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Climate change / extreme weather thread
- Thread starter sweep_shot
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Floodwaters inundated more of Bangladesh and northeast India on Tuesday, officials said, as authorities struggled to reach more than 9.5 million people stranded with little food and drinking water after days of intense rain.
Particularly heavy monsoon rain has brought the worst floods in more than a century in some parts of low-lying Bangladesh and have killed at least 69 people over the past two weeks there and in northeast India's Assam state.
"People are without food. They are not even getting drinking water since floodwater submerged all tube-wells," Abu Bakar, 26, a resident of hard-hit Sunamganj district in northeastern Bangladesh, told Reuters by telephone.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flew over some of the flood-hit areas on Tuesday, looking down on huge tracts covered by brown water, broken up by occasional outcrop of land, television footage showed.
The monsoon brings heavy rains to South Asia between June and October, often triggering floods, especially in low-lying areas like Bangladesh, where rivers swollen with waters pouring out of the Himalayas often burst their banks.
Extreme weather in South Asia has become more frequent and environmentalists warn that climate change could lead to even more serious disasters.
Atiqul Haque, director general of Bangladesh's Department of Disaster Management, said three more districts in northern and central parts of the country had been flooded.
"The local administration along with army, navy, police, fire and emergency services personnel and volunteers have been engaged in rescue and relief operations," Haque said.
The floods in the Sylhet region, which includes Sunamganj, are the most severe in more than a century and the UN children's fund said 90 per cent of its health facilities have been inundated and cases of waterborne diseases are increasing.
Unicef said it was urgently seeking $2.5 million to respond to the emergency in Bangladesh and it was working with the government to supply water purification tablets, emergency medical supplies and water containers.
"Four million people, including 1.6m children, stranded by flash floods in northeastern Bangladesh are in urgent need of help," Unicef said in a statement.
In some areas, the Bangladesh military dropped sacks of relief supplies from helicopters to people waiting on rooftops, television footage showed.
Syed Rafiqul Haque, a former lawmaker and ruling party politician in Sunamganj district, said flood shelters were crammed with people.
"Many people are still without food and water," he said.
"Cries for help are getting louder."
'Such devastation'
In Assam state in neighbouring India, flooding has cut off three districts in the Barak valley and the water in parts of the region's main city of Silchar is waist-deep, authorities and residents said.
"The situation is extremely serious," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told Reuters.
"We will try to airlift fuel to Silchar and the other two districts immediately."
Indian army and paramilitary troops have been called in to help with rescue operations and had evacuated about 1,000 people in the past 72 hours, an official said.
Assam and neighbouring Meghalaya state have received 134pc more rainfall than the average at this time of the year, according to data from the state-run India Meteorological Department.
About 4.7m people have been forced from their homes in Assam, with some 330,000 staying in shelters, the government said.
"I am 80 years old and have never witnessed such devastation in my life," said Majaharul Laskar, a retired government official in Silchar.
Dawn
Particularly heavy monsoon rain has brought the worst floods in more than a century in some parts of low-lying Bangladesh and have killed at least 69 people over the past two weeks there and in northeast India's Assam state.
"People are without food. They are not even getting drinking water since floodwater submerged all tube-wells," Abu Bakar, 26, a resident of hard-hit Sunamganj district in northeastern Bangladesh, told Reuters by telephone.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flew over some of the flood-hit areas on Tuesday, looking down on huge tracts covered by brown water, broken up by occasional outcrop of land, television footage showed.
The monsoon brings heavy rains to South Asia between June and October, often triggering floods, especially in low-lying areas like Bangladesh, where rivers swollen with waters pouring out of the Himalayas often burst their banks.
Extreme weather in South Asia has become more frequent and environmentalists warn that climate change could lead to even more serious disasters.
Atiqul Haque, director general of Bangladesh's Department of Disaster Management, said three more districts in northern and central parts of the country had been flooded.
"The local administration along with army, navy, police, fire and emergency services personnel and volunteers have been engaged in rescue and relief operations," Haque said.
The floods in the Sylhet region, which includes Sunamganj, are the most severe in more than a century and the UN children's fund said 90 per cent of its health facilities have been inundated and cases of waterborne diseases are increasing.
Unicef said it was urgently seeking $2.5 million to respond to the emergency in Bangladesh and it was working with the government to supply water purification tablets, emergency medical supplies and water containers.
"Four million people, including 1.6m children, stranded by flash floods in northeastern Bangladesh are in urgent need of help," Unicef said in a statement.
In some areas, the Bangladesh military dropped sacks of relief supplies from helicopters to people waiting on rooftops, television footage showed.
Syed Rafiqul Haque, a former lawmaker and ruling party politician in Sunamganj district, said flood shelters were crammed with people.
"Many people are still without food and water," he said.
"Cries for help are getting louder."
'Such devastation'
In Assam state in neighbouring India, flooding has cut off three districts in the Barak valley and the water in parts of the region's main city of Silchar is waist-deep, authorities and residents said.
"The situation is extremely serious," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told Reuters.
"We will try to airlift fuel to Silchar and the other two districts immediately."
Indian army and paramilitary troops have been called in to help with rescue operations and had evacuated about 1,000 people in the past 72 hours, an official said.
Assam and neighbouring Meghalaya state have received 134pc more rainfall than the average at this time of the year, according to data from the state-run India Meteorological Department.
About 4.7m people have been forced from their homes in Assam, with some 330,000 staying in shelters, the government said.
"I am 80 years old and have never witnessed such devastation in my life," said Majaharul Laskar, a retired government official in Silchar.
Dawn
Technics 1210
Test Debutant
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Where's Gretta these days? Anyone heard anything from her?
Robert
Test Star
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Very strange weather where I am. Cars covered in fine sandy dust two days in a row. Coming up out of the Sahara?
James
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Her job is done. Message has landed.
Now we are all getting charged through the nose at the fuel pump and our employers all have sustainability agendas. Lol
daytrader
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Floods, post-rain accidents kill 15 in GB, Balochistan
• 10 die in Balochistan, several rendered homeless
• Five swept away in GB flash floods
• CMs order ‘all hands on deck’ for relief measures
QUETTA/GILGIT: At least 15 people, including women and children, were killed in rain-related accidents in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan as more-than-expected down*pour lashed areas where difficult terrain is said to be hampering relief operations.
In Balochistan, 10 people were killed in different areas, taking the death toll to 30 in last 48 hours. Five people, including four women and a young boy, were swept away in a flash flood from nearby mountains in the Khusnob area of Qila Saifullah, according to Assistant Commissioner Liaquat Kakar.
More than 90 percent of the mud houses in the area were badly damaged, leaving dozens of families homeless.
Officials have said that Qila Saifullah has been the worst-affected areas after Quetta due to heavy rains and flash floods.
“We are shifting the affected population to safe places with the help of Frontier Corps,” he said, adding that 200 tents have been erected for the displaced people.
ISPR officials said that a rescue and relief operation has been launched and the local population was being shifted to temporary settlements.
Officials in Loralai area confirmed that five people were swept away in floods, out of whom, two were rescued, while a search ope*ra*tion is underway to find the remainig three.
According to Deputy Commissioner Atiq Shahwani, a portion of Sher Jan Dam in Loralai was partially damaged due to flood.
In Zhob district, at least two people were killed in flood-related accidents, while several of houses were destroyed, according to Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ramzan.
He said people are in need of immediate relief goods, including tents, food, potable water and blankets. In Noshki, two children reportedly drowned in floodwater.
Child, four women killed in GB
At least five people, including four women and a child, have been killed in Sherqila village of Ghizer district after being swept away in flash floods.
Three children have been injured while three were reported missing after being swept away in the flood triggered by glacier melting due to intense heatwave.
The dead bodies have been recovered by local volunteers and Rescue 1122 officials, while the injured have been shifted to Gilgit after first aid.
The gushing water also damaged dozens of houses, roads, communication and power infrastructure, agriculture lands and irrigation channels. Two tent villages have been established in the area, while a medical camp with relief items, food, blankets and other necessities have also been setup.
As many as 250 families, who were rendered homeless, have been moved there.
Locals and tourists have been stranded in many areas of Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Shigar, Skardu, Ghanche, Kharmang districts due to suspension of telephone and road connectivity.
Flash floods also swept away bridges and damaged roads, leaving a hamlet with 80 households in Tolti Yasin disconnected from rest of the world. Similarly, flash floods in eight villages in Roundu area of Skardu district damaged large tracts of agricultural land, irrigation channels and link road.
Meanwhile, floodwater from Khemat nullah in Ghizer’s Yasin Valley blocked the outflow of Mushbar nullah, turning it into a lake. Floods in Guro Juglot area of Gilgit and several areas of Ghanche also damaged houses, shops and other infrastructure.
Flood in Dassu Nullah in Shigar district has threatened many villages while rising water levels in Indus River has put many villages of Kharmang district under flood risk.
Balochistan, GB CMs order relief operations
Meanwhile, Balochistan and GB chief ministers have directed the authorities to mobilise all resources to deal with the situation that has emerged as a result of heavy down pour.
Balochistan CM Mir Abdul Qudoos Bezenjo has ordered to deploy heavy machinery and staff at all dams as a precautionary measure to prevent flash flooding.
Addressing a press conference with Balo*chistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhail and PDMA DG Naseer Ahmed, Langove said 39 deaths have been reported in the province since June 13.
Separately, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid has directed the home secretary to monitor rescue and relief operations and sought a report. The Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority and all departments concerned have been directed to utilize all resources for immediate relief and rescue measures in Sherqila village.
Dawn
• 10 die in Balochistan, several rendered homeless
• Five swept away in GB flash floods
• CMs order ‘all hands on deck’ for relief measures
QUETTA/GILGIT: At least 15 people, including women and children, were killed in rain-related accidents in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan as more-than-expected down*pour lashed areas where difficult terrain is said to be hampering relief operations.
In Balochistan, 10 people were killed in different areas, taking the death toll to 30 in last 48 hours. Five people, including four women and a young boy, were swept away in a flash flood from nearby mountains in the Khusnob area of Qila Saifullah, according to Assistant Commissioner Liaquat Kakar.
More than 90 percent of the mud houses in the area were badly damaged, leaving dozens of families homeless.
Officials have said that Qila Saifullah has been the worst-affected areas after Quetta due to heavy rains and flash floods.
“We are shifting the affected population to safe places with the help of Frontier Corps,” he said, adding that 200 tents have been erected for the displaced people.
ISPR officials said that a rescue and relief operation has been launched and the local population was being shifted to temporary settlements.
Officials in Loralai area confirmed that five people were swept away in floods, out of whom, two were rescued, while a search ope*ra*tion is underway to find the remainig three.
According to Deputy Commissioner Atiq Shahwani, a portion of Sher Jan Dam in Loralai was partially damaged due to flood.
In Zhob district, at least two people were killed in flood-related accidents, while several of houses were destroyed, according to Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ramzan.
He said people are in need of immediate relief goods, including tents, food, potable water and blankets. In Noshki, two children reportedly drowned in floodwater.
Child, four women killed in GB
At least five people, including four women and a child, have been killed in Sherqila village of Ghizer district after being swept away in flash floods.
Three children have been injured while three were reported missing after being swept away in the flood triggered by glacier melting due to intense heatwave.
The dead bodies have been recovered by local volunteers and Rescue 1122 officials, while the injured have been shifted to Gilgit after first aid.
The gushing water also damaged dozens of houses, roads, communication and power infrastructure, agriculture lands and irrigation channels. Two tent villages have been established in the area, while a medical camp with relief items, food, blankets and other necessities have also been setup.
As many as 250 families, who were rendered homeless, have been moved there.
Locals and tourists have been stranded in many areas of Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Shigar, Skardu, Ghanche, Kharmang districts due to suspension of telephone and road connectivity.
Flash floods also swept away bridges and damaged roads, leaving a hamlet with 80 households in Tolti Yasin disconnected from rest of the world. Similarly, flash floods in eight villages in Roundu area of Skardu district damaged large tracts of agricultural land, irrigation channels and link road.
Meanwhile, floodwater from Khemat nullah in Ghizer’s Yasin Valley blocked the outflow of Mushbar nullah, turning it into a lake. Floods in Guro Juglot area of Gilgit and several areas of Ghanche also damaged houses, shops and other infrastructure.
Flood in Dassu Nullah in Shigar district has threatened many villages while rising water levels in Indus River has put many villages of Kharmang district under flood risk.
Balochistan, GB CMs order relief operations
Meanwhile, Balochistan and GB chief ministers have directed the authorities to mobilise all resources to deal with the situation that has emerged as a result of heavy down pour.
Balochistan CM Mir Abdul Qudoos Bezenjo has ordered to deploy heavy machinery and staff at all dams as a precautionary measure to prevent flash flooding.
Addressing a press conference with Balo*chistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhail and PDMA DG Naseer Ahmed, Langove said 39 deaths have been reported in the province since June 13.
Separately, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid has directed the home secretary to monitor rescue and relief operations and sought a report. The Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority and all departments concerned have been directed to utilize all resources for immediate relief and rescue measures in Sherqila village.
Dawn
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,936
Parts of the UK will experience a heatwave over the weekend, with soaring temperatures set to last a week.
Temperatures will rise higher than popular holiday destinations like St Tropez, Santorini, and even Marbella on Spain's Costa del Sol.
California's Los Angeles may also be cooler than parts of Great Britain.
It is forecasted to be at least 28C across London and the South East by Friday afternoon, and the heat will stick around into next week.
The South West, Midlands and North West are looking to be cooler, at around 25C today.
Temperatures will rise higher than popular holiday destinations like St Tropez, Santorini, and even Marbella on Spain's Costa del Sol.
California's Los Angeles may also be cooler than parts of Great Britain.
It is forecasted to be at least 28C across London and the South East by Friday afternoon, and the heat will stick around into next week.
The South West, Midlands and North West are looking to be cooler, at around 25C today.
silentkiller187
First Class Captain
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2014
- Runs
- 5,483
People across the country are set to sizzle on what could be the hottest day of the year so far as temperatures are expected to hit 33C (91.4F).
Parts of the UK are due to be hotter than the likes of the Maldives and the Bahamas, with the sunny weather set to last until the weekend.
In central, southern and eastern England, temperatures will soar on Monday afternoon as the latest heatwave continues, the Met Office said.
At the moment, the country's record high for 2022 stands at 32.7C (90.9F), which was seen at Heathrow on 17 June.
On Sunday, Scotland and Northern Ireland had their hottest days of the year so far, recording 27.3C (81.1F) and 24.3C (75.7F) respectively.
What's the forecast for your region?
Midlands - 29C
South-West - 28C
South-East - 29C
North - 29C
North-East - 27C
East - 30C
South Wales - 28C
North Wales - 22C
Scotland - 24C
Highlands, Scotland - 26C
Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst explained that high pressure is expected to "dominate" on Monday, particularly in England and Wales.
"In Scotland and Northern Ireland, it will be somewhat hazy at times with thick cloud moving in from the North West, possibly bringing some rain at times," he added.
"But for most of us, it will be a dry and sunny day, well into the high 20s from the morning, with central, southern and eastern parts of England to possibly see maximum highs of 33C.
"So it's very possible tomorrow will be the hottest day of the year so far, it will certainly be on par with the existing record, maybe more."
Heat records so far this year:
Scotland (Aboyne) reached 29.3C on Sunday
Ireland (Shannon) reached 25.9C on Sunday
NI (Derrylin) reached 24.3C on Sunday
England reached 32.7C in June
Wales reached 28.4C in June
While lots of people will enjoy seeing temperatures climb, Mr Dewhurst has warned that it will also be "very warm" overnight, remaining in the low 20s in some cities.
"So, many may experience an uncomfortable night," he warned.
Sky News weather producer Joanna Robinson added that record-breaking weather could be seen at the weekend.
"At the moment, temperatures are likely to reach the low to mid-thirties in the South next weekend, but there is currently 30% chance the UK maximum temperature record will be beaten, which stands at 38.7C (102F)," she said.
"There is now a worrying 10% chance that 40C (104F) will be reached for the first time in the UK."
In fact, temperatures are expected to reach such levels that a heat-health alert has been issued for some parts of the country.
People in the affected areas have been advised to cover their windows and check on the vulnerable and the elderly.
The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have put in place a level 3 alert for the East of England, South East and London.
A level 2 alert has been issued for the South West, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions.
A level 2 alert is issued when there is a "high chance" of the forecasted conditions, while level 3 means there is a "90% probability".
The alerts will be in place from 9am on Monday until 9am on Friday.
Later in the week, the hot spell looks set to subside when a cold front is expected to start pushing in.
SKY
Parts of the UK are due to be hotter than the likes of the Maldives and the Bahamas, with the sunny weather set to last until the weekend.
In central, southern and eastern England, temperatures will soar on Monday afternoon as the latest heatwave continues, the Met Office said.
At the moment, the country's record high for 2022 stands at 32.7C (90.9F), which was seen at Heathrow on 17 June.
On Sunday, Scotland and Northern Ireland had their hottest days of the year so far, recording 27.3C (81.1F) and 24.3C (75.7F) respectively.
What's the forecast for your region?
Midlands - 29C
South-West - 28C
South-East - 29C
North - 29C
North-East - 27C
East - 30C
South Wales - 28C
North Wales - 22C
Scotland - 24C
Highlands, Scotland - 26C
Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst explained that high pressure is expected to "dominate" on Monday, particularly in England and Wales.
"In Scotland and Northern Ireland, it will be somewhat hazy at times with thick cloud moving in from the North West, possibly bringing some rain at times," he added.
"But for most of us, it will be a dry and sunny day, well into the high 20s from the morning, with central, southern and eastern parts of England to possibly see maximum highs of 33C.
"So it's very possible tomorrow will be the hottest day of the year so far, it will certainly be on par with the existing record, maybe more."
Heat records so far this year:
Scotland (Aboyne) reached 29.3C on Sunday
Ireland (Shannon) reached 25.9C on Sunday
NI (Derrylin) reached 24.3C on Sunday
England reached 32.7C in June
Wales reached 28.4C in June
While lots of people will enjoy seeing temperatures climb, Mr Dewhurst has warned that it will also be "very warm" overnight, remaining in the low 20s in some cities.
"So, many may experience an uncomfortable night," he warned.
Sky News weather producer Joanna Robinson added that record-breaking weather could be seen at the weekend.
"At the moment, temperatures are likely to reach the low to mid-thirties in the South next weekend, but there is currently 30% chance the UK maximum temperature record will be beaten, which stands at 38.7C (102F)," she said.
"There is now a worrying 10% chance that 40C (104F) will be reached for the first time in the UK."
In fact, temperatures are expected to reach such levels that a heat-health alert has been issued for some parts of the country.
People in the affected areas have been advised to cover their windows and check on the vulnerable and the elderly.
The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have put in place a level 3 alert for the East of England, South East and London.
A level 2 alert has been issued for the South West, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions.
A level 2 alert is issued when there is a "high chance" of the forecasted conditions, while level 3 means there is a "90% probability".
The alerts will be in place from 9am on Monday until 9am on Friday.
Later in the week, the hot spell looks set to subside when a cold front is expected to start pushing in.
SKY
silentkiller187
First Class Captain
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2014
- Runs
- 5,483
A red warning for extreme heat has been issued for the first time for England on Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures could reach 40C for the first time.
The Met Office is warning of "an exceptional hot spell [...] leading to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure".
"Population-wide adverse health effects" are expected, "not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat".
Met Office spokesman, Grahame Madge, warned the rising heat is "potentially a very serious situation".
"We've just issued a red warning for extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday which is the first such warning ever issued.
"The warning covers an area from London up to Manchester and then up to the Vale of York."
Elsewhere, the existing amber warning has been extended to the rest of England, Wales, and parts of Scotland from Monday.
The Met Office has said the red warning means "adverse health effects" may be experienced and will not be limited to "those most vulnerable to extreme heat".
The weather could also lead to "serious illness or danger to life", the forecaster added.
"Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines will be required", the Met Office said.
The national weather service also warns there is a "high risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, potentially leading to localised loss of power and essential services, such as water or mobile phone services".
There will also be "significantly more people visiting coastal areas, lakes and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents".
The public has also been warned to expect delays on roads, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel.
Senior ministers assembled for a COBRA meeting earlier this week in anticipation of a national heatwave emergency being declared.
Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse warned the government is preparing for a surge in demand on the NHS and other services - as he urged the public to look out for people vulnerable in the heat.
SKY
The Met Office is warning of "an exceptional hot spell [...] leading to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure".
"Population-wide adverse health effects" are expected, "not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat".
Met Office spokesman, Grahame Madge, warned the rising heat is "potentially a very serious situation".
"We've just issued a red warning for extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday which is the first such warning ever issued.
"The warning covers an area from London up to Manchester and then up to the Vale of York."
Elsewhere, the existing amber warning has been extended to the rest of England, Wales, and parts of Scotland from Monday.
The Met Office has said the red warning means "adverse health effects" may be experienced and will not be limited to "those most vulnerable to extreme heat".
The weather could also lead to "serious illness or danger to life", the forecaster added.
"Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines will be required", the Met Office said.
The national weather service also warns there is a "high risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, potentially leading to localised loss of power and essential services, such as water or mobile phone services".
There will also be "significantly more people visiting coastal areas, lakes and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents".
The public has also been warned to expect delays on roads, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel.
Senior ministers assembled for a COBRA meeting earlier this week in anticipation of a national heatwave emergency being declared.
Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse warned the government is preparing for a surge in demand on the NHS and other services - as he urged the public to look out for people vulnerable in the heat.
SKY
jeetu
PPCL Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2010
- Runs
- 9,885
- Post of the Week
- 4
Few days in June 22 were the hottest i have seen in Delhi. High humidity made it worse. Less amount of rain isn't helping either. Delhi climate is getting worse every every year , 2021 was exception because of high amount of rain.
James
World Star
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2006
- Runs
- 50,784
- Post of the Week
- 2
UK temperature record is about to be broken.
Could be 40 degrees or more.
I have only experienced that level of heat before for a couple of days in Spain in late June / early July and it was pretty stifling.
Could be 40 degrees or more.
I have only experienced that level of heat before for a couple of days in Spain in late June / early July and it was pretty stifling.
Varun
Senior Test Player
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2012
- Runs
- 26,111
- Post of the Week
- 1
I'm calling it right now.
The Thwaites glacier is going to collapse within the next 3 years, and it's going to make Covid look like child's play.
The Thwaites glacier is going to collapse within the next 3 years, and it's going to make Covid look like child's play.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,936
A national emergency has been declared, with a red warning for extreme heat issued for the first time for England on Monday and Tuesday - when temperatures could hit an unprecedented 40C.
Forecasters now say there is an 80% chance of the mercury topping the UK's record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F), set at Cambridge University Botanic Garden on 25 July 2019.
There is a 50% chance of temperatures hitting 40C (104F) somewhere in the UK, the Met Office said.
Forecasters now say there is an 80% chance of the mercury topping the UK's record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F), set at Cambridge University Botanic Garden on 25 July 2019.
There is a 50% chance of temperatures hitting 40C (104F) somewhere in the UK, the Met Office said.
James
World Star
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- Jan 8, 2006
- Runs
- 50,784
- Post of the Week
- 2
Going to be bunkering down and hiding in the house for a few days…
James
World Star
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2006
- Runs
- 50,784
- Post of the Week
- 2
<b>Heatwave: More evacuations as Mediterranean wildfires spread</b>
France has evacuated more than 14,000 people threatened by wildfires in the south-west, as fires also spread in Spain, Croatia and Greece.
