A little under 3,000 climate litigation cases seeking to hold governments and corporations accountable for their actions have been filed around the world since 1986. The past decade has seen an unprecedented surge in such cases and dozens of landmark victories around the world. But what exactly is climate litigation, how powerful of an instrument is it really in the fight against climate change, and where is it heading?

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Climate change litigation cases seeking to hold governments and corporations accountable for their actions are on the rise worldwide, as suggested in a recent Gratham Institute report.

2023, the hottest year in our planet’s history, was an important year for climate change litigation globally, with national and international courts ruling and advising on fundamental climate matters. Landmark cases brought forward by people from all walks of life have paved the way for others to come forward. They have also proven that citizen action can succeed in holding businesses and governments accountable for their actions.

In this article, Earth.Org looks at what climate litigation is and how it has evolved and grown in the past five decades. It also spotlights key cases that shook the world and shaped this emerging legal field.

What Is Climate Litigation?

Individuals of all ages, environmental groups, and affected communities have been increasingly seeking legal avenues to hold government and corporations accountable for their contribution to climate change and inaction, with rather positive results.

In the past decade, climate litigation has consolidated as a popular strategy in tackling the ongoing climate crisis – or, as the United Nations Environment Programme puts it, as “a frontier solution to change the dynamics of the fight against climate change.” It has been described as an “attempt to control, order or influence the behaviour of others in relation to climate governance,” and it has been used by governments, private actors, civil society and individuals locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

The Global Climate Change Litigation database is the most comprehensive database on the matter. Set up in 2011, it is regularly updated by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, an affiliated center of the Columbia Climate School at Columbia University.

As of September 17, 2024, the database contained 2,796 cases – 1,850 filed in the US and 946 in the rest of the world. 70% of these cases have been filed in the past decade alone (2015-2024), following the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement. It also includes cases brought before international or regional courts or tribunals.

At present, the database features cases from over 55 countries – with the US, the UK, Brazil, and Germany leading the way. Little over 200 cases have been recorded in the Global South, with Brazil accounting for 88 of them.

The database classifies cases filed around the world – except in the US – as (1) lawsuits against governments (including those challenging environmental assessment and permitting, human rights violations and environmental crimes) and (2) lawsuits against corporations and individuals.

It also keeps track of requests for advisory opinions submitted to national and international courts. Advisory opinions are non-legally-binding advises issued by a court regarding the constitutionality or interpretation of a specific law.

Meanwhile, cases filed in the US are organized by type of claim, such as (1) federal statutory claims (such as those challenging the National Environmental policy Act and the Endangered Species Act); (2) constitutional claims; (3) state law claims; (4) common law claims; and (5) public trust claims. It also lists cases concerning the regulation, marketing, and commercialization of carbon offsets and credits; trade agreements; and climate adaptation.

Around 5% of all cases have been filed before international or regional courts, human rights tribunals and authorities, with nearly half of the total (44 cases as of September 2024) filed before the Courts of Justice of the European Union.

Recent Trends and Key Cases

The aforementioned report by the Gratham Research Institute, published earlier this year, identified a “consolidation and concentration of strategic litigation efforts” around the world. At least 230 new cases were filed globally, with countries such as Panama and Portugal seeing their first-ever climate lawsuits.

To better understand the drivers of litigation, the Institute developed a typology of the types of behaviour that cases seek to discourage or incentivise.

Of the 233 cases documented last year, 97 (nearly 42%) were classified as “integrating climate consideration cases,” i.e. “cases that seek to integrate climate considerations, standards, or principles into a given decision or sectoral policy, with the dual goal of stopping specific harmful policies and projects, and mainstreaming climate concerns in policymaking.”

47 cases filed last year concerned “climate-washing,” meaning they challenged “inaccurate government or corporate narratives regarding contributions to the transition to a low-carbon future.” The report noted that more than 140 such cases have been filed to date worldwide, particularly in the last few years. Targets of these cases include polluting companies such as airlines, major fossil fuel companies as well as financial institutions over misleading claims to sell their financial products and services.

Among the highest-profile and most frequently discussed cases are what the Gratham Research Institute describes as “government framework cases.” These are lawsuits “that challenge the ambition or implementation of climate targets and policies affecting the whole of a country’s economy and society.”

More than 110 such cases have been filed around the world since the Paris Agreement was passed in 2015, with 15 new filed last year. They target government’s policy responses to the climate crisis, often in relation to the Paris accord, as well as the enforcement of climate protection measures to meet environmental targets. Plaintiffs often build their case on the basis that specific climate goals or protection measures are in violation of basic human rights and increase their vulnerabilities to climate change impacts.

Another way of holding governments and corporations accountable is to challenge their “failure to adapt” to climate change, i.e. “to take climate risk into account.” 64 such cases were filed since 2015, mostly at US and Australian courts.

According to a 2023 report by the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), adaptation cases are still limited. Indeed, besides having to provide evidence of failure to address past and current climate change impacts – a prerequisite for cases about mitigation – adaptation lawsuits must also account for projections of future impacts.

The report also identified five new cases concerning the “polluter pays” principle – the idea that the costs of polluting activities should be borne by the party who caused it, rather than the individual or community who suffer from the consequences of pollution. These cases typically seek “monetary damages from defendants based on an alleged contribution to harmful impacts of climate change.” Of the 34 such cases filed since 2015, mostly in the US, the majority remain open.

More on the topic: Explainer: What Is the Polluter Pays Principle and How Can It Be Used in Climate Policy?

It is important to note than not all climate litigation cases are necessarily supportive of climate action. In some cases, corporations may file lawsuits to obstruct or hinder climate policies that affect their operations.

According to the Gratham Research Institute report, nearly 50 of all climate litigation cases filed in 2023 were not aligned with climate targets. These involved disputes over the incorporation of climate risk into financial decision-making and “just transition cases” challenging “the distributional impacts of climate policy or the processes by which policies were developed, normally on human rights grounds.” Strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP) have also become a common tool to censor, intimidate, or silence critics by burdening them with costly lawsuits, often on grounds that the critiques are defamatory. Journalists, media outlets, and human rights defenders are the main targets of such lawsuits.

In May, the European Union introduced new rules to combat the use of SLAPPs, allowing those targeted by these lawsuits to request a case dismissal early as manifestly unfounded. Those who have brought the legal challenge forward also risk having to bear the costs of the proceedings as well as potential penalties.

Plaintiffs and Defendants

A look at recent climate litigation cases uncovers a growing effort by civil society actors to use the courts to raise awareness about climate action and hold powerful polluters accountable. Individuals and NGOs are beyond most climate cases and about 70% of all cases filed in 2023.

Young people have also increasingly been at the forefront of climate litigation. Many of them have scored historic victories, strengthening youth climate movements worldwide and inspiring fellow activists to follow suit.

Overall, young people often demonstrate a more profound understanding of climate change compared to adults and older generations. According to a InterClimate Network survey published in 2021, more than 8 in 10 young people are concerned about climate change and think it is already having a negative effect on people’s lives. Three-quarters of those surveyed also said they believe the climate crisis will affect their life in the future.

Meanwhile, a 2021 Lancet survey of 10,000 people aged 16-25 across ten countries revealed that more than 50% experienced emotions related to climate anxiety. The study identified dissatisfaction with government responses to the climate crisis as a factor driving anxiety and feelings of betrayal among young people.

For many, these feelings have translated into action campaigns, whether it is through peaceful protests and public disruption campaigns or through the courts. Global climate movements such as Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future have brought the topic into the mainstream in recent years, allowing a new generation of young climate leaders – often nicknamed “the climate generation” – to push for change and educate the rest of the world about climate change.

“The climate crisis won’t be solved by any one country doing particularly well, but it won’t be solved if even one country doesn’t get on board,” Hyunjung Yoon, a young South Korean activist, told Earth.Org in September. “Young climate activists around the world are building their own movements in different environments, but I believe we are in this together.”

Yoon is one of 19 young plaintiffs who recently scored a landmark win at South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which ruled that the country’s climate targets are unconstitutional.

Governments, companies, and trade associations also file climate cases. The report suggests that “many but by no means all” cases filed by the latter two are not aligned with climate action. These three actors are also the main defendants in climate litigation, with governments historically targeted by the majority of cases. In 2023, over 70% of all cases involved government actors among the defendants compared to 26% involving companies, according to the report.

As some of the aforementioned cases show, companies across different sectors are increasingly the target of climate lawsuits, notably since the enactment of the Paris Agreement. Targeted industries include fossil fuels, airlines, food and beverage, e-commerce, and financial services. Of all cases filed last year, the majority involved companies dealing with fossil fuel exploration, production, and transportation, closely followed by transport, freight and storage companies and business services. Retail, agriculture, and fashion companies were also targeted, albeit in smaller numbers.

Impact

Courtrooms around the world have become a key battleground in the public debate over climate change, and recent verdicts have sent an unequivocal message to the world – that climate action is a legal duty.

In 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – the most authoritative scientific body on climate change – recognized that climate litigation “has influenced the outcome and ambition of climate governance,” adding that its impact is “promising.”

Recent research has demonstrated that the impact of climate litigation extends beyond the parties involved and also affects public opinion and future litigation. Considerable media attention that environmental litigation generates can also influence how climate policy is perceived.

As some lawyers put it: “Whilst environmental related litigation is both complex and costly, it is not just the outcome that is important. The activism and attention that environmental litigation generates can be just as (if not more) significant as a court judgment for ‘win’ or ‘lose’.”

