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COP28: UN climate talks in jeopardy in fossil fuel backlash​

The UN climate talks in Dubai could be in jeopardy after some nations reacted furiously to a draft deal on fossil fuels they call "weak".

The draft removed language included in a previous draft suggesting that fossil fuels could be "phased out".

All 198 countries at the summit must agree or there is no deal.

Humans burning fossil fuels is driving global warming, risking millions of lives, but governments have never agreed how or when to stop using them.

A representative for the European Union called the draft "unacceptable" and said the bloc could walk away.

"We can't accept the text," said minister Eamon Ryan, a negotiator for the EU and Ireland's environment minister. But he added that the collapse of the talks is "not the outcome the world needs".

Politicians, including from nations on the frontline of climate change, have been in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to discuss the growing problem in a year that is set to be the warmest on record.

The question of what to do about greenhouse gas emissions from burning oil, coal and gas have dominated the talks.

Expectations were low that the controversial COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber could deliver a strong deal on fossil fuels because he is also CEO of the Abu Dhabi oil giant Adnoc.

But countries that want a rapid end to fossil fuels had grown optimistic as Mr Jaber appeared to say he backed a "phase out" of fossil fuels.

A draft text published on Saturday confirmed that one option for the talks outcome was a "phase out of fossil fuels in line with best available science".

Questions remained over when this would happen and whether it would rely on the use of expensive and experimental technology to store the carbon dioxide released when fossil fuels are burned.

On Monday, another draft was published that deleted mentions of "phase out". Instead it said nations should "reduce consumption and production of fossil fuels in a just, orderly and equitable manner".

While the changes in language can seem small, slight differences in UN documents can significantly change what countries are obliged to do.

Many nations appear to have had just an hour to look at the text before a meeting of all governments was called.

Countries on the frontline of climate change - places where sea-level rises are already destroying homes and storms are killing people - condemned the draft deal.

"We will not sign our death certificate," said a representative for the Alliance of Small Island States, adding it would not agree to a text without "strong commitments on phasing out fossil fuels".

Mr Jaber, the COP28 president, said the text reflected his ambitions and called it a "huge step forward".

Source: BBC
 
Those who depend on oil money will always have a different opinion on this than rest of the world.
 

COP28: Landmark summit takes direct aim at fossil fuels​

Nations at the UN climate summit have for the first time taken explicit aim at the use of fossil fuels.

The talks in Dubai came close to collapse but in a dramatic turn-around, nations agreed to "transition away" from coal, oil and gas.

But small islands hit hard by climate change protested, saying the deal was rushed through without them.

And it departed from earlier stronger language to "phase out fossil fuels".

Many nations including the US, UK and European Union had pushed for a phase out from the opening of the talks.

Close to 200 nations were in the United Arab Emirates for almost two weeks to try to make progress on tackling climate change after months of record-breaking extreme weather.

Expectations had been low that oil-rich United Arab Emirates could deliver a deal that took aim at the fossil fuel industry. The COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber's dual role as CEO of Abu Dhabi oil giant Adnoc attracted further criticism.

Onlookers' fears of a conflict of interest seemed confirmed when leaked documents suggested Mr Jaber had planned to use the presidency to strike business deals.

But on Wednesday Mr Jaber delivered a jubilant speech, saying the conference "should be proud of our historic achievement".

The deal today will likely be seen as a victory for his leadership.

The gavelling of the deal itself took many delegates by surprise but was met with cheers and a standing ovation in the plenary room.

However, a representative for the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) - representing nations on the frontlines of climate change - took the microphone as soon as comments were open to nations.

"It seems that you just gavelled the decisions when the small island states weren't in the room," she said.

And she said Aosis are concerned that the key language about transitioning away from fossil fuels "potentially takes us backward rather than forward".

Source: BBC
 
Climate change is an issue that takes some contribution from everyone.
 
Is the world capable of stopping a climate apocalypse?