Authorities in France's Gironde, a popular tourist region, have evacuated guards from campsites - the tourists left earlier.
Fires have spread in the Teste-de-Buch and Landiras areas.
In southern Spain, more than 3,200 people fled fires in the Mijas hills, though later some were able to return.
Portugal's fires are contained for now.
However, the Portuguese government says 659 people have died - mostly elderly - from the heat over the past week.
The Mijas fires in Spain are not far from Málaga, a popular tourist area.
Elsewhere in Spain, wildfires have broken out in the provinces of Castilla y León, Galicia and Extremadura.
Ellen McCurdy, living in the Málaga area, told Reuters: "We just grabbed a few essentials and just ran really, and by that stage everybody along the street was on the move... there were a lot of ambulances and fire engines."
Across the Mediterranean - from Morocco in the west to Crete in the east - thousands of firefighters and many waterbombing aircraft have been deployed.
Since Tuesday, the whole region has been sweltering in severe heat, leaving vegetation bone dry.
Heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change.
The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to carbon emissions.
The French weather service has forecast temperatures of up to 41C (106F) in the country's south on Sunday and new heat records are predicted for Monday.
In Portugal, the temperature recently reached 47C.
In the UK there is an amber warning for extreme heat, as the country braces for record temperatures on Monday and Tuesday, possibly reaching 41C in some parts.
Dr Eunice Lo, a climate scientist at Bristol University, told the BBC that "rising temperatures are a signature of climate change" and that in the UK, 2,000 extra deaths a year were attributable to heatwaves.
Public records show that since 1884, the top 10 hottest years in the UK have all been since 2002, she said.
Globally, "heatwaves are becoming more common and lasting longer," Dr Lo added.
"We need to stop burning fossil fuels, and act now and quickly."
Morocco has ordered more than 1,300 people to leave their homes and deployed more firefighters to tackle forest blazes in the north.
The worst-hit area is Larache province.
In Crete, Greek firefighters are battling a big blaze in the hills around Rethymno, on the north coast.
On Saturday, they said it had been partially contained.
Some areas in south-west Turkey and on Croatia's Adriatic coast are also struggling with wildfires.
A number broke out near Croatia's resort towns of Zadar and Sibenik, but they have not forced any major evacuations.
Late on Saturday, France placed 22 more regional departments - mostly along its Atlantic coast - on high orange alert.
One resident in south-west France described the forest fires as feeling "post-apocalyptic".
Fires have burned 10,500 hectares (26,000 acres) of land there and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin praised firefighters' "remarkable courage".
"Everything went so fast - the fire too, was big, big, big," Manon Jacquart, 27, told the BBC.
She was evacuated from the campsite she works at early on Wednesday morning, and slept at a shelter near Teste-de-Buch where hundreds of other people also sheltered from the danger.
"I'm just worried, I'm afraid… I'm trying to be as strong as I can but I'm not ok… I want to forget this week," she said.
Meanwhile, climbers in the Alps are being urged to postpone their trips to Mont Blanc due to the risk of rock falls caused by "exceptional climatic conditions".
Heatwaves put the public at greater risk of heatstroke, heat exhaustion and drowning, as people rush to cool off, Dr Lo said.
Pets and farm animals are also vulnerable.
"Even fit and healthy people are at risk," she said, though the most vulnerable are young children, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
Extreme heat can also damage infrastructure, such as melting road tarmac and buckling railway lines.
In Portugal, fires have destroyed 30,000 hectares (75,000 acres) of land this year, mainly in the north.
That is the worst fire damage since the summer of 2017, when devastating fires killed some 100 people.
In southern Spain, holidaymakers on the beach in Torremolinos saw big plumes of smoke rising in the hills.
Planes have been dropping a fire retardant substance, as helicopters shuttle to and from the coast, collecting seawater to douse the flames.
"There are about 40 houses in our area, everyone was really nervous and standing outside or on balconies watching it," said local resident Ashley Baker.
"Even now there are fires at the top of the mountains. It moved away from here, I'm very relieved."
In Italy, the government has declared a state of emergency in the desiccated Po Valley — the country's longest river is no more than a trickle in some places.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62196045
France has evacuated more than 14,000 people threatened by wildfires in the south-west, as fires also spread in Spain, Croatia and Greece.
Authorities in France's Gironde, a popular tourist region, have evacuated guards from campsites - the tourists left earlier.
Fires have spread in the Teste-de-Buch and Landiras areas.
In southern Spain, more than 3,200 people fled fires in the Mijas hills, though later some were able to return.
Portugal's fires are contained for now.
However, the Portuguese government says 659 people have died - mostly elderly - from the heat over the past week.
The Mijas fires in Spain are not far from Málaga, a popular tourist area.
Elsewhere in Spain, wildfires have broken out in the provinces of Castilla y León, Galicia and Extremadura.
Ellen McCurdy, living in the Málaga area, told Reuters: "We just grabbed a few essentials and just ran really, and by that stage everybody along the street was on the move... there were a lot of ambulances and fire engines."
Across the Mediterranean - from Morocco in the west to Crete in the east - thousands of firefighters and many waterbombing aircraft have been deployed.
Since Tuesday, the whole region has been sweltering in severe heat, leaving vegetation bone dry.
Heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change.
The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to carbon emissions.
The French weather service has forecast temperatures of up to 41C (106F) in the country's south on Sunday and new heat records are predicted for Monday.
In Portugal, the temperature recently reached 47C.
In the UK there is an amber warning for extreme heat, as the country braces for record temperatures on Monday and Tuesday, possibly reaching 41C in some parts.
Dr Eunice Lo, a climate scientist at Bristol University, told the BBC that "rising temperatures are a signature of climate change" and that in the UK, 2,000 extra deaths a year were attributable to heatwaves.
Public records show that since 1884, the top 10 hottest years in the UK have all been since 2002, she said.
Globally, "heatwaves are becoming more common and lasting longer," Dr Lo added.
"We need to stop burning fossil fuels, and act now and quickly."
Morocco has ordered more than 1,300 people to leave their homes and deployed more firefighters to tackle forest blazes in the north.
The worst-hit area is Larache province.
In Crete, Greek firefighters are battling a big blaze in the hills around Rethymno, on the north coast.
On Saturday, they said it had been partially contained.
Some areas in south-west Turkey and on Croatia's Adriatic coast are also struggling with wildfires.
A number broke out near Croatia's resort towns of Zadar and Sibenik, but they have not forced any major evacuations.
Late on Saturday, France placed 22 more regional departments - mostly along its Atlantic coast - on high orange alert.
One resident in south-west France described the forest fires as feeling "post-apocalyptic".
Fires have burned 10,500 hectares (26,000 acres) of land there and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin praised firefighters' "remarkable courage".
"Everything went so fast - the fire too, was big, big, big," Manon Jacquart, 27, told the BBC.
She was evacuated from the campsite she works at early on Wednesday morning, and slept at a shelter near Teste-de-Buch where hundreds of other people also sheltered from the danger.
"I'm just worried, I'm afraid… I'm trying to be as strong as I can but I'm not ok… I want to forget this week," she said.
Meanwhile, climbers in the Alps are being urged to postpone their trips to Mont Blanc due to the risk of rock falls caused by "exceptional climatic conditions".
Heatwaves put the public at greater risk of heatstroke, heat exhaustion and drowning, as people rush to cool off, Dr Lo said.
Pets and farm animals are also vulnerable.
"Even fit and healthy people are at risk," she said, though the most vulnerable are young children, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
Extreme heat can also damage infrastructure, such as melting road tarmac and buckling railway lines.
In Portugal, fires have destroyed 30,000 hectares (75,000 acres) of land this year, mainly in the north.
That is the worst fire damage since the summer of 2017, when devastating fires killed some 100 people.
In southern Spain, holidaymakers on the beach in Torremolinos saw big plumes of smoke rising in the hills.
Planes have been dropping a fire retardant substance, as helicopters shuttle to and from the coast, collecting seawater to douse the flames.
"There are about 40 houses in our area, everyone was really nervous and standing outside or on balconies watching it," said local resident Ashley Baker.
"Even now there are fires at the top of the mountains. It moved away from here, I'm very relieved."
In Italy, the government has declared a state of emergency in the desiccated Po Valley — the country's longest river is no more than a trickle in some places.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62196045
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,936
Britons have been urged to stay inside as the UK braces for "ferocious" temperatures breaching 40C, and swathes of the country are now covered in the first-ever red warning for extreme heat.
A national emergency has been declared amid the threat of severe disruption as schools close, hospitals cancel appointments and events are scrapped.
Experts say there is now an 80% chance a new temperature record could be set, topping the 38.7C (101.7F) set in 2019 and a 50% chance of highs hitting over 40C (104F).
A national emergency has been declared amid the threat of severe disruption as schools close, hospitals cancel appointments and events are scrapped.
Experts say there is now an 80% chance a new temperature record could be set, topping the 38.7C (101.7F) set in 2019 and a 50% chance of highs hitting over 40C (104F).
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
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- 217,936
silentkiller187
First Class Captain
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- 5,483
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">UK heatwave: Temperature hits 39.1C in Surrey - a new record <a href="https://t.co/dolDgjNRNe">https://t.co/dolDgjNRNe</a></p>— Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1549346254404161536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Technics 1210
Test Debutant
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Ridiculously hot today.
I will blame Brexit for this heat wave!
)
I will blame Brexit for this heat wave!
)
Technics 1210
Test Debutant
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2019
- Runs
- 14,928
New record temperature of 40.2C has been recorded at London's Heathrow Airport
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,936
A major incident has been declared in London after a "huge surge" in fires across the capital on the UK's hottest-ever day.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said the London Fire Brigade (LFB) is "under immense pressure" as he urged people to be safe, adding the situation is "critical".
Dozens of fire engines and hundreds of firefighters have been involved in tackling at least 10 blazes.
Elsewhere in the UK, the Leicestershire fire and rescue service has also declared a major incident in the county "due to high demand", adding: "We will not be attending automatic fire alarms. Please only call us if it's an emergency."
UK one of the hottest places on Earth - see live weather updates
In a village on the outskirts of east London, several houses were destroyed after fires broke out.
LFB has sent 15 fire engines and about 100 firefighters to Wennington to deal with blazes which covered a number of buildings and adjoining grassland.
Aerial footage showed smoke covering the village in Greater London and approaching a historic church.
Nearby fields were completely scorched and burning intensely. It is not known if anybody was hurt in the incident.
London Fire Brigade tweeted: "We've got 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters dealing with this blaze on The Green in Wennington."
The homes were burning close to a fire station in Wennington - a small village that has a population reported to be around 300 people.
Eyewitness Pierre L'Aimable said the fire was "immense... there was so much black smoke in the air".
He told Sky News: "There are horse stables nearby and we saw those horses being evacuated, and people being evacuated. There are loads of animals being saved."
He added: "A lot of people who were evacuated were standing on the side of the road. You could see a lot of them were near the fire because there was black on their chests so they were very close to it. A lot of them were distressed unfortunately."
It has been the hottest day on record in the UK, with provisional Met Office figures showing the temperature hit 40.2C (104.3F) at Heathrow Airport and also later in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, beating the previous record of 38.7C (101.66F) registered in Cambridge three years ago.
As well as the major fire in Wennington, there are also a number of other blazes today elsewhere in the capital:
• Thirty fire engines are dealing with a grass fire on Pea Lane in Upminster
• Twelve fire engines are tackling a fire involving garden fencing and trees on Uxbridge Road in Pinner
• Ten fire engines are attending a restaurant fire on Green Lanes in Southgate
• Eight fire engines are tackling a grass fire on Oaks Road in Croydon
• Eight fire engines are dealing with a grass fire on Ballards Road in Dagenham
• Eight fire engines are attending a fire on The Broadway in Wembley
• Six fire engines are tackling a grass fire on Sunningfields Crescent in Hendon
• Four fire engines are dealing with a grass fire on Chapel View in Croydon
• Four fire engines are attending a fire on Sidcup Road in Eltham.
Mr Khan tweeted: "London Fire Brigade has just declared a major incident in response to a huge surge in fires across the capital today. This is critical: London Fire Brigade is under immense pressure.
"Please be safe. I'm in touch with the Commissioner and will share updates when I have them."
He also urged people: "Don't barbecue on grass or balconies, don't leave broken bottles or glass on the grass (it can start fires), dispose of cigarettes safely, and report a fire as soon as you see one.
"Don't take risks. Stay safe in the heat."
The London Ambulance Service said its crews were "responding to a number of fire incidents across London including at Rainham and Wembley".
"We have a number of resources on scene including ambulance crews and our Hazardous Response teams. We are treating patients on scene."
SKY
Mayor Sadiq Khan said the London Fire Brigade (LFB) is "under immense pressure" as he urged people to be safe, adding the situation is "critical".
Dozens of fire engines and hundreds of firefighters have been involved in tackling at least 10 blazes.
Elsewhere in the UK, the Leicestershire fire and rescue service has also declared a major incident in the county "due to high demand", adding: "We will not be attending automatic fire alarms. Please only call us if it's an emergency."
UK one of the hottest places on Earth - see live weather updates
In a village on the outskirts of east London, several houses were destroyed after fires broke out.
LFB has sent 15 fire engines and about 100 firefighters to Wennington to deal with blazes which covered a number of buildings and adjoining grassland.
Aerial footage showed smoke covering the village in Greater London and approaching a historic church.
Nearby fields were completely scorched and burning intensely. It is not known if anybody was hurt in the incident.
London Fire Brigade tweeted: "We've got 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters dealing with this blaze on The Green in Wennington."
The homes were burning close to a fire station in Wennington - a small village that has a population reported to be around 300 people.
Eyewitness Pierre L'Aimable said the fire was "immense... there was so much black smoke in the air".
He told Sky News: "There are horse stables nearby and we saw those horses being evacuated, and people being evacuated. There are loads of animals being saved."
He added: "A lot of people who were evacuated were standing on the side of the road. You could see a lot of them were near the fire because there was black on their chests so they were very close to it. A lot of them were distressed unfortunately."
It has been the hottest day on record in the UK, with provisional Met Office figures showing the temperature hit 40.2C (104.3F) at Heathrow Airport and also later in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, beating the previous record of 38.7C (101.66F) registered in Cambridge three years ago.
As well as the major fire in Wennington, there are also a number of other blazes today elsewhere in the capital:
• Thirty fire engines are dealing with a grass fire on Pea Lane in Upminster
• Twelve fire engines are tackling a fire involving garden fencing and trees on Uxbridge Road in Pinner
• Ten fire engines are attending a restaurant fire on Green Lanes in Southgate
• Eight fire engines are tackling a grass fire on Oaks Road in Croydon
• Eight fire engines are dealing with a grass fire on Ballards Road in Dagenham
• Eight fire engines are attending a fire on The Broadway in Wembley
• Six fire engines are tackling a grass fire on Sunningfields Crescent in Hendon
• Four fire engines are dealing with a grass fire on Chapel View in Croydon
• Four fire engines are attending a fire on Sidcup Road in Eltham.
Mr Khan tweeted: "London Fire Brigade has just declared a major incident in response to a huge surge in fires across the capital today. This is critical: London Fire Brigade is under immense pressure.
"Please be safe. I'm in touch with the Commissioner and will share updates when I have them."
He also urged people: "Don't barbecue on grass or balconies, don't leave broken bottles or glass on the grass (it can start fires), dispose of cigarettes safely, and report a fire as soon as you see one.
"Don't take risks. Stay safe in the heat."
The London Ambulance Service said its crews were "responding to a number of fire incidents across London including at Rainham and Wembley".
"We have a number of resources on scene including ambulance crews and our Hazardous Response teams. We are treating patients on scene."
SKY
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,936
Footage has emerged of destroyed homes and cars in east London after the capital experienced its worst day for fires since the Second World War.
Video from Dagenham shows the charred remains of a large part of a street after a grassland fire sparked a series of blazes.
Tuesday was the hottest day in UK history, sparking severe fires across the country, with the public being warned the "danger isn't over" and today's heat still "poses risks of new fires sparking off".
In the village of Wennington, east London, around 18 or 19 homes were destroyed by fires.
Local councillor Ray Morgon told Sky News: "We've got our housing team who are helping people with their immediate housing needs, but obviously we need to have a conversation with people about their longer term housing needs."
Fire crews remain at the site of a huge blaze which has destroyed properties and grassland in the village.
People living in countryside advised to keep 'go-bag' of essentials due to wildfire risk
Sky News reporter Sadiya Chowdhury has says she has been told the "danger isn't over" and the heat still "poses risks of new fires sparking off".
She added the blaze on Tuesday covered 20 hectares of grassland.
Two detached houses, two semi-detached houses, two rows of terraced houses, six single storey garages, 12 stables and five cars were set alight.
Aerial footage showed flames tearing across tinder-dry fields and approaching a historic church.
Asked what conditions were like, a firefighter at the scene replied: "Absolute hell."
Flames ripped through homes elsewhere across Britain as the country was scorched by extreme heat.
Scenes of destroyed properties and failing transport infrastructure gave the country a glimpse into what could become the new reality in summer months because of climate change.
A new record for the hottest day ever seen, of 40.3C, was recorded in Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, on Tuesday afternoon - beating the previous record of 38.7C in Cambridge three years ago, by 1.6C.
Major incidents were announced by fire brigades in London, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire as dozens of fires broke in the sweltering heat - with flames ripping through houses, schools and churches.
A ring of fires in and around London lead to people being evacuated and many taken to hospital.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said Tuesday was the "busiest day for the fire service in London since the Second World War".
He told Sky News: "On a normal day, the fire service receives, roughly speaking, 350 calls on a busy day. Yesterday they received more than 2,600 calls."
Mr Khan also said 41 properties were destroyed in London and 16 firefighters were injured to some extent.
He added that at least some of them were taken to hospital because of "heat stress".
The London mayor continued: "It is really important for us to recognise that one of the consequences of climate change are these sorts of temperatures which lead to the sort of fires you're seeing behind you."
Mr Khan also urged people not to have barbecues on Wednesday, despite temperatures dropping by 10C in some areas, because the grass is still dry and will allow fire to spread rapidly if it catches alight.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to lash parts of the country, potentially causing localised flooding.
However the threat of wildfires remains as other parts of the UK will still see highs of up to 30C and with little rain for months in some areas.
Firefighters were inundated with calls all around the country on Tuesday, with one fire chief calling the "brutal" day a "game-changer" and a preview of the effects of climate change.
The Met Office said 34 observation sites across England provisionally broke the previous all-time record, ranging from Bramham, in West Yorkshire, to Charlwood, in Surrey, while a further five had equalled it on Tuesday.
A total of six sites, mostly in Greater London, saw temperatures reach or exceed 40C.
Scotland experienced its hottest day on record, with the temperature reaching 34.8C in Charterhall in the Scottish Borders, Met Office provisional figures showed.
Elsewhere, a serious blaze occurred in Barnsley when a row of houses in the Moorland Avenue area was consumed by flames, with crews continuing to battle fires elsewhere in the area.
Doncaster Council said a major blaze in Clayton also spread to three residential properties and there were reports of houses on fire in the Kiverton Park and Maltby areas of Rotherham.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue tweeted: "We have declared a major incident due to high demand across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
"We will not be attending Automatic Fire alarms. Please only call us if it's an emergency."
Meanwhile, eight fire engines tackled a grass fire on Ballards Road in Dagenham where images show several burned-out cars.
Nine people have died since Saturday in swimming accidents and there has been widespread disruption to train services.
Dave Walton, deputy chief fire officer for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said Tuesday was a "peek into the future" amid huge demand for firefighters.
He said: "It's about a completely and fundamentally different operating environment where fires burn with such ferocity, and spread with such speed in suburban areas that you can't stop them.
"We've seen the kind of conditions faced by international colleagues just miles from our capital city, and in towns, villages and cities the length and breadth of the country.
"Today was about climate change, the hottest UK day on record - ever!"
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said the government will "stand by" those impacted by the fires.
"I'm absolutely certain the government will look at whatever is needed to make sure that people are looked after at a time like this," he told Sky News.
"The government will stand by people who need assistance after an emergency event, as we always do."
I think this is an indication of things to come.
I think we need to be prepared for experiencing a lot more of these wildfires as the climate changes, as it gets hotter and drier in the UK, we're likely to see more of these types of incidents.
And we need to be prepared for them, not just in terms of the way the fire service responds, but also how we design our urban environment, especially what's known as the WUI - the wildland urban interface – as we’re seeing in Wennington - an urban environment on the edge of wildland.
And we can learn from other countries around the world that have had to face this sort of problem for many, many years.
And so, for example, you build fire breaks around your properties. You pick the type of plantings that you have in close proximity to your property so that they are less likely to easily combust.
I'm from Australia originally and it was not uncommon to have days like today. And we would have days of total fire ban. So it would be illegal to have a barbecue outside, for example, anywhere, even in your own backyard. You could not have a naked fire anywhere on days of total fire ban.
We need to be prepared…This threat is not going to go away.
Record temperatures bring rail disruption
Dozens of trains were cancelled or delayed across England on Wednesday morning because of problems caused by the extreme heat - which caused damage to overheard wires, tracks, and signalling systems.
National Rail has told customers to check before setting off on their journeys and to only travel if absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, LNER is advising customers not to travel after the heat caused major damage to the rail infrastructure on its network.
Train services across the Great Northern and Thameslink network will also be cancelled, delayed or revised due to a "number of incidents".
South Western Railway and Avanti West Coast services are also affected.
SKY
Video from Dagenham shows the charred remains of a large part of a street after a grassland fire sparked a series of blazes.
Tuesday was the hottest day in UK history, sparking severe fires across the country, with the public being warned the "danger isn't over" and today's heat still "poses risks of new fires sparking off".
In the village of Wennington, east London, around 18 or 19 homes were destroyed by fires.
Local councillor Ray Morgon told Sky News: "We've got our housing team who are helping people with their immediate housing needs, but obviously we need to have a conversation with people about their longer term housing needs."
Fire crews remain at the site of a huge blaze which has destroyed properties and grassland in the village.
People living in countryside advised to keep 'go-bag' of essentials due to wildfire risk
Sky News reporter Sadiya Chowdhury has says she has been told the "danger isn't over" and the heat still "poses risks of new fires sparking off".
She added the blaze on Tuesday covered 20 hectares of grassland.
Two detached houses, two semi-detached houses, two rows of terraced houses, six single storey garages, 12 stables and five cars were set alight.
Aerial footage showed flames tearing across tinder-dry fields and approaching a historic church.
Asked what conditions were like, a firefighter at the scene replied: "Absolute hell."
Flames ripped through homes elsewhere across Britain as the country was scorched by extreme heat.
Scenes of destroyed properties and failing transport infrastructure gave the country a glimpse into what could become the new reality in summer months because of climate change.
A new record for the hottest day ever seen, of 40.3C, was recorded in Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, on Tuesday afternoon - beating the previous record of 38.7C in Cambridge three years ago, by 1.6C.
Major incidents were announced by fire brigades in London, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire as dozens of fires broke in the sweltering heat - with flames ripping through houses, schools and churches.
A ring of fires in and around London lead to people being evacuated and many taken to hospital.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said Tuesday was the "busiest day for the fire service in London since the Second World War".
He told Sky News: "On a normal day, the fire service receives, roughly speaking, 350 calls on a busy day. Yesterday they received more than 2,600 calls."
