[Feb 10-16'25] THE BRIEF
🔥1.5°C: The Threshold We Couldn't Hold - But Here's Who's Still Fighting
Welcome to this week’s edition of The Weekly Climate 🎉
References: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] and [6].
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‼️News you can’t miss
Here’s one important scary/bad (🙀), good (😻), interesting (😼) and fossil (💩) news item.
🙀 #1.5DegreeThreshold: Global temperatures have already exceeded 1.5°C for 12 consecutive months, signaling an early breach of the Paris Agreement threshold with potentially irreversible consequences.
😻 #CleanAirZones: Clean air zones implementation shows immediate positive impact, saving thousands of lives and significantly reducing hospital visits while improving public health.
😼 #AtmosphericRivers: Unusual phenomenon of atmospheric rivers bringing rain instead of snow to West Antarctica, revealing new climate change impacts.
💩 #AlbertaEnergyRegulator: Alberta's energy regulator caught dramatically underreporting spills with only 3.2% inspected, while falsely claiming 75% perfect recovery rates.
This week’s highlights
A sobering milestone in climate history as we officially exceeded the 1.5°C threshold for a full year, yet the week also brought encouraging developments in peatland protection awareness and clean air initiatives. Meanwhile, Antarctica faces unprecedented rain events, and California grapples with climate whiplash, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation strategies.
#GlobalWarming: The 1.5°C Threshold Has Been Breached
In a sobering milestone, global temperatures have exceeded the critical 1.5°C threshold for twelve consecutive months. This premature breach of the Paris Agreement target suggests we may have crossed this crucial climate threshold earlier than climate models predicted, influenced by El Niño conditions and other external factors. The implications for global climate policy are significant, potentially requiring a fundamental rethink of our approach to climate targets. Read more...
#Peatlands: Only 17% Protected Despite Critical Carbon Role
A troubling new study reveals that only 17% of the world's peatlands are currently protected, despite their crucial role in carbon storage. These ecosystems, particularly vulnerable in Europe and the US, are essential carbon sinks and their degradation represents a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The study emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced protection strategies and recognition of Indigenous stewardship in preservation. Read more...
#AtmosphericRivers: Rain in Antarctica Signals Major Change
In an unprecedented development, atmospheric rivers are bringing rain instead of snow to West Antarctica, potentially accelerating ice shelf deterioration and sea level rise. These unusual weather patterns are expected to become more frequent with climate change, threatening the stability of Antarctic ice and global sea levels. Read more...
#CleanAir: Pilot Study Shows Major Health Cost Savings
A groundbreaking clean air zone pilot study demonstrates monthly healthcare savings of £30,000, providing concrete evidence that air quality improvements directly translate to reduced healthcare costs and improved public health outcomes. Read more...
#ClimateExtremes: California's New Climate Reality
Rapid shifts between wet and dry conditions have led to devastating fires across 40,000 acres in Los Angeles, highlighting the increasing frequency of extreme weather patterns. These climate-driven swings are particularly impacting low-income communities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive adaptation strategies. Read more...
That’s it for this week folks!
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