnes & Noble is a key player in the physical book market. Its large chain of retail stores offers significant shelf space opportunities for climate change books. By placing these books in more visible locations and providing special promotions, Barnes & Noble can increase their accessibility and affordability. Company is owned by Elliott Management Corporation engaged with companies like Evergy and CenterPoint Energy demonstrate a role in supporting sustainable energy initiatives within its investment portfolio.
In the UK, Waterstones is a major bookseller that can influence the market by prominently displaying climate change books in its stores. Offering discounts and dedicated sections for environmental literature can help raise awareness and sales. It is also owned by Elliott Management Corporation.
In France and other European countries, Fnac is a major retailer that offers extensive shelf space for books, including those on climate change. Highlighting these books through promotions and strategic placement can drive greater engagement. It is owned by Vesa Equity Investment, owned by Daniel Křetínský whose broader business activities through his other ventures, notably EP Corporate Group (EPH), show a commitment to sustainable practices. EPH, which operates under the umbrella of EP Equity Investment, has engaged in significant green energy initiatives. These include the development of large-scale solar and wind power projects, issuing green bonds, and shutting down coal units to reduce carbon emissions.
Notable bestsellers on climate change
Several climate change books I can advise you to read have gained bestseller status, significantly impacting public discourse and awareness:
'How to Avoid a Climate Disaster' by Bill Gates: This book provides a comprehensive plan for eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and has been highly influential since its release. Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal.
'The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming' by David Wallace-Wells: A sobering look at the future of the planet if current trends continue, this book has been a bestseller and critical in raising awareness. The language of the book is eye opening: The slowness of climate change is a fairy tale, perhaps as pernicious as the one that says it isn't happening at all, and if your anxiety about it is dominated by fears of sea-level rise, you are barely scratching the surface of what terrors are possible, even within the lifetime of a teenager today.
'This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate' by Naomi Klein: Klein's book argues that the climate crisis is a product of the capitalist system and has become a seminal text in climate change activism. Klein argues that the changes to our relationship with nature and one another that are required to respond to the climate crisis humanely should not be viewed as grim penance, but rather as a kind of gift—a catalyst to transform broken economic and cultural priorities and to heal long-festering historical wounds.
'The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History' by Elizabeth Kolbert: This Pulitzer Prize-winning book examines the current extinction event caused by human activity and its implications for the future. As The Washington Post mentioned: 'A fascinating and frightening excursion… Kolbert presents powerful cases to bring her point home.'
'Our House Is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis' by Greta Thunberg and her family: This book offers a personal and urgent account of the climate crisis from one of its most prominent activists. The Telegraph wrote: 'A surprisingly funny and optimistic book. Thunberg and her family might be screaming 'FIRE' on a crowded planet. But they believe we have the power to put that fire out if we act, right here, right now.' I am just reading the book she edited and wrote from 2022, The Climate Book which is a stunning and essential work.
Conclusion
The book publishing industry, marked by its steady growth and adaptability, continues to evolve with changing consumer preferences and global issues. The notable increase in climate change books in bookstores is a testament to the industry's responsiveness to current global challenges and the rising public consciousness about environmental issues. Publishers have recognized the urgent need to educate the public on the complexities and ramifications of climate change, resulting in a surge of publications that address everything from scientific explanations and policy discussions to personal narratives and practical guides for sustainable living. However, for these efforts to translate into meaningful progress against climate change, these books must not only be produced but also become more visible and affordable to the average consumer. As the world grapples with the realities of climate change, the publishing industry's role in disseminating knowledge and shaping discourse becomes increasingly vital. This trend not only highlights the importance of environmental literacy but also underscores the potential of books to influence public opinion and drive meaningful action.
Major booksellers like Barnes & Noble and Waterstones have a significant role to play in promoting environmental awareness by prioritizing climate change literature. By giving preferential treatment to books and writers focused on climate change, they can enhance visibility and accessibility, thereby ensuring that these critical messages reach a wider audience. This can be achieved through prominent displays, dedicated sections, and promotional discounts, which can help attract a broader audience and increase the likelihood of purchase. Additionally, integrating climate change books into educational programs and community events hosted by bookstores can further amplify their reach. Highlighting these works not only boosts their sales but also educates the public, fostering a greater understanding of environmental issues and encouraging a culture of sustainability. Such strategic positioning can also inspire other sectors to adopt similar practices, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the book industry.
Positive discrimination towards climate change writers and publishers in major bookstores can drive substantial impact. By making these books more prominent and easier to access (reserving a special shelf next to bestsellers section), booksellers can contribute to a more informed and proactive society. This strategy supports environmental authors and publishers, encouraging them to continue producing high-quality content on this critical issue. The increased visibility of climate change books can also influence public discourse, making environmental sustainability a more central topic in everyday conversations. Furthermore, booksellers can collaborate with schools, libraries, and environmental organizations to promote these books, ensuring that the message of sustainability reaches diverse audiences. Ultimately, the collective efforts of the book publishing and retail industry can significantly amplify the reach and influence of climate change literature, playing a crucial role in the global movement towards environmental sustainability. By taking these steps, booksellers not only enhance their own business prospects but also contribute meaningfully to the fight against climate change, proving that commercial success and social responsibility can go hand in hand.

The state of climate change book publishing

The Enugu State Government has revealed plans to address the climate change in Enugu State.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, revealed this during a workshop for the draft of Enugu State Climate Action Plan and Climate Finance Framework on Thursday.
Mr Onyia, a professor, said the state has joined others in seeking urgent steps to mitigate the climate crisis by reducing carbon pollution.
The SSG explained that the decision was in response to the ongoing negative impact of climate change and its threats on human existence and the ecosystem.
He added that the move would help to gradually transition from a coal city to a pioneer in clean energy solutions and set ambitious targets for renewable energy generation in the face of greenhouse emissions.
Mr Onyia presented the state government's climate policy, action plan and financial framework which he noted was intended to enable the planned transition to a greener economy.
He said part of the plan is reducing carbon footprint and other forms of pollution to its barest minimum by harnessing the power of wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources.
'The State Climate Policy will outline our vision for a climate-resilient and green economy, and our Climate Action Plan will serve as a framework guiding our actions today and in the years to come. It will be a shared objective based on our local context, but also looking ahead to the opportunities presented by the global transition,' he said.
The SSG said Enugu State has a rich history that is 'deeply intertwined with coal production and the energy sector' which many communities economically benefited from in the past.
He, however, said some pressing channels posed by climate change had made the transition to a greener economy imperative.
'This transition is more than an obligation; it is an opportunity—an opportunity to reinvent ourselves, to innovate, and to lead in the face of global change,' he said.
Mr Onyia stressed that the principles of the draft policy had its foundation on three key pillars of sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation, adding that sustainability will be at the heart of the climate policy.
'We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and strengthening our ecosystems. This includes investing in renewable energy sources, promoting energy efficiency, clean transportation, climate-smart agriculture and adopting circular economy principles that minimise waste and maximise resource use.
'We must recognise that the transition to a sustainable future must leave no one behind. This is especially important in a state with a legacy tied to coal, which has both benefited and harmed several communities,' he said.
'We must support communities and workers in this sector through this transition by investing in training and reskilling programmes, ensuring that everyone has a role in the green economy.'
'No longer a distant threat'
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Sam Ugwu, said the reality of climate change was no longer a distant threat but a pressing challenge that demands immediate and concerted action by everyone.
'In the face of these challenges, it is our responsibility to act decisively and collaboratively to mitigate these impacts and adapt to the changes that are already upon us,' Mr Ugwu, professor, said.
The commissioner said climate change policy and action plans were essential in reducing and ameliorating the situation.
He said the goal of the workshop was to craft specific, actionable, and measurable strategies that would guide their efforts in mitigating and adapting to climate change by focusing on key sectors such as energy, transportation, agriculture, water resources, and urban planning, among others.
Mr Ugwu commended the state governor, Peter Mbah, for showing 'deep interest' in the climate crisis by devoting a huge part of the State Ministry of Environment to climate change.
On his part, the senior adviser to the governor, Chukwumerije Okereke, focused primarily on how to increase the generation of renewable energy to serve millions of people and also empower economic resources in the state.
Mr Okereke, a professor, who is also the President of the Society on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development, said the draft policy would help build climate resilience to tackle flooding gully erosion and address other challenges.
'Climate change is an opportunity if approached well. It will create hundreds of thousands of green jobs for the youths of Enugu state,' he said.
The governor's aide hinted that the state government was making an arrangement to set up a company that would produce a clean way of cooking to reduce the dangers of charcoal use in the state.

