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.
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Sweden and Finland, Europe's most forested countries, are not doing enough to protect their primary and old-growth forests, falling short of EU commitments, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said in a report Thursday. "The current government has shown a low ambition to strictly protect primary and old-growth forests on private lands," the WWF said.
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.
At the foot of Pakistan's impossibly high mountains whitened by frost all year round, farmers grappling with a lack of water have created their own ice towers. "The water must be propelled so that it freezes in the air when temperatures drop below zero, creating ice towers," said Zakir Hussain Zakir, a professor at the University of Baltistan.
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes near the Tibet-Nepal border, killing at least nine people. It causes building collapses and shakes regions across Bihar and North India. The quake's epicentre is in Tibet, about 93 km from Lobuche, Nepal. Two aftershocks were also recorded.
Crunch United Nations talks to find funding to curb the destruction of nature will resume in Rome in February, the UN said on Thursday, after negotiations this month in Colombia ended without a deal. Negotiators at fractious UN climate talks were able to approve a deal in the early hours of Sunday morning after two weeks of chaotic and bitter wrangling, but the $300 billion a year pledge from wealthy historic polluters was immediately dismissed.
India argued that developed nations made a strong case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), highlighting the importance of equitable global action on climate change and calling for developed nations to bear greater responsibility for climate change mitigation and finance. India criticised inadequate financial support from developed countries and emphasized the unfair burden on developing nations with minimal historical emissions.
The year 2024 saw extreme weather conditions with the hottest month on record, intense wildfires, numerous hurricanes and typhoons, and devastating floods and cyclones impacting various regions worldwide. Agriculture, food production, and infrastructure were severely affected, highlighting the urgent need for immediate climate action to mitigate these disastrous effects.
India's peak power demand surged by 41 per cent during the summer months of 2023, driven by rising temperatures and frequent heatwaves, a new report by Climate Trends has found.
Rich nations' unfulfilled promises on climate finance might force developing countries to reconsider climate targets. The Economic Survey highlights India's vulnerability and advocates focusing on adaptation over emission mitigation. Key measures include climate-resilient seeds, urban resilience, early warning systems, mangroves, sea walls, and water management. Developed countries falling short of their commitments make low-carbon transition challenging.
Russian officials report that an oil leak from two old tankers has reached Crimea's beaches after encountering a storm last month. The cleanup involves over 10,000 people removing sand spoiled by heavy fuel oil. Ukraine blames Russia’s use of outdated vessels due to Western sanctions, leading to this significant environmental disaster.