How You Can Easily Delay Climate Change Today: SO2 Injection
I used to feel powerless about climate change. Then I learned about this, and now I feel confident we can delay it at any time.
Harvest in England the second worst on record because of wet weather
Wheat haul in England estimated to be down by 21%, with Britain’s wine producers also hit hard
Why the World Needs Yet Another Methane Satellite
Carbon Mapper’s ultra-precise Tanager-1 is headed to space.
Primordial Helium May Be Leaking from Earth's Core
Helium gas may be seeping from Earth’s core, say scientists who found extremely high helium isotope ratios in lavas on Baffin Island
A global timekeeping problem postponed by global warming - Nature
Increased melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica, measured by satellite gravity, has decreased the angular velocity of Earth more rapidly than before and has already affected global timekeeping.
Shared Fates - Climate & Community Institute
Every year, more people across the United States experience climate disasters, forcing them to leave their homes, lose their belongings, and be separated from jobs and …
Switzerland and Italy redraw border as melting glaciers shift the frontier | Euronews
The popular ski resort of Zermatt is in the affected area.
Greening of Antarctica Is Another Sign of Significant Climate Shift on the Frozen Continent - Inside Climate News
New research documents accelerating plant growth on the Antarctic Peninsula and nearby islands.
In the Arctic, vegetation is expanding on a scale that affects the albedo, or the overall reflectivity of the region, which determines the proportion of the sun’s heat energy that is absorbed by the Earth’s surface
The impact of environmental shocks due to climate change on intimate partner violence: A structural equation model of data from 156 countries
The impact of climate change on human societies is now well recognised. However, little is known about how climate change alters health conditions over time. National level data around climate shocks and subsequent rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) could have relevance for resilience policy and programming. We hypothesise that climate shocks are associated with a higher national prevalence of IPV two years following a shock, and that this relationship persists for countries with different levels of economic development. We compiled national data for the prevalence of IPV from 363 nationally representative surveys from 1993 to 2019. These representative data from ever-partnered women defined IPV incidence as any past-year act of physical and/or sexual violence. We also compiled data from the Emergency Events Database (EM DAT) on the national frequency of eight climate shocks from 1920 to 2022 within 190 countries. Using exploratory factor analysis, we fit a three-factor latent variable composed of climate shock variables. We then fit a structural equation model from climate shocks (lagged by two years) and IPV incidence, controlling for (log) national gross domestic product (GDP). National data representing 156 countries suggest a significant relationship between IPV and a climate factor (Hydro-meteorological) composed of storms, landslides and floods (standardised estimate = 0·32; SE = 0·128; p = 0·012). GDP has a moderately large cross-sectional association with IPV (estimate = -0·529; SE = 0·047; p = 0·0001). Other climate shocks (Geological: earthquakes/volcanos; Atmospheric: wildfire/droughts/extreme temperature) had no measurable association with IPV. Model fit overall was satisfactory (RMSEA = 0·064 (95%CI: 0·044–0·084); CFI = 0·91; SRMR = 0·063). Climate shocks have a longitudinal association with IPV incidence in global population-based data. This suggests an urgent need to address the higher prevalence of IPV likely to come about through climate shocks due to climate change. Our analysis offers one way policy makers could track national progress using existing data.
Opinion: Coffee prices are rising. Wake up and smell the climate change
Will the price of coffee, a crop hurt by rising temperatures and drought, jolt American politicians and voters into paying attention to global warming?
Miscarriages due to climate crisis a ‘blind spot’ in action plans – report
The harm to babies and mothers is one of the warnings being sent to Cop29 decision-makers by leading scientists
Integrating Climate Adaptation into Physical Risk Models
In this report, GIC and S&P Global Sustainable1 analyses the escalating risk that physical climate hazards will bring, and explores investment opportunities in climate adaptation.
Hot playgrounds and children's health: A multiscale analysis of surface temperatures in Arizona, USA
To provide novel quantification and advanced measurements of surface temperatures (Ts) in playgrounds, employing multiple scales of data, and provide …
When the Hurricane-Relief Worker Turns Out To Be a Neo-Nazi
Seizing on the politicization of the government response, white supremacist groups have turned out to help after recent storms in North Carolina and Florida in order to boost recruitment and burnish their image.