New Delhi:
Climate change
is a bomb ticking by the second and no
bunker
would save
humanity
if collective efforts are not taken to find a solution to this
existential problem
, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Friday. Addressing the valedictory session of the 4th International Climate Summit organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Dhankhar said fighting the climate crisis should be everyone's foremost priority.
"Climate change is a bomb ticking by the second. We are running out of options. It is no longer a problem waiting to happen," the vice president said.
He warned that if not tackled, climate change would be non-discriminatory, affecting everyone without exception.
"You cannot have a safe place. You cannot have a bunker to save yourselves," he said.
Dhankhar said India is among the leading nations working earnestly to contain the climate crisis.
India has embarked on an ambitious journey. It has set a target to achieve 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2070, he said.
The vice president, however, added that the issue of climate change cannot be solved by any single nation alone.
"We don't have another planet. This is the only planet where more than 8 billion people can live. This should make us alive to the situation, the gravity, the extremity of all. This should be our foremost priority," he said.
Pointing out that climate change disproportionately affects marginalized and vulnerable communities, Dhankhar said, "Climate justice must be our North Star."
The vice president called for action beyond conferences.
"It should get into big narratives. Everyone must use social platforms and everyone must indicate what contribution he or she is making," he concluded.

No bunker would save humanity if climate change not tackled: Vice President Dhankhar

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Climate Change Bill which sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa's fair contribution to the global climate change response.
The Climate Change Act, as endorsed by the President, enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response, to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions.
The law also sets out to enhance South Africa's ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.
The Act has the aim of strengthening co-ordination between national sector departments and provide policy setting and decision-making to enable South Africa to meet the commitments in Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
The National Determined Contribution is a set of commitments South Africa has made under the international Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse greenhouse emissions as part of climate change mitigation.
South Africa is one of more than 190 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change who are parties to the eight-year-old Paris Agreement.
South Africa's mitigation measures are a response to climate change impacts that are increasingly experienced across a number of sectors including water resources; agriculture and food production; forestry and fisheries; human health; energy generation; industry; human settlements and migration; disaster management; biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems.
These impacts will disproportionately affect poor communities and vulnerable groups and could affect South Africa's ability to meet its development and economic growth goals, including job creation and poverty reduction.
The Climate Change Act sets out the functions of the Presidential Climate Commission, which includes providing advice on the Republic's climate change response to ensure the realisation of the vision for effective climate change response and the long-term just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society.
The law also stipulates the role provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

South Africa: President Ramaphosa Assents to Climate Change Bill

JOHANNESBURG, July 23 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Climate Change Bill, which seeks to set out a national response to climate change, including mitigation and adaptation actions, the presidency said on Tuesday. "The Climate Change Act enables the alignment of policies that
"
The Climate Change Act enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions,
"

South African president signs into law climate change bill

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially enacted the Climate Change Bill, establishing a comprehensive national response to climate change that includes both mitigation and adaptation strategies. This legislation marks South Africa's significant contribution to the global fight against climate change.
"The Climate Change Act, endorsed by the President, facilitates the alignment of policies impacting South Africa's climate change response, ensuring that the nation's transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society is not hindered by policy inconsistencies," the Presidency announced on Tuesday.
The new law aims to bolster South Africa's ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience. It also focuses on minimizing job losses and creating new employment opportunities within the emerging green economy.
"The Act strengthens coordination between national sector departments and establishes policy and decision-making frameworks to help South Africa meet its commitments under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of the Paris Agreement," the Presidency explained.
South Africa is one of over 190 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that are parties to the Paris Agreement, which was established eight years ago.
South Africa's mitigation measures address climate change impacts across various sectors, including water resources, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, human health, energy, industry, human settlements, disaster management, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
"These impacts will disproportionately affect poor communities and vulnerable groups, potentially hindering South Africa's development and economic growth objectives, such as job creation and poverty reduction," the Presidency stated.
The Climate Change Act also outlines the functions of the Presidential Climate Commission, which provides advice on the nation's climate change response to ensure an effective and just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society.
Additionally, the law defines the roles of provinces and municipalities in implementing mitigation efforts, ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive approach to combating climate change across all levels of government.

President Ramaphosa Signs Climate Change Bill into Law for Low-Carbon Future

Chicago –
Michael P. Nash
is a filmmaker on a mission. As searing heat bakes the country this summer, with extreme weather like severe tornadoes and the recent Galveston floods in its wake, the realities in Nash's prescient 2010 documentary 'Climate Refugees' is coming to our own shores. The veteran writer/director is currently working on the followup film 'Chasing the Truth,' partnering with
Leonardo Di Caprio
and his father George.
'Climate Refugees' unveils for the first time the human face of climate change, following the stories of millions of displaced individuals worldwide. This this multi-award winning documentary stands out as a portrayal of the present-day consequences of climate change on humanity. While
Al Gore
's '
An Inconvenient Truth
' addressed the causes of climate change, Nash's film concentrated on the immediate effects experienced by individuals and communities worldwide, casting a light on the human face of our changing climate.
On...

Podtalk: Michael P. Nash on Updated Issues from HIs 2010 Film ‘Climate Refugees'

PM's Coordinator for Climate Change & Environmental Coordination Ms Romina Khurshid Alam speaking at an event. — X@SDPIPakistan/file Islamabad: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and government of United Kingdom have agreed to enhance collaboration to address climate change and

UK to help address climate issue in Pakistan

Bengaluru: Over 140 students at Christ University recently participated in a Climate Fresk workshop on campus, exploring the consequences of climate change.
The workshop was conducted by The Climate Fresk, a French non-profit organisation, in collaboration with the German Consulate, French Consulate, and Consulate of Denmark. It was co-sponsored by the Innovation Centre Denmark, the German and Danish Consulates, and the French Institute in India. The workshop aims to provide quality climate education and prompt participants to take constructive action to help tackle climate change.
During the three-hour session, students used illustrated cards based on data from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to explore topics representing the causes and consequences of climate change, including fossil fuel, agriculture, and transportation.

Christ varsity hosts workshop on climate change

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has expressed its support for the Climate Change Bill, which President Cyril Ramaphosa has recently signed into law. This landmark legislation outlines the PCC's functions and clarifies the roles of provinces and municipalities in climate change mitigation, marking a significant step towards a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy in South Africa.
Dr. Crispian Olver, PCC Commissioner and Executive Director, praised the legislation, stating, 'We welcome this ground-breaking legislation, which clearly sets out the functions of the PCC and the responsibilities of provincial and municipal governments in our climate change response. This Act is crucial for advancing our vision of a just transition to a climate-resilient society.'
The Climate Change Act establishes a comprehensive legal framework for South Africa's climate change strategy, aligning national policies and actions with global climate commitments. It mandates that all state organs review and, if necessary, revise their policies and programs to address climate change risks and vulnerabilities.
Dr. Olver highlighted the Act's role as South Africa's first comprehensive climate change legislation, aimed at fostering an effective response and ensuring a long-term, just transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. 'Successful climate action requires aligning socio-economic, environmental, and governance policies. We are entering a new phase of climate action, and this Act will enhance institutional coherence and adaptation governance at all levels of government,' he said.
The PCC will strengthen its collaboration with government entities such as the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the National Treasury to implement the Act effectively. The Commission also aims to bolster its partnerships with stakeholders and improve its role in advancing climate change adaptation and response efforts.

