In Search of the Climate-Migration Lexicon
A warming world, displacement, migrants, refugees. Not only do words have the power to change popular perceptions, but they also shape legal landscapes, influence policy measures, and determine the fates of the most vulnerable. A collection of voices, definitions, infographics, and numbers provides a snapshot of the complex and multifaced climate-migration nexus.
Decrease in Global Inequality is Threatened by Climate Change
Global inequality between countries has been decreasing over the last few decades, particularly due to rapid economic growth in India and China. In contrast, recent studies highlight the role of climate crisis in reversing the positive trend. The effects of climate change impact poor countries disproportionately, via both a rise in economic damages due to […]
Record Heatwave in Antarctica Confirms the Continent’s Warming Trend
Another record broken in Antarctica. Certainly not one to be proud of. Satellite images released by Nasa have made headlines, revealing the extent of glacial melt over the last few weeks in the southernmost continent. Temperatures reached up to 20.75 degrees Celsius, with scientists indicating that these heatwaves are not only getting more intense but […]
The Most Engaging Climate Change Papers of 2019
Applying altmetrics to climate change papers reveals that they are amongst the most engaging research articles of 2019. Papers on the climate emergency, rising sea levels and the restoration potential of trees gained top spots in the Altmetric.com annual survey, giving a fresh perspective on what research is interesting and popular to broader audiences. Let’s […]
Global Risks Report: Environmental Concerns Take Top Spots Just As Business Leaders Lag Behind
The World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risks Report brings together around 800 experts in business, government and civil society to create a summary of what “the world’s most pressing challenges” for the coming year by likelihood and impact will be. Unsurprisingly, climate-related issues featured in all of the top long-term risks. However, the report also revealed how different global actors perceive these risks and, alarmingly, business leaders are lagging behind other respondents. A finding that was emphasized by the Annual CEO Survey that revealed just how far behind business leaders are in their concern for climate risks.
Wildfires: Compromising A Key Natural Climate Solution
Australia is experiencing the worst wildfires seen in decades, as drought and heatwaves fan the flames. In the summer and Autumn of 2019, a significant increase in wildfires brought the Amazon close to a tipping point with global ramifications. Some of these fires were caused by man as land is cleared to make way for agribusiness, logging, mining and other “development” projects. While climate change is exacerbating bushfire intensity and damages, experts and policymakers are calling for strong measures to save what is one of the planet’s main carbon sinks and a vital natural climate solution.
Climate change and health: get ready for the transition
“It’s not about avoiding the risks. It’s about taking a fantastic opportunity.” Let’s see the bigger picture and seize the moment: costs, assessments, and solutions from The Lancet Countdown 2019: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change explained by a data scientist with words, graphs and videos. “It will take the work of the 7.5 billion people […]
The Global Banking System is not Immune to Climate Change.
Climate change will have a growing influence on the stability of the banking system, potentially contributing to future financial crises. A new paper published in Nature highlights the detrimental effects of climate change on the banking system, adding to established literature on the effects of climate change on economic growth and productivity of labour. However, financial regulation authorities can act to reduce climate-related risks by implementing targeted measures.
The Cruel Irony of Climate Debt
Not only does climate change have a more significant impact on the economies of lower income countries, these also have to pay more for adaptation, recovery and redevelopment loans, leading them into the climate debt trap. With the added “cruel irony” that those less responsible for climate change are being made to pay a larger share of the price.
What We Do Now Will Define the Oceans and Cryosphere of the Future
A new IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere claims that we still have time to avert some of the worst effects of climate change. Although painting a dire picture, which reveals the pervasive effects of global warming, the Report also highlights the significant benefits of limiting global warming by emphasising how lower emission scenarios will have reduced impacts on the wellbeing of oceans and the cryosphere.
Reaching a Scientific Consensus on Food
Agriculture, fisheries and livestock production produce around one fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, whilst unhealthy food kills more people than alcohol, drug and tobacco use combined. The paradox is that, whilst 2.1 billion people are overweight, 821 million go to bed hungry every night. Science based research on sustainable diets, such as the EAT-Lancet report, can help reach a scientific consensus on what defines a healthy and sustainable diet, and hence help food production and consumption become a powerful tool in both climate change mitigation and increasing human welfare.
Environmental Migrants: Up to 1 Billion by 2050
There are currently 64 million forced migrants in the world fleeing wars, hunger, persecution and a growing force: climate change. UN forecasts estimate that there could be anywhere between 25 million and 1 billion environmental migrants by 2050. Understanding the climate change-migration nexus will prove instrumental in addressing our current climate emergency. Understanding the connection […]