[Jun 2-8'25] ⚠️ Crisis and Contradiction

Nigeria Mourns 200 Dead While Trump Expands Drilling

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.

🙀 #nigeriaflood Nigeria flood kills 200+ and displaces thousands

😻 #criticalminerals UN proposes global minerals trust for fair access to critical materials

😼 #warforests War devastates 5+ million acres of Ukrainian forests

💩 #alaskaoil Trump opens millions of Alaska acres to drilling

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👩‍⚕️ Status: Climate & Science

Let's look at how we're doing this week!

#climateinsurance — Smaller weather events, known as secondary perils, are increasingly causing significant losses for insurers as climate change intensifies these occurrences. These localized events, like thunderstorms and wildfires, now account for a larger share of insured catastrophe losses than traditional disasters, prompting insurers to adjust risk models and premium rates amidst challenges in accurately forecasting these risks.

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📰 The 7 Grand Challenges

⚡️Decarbonize Electricity

Clean electricity is the one do-or-die challenge we must solve.

#nuclearpower — New nuclear power projects, like Sizewell C, are deemed too costly and late to address climate issues, as renewables are now significantly more efficient for CO2 mitigation. Existing nuclear designs are outdated, and unresolved problems regarding waste and safety persist, making the business case for new nuclear weak. Climate-driven flooding risks further jeopardize these projects.

🏘 Reduce impact of urban and rural areas

Lowering the impact of urban and rural areas.

#noisepollution — Noise pollution, often linked to fossil fuel use, poses serious health risks. Advocates like Mary Tatigian fight for quieter communities, highlighting the need for regulations and cleaner technologies to reduce noise and its impacts on well-being. Community engagement is essential for balancing noise preferences and ensuring access to peace and quiet.