In recent years, there has been a notable surge in the prevalence of climate change litigation with strategic intent. These cases are strategically designed to push for more ambitious climate-related objectives. They seek to impact policies, uphold standards, question the allocation of public resources, and scrutinize the reliability and precision of disclosures related to climate matters. Through these legal actions, stakeholders aim to drive systemic change, compel governments and institutions to uphold higher environmental standards, and ensure transparency and accountability in climate-related decision-making processes.

Climate litigation has successfully challenged governments’ climate targets and agendas as well as their authorization of high-emitting projects, setting important precedents for climate action and emissions reduction. The landmark “Urgenda” case in 2019, which saw the Netherlands’ top court ordering the Dutch government to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by the end of 2020 compared with 1990 levels, made global headlines and has had ripple effects around the world.

Polluting companies are also increasingly being held accountable for their actions and ordered to compensate for the damage they cause. These cases also carry serious reputational and supply chain risks.

No matter the outcome, climate litigation plays a crucial role in shaping the discourse around climate change, holding key actors accountable, and advancing the global agenda for sustainable and responsible environmental practices.

The post Explainer: Climate Litigation – Trends and Impact appeared first on Earth.Org.

As climate change continues to intensify, heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe, posing significant health risks to individuals and communities. Understanding how to stay safe during these extreme temperatures is crucial for protecting against heat-related illnesses. This article explores essential tips and strategies to keep cool and safe when the mercury rises, ensuring you can navigate the challenges of a heatwave effectively.

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This is part 3 of a three-part explainer series on extreme heat. Read part 1 and part 2.

If you read the previous articles of our heat series, you will know that cities around the world rely on warning systems to inform their residents about the arrival of a heatwave and share recommendations. Understanding how these warning systems work and knowing when they are in place are essential steps in protecting yourself from excessive heat.

Below are some recommendations on how you can keep yourself informed:

• Follow local weather services: Check local meteorological services or news channels regularly, as they provide real-time updates and alerts about heat advisories and warnings. Local governments and emergency management agencies often post timely updates on social media platforms as well so keep them monitored.
• Use weather apps: Download reputable weather apps that provide notifications about extreme heat conditions. Many of these apps allow users to set alerts for specific weather events in their area.
• Sign up for emergency alerts: Many cities have rolled out local emergency notification systems or community alert programs that citizens can easily enroll in. These services often send text or email alerts directly to residents during extreme weather events, including heatwaves.

To offer protection to their citizens during extreme and prolonged heat events, local authorities can open temporary shelters and cooling centers. Knowing what your options are and where these places are located can be beneficial in situations where quick decision-making is crucial, such as during emergencies, travel planning, or when seeking essential services in unfamiliar areas.

By staying informed, residents can take proactive measures to protect their health and safety, including planning their activities, seeking shade, and ensuring proper hydration. Below are key rules and strategies that will keep you safe.

Tips to Stay Safe During a Heatwave

1. Hydration

In sweltering conditions, the human body dehydrates quickly, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Dehydration is a consequence of sweating, the body’s natural cooling mechanism. Through sweat evaporation, skin and body cool down. However, this process also leads to a significant loss of fluids and electrolytes and a decrease in the volume of blood, 90% of which is water. When this occurs, the heart rate increases as a way to maintain adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs.

This elevated heart rate can put additional strain on the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses. Inadequate hydration can also reduce the heart’s efficiency, potentially leading to fatigue and a higher likelihood of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

So, while keeping hydrated is always key for overall health, it is especially important in hot conditions.

Research suggests that a person should drink around two liters of water per day, or about eight glasses, during non-heatwave times. In heat conditions, the body needs more. Experts recommend drinking throughout the day and urinating around six to seven times a day, or every two to three hours. Pale urine is a good indicator of optimal hydration, while darker, strong-smelling urine in small amounts can be a sign that your body is dehydrated.

In its guidelines for outdoor workers working in the heat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends drinking one cup of water (approximately 8 onces or about 250 milliliters), every 15-20 minutes, as “drinking at shorter intervals is more effective than drinking large amounts infrequently.” At the same time, the agency discourages an hourly intake higher than 48 ounces (about 1.4 liters).

Similar tips apply to those who have been sweating from physical activity or from being unwell.

As for what to drink, water is by far the best way to replace lost fluids. By contrast, alcohol can cause dehydration. Experts also discourage drinks like tea, coffee, and energy drinks for a similar reason, besides the fact that they can increase heart rate and blood pressure in some individuals.

2. Nutrition

During a heatwave, appetite typically decreases. This has to do with the hypothalamus, a structure deep in your brain that acts as the body’s smart control coordinating center for both body temperature and hunger. When engaged in temperature regulation, the hypothalamus’s focus on hunger diminishes.

“[D]uring hot weather, our bodies naturally tend to eat less, as the hypothalamus prioritizes temperature control. It’s an important adaptive response to reduce heat production from digestion while managing body temperature,” explains Lizzy Davis, Assistant Professor and Dietitian Education Program Director at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Nutrition Sciences.

But despite a lack of appetite, eating nutritious foods during a heatwave is almost as import as keeping hydrated. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating small meals frequently throughout the day.

Experts recommend sticking to hydrating, fresh food, those that contain a high percentage of fluids and will thus best hydrate the body. Examples include watermelon, peaches, berries, grapes, and oranges, vegetables that can be juiced, such as spinach, cucumbers, olives, beets, and carrots as well as liquid meals such as soups.

Spicy food is known to make the body sweat as it activates heat receptors in the mouth. For this reason, expert advise against it when it is hot. Similarly, the unhealthy fats contained in fried food can increase the body temperature and they also require more energy to digest, potentially leading to discomfort, sluggishness, and further dehydration in hot conditions.

Experts also recommend avoiding cooking at home during a heatwave or opting for a microwave instead of an oven as a way to keep the environment cool.

3. Clothing

During a heatwave, choosing the right clothing is essential for comfort and health. Experts recommend lightweight, loose-fitting garments made from breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen. These materials allow sweat to evaporate more easily, helping to regulate body temperature. Remember: it is not sweat per se that cools the body down but rather the evaporation of that moisture from the skin. According to WHO guidelines, it is best to avoid synthetic fabrics as they trap heat and moisture.

A 2021 study published in Lancet observed that heatstrokes are commonly seen in otherwise healthy individuals and workers who engage in intense physical activity that generates significant heat. The authors found that this condition often occurs when clothing or equipment hinders the body’s ability to cool down, particularly in temperate to hot environments.

The debate surrounding the best clothing color during a heat event is more complicated. While it is widely accepted that light-colored clothes are a good choice because they reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption, experts hold mixed opinions about dark fabrics.

Some argue that dark colors trap heat from the sun and are therefore not advisable. For instance, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies recommends to “avoid dark colors since they absorb heat.” However, studies have shown that dark clothing can effectively radiate heat away from the body, allowing it to dissipate more efficiently than white clothing, which tends to reflect heat back.

This theory was supported by a 1980 study examining why Bedouins in the hot desert wear black robes. The study concluded that “the amount of heat gained by a Bedouin exposed to the hot desert is the same whether he wears a black or a white robe,” and that “the additional heat absorbed by the black robe was lost before it reached the skin.”

Additionally, layering can be beneficial, as it allows for adjustments based on changes in temperature throughout the day. Lightweight scarves can provide protection against sunburn while still being easy to remove. As a 2021 study states: “Removing or modifying clothing or protective equipment reduces resistance to sweat evaporation and convective heat exchange at skin surface.”

Whenever outdoors on a hot day, the WHO also recommends applying sunscreen as well as wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect the skin from harmful UV rays, even on cloudy days.

4. Exercise

For those exercising outdoors, the CDC recommends doing so during the cooler parts of the day, particularly in the early morning and late evening. However, experts highlight that the urban heat island effect can complicate this guidance in cities.

Urban areas often retain heat due to materials like concrete and asphalt, which absorb warmth during the day and release it slowly at night. As a result, evening temperatures in cities can remain significantly higher than in rural areas, potentially making late workouts feel hotter than anticipated. Therefore, those exercising in urban environments should be mindful of this effect and consider alternative times or locations to ensure a safer and more comfortable exercise experience.

A 2021 study published in Lancet also recommends taking 5 to 10-minute breaks regularly, as they help reduce metabolic heat production sufficiently and thus lower the body’s temperature. Whenever possible, take breaks in the shade or indoors to allow your body to cool down faster.

The CDC also reinforces the importance of sensible attire during extreme heat: lightweight, loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabrics, such as cotton, linen, bamboo, polyester, nylon and microfiber.

You might also like: Climate Change Crashed the Paris Olympics. Is This It For the Games?

Lighter exercises like walking, stretching, or yoga are preferred over strenuous and high intensity workouts. Warm-up and cool-down should not be neglected as they can help your body adjust more gradually to temperature changes.

Hydration, as mentioned above, is key. Experts recommend hydrating well before a workout and drinking throughout every 15-20 minutes, especially when the physical activity lasts longer than an hour. For prolonged or intense activities, consider sports drinks that replenish electrolytes lost through sweat. After your workout, continue to hydrate to help your body recover and cool down.

Understand the Symptoms and Act Accordingly

Taking all the precautions in the world may not always be sufficient, which is why it is crucial to understand how heat-related issues manifest.

Common signs include excessive sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. Once you recognize the symptoms, do not ignore them. If you or someone else exhibits signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, take immediate action such as moving to a cooler location, hydrating, and resting or seek medical help.