Mr Khan also said 41 properties were destroyed in London and 16 firefighters were injured to some extent.
He added that at least some of them were taken to hospital because of "heat stress".
The London mayor continued: "It is really important for us to recognise that one of the consequences of climate change are these sorts of temperatures which lead to the sort of fires you're seeing behind you."
Mr Khan also urged people not to have barbecues on Wednesday, despite temperatures dropping by 10C in some areas, because the grass is still dry and will allow fire to spread rapidly if it catches alight.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to lash parts of the country, potentially causing localised flooding.
However the threat of wildfires remains as other parts of the UK will still see highs of up to 30C and with little rain for months in some areas.
Firefighters were inundated with calls all around the country on Tuesday, with one fire chief calling the "brutal" day a "game-changer" and a preview of the effects of climate change.
The Met Office said 34 observation sites across England provisionally broke the previous all-time record, ranging from Bramham, in West Yorkshire, to Charlwood, in Surrey, while a further five had equalled it on Tuesday.
A total of six sites, mostly in Greater London, saw temperatures reach or exceed 40C.
Scotland experienced its hottest day on record, with the temperature reaching 34.8C in Charterhall in the Scottish Borders, Met Office provisional figures showed.
Elsewhere, a serious blaze occurred in Barnsley when a row of houses in the Moorland Avenue area was consumed by flames, with crews continuing to battle fires elsewhere in the area.
Doncaster Council said a major blaze in Clayton also spread to three residential properties and there were reports of houses on fire in the Kiverton Park and Maltby areas of Rotherham.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue tweeted: "We have declared a major incident due to high demand across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
"We will not be attending Automatic Fire alarms. Please only call us if it's an emergency."
Meanwhile, eight fire engines tackled a grass fire on Ballards Road in Dagenham where images show several burned-out cars.
Nine people have died since Saturday in swimming accidents and there has been widespread disruption to train services.
Dave Walton, deputy chief fire officer for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said Tuesday was a "peek into the future" amid huge demand for firefighters.
He said: "It's about a completely and fundamentally different operating environment where fires burn with such ferocity, and spread with such speed in suburban areas that you can't stop them.
"We've seen the kind of conditions faced by international colleagues just miles from our capital city, and in towns, villages and cities the length and breadth of the country.
"Today was about climate change, the hottest UK day on record - ever!"
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said the government will "stand by" those impacted by the fires.
"I'm absolutely certain the government will look at whatever is needed to make sure that people are looked after at a time like this," he told Sky News.
"The government will stand by people who need assistance after an emergency event, as we always do."
I think this is an indication of things to come.
I think we need to be prepared for experiencing a lot more of these wildfires as the climate changes, as it gets hotter and drier in the UK, we're likely to see more of these types of incidents.
And we need to be prepared for them, not just in terms of the way the fire service responds, but also how we design our urban environment, especially what's known as the WUI - the wildland urban interface – as we’re seeing in Wennington - an urban environment on the edge of wildland.
And we can learn from other countries around the world that have had to face this sort of problem for many, many years.
And so, for example, you build fire breaks around your properties. You pick the type of plantings that you have in close proximity to your property so that they are less likely to easily combust.
I'm from Australia originally and it was not uncommon to have days like today. And we would have days of total fire ban. So it would be illegal to have a barbecue outside, for example, anywhere, even in your own backyard. You could not have a naked fire anywhere on days of total fire ban.
We need to be prepared…This threat is not going to go away.
Record temperatures bring rail disruption
Dozens of trains were cancelled or delayed across England on Wednesday morning because of problems caused by the extreme heat - which caused damage to overheard wires, tracks, and signalling systems.
National Rail has told customers to check before setting off on their journeys and to only travel if absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, LNER is advising customers not to travel after the heat caused major damage to the rail infrastructure on its network.
Train services across the Great Northern and Thameslink network will also be cancelled, delayed or revised due to a "number of incidents".
South Western Railway and Avanti West Coast services are also affected.
SKY
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,936
China is facing a 40C (104F) heatwave, with some provinces already on the highest possible alert and officials are warning of glacial melt, mudslides and forest fires.
Following above-average temperatures in June and early July, Saturday is the day of 'big heat' in the Chinese lunar calendar.
Following above-average temperatures in June and early July, Saturday is the day of 'big heat' in the Chinese lunar calendar.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,936
The fire service in Surrey has declared a major incident as crews battle an open fire - as crews in the capital fight three other large blazes, with people in west London told to keep their doors and windows shut.
In Surrey, a fire at Hankley Common near Farnham has drawn "several fire engines" to the area.
The fire service tweeted: "There is a great deal of smoke so please avoid the area, windows and doors should be closed if nearby and pets kept indoors."
In Surrey, a fire at Hankley Common near Farnham has drawn "several fire engines" to the area.
The fire service tweeted: "There is a great deal of smoke so please avoid the area, windows and doors should be closed if nearby and pets kept indoors."
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,936
Last week's record-breaking heatwave in the UK was made at least 10 times more likely by climate change, according to a new study.
Hundreds of people are expected to have died during the scorching weather, though official figures are yet to emerge, the rapid analysis by the World Weather Attribution group (WWA) said.
There have been estimates of more than 840 extra deaths in England and Wales on 18 and 19 July.
The extreme weather caused widespread disruption to transport networks and hundreds of fires, including devastating blazes that destroyed homes.
During the heatwave, a new record temperature for the country of 40.3C was set at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on 19 July - 1.6C hotter than the previous mark set just three years ago.
Hundreds of people are expected to have died during the scorching weather, though official figures are yet to emerge, the rapid analysis by the World Weather Attribution group (WWA) said.
There have been estimates of more than 840 extra deaths in England and Wales on 18 and 19 July.
The extreme weather caused widespread disruption to transport networks and hundreds of fires, including devastating blazes that destroyed homes.
During the heatwave, a new record temperature for the country of 40.3C was set at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on 19 July - 1.6C hotter than the previous mark set just three years ago.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
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- 217,936
Tropical weather will hit the UK in the coming days with "muggy" conditions bringing a mixture of 29C (84.2F) heat and rain from Monday.
Forecasters say heavy showers from the Atlantic are set to hit parts of the country over the weekend, while southern and eastern areas will be hot and humid.
Forecasters say heavy showers from the Atlantic are set to hit parts of the country over the weekend, while southern and eastern areas will be hot and humid.
Robert
Test Star
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- Nov 4, 2007
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- 37,604
- Post of the Week
- 1
I attended a disturbing lecture last night.
COP26 has failed, it is claimed. The target of 1.5C mean temperature rise cannot be achieved. We would have to cut emissions by 5% every year until 2050 and that won’t happen.
Even if we become carbon neutral this very day, the seas will continue to rise for decades. Nations relying on rice production will cease to exist as sea water encroachment continues. Indonesia is right now moving the entire city of Jakarta uphill.
By 2100 CE our descendants face 4.0C rise and the world will be a very different place. Many regions will become uninhabitable by humans. Mass climate migration towards Europe, North America and Southern Africa states. The number of boat people turning up in Europe will rise ten thousandfold. The people of those states will already be struggling to feed themselves. Extreme nationalism will replace liberal democracy as the rich nations arm their borders.
Then it’s the Four Horsemen - famine, disease, war and death resulting in massive human depopulation.
Stopping climate change has failed. All we can do now is mitigate.
COP26 has failed, it is claimed. The target of 1.5C mean temperature rise cannot be achieved. We would have to cut emissions by 5% every year until 2050 and that won’t happen.
Even if we become carbon neutral this very day, the seas will continue to rise for decades. Nations relying on rice production will cease to exist as sea water encroachment continues. Indonesia is right now moving the entire city of Jakarta uphill.
By 2100 CE our descendants face 4.0C rise and the world will be a very different place. Many regions will become uninhabitable by humans. Mass climate migration towards Europe, North America and Southern Africa states. The number of boat people turning up in Europe will rise ten thousandfold. The people of those states will already be struggling to feed themselves. Extreme nationalism will replace liberal democracy as the rich nations arm their borders.
Then it’s the Four Horsemen - famine, disease, war and death resulting in massive human depopulation.
Stopping climate change has failed. All we can do now is mitigate.
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- 217,936
The UK is bracing itself for another heatwave next week, with some parts of the country seeing temperatures nudge towards the mid-30s.
The spell of hot weather is due to begin on Sunday, with England and Wales waking up to a bright start and seeing plenty of sunshine into the afternoon.
The spell of hot weather is due to begin on Sunday, with England and Wales waking up to a bright start and seeing plenty of sunshine into the afternoon.
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- Oct 2, 2004
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- 217,936
A drought is expected to be declared on Friday in the South West, Sky News understands.
It follows the start of a four-day amber extreme heat warning, below normal levels in waterways, and England's driest July since 1935 during which the temperature rose above 40C for the first time.
It follows the start of a four-day amber extreme heat warning, below normal levels in waterways, and England's driest July since 1935 during which the temperature rose above 40C for the first time.
Robert
Test Star
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Defo unseasonably hot here. We need it to rain for a month.
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- 217,936
Summary
A drought is officially declared in parts of southern, central and eastern England
It means water companies can begin announcing stricter measures to conserve supplies
Yorkshire Water has announced its first hosepipe ban in 27 years and joins South East, Southern and Welsh Water in enforcing restrictions
A four-day extreme heat amber warning is in place for parts of England and Wales, with temperatures forecast to hit 37C (99F)
The Met Office is also warning there is an "exceptional" risk of fires spreading over the weekend, with some supermarkets removing disposable barbecues from shelves
Meanwhile in France, firefighters continue to fight a huge wildfire in the south-west, while low water levels on the Rhine river in Germany are disrupting shipping
A drought is officially declared in parts of southern, central and eastern England
It means water companies can begin announcing stricter measures to conserve supplies
Yorkshire Water has announced its first hosepipe ban in 27 years and joins South East, Southern and Welsh Water in enforcing restrictions
A four-day extreme heat amber warning is in place for parts of England and Wales, with temperatures forecast to hit 37C (99F)
The Met Office is also warning there is an "exceptional" risk of fires spreading over the weekend, with some supermarkets removing disposable barbecues from shelves
Meanwhile in France, firefighters continue to fight a huge wildfire in the south-west, while low water levels on the Rhine river in Germany are disrupting shipping
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2015
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- 15,745
Drought declared in eight areas of England
Droughts have been declared in parts of southwest, southern and central England and all of eastern England, as Britons continue to bake in the high temperatures.
The affected areas are:
• Devon and Cornwall
• Solent and South Downs
• Kent and South London
• Herts and North London
• East Anglia
• Thames
• Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
• East Midlands
Wiggonholt, in the Horsham District of West Sussex, has seen the highest recorded temperature in the UK today so far at 34.5C, according to the Met Office.
While in Ireland, Oak Park in County Carlow reached 31.7C which is 11.8C above its long-term average, Irish Observational Climatology said.
The announcement on droughts means residents in the areas indicated in the map below can expect to see restrictions placed on domestic and commercial water use.
While moving to drought status does not automatically trigger actions itself, it does mean the Environment Agency and water companies will implement stages of pre-agreed plans.
These plans follow local factors including rainfall, how much water is left in rivers, reservoirs and lakes, as well as temperature forecasts and water demand, and lead to temporary use bans, such as hosepipe bans, being introduced.
Residents and businesses in the affected areas have been urged to be "very mindful" of the pressures on resources and told they should use water wisely.
Read more: https://news.sky.com/story/drought-declared-in-several-parts-of-england-12670951
Droughts have been declared in parts of southwest, southern and central England and all of eastern England, as Britons continue to bake in the high temperatures.
The affected areas are:
• Devon and Cornwall
• Solent and South Downs
• Kent and South London
• Herts and North London
• East Anglia
• Thames
• Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
• East Midlands
Wiggonholt, in the Horsham District of West Sussex, has seen the highest recorded temperature in the UK today so far at 34.5C, according to the Met Office.
While in Ireland, Oak Park in County Carlow reached 31.7C which is 11.8C above its long-term average, Irish Observational Climatology said.
The announcement on droughts means residents in the areas indicated in the map below can expect to see restrictions placed on domestic and commercial water use.
While moving to drought status does not automatically trigger actions itself, it does mean the Environment Agency and water companies will implement stages of pre-agreed plans.
These plans follow local factors including rainfall, how much water is left in rivers, reservoirs and lakes, as well as temperature forecasts and water demand, and lead to temporary use bans, such as hosepipe bans, being introduced.
Residents and businesses in the affected areas have been urged to be "very mindful" of the pressures on resources and told they should use water wisely.
Read more: https://news.sky.com/story/drought-declared-in-several-parts-of-england-12670951
hoshiarpurexpress
First Class Captain
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- Jul 29, 2020
- Runs
- 6,161
Sherry Rehman, the country’s climate change minister, insists rich polluters must pay their due as country is deluded by devastating floods
Rich polluting countries which are predominantly to blame for the “dystopian” climate breakdown have broken their promises to reduce emissions and help developing countries adapt to global heating, according to Pakistan’s minister for climate change, who said reparations were long overdue.
More than 1,200 people are dead and a third of Pakistan is under floodwater after weeks of unprecedented monsoon rains battered the country – which only weeks earlier had been suffering serious drought.
In an interview with the Guardian, the climate minister, Sherry Rehman, said global emission targets and reparations must be reconsidered, given the accelerated and relentless nature of climate catastrophes hitting countries such as Pakistan.
“Global warming is the existential crisis facing the world and Pakistan is ground zero – yet we have contributed less than 1% to [greenhouse gas] emissions. We all know that the pledges made in multilateral forums have not been fulfilled,” said Rehman, 61, a former journalist, senator and diplomat who previously served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US.
“There is so much loss and damage with so little reparations to countries that contributed so little to the world’s carbon footprint that obviously the bargain made between the global north and global south is not working. We need to be pressing very hard for a reset of the targets because climate change is accelerating much faster than predicted, on the ground, that is very clear.”
The extent of Pakistan’s flood damage is unprecedented.
An area the size of the state of Colorado is inundated, with more than 200 bridges and 3,000 miles of telecom lines collapsed or damaged, Rehman said. At least 33 million people have been affected – a figure expected to rise after authorities complete damage surveys next week. In the Sindh district, which produces half the country’s food, 90% of crops are ruined. Entire villages and agricultural fields have been swept away.
The main culprit is unprecedented relentless torrential rain, with some towns receiving 500 to 700% more rainfall than normal in August. Large swaths of land are still under eight to 10 ft of water, making it extremely difficult to drop rations or put up tents. The navy is carrying out rescue missions in normally arid areas where boats have never been seen, according to Rehman.
“The whole area looks like an ocean with no horizon – nothing like this has been seen before,” said Rehman. “I wince when I hear people say these are natural disasters. This is very much the age of the anthropocene: these are man-made disasters.”
Many have fled inundated rural areas looking for food and shelter in nearby cities which are ill-equipped to cope, and it is unclear when – or if – they will ever be able to go back. The total number of people remain stranded in remote areas, waiting to be rescued, remains unknown.
The water will take months to drain, and – despite a brief pause in the downfall – more heavy rain is forecast for mid-September.
"You can’t walk away from the reality that big corporations that have net profits bigger than the GDP of many countries need to take responsibility
Sherry Rehman"
Rehman, who was named minister for climate change in April amid a political and economic crisis that saw the ousting of the prime minister, Imran Khan, has said the government was doing everything possible but rescue and aid missions had been hampered by ongoing rain and the sheer scale of need.
While sympathetic to the global economic challenges caused by the Covid pandemic and war in Ukraine, she was adamant that “richer countries must do more”.
“Historic injustices have to be heard and there must be some level of climate equation so that the brunt of the irresponsible carbon consumption is not being laid on nations near the equator which are obviously unable to create resilient infrastructure on their own,” she said.
There are also growing calls for fossil fuel companies – making record profits as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine – to pay for the damage caused by global heating to developing countries.
Rehman said: “Big polluters often try to greenwash their emissions but you can’t walk away from the reality that big corporations that have net profits bigger than the GDP of many countries need to take responsibility.”
The annual UN climate talks take place in Egypt in November, where the group of 77 developing countries plus China, which Pakistan currently chairs, will be pushing hard for the polluters to pay up after a year of devastating drought, floods, heatwaves and forest fires.
Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to global heating, and the current catastrophic floods come after four consecutive heatwaves with temperatures topping 53C earlier this year.
It has more than 7,200 glaciers – more than anywhere outside the poles – which are melting much faster and earlier due to rising temperatures, adding water to rivers already swollen by rainfall.
"We’re going to be very clear and unequivocal about what we see as our needs and due, as well as where we see the series of larger global targets going. But loss and danger to the south which is already in the throes of an accelerated climate dystopia will have to be part of the bargain driven at Cop27,” she said.
Richer polluting countries have so far been slow to cough up pledged money to help developing countries adapt to climate shocks, and even more reluctant to engage in meaningful negotiations about financing loss and damage suffered by poorer nations like Pakistan which have contributed negligibly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Discussion about reparations has been mostly blocked, leaving vulnerable countries like Pakistan “facing the brunt of other people’s reckless carbon consumption”.
“As you can see, global warming hasn’t gone down – quite the opposite. And there is only so much adaptation we can do. The melting of glaciers, the floods, drought, forest fires, none will stop without very serious pledges being honoured,” said Rahman.
“We are on the frontline and intend to keep loss and damage and adapting to climate catastrophes at the core of our arguments and negotiations. There will be no moving away from that.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/04/pakistan-floods-reparations-climate-disaster
Rich polluting countries which are predominantly to blame for the “dystopian” climate breakdown have broken their promises to reduce emissions and help developing countries adapt to global heating, according to Pakistan’s minister for climate change, who said reparations were long overdue.
More than 1,200 people are dead and a third of Pakistan is under floodwater after weeks of unprecedented monsoon rains battered the country – which only weeks earlier had been suffering serious drought.
In an interview with the Guardian, the climate minister, Sherry Rehman, said global emission targets and reparations must be reconsidered, given the accelerated and relentless nature of climate catastrophes hitting countries such as Pakistan.
“Global warming is the existential crisis facing the world and Pakistan is ground zero – yet we have contributed less than 1% to [greenhouse gas] emissions. We all know that the pledges made in multilateral forums have not been fulfilled,” said Rehman, 61, a former journalist, senator and diplomat who previously served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US.
“There is so much loss and damage with so little reparations to countries that contributed so little to the world’s carbon footprint that obviously the bargain made between the global north and global south is not working. We need to be pressing very hard for a reset of the targets because climate change is accelerating much faster than predicted, on the ground, that is very clear.”
The extent of Pakistan’s flood damage is unprecedented.
An area the size of the state of Colorado is inundated, with more than 200 bridges and 3,000 miles of telecom lines collapsed or damaged, Rehman said. At least 33 million people have been affected – a figure expected to rise after authorities complete damage surveys next week. In the Sindh district, which produces half the country’s food, 90% of crops are ruined. Entire villages and agricultural fields have been swept away.
The main culprit is unprecedented relentless torrential rain, with some towns receiving 500 to 700% more rainfall than normal in August. Large swaths of land are still under eight to 10 ft of water, making it extremely difficult to drop rations or put up tents. The navy is carrying out rescue missions in normally arid areas where boats have never been seen, according to Rehman.
“The whole area looks like an ocean with no horizon – nothing like this has been seen before,” said Rehman. “I wince when I hear people say these are natural disasters. This is very much the age of the anthropocene: these are man-made disasters.”
Many have fled inundated rural areas looking for food and shelter in nearby cities which are ill-equipped to cope, and it is unclear when – or if – they will ever be able to go back. The total number of people remain stranded in remote areas, waiting to be rescued, remains unknown.
The water will take months to drain, and – despite a brief pause in the downfall – more heavy rain is forecast for mid-September.
"You can’t walk away from the reality that big corporations that have net profits bigger than the GDP of many countries need to take responsibility
Sherry Rehman"
Rehman, who was named minister for climate change in April amid a political and economic crisis that saw the ousting of the prime minister, Imran Khan, has said the government was doing everything possible but rescue and aid missions had been hampered by ongoing rain and the sheer scale of need.
While sympathetic to the global economic challenges caused by the Covid pandemic and war in Ukraine, she was adamant that “richer countries must do more”.
“Historic injustices have to be heard and there must be some level of climate equation so that the brunt of the irresponsible carbon consumption is not being laid on nations near the equator which are obviously unable to create resilient infrastructure on their own,” she said.
There are also growing calls for fossil fuel companies – making record profits as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine – to pay for the damage caused by global heating to developing countries.
Rehman said: “Big polluters often try to greenwash their emissions but you can’t walk away from the reality that big corporations that have net profits bigger than the GDP of many countries need to take responsibility.”
The annual UN climate talks take place in Egypt in November, where the group of 77 developing countries plus China, which Pakistan currently chairs, will be pushing hard for the polluters to pay up after a year of devastating drought, floods, heatwaves and forest fires.
Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to global heating, and the current catastrophic floods come after four consecutive heatwaves with temperatures topping 53C earlier this year.
It has more than 7,200 glaciers – more than anywhere outside the poles – which are melting much faster and earlier due to rising temperatures, adding water to rivers already swollen by rainfall.
"We’re going to be very clear and unequivocal about what we see as our needs and due, as well as where we see the series of larger global targets going. But loss and danger to the south which is already in the throes of an accelerated climate dystopia will have to be part of the bargain driven at Cop27,” she said.
Richer polluting countries have so far been slow to cough up pledged money to help developing countries adapt to climate shocks, and even more reluctant to engage in meaningful negotiations about financing loss and damage suffered by poorer nations like Pakistan which have contributed negligibly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Discussion about reparations has been mostly blocked, leaving vulnerable countries like Pakistan “facing the brunt of other people’s reckless carbon consumption”.
“As you can see, global warming hasn’t gone down – quite the opposite. And there is only so much adaptation we can do. The melting of glaciers, the floods, drought, forest fires, none will stop without very serious pledges being honoured,” said Rahman.
“We are on the frontline and intend to keep loss and damage and adapting to climate catastrophes at the core of our arguments and negotiations. There will be no moving away from that.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/04/pakistan-floods-reparations-climate-disaster
Last edited by a moderator:
Global warming to exceed Paris target despite climate pledges - but increase is slowing
The combined climate pledges of countries around the world set it on course for a dangerous 2.5C of warming, far higher than the limit countries committed to in Glasgow at COP26 last year.
That's the grave verdict of a crucial United Nations (UN) assessment of how political pledges from 193 countries that signed the historic Paris Agreement stack up together.
It warns the world is on course for around 2.5C of warming, depending on whether promises are kept and targets are hit.
This shows progress since the landmark Paris climate accord was struck in 2015, when the world was on track for roughly 4C of warming.
But it is still far higher than the now widely accepted 1.5C limit that the world needs to stick to in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including extreme flooding and drought, crop failures, disease spread and the loss of lives and livelihoods.
"To put it bluntly, countries' climate action plans as they currently stand simply aren't good enough," said executive secretary of UN Climate Change Simon Stiell, launching the report on Wednesday morning. "Humanity cannot accept that."
However, the annual synthesis of plans said that they are at least starting to bend the curve of global greenhouse gas emissions downward.
For the first time, the annual report has predicted that emissions will peak at 2030. Last year they were still set to continue rising after 2030.
But emissions are still not "demonstrating the rapid downward trend science says is necessary this decade", the report said, because the sooner they fall, the less global warming will be locked in long-term.