Presidential Climate Commission Hails Signing of Climate Change Bill into Law

Remarks By Director-General, Nomfundo Tshabalala, at the launch of the State of Climate Action in South Africa Report, The Forum, Johannesburg, 24 July 2024
Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Climate Commission; Commissioners Present; Executive Director of the PCC;
Representative of different constituencies (BUSA, SALGA; UCT; Groundwork
Ladies and Gentlemen;
It gives me great pleasure to receive this report entitled the State of Climate Action in South Africa. The report documents some of the notable impacts of climate change to the South African society at large and makes proposition for better coordination across government.
It is pleasing to note that the launch of this report coincides with the signing into law of the Climate Change Bill by President Ramaphosa earlier this week, which sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa's fair contribution to the global climate change response.
The Climate Change Act enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response, to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions. The Climate Change Act also sets out measures to enhance South Africa's ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.
It is indeed true, the climate change impacts have intensified and manifested through the frequencies of extreme events such as flooding, heatwaves, drought to motioned but few. These extreme events have increased in intensity and frequency, thus calling for concerted action across the spheres of society.
The report points to fragmentation of strategic and technical responsibilities and calls for a more coherent and integrated response. The Climate Change Act, which are currently working towards its operationalization will ensure integrated and coherent climate change response in the Country. In this regard, we call on all of you gathered here to collaborate with government in its effort to ensure implementation of the coordinated climate change response in the Country.
The State of Climate Action Report underscores that the Just Transition is central to South Africa's response to climate change, which puts the lives and livelihoods of people at the heart of its climate response to ensure that the most vulnerable and impacted are protected, supported, and empowered in the transition. Indeed, a just transition to a low-carbon economy will make South Africa's economy more resilient and strengthen the country's global competitiveness, which will create opportunities to reduce poverty, inequality, and unemployment.
The report further points to the limited investment from both the public and private sector for the implementation of climate change response. We are well aware that climate change has the potential to reverse the developmental gains achieved thus far in the country, as such collaboration and strategic partnerships with the civil society, academia, business, labour in responding to climate change.
South Africa needs access to scaled-up, new, additional and predictable, fit for purpose finance, specifically grant and concessional finance that can be deployed effectively to create enabling environments for rapid investments by buying down risks and create new asset classes for clean investments that would allow for more significant mobilization and leveraging of public and private finance.
To respond in a holistic manner to the threats posed by Climate Change, President Ramaphosa announced in his State of the Nation Address in February 2024, the establishment of the Climate Change Response Fund (CCRF) that will bring together all spheres of government and the private sector. By coordinating financial mobilisation from both government and the private sector through the Fund, South Africa will leverage on collaborative efforts to build resilience and respond to climate change.
This report will contribute towards our reporting processes to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as we are currently in the process of developing the Country's Biennial Transparency Report (BTR). The BTR of South Africa will be submitted to the UNFCCC by 31 December 2024, in line with the Paris Agreement rulebook.
As you may be aware, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published the Sectoral Emission Targets (SETs) for public comments. The SETs are the main instruments for the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and are informed by sectoral Policies and Measures. This ensures that climate change mitigation is mainstreamed within government planning processes and its related performance monitoring processes.
South Africa has a sophisticated greenhouse gas emissions monitoring systems that has helped to shape the form of the Carbon Tax system that we have today. Work is underway to ensure that our national emissions monitoring system also incorporates the tracking of carbon budgets and mitigation plans to be allocated industry as per the Climate Change Act. The report will further contribute to the Monitoring and Evaluation of South Africa's efforts towards addressing climate change.
In conclusion, we welcome the release of the State of the Climate Action report, which provides a critical assessment of our collective progress towards addressing the climate crisis. This report serves as a vital tool for understanding the effectiveness of our current efforts and identifying areas for improvement. We commit to using the insights and recommendations from this report to inform the scaling up of our actions.
Thank You.
For media enquiries, contact: Peter Mbelengwa Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za
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Director-General Nomfundo Tshabalala: Launch of State of Climate Action in South Africa Report

Eva Jiang Yi Wa is one of the first lawyers in Macau specializing in, among other areas, environmental law, energy, and climate change. She works at JNV Lawyers and Notaries.
Macau Business | July 2024 | Special Report | How climate change(s) Macau
She has also been with the Faculty of Law at the University of Macau since 2011, serving as the Deputy Director of the Centre for Legal Studies and the Coordinator of the Postgraduate and Master's programs.
Floods are increasingly common in the Inner Harbour and, experts say, because of climate change. This alone can lead to an increase in conflict in court. Is this one of the risks?
Eva Jiang – Yes, floods in the Inner Harbour are becoming more frequent primarily due to climate change, and this indeed poses significant legal risks. As part of the Macau Special Administrative Region, the Inner Harbour faces climate change challenges similar to those encountered in the rest of the world. Globally, climate change-induced extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, and rising sea levels have led to increased property damage and infrastructure destruction, subsequently resulting in numerous legal disputes. These disputes encompass several aspects:
Firstly, disputes over liability are likely to increase. Victims might even sue government agencies, arguing that they have failed to provide adequate flood prevention measures and infrastructure. Governments play a crucial role in responding to climate change and extreme weather events. Their responsibilities include not only the implementation of effective flood prevention infrastructure but also the formulation and enforcement of stringent environmental regulations and policies. Should the government fail to fulfil these duties effectively, it may face legal action.
'The judicial responsibility for climate change cannot fall solely on one type of entity; it is distributed among governments, businesses, and individuals'
Secondly, from a commercial perspective, as floods become more frequent, insurance claims and compensation issues will become more complex. Insurance companies might pay substantial compensation for flood damages but could also question whether the insured parties have adequate disaster prevention measures, leading to legal disputes. This also reminds the government to take precautions and strengthen dialogue with the insurance industry ('to prepare for a rainy day'), ensuring that insurance policies and claims procedures can address the growing climate risks.
Furthermore, the long-term impacts of climate change include challenges to land use and urban-planning policies. For example, the government may need to reassess and revise building related regulations and land use policies, including considerations for urban renewal plans, to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
In conclusion, climate change brings not only direct environmental and economic challenges but also complex legal issues, necessitating global legal frameworks and policy adjustments to address these risks. Governments, businesses, and individuals all have significant responsibilities in addressing climate change and preventing the resulting legal disputes.
It seems obvious that, despite some signs, we have not yet begun to suffer the consequences of climate change, which will happen in the coming decades. What can a lawyer with this specialisation do?
E. J. – As a Macau lawyer and law teacher in the Faculty of Law at the University of Macau, I see numerous opportunities to help our community prepare for and adapt to future challenges. Macau, as a global tourism hub, faces climate change challenges similar to those encountered in other parts of the world while participating in building a community with a shared future for mankind. Although we have not yet fully experienced the severe consequences of climate change, these impacts will become more apparent in the coming decades. Here are some action directions that I have considered:
Laws and Policies: First, I believe that legal professionals in Macau should actively participate in drafting and advocating for stricter environmental regulations and policies to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Legal Litigation and Advocacy: In terms of legal litigation, legal professionals in Macau, especially practicing lawyers, can represent individuals, communities, or NGOs in lawsuits against entities responsible for climate change.
Corporate Consulting and Compliance: Providing legal consulting and compliance advice to companies is both important and beneficial.
Education and Awareness: Education and awareness are also key duties of legal practitioners in the field of climate change.
Cross-Border Cooperation and Exchange: Finally, climate change knows no borders, it is a global issue that requires cross-border cooperation and exchange. As lawyers in Macau, we should actively participate in international or regional climate change legal forums, exchanging experiences and best practices with legal experts from other countries and regions.
A philosophical question: man, in a general sense, is primarily (the sole? responsible for climate change and, therefore, its consequences. Who will be held responsible when we start talking about judicial accountability?
E. J. – Judicial responsibility in environmental protection is not merely the duty of a single entity but rather a complex collective responsibility (the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' should likewise apply). As a lawyer in Macau specialising in environmental and administrative law, I believe that addressing the judicial responsibility related to climate change demands a comprehensive and integrated approach:
Administrative and legislative bodies: Governments play a fundamental role in mitigating and adapting to climate change, and this is indisputable. It is crucial that the government adopt a proactive and flexible approach to execution rather than merely reacting to issues.
In Macau, businesses must also adhere to local environmental laws and regulations while referencing international best practices to develop and implement effective environmental management systems. The Macau SAR government has enacted a series of environmental protection policies, and businesses must actively cooperate to ensure their operations do not negatively impact the environment; otherwise, they risk becoming defendants in judicial lawsuits.
In summary, the judicial responsibility for climate change cannot fall solely on one type of entity; it is distributed among governments, businesses, and individuals. Each entity plays a role in mitigating and adapting to climate change, forming a collective responsibility, with judicial responsibilities being no exception.
Previous | The weather is 'broken' and Macau has already noticed that

Special Report – 'Climate change brings complex legal issues'

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Climate Change Bill, which sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa's fair contribution to the global climate change response.
Image source: nexusplexus – 123RF.com
'The Climate Change Act, as endorsed by the President, enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response, to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions,' the Presidency said on Tuesday.
The law also sets out to enhance South Africa's ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy. strengthening coordination
'The Act has the aim of strengthening coordination between national sector departments and provide policy setting and decision-making to enable South Africa to meet the commitments in Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
'The National Determined Contribution is a set of commitments South Africa has made under the international Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions as part of climate change mitigation,' the Presidency said.
South Africa is one of more than 190 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change who are parties to the eight-year-old Paris Agreement. Impact mitigation
South Africa's mitigation measures are a response to climate change impacts that are increasingly experienced across a number of sectors, including water resources; agriculture and food production; forestry and fisheries; human health; energy generation; industry; human settlements and migration; disaster management; biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems.
'These impacts will disproportionately affect poor communities and vulnerable groups and could affect South Africa's ability to meet its development and economic growth goals, including job creation and poverty reduction,' the Presidency said.
The Climate Change Act sets out the functions of the Presidential Climate Commission, which includes providing advice on the Republic's climate change response to ensure the realisation of the vision for effective climate change response and the long-term just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society.
The law also stipulates the role provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts.

