Two destructive wildfires in Los Angeles have caused significant damage due to human-induced climate change. The study highlights how warmer temperatures and altered weather patterns have increased the frequency and intensity of such events, predicting more severe fires in the future.
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The world added the smallest amount of new coal capacity in two decades last year, a report said Thursday, but use of the fossil fuel is still surging in China and India. Last year also saw a record number of new coal proposals in India, the report warned.
Ecologist Madhav Gadgil warns Western Ghats deterioration has reached a critical point, with landslides increasing tenfold. He blames continued mining and construction, despite his 2011 report recommending stronger ecological protections. Gadgil criticizes the subsequent Kasturirangan report for ignoring local communities and urges the government to implement his original recommendations.
An orca named Tahlequah was seen carrying her dead newborn calf in Puget Sound, Seattle. This is the second time she has exhibited such behavior, previously doing so in 2018 for 17 days. This recent loss marks the second of her four documented calves. Another healthy calf has joined her endangered pod of about 70 members.
January this year was the warmest on record globally since 1850, with surface air temperatures 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Despite La Nina conditions, January temperatures remained exceptionally high. Arctic sea ice reached its lowest extent for January, with Antarctic sea ice also significantly below average, highlighting alarming climate trends.
A grieving orca named Tahlequah, who famously carried her dead calf for 17 days in 2018, is now seen carrying another dead calf. This comes as a significant blow to the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population, which is already struggling due to scarce prey and environmental pollutants.
The National Weather Service is cutting back weather balloon launches or eliminating them entirely at eight northern locations due to staffing issues, impacting forecast accuracy as severe weather season approaches. Scientists and former NOAA officials warn these reductions will degrade weather forecasting, increasing risks of severe weather events.
Three-year-old tigress Zeenat, relocated from Maharashtra to Odisha's Similipal Tiger Reserve, embarked on an unexpected journey. Escaping her enclosure, she crossed into Jharkhand, dodging tranquilizer darts and baffling authorities. Her trek continued into West Bengal, covering vast distances and challenging terrain, leaving trackers scrambling to keep up with her adventurous spirit. Will she return to Similipal? The mystery continues.
A new report reveals that only 28% of India's urban wastewater is treated, with the remainder polluting natural water bodies. Experts emphasize the urgent need to treat and reuse wastewater to alleviate the nation's growing water scarcity, exacerbated by urbanization and climate change. The government mandates a 20% recycling and reuse target for cities, promoting a circular water economy.
More than a hundred baby tortoises, mostly dead, have been returned to Tanzania from Thailand as evidence in a wildlife smuggling case. The tortoises were found in a Ukrainian woman's luggage at Bangkok's airport. The smuggler was arrested in Bulgaria, leading to the capture of 14 other suspects.
The UN biodiversity conference in Rome will resume to finalize critical decisions on financing and resource mobilization. The goal is to raise and effectively distribute significant funds to preserve global biodiversity, building upon commitments made in previous accords despite financial challenges.