Scientists agree emissions must fall 45% by 2030, in order to limit warming to 1.5C. Mr Steill said it would be impossible to lower global warming by the level needed unless rich countries fund action in poor countries too.
A promise to revisit and strengthen climate plans was hailed as one of the key successes from COP26 in Glasgow last year.
Mr Steill called it "disappointing" that only 24 have materialised in the last year, when many countries have been preoccupied with the war in Ukraine and ensuing energy and food crises.
But while the crisis has seen an increase in burning fossil fuels, it has also accelerated investments in renewable energy, he added.
Alok Sharma, MP and COP26 president, said the report shows that "although we have made some progress - and every fraction of a degree counts - much more is needed urgently."
The UK will in two weeks pass the baton to Egypt to take up the presidency for COP27, the UN climate summit hosting in November.
New climate plans that countries produced since COP26 are set to shave off about 6 gigatonnes from global emissions in 2030, roughly equivalent to the US's current annual emissions.
https://news.sky.com/story/climate-...ending-the-curve-12730498?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter
The combined climate pledges of countries around the world set it on course for a dangerous 2.5C of warming, far higher than the limit countries committed to in Glasgow at COP26 last year.
That's the grave verdict of a crucial United Nations (UN) assessment of how political pledges from 193 countries that signed the historic Paris Agreement stack up together.
It warns the world is on course for around 2.5C of warming, depending on whether promises are kept and targets are hit.
This shows progress since the landmark Paris climate accord was struck in 2015, when the world was on track for roughly 4C of warming.
But it is still far higher than the now widely accepted 1.5C limit that the world needs to stick to in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including extreme flooding and drought, crop failures, disease spread and the loss of lives and livelihoods.
"To put it bluntly, countries' climate action plans as they currently stand simply aren't good enough," said executive secretary of UN Climate Change Simon Stiell, launching the report on Wednesday morning. "Humanity cannot accept that."
However, the annual synthesis of plans said that they are at least starting to bend the curve of global greenhouse gas emissions downward.
For the first time, the annual report has predicted that emissions will peak at 2030. Last year they were still set to continue rising after 2030.
But emissions are still not "demonstrating the rapid downward trend science says is necessary this decade", the report said, because the sooner they fall, the less global warming will be locked in long-term.
Scientists agree emissions must fall 45% by 2030, in order to limit warming to 1.5C. Mr Steill said it would be impossible to lower global warming by the level needed unless rich countries fund action in poor countries too.
A promise to revisit and strengthen climate plans was hailed as one of the key successes from COP26 in Glasgow last year.
Mr Steill called it "disappointing" that only 24 have materialised in the last year, when many countries have been preoccupied with the war in Ukraine and ensuing energy and food crises.
But while the crisis has seen an increase in burning fossil fuels, it has also accelerated investments in renewable energy, he added.
Alok Sharma, MP and COP26 president, said the report shows that "although we have made some progress - and every fraction of a degree counts - much more is needed urgently."
The UK will in two weeks pass the baton to Egypt to take up the presidency for COP27, the UN climate summit hosting in November.
New climate plans that countries produced since COP26 are set to shave off about 6 gigatonnes from global emissions in 2030, roughly equivalent to the US's current annual emissions.
https://news.sky.com/story/climate-...ending-the-curve-12730498?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter
Technics 1210
Test Debutant
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2019
- Runs
- 14,928
Is Greta Thunberg still around? She’s been awfully silent since her 15 minutes of orchestrated fame.
By the way, the Sun is expanding, which means hotter temps on Earth, and there is not a single climate activist, or change (eg Petrol to Electric) than will change this fact, and inevitable end.
We will all die eventually, including the Solar System, and of course the sun.
Enjoy life until then and ignore the Global Warming hoax and Climate activists.
Have an Ice Cream.
By the way, the Sun is expanding, which means hotter temps on Earth, and there is not a single climate activist, or change (eg Petrol to Electric) than will change this fact, and inevitable end.
We will all die eventually, including the Solar System, and of course the sun.
Enjoy life until then and ignore the Global Warming hoax and Climate activists.
Have an Ice Cream.
Robert
Test Star
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2007
- Runs
- 37,604
- Post of the Week
- 1
I went to a reservoir to have a look. The water line was about fifteen metres below where it was the previous summer, in a part of the country which gets a lot of rain.
This is a serious concern going forward. More summers like this and we will have to conserve water use to a radical degree. Hopefully technology can come to our aid and we won’t have to return to the standpipes of my youth.
I’ve managed to cut my own household consumption by about a third by taking shorter showers and reducing toilet flush volume.
New builds should all have grey water collectors on their roofs to flush the toilets with.
daytrader
ODI Debutant
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- Jul 11, 2015
- Runs
- 10,850
- Post of the Week
- 1
Past eight years eight hottest on record, UN report warns
The UN’s weather and climate body outlines ‘chronicle of climate chaos’ as COP27 talks get under way in Egypt.
The past eight years are on track to be the hottest ever recorded, a United Nations report has found, as UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that the planet was sending “a distress signal”.
The UN’s weather and climate body released its annual state of the global climate report on Sunday with another warning that the target to limit temperature increases to 1.5C (2.7F) was “barely within reach”.
The acceleration of heat waves, glacier melts and torrential rains has led to a rise in natural disasters, the World Meteorological Organization said as the UN’s COP27 climate summit opened in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
“As COP27 gets under way, our planet is sending a distress signal,” said Guterres, who described the report as “a chronicle of climate chaos”.
Representatives from nearly 200 states gathered in Egypt will discuss how to keep the rise in temperatures to 1.5C, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a goal some scientists say is now unattainable.
Earth has warmed more than 1.1C since the late 19th century with roughly half of that increase occurring in the past 30 years, the report showed.
This year is on track to be the fifth or sixth warmest ever recorded despite the impact since 2020 of La Nina, a periodic and naturally occurring phenomenon in the Pacific that cools the atmosphere.
“All the climatic indications are negative,” World Meteorological Organization head Petteri Taalas told Al Jazeera from Sharm el-Sheikh. “We have broken records in main greenhouse gas concentrations, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide [levels].”
“I think the combination of the facts that we are bringing to the table and the fact that we have started seeing impacts of climate change worldwide … are wake-up calls, and that’s why we have this climate conference,” he said.
Surface water in the ocean hit record high temperatures in 2021 after warming especially fast during the past 20 years. Surface water is responsible for soaking up more than 90 percent of accumulated heat from human carbon emissions.
Marine heat waves were also on the rise, adversely affecting coral reefs and the half-billion people who depend on them for food and their livelihoods.
The report warned that more than 50 percent of the ocean surface experienced at least one marine heatwave in 2022.
Sea level rise has also doubled in the past 30 years as ice sheets and glaciers melted at a fast pace. The phenomenon threatens tens of millions of people living in low-lying coastal areas.
“The messages in this report could barely be bleaker,” said Mike Meredith, science leader at the British Antarctic Survey.
In March and April, a heatwave in South Asia was followed by floods in Pakistan, which left a third of the country underwater. At least 1,700 people died, and eight million were displaced.
In East Africa, rainfall has been below average in four consecutive wet seasons, the longest in 40 years, with 2022 set to deepen the drought.
China saw the longest and most intense heatwave on record and the second-driest summer. Similarly in Europe, repeated bouts of high temperatures caused many deaths.
‘Loss and damage’ talks
The UN warning was made as delegates at the summit agreed to hold discussions on compensation by rich nations to poorer ones most likely to be affected by climate change.
“This creates for the first time an institutionally stable space on the formal agenda of COP and the Paris Agreement to discuss the pressing issue of funding arrangements needed to deal with existing gaps, responding to loss and damage,” COP27 President Sameh Shoukry told the opening session.
Poorer nations least responsible for climate-warming emissions but most vulnerable to its impacts are suffering the most and are, therefore, asking for what has also been called “climate reparations”.
This item, added to the agenda in Egypt on Sunday, is expected to cause tension. At COP26 last year in Glasgow, high-income nations blocked a proposal for a loss and damage financing body and instead supported three years of funding discussions.
The loss and damage discussions now on the agenda at COP27 will not involve liability or binding compensation but they are intended to lead to a conclusive decision “no later than 2024”, Shoukry said.
“The inclusion of this agenda reflects a sense of solidarity for the victims of climate disasters,” he said.
Al-Jazeera
The UN’s weather and climate body outlines ‘chronicle of climate chaos’ as COP27 talks get under way in Egypt.
The past eight years are on track to be the hottest ever recorded, a United Nations report has found, as UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that the planet was sending “a distress signal”.
The UN’s weather and climate body released its annual state of the global climate report on Sunday with another warning that the target to limit temperature increases to 1.5C (2.7F) was “barely within reach”.
The acceleration of heat waves, glacier melts and torrential rains has led to a rise in natural disasters, the World Meteorological Organization said as the UN’s COP27 climate summit opened in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
“As COP27 gets under way, our planet is sending a distress signal,” said Guterres, who described the report as “a chronicle of climate chaos”.
Representatives from nearly 200 states gathered in Egypt will discuss how to keep the rise in temperatures to 1.5C, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a goal some scientists say is now unattainable.
Earth has warmed more than 1.1C since the late 19th century with roughly half of that increase occurring in the past 30 years, the report showed.
This year is on track to be the fifth or sixth warmest ever recorded despite the impact since 2020 of La Nina, a periodic and naturally occurring phenomenon in the Pacific that cools the atmosphere.
“All the climatic indications are negative,” World Meteorological Organization head Petteri Taalas told Al Jazeera from Sharm el-Sheikh. “We have broken records in main greenhouse gas concentrations, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide [levels].”
“I think the combination of the facts that we are bringing to the table and the fact that we have started seeing impacts of climate change worldwide … are wake-up calls, and that’s why we have this climate conference,” he said.
Surface water in the ocean hit record high temperatures in 2021 after warming especially fast during the past 20 years. Surface water is responsible for soaking up more than 90 percent of accumulated heat from human carbon emissions.
Marine heat waves were also on the rise, adversely affecting coral reefs and the half-billion people who depend on them for food and their livelihoods.
The report warned that more than 50 percent of the ocean surface experienced at least one marine heatwave in 2022.
Sea level rise has also doubled in the past 30 years as ice sheets and glaciers melted at a fast pace. The phenomenon threatens tens of millions of people living in low-lying coastal areas.
“The messages in this report could barely be bleaker,” said Mike Meredith, science leader at the British Antarctic Survey.
In March and April, a heatwave in South Asia was followed by floods in Pakistan, which left a third of the country underwater. At least 1,700 people died, and eight million were displaced.
In East Africa, rainfall has been below average in four consecutive wet seasons, the longest in 40 years, with 2022 set to deepen the drought.
China saw the longest and most intense heatwave on record and the second-driest summer. Similarly in Europe, repeated bouts of high temperatures caused many deaths.
‘Loss and damage’ talks
The UN warning was made as delegates at the summit agreed to hold discussions on compensation by rich nations to poorer ones most likely to be affected by climate change.
“This creates for the first time an institutionally stable space on the formal agenda of COP and the Paris Agreement to discuss the pressing issue of funding arrangements needed to deal with existing gaps, responding to loss and damage,” COP27 President Sameh Shoukry told the opening session.
Poorer nations least responsible for climate-warming emissions but most vulnerable to its impacts are suffering the most and are, therefore, asking for what has also been called “climate reparations”.
This item, added to the agenda in Egypt on Sunday, is expected to cause tension. At COP26 last year in Glasgow, high-income nations blocked a proposal for a loss and damage financing body and instead supported three years of funding discussions.
The loss and damage discussions now on the agenda at COP27 will not involve liability or binding compensation but they are intended to lead to a conclusive decision “no later than 2024”, Shoukry said.
“The inclusion of this agenda reflects a sense of solidarity for the victims of climate disasters,” he said.
Al-Jazeera
India Among Top 5 Countries In Climate Change Performance: Report
New Delhi: India is ranked among the top five countries, and the best among the G-20 nations, under the global Climate Change Performance Index, an official statement said.
The index is published by German Watch, New Climate Institute and Climate Action Network International based in Germany.
The CCPI aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries.
"India has been ranked amongst top 5 countries in the world, and the best among the G20 countries, based on its Climate Change performance," a power ministry statement said.
India jumped two spots, and is now ranked 8th as per the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI, 2023), it stated.
The latest report of CCPI, released at COP27 in November 2022, shows Denmark, Sweden, Chile and Morocco as the only four small countries that were ranked above India at fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
The first, second and third ranks were not awarded to any country. In effect, therefore, India's rank is the best amongst all large economies, it said.
Published annually since 2005, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an independent monitoring tool for tracking the climate protection performance of 59 countries and the EU.
Every year, the CCPI sets off important public and political debates within the countries assessed.
The climate protection performance of these 59 countries, which together account for 92 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is assessed in four categories -- GHG Emissions (40 per cent of overall score), Renewable Energy (20 per cent), Energy Use (20 per cent) and Climate Policy (20 per cent).
India earned a high rating in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, while a medium rating for Climate Policy and Renewable Energy, the statement said.
The aggressive policies of India towards rapid deployment of renewables and robust framework for energy efficiency programs have shown considerable impact. As per the CCPI report, India is on track to meet its 2030 emissions targets (compatible with a well-below-2C scenario), it added.
The ranking given by CCPI places India as the only G-20 country in the top 10 rank. India will now be assuming G-20 Presidency and it will be an opportune time to show the world its climate mitigation policies such as deployment of renewable sources of energy and other energy transition programmes, it said.
Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh said India's CCPI ranking is testimony to the leadership shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards addressing the global climate change despite pandemic and tough economic times.
The top-5 rank globally reflects that India is implementing energy transition programmes such as renewable capacity installation at much faster rate than anywhere in the world.
NDTV
New Delhi: India is ranked among the top five countries, and the best among the G-20 nations, under the global Climate Change Performance Index, an official statement said.
The index is published by German Watch, New Climate Institute and Climate Action Network International based in Germany.
The CCPI aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries.
"India has been ranked amongst top 5 countries in the world, and the best among the G20 countries, based on its Climate Change performance," a power ministry statement said.
India jumped two spots, and is now ranked 8th as per the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI, 2023), it stated.
The latest report of CCPI, released at COP27 in November 2022, shows Denmark, Sweden, Chile and Morocco as the only four small countries that were ranked above India at fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
The first, second and third ranks were not awarded to any country. In effect, therefore, India's rank is the best amongst all large economies, it said.
Published annually since 2005, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an independent monitoring tool for tracking the climate protection performance of 59 countries and the EU.
Every year, the CCPI sets off important public and political debates within the countries assessed.
The climate protection performance of these 59 countries, which together account for 92 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is assessed in four categories -- GHG Emissions (40 per cent of overall score), Renewable Energy (20 per cent), Energy Use (20 per cent) and Climate Policy (20 per cent).
India earned a high rating in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, while a medium rating for Climate Policy and Renewable Energy, the statement said.
The aggressive policies of India towards rapid deployment of renewables and robust framework for energy efficiency programs have shown considerable impact. As per the CCPI report, India is on track to meet its 2030 emissions targets (compatible with a well-below-2C scenario), it added.
The ranking given by CCPI places India as the only G-20 country in the top 10 rank. India will now be assuming G-20 Presidency and it will be an opportune time to show the world its climate mitigation policies such as deployment of renewable sources of energy and other energy transition programmes, it said.
Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh said India's CCPI ranking is testimony to the leadership shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards addressing the global climate change despite pandemic and tough economic times.
The top-5 rank globally reflects that India is implementing energy transition programmes such as renewable capacity installation at much faster rate than anywhere in the world.
NDTV
At Minus 2.2 Degrees Celsius, Srinagar Records Season's Coldest Night
Srinagar:
Srinagar witnessed the coldest night of this winter as the mercury slipped below freezing point at most places in Kashmir on Monday night, officials said.
"Srinagar recorded a low of (-) 2.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest of the season so far," a Meteorological Department official said here on Tuesday.
He said the Jammu and Kashmir summer capital had recorded a temperature of (-) 1.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday night.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir, which serves as the base for the annual Amarnath yatra, was the coldest place in the Valley at (-) 4.2 degrees Celsius while Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a temperature of (-) 1.5 degrees Celsius, he added.
The minimum temperature is expected to fall further with the Met department forecasting dry weather over the next five days.
NDTV
Srinagar:
Srinagar witnessed the coldest night of this winter as the mercury slipped below freezing point at most places in Kashmir on Monday night, officials said.
"Srinagar recorded a low of (-) 2.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest of the season so far," a Meteorological Department official said here on Tuesday.
He said the Jammu and Kashmir summer capital had recorded a temperature of (-) 1.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday night.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir, which serves as the base for the annual Amarnath yatra, was the coldest place in the Valley at (-) 4.2 degrees Celsius while Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a temperature of (-) 1.5 degrees Celsius, he added.
The minimum temperature is expected to fall further with the Met department forecasting dry weather over the next five days.
NDTV
Srinagar Records Season's Coldest Night, Pahalgam Freezes At -4.4 Degrees
Srinagar:
At minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season so far even as the mercury settled below the freezing point across Kashmir, officials said on Monday.
The minimum last night in the city was 2.5 degrees below the normal for this time of the season, they said.
The night temperature was lesser than the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, which recorded a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.
The officials said mercury at Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir's Anantnag district settled at a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, recorded a minimum of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag town, also in South, registered a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded minus 2.7 degrees Celsius, the officials added.
The MeT Office said the weather is likely to stay dry but hazy till December 8.
A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining areas from December 9, under the influence of which there is a possibility of light snow over plains and lower reaches, and light-to-moderate snow over the middle and higher reaches over the next two days.
NDTV
Srinagar:
At minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season so far even as the mercury settled below the freezing point across Kashmir, officials said on Monday.
The minimum last night in the city was 2.5 degrees below the normal for this time of the season, they said.
The night temperature was lesser than the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, which recorded a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.
The officials said mercury at Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir's Anantnag district settled at a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, recorded a minimum of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag town, also in South, registered a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded minus 2.7 degrees Celsius, the officials added.
The MeT Office said the weather is likely to stay dry but hazy till December 8.
A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining areas from December 9, under the influence of which there is a possibility of light snow over plains and lower reaches, and light-to-moderate snow over the middle and higher reaches over the next two days.
NDTV
James
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<b>UK weather: More snow on the way as people struggle to heat homes</b>
Millions of people will be struggling to stay warm, a charity has warned - as parts of the UK are set to be hit with snow and freezing conditions.
National Energy Action said people faced a "vicious choice" between a cold home and falling into debt.
Temperatures are set to drop below zero overnight and could reach -10C (14F) in rural areas, the Met Office said.
Four yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across the UK from now and over the weekend.
Snow has already fallen in parts of Scotland and northern England, and forecasters are predicting snow for London, the South East and East of England on Sunday.
BBC Weather's Sarah Keith-Lucas said on Friday: "The cold snap is going to stay with us for at least the next week or so, so there is no let up in these very low temperatures."
Friday night into Saturday will see "sharp frosts, some snow flurries and some icy conditions as well as some fog", she said, with the potential for snow showers in the northern half of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and south-west England.
Ms Keith-Lucas added that overnight temperatures would widely drop to -4C and -6C, although temperatures could fall even lower in some places.
Sunday will be another cold day, she added, "with the potential for some sleet and snow in the south east".
The Met Office's four yellow weather warnings include:
• Snow and ice across northern and parts of central Scotland until 12:00 on Sunday
• Ice for much of the western side of England, parts of Northern Ireland, south-west Scotland and Wales until 12:00 on Sunday
• Snow and ice across northern, central and eastern Scotland from 15:00 on Saturday until 12:00 on Sunday
• Snow and ice in London, the South East, and East of England from 09:00 on Sunday until 09:00 on Monday
The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a level three cold weather alert covering England until Monday.
The freezing conditions sparked Adam Scorer, chief executive of fuel poverty charity National Energy Action, to issue a warning, saying they hear daily from people who are forced to turn their heating off.
The charity is calling for the government to do more to help "those at greatest peril" stay warm.
Mr Scorer said: "Millions will have been dreading the onset of winter.
"Impossibly high prices and now cold weather will leave millions struggling to stay warm and safe at home."
People on the lowest incomes in many parts of England and Wales are set to receive a £25 Cold Weather Payment.
The government payments have been set up for eligible households in areas where the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days.
A government spokesman said the cold weather payments are on top of support with energy bills for low-income households.
"Alongside this, we're providing households with £400 towards their energy bills this winter, with our energy price guarantee saving the typical household another £900 on top of this," the spokesman said.
The Met Office warned the wintry conditions could continue over the next seven days.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: "Along with the cold air there are a number of weather-related hazards including freezing fog, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings in the south of England.
"Overnight temperatures are likely to dip widely below zero with some more sheltered spots dropping to -10C.
"Our forecasters are looking at the possibility of snow affecting the south-east of England on Sunday night and into Monday morning. If this happens it could bring some disruption to Monday's rush hour."
Meanwhile, just over 3,200 warm banks, which are run by local authorities and charities to provide heating to those struggling to heat their homes, are now open across the UK, according to the Warm Welcome Campaign.
It added many of them were a third or even half full and offered a variety of services, from hot tea to a place to work.
Isobel Hunter MBE, chief executive of Libraries Connected, the national membership body for public libraries, said: "The vast majority of our member libraries are part of a warm spaces scheme and as the severe cold weather spreads, many are reporting a spike in demand. They are expecting that to increase over the coming days as the weather worsens."
Charity Save the Children said 194 of 355 councils in England and Wales were directly involved in or supporting local groups to open warm spaces this winter.
The Local Government Association has also warned there was a shortage of drivers for gritter lorries - which are deployed to to stop roads and pavements becoming treacherous as the wintry conditions arrive.
It said 63% of councils were struggling to recruit and keep drivers.
In a bid to tackle the shortages, councils are now said to be using agency workers or retraining and redeploying existing staff.
And the price of salt has also risen, with some councils saying inflation has caused a 10% hike in costs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63916101
Millions of people will be struggling to stay warm, a charity has warned - as parts of the UK are set to be hit with snow and freezing conditions.
National Energy Action said people faced a "vicious choice" between a cold home and falling into debt.
Temperatures are set to drop below zero overnight and could reach -10C (14F) in rural areas, the Met Office said.
Four yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across the UK from now and over the weekend.
Snow has already fallen in parts of Scotland and northern England, and forecasters are predicting snow for London, the South East and East of England on Sunday.
BBC Weather's Sarah Keith-Lucas said on Friday: "The cold snap is going to stay with us for at least the next week or so, so there is no let up in these very low temperatures."
Friday night into Saturday will see "sharp frosts, some snow flurries and some icy conditions as well as some fog", she said, with the potential for snow showers in the northern half of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and south-west England.
Ms Keith-Lucas added that overnight temperatures would widely drop to -4C and -6C, although temperatures could fall even lower in some places.
Sunday will be another cold day, she added, "with the potential for some sleet and snow in the south east".
The Met Office's four yellow weather warnings include:
• Snow and ice across northern and parts of central Scotland until 12:00 on Sunday
• Ice for much of the western side of England, parts of Northern Ireland, south-west Scotland and Wales until 12:00 on Sunday
• Snow and ice across northern, central and eastern Scotland from 15:00 on Saturday until 12:00 on Sunday
• Snow and ice in London, the South East, and East of England from 09:00 on Sunday until 09:00 on Monday
The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a level three cold weather alert covering England until Monday.