SA's response to climate change outlined in new law

Dancers wear organic batik made from mangrove dye at the 9th Indonesian Climate Change Exhibition and Forum, held at the Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotel and Convention Center in Medan, North Sumatra on Thursday (5/9/2019). Waste reduction is still being encouraged to reduce carbon emissions.
Climate change and its impacts are becoming an increasingly serious problem. It takes collective awareness to overcome it. Policy makers around the world must create climate change and environmental policies that are acceptable to society.
A study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, published in the journal Climate Policy in 2024, highlighted preferences in five East African countries. One of these studies shows the importance of education and information about the use of carbon taxes.
Daniel Slunge, one of the authors of the study, explained that education and allocation of social programs can increase public awareness of climate issues. "Making climate policy acceptable to the public is very important for the effectiveness of the policy and to prevent resistance and protests," said Slunge.
Also read: Inviting the world of education to respond to climate change
Researchers focus on educated individuals in urban areas as they are more likely to influence policy processes. It turns out that higher levels of education and concern for climate change are related to higher acceptance of policies to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
In research, it was revealed that when policymakers determine how income from climate tax or subsidy elimination will be used, support for this policy instrument increases by almost two-fold.
In addition, it has also been revealed that social programs are considered more important than environmental programs. "In countries with high poverty levels, social issues become more urgent for society," said Slunge.
Niklas Harring from the Department of Political Science at Gothenburg University added that trust in the government does not seem to play a significant role in the acceptance of climate and environmental policy issues. Therefore, further research is needed to adjust policies in each country.
The results of UNESCO's survey in 2030 show that climate change is the most important topic that needs to be addressed by the world in the coming decade. Countries need to double their climate actions and transform their operations to find innovative new ways to tackle this issue.
"Great progress has been made in scientific knowledge. UNESCO is proud to have contributed to this knowledge through information and data on climate change, biodiversity, and the ocean. These three issues are intertwined and closely related," said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on Saturday (July 20, 2024).
Also read: Change your lifestyle to withstand the pace of climate change
Elementary school students in Kudus Regency, Central Java, who participated in the Kuark Science Olympiad 2018, were invited to commit to caring about the issue of climate change. The students brought reusable water bottles as a real action to show their concern for reducing the impacts of climate change.
UNESCO fully supports the programs set forth in the Paris Agreement and the United Nations' 2030 agenda, and actively participates in international community efforts towards shaping a sustainable future. UNESCO has consolidated all of its programs under the slogan "changing mindsets, not climate."
This slogan is a call for a mindset change related to climate change. To achieve this, it requires collective responsibility and mobilization of everyone, from ordinary citizens, business people, to policymakers.
Azoulay stated that "changing our minds" means redefining our habits that have a negative impact on natural resources, developing new production and consumption habits, and establishing new priorities. "Changing our minds" means changing the way we think and refocusing practices, research, technology, economy, and investments by developing a clear awareness of responsibility towards the planet and its inhabitants.
"Because it is in that mind that the virtuous circle of development must be set in motion first," said Azoulay.

Effective Education and Social Programs Build Awareness about Climate Change

I reflected on the ideas in The Baltimore Sun's recent editorial, 'A cool way Republicans can lower the temperature' (July 16). There is much to explore regarding attitudes towards climate change.
Many conservative Americans understand that climate change is real. They feel hostile towards solutions proposed by Democrats rather than believing that climate change is fake. Oddly, our fears are parallel. Conservatives fear the national debt growing so large that we can never repay it and liberals fear that our carbon emissions will raise temperatures and bring extreme weather for hundreds of years, leading to hunger and loss of life and property. Both fears are realistic — and members of both parties worry about both perils.
In 2022, the climate legislation that included the Infrastructure Act and the CHIPS Act were bipartisan and required Republican votes to pass. The intense partisan passion of today will someday yield to days of collaboration. I await that day because climate legislation so far did not yet put us on a trajectory of survival and did very little to pressure other nations like China to cut their own emissions. Bipartisan legislation is durable and lasting.
Former President Donald Trump is not engaged in climate solutions. But the bigger question is this: What do we think? What do we value? Climate change is about legacy and posterity. Like the national debt, it's too big to ignore just because we don't like some of the people talking about it. I propose that we engage on climate every day, inside and outside of the voting booth, using words that are about building rather than tearing down and about our shared future rather than our past hurts.
— Chris Wiegard, Chester, Virginia

Climate solutions can start with climate conversation  READER COMMENTARY

A UNIVERSITY of Bradford professor has been awarded over £1 million for a project which examines how climate change impacts women.
Dr Pedi Obani from the University of Bradford has been awarded £1.28 million to conduct research that will help women around the world who are adversely affected by climate change.
She is one of just 68 academics to be awarded prestigious Future Leaders Fellowship status by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding body.
Dr Obani, an associate professor in the School of Law, was awarded the grant for a four-year project that will examine ways in which climate change adversely impacts women and will create a framework for addressing these problems.
Dr Obani said: 'I am delighted and honoured to be awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. This prestigious award affords me the funding, flexibility, and support to conduct world-class research and pivot into being a global leading expert in gender inclusive climate change governance over the next four years.
'In addition to the invaluable opportunity to build my capacity and competence in interdisciplinary and multi-country research, the award also means that I can focus on co-creating knowledge that addresses the critical and under-researched question of how to redesign legal and political institutions to advance climate justice for women.
"I also look forward to influencing policy decisions to amplify women's agency in climate change governance.'
Dr Obani said her research would ultimately attempt to provide solutions to social and cultural gender inequalities that may be exacerbated by climate change.
She added that the findings, which will be presented to governments in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, could have wider implications, for example in Europe.
Earlier this year, a group of Swiss women lodged a case against their own government with the European Court of Human Rights, arguing the Swiss government's inadequate response to climate change - and in particular extreme heat events linked to global warming - was damaging their right to health and life.
They won their case. However, the Swiss parliament subsequently voted to reject the court's ruling, putting the issue of 'climate justice' centre stage.
Dr Obani added: 'There is also a wider point to be made in that not only are some groups of people, such as women, affected to a greater extent by adverse climate change impacts such as heatwaves – when, for example, it causes health problems or it means that women can no longer take part in recreation or education because they are spending more time on other tasks that are affected by climate change, such as collecting water or caring for relatives - they are also mainly excluded from the decision-making process.
"What we hope to do is to create a framework that enables laws and decision-making processes regarding climate change to be more gender inclusive.'

