Author page: Lizi Greenhill

Flooding in Pakistan affecting over 33 million people

A girl carries her sibling as she walks through stranded flood water, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Nowshera, Pakistan September 4, 2022. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz

What’s going on here? Flooding in Pakistan since June has killed over 1,300 people and devastated villages, livelihoods and infrastructure. An estimated ⅓ of the country is underwater and over 33 million have been affected, so far. What does this mean? Record monsoon rains and melting glaciers in Pakistan’s northern mountains have brought floods that have affected 33 million people and killed…

Young people launching legal action on energy treaty at European Court

European Court of Human Rights

What’s going on here? Five young people aged between 17-31, who have experienced devastating extreme weather events are launching legal action at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).  What does this mean? You’re probably wondering, like I did, what is the ECT and what does it have to do with human rights? So here’s a…

Polar heatwaves causing alarm

What’s Going On Here? Last weekend saw heatwaves at both of the planet’s poles. Antarctic temperatures reached record levels, 40 degrees C above normal. During the same period, weather stations in the Arctic recorded temperatures 30 degrees C above normal for this time of year. What Does This Mean? It’s unprecedented for both poles to record such temperatures. The heatwaves have caused…

The retreat of Antarctica’s riskiest glacier: Thwaites

What’s Going On Here? Scientists have warned that the eastern ice shelf of Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier could shatter within the next decade, accelerating melting and sea level rise. What Does This Mean? West Antarctica’s Thwaites glacier is about the size of Great Britain and sheds circa 50 billion tonnes of ice each year.  Earlier this week, The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC),…

Can we slash the rate of extinctions with a UN Agreement?

What’s Going On Here? Plans for new UN targets to curb biodiversity loss have been shared in draft by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.  Biodiversity, and the benefits it provides, is fundamental to human well-being and a healthy planet. Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to continue or worsen under business-as-usual scenarios. What Does This…