The freezing conditions sparked Adam Scorer, chief executive of fuel poverty charity National Energy Action, to issue a warning, saying they hear daily from people who are forced to turn their heating off.
The charity is calling for the government to do more to help "those at greatest peril" stay warm.
Mr Scorer said: "Millions will have been dreading the onset of winter.
"Impossibly high prices and now cold weather will leave millions struggling to stay warm and safe at home."
People on the lowest incomes in many parts of England and Wales are set to receive a £25 Cold Weather Payment.
The government payments have been set up for eligible households in areas where the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days.
A government spokesman said the cold weather payments are on top of support with energy bills for low-income households.
"Alongside this, we're providing households with £400 towards their energy bills this winter, with our energy price guarantee saving the typical household another £900 on top of this," the spokesman said.
The Met Office warned the wintry conditions could continue over the next seven days.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: "Along with the cold air there are a number of weather-related hazards including freezing fog, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings in the south of England.
"Overnight temperatures are likely to dip widely below zero with some more sheltered spots dropping to -10C.
"Our forecasters are looking at the possibility of snow affecting the south-east of England on Sunday night and into Monday morning. If this happens it could bring some disruption to Monday's rush hour."
Meanwhile, just over 3,200 warm banks, which are run by local authorities and charities to provide heating to those struggling to heat their homes, are now open across the UK, according to the Warm Welcome Campaign.
It added many of them were a third or even half full and offered a variety of services, from hot tea to a place to work.
Isobel Hunter MBE, chief executive of Libraries Connected, the national membership body for public libraries, said: "The vast majority of our member libraries are part of a warm spaces scheme and as the severe cold weather spreads, many are reporting a spike in demand. They are expecting that to increase over the coming days as the weather worsens."
Charity Save the Children said 194 of 355 councils in England and Wales were directly involved in or supporting local groups to open warm spaces this winter.
The Local Government Association has also warned there was a shortage of drivers for gritter lorries - which are deployed to to stop roads and pavements becoming treacherous as the wintry conditions arrive.
It said 63% of councils were struggling to recruit and keep drivers.
In a bid to tackle the shortages, councils are now said to be using agency workers or retraining and redeploying existing staff.
And the price of salt has also risen, with some councils saying inflation has caused a 10% hike in costs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63916101
James
World Star
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- Jan 8, 2006
- Runs
- 50,784
- Post of the Week
- 2
<b>UK weather: Snow and ice hit Scotland and south-east and west of England</b>
Parts of the UK are experiencing severe conditions this weekend, as snow and ice hits Scotland and the south-east and west of England.
Severe conditions are causing travel disruption, with a small chance rural communities could be cut off.
Manchester Airport briefly closed due to "heavy snow fall" on its runways.
A yellow warning is in place for snow and ice for Scotland on Saturday, and ice in Wales, and south-west England.
On Sunday the warning for snow spreads to include London and the South East.
Temperatures are forecast to stay low, hitting -10C in some areas.
The Met Office has ended its weather warning for Northern Ireland, despite the cold conditions leading to some sporting fixtures being cancelled.
Manchester Airport closed both runways on Saturday morning due to "heavy snow fall", with dozens of flights affected.
One runway had reopened by 11:30 and the airport advised passengers to contact their airline for the latest information.
Drivers in north-western England are also being advised to take care following accidents on motorways including the M58, M62, M61.
The A39 near Baxworthy, Devon, has also been blocked due to "extreme snow and ice", the Devon County Council Highways and Emergency Planning alerts Twitter page said.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said:
"It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days and overnight temperatures dropping to -10C or lower in isolated spots.
"Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year.
"There is still a risk we could see some freezing fog in places particularly southern England, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings."
The Met Office's four yellow weather warnings include:
• Snow and ice across northern and parts of central Scotland until 12:00 on Sunday
• Ice for much of the western side of England, parts of Northern Ireland, south-west Scotland and Wales until 12:00 on Sunday
• Snow and ice across northern, central and eastern Scotland from 15:00 on Saturday until 12:00 on Sunday
• Snow and ice in London, the South East, and East of England from 09:00 on Sunday until 09:00 on Monday
Meteorologist Stav Danaos said in his latest BBC Weather forecast that the cold spell is "here to stay for the foreseeable future".
He said: "Through Saturday night it stays icy in northern and western areas where we've had the showers. Snow drifts southwards into southern Scotland and even north-eastern England too."
He added: "Into Sunday we need to keep an eye on this weak area of low pressure developing towards the south east quadrant of England - that could develop into thicker cloud and perhaps some sleet and snow particularly later in the day, which could affect parts of the south-east and east Anglia."
People are being advised to check on vulnerable family and friends to ensure they have access to warm food and drinks as the wintry conditions hit.
The UKHSA added that people should make sure indoor temperatures in their homes are at least 18C (64.4F).
Dr Agostinho Sousa, consultant in public health medicine at UKHSA, said: "Cold weather can have serious consequences for health and older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk.
"If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you.
"In rooms you mostly use such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18C if you can. Keep your bedroom windows closed at night. Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer."
Gritters will be out this weekend to help clear the roads and ease travel disruption.
Darren Clark, severe weather resilience manager at National Highways, said: "National Highways is committed to treating every road which needs to be treated - whenever it is needed."
The RAC has added it has been "exceptionally busy" in recent days due to receiving a quarter more breakdowns than is normal for this time of year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63926328
Parts of the UK are experiencing severe conditions this weekend, as snow and ice hits Scotland and the south-east and west of England.
Severe conditions are causing travel disruption, with a small chance rural communities could be cut off.
Manchester Airport briefly closed due to "heavy snow fall" on its runways.
A yellow warning is in place for snow and ice for Scotland on Saturday, and ice in Wales, and south-west England.
On Sunday the warning for snow spreads to include London and the South East.
Temperatures are forecast to stay low, hitting -10C in some areas.
The Met Office has ended its weather warning for Northern Ireland, despite the cold conditions leading to some sporting fixtures being cancelled.
Manchester Airport closed both runways on Saturday morning due to "heavy snow fall", with dozens of flights affected.
One runway had reopened by 11:30 and the airport advised passengers to contact their airline for the latest information.
Drivers in north-western England are also being advised to take care following accidents on motorways including the M58, M62, M61.
The A39 near Baxworthy, Devon, has also been blocked due to "extreme snow and ice", the Devon County Council Highways and Emergency Planning alerts Twitter page said.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said:
"It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days and overnight temperatures dropping to -10C or lower in isolated spots.
"Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year.
"There is still a risk we could see some freezing fog in places particularly southern England, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings."
The Met Office's four yellow weather warnings include:
• Snow and ice across northern and parts of central Scotland until 12:00 on Sunday
• Ice for much of the western side of England, parts of Northern Ireland, south-west Scotland and Wales until 12:00 on Sunday
• Snow and ice across northern, central and eastern Scotland from 15:00 on Saturday until 12:00 on Sunday
• Snow and ice in London, the South East, and East of England from 09:00 on Sunday until 09:00 on Monday
Meteorologist Stav Danaos said in his latest BBC Weather forecast that the cold spell is "here to stay for the foreseeable future".
He said: "Through Saturday night it stays icy in northern and western areas where we've had the showers. Snow drifts southwards into southern Scotland and even north-eastern England too."
He added: "Into Sunday we need to keep an eye on this weak area of low pressure developing towards the south east quadrant of England - that could develop into thicker cloud and perhaps some sleet and snow particularly later in the day, which could affect parts of the south-east and east Anglia."
People are being advised to check on vulnerable family and friends to ensure they have access to warm food and drinks as the wintry conditions hit.
The UKHSA added that people should make sure indoor temperatures in their homes are at least 18C (64.4F).
Dr Agostinho Sousa, consultant in public health medicine at UKHSA, said: "Cold weather can have serious consequences for health and older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk.
"If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you.
"In rooms you mostly use such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18C if you can. Keep your bedroom windows closed at night. Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer."
Gritters will be out this weekend to help clear the roads and ease travel disruption.
Darren Clark, severe weather resilience manager at National Highways, said: "National Highways is committed to treating every road which needs to be treated - whenever it is needed."
The RAC has added it has been "exceptionally busy" in recent days due to receiving a quarter more breakdowns than is normal for this time of year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63926328
James
World Star
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2006
- Runs
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- Post of the Week
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<b>Search under way after people pulled from icy lake near Birmingham</b>
A search and rescue operation is under way after police said a number of people pulled from a lake near Birmingham in freezing temperatures are in a critical condition.
Reports suggested people had been playing on the ice at Babbs Mill Park and fell through, according to West Midlands Fire Service.
It said people had received treatment before being taken to hospital.
Specialist teams and equipment are involved in the search.
The fire service said they were called shortly after 14:30 GMT on Sunday.
Concerned members of the community gathered near the scene in what is residential area, as emergency services carried out work at the lake.
A drone was also spotted flying over the water, the BBC's Sophie Madden said, reporting from the scene.
It was likely that the emergency service presence would remain there for a number of hours, she added.
Babbs Mill Park is a local nature reserve with a lake, river, wildflower grasslands and woodlands.
Temperatures of 1C (34F) were reported in the area at the time the emergency services were called. They are expected to plummet to -3C during the night.
Meanwhile, police in Cumbria said they were dealing with an "incident" at Siddick Pond in Workington. The force later confirmed no-one was unaccounted for.
The Met Office warned of the dangers posed by ice.
A spokesperson said: "With temperatures set to struggle to get much above freezing over the coming days across much of the country, stretches of water such as rivers and ponds are at risk of freezing.
"While frozen rivers and ponds can be fascinating, they can be dangerous and a hazard to life."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-63937739
A search and rescue operation is under way after police said a number of people pulled from a lake near Birmingham in freezing temperatures are in a critical condition.
Reports suggested people had been playing on the ice at Babbs Mill Park and fell through, according to West Midlands Fire Service.
It said people had received treatment before being taken to hospital.
Specialist teams and equipment are involved in the search.
The fire service said they were called shortly after 14:30 GMT on Sunday.
Concerned members of the community gathered near the scene in what is residential area, as emergency services carried out work at the lake.
A drone was also spotted flying over the water, the BBC's Sophie Madden said, reporting from the scene.
It was likely that the emergency service presence would remain there for a number of hours, she added.
Babbs Mill Park is a local nature reserve with a lake, river, wildflower grasslands and woodlands.
Temperatures of 1C (34F) were reported in the area at the time the emergency services were called. They are expected to plummet to -3C during the night.
Meanwhile, police in Cumbria said they were dealing with an "incident" at Siddick Pond in Workington. The force later confirmed no-one was unaccounted for.
The Met Office warned of the dangers posed by ice.
A spokesperson said: "With temperatures set to struggle to get much above freezing over the coming days across much of the country, stretches of water such as rivers and ponds are at risk of freezing.
"While frozen rivers and ponds can be fascinating, they can be dangerous and a hazard to life."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-63937739
Delhi, Adjoining Areas To Witness Cold Wave, Dense Fog Over Next 2 Days
Delhi-NCR is likely to witness dense fog for the next two to three days while Punjab, Haryana, and North Rajasthan may expect a decrease in temperature by 1-2 degrees alongwith cold wave conditions, Dr Kuldeep Srivastava, Head of Regional Weather Forecasting Centre said on Thursday.
"If we talk about the weather in Delhi, then a thick blanket of fog is seen in the morning hours and visibility is dropped by around 100 meters. In the Palam observatory, today morning the visibility was till 100 meters, and later around 8 in the morning there is an improvement," Dr Kuldeep Srivastava said.
"In the next two days, there are chances of having dense fog in Delhi-NCR and the visibility will be around 100 meters. The temperature will remain between 6-7 degrees for the next 2-3 days," Srivastava added.
The lowest temperature for today was recorded at 4.6 degrees in Rajasthan's Bikaner, he said.
"We have fixed criteria for the formation of fog. A layer, availability of moisture along with less wind speed are the criterion. From Punjab up to Bihar and till Gigantic West Bengal and Northern parts of Rajasthan, the wind speed in the morning hours is less which is 2-3 km per hour along with sufficient availability of moisture, and during the day time, we have a clear sky," he told ANI.
"There is no cold wave condition as of now in the plains, but in the coming few days from December 24 or December 25, we are expecting a decrease in temperature by 1-2 degrees in Punjab, Haryana, and North Rajasthan. So in a few places, cold waves will be felt. You can see currently we are feeling severe cold days. On a severely cold day, you can see the day's maximum temperature stays 4.5 degrees less than the normal temperature. This situation will remain for the next 2 days in Punjab, Haryana, North West UP, and North Rajasthan. Now you can say that winter has started," he further added.
NDTV
Delhi-NCR is likely to witness dense fog for the next two to three days while Punjab, Haryana, and North Rajasthan may expect a decrease in temperature by 1-2 degrees alongwith cold wave conditions, Dr Kuldeep Srivastava, Head of Regional Weather Forecasting Centre said on Thursday.
"If we talk about the weather in Delhi, then a thick blanket of fog is seen in the morning hours and visibility is dropped by around 100 meters. In the Palam observatory, today morning the visibility was till 100 meters, and later around 8 in the morning there is an improvement," Dr Kuldeep Srivastava said.
"In the next two days, there are chances of having dense fog in Delhi-NCR and the visibility will be around 100 meters. The temperature will remain between 6-7 degrees for the next 2-3 days," Srivastava added.
The lowest temperature for today was recorded at 4.6 degrees in Rajasthan's Bikaner, he said.
"We have fixed criteria for the formation of fog. A layer, availability of moisture along with less wind speed are the criterion. From Punjab up to Bihar and till Gigantic West Bengal and Northern parts of Rajasthan, the wind speed in the morning hours is less which is 2-3 km per hour along with sufficient availability of moisture, and during the day time, we have a clear sky," he told ANI.
"There is no cold wave condition as of now in the plains, but in the coming few days from December 24 or December 25, we are expecting a decrease in temperature by 1-2 degrees in Punjab, Haryana, and North Rajasthan. So in a few places, cold waves will be felt. You can see currently we are feeling severe cold days. On a severely cold day, you can see the day's maximum temperature stays 4.5 degrees less than the normal temperature. This situation will remain for the next 2 days in Punjab, Haryana, North West UP, and North Rajasthan. Now you can say that winter has started," he further added.
NDTV
At 5.3 Degree Celsius, Delhi Records Season's Lowest Temperature
A shallow layer of fog engulfed parts of Delhi today morning, reducing visibility to 500 metres, as the city recorded the season's coldest morning with the mercury dipping to 5.3 degrees Celsius.
The fog disrupted road and rail traffic with a railways spokesperson saying 21 trains were running late by 1.30 to 4.30 hours. The maximum temperature, which settled one notch below normal at 20.1 degrees Celsius, was also the lowest this winter.
The Safdarjung Observatory, the primary weather station in the national capital, recorded the minimum temperature at 5.3 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
This is the lowest temperature recorded so far in the season.
For Saturday, the weather office has predicted mainly clear skies and moderate fog in the morning. The maximum and minimum temperature will be around 20 and 5 degrees Celsius, respectively, the IMD said.
The Palam airport logged the lowest visibility level of 200 metres at 5.30 am. Visibility dropped to 500 metres at the Safdarjung airport at 5.30 am, the IMD said.
According to the IMD, very dense fog is when visibility is between zero and 50 metres, between 51 and 200 metres is dense fog, between 201 and 500 metres is moderate fog, and between 501 and 1,000 is shallow fog.
NDTV
A shallow layer of fog engulfed parts of Delhi today morning, reducing visibility to 500 metres, as the city recorded the season's coldest morning with the mercury dipping to 5.3 degrees Celsius.
The fog disrupted road and rail traffic with a railways spokesperson saying 21 trains were running late by 1.30 to 4.30 hours. The maximum temperature, which settled one notch below normal at 20.1 degrees Celsius, was also the lowest this winter.
The Safdarjung Observatory, the primary weather station in the national capital, recorded the minimum temperature at 5.3 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
This is the lowest temperature recorded so far in the season.
For Saturday, the weather office has predicted mainly clear skies and moderate fog in the morning. The maximum and minimum temperature will be around 20 and 5 degrees Celsius, respectively, the IMD said.
The Palam airport logged the lowest visibility level of 200 metres at 5.30 am. Visibility dropped to 500 metres at the Safdarjung airport at 5.30 am, the IMD said.
According to the IMD, very dense fog is when visibility is between zero and 50 metres, between 51 and 200 metres is dense fog, between 201 and 500 metres is moderate fog, and between 501 and 1,000 is shallow fog.
NDTV
70% Of US Under Storm Warning As Historic Deep Freeze Hits
A historic and brutal winter storm put some 240 million Americans under severe weather warnings Friday as the United States faced holiday travel chaos, with thousands of flights cancelled and major highways closed.
Heavy snow and howling winds upended holiday plans for millions at one of the busiest times of the year, just days before Christmas, as a huge cold front swept down from the Arctic and took freezing hold of much of the nation, including normally temperate southern states.
Temperatures plunged below -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 Celsius) in some locations, with a staggering 240 million people -- some 72 percent of the US population -- under winter weather warnings or advisories, according to the National Weather Service.
"Winter weather hazards remain in effect from the Canadian border south to the Rio Grande (border river with Mexico), Gulf Coast and central Florida Peninsula while spanning from the Pacific Northwest to the Eastern Seaboard," the NWS said in a report early Friday.
The warnings appear to be one of the most sweeping sets of US winter weather advisories ever.
Meteorologists said it was so cold in places -- 10 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded Friday in normally mild Dallas, Texas -- that anyone venturing outside risked frostbite within minutes.
The biting cold is an immediate concern for more than one million customers, mainly in the US south and east, who were without power as of Friday morning, according to electricity tracker poweroutage.us.
Road conditions remained treacherous, even as 100 million people were expected to take to the roads, according to the American Automobile Association.
Transportation departments in North and South Dakota, Oklahoma, Iowa and elsewhere reported near-zero visibility, ice-covered roads and blizzard conditions, and strongly urged residents to stay home.
Two traffic fatalities were reported in Oklahoma Thursday, while the Weather Channel quoted the Kansas Highway Patrol saying three people died in road accidents in that Midwestern state, with weather considered a contributing factor.
Air ravel Chaos
More than 3,520 US flights were already cancelled Friday and another 1,900 delayed, according to tracking website Flight Aware, many at international hubs New York, Seattle and Chicago's O'Hare.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned that holiday travel was being severely impacted.
"To say we have the opposite of cooperative weather would be an understatement," he told MSNBC, noting that some 10 percent of US commercial flights had been cancelled Thursday, a move that will have severe knock-on effects for travel.
The I-90, a major highway running across the north was shuttered in South Dakota, with officials saying it would not reopen until later Friday.
"Crews are using all available resources from across the state to clean-up and restore travel," South Dakota Department of Transportation said.
"Multiple highways are currently listed as 'Road Impassable'... travel on the road segment is physically impossible due to widespread deep snow and drifts."
Holiday travel volumes are expected to be close to pre-pandemic levels, with the busiest day on Thursday, three days before Christmas.
AccuWeather forecasters have said the storm could rapidly strengthen into what is known as a "bomb cyclone" through a process called "bombogenesis," when the barometric pressure drops and a cold air mass collides with warm air.
Rapid Frostbite
Such extreme weather can be dangerous, said Rich Maliawco, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service in Glasgow, Montana, where wind chill plunged to a bone-crushing -60 Fahrenheit overnight.
"When it's this cold, anybody can run into trouble," Maliawco told AFP.
"With these kinds of wind chills, if you're not wearing those warm layers... unprotected skin can get frostbite in less than five minutes."
Conditions were cold enough for people to post videos of themselves carrying out the "boiling water challenge," where boiling water is thrown into the air and instantly freezes.
"We created our own cloud @ -17~CHECK~ F (-27~CHECK~ C) at the #Missoula International Airport," tweeted NWS Missoula in Montana.
In Minneapolis and Saint Paul, more than eight inches (20 centimeters) of snow accumulated over a 24-hour period, the NWS said in a Thursday update.
Farther east in Buffalo, New York, forecasters called it a "once-in-a-generation storm" with wind gusts of more than 65 miles (105 kilometers) per hour, wind chills as low as -10 to -20 F, and power outages.
NDTV
A historic and brutal winter storm put some 240 million Americans under severe weather warnings Friday as the United States faced holiday travel chaos, with thousands of flights cancelled and major highways closed.
Heavy snow and howling winds upended holiday plans for millions at one of the busiest times of the year, just days before Christmas, as a huge cold front swept down from the Arctic and took freezing hold of much of the nation, including normally temperate southern states.
Temperatures plunged below -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 Celsius) in some locations, with a staggering 240 million people -- some 72 percent of the US population -- under winter weather warnings or advisories, according to the National Weather Service.
"Winter weather hazards remain in effect from the Canadian border south to the Rio Grande (border river with Mexico), Gulf Coast and central Florida Peninsula while spanning from the Pacific Northwest to the Eastern Seaboard," the NWS said in a report early Friday.
The warnings appear to be one of the most sweeping sets of US winter weather advisories ever.
Meteorologists said it was so cold in places -- 10 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded Friday in normally mild Dallas, Texas -- that anyone venturing outside risked frostbite within minutes.
The biting cold is an immediate concern for more than one million customers, mainly in the US south and east, who were without power as of Friday morning, according to electricity tracker poweroutage.us.
Road conditions remained treacherous, even as 100 million people were expected to take to the roads, according to the American Automobile Association.
Transportation departments in North and South Dakota, Oklahoma, Iowa and elsewhere reported near-zero visibility, ice-covered roads and blizzard conditions, and strongly urged residents to stay home.
Two traffic fatalities were reported in Oklahoma Thursday, while the Weather Channel quoted the Kansas Highway Patrol saying three people died in road accidents in that Midwestern state, with weather considered a contributing factor.
Air ravel Chaos
More than 3,520 US flights were already cancelled Friday and another 1,900 delayed, according to tracking website Flight Aware, many at international hubs New York, Seattle and Chicago's O'Hare.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned that holiday travel was being severely impacted.
"To say we have the opposite of cooperative weather would be an understatement," he told MSNBC, noting that some 10 percent of US commercial flights had been cancelled Thursday, a move that will have severe knock-on effects for travel.
The I-90, a major highway running across the north was shuttered in South Dakota, with officials saying it would not reopen until later Friday.
"Crews are using all available resources from across the state to clean-up and restore travel," South Dakota Department of Transportation said.
"Multiple highways are currently listed as 'Road Impassable'... travel on the road segment is physically impossible due to widespread deep snow and drifts."
Holiday travel volumes are expected to be close to pre-pandemic levels, with the busiest day on Thursday, three days before Christmas.
AccuWeather forecasters have said the storm could rapidly strengthen into what is known as a "bomb cyclone" through a process called "bombogenesis," when the barometric pressure drops and a cold air mass collides with warm air.
Rapid Frostbite
Such extreme weather can be dangerous, said Rich Maliawco, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service in Glasgow, Montana, where wind chill plunged to a bone-crushing -60 Fahrenheit overnight.
"When it's this cold, anybody can run into trouble," Maliawco told AFP.
"With these kinds of wind chills, if you're not wearing those warm layers... unprotected skin can get frostbite in less than five minutes."
Conditions were cold enough for people to post videos of themselves carrying out the "boiling water challenge," where boiling water is thrown into the air and instantly freezes.