Bradford professor awarded £1m for climate change project

The EU has an obligation to pro-actively enhance climate change and biodiversity policies at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) by endorsing its Plan of Action & establishing a dedicated working group this fall. This would bring the EU's approach at Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) up to par with statements and speeches shared at multilateral organizations like COFI, UNFSA, and other international fora. If the EU does not champion climate change adaptation at ICCAT, they would prove to only be providing lip service and their agreements, mere paper tigers.
Steven Adolf is a senior advisor at Accountability.Fish.
This is a matter of broader urgency. We are witnessing growing momentum for the inclusion and operationalisation of climate and biodiversity policies as pillars of sound fisheries management. The RFMOs play central roles in this and without significant reforms to existing practice, relevant science, and the transparency, accountability, and greater inclusivity of all stakeholders involved in the decision-making structure, many of the obligations that states have promised will crumble in the current form of RFMO governance. Largely RFMO member states favour the demands of their fishing industry over broader, more urgent sustainability needs. Without the systematic backdrop of transparency and accountability in RFMO political processes, upholding obligations for climate and biodiversity cannot exist.
Take the case of how the EU supports the United Nations Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) which seeks to promote conservation in the high seas. These efforts need to be coordinated with RFMOs and will have implications for incorporating climate change into an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM). This is a principle highlighted in the ICCAT climate change plan of action that the EU consequently also should support. EAFM guided by data based ecological objectives protects the structure of food webs and maintains resilience to environmental stressors such as climate change, rather than only harvesting as much of one stock as possible. Scientists, including those from ICCAT, have also demonstrated that Management strategy evaluation (MSE) can be an important tool for implementation of EAFM. Developing management procedures through MSE can account for a wide range of environmental scenarios. For example, the North Atlantic swordfish and western Atlantic skipjack MSEs will include climate change testing in its development of a management procedure to be adopted at the Commission meeting in 2024. Such management procedures inform catch limits and enable pre-agreement on indicators to improve management system responsiveness to a changing ocean.
The ICCAT Plan of Action is a commitment to scale up these tools that are in development to address climate change and help secure sustainable, climate-ready fisheries in the Atlantic. More-over this is not a stand-alone development. Similar work is advancing in other RFMOs, such as the IATTC, the RFMO that manages tuna fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean. IATTC staff has developed a more comprehensive workplan that reviews tools and frameworks developed by various countries and international organizations to ensure that fisheries under the Antigua Convention are climate-ready and climate change resilient in the nearest future. WCPFC is undertaking a parallel exercise to review climate change implications of their conservation and management measures.
So why isn't the EU supporting these efforts at ICCAT? So far, the EU has decreased ambition of the ICCAT plan of action and placed tasks solely on the scientists with minimal input from fisheries managers. Both parties are necessary to incorporate climate change into fisheries management and the operations of the Commission. Guidance is needed from the managers to prioritize areas of scientific focus for climate change in fisheries. To that end, the UK proposed a standing working group on climate change at the 2023 Commission meeting. This working group is key to implement the and revise plan of action (as needed) and to scale the tools that ICCAT is beginning to develop. But the proposal was not supported by the EU and a handful of countries which led to no adoption of a workplan nor a working group at the 2023 Commission meeting.
The EU's stance at ICCAT is in contradiction with the fulfilment of obligations arising from agreements and other climate change fora such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The EU has repeatedly plead for dialogue to strengthen ocean-based action in relation to the UNFCCC, to facilitate enhanced action tackling climate change and its negative impacts in accordance with the goals of the Paris Agreement and advancing a healthy ocean, consistent with the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and more specifically SDGs 13 and 14.
At the meeting of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) earlier this month the EU delegation once more expressed its support for new approaches on climate change and biodiversity in fisheries management. These serious commitments must be followed by transparent and consistent support for climate change action at ICCAT – the absence of which calls into question the ability for the EU to be accountable to its words.
So far, the EU is seriously failing to implement the topics of the agreed dialogue for action on climate change and biodiversity in the international bodies responsible for one of the core tasks of ocean management, namely the RFMOs. RFMOs ensure sustainable management of the most important global fish stocks and the associated management of biodiversity and climate targets in the oceans and therefore are of substantial relevance for multilateral deliberations in the fields of ocean and maritime, climate and biodiversity. At the recent COFI meeting the EU, together with most of the other country delegations, made a strong commitment to enforce the management of the RFMOs regarding these issues. This creates a good momentum to really bring forward fisheries and ocean management in a transparent, inclusive, and accountable way. Endorsing the ICCAT Plan of Action on climate change should be the first step for pro-actively supporting likewise plans in other RFMOs and work on developing the necessary changes RFMO related multilateral bodies.
—————————————–
Steven Adolf is consultant on sustainable fisheries and ocean policies and author of the book Tuna Wars. Accountability.Fish is an NGO that advocates transparency, inclusiveness an accountability in the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).

A call for the EU to take its role seriously in climate change and biodiversity policies of fisheries management.

Heatwaves across the nation, wildfires in California, flash floods and landslides from extreme rain, and fast-developing hurricanes. What do all these disasters have in common?
Human-caused climate change, and are all happening during an election year. Paradoxically, climate change has again not made it on the top list of voters' concerns, even though it impacts most all of them: the economy, immigration, national security, health and healthcare costs, energy security, money in politics, international competitiveness, and human life itself.
If you are among the half of Americans that don't believe the connection between these issues, human activity and climate change, then take a look at the source of your information: Is it truly unbiased and based on the assessment of recognized experts? Or is it funded by stakeholders who have a vested interest in promoting disinformation about climate change? Or maybe it's simply a false claim shared by enough people for a long enough time that your half of the nation believes it's true?
So, it behooves all Americans to do a bit of homework when it comes to issues like human-caused climate change that should justifiably be nonpolitical. Given all that's at stake for human life, the economy, and security should make it easy to choose among candidates in November: between those that don't consider climate change a problem worth fighting, and those that actually take it seriously.
Michael Wright, Glen Rock, Pa.

Here's a litmus test for candidates

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Climate Change Bill, which sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa's fair contribution to the global climate change response.
'The Climate Change Act, as endorsed by the President, enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response, to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions,' the Presidency said on Tuesday.
The law also sets out to enhance South Africa's ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.
Strengthening coordination
'The Act has the aim of strengthening coordination between national sector departments and provide policy setting and decision-making to enable South Africa to meet the commitments in Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
'The National Determined Contribution is a set of commitments South Africa has made under the international Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions as part of climate change mitigation,' the Presidency said.
South Africa is one of more than 190 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change who are parties to the eight-year-old Paris Agreement.
Impact mitigation
South Africa's mitigation measures are a response to climate change impacts that are increasingly experienced across a number of sectors, including water resources; agriculture and food production; forestry and fisheries; human health; energy generation; industry; human settlements and migration; disaster management; biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems.
'These impacts will disproportionately affect poor communities and vulnerable groups and could affect South Africa's ability to meet its development and economic growth goals, including job creation and poverty reduction,' the Presidency said.
The Climate Change Act sets out the functions of the Presidential Climate Commission, which includes providing advice on the Republic's climate change response to ensure the realisation of the vision for effective climate change response and the long-term just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society.
The law also stipulates the role provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts.
All rights reserved. © 2022. Bizcommunity.com Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

SAs response to climate change outlined in new law

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Climate Change Bill, which sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa's fair contribution to the global climate change response.
"The Climate Change Act, as endorsed by the President, enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response, to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions," the Presidency said on Tuesday.
The law also sets out to enhance South Africa's ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.
"The Act has the aim of strengthening co-ordination between national sector departments and provide policy setting and decision-making to enable South Africa to meet the commitments in Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
"The National Determined Contribution is a set of commitments South Africa has made under the international Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions as part of climate change mitigation," the Presidency said.
South Africa is one of more than 190 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change who are parties to the eight-year-old Paris Agreement.
South Africa's mitigation measures are a response to climate change impacts that are increasingly experienced across a number of sectors, including water resources; agriculture and food production; forestry and fisheries; human health; energy generation; industry; human settlements and migration; disaster management; biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems.
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"These impacts will disproportionately affect poor communities and vulnerable groups and could affect South Africa's ability to meet its development and economic growth goals, including job creation and poverty reduction," the Presidency said.
The Climate Change Act sets out the functions of the Presidential Climate Commission, which includes providing advice on the Republic's climate change response to ensure the realisation of the vision for effective climate change response and the long-term just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society.
The law also stipulates the role provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts.