Pacific islands submit court proposal for recognition of ecocide as a crime
Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa want international criminal court to class environmental destruction as crime alongside genocide
UK Butterfly Emergency Declared
Big Butterfly Count 2024 results reveal lowest numbers on recordWildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has today declared a national ‘Butterfly Emergency’, with results of this summer’s Big Butterfly Count showing a marked and hugely concerning decline in numbers.Overall, participants spotted just seven butterflies on average per 15-minute Count, a reduction of almost 50% on last year’s average of 12, and the lowest in the 14-year history of the Big Butterfly Count.It was the worst summer in the Count’s history for Common Blue, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Scotch Argus. And the majority of species (81%) showed declines in the number seen this year compared with 2023.In total, just over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths were recorded across the UK from 12 July - 4 August, down almost 600,000, equivalent to more than a third of 2023's total, and 9,000 Counts were logged as seeing zero butterflies, the highest in the citizen science programme’s history.These figures have alarmed scientists and resulted in the charity declaring a nationwide ‘Butterfly Emergency’.Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The previous lowest average number of butterflies per Count was nine in 2022, this latest figure is 22% lower than that, which is very disturbing. Not just that, but a third of the species recorded in the Big Butterfly Count have had their worst year on record, and no species had their best. The results are in line with wider evidence that the summer of 2024 has been very poor for butterflies.“Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble we know that the wider environment is in trouble too. Nature is sounding the alarm call. We must act now if we are to turn the tide on these rapid declines and protect species for future generations."Butterfly Conservation is writing an open letter to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs calling for the Government to act now for nature by declaring a ‘Nature Emergency’ and banning butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides once and for all, with no exceptions, before it’s too late.Dr Fox explains: “When used on farmland, these chemicals make their way into the wild plants growing at field edges, resulting in adult butterflies and moths drinking contaminated nectar and caterpillars feeding on contaminated plants. Many European countries have already banned these chemicals, it’s time for the UK to follow suit and put the natural world first. If we don’t act now to finally address the long-term drivers of butterfly decline, we will face extinction events never before seen in our lifetime.”More than 85,000 citizen scientists took part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count this year, submitting 143,241 Counts. This is equivalent to 35,810 hours, or four years worth of time spent counting, in gardens, parks, school grounds and the countrysideDr Richard Fox concluded: “If every single person who helped with the Count this summer signs our letter to the Government, we could prevent the very real and pressing threat of species becoming extinct in our lifetime."To sign Butterfly Conservation’s letter to the Government asking them to declare a ‘Nature Emergency’ and ban butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides visit: https://butterfly-conservation.org/emergencyNext year’s Big Butterfly Count will take place from Friday 18th July – Sunday 10th August 2025.BIG BUTTERFLY RESULTS 2024Species results in the UK – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024UKAbundanceAverage per count% change from 202314 year trend (bold significant)1Gatekeeper190,4131.5-18-31.822Meadow Brown177,8441.46-15.413Large White138,4241.1-382.074Small White112,8140.9-46-18.725Peacock50,8470.4-67-30.396Red Admiral47,1090.4-8228.107Ringlet44,2780.385-47.068Speckled Wood30,1120.2-2-37.709Comma24,4980.2-52-20.2810Green-veined White18,9510.1-24-65.0111Six-spot Burnet18,1020.188-12Marbled White17,9220.1101-18.0413Small Copper13,9620.1-3048.0514Small Tortoiseshell12,4320.1-74-59.4415Common Blue9,7550.1-69-51.6716Brimstone8,6220.1-53-17.9917Holly Blue7,0900.1-8035.6318Painted Lady4,1700.03-669.2719Silver Y4,1010.03-30-20Jersey Tiger3,4960.03-29-21Scotch Argus4990.004-61- TOTAL935,4417-40 -Species results in England – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024EnglandAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Gatekeeper183,7971.55-172Meadow Brown164,6181.3963Large White126,9881.07-404Small White102,1590.86-475Peacock49,6220.42-666Red Admiral44,8130.38-827Ringlet35,3920.3778Speckled Wood26,7000.22-19Comma23,6870.2-5110Marbled White17,7880.1510011Green-veined White15,4400.13-2612Six-spot Burnet14,6620.129113Small Copper13,2240.11-2814Small Tortoiseshell10,8180.09-7215Brimstone8,4960.07-5316Common Blue8,3070.07-7117Holly Blue6,6230.06-8018Painted Lady3,8300.03-6619Silver Y3,5850.03-3120Jersey Tiger3,4480.03-29 TOTAL863,9977.28-41Species results in Scotland – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024ScotlandAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Ringlet4,6890.961232Small White4,1230.84-293Meadow Brown3,7780.77284Large White3,2990.68-115Green-veined White1,8500.38-166Speckled Wood1,0890.22677Common Blue7840.16758Small Tortoiseshell6880.14-799Red Admiral6090.12-7910Six-spot Burnet5590.113411Scotch Argus4810.10-6412Peacock2210.05-9413Small Copper1690.03-4614Silver Y1480.03-1815Holly Blue1320.03-4216Painted Lady1040.02-6217Comma950.02-74 TOTAL22,8184.67-26Species results in Wales – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024WalesAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Meadow Brown8,1131.43-232Large White7,1001.25-283Gatekeeper6,0421.06-384Small White5,4990.97-385Ringlet3,1850.561216Six-spot Burnet2,4880.441787Speckled Wood1,8100.32-268Red Admiral1,2760.22-869Green-veined White1,0310.18-810Peacock9020.16-8211Comma6870.12-7112Small Tortoiseshell6270.11-7813Small Copper4690.08-6514Common Blue3590.06-8215Silver Y2860.05-3916Holly Blue2140.04-8517Painted Lady1660.03-7318Marbled White1320.0213319Brimstone1210.02-3920Jersey Tiger280.00-47 TOTAL40,5357.12-42Species results in Northern Ireland – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024Northern IrelandAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Ringlet9820.772252Meadow Brown9290.731003Small White7810.61-534Large White6860.54-415Green-veined White5630.4426Six-spot Burnet3910.31-27Speckled Wood2970.23-308Small Tortoiseshell2640.21-849Common Blue1490.122810Red Admiral550.04-9611Peacock450.04-9712Small Copper440.03-7213Holly Blue370.03-8614Painted Lady350.03-7915Silver Y270.02-25 TOTAL5,2854.16-49
What Would Cities Look Like With 3 Degrees C of Warming vs. 1.5? Far More Hazardous and Vastly Unequal | World Resources Institute
New data from WRI finds that in most cities, the difference between 3 degrees C and 1.5 degrees C of warming is sizable.
