Earth’s warming climate is expected to change the habitat of many animal species, which a new modelling study predicts may spell trouble: Species on the move will mingle with many others they have never encountered before, allowing the various animals to exchange viruses. That could spark new disease outbreaks in many wildlife populations—and in humans […]
climate change
Five must-know facts about monsoons and climate change
The UN’s latest major climate report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – the IPCC WG1 – evidence displaying the “physical science basis” for climate change’s effect on monsoons. India, like many countries, relies on this seasonal rainfall for the sustenance of livelihoods, food supplies, and the upkeep of ways of life […]
Five must-know facts about cloudburst weather events
With the frequency of cloudbursts events increasing over India’s Himalayan region and beyond, experts consider this to be direct evidence of the impact of climate change on weather systems. These events that are often difficult to predict have occurred across Jammu, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, dramatically increasing the threat of floods that have the […]
Jammu and Kashmir flooding the latest evidence of climate change affecting rainfall in India
Over two weeks after flash floods devastated Jammu and Kashmir, leaving seven dead and nineteen missing, India is once again coming to terms with the threat posed by cloudburst events. In the aftermath of the flash floods that sent mud, rocks, and other debris crashing through the community causing widespread damage and fatalities, local officials […]
Landmark IPCC report reaffirms knowledge of climate threats and offers stark warnings
The UN’s latest major climate report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides stark warnings of what it describes as the ‘code red’ situation humanity is facing through the effects of anthropogenically-influenced global warming. The comprehensive IPCC WG1 is the latest IPCC report since 2013 when the Fifth Assessment report was published. […]
Rainfall: Deadly Mumbai downpours highlight climate change’s continued scourge
Torrential rainfall in Mumbai has left dozens of people dead and many without drinking water. As of Monday morning, the city recorded more than 250 millimetres of rain in the preceding 24 hours. The deadly Mumbai rains resulted in a landslide, causing considerable damage and loss of life. The Chembur suburb witnessed 21 deaths and […]
Abnormal temperatures linked to climate change cause over seven lakh deaths annually
Almost 740,000 deaths in India can be attributed to abnormal hot and cold temperatures related to climate change annually, according to a study published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health. Laying bare the link between non-optimal temperatures and increased mortality, the study evaluated the impact on a global, regional, and national scale. The findings […]
Heatwave deaths: Half a century, 17,000 lives
Heatwaves in India claimed more than 17,000 lives in a near half-century, research published earlier this year has found. The trend of heatwave deaths points to the rising urgency of combating climate change. Between 1971 and 2019, the research posited that extreme weather events claimed 141,308 lives. Of these fatalities, twelve percent – translating to […]
Climate crisis woes to worsen in years to come
A draft United Nations report obtained by AFP News contains grim news regarding the future of our planet, positing that the climate crisis “will fundamentally reshape life on Earth in the coming decades, even if humans can tame planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.” The leaked report, as AFP News reported last week, involved the contributions of […]
Cyclone Yaas destruction reinforces need for effective climate change planning
Almost two weeks after Cyclone Yaas made landfall, lakhs of people continue to struggle to access drinking water and basic supplies – not to mention the burden of navigating the latest trail of destruction to their livelihoods. First wrecking damage to the Bay of Bengal on the northern coast of India, Cyclone Yaas developed rapidly […]