South Africa: SA's Response to Climate Change Outlined in New Law

Azerbaijan, the host of this year's UN climate talks, has shelved a planned levy on fossil fuel production and instead launched a fund to "invest" in climate action in developing countries.
Reports suggest that Azerbaijan, which relies heavily on oil and gas revenues, faced resistance from some oil- and gas-producing Gulf countries regarding the planned levy announced in May.
The new fund, the "Climate Finance Action Fund" (CFAF), will receive annual contributions from fossil fuel-producing countries and companies. Initial fundraising aims for USD 1 billion, with members committing to annual contributions as fixed sums or based on production volume, according to a statement.
Based in the capital city of Baku, the fund will target climate projects in developing countries, meeting the next generation of national climate plans to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and addressing the consequences of climate change-fuelled disasters.
Financial support to help middle-income and poor countries fight climate change will be at the centre of the UN climate conference in Baku, where the world will reach the deadline to agree on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) — the new amount developed nations must mobilise every year starting 2025 to support climate action in developing countries.
But achieving consensus will not be easy, given the disappointing progress made on the issue at the mid-year UN Climate talks in Bonn, Germany.
The COP29 presidency said 50 per cent of the capital will go to climate projects in developing countries, focusing on clean energy, energy efficiency, climate resilience, and new technologies.
The remaining half will help meet members' NDCs to keep the 1.5-degree-Celsius target within reach. Twenty per cent of revenues will be directed to a Rapid Response Funding Facility for immediate, highly concessional, and grant-based disaster response support.
"This facility will offer immediately accessible funding to address the consequences of natural disasters in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, and other vulnerable developing communities," the statement said.
Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said the announcement of a new fund undeniably puts a spotlight on the fossil fuel industry's role in the climate crisis.
"However, its proposed design dangerously grants a social license for the ongoing extraction of gas, oil, and coal. This is far from the robust accountability we have long demanded to hold the fossil fuel industry responsible for denying and delaying climate action.
"The COP29 Presidency's plan for the climate summit this November lacks the ambition to phase out fossil fuels and falls massively short in supporting a just transition for developing nations. True climate justice means holding the fossil fuel industry financially responsible for the destruction it has caused, not facilitating its continued operation under the guise of tiny contributions to climate solutions," he said.
Last year's UN climate conference in Dubai ended with a global agreement calling for transitioning away from fossil fuels to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
In a letter sent to all countries that are signatories to the UN climate change convention earlier this week, Azerbaijan urged for a political push to break the deadlock on the new climate finance goal.
At the 2009 UN climate conference in Copenhagen, rich nations pledged to provide USD 100 billion annually from 2020 to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, delays in achieving this goal have eroded trust between developed and developing nations and have been a continual source of contention during annual climate negotiations.
In May, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) claimed that developed countries had met the long-standing USD 100 billion-a-year promise by providing nearly USD 116 billion in climate finance to developing countries in 2022, with nearly 70 per cent of the money given in the form of loans.
However, the international non-profit Oxfam last week said climate finance provided by rich countries in 2022 totalled no more than USD 35 billion.
Developing nations argue they cannot be expected to reduce CO2 emissions faster if developed countries — historically responsible for climate change — do not provide enhanced financial support. Rich countries are now expected to raise more than USD 100 billion, with developing countries, including India, demanding trillions of dollars to tackle climate change.

COP29 host Azerbaijan launches climate fund, shelves fossil fuel levy

Microsoft Corp. co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates wishes that Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk would talk more about climate change but the latter might not.
What Happened: 'He talks a lot. I hope he will talk more about climate,' Gates, known for his contributions to solving climate change, said with a laugh in an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday.
When asked by Bloomberg's Senior Executive Editor for Energy, Climate and Equality, John Fraher, as to what he would like Musk to talk about when he talks about climate, Gates said, 'I don't think he'll listen to anybody telling him what to talk about. So. You know, he's unique and he'll talk about whatever he feels like.'
Gates also applauded Musk in the interview, commending his efforts in driving the car industry towards electric vehicles. Musk's Tesla is the world's largest battery electric vehicle seller with 443,956 EVs sold in the second quarter alone.
Musk's Take On Climate Change: Musk, however, thinks that climate change risk is 'overstated in the near-term.'
'Climate change risk is overstated in the near-term, but probably accurate in the long-term,' Musk wrote on X in June while adding that industries must reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
'What people do on the surface is essentially irrelevant,' Musk said while adding that taxing dairy farmers for the emissions released by their cattle as proposed by the country of Denmark 'won't matter' for climate change.
Why It Matters: Gates and Musk have a strained relationship, mostly owing to Gates' short position in Tesla stock. "Once Tesla fully solves autonomy and has Optimus in volume production, anyone still holding a short position will be obliterated. Even Gates," Musk said earlier this month.
Gates, however, has also previously applauded Musk. In an appearance on CNBC in 2021, Gates said, "We need more Elon Musks."
Both Gates and Musk are among the top five rich people around the globe. While Musk tops the chart with a total net worth of $264 billion, Gates is in the fifth position with a total net worth of $160 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Bill Gates Wants Elon Musk To Talk About Climate But Tesla CEO Thinks Climate Change Alarm Is Exaggerated: 'He'll Talk About Whatever He Feels Like'

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Climate Change Bill which sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa's fair contribution to the global climate change response.
The Climate Change Act, as endorsed by the President, enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response, to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions. The law also sets out to enhance South Africa's ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy.
The Act has the aim of strengthening co-ordination between national sector departments and provide policy setting and decision-making to enable South Africa to meet the commitments in Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
The National Determined Contribution is a set of commitments South Africa has made under the international Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse greenhouse emissions as part of climate change mitigation.
South Africa is one of more than 190 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change who are parties to the eight-year-old Paris Agreement.
South Africa's mitigation measures are a response to climate change impacts that are increasingly experienced across a number of sectors including water resources; agriculture and food production; forestry and fisheries; human health; energy generation; industry; human settlements and migration; disaster management; biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems. These impacts will disproportionately affect poor communities and vulnerable groups and could affect South Africa's ability to meet its development and economic growth goals, including job creation and poverty reduction.
The Climate Change Act sets out the functions of the Presidential Climate Commission, which includes providing advice on the Republic's climate change response to ensure the realisation of the vision for effective climate change response and the long-term just transition to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy and society.
The law also stipulates the role provinces and municipalities will play in mitigation efforts. Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya Spokesperson to the President
E-mail: media@enquiries.gov.za
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President Cyril Ramaphosa assents to Climate Change Bill

By iednewsdesk On Jul 22, 2024
As per India's Third National Communication submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), India experiences climate change impacts, ranging from floods and droughts to heat waves and glacier melt. The impacts of climate change is visible across sectors like biodiversity and forests; agriculture; water resources; coastal and marine ecosystems; human health; gender; urban and infrastructure; and economic costs. Climate impacts and risks exacerbate vulnerability and consequently increase economic development challenges. Climate change adaptation and mitigation imposes an additional financial burden on developing countries including India. Scarcity of remaining carbon budget and provision of Means of Implementation in the form of finance, technology transfer and capacity building from developed countries, who are responsible for the cause of current climate change, forms the crucial challenges in mitigating effects of climate change. Developed countries have been lagging on providing climate finance in scale, scope, and speed and fulfilling their obligation. India's climate adaptation actions are largely financed through domestic resources.
The broad categories of adaptation priorities for India have been identified as (i) Priorities related to knowledge systems on climate change risks and adaptation (ii) Priorities related to a reduction of exposure to climate risk; and (iii) Priorities related to building resilience and adaptive capacity. The Government is implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which provides the overarching framework for climate actions, through national missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, water, agriculture, Himalayan eco-system, sustainable habitat, green India, human health and strategic knowledge on climate change. These Missions are institutionalized and implemented by respective nodal Ministries and Departments. Most of these Missions, inter-alia, focus on adaptation to combat the adverse impacts of climate change.
In line with the NAPCC, various States/Union Territories (UTs) have prepared respective State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) that are designed to address state-specific issues related to climate change through commensurate mitigation and adaptation measures. SAPCCs are designed to be context- specific, considering the different ecological, social, and economic conditions of each State.
In August 2022, India updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to enhance India's contributions towards achievement of the strengthening of global response to the threat of climate change, as agreed under the Paris Agreement. As a part of the updated NDC, India has introduced the concept of Mission 'LiFE' (Lifestyle for Environment) to promote responsible consumption by focusing on behaviours and attitudes of individuals and communities.
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. Forest and Climate ChangeMinistry of Environment