"We created our own cloud @ -17~CHECK~ F (-27~CHECK~ C) at the #Missoula International Airport," tweeted NWS Missoula in Montana.
In Minneapolis and Saint Paul, more than eight inches (20 centimeters) of snow accumulated over a 24-hour period, the NWS said in a Thursday update.
Farther east in Buffalo, New York, forecasters called it a "once-in-a-generation storm" with wind gusts of more than 65 miles (105 kilometers) per hour, wind chills as low as -10 to -20 F, and power outages.
NDTV
Death toll rises in Buffalo as frigid cold freezes eastern U.S.
A deadly blizzard pummeled Buffalo, New York, on Christmas Day, trapping people in their cars, causing power outages and raising the death toll from a severe winter storm system that swept the United States.
Twenty-eight people have died so far in weather-related incidents across the country, according to an NBC News tally. CNN reported a total of 26 deaths.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the death toll from the storm had risen from three to seven overnight in the Buffalo region in far western New York, where snow on Sunday brought total accumulation to nearly four feet (1.2 meters).
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/de...-freezes-eastern-us-christmas-day-2022-12-25/
A deadly blizzard pummeled Buffalo, New York, on Christmas Day, trapping people in their cars, causing power outages and raising the death toll from a severe winter storm system that swept the United States.
Twenty-eight people have died so far in weather-related incidents across the country, according to an NBC News tally. CNN reported a total of 26 deaths.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the death toll from the storm had risen from three to seven overnight in the Buffalo region in far western New York, where snow on Sunday brought total accumulation to nearly four feet (1.2 meters).
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/de...-freezes-eastern-us-christmas-day-2022-12-25/
Historic Winter Storm Kills Nearly 50 Across US
US emergency crews counted the grim costs of a colossal winter storm that brought Christmas chaos to millions, especially in hard-hit western New York, where the death toll reached 25 Monday in what authorities described as a "war with mother nature."
Blizzard conditions continue to prevail in parts of the US Northeast, the stubborn remnants of a massive sprawl of extreme weather including severe cold that gripped the country over several days, causing widespread power outages, travel delays and at least 47 deaths nationwide.
The extreme weather forced the cancellation of more than 15,000 flights in recent days including more than 1,700 on Monday, according to tracking site Flightaware.com.
Buffalo -- a US city that is no stranger to foul winter weather -- has been buried under staggering amounts of snow, with the National Weather Service forecasting up to 14 inches (0.35 meters) Monday in addition to the several feet that have already left the city marooned, with a virtual collapse of emergency services.
The blizzard has stubbornly refused to release its grip on western New York's Erie County, where Buffalo is located and which has become the epicenter of the crisis.
"In addition to the 13 confirmed deaths yesterday, the Erie County Department of Health medical examiner's office has confirmed an additional 12 deaths, bringing the total for the blizzard to 25 deaths county-wide," Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz said in a press briefing.
The ferocious weather makes this "the worst storm probably in our lifetime, and the history of the city," Poloncarz said, noting the death toll in Erie will likely surpass that of Buffalo's infamous blizzard of 1977, when nearly 30 people died.
With more snow in the forecast and most of Buffalo "impassable," he warned residents to bunker down and stay in place.
"This is not the end yet, we are not there," he said.
National Guard members and other teams have rescued hundreds of people from snow-covered cars and homes without electricity, but authorities have said more people remain trapped.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, said she was stunned by what she saw during a Sunday reconnaissance tour of the city.
"It is (like) going to a war zone, and the vehicles along the sides of the roads are shocking," Hochul said, describing eight-foot (2.4-meter) snow drifts against homes and how power outages made for life-threatening conditions.
"This is a war with mother nature," she said.
The extreme weather sent wind chill temperatures in all 48 contiguous US states below freezing over the weekend.
- Sweeping power outages -
At one point on Saturday, nearly 1.7 million customers were without electricity in the biting cold, according to tracker poweroutage.us.
That number has dropped substantially, although there were still some 50,000 without electricity Monday morning on the US east coast.
Due to frozen electric substations, some Erie County residents were not expected to regain power until Tuesday, with one substation reportedly buried under 18 feet of snow, a senior county official said.
Officials described historically dangerous conditions in the snow-prone Buffalo region, with hours-long whiteouts and bodies discovered in vehicles and under snow banks. Emergency workers continued the difficult search for those in need of rescue.
The city's international airport remains closed until Tuesday and a driving ban remained in effect for Buffalo and much of Erie County.
Road ice and white-out conditions also led to the temporary closure of some of the nation's busiest transport routes, including part of the cross-country Interstate 70 highway.
Drivers were being warned not to take to the roads -- even as the nation reached what is usually its busiest time of year for travel.
NDTV
US emergency crews counted the grim costs of a colossal winter storm that brought Christmas chaos to millions, especially in hard-hit western New York, where the death toll reached 25 Monday in what authorities described as a "war with mother nature."
Blizzard conditions continue to prevail in parts of the US Northeast, the stubborn remnants of a massive sprawl of extreme weather including severe cold that gripped the country over several days, causing widespread power outages, travel delays and at least 47 deaths nationwide.
The extreme weather forced the cancellation of more than 15,000 flights in recent days including more than 1,700 on Monday, according to tracking site Flightaware.com.
Buffalo -- a US city that is no stranger to foul winter weather -- has been buried under staggering amounts of snow, with the National Weather Service forecasting up to 14 inches (0.35 meters) Monday in addition to the several feet that have already left the city marooned, with a virtual collapse of emergency services.
The blizzard has stubbornly refused to release its grip on western New York's Erie County, where Buffalo is located and which has become the epicenter of the crisis.
"In addition to the 13 confirmed deaths yesterday, the Erie County Department of Health medical examiner's office has confirmed an additional 12 deaths, bringing the total for the blizzard to 25 deaths county-wide," Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz said in a press briefing.
The ferocious weather makes this "the worst storm probably in our lifetime, and the history of the city," Poloncarz said, noting the death toll in Erie will likely surpass that of Buffalo's infamous blizzard of 1977, when nearly 30 people died.
With more snow in the forecast and most of Buffalo "impassable," he warned residents to bunker down and stay in place.
"This is not the end yet, we are not there," he said.
National Guard members and other teams have rescued hundreds of people from snow-covered cars and homes without electricity, but authorities have said more people remain trapped.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, said she was stunned by what she saw during a Sunday reconnaissance tour of the city.
"It is (like) going to a war zone, and the vehicles along the sides of the roads are shocking," Hochul said, describing eight-foot (2.4-meter) snow drifts against homes and how power outages made for life-threatening conditions.
"This is a war with mother nature," she said.
The extreme weather sent wind chill temperatures in all 48 contiguous US states below freezing over the weekend.
- Sweeping power outages -
At one point on Saturday, nearly 1.7 million customers were without electricity in the biting cold, according to tracker poweroutage.us.
That number has dropped substantially, although there were still some 50,000 without electricity Monday morning on the US east coast.
Due to frozen electric substations, some Erie County residents were not expected to regain power until Tuesday, with one substation reportedly buried under 18 feet of snow, a senior county official said.
Officials described historically dangerous conditions in the snow-prone Buffalo region, with hours-long whiteouts and bodies discovered in vehicles and under snow banks. Emergency workers continued the difficult search for those in need of rescue.
The city's international airport remains closed until Tuesday and a driving ban remained in effect for Buffalo and much of Erie County.
Road ice and white-out conditions also led to the temporary closure of some of the nation's busiest transport routes, including part of the cross-country Interstate 70 highway.
Drivers were being warned not to take to the roads -- even as the nation reached what is usually its busiest time of year for travel.
NDTV
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Philippines searches for survivors after dozens killed in floods and landslides
Rain-induced floods and landslides unlike previous disasters in the country, which are typically triggered by severe typhoons
Rescue teams across nine provinces in the Philippines raced to try to locate 26 people missing after weekend rains, floods and landslides that have killed at least 25 people, in one of its deadliest weather events this year.
The national disaster agency on Wednesday said casualties reported so far had increased to 25 from 17 the previous day, with most deaths caused by drowning from flash floods.
“Search and rescue operations continue, led by the coast guard as most of them were missing fishermen,” the disaster agency’s Diego Agustin Mariano told DZMM radio.
...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-after-dozens-killed-in-floods-and-landslides
Rain-induced floods and landslides unlike previous disasters in the country, which are typically triggered by severe typhoons
Rescue teams across nine provinces in the Philippines raced to try to locate 26 people missing after weekend rains, floods and landslides that have killed at least 25 people, in one of its deadliest weather events this year.
The national disaster agency on Wednesday said casualties reported so far had increased to 25 from 17 the previous day, with most deaths caused by drowning from flash floods.
“Search and rescue operations continue, led by the coast guard as most of them were missing fishermen,” the disaster agency’s Diego Agustin Mariano told DZMM radio.
...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-after-dozens-killed-in-floods-and-landslides
Death Count Passes 50 In US "Blizzard Of The Century"
The monster storm that killed dozens in the United States over the Christmas weekend continued to inflict misery on New York state and air travelers nationwide Tuesday, as stories emerged of families trapped for days during the "blizzard of the century."
The number of deaths attributed to the winter storm rose to more than 50 after officials confirmed three more fatalities in western New York's Erie County, the epicenter of the crisis.
The police department "expects that number to rise," tweeted Byron Brown, mayor of the lakeside county's biggest city Buffalo -- which has been paralyzed for five days by chest-deep snow banks and power outages.
Kathy Hochul, New York state's governor and a Buffalo native, described the storm aftermath as resembling "a war zone."
"Certainly it is the blizzard of the century," Hochul told reporters Monday.
As temperatures plummeted, commuters and some residents fleeing their freezing homes became trapped on highways, unable to be rescued.
The problem was compounded when some areas were rendered inaccessible to ambulances for dozens of hours and snowplows were unable to perform their job due to the ferocity of the storm -- necessitating rescuers being rescued in certain cases.
The family of one 22-year-old Buffalo resident, Anndel Taylor, said she died in her car after getting stuck on her way home from work.
A video sent by Taylor and posted by her sister shows her vehicle covered up to its windows in snow.
Emergency responders, who themselves became stuck attempting to rescue her, found her dead 18 hours later, possibly due to carbon monoxide poisoning, her family in North Carolina told local TV station WSOC-TV.
One father described being trapped in his vehicle on the streets of Buffalo with his four young children for 11 hours before being rescued, according to The New York Times.
Zila Santiago, 30, said he kept his engine running to provide some warmth and fed his children some juice found in his trunk.
They were finally rescued at dawn by a passing snowplow.
In a city well-accustomed to snowstorms, some residents were blaming a travel ban they said was enacted too late on Friday morning as contributing to the mayhem.
Buffalo resident Mark Eguliar remained at his workplace, where he was stuck for more than 40 hours.
"Too many people were driving, too many people were not listening to the ban, so the cars were blocking all the roads, making it a lot harder to get home," he said.
- Flight chaos -
The perfect storm of fierce snow squalls, howling wind and sub-zero temperatures forced the cancellation of thousands of flights in recent days, including around 5,900 on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to tracking site FlightAware.com.
Most of the cancellations on Tuesday and Wednesday were at Southwest Airlines, which pulled more than 60 percent of its flights due to cascading logistics issues, earning it a rebuke from the US government.
The Department of Transportation tweeted that it was "concerned by Southwest's unacceptable rate of cancellations" and would examine if the company was "complying with its customer service plan," while the US Senate committee overseeing aviation said it would look into causes that "go beyond weather."
In a video statement on Tuesday, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said he was "truly sorry" for the disruptions and that a "massive effort to stabilize the airline" was under way.
He also noted that he had spoken with transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg about the issues, and pledged to "double down on our already existing plans to upgrade systems for these extreme circumstances so that we never again face what's happening right now."
- 'Worst Christmas' -
US President Joe Biden on Monday approved an emergency declaration for New York state, freeing up funds to help it recover from the disaster.
Buffalo's international airport remains closed until Wednesday morning and a driving ban remained in effect for the city.
"You can absolutely go out and walk to check on neighbors, go to open stores, etc. But do not drive," tweeted the county executive, Mark Poloncarz.
Longtime Buffalo resident Bill Sherlock told AFP that his home had received about four feet of snow, but that he was lucky to have had functioning electricity and food.
Those less fortunate "probably had the worst Christmas of their lives," said the 38-year-old attorney -- mindful that some homes in his neighborhood have had no power since Friday.
Sherlock said he may wait another day before leaving home for the first time in nearly a week: "We're not going anywhere unless we have to."
Mayor Brown told CNN that multiple looting incidents were reported in the city over Christmas weekend and eight arrests had been made.
The National Weather Service forecast a respite of warmer temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) by the weekend, although officials warned that melting snow could result in minor flooding.
The extreme weather over the weekend sent temperatures to below freezing in all mainland US states, including in Texas along the Mexico border where some arriving migrants have struggled to find shelter.
At one point on Saturday, nearly 1.7 million customers were without electricity in the biting cold, according to tracker PowerOutage.us.
Road ice and whiteout conditions also led to the temporary closure of some of the nation's busiest transport routes, including part of the cross-country Interstate 70 highway.
NDTV
The monster storm that killed dozens in the United States over the Christmas weekend continued to inflict misery on New York state and air travelers nationwide Tuesday, as stories emerged of families trapped for days during the "blizzard of the century."
The number of deaths attributed to the winter storm rose to more than 50 after officials confirmed three more fatalities in western New York's Erie County, the epicenter of the crisis.
The police department "expects that number to rise," tweeted Byron Brown, mayor of the lakeside county's biggest city Buffalo -- which has been paralyzed for five days by chest-deep snow banks and power outages.
Kathy Hochul, New York state's governor and a Buffalo native, described the storm aftermath as resembling "a war zone."
"Certainly it is the blizzard of the century," Hochul told reporters Monday.
As temperatures plummeted, commuters and some residents fleeing their freezing homes became trapped on highways, unable to be rescued.
The problem was compounded when some areas were rendered inaccessible to ambulances for dozens of hours and snowplows were unable to perform their job due to the ferocity of the storm -- necessitating rescuers being rescued in certain cases.
The family of one 22-year-old Buffalo resident, Anndel Taylor, said she died in her car after getting stuck on her way home from work.
A video sent by Taylor and posted by her sister shows her vehicle covered up to its windows in snow.
Emergency responders, who themselves became stuck attempting to rescue her, found her dead 18 hours later, possibly due to carbon monoxide poisoning, her family in North Carolina told local TV station WSOC-TV.
One father described being trapped in his vehicle on the streets of Buffalo with his four young children for 11 hours before being rescued, according to The New York Times.
Zila Santiago, 30, said he kept his engine running to provide some warmth and fed his children some juice found in his trunk.
They were finally rescued at dawn by a passing snowplow.
In a city well-accustomed to snowstorms, some residents were blaming a travel ban they said was enacted too late on Friday morning as contributing to the mayhem.
Buffalo resident Mark Eguliar remained at his workplace, where he was stuck for more than 40 hours.
"Too many people were driving, too many people were not listening to the ban, so the cars were blocking all the roads, making it a lot harder to get home," he said.
- Flight chaos -
The perfect storm of fierce snow squalls, howling wind and sub-zero temperatures forced the cancellation of thousands of flights in recent days, including around 5,900 on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to tracking site FlightAware.com.
Most of the cancellations on Tuesday and Wednesday were at Southwest Airlines, which pulled more than 60 percent of its flights due to cascading logistics issues, earning it a rebuke from the US government.
The Department of Transportation tweeted that it was "concerned by Southwest's unacceptable rate of cancellations" and would examine if the company was "complying with its customer service plan," while the US Senate committee overseeing aviation said it would look into causes that "go beyond weather."
In a video statement on Tuesday, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said he was "truly sorry" for the disruptions and that a "massive effort to stabilize the airline" was under way.
He also noted that he had spoken with transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg about the issues, and pledged to "double down on our already existing plans to upgrade systems for these extreme circumstances so that we never again face what's happening right now."
- 'Worst Christmas' -
US President Joe Biden on Monday approved an emergency declaration for New York state, freeing up funds to help it recover from the disaster.
Buffalo's international airport remains closed until Wednesday morning and a driving ban remained in effect for the city.
"You can absolutely go out and walk to check on neighbors, go to open stores, etc. But do not drive," tweeted the county executive, Mark Poloncarz.
Longtime Buffalo resident Bill Sherlock told AFP that his home had received about four feet of snow, but that he was lucky to have had functioning electricity and food.
Those less fortunate "probably had the worst Christmas of their lives," said the 38-year-old attorney -- mindful that some homes in his neighborhood have had no power since Friday.
Sherlock said he may wait another day before leaving home for the first time in nearly a week: "We're not going anywhere unless we have to."
Mayor Brown told CNN that multiple looting incidents were reported in the city over Christmas weekend and eight arrests had been made.
The National Weather Service forecast a respite of warmer temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) by the weekend, although officials warned that melting snow could result in minor flooding.
The extreme weather over the weekend sent temperatures to below freezing in all mainland US states, including in Texas along the Mexico border where some arriving migrants have struggled to find shelter.
At one point on Saturday, nearly 1.7 million customers were without electricity in the biting cold, according to tracker PowerOutage.us.
Road ice and whiteout conditions also led to the temporary closure of some of the nation's busiest transport routes, including part of the cross-country Interstate 70 highway.
NDTV
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RECORD-BREAKING WINTER TEMPERATURES WARM EUROPE
Europe has seen “extreme” warm winter weather in recent days, experts have said, with 2023 already posting record temperatures for January across the region.
As temperatures rise globally because of human-caused climate change, scientists say heatwaves and spells of warmer-than-average weather are becoming more common throughout the year.
After experiencing searing summer heat and a drought unprecedented in centuries, a wave of warm weather across Europe this winter has melted the snow from ski slopes in the Alps and Pyrenees, and seen temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) even in normally-freezing central regions.
...
https://arynews.tv/record-breaking-winter-temperatures-warm-europe/
Europe has seen “extreme” warm winter weather in recent days, experts have said, with 2023 already posting record temperatures for January across the region.
As temperatures rise globally because of human-caused climate change, scientists say heatwaves and spells of warmer-than-average weather are becoming more common throughout the year.
After experiencing searing summer heat and a drought unprecedented in centuries, a wave of warm weather across Europe this winter has melted the snow from ski slopes in the Alps and Pyrenees, and seen temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) even in normally-freezing central regions.
...
https://arynews.tv/record-breaking-winter-temperatures-warm-europe/
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Oceans were the hottest ever recorded in 2022, analysis shows
Seas dominate global weather patterns and the climate crisis is causing profound and damaging changes
The world’s oceans were the hottest ever recorded in 2022, demonstrating the profound and pervasive changes that human-caused emissions have made to the planet’s climate.
More than 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions is absorbed in the oceans. The records, starting in 1958, show an inexorable rise in ocean temperature, with an acceleration in warming after 1990.
Sea surface temperatures are a major influence on the world’s weather. Hotter oceans help supercharge extreme weather, leading to more intense hurricanes and typhoons and more moisture in the air, which brings more intense rains and flooding. Warmer water also expands, pushing up sea levels and endangering coastal cities.
The temperature of the oceans is far less affected by natural climate variability than the temperature of the atmosphere, making the oceans an undeniable indicator of global heating.
...
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...-hottest-ever-recorded-in-2022-analysis-shows
Seas dominate global weather patterns and the climate crisis is causing profound and damaging changes
The world’s oceans were the hottest ever recorded in 2022, demonstrating the profound and pervasive changes that human-caused emissions have made to the planet’s climate.
More than 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions is absorbed in the oceans. The records, starting in 1958, show an inexorable rise in ocean temperature, with an acceleration in warming after 1990.
Sea surface temperatures are a major influence on the world’s weather. Hotter oceans help supercharge extreme weather, leading to more intense hurricanes and typhoons and more moisture in the air, which brings more intense rains and flooding. Warmer water also expands, pushing up sea levels and endangering coastal cities.
The temperature of the oceans is far less affected by natural climate variability than the temperature of the atmosphere, making the oceans an undeniable indicator of global heating.
...
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...-hottest-ever-recorded-in-2022-analysis-shows
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Level 3 Cold Weather Alert issued for whole of England
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a Level 3 Cold Weather Alert for the whole of England.
It means there is likely to be an average temperature of 2C or less and/or widespread ice and heavy snow.
This alert level means healthcare services are urged to take specific actions to help protect high-risk groups.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, the UKHSA's head of extreme events and health protection, advised people to check on vulnerable relatives.
Pensioners and anyone with an underlying health condition are advised to heat their home to at least 18C.
Rural communities in northern areas could be cut off, warned the Met Office's chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert.
Travel could be affected across southern England and South Wales, he added.
Mr Lehnert said: "Snow, ice and low temperatures are the main themes of this week's forecast, with the UK under an Arctic maritime air mass."
SKY
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a Level 3 Cold Weather Alert for the whole of England.
It means there is likely to be an average temperature of 2C or less and/or widespread ice and heavy snow.
This alert level means healthcare services are urged to take specific actions to help protect high-risk groups.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, the UKHSA's head of extreme events and health protection, advised people to check on vulnerable relatives.
Pensioners and anyone with an underlying health condition are advised to heat their home to at least 18C.
Rural communities in northern areas could be cut off, warned the Met Office's chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert.
Travel could be affected across southern England and South Wales, he added.
Mr Lehnert said: "Snow, ice and low temperatures are the main themes of this week's forecast, with the UK under an Arctic maritime air mass."
SKY
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‘A wake-up call’: total weight of wild mammals less than 10% of humanity’s
From elephants to tigers, study reveals scale of damage to wildlife caused by transformation of wildernesses and human activity
The total weight of Earth’s wild land mammals – from elephants to bisons and from deer to tigers – is now less than 10% of the combined tonnage of men, women and children living on the planet.
A study by scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, published this month, concludes that wild land mammals alive today have a total mass of 22m tonnes. By comparison, humanity now weighs in at a total of around 390m tonnes.
At the same time, the species we have domesticated, such as sheep and cattle, in addition to other hangers-on such as urban rodents, add a further 630m tonnes to the total mass of creatures that are now competing with wild mammals for Earth’s resources. The biomass of pigs alone is nearly double that of all wild land mammals.
...
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...ght-of-wild-mammals-less-than-10-of-humanitys
From elephants to tigers, study reveals scale of damage to wildlife caused by transformation of wildernesses and human activity
The total weight of Earth’s wild land mammals – from elephants to bisons and from deer to tigers – is now less than 10% of the combined tonnage of men, women and children living on the planet.
A study by scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, published this month, concludes that wild land mammals alive today have a total mass of 22m tonnes. By comparison, humanity now weighs in at a total of around 390m tonnes.
At the same time, the species we have domesticated, such as sheep and cattle, in addition to other hangers-on such as urban rodents, add a further 630m tonnes to the total mass of creatures that are now competing with wild mammals for Earth’s resources. The biomass of pigs alone is nearly double that of all wild land mammals.
...
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...ght-of-wild-mammals-less-than-10-of-humanitys
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US tornadoes: Death toll grows as extreme storms ravage several states
At least 26 people have been killed after a series of tornadoes tore through towns and cities in the United States' South and Midwest.
Homes were destroyed and thousands left without power after storms caused devastation across several states.
According to Washington Post, more than 60 tornado reports have been recorded.
States including Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama and Mississippi have all had fatalities as a result of the weather.