Wind and solar have risen to ‘new highs’ in the EU overtaking fossil fuels for the first time ever | Euronews
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said the EU is now “well equipped” to meet climate neutrality goals.
Microsoft’s Hypocrisy on AI
Can artificial intelligence really enrich fossil-fuel companies and fight climate change at the same time? The tech giant says yes.
Microsoft has continued to seek business from the fossil-fuel industry; documents related to its overall pitch strategy show that it has sought energy-industry business in part by marketing the abilities to optimize and automate drilling and to maximize oil and gas production
The idea that AI’s climate benefits will outpace its environmental costs is largely speculative, however, especially given that generative-AI tools are themselves tremendously resource-hungry
Microsoft has failed to reduce its annual emissions each year since then. Its latest environmental report, released this May, shows a 29 percent increase in emissions since 2020—a change that has been driven in no small part by recent AI development, as the company explains in the report. “All of Microsoft’s public statements and publications paint a beautiful picture of the uses of AI for sustainability,” Alpine told me. “But this focus on the positives is hiding the whole story, which is much darker.”
One slide deck from January 2022 that I obtained presented an analysis of how Microsoft’s tools could allow ExxonMobil to increase its annual revenue by $1.4 billion—$600 million of which would come from maximizing so-called sustainable production, or oil drilled using less energy.
An executive strategy memo from June 2023 indicated that Microsoft hoped to pitch Chevron on adopting OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 to “deliver more business value.” A Chevron spokesperson told me that the company uses AI in part to “identify efficiencies in exploration and recovery and help reduce our environmental footprint.” There is the tension. On the one hand, AI may be able to help reduce drilling’s toll on the environment. On the other hand, it’s used for drilling.
“AI will solve more problems than it creates,” Willis told me. “A lot of the dilemmas that we’re facing with energy will be resolved because of the relationship with generative AI.”
Microsoft is reportedly planning a $100 billion supercomputer to support the next generations of OpenAI’s technologies; it could require as much energy annually as 4 million American homes
As Joppa told me: “This must be the most money we’ve ever spent in the least amount of time on something we fundamentally don’t understand.”
Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action
Education systems can empower, equip, and skill young people for climate mitigation and adaptation. But there is also an urgent need to adapt education systems for climate change. This report explains how governments can take action.
Warm fronts to Y-fronts: Chinese city hit by underwear storm
Chongqing authorities say cloud seeding to break heatwave did not cause winds that sent laundry flying
Trends of Heat-Related Deaths in the US, 1999-2023
This study examines trends in heat-related mortality rates in the US population from 1999 to 2023.
Nottingham: Smart particle could hold climate change key
A climate tech company hopes to use an £8m investment to further its research.
Microplastics Found in Human Brains
A fifth of U.S. green hydrogen projects are slated for water-stressed areas | Latitude Media
As the federal government pours billions into hydrogen production, critics worry water shortages in the Southwest could worsen.
Your Favorite Wine Regions Will Feel the Heat
Geographic designations have protected Europe’s greatest wines for over a century. A hotter planet means something has to change.
If You Get Meds by Mail, They May Be Losing Potency in Summer Heat
Parts of the U.S. have experienced record-setting heat waves over the past few summers, which may have caused pharmaceutical ingredients to degrade while en route.
The IRA’s Labor Provisions Look Like They’re Working
Two years in, union leaders say Biden’s big climate law is making a difference.
"The Olympic Village AC debacle is a perfect illustration of the barriers to climate action"
The row over air conditioning at the Paris 2024 Olympics higlights the challenge we face in gaining support for green technologies, writes Smith Mordak.
that's successfully been keeping buildings and landmarks across Paris cool
Becoming nose‐blind—Climate change impacts on chemical communication
Chemical communication plays an essential role in ecosystems as it enables organisms to sense their environment, locate predators, food, habitats, or mates and interact with each other. We show that ...