Recognizing symptoms early can prevent serious health issues such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke and it is especially important for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and those with preexisting health conditions. Keep an eye on elderly relatives, neighbors, or anyone who may be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

Below are some tips on how to lower the body temperature:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated helps your body regulate temperature and prevents overheating
• Take a cool shower or a bath
• Apply cold packs or damp cloths or towel to pulse points, such as the wrists, neck, and forehead. This can provide immediate relief and help lower your body temperature.
• Utilize fans to increase air circulation. If possible, place a bowl of ice in front of a fan for a cooling breeze
• Practice deep breathing exercises, which can help calm your body and reduce the perception of heat
• Keep your home cool by closing the curtains during the hottest parts of the day and opening windows at night time

Featured image: Kyle Lam/hongkongfp.com.

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Read part 1 of our heat series, where we looks at how extreme heat affects the human body and what socio-economic and physiological factors play a role, and part 2, where we look at how cities are adapting to extreme heat.

The post Silent Killer Part 3: How to Stay Safe in Extreme Heat appeared first on Earth.Org.

The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) provides companies with the tools and responsibilities clearly defined to drive corporate transformation towards a more sustainable, nature-positive future. Earth.Org takes a closer look.

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The world is currently dealing with a triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. In 2022, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released the Living Planet Report. The study highlights the current status of biodiversity and embraces a nature-positive approach and promotes the idea that embedding nature more explicitly into financial and economic systems can help drive more sustainable choices. 

Although the need for action is evident, many businesses and financial organisations currently lack the information required to fully comprehend the risks and opportunities arising from their impacts and reliance on nature. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) aims to address this gap by integrating nature into corporate reporting and strategic planning, providing improved information to decision-makers.

The TNFD Framework for Corporate Reporting

Announced in June 2021 as a response to a global decline in nature and biodiversity, the taskforce intends to position nature at the core of business decisions through its recommendations and guidelines.Released in September 2023, the TNFD framework is based on the structure of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). This is to ensure faster adoption of its principles in the market. Recommendations of the TNFD are also consistent with Target 15 of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which requires businesses to assess, disclose and reduce biodiversity-related risks and impacts. This target, along with other targets of the GBF, is to be achieved by 2030.

The TNFD recommends 14 voluntary disclosures organised around four pillars:

1. Governance: Companies should provide details regarding their governance processes and controls used to monitor and manage nature-related issues. This information helps assess if these issues are given adequate focus by the board and the management, and if the organisation’s governance bodies possess the necessary skills and expertise to address these concerns effectively.
2. Strategy: This relates to the approach that the organisation uses to manage nature-related issues. Companies should describe how these concerns may affect the business model or financial planning. Such information indicates the resilience of the business strategy and provides insights into the future performance of the organisation.
3. Risk and Impact Management: Organisations are recommended to disclose processes used to identify, assess, prioritise and monitor nature-related concerns, and whether these processes are integrated into existing risk management frameworks. 
4. Metrics and Targets: Disclosures should also include performance of the company, including progress towards any targets set. Metrics highlight the overall exposure of an organisation to nature-related risks and reveal progress in managing or adapting to those issues. Such disclosures also help investors and other stakeholders compare organisations within a sector or industry.

Along with a comprehensive guidance on the recommended disclosures, the TNFD has also designed the LEAP approach to provide direction on identifying and assessing nature-related issues. This integrated approach involves four stages:

• Locate interface with nature;
• Evaluate dependencies and impacts on nature;
• Assess nature-related risks and opportunities, and,
• Prepare to respond to and report on material issues, aligned with TNFD’s recommended disclosures. 

This structure is compatible with other popular reporting frameworks such as the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. A new tool has also been designed in a collaborative effort with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) to help align GRI reporting with TNFD. 

The TNFD framework goes beyond disclosures – it serves as a strategic tool for corporations and financial institutions to direct their investments wisely. With the TNFD guidelines, information on risks and opportunities is streamlined. This helps align investments with environmental goals, ensuring that financial decisions support a greener future.

Integrating TNFD Reporting and Nature-Based Solutions

To reverse environmental damage and mitigate climate impact, nature-based solutions (NbS) have emerged as a promising and innovative approach for organisations. These solutions harness the power of natural processes and ecosystems to tackle numerous environmental and social challenges. 

Unlike traditional interventions, NbS work with nature, rather than against it. Solutions range from restoring wetlands to absorbing floodwaters and developing urban green spaces. However, in spite of the growing impetus received from international organisations such as the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), NbS remains severely underfunded. 

As per the 2023 State of Finance for Nature report, current finance flows to NbS of US$200 billion are massively outweighed by finance flows with direct negative impacts on nature of almost $7 trillion. The latest report on NbS published by WWF highlights that inadequate information on returns and impact have been restricting NbS investments. Due to inconsistent reporting, investors do not have clarity on risks, opportunities and impacts of NbS. To resolve these issues, the LEAP approach and the TNFD framework can be used to assess and evaluate NbS projects in terms of project design, governance, and implementation. 

Preparing Businesses for Nature-Related Disclosures

Developing processes to support the TNFD disclosures can take time. Companies may encounter several challenges pertaining to data availability, quality of information and determining materiality of issues. While adoption pathways could be different for each company, as first steps, organisations can start with a few disclosures depending on how much information they currently possess. A gap analysis between TNFD requirements and the existing processes can be helpful to identify which areas or parameters need more work subsequently. Companies can also join the TNFD Forum, which supports collective progress through engagement and collaboration. To facilitate adoption, the TNFD released a suite of Additional Sector Guidance documents this year. 

As of June 2024, more than 400 organisations have adopted the TNFD recommendations. The list includes companies such as IKEA, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo Corporation, Bank of America and AstraZeneca.

With the TNFD, companies now have the tools and responsibilities clearly defined to drive corporate transformation towards a more sustainable, nature-positive future. Going forward, the Taskforce will continue concentrating efforts on promoting and facilitating voluntary market adoption by addressing knowledge gaps and capacity-building of the participants.

The post A Deep Dive Into TNFD and Nature-Related Disclosures appeared first on Earth.Org.

Tropical cyclones, the more general term for hurricanes and tropical storms, are among the costliest weather disasters globally. These rather common weather phenomena are becoming more frequent and intense because of climate change. Earth.Org looks at what tropical cyclones are, how they form, and how global warming is fuelling them.

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Tropical cyclones are powerful storm systems characterized by low pressure, strong winds, and heavy rain. They form over warm ocean waters, mostly in tropical regions.

Once they sustain wind speeds exceeding 63 km/h (39 mph), they are considered a tropical storm and receive a name. Between 80 to 90 named tropical cyclones form every year around the world.

Depending on the location, named tropical cyclones are referred to as hurricanes or typhoons. The former term is particularly used in the US as it comprises cyclones that originate in the Atlantic Ocean or northeastern Pacific Ocean.

Hurricanes

The Saffir-Simpson wind scale is the most widely recognized risk assessment method for hurricanes. Developed in 1971 by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson and introduced to the general public in 1973, the scale classifies hurricanes into five categories based on their sustained winds. To be classified as a hurricane, a storm must have a one-minute-average maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph or 119 km/h (Category 1). Currently, the highest classification is assigned to storms with winds blowing at a speed of at least 157 mph or 252 km/h (Category 5).

The scale also estimates the extent of potential damage to properties, infrastructure, and livelihoods, with Categories 3-5 hurricanes – also known as major hurricanes – expected to cause “devastating” to “catastrophic” damage and loss due to the strength of their winds. However, the scale does not take potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes into account.

Typhoons

Tropical cyclones forming in the northwestern Pacific Ocean are known as typhoons. Depending on the area, the minimum wind speed needed for a cyclone to be classified as a typhoon varies. Vietnam and Japan classify it as such when winds reach a minimum speed of 98.2 km/h (61 mph). In southern China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the minimum speed must be 118 km/h (73 mph).

Typhoons are then classified further as their speed increases. Hong Kong, for example, refers to them simply as “Typhoons” when wind speed does not exceed 149 km/h (92.6 mph), after which they become “Severe Typhoons” (TS). Only when the speed is 185 km/h or above (>115 mph), they take the name of “Super Typhoons” (SuperT).

Hong Kong also relies on a set of numeric warming signals to indicate the threat or effects of a typhoon, with the lowest level (T1 or “standby signal”) issued when a tropical cyclone approaches within 800 kilometres (497 miles) of the territory and poses a threat of deteriorating conditions. According to the strong winds range, the warning can increase to a T3 (Strong Wind), T8 (Gale or Storm), T9 (Increasing Gale or Storm) and T10 (Hurricane).

China, Japan and the Philippines rely on a similar, six-category classification with slight variations in wind speeds. Meanwhile India classifies any tropical cyclones that develop within the North Indian Ocean in seven categories according to their sustained wind speeds, with the lowest being a Depression (3-minute sustained wind speeds of between 31-50 km/h or 20-31 mph) and the highest being an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (hurricane-force winds of 167-220 km/h or 104-137 mph).

How Do Tropical Cyclones Form?

To form, tropical cyclones require a minimum sea surface temperatures of 26C (79F). This temperature provides the necessary heat and moisture to fuel the storm, as opposed to cooler waters, which can weaken or dissipate it.