One storm shredded through the Arkansas town of Wynne - a community some 100 miles (170km) east of the state capital, Little Rock.
Ashley Macmillan said she, her husband and their children huddled with their dogs in a small bathroom as a tornado passed, "praying and saying goodbye to each other, because we thought we were dead".
A falling tree seriously damaged their home, but they were unhurt.
She told the AP news agency: "We could feel the house shaking, we could hear loud noises, dishes rattling. And then it just got calm."
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency in the state of Arkansas on Friday, with the national guard activated to help with recovery efforts.
...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65150138
At least 26 people have been killed after a series of tornadoes tore through towns and cities in the United States' South and Midwest.
Homes were destroyed and thousands left without power after storms caused devastation across several states.
According to Washington Post, more than 60 tornado reports have been recorded.
States including Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama and Mississippi have all had fatalities as a result of the weather.
One storm shredded through the Arkansas town of Wynne - a community some 100 miles (170km) east of the state capital, Little Rock.
Ashley Macmillan said she, her husband and their children huddled with their dogs in a small bathroom as a tornado passed, "praying and saying goodbye to each other, because we thought we were dead".
A falling tree seriously damaged their home, but they were unhurt.
She told the AP news agency: "We could feel the house shaking, we could hear loud noises, dishes rattling. And then it just got calm."
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency in the state of Arkansas on Friday, with the national guard activated to help with recovery efforts.
...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65150138
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Easter Sunday could be the warmest day of the year so far with highs of up to 18C expected in parts of the UK.
The Met Office said the Easter weekend weather is set to be "fine and relatively nice" with "some sunshine" before most places see rain on Monday's bank holiday.
SKY
The Met Office said the Easter weekend weather is set to be "fine and relatively nice" with "some sunshine" before most places see rain on Monday's bank holiday.
SKY
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Lightning strikes kill 11 people in Punjab
Lightning strikes killed at least 11 persons and injured five others in different parts of Punjab, ARY News reported on Sunday.
Amid heavy rainfall in different parts of the country, 11 persons lost their lives in lightning strikes in Narowal, Sialkot and Sheikhupura, whereas, five others got injured.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Narowal said that the lightning strike incidents were reported in Ratanpur, Panch Pir and Changwali in which five persons were killed and five injured.
...
https://arynews.tv/lightning-strikes-kill-11-people-in-punjab/
Lightning strikes killed at least 11 persons and injured five others in different parts of Punjab, ARY News reported on Sunday.
Amid heavy rainfall in different parts of the country, 11 persons lost their lives in lightning strikes in Narowal, Sialkot and Sheikhupura, whereas, five others got injured.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Narowal said that the lightning strike incidents were reported in Ratanpur, Panch Pir and Changwali in which five persons were killed and five injured.
...
https://arynews.tv/lightning-strikes-kill-11-people-in-punjab/
WicketLord
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2023 is likely to be the hottest year in human history, and global temperatures during the Northern Hemisphere summer were the warmest on record, the EU climate monitor said on Wednesday.
eat waves, droughts and wildfires struck Asia, Africa, Europe and North America over the last three months, with dramatic impact on economies, ecosystems and human health.
The average global temperature in June, July and August was 16.77 degrees Celsius (62.19 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous 2019 record of 16.48C by a wide margin, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said in a report.
"The three months that we've just had are the warmest in approximately 120,000 years, so effectively human history," C3S deputy director Samantha Burgess told AFP.
Last month was the hottest August on record and warmer than all other months except July 2023.
"Climate breakdown has begun," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, echoing famous testimony before the US Congress 35 years ago, in which government scientist James Hansen declared that global warming had begun.
"Our climate is imploding faster than we can cope," Guterres added.
Also on Wednesday, the World Meteorological Organization warned that more frequent and intense heat waves are generating a "witch's brew" of air pollution that shortens human lifespans and damages other life forms.
"Heat waves worsen air quality, with knock-on effects on human health, ecosystems, agriculture and indeed our daily lives," WMO chief Petteri Taalas said in a statement.
Record-high global sea surface temperatures played a major role in stoking heat throughout the summer, with marine heat waves hitting the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.
phys.org
eat waves, droughts and wildfires struck Asia, Africa, Europe and North America over the last three months, with dramatic impact on economies, ecosystems and human health.
The average global temperature in June, July and August was 16.77 degrees Celsius (62.19 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous 2019 record of 16.48C by a wide margin, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said in a report.
"The three months that we've just had are the warmest in approximately 120,000 years, so effectively human history," C3S deputy director Samantha Burgess told AFP.
Last month was the hottest August on record and warmer than all other months except July 2023.
"Climate breakdown has begun," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, echoing famous testimony before the US Congress 35 years ago, in which government scientist James Hansen declared that global warming had begun.
"Our climate is imploding faster than we can cope," Guterres added.
Also on Wednesday, the World Meteorological Organization warned that more frequent and intense heat waves are generating a "witch's brew" of air pollution that shortens human lifespans and damages other life forms.
"Heat waves worsen air quality, with knock-on effects on human health, ecosystems, agriculture and indeed our daily lives," WMO chief Petteri Taalas said in a statement.
Record-high global sea surface temperatures played a major role in stoking heat throughout the summer, with marine heat waves hitting the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.
2023 likely to be hottest year on record
2023 is likely to be the hottest year in human history, and global temperatures during the Northern Hemisphere summer were the warmest on record, the EU climate monitor said on Wednesday.
WicketLord
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September heatwave: UK records hottest day of the year as temperature climbs.
The UK recorded its hottest day of the year on Thursday.
Highs of 32.6 degrees Celsius in the southeast beat the previous record of 32.2°C seen on 10 June. Temperatures are set to remain high over the weekend.
The sweltering weather has triggered an Amber heat health alert in eight regions, with authorities urging the public to stay hydrated and check on vulnerable people and pets.
The health alert - issued by the UK Health Security Agency from 2pm on Monday - will last until 9pm on 10 September.
So why is it so hot in the UK - and is climate change to blame?
A location is classified as experiencing a ‘heatwave’ when it meets the daily maximum temperature threshold for three days in a row.
This threshold is between 25°C and 28°C depending on where you are in the UK. On Tuesday, areas of West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Devon and Wales reached local criteria.
North England and Scotland were cooler, but temperatures are still high by regional standards.
The hot weather will ease on Sunday and Monday, with a “thundery breakdown” likely in some parts of the country.
Such sweltering temperatures are unusual for this time of year in the UK. Wednesday was the hottest September day since 2016.
Euro news
The UK recorded its hottest day of the year on Thursday.
Highs of 32.6 degrees Celsius in the southeast beat the previous record of 32.2°C seen on 10 June. Temperatures are set to remain high over the weekend.
The sweltering weather has triggered an Amber heat health alert in eight regions, with authorities urging the public to stay hydrated and check on vulnerable people and pets.
The health alert - issued by the UK Health Security Agency from 2pm on Monday - will last until 9pm on 10 September.
So why is it so hot in the UK - and is climate change to blame?
A location is classified as experiencing a ‘heatwave’ when it meets the daily maximum temperature threshold for three days in a row.
This threshold is between 25°C and 28°C depending on where you are in the UK. On Tuesday, areas of West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Devon and Wales reached local criteria.
North England and Scotland were cooler, but temperatures are still high by regional standards.
The hot weather will ease on Sunday and Monday, with a “thundery breakdown” likely in some parts of the country.
Such sweltering temperatures are unusual for this time of year in the UK. Wednesday was the hottest September day since 2016.
Euro news
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And now disaster strikes Libya, last thing they needed after years of political unrest there:
More than 5,000 presumed dead in Libya after ‘catastrophic’ flooding breaks dams and sweeps away homes
More than 5,000 people are presumed dead and 10,000 missing after heavy rains in northeastern Libya caused two dams to collapse, surging more water into already inundated areas.
Tamer Ramadan, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation in Libya, gave the numbers of missing people during a briefing to reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. “The death toll is huge,” she said.
At least 5,300 people are thought dead, said the interior ministry of Libya’s eastern government on Tuesday, state media LANA reported. CNN has not been able to independently verify the number of deaths or those missing.
Of those who were killed, at least 145 were Egyptian, officials in the northeastern city of Tobruk, in Libya, said on Tuesday.
In the eastern city of Derna, which has seen the worst of the devastation, as many as 6,000 people remain missing, Othman Abduljalil, health minister in Libya’s eastern administration, told Libya’s Almasar TV. He called the situation “catastrophic,” when he toured the city on Monday.
Whole neighborhoods are believed to have been washed away in the city, according to authorities.
More than 5,000 presumed dead in Libya after ‘catastrophic’ flooding breaks dams and sweeps away homes
More than 5,000 people are presumed dead and 10,000 missing after heavy rains in northeastern Libya caused two dams to collapse, surging more water into already inundated areas.
Tamer Ramadan, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation in Libya, gave the numbers of missing people during a briefing to reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. “The death toll is huge,” she said.
At least 5,300 people are thought dead, said the interior ministry of Libya’s eastern government on Tuesday, state media LANA reported. CNN has not been able to independently verify the number of deaths or those missing.
Of those who were killed, at least 145 were Egyptian, officials in the northeastern city of Tobruk, in Libya, said on Tuesday.
In the eastern city of Derna, which has seen the worst of the devastation, as many as 6,000 people remain missing, Othman Abduljalil, health minister in Libya’s eastern administration, told Libya’s Almasar TV. He called the situation “catastrophic,” when he toured the city on Monday.
Whole neighborhoods are believed to have been washed away in the city, according to authorities.
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I spend a lot of time between the UK and the Middle East and I've always thought that. 30 degrees in the UK and 30 degrees in the Gulf just does not feel the same.
I wonder if this is a real thing with a scientific explanation or just a psychological thing. Most likely the latter IMO.
I think it's a psychological thing.
You expect it to get hot in places like Pakistan and Middle East, so 30 degrees in those places feel normal. While in places like the UK, you don't really expect warm weather, so 30 degrees there feels unbearable.
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The confirmed death toll reached 3,840 in Libya by Wednesday afternoon, said Lieutenant Tarek al-Kharraz, spokesman for the eastern-based government’s interior ministry.
The figure includes 3,190 victims who have already been buried and at least 400 foreigners, mostly from Sudan and Egypt, Kharraz told AFP, adding that 2,400 people were still missing.
The figure includes 3,190 victims who have already been buried and at least 400 foreigners, mostly from Sudan and Egypt, Kharraz told AFP, adding that 2,400 people were still missing.
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Also a lot to do with infrastructure. Most houses in the UK are built to keep heat in, carpeted, insulation etc. In the Gulf it's totally the opposite, and AC's are blaring from the house to the car to any building. You're never packed like sardines in a full, unventilated Northern Line tube when it's 30 degrees in the Middle East.
WicketLord
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Residents of the devastated Libyan city of Derna desperately searched for missing relatives as rescue workers appealed for more body bags, after a catastrophic flood that killed thousands of people and swept many out to sea.
Swathes of the Mediterranean city were obliterated by a torrent of water unleashed by a powerful storm that swept down a usually dry riverbed on Sunday night, bursting dams above the city. Multistorey buildings collapsed with sleeping families inside.
pokesperson of the interior ministry Lieutenant Tarek al-Kharraz on Wednesday told the AFP news agency that 3,840 deaths had been recorded in the Mediterranean city so far, including 3,190 who have already been buried. Among them were at least 400 foreigners, mostly from Sudan and Egypt.
Meanwhile, Hichem Abu Chkiouat, minister of civil aviation in the administration that runs eastern Libya, told the Reuters news agency more than 5,300 dead had been counted so far, and said the number was likely to increase significantly and might even double.
Derna Mayor Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television the estimated number of deaths in the city could reach between 18,000 to 20,000 based on the number of districts destroyed by the flood.
Al Jazeera
Swathes of the Mediterranean city were obliterated by a torrent of water unleashed by a powerful storm that swept down a usually dry riverbed on Sunday night, bursting dams above the city. Multistorey buildings collapsed with sleeping families inside.
pokesperson of the interior ministry Lieutenant Tarek al-Kharraz on Wednesday told the AFP news agency that 3,840 deaths had been recorded in the Mediterranean city so far, including 3,190 who have already been buried. Among them were at least 400 foreigners, mostly from Sudan and Egypt.
Meanwhile, Hichem Abu Chkiouat, minister of civil aviation in the administration that runs eastern Libya, told the Reuters news agency more than 5,300 dead had been counted so far, and said the number was likely to increase significantly and might even double.
Derna Mayor Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television the estimated number of deaths in the city could reach between 18,000 to 20,000 based on the number of districts destroyed by the flood.
Al Jazeera
FearlessRoar
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The debilitating water crisis continues to escalate following the malfunction of three major supply lines at the Dhabeji pumping station a few days ago which disrupted supplies to approximately 80 to 90 per cent of the metropolitan city.
The situation has left the millions of Karachiites at the mercy of private water suppliers who charge at will for a bowser. Officials from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) have assured the public that the situation will soon return to normalcy after the repair work on the damaged pipelines is completed.
As per reports, the Dhabeji pumping station faced a major disruption when three of its pipelines burst due to a power breakdown. Despite ongoing repair efforts, the city has been grappling with water supply disruption for six days.
Source: Express Tribune
The situation has left the millions of Karachiites at the mercy of private water suppliers who charge at will for a bowser. Officials from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) have assured the public that the situation will soon return to normalcy after the repair work on the damaged pipelines is completed.
As per reports, the Dhabeji pumping station faced a major disruption when three of its pipelines burst due to a power breakdown. Despite ongoing repair efforts, the city has been grappling with water supply disruption for six days.
Source: Express Tribune
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Life on Earth under ‘existential threat’: climate scientists
Climate change poses an “existential threat” to life on Earth, prominent scientists warned on Tuesday, in an assessment of this year’s avalanche of heat records and weather extremes that they said are hitting more ferociously than expected.
With expectations that 2023 will be the hottest year on record, regions across the planet have been scorched by deadly heat waves.
Others have been hit by floods, or in some cases, have suffered both extremes in quick succession.
“The truth is that we are shocked by the ferocity of the extreme weather events in 2023. We are afraid of the uncharted territory that we have now entered,” said an international coalition of authors in a new report published in the journal BioScience.
Their stark assessment: “Life on planet Earth is under siege”.
They said humanity had made “minimal progress” in curbing its planet-heating emissions, with major greenhouse gases at record levels, and subsidies for fossil fuels soaring last year.
The damning assessment comes just a month ahead of UN COP28 climate negotiations to be held in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.
“We must shift our perspective on the climate emergency from being just an isolated environmental issue to a systemic, existential threat,” the authors said.
The study on the state of the climate looked at recent data on 35 planetary “vital signs” and found 20 of these were at record extremes this year.
Climate change poses an “existential threat” to life on Earth, prominent scientists warned on Tuesday, in an assessment of this year’s avalanche of heat records and weather extremes that they said are hitting more ferociously than expected.
With expectations that 2023 will be the hottest year on record, regions across the planet have been scorched by deadly heat waves.
Others have been hit by floods, or in some cases, have suffered both extremes in quick succession.
“The truth is that we are shocked by the ferocity of the extreme weather events in 2023. We are afraid of the uncharted territory that we have now entered,” said an international coalition of authors in a new report published in the journal BioScience.
Their stark assessment: “Life on planet Earth is under siege”.
They said humanity had made “minimal progress” in curbing its planet-heating emissions, with major greenhouse gases at record levels, and subsidies for fossil fuels soaring last year.
The damning assessment comes just a month ahead of UN COP28 climate negotiations to be held in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.
“We must shift our perspective on the climate emergency from being just an isolated environmental issue to a systemic, existential threat,” the authors said.
The study on the state of the climate looked at recent data on 35 planetary “vital signs” and found 20 of these were at record extremes this year.
Life on Earth under ‘existential threat’: climate scientists
Report says three to six billion people could be “confined beyond the livable region” by century’s end.
www.dawn.com
Parts of the UK are poised for heavy rain and flooding over the next few days ahead of the arrival of Storm Ciarán later this week.
Flood warnings are in place across parts of England, Scotland and Wales, while there are also yellow rain warnings in Northern Ireland.
Ciarán is set to bring strong winds and heavy rain to southern England and Wales when it arrives on Thursday.
It comes after a number of areas in the UK faced flooding over the weekend.
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Forecasters warned that saturated ground conditions caused by the persistent wet weather will increase the risk of flooding.
The Environment Agency urged the public to take care on coastal paths and promenades.
The agency also advised against driving through flood water, saying that just 30cm (11.8 inches) of flowing water was enough to move a car.
BBC Weather lead presenter Simon King has warned that Storm Ciarán will "bring the risk of further floods" in some areas. as recent wet and stormy weather has left the ground "already very saturated".
"Stormy conditions are initially likely across southern England and the Channel Isles early on Thursday with damaging gusts of wind up to 80mph, perhaps even 90mph in the most exposed areas. Heavy rain will then spread north and east through the day."
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond has also warned "winds could even gust up to 50 or 60 mph further inland".
Almond said this deep, low-pressure system will "bring heavy rain to much of the UK, but the heaviest rain is expected in southern and western areas with 20 to 25 mm quite widely across the region but up to 40 to 60 mm potentially over higher ground".
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said various warnings have been in force across the UK and "plenty more" will be issued for the next couple of days, describing Ciarán as "probably quite a nasty storm".
He said that Tuesday will also be unsettled but quieter before heavy winds and longer spells of rain develop on Wednesday night into Thursday.
Homes were evacuated and shops were damaged after a village in County Durham was deluged by "several feet of water" over the weekend.
In Hastings, East Sussex, a shopping centre was evacuated after flood water ripped through one of its entrances.
On Sunday, a caravan park in Bognor Regis was submerged underwater. The town's Tesco supermarket car park was flooded, and a house roof was ripped off in heavy winds residents described as like a "tornado".
Source: BBC
Flood warnings are in place across parts of England, Scotland and Wales, while there are also yellow rain warnings in Northern Ireland.
Ciarán is set to bring strong winds and heavy rain to southern England and Wales when it arrives on Thursday.
It comes after a number of areas in the UK faced flooding over the weekend.
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Forecasters warned that saturated ground conditions caused by the persistent wet weather will increase the risk of flooding.
The Environment Agency urged the public to take care on coastal paths and promenades.
The agency also advised against driving through flood water, saying that just 30cm (11.8 inches) of flowing water was enough to move a car.
BBC Weather lead presenter Simon King has warned that Storm Ciarán will "bring the risk of further floods" in some areas. as recent wet and stormy weather has left the ground "already very saturated".
"Stormy conditions are initially likely across southern England and the Channel Isles early on Thursday with damaging gusts of wind up to 80mph, perhaps even 90mph in the most exposed areas. Heavy rain will then spread north and east through the day."
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond has also warned "winds could even gust up to 50 or 60 mph further inland".
Almond said this deep, low-pressure system will "bring heavy rain to much of the UK, but the heaviest rain is expected in southern and western areas with 20 to 25 mm quite widely across the region but up to 40 to 60 mm potentially over higher ground".
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said various warnings have been in force across the UK and "plenty more" will be issued for the next couple of days, describing Ciarán as "probably quite a nasty storm".
He said that Tuesday will also be unsettled but quieter before heavy winds and longer spells of rain develop on Wednesday night into Thursday.
Homes were evacuated and shops were damaged after a village in County Durham was deluged by "several feet of water" over the weekend.
In Hastings, East Sussex, a shopping centre was evacuated after flood water ripped through one of its entrances.
On Sunday, a caravan park in Bognor Regis was submerged underwater. The town's Tesco supermarket car park was flooded, and a house roof was ripped off in heavy winds residents described as like a "tornado".
Source: BBC
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Carbon tax to tackle climate change
The government has taken a significant step by implementing a carbon policy that involves taxing carbon-emitting industries and utilizing the sale of carbon credits. Furthermore, an initiative to offer electric bikes to citizens in convenient instalments has been introduced.
These developments were disclosed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, which was chaired by Senator Seemee Ezdi.
Officials from the Ministry of Climate Change provided insights into the new policy, emphasizing the taxation of carbon-emitting industries and revenue generation through carbon credit sales.
The primary objective of this policy is to tap into investment opportunities within the global carbon market, regarded as the world's largest market with an estimated value of $3 trillion. To ensure the effectiveness of the carbon credit system, the government will establish guidelines, governance mechanisms, a carbon market registry, and monitoring systems. This initiative aligns with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
tribune.com.pk
The government has taken a significant step by implementing a carbon policy that involves taxing carbon-emitting industries and utilizing the sale of carbon credits. Furthermore, an initiative to offer electric bikes to citizens in convenient instalments has been introduced.
These developments were disclosed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, which was chaired by Senator Seemee Ezdi.
Officials from the Ministry of Climate Change provided insights into the new policy, emphasizing the taxation of carbon-emitting industries and revenue generation through carbon credit sales.
The primary objective of this policy is to tap into investment opportunities within the global carbon market, regarded as the world's largest market with an estimated value of $3 trillion. To ensure the effectiveness of the carbon credit system, the government will establish guidelines, governance mechanisms, a carbon market registry, and monitoring systems. This initiative aligns with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
Carbon tax to tackle climate change | The Express Tribune
Govt aims to generate revenue through sale of carbon credits; plans to offer electric bikes in instalments
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This year set to be warmest in 125,000 years, say scientists
BRUSSELS: This year is set to be the world’s warmest in 125,000 years, European Union scientists said on Wednesday, after data showed last month was the hottest October on record by a massive margin.
Last month exceeded the previous highest October average temperature, from 2019, by 0.4 degrees Celsius, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said, describing the temperature anomaly as “very extreme”.
That has made 2023 as a whole “virtually certain” to be the warmest year recorded, C3S said in a statement.
The heat is a result of continued greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, combined with the emergence this year of the naturally occurring El Nino climate pattern, which warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The current hottest year on record is 2016 another El Nino year although 2023 is on course to overtake that. Copernicus’ dataset goes back to 1940.
“When we combine our data with the IPCC, then we can say that this is the warmest year for the last 125,000 years,” Burgess said.
The longer-term data from UN climate science panel IPCC includes readings from sources such as ice cores, tree rings and coral deposits. Climate change is fuelling increasingly destructive extremes.
In 2023, that includes floods that killed thousands of people in Libya, severe heatwaves in South America, and Canada’s worst wildfire season on record.
Globally, the average surface air temperature in October of 15.3 Celsius (59.5 degrees Fahrenheit), was 1.7 degrees Celsius warmer than the average for October in 1850-1900, which Copernicus defines as the pre-industrial period. The only other month to breach the temperature record by such a large margin was September 2023.
“September really, really surprised us,” Burgess said. “So after last month, it’s hard to determine whether we’re in a new climate state. But now records keep tumbling and they’re surprising me less than they did a month ago.”
DAWN
BRUSSELS: This year is set to be the world’s warmest in 125,000 years, European Union scientists said on Wednesday, after data showed last month was the hottest October on record by a massive margin.
Last month exceeded the previous highest October average temperature, from 2019, by 0.4 degrees Celsius, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said, describing the temperature anomaly as “very extreme”.
That has made 2023 as a whole “virtually certain” to be the warmest year recorded, C3S said in a statement.
The heat is a result of continued greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, combined with the emergence this year of the naturally occurring El Nino climate pattern, which warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The current hottest year on record is 2016 another El Nino year although 2023 is on course to overtake that. Copernicus’ dataset goes back to 1940.
