Global climate policy and action plans also largely fail to speak to gender and childhood vulnerabilities

In an article on The Conversation website, Grace M. Jaramillo, Lecturer, School of Global and International Affairs, University of British Columbia discusses gender and childhood issues that are impacted on climate policy. Importantly, Dr. Jaramillo led a team of student researchers to do relevant field research in the Dominican Republic to better understand the issues. … Continue reading Global climate policy and action plans also largely fail to speak to gender and childhood vulnerabilities →

Is London ready to be a “sponge city”?

A sponge city, according to Wikipedia, is a new urban planning model in China that emphasizes flood management via strengthening green infrastructures instead of purely relying on drainage systems. Jacob Evans writes on the BBC News website whether London should become one. What are your views? What about other cities? Would yours be a candidate? … Continue reading Is London ready to be a “sponge city”? →

New reports paint a troubling picture of Europe’s readiness to handle the effects of climate change over the coming years

Climate-related disasters cost Europe more than €77 billion last year, according to a new report. But costs can be lowered with better data and financing strategies. David Keating discusses warnings from the World Bank about Europe’s preparedness in an article on the Euractiv website. Europe unprepared for climate disaster, warns World Bank A series … Continue reading New reports paint a troubling picture of Europe’s readiness to handle the effects of climate change over the coming years →

Energy in Demand, May 19, 2024

It is uncomfortable reading about the new report from the National Bureau of Economic Research and reported in the Guardian this week. The economic damage wrought by climate change is six times worse than previously thought. “A 1C increase in global temperature leads to a 12% decline in world gross domestic product (GDP), the researchers … Continue reading Energy in Demand, May 19, 2024 →

Researchers tracking the link between climate change and health say the adverse impacts are far-reaching

A new report in the Lancet has found that warming temperatures in Europe have far reaching impacts on health. Verity Bowman discusses the report in an article on the Telegraph website. ‘Climate change is here and it kills’: Heat-related deaths rise by 30pc in Europe, says Lancet New diseases are spreading, the hayfever season … Continue reading Researchers tracking the link between climate change and health say the adverse impacts are far-reaching →

Comment on new report showing global economy is consuming ever more natural resources, while the world is not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals

The International Resource Panel (IRP) of UNEP has just published a report Global Resources Outlook 2024. One of the authors Anders Wijkman, a member of the IRP, an honorary president of the Club of Rome and a friend of EiD has written this commentary on the report in an article on the Reuters website. What … Continue reading Comment on new report showing global economy is consuming ever more natural resources, while the world is not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals →

New report by EEA on water-related impacts of climate change on health and well-being that are already felt across Europe

Climate change is worsening floods, droughts and is reducing water quality, posing an increasing threat to our health, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published this week. Fast-tracking implementation and better coordination of efforts by governments, water authorities and healthcare providers are urgently needed to prevent and reduce health impacts. Climate health … Continue reading New report by EEA on water-related impacts of climate change on health and well-being that are already felt across Europe →

UN’s outgoing leading environment and human rights expert says that states failing to take meaningful climate action and regulating polluting industries could soon face a slew of lawsuits

Outgoing special rapporteur David Boyd says ‘there’s something wrong with our brains that we can’t understand how grave this is’. Nina Lakhani explains in an article on the Guardian website. UN expert attacks ‘exploitative’ world economy in fight to save planet The race to save the planet is being impeded by a global economy … Continue reading UN’s outgoing leading environment and human rights expert says that states failing to take meaningful climate action and regulating polluting industries could soon face a slew of lawsuits →

Megacities in Africa face adaptation challenge

Cities cover just 3% of the planet. But they emit 78% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, absorb 80% of final global energy (what consumers use) and consume 60% of clean drinking water. African megacities like Lagos, Nigeria (with 21 million residents) and Cairo, Egypt (with 10 million residents) are experiencing significant temperature increases due … Continue reading Megacities in Africa face adaptation challenge →

Lessons from the Cold War to address environmental sustainability

The British academic, Peter Sutoris, whose work bridges anthropology with education, development studies and environmental studies, writes on the National Observer website linking the lessons learned from the Cold War. Peter argues that the Cold War shows that environmental sustainability, like peace, cannot be achieved solely by focusing on technology. Can a net-zero world … Continue reading Lessons from the Cold War to address environmental sustainability →