Hurricanes, or typhoons, form when warm ocean waters heat the air above them, causing the warm, moist air to rise. As this air ascends, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and creating a low-pressure zone beneath. This low pressure allows more air to rush in from surrounding areas. As the system continues to develop, it can lead to the formation of thunderstorms. If there are no strong winds to disrupt the process, the storm can intensify and evolve into a hurricane, or typhoon, depending on its location.

Warm ocean waters, atmospheric instability, and favorable wind conditions all contribute to fuelling the cyclone and make it more powerful.

Viewed from space, tropical cyclones have spiral cloud bands and a visible “eye,” the cyclone’s center. In some cases, the structure of the eye is visible as well. The eye is a calm, generally clear area of sinking air and light winds of maximum 24 km/h (15 mph) and is typically 32-64 km (20-40 miles) across.

The diameter of a tropical cyclone is usually around 200 to 500 kilometers (124-311 miles), but can reach up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).

Economic Impact

Tropical cyclones are the costliest weather events globally, particularly in prone regions such as the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and southern US. The immense damage they can cause stems from high winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, and storm surges, which can devastate infrastructure, homes, and agriculture. The economic impact can be significant, leading to billions of dollars in damages, loss of life, and long-term recovery costs.

The world’s top-ten costliest tropical cyclones all occurred in the Atlantic Ocean. Topping the ranking is Hurricane Katrina, which in 2005 hit the US city of New Orleans and surrounding areas, killing 1,392. Damages were estimated at US$186.3 billion. Katrina is closely followed by Hurricane Harvey (2017), which led to economic losses of $157 billion, and Hurricane Maria (2017), which caused damage worth $112 billion.

Between 2017 and 2023, 137 separate billion-dollar disasters have cost the US more than $1 trillion, largely driven by landfalling Category 4 or 5 hurricanes in five of the last seven years, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, Michael, Laura, Ida, and Ian.

2022 was the nation’s third-costliest year ever for climate disasters, with a total of 18 major climate disasters collectively racking up $165 billion in damages. Category 5 Hurricane Ian alone cost the US about $112.9 billion.

In the Pacific, the most expensive tropical cyclone to date is the 2023 Typhoon Doksuri, which caused over $28 billion in damages, primarily in China. It is followed by Japan’s Typhoon Hagibis in 2019, which resulted in damages for $18 billion, and Typhoon Jebi in 2018, Japan’s costliest typhoon in terms of insured losses.

Hong Kong’s costliest typhoon to date is Super Typhoon Mangkhut, which hit the territory in 2018 and resulted in HK$4.6 billion (US$593 million) in direct economic losses.

Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change: What’s the Link?

Though tropical cyclones are a rather common weather phenomenon, there has been a significant increase in their intensity in recent decades, which scientific observations link to anthropogenic climate change. These abnormal trends are attributed largely to rising ocean temperatures.

The world’s seas have been exceptionally warm for more than a year. The average sea surface temperature in July reached 20.88C, the second-highest value on record and only 0.01C shy of the value recorded in July 2023. This put an end to a 15-month period of record-breaking sea surface temperatures. The latest temperature trends makes it “increasingly likely” that 2024 will be the warmest year yet, beating last year, according to the EU weather agency Copernicus.

While the number of typhoons is not necessarily increasing, those that do form are becoming more destructive – generating heavier rain and a higher storm surge. The likelihood of storms reaching major hurricane status (category three or higher) has also increased significantly over the past decades.

“Fossil fuel-driven warming is ushering in a new era of bigger, deadlier typhoons,” said Ben Clarke, Researcher at the London Imperial College’s Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. Clarke was part of a team of researchers at World Weather Attribution (WWA) that last month published a study on Typhoon Gaemi, which battered the Philippines, Taiwan and eastern China in July. They found that the typhoon, which left more than 100 people dead, was intensified by fossil fuel-driven global warming.

Gaemi saw sustained winds peak at 233 km/h (145 mph), the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane. According to the attribution analysis, the winds were about 9 mph (14 km/h) or 7% more intense due to human-made climate change.

The typhoon brought huge amounts of rainfall, too. The Philippines, which was not in Gaemi’s path, saw its seasonal rains exacerbated by the typhoon’s influence, triggering devastating floods that killed 34 people. It made a second landfall in eastern China, leading to heavy flooding, mudflows, and landslides. While it could not determine how climate change influenced rainfall in the Philippines, WWA concluded that the rainfall that hit Taiwan and China’s Hunan province was made about 14% and 9% heavier, respectively.

Another attribution analysis revealed that climate change affected rain patterns and their intensity during the 2020 North Atlantic hurricane season. Researchers found that human-made climate change increased the extreme 3-hourly storm rainfall rates by 10% and extreme 3-day accumulated rainfall amounts by 5%.

Unprecedented Times

In May, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that this year’s Atlantic hurricane season will likely be “above-normal,” owing to a combination of near-record heat in the Atlantic Ocean and the development of La Niña conditions in the Pacific.

La Niña, a phenomenon that typically occurs every 3 to 5 years, is expected to develop between September and November this year. It is associated with the periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific, weaker Atlantic trade winds and less atmospheric stability, conditions that are conductive to Atlantic hurricane activity.

NOAA predicts a range of 17 to 25 named storms (wind speed of 39 mph or 65 km/h) this year, eight to 13 of which are forecast to become hurricanes (wind speed of 74 mph or 119 km/h). Of these, 4 to 7 are forecast to be major hurricanes. If true, the predictions would make this year the ninth consecutive to see an above-normal hurricane season, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

To some extent, the US has already had an unusual season this year. Hurricane Beryl, which roared across the Windward Islands in the Caribbean in May, marked an exceptionally early start to the Atlantic hurricane season, becoming the earliest Category-5 storm on record. This confirms a trend already observed by scientists, which found that the hurricane season is starting earlier and lasting longer, with conditions in June resembling what is typically expected in August or September.

“The precocity of Hurricane Beryl is mainly linked to the strong warm anomaly underway in the Atlantic Ocean, where temperatures above 29°C have been recorded,” explained Enrico Scoccimarro, a scientist at the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change (CMCC). “We see a trend towards an extension of the warm period in the Atlantic Ocean and therefore the intensification of storms becomes more likely in these months.”

But besides longer seasons, tropical cyclones are becoming more unpredictable and destructive because of climate change. This is partly linked to the fact that these storms are intensifying more rapidly as warmer ocean waters provide more fuel, with winds increasing by 56 km/h (about 35 miles per hour) in a 24-hour period.

Rapidly intensifying storms leave less time for authorities to issue warning systems, putting coastal communities in great danger. In 2022, for example, Hurricane Ian devastated portions of Florida after it rapidly intensified, packing two days’ worth of rapid intensification into less than 36 hours.

Adapting to the New Normal

As climate change rewrite the rules of tropical cyclones, some experts have pointed out that existing warning systems might be revisited to reflect these changes.

A 2023 paper argued that the 1971 Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale is no longer accurate in measuring the climate change-driven exponential increase in winds.

According to the authors, the fact that the scale is open-ended – meaning that anything beyond 157 mph or 252 km/h is classified as Category 5 and assigned the same level of wind hazard – reflects a flaw in the system, no matter if it is blowing 160 mph (257 km/h), like 2022 Hurricane Ian in the US, or 215 mph (346 km/h), like Mexico’s 2015 Hurricane Patricia. For this reason, they suggested adding a hypothetical new category – Category 6 – to the scale. This, they say, would reflect the wind speed that has already been reached in a number of storms that happened in the last decade, including Typhoon Haiyan (2013), Typhoon Meranti (2016), Typhoon Goni (2020), and Typhoon Surigae (2021) in the Western Pacific and Hurricane Patricia (2015) in the Eastern Pacific.

A 2020 analysis of satellite records from 1979 to 2017 found that the likelihood of a storm reaching Category 3 or above, with sustained winds of 185 km/h, increased by 8% per decade. In 2023, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) confirmed these observations, arguing that the proportion of Category 3-5 tropical cyclones as well as the frequency of rapid intensification events have likely increased globally over the past four decades. And with our atmosphere and oceans set to continue warming in the coming years as the climate crisis intensifies, there is little doubt that wind speeds will also progressively strengthen.

Featured image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Wikimedia Commons.

The post What Are Tropical Cyclones? Hurricanes and Typhoons, And Their Link to Climate Change, Explained appeared first on Earth.Org.

Blended finance has emerged as a promising solution to unlock the trillions needed for a net-zero economy, combining public, philanthropic and private money to support sustainable projects. However, despite growing interest, experts warn that current funding levels fall far short of what’s required to combat climate change. How does blended finance work and how can it meet the urgent need for climate action? 

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Business experts at this year’s climate summit in Hong Kong have called for “blended finance” to be used to secure the trillions of dollars needed to move to a net-zero economy as temperatures on planet Earth repeatedly break heat records.

Blended finance happens when philanthropists or governments pay for or offer incentives to encourage private investors to put money in sustainable deals or projects that are not seen as “bankable,” where risks are high and returns low.

This mix of financing can kickstart climate projects in developing nations that would otherwise be deemed too risky for private investors, especially early on. During the One Earth Summit in March, En Lee, Managing Director of Sustainable and Impact Investments in Asia for LGT, emphasized its importance in attracting larger investors.

“All the deals we did in the early days usually involved the philanthropist coming in, putting in some capital to de-risk the proposition, and then a bank like the World Bank coming on board,” Lee said. “You have to lever it as blended finance to bring in bigger players.”

Trillions Needed

Experts estimate that to get to net zero emissions and meet the Paris Agreement climate goals, spending on clean energy will need to go from US$1.8 trillion in 2023 to US$4.5 trillion annually by the early 2030s. In Asia alone, the cost could jump to US$71 trillion to achieve net zero by 2050, according to the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change. 

