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…
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…
What’s going on here? Delhi is suffering another heatwave, reaching temperatures of 49°C. Extreme heat this spring has disrupted millions of lives and livelihoods across India and Pakistan. What does this mean? We expect India and Pakistan to get hot at this time of year. The sun beats down strongly in April and May before the monsoon rains arrive. But this year,…
What’s going on here? The Eden Project in Cornwall has come under fire from environmental campaigners for laying an artificial lawn in a children’s play area. What does this mean? The UK’s well-known eco tourism attraction may have decided that plastic grass is a practical solution for its needs. But the problem here is more about the signal it sends. The demand…
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…
What’s Going On Here? Almost 15,000 “ghost flights” departed from the UK since March 2020, with no or fewer than 10% passenger capacity. What Does This Mean? Two years ago, when borders were closed and air passengers grounded, we covered the bizarre reality that airlines run flights with no, or very few passengers simply to hold landing slots at airports (they lose…
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),…
What’s going on here? Medical students are demanding their curriculum includes the climate crisis and prepares them for dealing with the corresponding health crisis. What does this mean? A final year medical student at Oxford, Hannah Chase, was disturbed by the lack of teaching on climate change in her course last year. With the support of colleagues, she embarked on a campaign…
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…