Ministry of Environment Implements Measures to Address Climate Change Challenges

By Rediff Money Desk, New Delhi Jul 20, 2024 08:26
Azerbaijan, COP29 host, launches a new climate fund to invest in developing countries, shelving a planned fossil fuel levy. The fund aims to raise USD 1 billion annually from fossil fuel producers, facing criticism for not holding the industry accountable. New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) Azerbaijan, the host of this year's UN climate talks, has shelved a planned levy on fossil fuel production and instead launched a fund to "invest" in climate action in developing countries. Reports suggest that Azerbaijan, which relies heavily on oil and gas revenues, faced resistance from some oil- and gas-producing Gulf countries regarding the planned levy announced in May. The new fund, the "Climate Finance Action Fund" (CFAF), will receive annual contributions from fossil fuel-producing countries and companies. Initial fundraising aims for USD 1 billion, with members committing to annual contributions as fixed sums or based on production volume, according to a statement. Based in the capital city of Baku, the fund will target climate projects in developing countries, meeting the next generation of national climate plans to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and addressing the consequences of climate change-fuelled disasters. Financial support to help middle-income and poor countries fight climate change will be at the centre of the UN climate conference in Baku, where the world will reach the deadline to agree on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG)  the new amount developed nations must mobilise every year starting 2025 to support climate action in developing countries. But achieving consensus will not be easy, given the disappointing progress made on the issue at the mid-year UN Climate talks in Bonn, Germany. The COP29 presidency said 50 per cent of the capital will go to climate projects in developing countries, focusing on clean energy, energy efficiency, climate resilience, and new technologies. The remaining half will help meet members' NDCs to keep the 1.5-degree-Celsius target within reach. Twenty per cent of revenues will be directed to a Rapid Response Funding Facility for immediate, highly concessional, and grant-based disaster response support. "This facility will offer immediately accessible funding to address the consequences of natural disasters in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, and other vulnerable developing communities," the statement said. Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said the announcement of a new fund undeniably puts a spotlight on the fossil fuel industry's role in the climate crisis. "However, its proposed design dangerously grants a social license for the ongoing extraction of gas, oil, and coal. This is far from the robust accountability we have long demanded to hold the fossil fuel industry responsible for denying and delaying climate action. "The COP29 Presidency's plan for the climate summit this November lacks the ambition to phase out fossil fuels and falls massively short in supporting a just transition for developing nations. True climate justice means holding the fossil fuel industry financially responsible for the destruction it has caused, not facilitating its continued operation under the guise of tiny contributions to climate solutions," he said. Last year's UN climate conference in Dubai ended with a global agreement calling for transitioning away from fossil fuels to reach net zero emissions by 2050. In a letter sent to all countries that are signatories to the UN climate change convention earlier this week, Azerbaijan urged for a political push to break the deadlock on the new climate finance goal. At the 2009 UN climate conference in Copenhagen, rich nations pledged to provide USD 100 billion annually from 2020 to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, delays in achieving this goal have eroded trust between developed and developing nations and have been a continual source of contention during annual climate negotiations. In May, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) claimed that developed countries had met the long-standing USD 100 billion-a-year promise by providing nearly USD 116 billion in climate finance to developing countries in 2022, with nearly 70 per cent of the money given in the form of loans. However, the international non-profit Oxfam last week said climate finance provided by rich countries in 2022 totalled no more than USD 35 billion.
Developing nations argue they cannot be expected to reduce CO2 emissions faster if developed countries  historically responsible for climate change  do not provide enhanced financial support. Rich countries are now expected to raise more than USD 100 billion, with developing countries, including India, demanding trillions of dollars to tackle climate change.
DISCLAIMER - This article is from a syndicated feed. The original source is responsible for accuracy, views & content ownership. Views expressed may not reflect those of rediff.com India Limited.
Bonn climate talks: Countries leave much to do at COP29 Jun 14, 2024 18:11
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COP29: Azerbaijan Launches Climate Fund, Shelves Fossil Fuel Levy

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday signed the Climate Change Bill into law, marking an important moment in South Africa's environmental policy.
George, who was in China attending the eighth Session of the Ministerial on Climate Action earlier this week, emphasised the bill's framework. Speaking to the SABC, he noted that major emitters like Sasol and Eskom will need to adapt their operations to align with the new law. They are going to have to look at how they conduct business and embrace the decarbonisation journey just like the rest of us.
'They will be allocated carbon budgets, and there's a progressive tightening of targets. Companies will need to find ways to reduce emissions and decarbonise. For Eskom, this means transitioning to renewable energy and storage while phasing out coal as quickly as possible,' Abdinor explained.
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Peddle to Paris: Chris Boardman's climate ride reaches Sussex The chair of Sports England is cycling to Paris to highlight the impact of climate change on sport. Chris Boardman is cycling from Manchester to Paris to raise awareness of climate change's impact on sport Chris Boardman's 550-mile ride from Manchester to Paris aims to highlight how climate change is impacting sport and the need for more action. Mr Boardman, who won the first-ever men's world time trial championship in 1994, an Olympic gold and broke the world hour record three times, said climate change was having an 'insidious' impact on sport. The 55-year-old will head towards the heart of Paris, the Olympic city, for the remainder of his journey.

Peddle to Paris: Chris Boardman's climate ride reaches Sussex

When climate change leads the news, it's often down to a hurricane, heatwave or flood. And, judging by our most widely read environment stories over the past decade, extreme weather really is one of the main ways the public (or at least our readers) learns about climate breakdown.
The movie Twisters is released this week, a remake of the 1996 film with an added 's'. Simon Dickinson of the University of Plymouth says the fact Hollywood commissioned a remake is further evidence that 'people are fascinated by extreme weather and the devastation it can cause'.
Dickinson explains there is a deep underlying psychology behind this, beyond people simply wanting to see stuff crash and burn. For him, people are interested in extreme weather and watch movies and videos of hurricanes, tornadoes and so on, 'because they connect us to people, places and ideas. Sometimes, this is about being able to visualise concepts we've heard about but never seen with our own eyes.'
He recently conducted a study examining why people were watching live footage of hurricanes and storms on YouTube:
I found people wanting to see things they'd repeatedly heard reference to, such as the eye of the storm or the exact moment a hurricane made landfall. In one discussion in the comments, people wanted the wind to stop because they were only there to see if they could witness an 'eye'. For these people, videos of extreme moments helped connect what they've been told with what they could see (even if only through a screen).
This will feels familiar to anyone who, like me, has been down a tornado rabbit hole on YouTube to see what the fastest winds on Earth might actually involve. (Check out this particularly harrowing video of a father and daughter surviving a twister in their shelter in Illinois, then emerging outside just 90 seconds later to find their neighbourhood in ruins).
Surviving an F4 tornado in Washington, Illinois.
Climate change is, of course, the main concept that extreme weather helps people visualise. None of us can 'see' 1°C of warming, but we can all watch small islands being flattened or homes being flooded.
In the big picture, it's safe to say a warmer world means more extreme weather. But that 'does not mean all extreme weather events are being made stronger or more frequent', says Friederike Otto, a climate scientist and co-founder of the World Weather Attribution project, which investigates to what extent climate change has influenced particular episodes of extreme weather. In 2020, she described how scientists were increasingly able to provide climate–weather attribution within the news cycle.
These 'rapid attribution studies' are important, she writes, 'as they provide scientific evidence while the event is still in the news and everyone is still paying attention – not months later after the academic peer-review process.'
To help address [controversy over the lack of peer-review], rapid attribution studies use peer-reviewed methods, make data publicly available, and regularly submit to peer-review journals after the fact.
All this means we can state the links between a given hurricane or heatwave and climate change with more certainty than ever. So are these extreme weather 'events' a useful moment to talk about climate change?
Linked to climate change? We no longer have to wait years to find out. victor yankee / shutterstock
Joshua Ettinger, a climate communication expert at the University of Oxford, researches how extreme weather can reduce the 'psychological distance' associated with climate change. 'While climate change can feel abstract and vague,' he writes, 'extreme weather is something people can experience firsthand.'
People won't necessarily draw a link between the two, however. Ettinger says that research offers 'contrasting results':
Some studies have found that extreme weather events lead to an increased belief that human-driven climate change is occurring and greater support for climate action. Others find no effects or suggest that these effects are only temporary.
But you can make a difference, says Ettinger. He points out that simply talking about climate change is a good way to inspire climate action, and that extreme weather – whether seen on TV or experienced first-hand – provides a useful conversation starter. 'We can use these moments as opportunities to engage our families, friends and communities in discussions about how climate change may relate to these events, and what we can do about it.'
He notes a few guidelines for these discussions. When talking to someone about a hurricane, heatwave or flood, 'affirm the validity of their emotional response – whether they are afraid, angry, hopeful or worried. There is no one right way to feel about climate change, so listen to what they have to say and then share your own perspective too.'
You might be accused of 'politicising' the weather. Ettinger suggests how you can (respectfully) push back against this claim:
This argument is a discourse of climate delay [which tries] to shut down climate discussions and cast doubt on the need to act very quickly. These arguments disingenuously assert that acting on climate is too expensive, too late, or that someone else should take care of it – and they are becoming increasingly common.
If we shouldn't discuss climate change when extreme weather occurs, then when is the right time? … If talking about climate change politicises the weather, so be it.
Outside of work, I try not to rant about climate change too much, and instead gently guide things in that direction. Perhaps you do something similar. These are tough but worthwhile conversations.
Dickinson, writing about Twisters, says the big challenge for scientists is to 'harness this fascination in a way that stimulates knowledge and behavioural change beyond the small window of the event itself'. Hopefully, this newsletter has helped in that regard.