Blended finance makes up part of the broader climate finance landscape, which tripled during the past decade to almost $1.3 trillion in 2022, according to nonprofit  Climate Policy Initiative. 

While the idea of blended finance originated in 2015 to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, interest has surged recently due to the urgent need to decarbonise a warming Earth already facing stressed planetary boundaries. 

This mix of financing can channel funds to projects that enhance resilience and protect vulnerable communities from climate change, focusing on both infrastructure and social impacts, especially in developing countries.

Non-profit global network Convergence reports that blended finance rebounded in 2023, reaching a 5-year-high of $15 billion, with funding of climate projects doubling in a year. 

At the One Earth summit, Lee told attendees about M-KOPA, an example of a blended finance project. M-KOPA is a pay-as-you-go provider of solar home systems that caters to low-income, off-grid customers in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The company enabled underbanked African customers who once relied on kerosene to use mobile credit to pay for solar power, enabling them to own their home systems after 12 to 18 months, said Lee. 

Now M-KOPA powers homes in nations like Kenya and Uganda, deploying $1 billion to more than 4 million customers. This has slashed reliance on fossil fuels while improving access to education, healthcare and technology.

Getting the Flywheel Moving

M-KOPA exemplifies the climate opportunities available, enabling millions to take part in the modern economy as the cost of renewables like wind and solar falls, making it more attractive for investors.

Business begins to act when the numbers work, TPG Capital Founding Partner Jim Coulter said at the summit, adding the world is about to see “one of the most fascinating periods of business and economic history.”

Over the past year, several global groups have committed to blended finance. At the 2023 UN climate conference in Dubai, the Green Climate Fund and Allianz Global Investors pledged $5 billion. 

Asia is particularly important, accounting for around half of global emissions. Singapore has launched the FAST-P blended finance platform, aiming to raise US$5 billion for climate action in the region, while Hong Kong is pushing itself as a green finance hub to support climate initiatives. 

Still, these sums fall short of the trillions needed every year to decarbonise. Since 2015, Convergence has recorded 1,233 blended transactions totalling $231 billion. 

“To really achieve net zero, we know that the private and public sector will need at least $3.8 trillion dollars annually between now and 2025,” Deepali Khanna, Vice President of the Asia regional office of the Rockefeller Foundation, told the One Earth summit. “We are not even close to a fraction of the dollars coming through.”

The market has struggled to combat climate change due to several factors, according to Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein, Chairman of LGT Private Banking. Improper pricing of carbon emissions and conserving nature, low accountability for widespread emissions, resistance from the fossil fuel industry, and high upfront costs of switching to cleaner energy were all hurdles, he explained. 

The prince called for a shift in mindset, a view echoed by TPG’s Coulter, who told summit attendees that the flip side of the climate crisis is the “massive opportunity” for society and investors to rebuild global supply chains. 

“Opportunity is what will get the flywheel moving,” said Coulter, who has set up a climate fund called TPG Rise Climate, part of the company’s $19 billion impact platform.

Experts at the summits said philanthropists can leverage these opportunities to invest in projects that offer innovative climate solutions and connect start-ups with purpose-driven investors, attracting companies and governments. “What really is exciting for me is to see the intersections around people and the planet,” said Khanna. 

Already some of the world’s biggest charities, including the Bezos Earth Fund, have teamed up with the World’s Bank’s investment arm to try to generate $11 billion in climate cash in emerging economies. The platform, Allied Climate Partners, aims to raise US$825 million to attract more private money than any previous blended finance initiative.  

To succeed, projects must grow bigger, and players must embrace the risks, profits and impacts of blended finance, experts at the summit said. Establishing standardised and transparent measurements for outcomes and impacts is essential. 

Governments are vital in enabling blended finance through supportive policies and laws. They need to help address regulatory hurdles and improve information sharing among data providers, Convergence said in an April 2024 brief. 

As the planet approaches critical climate thresholds, experts at the summit all agreed on the need to collaborate. 

“Public, private, philanthropic partnerships are definitely the way to go,” said Khanna. “With the difficult problems we’re trying to solve, none of us can really achieve them alone.”

The post Financing the Future: Can Blended Finance Save Our Warming Planet? appeared first on Earth.Org.

In the course of pursuing societal development, human activities including deforestation, overfishing, massive greenhouse gas emission, water pollution and plastic contamination have led to an excessive depletion of the Earth’s resources, causing the disruption of ecological balance and biodiversity loss.

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Biodiversity describes the richness and variety of life on earth. Encompassing three key aspects known as genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity, the definition of biodiversity has expanded to include the variety of all living organisms within ecosystems. It spans multiple levels, from genes and individuals to populations, habitats, ecosystems, ecological processes, and the interconnections between these forms of diversity. Without biodiversity, the intricate web that sustains all forms of life would not be able to exist. 

What Is Biodiversity Loss?

In recent years, the world has witnessed large-scale biodiversity loss caused, among other factors, by human-induced climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, overhunting, and overfishing. As the name implies, biodiversity loss refers to the decline or disappearance of biological diversity. This phenomenon encompasses the diminishing variety of living organisms, from genes to species to ecosystems, across the planet. 

In 2019, the United Nations, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), released a report on biodiversity warning that out of the estimated eight million species on Earth, approximately one million are now threatened with extinction, with many at risk of disappearing within decades, marking a higher number than ever recorded in human history.

This is not the only study that reveals the stark reality of biodiversity we are currently confronted with. In 2022, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London used the Living Planet Index (LPI) to measure the average decline in monitored wildlife populations. They found that between 1970 and 2018, on average, there was a 69% decline in population size across the 31,821 species studied. Additionally, the report found that 75% of the land surface is significantly altered, 66% of the ocean area is experiencing increasing cumulative impacts, and over 85% of wetlands has been lost.

You might also like: The Remarkable Benefits of Biodiversity

Consequences of Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity loss has far-reaching and long-lasting destructive consequences.

• Loss of Ecosystem Stability and Resilience

Just as every piece is vital in a detailed jigsaw puzzle, each element within an ecosystem contributes to its balance and functionality. Biodiversity is key to sustaining the strength and adaptability of ecosystems, enhancing their stability and resilience to challenges like climate change, disease outbreaks, and invasive species. Consequently, a decrease in biodiversity can diminish an ecosystem’s ability and resilience to recover from such disruptions, heightening the risk of ecosystem collapse. This can lead to increased soil erosion, which not only affects agricultural productivity but also impairs the ecosystem’s ability to support plant and animal life.

• Decline in Ecosystem Services

Biodiversity offers essential goods and services crucial for life on Earth. These ecosystem services, encompassing the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being, are pivotal for our survival and quality of life. They include functions like water and air purification, soil formation, pollination, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation, all of which are provided by biodiversity. The decline of biodiversity can impair these services, leading to a decline in environmental quality. For example,  forests act as carbon sinks, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and returning the oxygen to the atmosphere through a process known as photosynthesis. Deforestation can massively increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which trap more heat and exacerbate global warming.

• Harm to Human Health

Beyond its effects on ecosystems, the decline in biodiversity also influences human health. We are fundamentally dependent on ecosystems’ goods and services, such as the provision of fresh water, food, and fuel sources, for maintaining our well-being and ensuring sustainable livelihoods.The loss of biodiversity can result in significant direct impacts on human health when ecosystem services no longer adequately meet social needs. For example, in some regions, up to 95% of wetlands have been lost and two-thirds of the world’s largest rivers are now moderately to severely fragmented by dams and reservoirs. These diminishing ecosystems pose a significant threat to those who are directly dependent on wetlands for essential supplies such as freshwater and fish. 

Final Thoughts

Defined by the richness and interconnectedness of genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity, biodiversity represents the very essence of our planet’s resilience and vibrancy. Yet, in the face of human-induced climate change, we find ourselves witnessing a precipitous decline in this critical biodiversity, which can lead to severe impacts including a diminished ecosystem stability and resilience, a reduction in ecosystem services, and adverse effects on human health. These consequences exacerbate the current climate crisis and pose a threat to the safety and vitality of our planet. It is crucial to take immediate and collaborative actions to reverse the trajectory of biodiversity loss, preserving the diverse web of life and securing a balanced future for the planet. 

The post What Are The Consequence Of Biodiversity Loss? appeared first on Earth.Org.

Extreme heat, a direct cause of climate change, is spreading rapidly across the world, affecting billions of people. With the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning that further warming will increase the intensity, frequency and duration of heatwaves, cities have begun testing warning systems and other adaptive measures to keep individuals safe, with mixed results.

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This is part 2 of a three-part explainer series on extreme heat. Read part 1 and part 3.

Climate change is escalating extreme heat everywhere in the world. According to a recent analysis by non-profit Climate Central, between May 2023 and May 2024, an estimated 6.3 billion people – roughly 4 out of 5 people in the world – lived through at least a month of what in their areas were considered abnormally high temperatures. Human-made anthropogenic climate change made this extreme heat at least two times more likely to occur, the non-profit found.

Heat affects everyone and is becoming harder to ignore, particularly for those living in urban areas. A 2021 study concluded that by the end of the century, cities could be up to 4.4C warmer depending on the emissions scenario. Fortunately, many cities are taking the matter at hand, implementing strategies to alert their residents about the risks posed by extreme heat, mitigate the potential of further warming, and adapt to the heat that can no longer be prevented.

