The African continent contributes less than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and its growing population suffers from some of the lowest access rates to electricity in the world. Yet, it is also home to some of the fastest growing economies and incredible renewable energy potential. Linking future growth to renewables is key to both the continent’s successful development and achieving global climate goals.
Decoupling emissions from economic growth is seen as a key requisite for meeting climate targets. How do we achieve this? “Energy efficiency resources are infinitely expendable resources of ideas, depleting only stupidity, a very abundant resource,” says Amory Lovins.
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest report sets a roadmap for net zero emissions by 2050. From progress and positive signals, to bottlenecks and rising challenges we look at how researchers, media and NGOs have reacted to the report. “Governments need to separate climate from geopolitics, given the scale of the challenge at hand,” says IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
A summary and collection of visual aids that help us better understand the true extent of the 2023 wildfire season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Fire has always been an integral part of human civilization and a key ecosystem process. Fires influence vegetation growth, environmental conditions, and even our climate. However, a changing climate and human interactions through land change use and forest management are having an impact on the intensity and frequency of wildfires. So, what can we do about it?
Diseases spreading to new corners of the globe as local climates become more suitable, vulnerable members of society killed by extreme events, reduced ability to work and faltering food security. A collection of CMCC reports, papers and articles on the impacts of climate change on human health, including strategies and tools to address them.
Infographics, resources, and analyses to understand the way climate change and health are closely connected. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events and substantial environmental transformations, primarily driven by climate change, pose significant threats to both physical and mental well-being. These changes have far-reaching implications for safety, affecting people’s access to critical resources such as clean air, safe water, food, and healthcare.
Could climate change interrupt the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation – the system of currents that circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean – and bring about a new ice-age? A recent study suggests this tipping point may be closer than previously thought.
The spread of this Atlantic species threatens biodiversity, as well as the economy and tourism of Mediterranean countries. But, it is not the only unwanted guest: according to a report published by IPBES, alien invasive species cost humans $423 billion each year.
An extreme summer has propelled 2023 toward becoming the hottest year on record. The combination of El Niño and climate change has amplified temperatures, while strong marine heatwaves and ecosystem impacts underline the urgent need for understanding and adaptation.
CMCC President Antonio Navarra reflects on our interview with ChatGPT and how good it is at answering questions related to climate science. “ChatGPT doesn’t actually ‘understand’ anything [but] the technology’s potential is enormous and the next versions will be able to do much more than this interview shows.”
From the controversy surrounding scientific papers written by AI powered chatbots and their contributions to carbon emissions, to the greater role of AI in providing climate solutions including accurate and timely information, is AI a force for good or evil when talking about the climate?