Why we find extreme weather so fascinating

Last year's UN climate conference in Dubai ended with a global agreement calling for transitioning away from fossil fuels to reach net zero emissions by 2050
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Azerbaijan, the host of this year's UN climate talks, has shelved a planned levy on fossil fuel production and instead launched a fund to "invest" in climate action in developing countries.
Reports suggest that Azerbaijan, which relies heavily on oil and gas revenues, faced resistance from some oil- and gas-producing Gulf countries regarding the planned levy announced in May.
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The new fund, the "Climate Finance Action Fund" (CFAF), will receive annual contributions from fossil fuel-producing countries and companies. Initial fundraising aims for $1 billion, with members committing to annual contributions as fixed sums or based on production volume, according to a statement.
Based in the capital city of Baku, the fund will target climate projects in developing countries, meeting the next generation of national climate plans to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and addressing the consequences of climate change-fuelled disasters.
Financial support to help middle-income and poor countries fight climate change will be at the centre of the UN climate conference in Baku, where the world will reach the deadline to agree on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) the new amount developed nations must mobilise every year starting 2025 to support climate action in developing countries.
But achieving consensus will not be easy, given the disappointing progress made on the issue at the mid-year UN Climate talks in Bonn, Germany.
The COP29 presidency said 50 per cent of the capital will go to climate projects in developing countries, focusing on clean energy, energy efficiency, climate resilience, and new technologies.
The remaining half will help meet members' NDCs to keep the 1.5-degree-Celsius target within reach. Twenty per cent of revenues will be directed to a Rapid Response Funding Facility for immediate, highly concessional, and grant-based disaster response support.
"This facility will offer immediately accessible funding to address the consequences of natural disasters in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, and other vulnerable developing communities," the statement said.
Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said the announcement of a new fund undeniably puts a spotlight on the fossil fuel industry's role in the climate crisis.
"However, its proposed design dangerously grants a social license for the ongoing extraction of gas, oil, and coal. This is far from the robust accountability we have long demanded to hold the fossil fuel industry responsible for denying and delaying climate action.
"The COP29 Presidency's plan for the climate summit this November lacks the ambition to phase out fossil fuels and falls massively short in supporting a just transition for developing nations. True climate justice means holding the fossil fuel industry financially responsible for the destruction it has caused, not facilitating its continued operation under the guise of tiny contributions to climate solutions," he said.
Last year's UN climate conference in Dubai ended with a global agreement calling for transitioning away from fossil fuels to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
In a letter sent to all countries that are signatories to the UN climate change convention earlier this week, Azerbaijan urged for a political push to break the deadlock on the new climate finance goal.
At the 2009 UN climate conference in Copenhagen, rich nations pledged to provide $100 billion annually from 2020 to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, delays in achieving this goal have eroded trust between developed and developing nations and have been a continual source of contention during annual climate negotiations.
In May, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) claimed that developed countries had met the long-standing USD 100 billion-a-year promise by providing nearly $116 billion in climate finance to developing countries in 2022, with nearly 70 per cent of the money given in the form of loans.
However, the international non-profit Oxfam last week said climate finance provided by rich countries in 2022 totalled no more than $35 billion.
Developing nations argue they cannot be expected to reduce CO2 emissions faster if developed countries historically responsible for climate change do not provide enhanced financial support. Rich countries are now expected to raise more than USD 100 billion, with developing countries, including India, demanding trillions of dollars to tackle climate change.

COP29 host Azerbaijan launches climate fund, introduces fossil fuel levy

JOHANNESBURG, July 23 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Climate Change Bill, which seeks to set out a national response to climate change, including mitigation and adaptation actions, the presidency said on Tuesday.
"The Climate Change Act enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions," the presidency said in a statement.
The law also sets out to enhance the country's ability and capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green economy, according to the statement.
The law has the aim of strengthening coordination between national sector departments and providing policy setting and decision-making to enable South Africa to meet its commitments in Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement as the country is one of more than 190 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change who are parties to the Paris Agreement, the presidency said. ■

Lalita Bohora of Dhalaun in Saipal rural municipality has been doing a junior technical assistant course in agriculture for a year and a half at Jalpa Secondary School.
Bohora is learning how to plant crops, control pests, and other modern farming practices.
The field also demands she learn about climate change, an emerging issue threatening global agricultural production.
Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change.
Changes in rainfall pattern, extreme weather incidents, and the proliferation of pests have been directly hitting crop production and threatening food security.
The course she is pursuing offers little knowledge about climate change, but a two-day training she attended recently was of some help.
'While studying the 10-month course, I learned new things, and practical know-how on crop plantation and harvest,' Bohora said. 'The training I received on climate change was more useful.'
It taught them how to adapt farming techniques to the changing climate.
According to a new survey report, climate change has profound impacts on Nepal's economy, particularly agriculture, water resources, and biodiversity.
The findings of the National Climate Change Survey 2022, the second of its kind, were recently released by the National Statistics Office, formerly the Central Bureau of Statistics. The report paints a bleak picture of Nepal's climate situation and urges necessary intervention for the resource-crunch Himalayan nation.
According to the survey, economic losses on and off-farm in the past five years, as reported by households, amounted to Rs415.44 billion. This does not include significant infrastructural damages.
In Nepal, the number of households unaware of the consequences of climate change is significantly high.
The survey shows that many households reported adverse weather changes. They noted that their water resources dried up, new diseases infected crops, productivity losses rose, and flowering and fruiting behaviours changed over the last two and a half decades.
According to the survey, over the past 25 years, approximately 50 percent of households reported the emergence of new diseases in their crops, 53.9 percent observed the presence of new insects or pests affecting their crops, and 29.8 percent of households noted the appearance of new diseases in their livestock.
Rural areas experienced more new diseases affecting crops (55.9 percent) than urban areas (45.6 percent). The mountain (68.7 percent), hill (50.3 percent), and Tarai (46.3 percent) regions also experienced an impact on crops due to new diseases.
Agriculture is the mainstay of Nepal's economy. It contributes 24.60 percent to the country's GDP and employs over half the population. The sector is heavily dependent on rainfall.
For Susmita Thapa, a grade 12 student at Satyabadi Secondary School, receiving training on climate change has been an eye opener.
'We learned the inter-relation between agriculture and climate change,' said Thapa. 'Our formal classes do not teach about climate change, its impact, and the ways to tackle it.'
Training participants said they have learned how to tackle climate change's impact on crops. Thapa also was informed on various climate adaptation measures. 'The learning will be beneficial.'
Amid the growing impact of climate change on agriculture in recent years, farmers in Bajhang have been informed on the challenges and ways to tackle the emerging problem.
They have been acquainted with sustainable farming systems to boost output.
The training was supported by the Biodiversity (Jal-jangal) program of the USAID, Social Development Center, a local organisation.
'We stopped sowing local seeds after their yield declined. Now I know why this was happening,' said Birkha Mijar, a farmer in Thalara rural municipality Ward 9. 'We knew what local seeds meant for sustainable farming. We also know the way to sow them. I will apply what I learned in the field.'
Kubendra Rokaya, an instructor, said he has trained 600 students and farmers in the district on mitigating the impacts of climate change on agriculture.
'Farmers in the far-western Nepal are unhappy as commercial farming is not very profitable. On top of that, climate distress has been a headache for farmers,' Rokaya said. 'We can tackle the impacts of climate change by using local resources and technology. But many farmers are unaware of this.'
The training has taught them new practices.
'We have informed them on the impact of climate change at the local level, use of weather information, pest management, seed selection and early warning system,' Rokaya said.
Amit Banmala, coordinator of the Social Development Center Project, said students pursuing agriculture science and agriculture JTAs are Nepal's future guides to farming. Many of them are engaged in agriculture.
The agriculture sector in Bajhang faces drought in the winter and excessive rainfall in the rainy season.
According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, droughts last year reduced winter produce by 20 percent.
'Landslides and floods compound the problem in the agriculture sector every year,' said Tek Bahadur Bista, the centre's chief.
'Farmers are facing additional trouble. It's important for them to learn about mitigation measures.'

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