From early warning system, emergency and heat-health action plans to architectural interventions, Earth.Org looks at how cities are keeping safe from this silent and deadly threat.

Warning: Excessive Heat!

This summer of record-breaking temperatures has seen headlines dominated by reports of millions of people under heat warnings.

Heat warning systems are essential tools designed to alert communities about impending heatwaves and extreme heat events. They are used in hundreds of cities around the world, from Las Vegas to Hong Kong, to alert and provide guidance to residents and local authorities when temperatures rise to dangerous levels. Citizens are often advised on staying cool and hydrated, seeking shelter in air-conditioned spaces, and avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Meanwhile, relevant local departments are alerted about the need to take preventive measures such as opening temporary shelters and cooling centers.

In a warming world, these warning systems are essential. But can they save lives?

While there is no straightforward answer, past events showed us that warnings alone do not compensate for the unpreparedness of societies to heat events.

In 2021, warnings were not enough to prevent hundreds of fatalities in the Pacific Northwest. 441 people died to extreme heat between June 27 and July 3. More recognized for its overcast skies and light rain, the Northwest is relatively unaccustomed to extreme heat. This translates into inadequate infrastructure and poor understanding of the risks, the combination of which can be fatal.

Similarly, the UK, a nation not traditionally associated with favorable weather, is only now beginning to experience the realities of global warming. Its national weather agency, the Met Office, issued the country’s first ever red “extreme heat” warning in July 2022, when the mercury hit 40C for the first time in recorded history. The government declared a national emergency; however, the reality is that no one was prepared.

“It was a real challenge,” said Renee Salas, an emergency medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, recalling the heatwave. “We’re used […] to gray, overcast weather, generally the average July temperature is 20C. And so there was a real difficulty in communicating to people ‘this isn’t beach weather or park weather or going-on-an-ice-cream weather’. If you’re in a group that might be vulnerable, if you’re older, if you have certain pre-existing health conditions, this is genuinely very dangerous.”

Official estimates put the number of heat-related fatalities that summer at 2,985, but there is little doubt that the death toll was much higher.

“When you go to hospital with a heat-related condition, it doesn’t go on your death certificate that you died because of a heatwave. It’s something else… a cardio-vascular event or something like that,” Salas explained.

Communication barriers and limited access to technology, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly, low-income households, and the homeless are some of the most apparent challenges authorities face with regards to heat warning systems. The issue is particularly pronounces in low-income countries, which lag behind in terms of connectivity. With more than 2.6 billion people – nearly 32% of the world population – still offline, such channels can only go so far.

Should We Name Heatwaves?

Aside from connectivity, another issue in effectively communicating heat risks is that people still underplay or do not fully understand them. This is particularly true, as Salas pointed out, in places like the UK, which are not accustomed to it. To enhance understanding and boost preparedness, some have suggested treating heatwaves like any other extreme weather-related event.

“Heat waves are a weather event that should be treated with the severity that other weather events are treated,” Andrew Mackenzie told Bloomberg in August. Mackenzie is Associate Director of Strategy and External Relations at the Physiological Society, one of many organizations that in recent months has appealed to metereologists to start naming heatwaves, just like they do with hurricanes and typhoons.

In 2022, the Spanish city of Seville, the warmest city in Continental Europe, put the idea to the test, naming a six-day heatwave “Zoe.” A peer-reviewed study on the effectiveness of Seville’s experiment published earlier this year concluded that around 6% of those surveyed two months after the event recalled the heatwave’s name. They also demonstrated greater understanding of the risks and were more likely to have taken steps to stay safe during the heat event and trust their government’s response, the study found.

“Everything should be on the table to save lives,” said study co-author Kathy Baughman McLeod.

Since then, however, the US National Weather Service and the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have rejected the idea owing to a lack of evidence. The latter has gone as far as saying that naming heatwaves might have the opposite effect as it may interfere with existing warning protocols.

Protecting Workers

With summer heat intensifying and heat streaks becoming longer, there is an urgent need to protect those particularly at risk. One highly vulnerable group is outdoor workers, who are exposed to high temperatures for prolonged periods.

Some governments have guidelines in place for scheduling work during cooler times of the day, providing access to shaded areas, and encouraging frequent breaks to rehydrate and cool down. But more needs to be done.

Hong Kong, where summer temperatures averaging 32-35C are coupled with high levels of humidity for months on end, has rolled out heat stress systems to protect its outdoor workers. The three-tier system (Amber, Red and Black) is meant to “help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.” Results have been mixed.

In July, a Hong Kong NGO urged the government to review its Heat Stress at Work Warning system after dozens of interviews with street cleaners and other outdoor workers revealed that 90% of them had experienced tiredness, thirst, headaches, dizziness, rises in body temperature and nausea while working, despite employers offering portable fans, clothing, and drinking water. As of July 14, when the report was released, Hong Kong had already issued the amber Heat Stress at Work warning 96 times.

Many of the interviewees who experienced heat stroke suggested the effects of prolonged exposure to extreme heat are not appropriately reflected by the warning system, which often leaves an amber warning in place for several hours. Chloe Au, a social worker for the alliance, said that red alert should be issued instead.

Hong Kong outdoor workers are not alone. In June, UK trade unions called on the government to adopt a new legal maximum temperature of 30C at work. At the time of writing, the UK has regulations in place that set a minimum temperature for indoor workplaces but no maximum temperature.

“[W]orking in sweltering conditions can be unbearable and dangerous – so spare a thought for those in overheated shops, baking offices or toiling outdoors in direct sun,” said Trades Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary Paul Nowak. “Indoor workplaces need to be kept cool, with relaxed dress codes and flexible working to make use of the coolest hours of the day. And employers must make sure outdoor workers are protected with regular breaks, lots of fluids, plenty of sunscreen and the right protective clothing.” 

Nowak said workers are “struggling to cope” and urged the government to improve the law, invest in resilience and deliver climate action as extreme heat becomes “the norm.”

You might also like: What Do Heatwaves Tell Us About Climate Change?

Reshaping Cities: A Work in Progress

Cities are starting to transform and evolve with a long-term perspective to adapt to this “new normal.”

The main issue urban areas face is the lack of green spaces. In high-density cities like Hong Kong, permeable vegetation is gradually replaced by impermeable concrete for skyscrapers and infrastructure. That concrete makes cities hotter is no secret: the modified land surface, such as dark pavement and roofing, stores more heat – a phenomenon known as the urban heat island (UHI) effect.

An analysis conducted by Climate Central of 44 major US cities, which collectively are home to 74 million people, found that about 55% of them live in census tracts that feel at least 8F (approx. 4.4C) more heat because of the local built environment. The study concluded that about 80% of the US population lives in cities where the urban heat island effect can worsen heat extremes.

Heat mitigation strategies focus on cooling urban environments through thoughtful planning and design. The most obvious approach, and repeatedly proven to be an effective one, is increasing vegetation by planting trees and enhancing green cover.

Cities like Singapore witnessed the benefits of this firsthand.

The city, a prime example of sustainable urban planning, has successfully cooled down large areas by planting over 7 million trees and creating more than 300 parks and gardens. Similarly, the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands has enhanced its green coverage by installing green roofs on more than 300 bus shelters.

While green spaces and increased shade remain the most effective ways to tackle urban heat, other interventions have shown promising results.

Los Angeles, where approximately 45% of the population is exposed to at least 8F (approx. 4.4C) more heat owing to the built environment, has been actively testing cool pavement since 2017. Cool pavements have a reflective coating that helps reflect, rather than absorb, sunlight.

A research conducted in the city in the summer 2022 revealed that during an extreme heat event, cool pavement-covered areas saw ambient air temperatures as much as 3.5F (1.9C) cooler than those in the adjacent neighborhood. On sunny days, ambient air temperatures were reduced by up to 2.1F (1.2C); at night, they were up to 0.5F (0.3C) lower. The coating also lowered surface temperatures by up to around 10F (5.6C).

Los Angeles has taken other proactive measures to protect its citizens from heat, including setting up more than 170 cooling centers – public facilities such as libraries, schools, community centres, or shelters that offer air-conditioned spaces, water, and information for people who need to escape the heat, especially those who do not have access to cooling at home. 

Cooling centers can save lives, but they do have their limitations.

“Cooling centers are fine as long as you can get there,” said Larry Kalkstein, the chief heat science adviser at Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, adding that they are just a “temporary fix.”

A 2017 review on the implementation of cooling centers conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that their effectiveness is “unclear.” The analysis found that those who are most vulnerable to heat do not always use them. Once again, communication barriers and poor understanding are to blame.

No Right Or Wrong

Every city faces unique challenges influenced by factors such as geography, climate, infrastructure, and socio-economic conditions. For instance, densely populated areas may struggle with heat islands due to high concentrations of concrete and limited green spaces, while coastal cities might contend with elevated humidity.

Warning systems can provide real-time alerts about extreme heat events, enabling residents to take precautionary actions, while adaptation measures – such as increasing urban greenery, enhancing building materials for heat resistance, and improving public transportation – can mitigate heat impacts in the long term.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to combat urban heat, and a combination of warning systems and tailored adaptation measures remains the most effective choice.

Research shows that cities that adopt a multifaceted approach not only reduce heat-related health risks but also enhance community resilience against future climate challenges. By integrating local data and community input, urban planners can develop strategies that are responsive to specific needs, ensuring that all residents are better protected from the adverse effects of rising temperatures.

Featured image: Kyle Lam/hongkongfp.com.

