Many Australians feel frustration at the refusal of their government to “turn around” to face what’s clear to everyone else, a galloping climate emergency

It was not that long ago that the world looked on in horror at the disastrous fires in Australia. How much was related to climate change? Does it matter. As the evidence has accumulated, and the new IPCC report reinforces it, Australia has carved out a name for itself as a global laggard. Mark Kenny, … Continue reading Many Australians feel frustration at the refusal of their government to “turn around” to face what’s clear to everyone else, a galloping climate emergency →

IPCC report – alarmingly, the rate of temperature increase across the African continent exceeds the global average

Victor Ongoma, Assistant Professor at Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique in Morocco raises some important implications for Africa from the findings of the IPCC report in an article on The Conversation website. Insights for African countries from the latest climate change projections The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – a body of the UN tasked … Continue reading IPCC report – alarmingly, the rate of temperature increase across the African continent exceeds the global average →

It is through the tidal wave of climate litigation that citizens themselves can trigger rapid decarbonisation — and avert catastrophic global heating

Another IPCC report, another dire warning. Yet world leaders and big polluters are doing little to reduce emissions. Deutsche Welle’s Stuart Braun says climate litigation could be the only way out. Opinion: Court action could be vital as IPCC confirms climate emergency After a month of unprecedented flooding and wildfires in Europe, it isn't surprising … Continue reading It is through the tidal wave of climate litigation that citizens themselves can trigger rapid decarbonisation — and avert catastrophic global heating →

Reaction to IPCC report – “This is not “climate alarmism”. It is, as far as experts can ascertain, fact”

Keith Baker, Researcher in Fuel Poverty and Energy Policy, Built Environment Asset Management Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University explains in an article on The Conversation website that the world has consistently failed to agree and enact concrete actions in response to date, but the stark reality is that we need to focus on actions. … Continue reading Reaction to IPCC report – “This is not “climate alarmism”. It is, as far as experts can ascertain, fact” →

Latest IPCC report sets out five different pathways that emissions could take in coming decades –we had 11 years to reach peak emissions to reach goal of 2015 Paris agreement but now we have four

To get emissions to peak and then start on a downward trend is fairly simple in theory but now we must to outweigh the influence of fossil fuel companies, find novel ways to fund decarbonisation and steer the economic recovery from COVID-19 towards a low-carbon future. Matthew Paterson, Professor of International Politics at the University … Continue reading Latest IPCC report sets out five different pathways that emissions could take in coming decades –we had 11 years to reach peak emissions to reach goal of 2015 Paris agreement but now we have four →

The global risks from toxic pollution and climate change are highly correlated and should be jointly analysed in order to inform and better target efforts to reduce or mitigate both risks

A news item on the Climate Adaptation Platform discusses a new study, demonstrating a strong correlation between toxic pollution risk and climate risk, along with varying capacities of countries to manage that risk. They explain that high-risk low-income countries that must urgently address governance challenges in order to have a chance at successfully addressing pollution … Continue reading The global risks from toxic pollution and climate change are highly correlated and should be jointly analysed in order to inform and better target efforts to reduce or mitigate both risks →

Canada, as a fossil fuel exporting country, has a crucial role to play in the global fight against the climate crisis

Fraser Thomson, a lawyer at Ecojustice, provides his views on how Canada needs to re-orient its economy to avoid deepening the climate emergency. He writes this article on the National Observer website. To avoid climate catastrophe, Canada must account for its hidden emissions The past month has been a wake-up call for many Canadians … Continue reading Canada, as a fossil fuel exporting country, has a crucial role to play in the global fight against the climate crisis →

Delegates to IPCC Working Group 1 finalising summary for policymakers

Scientists with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are meeting to finalise the initial part of its first major climate assessment in seven years. On the fourth day last week, delegates continued their consideration of the Summary for Policymakers of the Working Group I (WG I) contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental … Continue reading Delegates to IPCC Working Group 1 finalising summary for policymakers →

With heat being an emergency for cities globally, Athens becomes the second city to appoint a chief heat officer to find ways to cool the city, beyond the obvious air conditioning in buildings

Heat is a particular problem for people in cities because built-up areas and concrete store heat from the sun, while energy use and transport create its own excess heat that adds to the natural warming effect, and there is less of the natural cooling effect of trees, vegetation and water. Athens has followed Miami-Date county … Continue reading With heat being an emergency for cities globally, Athens becomes the second city to appoint a chief heat officer to find ways to cool the city, beyond the obvious air conditioning in buildings →

With urbanisation exacerbating the risks of non-communicable diseases, new approaches to urban planning can make a difference

Tolullah Oni, Clinical Senior Research Associate, MRC Epidemiology Unit and Rizka Maulida, PhD researcher in behavioural epidemiology and urban health, both from University of Cambridge write on The Conversation website how better urban planning can help reduce serious health effects. Heart health: design cities differently and it can help us live longer By 2050, … Continue reading With urbanisation exacerbating the risks of non-communicable diseases, new approaches to urban planning can make a difference →