“When we combine our data with the IPCC, then we can say that this is the warmest year for the last 125,000 years,” Burgess said.
The longer-term data from UN climate science panel IPCC includes readings from sources such as ice cores, tree rings and coral deposits. Climate change is fuelling increasingly destructive extremes.
In 2023, that includes floods that killed thousands of people in Libya, severe heatwaves in South America, and Canada’s worst wildfire season on record.
Globally, the average surface air temperature in October of 15.3 Celsius (59.5 degrees Fahrenheit), was 1.7 degrees Celsius warmer than the average for October in 1850-1900, which Copernicus defines as the pre-industrial period. The only other month to breach the temperature record by such a large margin was September 2023.
“September really, really surprised us,” Burgess said. “So after last month, it’s hard to determine whether we’re in a new climate state. But now records keep tumbling and they’re surprising me less than they did a month ago.”
DAWN
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Earth to warm up to 2.9C even with current climate pledges: UN
UN warns world ‘out of road’ for limiting warming to 1.5C ahead of COP28 meeting in Dubai.
The world’s emissions-cutting pledges are nowhere near enough to curb the effects of climate change, with Earth on track for warming a potentially catastrophic 2.9C (5.2F) this century, the United Nations has warned.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)’s annual Emissions Gap report, published on Monday, assesses countries’ promises to tackle climate change against the action needed.
This year is expected to be the hottest in human history.
“The world is witnessing a disturbing acceleration in the number, speed and scale of broken climate records,” UNEP said.
The report found the world faces between 2.5C (4.5F) and 2.9C (5.2F) of warming above preindustrial levels on current commitments if governments do not take more aggressive climate action.
At that level of warming, scientists predict the world could pass several catastrophic points of no return, from the runaway melting of ice sheets to the Amazon rainforest drying out, and leave vast swathes of the planet essentially uninhabitable for humans.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “dramatic climate action” at the COP28 climate talks, which begin in Dubai on November 30.
www.aljazeera.com
UN warns world ‘out of road’ for limiting warming to 1.5C ahead of COP28 meeting in Dubai.
The world’s emissions-cutting pledges are nowhere near enough to curb the effects of climate change, with Earth on track for warming a potentially catastrophic 2.9C (5.2F) this century, the United Nations has warned.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)’s annual Emissions Gap report, published on Monday, assesses countries’ promises to tackle climate change against the action needed.
This year is expected to be the hottest in human history.
“The world is witnessing a disturbing acceleration in the number, speed and scale of broken climate records,” UNEP said.
The report found the world faces between 2.5C (4.5F) and 2.9C (5.2F) of warming above preindustrial levels on current commitments if governments do not take more aggressive climate action.
At that level of warming, scientists predict the world could pass several catastrophic points of no return, from the runaway melting of ice sheets to the Amazon rainforest drying out, and leave vast swathes of the planet essentially uninhabitable for humans.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “dramatic climate action” at the COP28 climate talks, which begin in Dubai on November 30.
Earth to warm up to 2.9C even with current climate pledges: UN
UN warns window for limiting warming to 1.5C is closing fast ahead of COP28 meeting in Dubai.
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World to hit 1.4°C of warming in record hot 2023
With a month to run, 2023 will reach global warming of about 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.5 Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, adding to "a deafening cacophony" of broken climate records, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
The WMO's provisional State of the Global Climate report confirms that 2023 will be the warmest year on record by a large margin, replacing the previous record-holder 2016, when the world was around 1.2C warmer than the preindustrial average.
It adds to the urgency world leaders face as they wrestle with phasing out fossil fuels at the United Nations annual climate summit COP28, which begins on Thursday in Dubai.
"Greenhouse gas levels are record high. Global temperatures are record high. Sea level rise is record high. Antarctic sea ice record low," WMO Secretary General Peterri Taalas said.
The report's finding, however, does not mean the world is about to cross the long-term warming threshold of 1.5C that scientists say is the ceiling for avoiding catastrophic climate change under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
tribune.com.pk
With a month to run, 2023 will reach global warming of about 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.5 Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, adding to "a deafening cacophony" of broken climate records, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
The WMO's provisional State of the Global Climate report confirms that 2023 will be the warmest year on record by a large margin, replacing the previous record-holder 2016, when the world was around 1.2C warmer than the preindustrial average.
It adds to the urgency world leaders face as they wrestle with phasing out fossil fuels at the United Nations annual climate summit COP28, which begins on Thursday in Dubai.
"Greenhouse gas levels are record high. Global temperatures are record high. Sea level rise is record high. Antarctic sea ice record low," WMO Secretary General Peterri Taalas said.
The report's finding, however, does not mean the world is about to cross the long-term warming threshold of 1.5C that scientists say is the ceiling for avoiding catastrophic climate change under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
World to hit 1.4°C of warming in record hot 2023 | The Express Tribune
2023 is set to be the warmest year on record, reaching 1.4°C above preindustrial levels, warns the WMO
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COP28: Poor countries win 30-year fight for climate cash
In a surprise that has lit up COP28, delegates have agreed to launch a long-awaited fund to pay for damage from climate-driven storms and drought.Such deals are normally sealed last minute after days of negotiations.
COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber shook up the meeting by bringing the decision to the floor on day one.
The EU, UK, US and others immediately announced contributions totalling around $400m for poor countries reeling from the impacts of climate change.
It's hoped the deal will provide the momentum for an ambitious wider agreement on action during the summit.
The stakes for that couldn't be higher: the day began with stark warnings from the UN chief that "we are living through climate collapse in real time".
António Guterres said the news that it's "virtually certain" 2023 will be the hottest year on record should "send shivers down the spines of world leaders".
Three decades after the idea was first mooted, the 'loss and damage' cash agreement was greeted with sustained applause on the conference floor.
It was seen as a smart move by the UAE, which has been criticised in the run up to the COP, after the BBC reported on Monday that leaked briefing documents revealed plans by the United Arab Emirates to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations.
"It's a very clever way to open the conference on the part of the UAE," said Prof Michael Jacobs from the University of Sheffield and an observer at these talks.
"They have gotten in the very first session, one of the most important parts of this whole conference agreed, a very contentious part, the United States was not happy just a few weeks ago with the text on this loss and damage fund, and it's agreed to it today."
Loss and damage refers to the impacts that many countries suffer from climate-related weather events.
While funding has been provided to help countries adapt to rising temperatures, and to aid their efforts to rein in their emissions, no money has been forthcoming to help with the destruction caused by storms and droughts.
The idea of finding cash for these losses was first introduced in the 1990s.
For decades, richer countries fought tooth and nail against the idea of such a fund, wary of having to pay "compensation" for historic carbon emissions.
Last year at COP27 in Egypt, the moral force of the argument won the day and countries agreed to set up a fund.
Over the past 12 months countries had argued about the rules, where the fund should be located and who should pay in.
A tentative agreement was reached a few weeks before this gathering in Dubai.
Any such deal would normally have to be accepted by all countries in a plenary session, where negotiators can go through the text with a fine-tooth comb, often leading to major arguments.
This usually happens at the end of a COP after days and nights of wrangling.
"We have delivered history today," Mr Jaber told delegates as the motion was passed without a fight.
Immediately the UAE made a pledge of $100m as did Germany.
The US says it will pay in $17m, providing it can find agreement with Congress. They wanted all countries to know that paying in didn't mean they accepted that the fund was about reparations for historic emissions.
"We have been working very, very closely with other transitional committee members this entire year in order to design an effective fund that is based on cooperation and does not involve liability or compensation," said US Special Climate Envoy, John Kerry.
The UK promised £60m to the fund. Campaigners said it was a small step in the right direction.
"It is encouraging to see that the UK Government is committed to making the Loss and Damage Fund a reality, but this pledge is simply not enough and crucially, it's not new money," said Chiara Liguori, Oxfam's Senior Climate Justice Policy Advisor.
Source: BBC
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This is a good news. It has to be a collective effort from everyone to tackle this serious issue.
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COP28: Huge rise in oil drilling expected from hosts UAE
The country hosting COP28 climate talks aimed at cutting fossil fuel emissions is massively ramping up its own oil production, the BBC has learned.
The United Arab Emirates' state oil firm Adnoc may drill 42% more by 2030, according to analysts considered the international gold standard in oil market intelligence.
Between 2023 and 2050, only Saudi Arabia is expected to produce more.
Adnoc says projections show capacity to produce oil, not actual production.
It said it had already clearly stated plans to boost its production capacity by 7% over the next four years.
The firm said it was widely accepted that some oil and gas would be needed in decades ahead and that it was making its activities more climate-friendly, including by expanding into renewable energy.
The major focus of COP28 is the phasing down or phasing out of fossil fuels including oil and gas.
Sultan al-Jaber is the president of the COP and the chief executive of Adnoc.
This new analysis of oil industry data suggests Adnoc is now in the process of rapid expansion.
The information on Adnoc comes from Rystad Energy, whose oil market intelligence is widely used and trusted by fossil fuel companies and international bodies such as the International Energy Agency.
Rystad uses company reports, government sources and academic research to make projections of future oil and gas production.
Campaigners Global Witness then used this data to make a list of top oil producers between now and 2050.
The UAE came second behind Saudi Arabia. It currently ranks 12th in the world.
Rystad said the 42% production increase this decade will raise output from just over a billion barrels in 2023 to almost 1.5 billion barrels by 2030.
The data suggests that this aggressive expansion is expected to continue through the 2030s, with production starting to decline in the 2040s.
By 2050 Adnoc is expected to be producing close to 850 million barrels of oil a year, significantly less than the billion it produces now.
Production is expected to fall across the world towards the mid-century.
Bill Hare, a senior scientist with Climate Analytics, said the "staggering" growth in Adnoc's projected production "is completely against everything we know that needs to be done to limit warming to 1.5C".
"It flies in the face of the the COP president's own commitment to make 1.5C the North Star of the climate negotiations," he added.
"This amount of oil and gas would bust the chances of limiting warming to 1.5C."
Adnoc's total production would still be dwarfed by Saudi Arabia's national producer, Aramco, which will produce 101 billion barrels by 2050.
However, it would be significantly more than all five "supermajors" combined - these are Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron, TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips.
According to the analysis, emissions from Adnoc's increased production by 2050 will be over 14 billion tonnes of CO2, which experts say is over 6% of the Earth's entire budget to keep temperatures under 1.5C.
Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, said Adnoc's expansion was not compatible with keeping global temperatures below dangerous thresholds.
"It is not possible for any fossil fuel company to say 'I am going to increase my production by x million barrels of oil and at the same time my company's strategy is in line with the Paris climate agreement'," he said,
"Both of them at the same time, don't work," he told BBC News.
Adnoc said the analysis did not make any distinction between production capacity and actual production.
Companies often have the capacity to produce far more oil, but because of oversupply in the market, or restrictions placed on them by the OPEC cartel, they may not produce all of that capacity.
"We have clearly stated that we are growing our production capacity from around 4.65 million barrels per day to five million barrels per day by 2027. This represents a 7% increase in production capacity," an Adnoc spokesperson said.
"It is important to note that this is capacity and not necessarily production. It also does not reflect Adnoc's share of production."
"All energy transition scenarios, including those by the IEA and Rystad, acknowledge that some level of oil and gas will be needed to meet future energy demand," Adnoc added.
"We are producing some of the world's least carbon intensive oil and gas and we are further reducing our carbon intensity by 25% by 2030 while making an initial investment of $15bn to decarbonize our operations and accelerate the growth of the energies of the future, including hydrogen, geothermal and renewables."
Global Witness say they analysed "projected annualised hydrocarbon extraction rates", meaning actual production, not production capacity.
They say this information is publicly available from Adnoc.
"These findings show how, irrespective of the outcome of COP28, Adnoc plans to produce more oil than nearly every operator on the planet and plans to vastly increase its output - in direct contravention of the scientific consensus around which Sultan al-Jaber is mandated to build negotiations in Dubai," said Patrick Galey, from Global Witness.
There are many unknowns about future oil production and demand, which might influence supplies to the market. However green political leaders say that new oil drilling opportunities should not now be pursued.
"Sultan al-Jaber, as COP President and fossil CEO, must give the only right example now and come forward with a pledge to change Adnoc's future plans," said Bas Eickhout, a member of the Green Party in the European Parliament.
"Not only is his own credibility at stake, but it will also determine the success or failure of UAE's COP Presidency."
BBC
The country hosting COP28 climate talks aimed at cutting fossil fuel emissions is massively ramping up its own oil production, the BBC has learned.
The United Arab Emirates' state oil firm Adnoc may drill 42% more by 2030, according to analysts considered the international gold standard in oil market intelligence.
Between 2023 and 2050, only Saudi Arabia is expected to produce more.
Adnoc says projections show capacity to produce oil, not actual production.
It said it had already clearly stated plans to boost its production capacity by 7% over the next four years.
The firm said it was widely accepted that some oil and gas would be needed in decades ahead and that it was making its activities more climate-friendly, including by expanding into renewable energy.
The major focus of COP28 is the phasing down or phasing out of fossil fuels including oil and gas.
Sultan al-Jaber is the president of the COP and the chief executive of Adnoc.
This new analysis of oil industry data suggests Adnoc is now in the process of rapid expansion.
The information on Adnoc comes from Rystad Energy, whose oil market intelligence is widely used and trusted by fossil fuel companies and international bodies such as the International Energy Agency.
Rystad uses company reports, government sources and academic research to make projections of future oil and gas production.
Campaigners Global Witness then used this data to make a list of top oil producers between now and 2050.
The UAE came second behind Saudi Arabia. It currently ranks 12th in the world.
Rystad said the 42% production increase this decade will raise output from just over a billion barrels in 2023 to almost 1.5 billion barrels by 2030.
The data suggests that this aggressive expansion is expected to continue through the 2030s, with production starting to decline in the 2040s.
By 2050 Adnoc is expected to be producing close to 850 million barrels of oil a year, significantly less than the billion it produces now.
Production is expected to fall across the world towards the mid-century.
Bill Hare, a senior scientist with Climate Analytics, said the "staggering" growth in Adnoc's projected production "is completely against everything we know that needs to be done to limit warming to 1.5C".
"It flies in the face of the the COP president's own commitment to make 1.5C the North Star of the climate negotiations," he added.
"This amount of oil and gas would bust the chances of limiting warming to 1.5C."
Adnoc's total production would still be dwarfed by Saudi Arabia's national producer, Aramco, which will produce 101 billion barrels by 2050.
However, it would be significantly more than all five "supermajors" combined - these are Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron, TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips.
According to the analysis, emissions from Adnoc's increased production by 2050 will be over 14 billion tonnes of CO2, which experts say is over 6% of the Earth's entire budget to keep temperatures under 1.5C.
Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, said Adnoc's expansion was not compatible with keeping global temperatures below dangerous thresholds.
"It is not possible for any fossil fuel company to say 'I am going to increase my production by x million barrels of oil and at the same time my company's strategy is in line with the Paris climate agreement'," he said,
"Both of them at the same time, don't work," he told BBC News.
Adnoc said the analysis did not make any distinction between production capacity and actual production.
Companies often have the capacity to produce far more oil, but because of oversupply in the market, or restrictions placed on them by the OPEC cartel, they may not produce all of that capacity.
"We have clearly stated that we are growing our production capacity from around 4.65 million barrels per day to five million barrels per day by 2027. This represents a 7% increase in production capacity," an Adnoc spokesperson said.
"It is important to note that this is capacity and not necessarily production. It also does not reflect Adnoc's share of production."
"All energy transition scenarios, including those by the IEA and Rystad, acknowledge that some level of oil and gas will be needed to meet future energy demand," Adnoc added.
"We are producing some of the world's least carbon intensive oil and gas and we are further reducing our carbon intensity by 25% by 2030 while making an initial investment of $15bn to decarbonize our operations and accelerate the growth of the energies of the future, including hydrogen, geothermal and renewables."
Global Witness say they analysed "projected annualised hydrocarbon extraction rates", meaning actual production, not production capacity.
They say this information is publicly available from Adnoc.
"These findings show how, irrespective of the outcome of COP28, Adnoc plans to produce more oil than nearly every operator on the planet and plans to vastly increase its output - in direct contravention of the scientific consensus around which Sultan al-Jaber is mandated to build negotiations in Dubai," said Patrick Galey, from Global Witness.
There are many unknowns about future oil production and demand, which might influence supplies to the market. However green political leaders say that new oil drilling opportunities should not now be pursued.
"Sultan al-Jaber, as COP President and fossil CEO, must give the only right example now and come forward with a pledge to change Adnoc's future plans," said Bas Eickhout, a member of the Green Party in the European Parliament.
"Not only is his own credibility at stake, but it will also determine the success or failure of UAE's COP Presidency."
BBC
globetrotter
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I always laugh when I heard US expressed its deep concerns in any climate change conference…….. During Vietnam war, Vietnamese rebel army personnels were hiding in Vietnam forests…. US army sprayed chemicals from plane over these forest to kill trees…. They destroyed many forests in Vietnam during the war . Now they expressing concerns what a hypocrisy?
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COP28: Head of UN talks hits back at climate denial claims
The president of the ongoing UN climate talks Sultan al-Jaber has hit back at claims that he denies a core part of climate science.It follows his earlier comments that there was "no science" behind requiring the end of fossil fuels in order to limit temperature rise to 1.5C.
"We very much believe and respect the science," he said on Monday.
The COP28 summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, aims to make progress on tackling climate change.
All countries at the UN climate talks in 2015 agreed to slash releases of warming gases in order to keep the average global temperature rise below 1.5C compared to pre-industrial levels.
But in an online event on 21 November with Mary Robinson, the chair of the Elders group and a former UN special envoy for climate change, Mr Jaber appeared to deny that.
"There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what's going to achieve 1.5C," he said.
On Monday, the fifth day of the UN talks, Mr Jaber said "let me clarify where I stand on the science".
"I honestly think there is some confusion out there, and misrepresentation. I am quite surprised with the constant and repeated attempts to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency," he said.
At times he appeared irritated. "Science has been central to my own career progress and yes, I respect the science in everything I do," he added.
Mr Jaber, 50, trained as an engineer and economist.
"I have said over and over that the phase down and the phase out of fossil fuel is inevitable," he added, in one of his strongest statements yet about the future of oil, coal and gas.
He spoke on Monday sitting next to Professor Jim Skea, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
"I can say Dr Sultan has been attentive to the science," Prof Skea said.
He said he wanted to make it clear that he was representing the global scientific consensus, signed off by governments.
He added he wanted to repeat what the IPCC says about fossil fuels.
"I will say it very precisely. Looking at scenarios in which global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees with no or little overshoot, by 2050, fossil fuel use is greatly reduced, and unabated coal use is completely phased out," he said.
To meet that goal, oil use had to be reduced by 60% and gas use by 45% by 2050, he said.
The UN talks are dominated by the question of how and when the use of oil, coal and gas will be reduced.
Countries whose economies rely heavily on fossil fuels are reluctant to agree to a complete end to the use of oil, coal, and gas.
Instead some suggest that expensive technologies that capture the warming gas carbon dioxide can be used, meaning the world can still burn fossil fuels at a significant rate.
But countries on the frontline of climate change want much stronger commitments to the full phase out of fossil fuels.
The UAE's presidency of the COP28 talks has attracted criticism because the country is one the top 10 oil and gas producers in the world. Mr Jaber also heads the giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).
On Monday morning Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, made comments on behalf of nations vulnerable to climate change.
"The president has said that 1.5C is his North Star. We are here to hold him to that," she said.
Mr Jaber also referred to suggestions that he had been ill-tempered with Ms Robinson, the host of the November event.
"I had a conversation with someone I have a great deal of respect for," he said.
Source: BBC
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With world leaders at COP28 in Dubai, there is a renewed sense of urgency to limit emissions to curb the harshest impacts of climate change.
Many of these governments have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep global warming levels below a 1.5C rise on pre-industrial levels.
But after months of record-shattering heat, 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record.
And scientists now anticipate average global temperatures to pass the 1.5C threshold within the next five years.
BBC
Many of these governments have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep global warming levels below a 1.5C rise on pre-industrial levels.
But after months of record-shattering heat, 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record.
And scientists now anticipate average global temperatures to pass the 1.5C threshold within the next five years.
BBC
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New COP28 draft deal stops short of fossil fuel 'phase out'
A draft of a potential climate deal at the COP28 summit on Monday suggested a range of options that countries could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but omitted the "phase out" of fossil fuels many nations have demanded.
The draft will set the stage for a final round of contentious negotiations in the two-week summit in Dubai, which has laid bare deep international divisions over whether oil, gas and coal should have a place in a climate-friendly future.
COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber urged the nearly 200 countries at the talks to redouble their efforts to finalise a deal ahead of the scheduled close of the conference on Tuesday, saying they "still have a lot to do".
"You know what remains to be agreed. And you know that I want you to deliver the highest ambition on all items including on fossil fuel language," he said.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said earlier in the day a central benchmark of success for COP28 would be whether it yielded a deal to phase out fossil fuels fast enough to avert disastrous climate change.
COP28 Director-General Majid Al Suwaidi speaks at the COP28 in Dubai, UAE, December 11, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS
The new draft of a COP28 agreement, published by the United Arab Emirates' presidency of the summit, proposed various options but did not refer to a "phase out" of all fossil fuels, which had been included in a previous draft.
Instead it listed eight options that countries "could" use to cut emissions, including: "reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050".
Other actions listed included tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, "rapidly phasing down unabated coal" and scaling up technologies including those to capture CO2 emissions to keep them from the atmosphere.
One European diplomat told Reuters the new text was "weak as ****" and read like a "menu where you can pick and choose your dish at will".
Representatives from Pacific island nations Samoa and the Marshall Islands, already suffering the impacts of rising seas, said the draft was a death warrant.
tribune.com.pk
A draft of a potential climate deal at the COP28 summit on Monday suggested a range of options that countries could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but omitted the "phase out" of fossil fuels many nations have demanded.
The draft will set the stage for a final round of contentious negotiations in the two-week summit in Dubai, which has laid bare deep international divisions over whether oil, gas and coal should have a place in a climate-friendly future.
COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber urged the nearly 200 countries at the talks to redouble their efforts to finalise a deal ahead of the scheduled close of the conference on Tuesday, saying they "still have a lot to do".
"You know what remains to be agreed. And you know that I want you to deliver the highest ambition on all items including on fossil fuel language," he said.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said earlier in the day a central benchmark of success for COP28 would be whether it yielded a deal to phase out fossil fuels fast enough to avert disastrous climate change.
COP28 Director-General Majid Al Suwaidi speaks at the COP28 in Dubai, UAE, December 11, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS
The new draft of a COP28 agreement, published by the United Arab Emirates' presidency of the summit, proposed various options but did not refer to a "phase out" of all fossil fuels, which had been included in a previous draft.
Instead it listed eight options that countries "could" use to cut emissions, including: "reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050".
Other actions listed included tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, "rapidly phasing down unabated coal" and scaling up technologies including those to capture CO2 emissions to keep them from the atmosphere.
One European diplomat told Reuters the new text was "weak as ****" and read like a "menu where you can pick and choose your dish at will".
Representatives from Pacific island nations Samoa and the Marshall Islands, already suffering the impacts of rising seas, said the draft was a death warrant.
New COP28 draft deal stops short of fossil fuel 'phase out' | The Express Tribune
COP28 draft climate deal omits 'phase out' of fossil fuels, sparking criticism and disagreements among nations
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