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Read part 1 of our heat series, where we looks at how extreme heat affects the human body and what socio-economic and physiological factors play a role and part 3, where we give tips on how to stay cool during a heatwave.

The post Silent Killer Part 2: How Cities Are Bracing For More Heat appeared first on Earth.Org.

As global temperatures continue to shatter records, industries are increasingly pressured to reduce their emissions via carbon credit or carbon offset schemes. It is important for the consumer to know exactly what these terms mean and how effective they are in mitigating climate change.  

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With the Paris 2024 Games now concluded and the Paralympics underway, the Olympic board and the French government are hoping to pave the way for greener sporting events in the future. According to the official Olympic website, this year has seen a structural transformation in the way that carbon emissions are addressed, from a “post-games assessment” to a “pre-games target.” As well as committing to reducing emissions at the source, Paris 2024 has purchased 1.3 million voluntary carbon credits for offset projects “that collectively protect more than 400,000 hectares of threatened forest.” 

For many people, the increasing emergence of terms like carbon credits and carbon offsets will be a new and confusing phenomenon, despite them having existed since the 1990s. As climate change becomes a focal point in the media and activists increasingly demand for commercial transparency, carbon reduction schemes are the primary method for companies to adopt a green side. It is important, then, to explain the main differences between carbon offsets and carbon credits, and how companies use them.   

The Need to Offset Emissions

The first instance of carbon offsetting began in 1989 when US company AES approached the World Resources Institute (WRI) looking for help to mitigate the carbon emitted from their coal-fired power plants. In response, the WRI came up with carbon offsetting, a process in which a company can compensate for their carbon emissions by funding a project that aims to capture carbon. As a company emits greenhouse gases, their offset projects draw equivalent gases back in to create balance. 

AES funded an agroforestry project with CARE, an international relief and development organisation, in Guatemala. WRI recommended that AES and CARE help “40,000 smallholder farmers in Guatemala plant more than 52 million trees over a ten-year period,” with the goal of sequestering 19 million tonnes of carbon over 40 years. 

The initial response to the first carbon offset scheme was mixed: some praised AES for their progressive thinking while others saw it as a way of pushing their own environmental responsibilities onto others. Mark Trexler, the WRI correspondent in charge of the first carbon offset initiative, has described it as a pure example of “environmental philanthropy.” However, Mark also notes that carbon offsetting was just a way of “getting the conversation [on carbon emissions] started,” adding that “no one then thought we would be doing offsets 35 years later.”

As carbon offsetting began to take shape in the 1990s, by 1997, the Kyoto Protocol – an international treaty calling for industrialized countries to reduce their emissions – finalised the concept of the carbon credit. From this, compliance markets and voluntary markets grew in response to the legally-binding goals set out in the Kyoto Protocol. 

The terms carbon credit, carbon offset, and carbon credit schemes can be used interchangeably, often leading to confusion. Companies may use the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere by purchasing carbon offset projects which are termed carbon “credits.” On the other hand, carbon credit schemes are an allowance for companies to emit a certain amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. One credit equals one metric tonne of CO2 equivalents. If a company emits more than their allowance, they must buy more credits on the compliance carbon market; if they emit less, they can sell their remaining credits to another company in a carrot-and-stick approach to regulating CO2 emissions. 

Carbon offsetting helps mitigate emissions, carbon credits help prevent them. Whereas carbon offsets are a voluntary act by a company, carbon credits are regulated and distributed by governments, meaning companies must adhere to it. 

Below is a summary of the differences between carbon offset and carbon credit schemes:

More on the topic: The Pros and Cons of Offsetting Carbon Emissions

Carbon Markets Today

Today, carbon markets have exploded in popularity. In 2023, compliance markets were valued at around US$950 billion with 12.5 billion metric tonnes of carbon credits being traded; putting a price on carbon remains the most prevalent method in reducing industry emissions. According to Ruben Lubowski, an environmental economist, compliance markets currently cover around 25% of global emissions, “‘raising climate ambition worldwide.” Meanwhile, World Bank data indicates that in 2023, revenues made from carbon pricing reached US$104 billion, half of which were used to fund climate and nature-related programs. 

Senior MD Alex van Trotsenburg believes “carbon pricing can be one of the most powerful tools to help countries reduce emissions.” The operative word here is “can”; the growing coverage of compliance markets does not mean we are approaching our climate goals. 

According to the World Bank’s recent report on the trends of carbon pricing in 2024, “less than 1% of global greenhouse emissions are covered by a direct carbon price at or above the range recommended by the High-level Commission on Carbon Prices to limit temperature rise to well below 2ºC.” Monetising carbon might be an effective way to reduce industrial emissions, but only if it is valued correctly. 

The Voluntary Carbon Market, where companies purchase carbon offset projects to mitigate their own emissions, was valued at US$2 billion in 2022, though some estimates suggest that by 2030, the market could be valued at as much as $40 billion. 

Carbon offsetting has the potential to make a huge impact on the climate, but the system has been accused of allowing greenwashing for companies that care more about their PR. A Guardian report from 2023 found that 90% of rainforest carbon offset projects led by Verra, one of the biggest certifiers and used by the likes of Disney, Shell, and Gucci, were “worthless” and only amount to “phantom credits.” From the 94.9 million carbon credits claimed, with each credit equal to one metric tonne of C02 equivalent, only 5.5 million metric tonnes had been reduced. 

While a carbon-neutral stamp on your favourite brand might give you reassurance, the truth of the matter is far more complex. Companies can embellish their products with offsetting goals, but they do not have to mention how successful these projects have ultimately been. As the offsetting market continues to grow, some call for tighter regulation, while others call for it to be abandoned entirely. In response to negative reports on carbon offsetting, the market shrank to $723 million in 2023. 

More on the topic: Decentralized Finance for Carbon Credits Trading: Innovating Emissions Reduction

Final Thoughts 

Carbon offsetting and credit schemes provide a capitalist approach to enhancing industrial responsibility in addressing the climate crisis. However, both compliance and voluntary markets are fraught with challenges. While it is promising that innovative solutions within polluting industries are being considered, the current methods lack sufficient regulation. Moreover, carbon offsetting and credits do not necessarily encourage companies to fundamentally transform their structures to become more sustainable. 

A system that truly rewards those with sustainability at their core is needed; at the very least, the value of carbon must be significantly increased. With the lack of credibility to which carbon offset projects currently hold, the Paris 2024 Olympics have revoked their claim to being carbon-neutral. The compliance markets continue to surge in value, while the future of the voluntary market remains uncertain; whether either will be effective in mitigating climate change remains to be seen. 

The post Carbon Credits and Carbon Offsets: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Earth.Org.

Unlike the visible devastation of hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, extreme heat leaves no trace behind, making it a silent and deadly threat, deadlier than all of these extreme weather events combined. Countries where heat was never a problem are suddenly confronted with rising illnesses and casualties, with authorities struggling to keep count as the public often misjudges and underplays the risks. As temperatures rise globally, Earth.Org takes a look at how extreme heat affects the human body and what socio-economic and physiological factors play a role.

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This is part 1 of a three-part explainer series on extreme heat. Read part 2 and part 3.

Every year between 2000-2019, approximately 489,000 people died from extreme heat around the world. 45% of these casualties happened in Asia, the world’s most disaster-hit region from weather and climate hazards; 36% were in Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent. Here, heat-related mortality has increased by around 30% in the past two decades.

These estimates are often much higher than official data. This is because accurate tracking of heat-related deaths is challenging and many countries still lack proper record-keeping. Unsurprisingly, heat is often referred to as a “silent killer” and it has quickly become the deadliest extreme weather event in many parts of the world.

Understanding Extreme Heat

To understand why extreme heat is dangerous, we must first look at how our body reacts to it – a more or less straightforward process.

For optimal health, the human body requires an internal temperature of around 36.5C (97.7F). When exposed to heat, our body initiates cooling mechanisms to maintain its temperature stable, including sweating to dissipate heat through evaporation and dilating blood vessels to release heat.

In extreme heat conditions, when the environmental temperature exceeds our body’s temperature, these physiological processes are compromised. Elevated humidity levels can further complicate matters, as they hinder the evaporation of sweat from the skin and thus the body’s cooling down process.

For people living in places like Hong Kong and Singapore, elevated temperatures and high humidity are nothing new. Both regions see temperatures soar above 30C (86F) for most part of the year, which feel even higher when coupled with humidity. And yet, heat-related illnesses here are on the rise. A yet-to-be-published study conducted by researchers at the University of Hong Kong found that heatwaves in the city over the past decade, 18 in total, may have contributed to 1,677 excess deaths.

As of 2022, Hong Kong had already warmed 1.7C compared to pre industrial times, according to Berkley Earth. The city just witnessed an “exceptionally hot” July, with its Observatory forecasting that 2024 will be one of the hottest years it has ever seen. The same is happening in most places around the world.

The increase in extreme heat is a direct result of our warming planet, which is driven by greenhouse gasses that trap heat in the atmosphere. This raises Earth’s surface temperature, leading to longer and hotter heatwaves.

Prolonged exposure to high temperatures without sufficient rest or cooling breaks can result in the accumulation of heat within the body, overwhelming its cooling mechanisms and leading to severe, sometimes deadly heat-related illnesses. Some of the most common are heat exhaustion – with symptoms including heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness – and heatstroke – which is marked by a high body temperature, confusion, and loss of consciousness and can be life-threatening if not promptly treated.

People living in urban areas, which often lack cool environments or natural shading, are particularly vulnerable. But in a rapidly warming world, another issue is emerging: nighttime heat.

High nighttime temperatures are detrimental to human health, as they prevent the body from recovering from daytime heat. This not only disrupts sleep, which can negatively affect physical and mental health, cognitive function, and life expectancy, but it also increases the risk of illness and mortality.

A 2020 study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) found that five consecutive “hot nights,” defined as when temperatures rise above 28C (82F), would raise the risk of death by 6.66%.

People without access to air conditioning – a huge proportion of the world’s population – are particularly at risk. While about 90% of households in the US and 60% in China have some sort of air conditioning system, the number is worryingly lower in rapidly warming places like Europe (10%) and India (8%), the most populous country in the world. In sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the percentage is even lower.

With climate change, nights are not just getting warmer; they are also heating up faster than days in many parts of the world. According to a Climate Central analysis published earlier this month, between 2014 and 2023, 2.4 billion people experienced an average of at least two additional weeks per year where nighttime temperatures exceeded 25C. Over 1 billion people experienced an average of at least 2 additional weeks per year of nights above 20C and 18C.

Tracking Casualties Is Complicated

So far this year, Thailand reported 61 heat-related casualties, India 143. Meanwhile, at least 30 heat-related fatalities were confirmed across the western US in July alone. A month earlier, the Saudi government announced that scorching heat had killed 1,301 Hajj pilgrims. These official numbers, however, are just a fraction of the true toll.

Despite our good understanding of physiological reactions to heat, there is a reason why we often talk about a “silent killer.”

Unlike more immediate threats, such as severe storms or earthquakes, heat-related conditions can gradually build up. They also affect vulnerable populations disproportionately, and may not be perceived as imminent dangers until symptoms like heat exhaustion or heatstroke manifest suddenly and severely, leading to heat-related illnesses and fatalities without obvious warning signs.

To further complicate matters, heat-related illnesses and deaths can be multifactorial, involving a combination of heat exposure, individual susceptibility, and underlying health conditions.

In individuals with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, heat-related stress can trigger or worsen symptoms, leading to serious health complications and, in severe cases, mortality. In these cases, determining the exact contribution of heat to a death can be complex, as it less likely that fatalities in which temperatures played an indirect role are classified as heat-related deaths.

Who Is at Risk?

While no one is truly immune to extreme heat, there are factors that can increase an individual’s vulnerability.

Susceptibility to heat, and how effectively the human body regulates its temperature in extreme conditions, is influenced by a combination of physiological aspects such age and health condition, as well as exposure variables, including occupation and socio-economic circumstances.

Generally speaking, studies show that women – particularly pregnant women, children, and the elderly are especially at risk of developing severe heat-related symptoms.

In a statement issued earlier this month, UNICEF said that one in five children – or 466 million – will experience double the number of extremely hot days than their grandparents’ generation. The UN body said that rising temperatures across Europe and Central Asia killed an estimated 377 children in July 2021.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russel explained that children’s bodies are “far more vulnerable” to extreme heat. “Young bodies heat up faster, and cool down more slowly. Extreme heat is especially risky for babies due to their faster heart rate, so rising temperatures are even more alarming for children,” she said, before calling on governments “to get rising temperatures under control.”

According to the same UNICEF statement, extreme heat has been linked to pregnancy complications, including “gestational chronic diseases and adverse birth outcomes including stillbirth, low birth weight, and preterm birth.” Heat stress on pregnant women can also lead to child malnutrition and leave infants more vulnerable to contracting infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue, which spread in high temperatures.

The number of people exposed to extreme heat is growing exponentially due to climate change in all regions. Between 2000-2004 and 2017-2021, heat-related deaths among individuals aged 65 and older surged by around 85%. Age-related physiological changes, such as a decrease in the body’s ability to regulate its temperature and reduced sweating capacity, make older adults less efficient at dissipating heat. Pre-existing health conditions and medications can further compromise their ability to cope with high temperatures. Social isolation, limited mobility, and inadequate access to cooling resources only exacerbate these vulnerabilities.

Other factors heightening heat vulnerability have to do with race and ethnicity. Pre-existing health conditions that are more prevalent in certain ethnic or racial groups can increase susceptibility to heat-related illnesses. Examples include diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. But besides this, socio-economic circumstances also play a role.

Ethnic and racial minorities often face higher rates of poverty and may live in urban areas with fewer green spaces and more concrete surfaces. Temperatures in these neighborhoods are generally significantly higher.

In the US, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review of multiple studies revealed that low-income neighborhoods and those with larger populations of people of color often experience higher temperatures compared to wealthier, predominantly white neighborhoods within the same city.

More on the topic: How Marginalised Groups Are Disproportionately Affected by Climate Change

Another striking example where this is an issue is Hong Kong. The city’s infamous subdivided flats and “cage homes” are becoming increasingly greater health risk factors as the city faces higher temperatures in the warm seasons. Anti-poverty local NGO the Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) last month warned of extreme temperatures in subdivided flats, which house more than 220,000 people. The NGO surveyed 308 people living in “inadequate housing,” who often do not have access or cannot afford ventilation or air conditioning. Over 90% of them said they “felt ill because their apartments were too hot.”

“The heat makes it very hard for me… I feel tired,” 84-year-old Chun Loi, who lives in a windowless, poorly ventilated, one-room flat in Hong Kong told AFP on a hot summer day this month. “I try to stay in as much as possible with my fans… Otherwise, where can you go? It’s embarrassing to stay in restaurants and malls if I am not eating anything,” Chun said, as the temperature crept past 32C (90F).

As Eva Yeung of Red Cross Hong Kong put it: “Climate change affects everyone. But the impact is not equal because some people, due to their living conditions and physical conditions, are affected more than others.”

Outdoor workers are another highly vulnerable category. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that almost 4% of the world’s total working hours could be lost to climate-induced extreme temperatures by 2030.

A 2022 Oxfam Hong Kong study on working conditions in waste collection centers in the city revealed that temperatures inside these facilities averaged 32.2C (90.0F), surpassing the July average by two degrees. Issues such as poor ventilation, heat, humidity, pests, foul odors, and a lack of rest areas are prevalent in both existing and renovated waste collection centers. Under these circumstances, over 60% of cleaners expressed experiencing discomfort while on duty. More than 70% indicated that they must stay in cooler and shaded areas along the streets for breaks and meals. Upon returning home from work, these workers may also have to endure extreme hot weather. 

Street cleaners face a similar threat. According to interviews conducted by Hong Kong-based group Concern for Grassroots’ Livelihood Alliance in August 2024, 90% of the street cleaners reported experiencing fatigue, thirst, headaches, dizziness, increases in body temperature, and nausea while working, despite their employers providing portable fans.

“I have to drink seven bottles of drinks a day, including water, homemade herbal tea, energy drinks, and more,” Pattie, a 55-year-old cleaner, told Hong Kong Free Press in July. “Sometimes, when it’s too hot, even the taste of water makes me feel nauseous,” she added.

Irreversible Trend?

An October 2023 study warned that heat and humidity levels will reach lethal levels for hours, days, and even weeks in some parts of the world by the end of the century – even below 2C of warming – making it impossible to stay outdoors. 

While shocking, this finding is nothing we did not already hear before. Since the 1970s, climate scientists have warned us that the relentless burning of fossil fuels is heating up our planet, and that crossing a specific warming threshold could lead to irreversible impacts.

The world has been largely slow at reacting to these warnings and what we are experiencing now is the result of this inaction.

The past nine years have been the hottest on record. 2023 was the hottest year globally, with global average temperatures at 1.46C above pre-industrial levels. Europe, which is warming twice as fast as any other continent, saw above-average temperatures for 11 months, a record number of “extreme heat stress” days, and 7% more precipitation than average. And now, scientists are almost certain – 95% certain, to be precise – that 2024 will be even warmer.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), with further global warming, we can expect an increase in the intensity, frequency and duration of heatwaves. And unless we prepare societies to deal with this, extreme heat will continue to claim millions of lives.

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Read part 2 of our heat series, where we look at how cities are adapting to extreme heat, and part 3, where we give tips on how to stay cool during a heatwave.

The post Silent Killer Part 1: Understanding the Risks of Extreme Heat appeared first on Earth.Org.

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has exhausted nature’s budget for the year. It means that for the rest of the year, we are expanding our ecological deficit by using up local resources and pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This year, Earth Overshoot Day falls on 1 August.

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Today marks the day when humanity’s resource consumption exceeds the Earth’s capacity to regenerate those resources for the year, a reminder of how unsustainable modern consumption patterns are and how these are adding immense pressure to our planet’s ecosystems.

This year, it falls on 1 August, one day earlier than last year. Overall, however, Earth Overshoot Day has been getting earlier since the 1970s. Experts estimate that at the current rate of consumption, it would take 1.7 Earths to produce and regenerate all the resources we use today.

Overshoot days are calculated for individual countries, too. If the whole planet consumed in the same way as the UK does, overshoot would occur on 3 June. Qatar has the earliest overshoot day (11 February), followed by Luxembourg (20 February), the United Arab Emirates (4 March) and Kuwait (5 March). In the United States, Earth Overshoot Day fell on March 14 this year. Kyrgyzstan has the latest one (30 December).

You might also like: World Is Running Out of Carbon Budget to Limit Global Warming to 1.5C, Scientists Warn

The post Earth Overshoot Day 2024: What Is It and Why Is It Important? appeared first on Earth.Org.