It was supposed to be a matter of life or death. So the recent spectacle of COP28 delegates quibbling over the wording of a final agreement calling on countries to “transition away” from the fossil fuels causing climate chaos provoked widespread alarm.

Calling time on the status quo of using fossil fuels turned out to be the central battle within a fractious event that highlighted the might of an industry bent on survival for as long as possible. At long last, the main issue was being addressed. But was this progress?

As Doomsday predictions about the climate crisis mount and the UN chief, Antonio Guterres, warned that humanity has “opened the gates of hell” after record summer temperatures this year, the world appears stuck in an endless loop of missed targets and freak weather events.

The “final warning” came this year, when the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that the world could surpass the point of catastrophic warming in the next decade unless it immediately stops guzzling fossil fuels.

So why all the dithering? What’s standing in the way of making real progress in the fight against climate change? And does using paper straws really make a difference?



www.aljazeera.com

Is the world capable of stopping a climate apocalypse?

With the fossil fuels industry resisting change, what are the real prospects for averting climate disaster?
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com
 
President for improving energy efficiency to curb climate change impacts

President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday called for improving energy efficiency, adopting sustainable practices, and changing attitudes and priorities to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.

“Transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and reforestation are key to curb the adverse impacts on the planet’s climate and ecosystems,” the president said while addressing an event with respect to a project “Green Presidency of Pakistan” here at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

He said the modern world with changing priorities and attitudes, was becoming dangerous which must be stopped to curb the adverse impacts of climate change, the state news agency reported.

The Green Presidency of Pakistan is a flagship initiative under which a one-megawatt solar PV system was installed, along with effective implementation of energy conservation and efficiency measures.

The president said the initiative would result in a reduction in energy usage by Aiwan-e-Sadr by 42.5%. This energy savings is equivalent to a reduction of 3,144 tonnes of greenhouse gases or a plantation of 142,090 mature trees.

“It is a matter of great pleasure that, out of 129 projects from around the world, the Green Presidency Project of Pakistan has been conferred with the prestigious award of “International Energy Project of the Year 2023”, he added.

He also expressed gratitude to the Association of Energy Engineers USA for recognizing with the esteemed Best International Energy Project of the Year Award for 2023.

He also called for promoting peace in the world and discouraging wars that were a big cause of deviating the world’s focus on mitigating global warming.

He said despite contributing less than 1% in carbon emission, Pakistan suffered huge losses in last year’s devastating floods that occurred due to global warming and climate change.

He recalled that by mid 20th century, the people were conscious about utilizing the natural resources despite abundant resources, but now the priorities had been changed, the needs and wants had been mixed due to which they started using abundant resources for their ease.

He said the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had also taught for consuming the natural resources with utmost care by demonstrating the same in his life. The president pointed out that the world was witnessing a much-needed transition towards clean energy in the wake of climate change.

“The need for plentiful, sustainable energy that doesn’t disrupt the delicate balance of the Earth’s atmosphere may be the single most important issue facing this generation.”

He said the decisions to be made and the technologies to be developed over the next few decades would have profound implications for geopolitics, wildlife, food production, and almost every sphere of human endeavor.

He maintained that stakeholders from a range of fields including the architectures could play their role in efficient energy conservation.

Further he said the children should also be engaged to make them aware about the value of natural resources and impacts of climate change. The new generation should also be taught this way, he added.

Earlier the president gave away souvenirs to the project director, head of the project, and representatives of Engro, Huawei and Osaka Lights for their contributions in the project.

In his video message, Executive Director Association of Energy Engineer (AEE) Bill Kent said the Association had been awarding for four decades, the individuals and organizations to recognize their efforts in efficient usage of energy.

He congratulated the team of the project Green Presidency on winning the award as due to their efforts, a remarkable achievement of saving energy of the building by over 42%.

Managing Director National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) said an investment of $50 billion would be required to achieve the set goals of producing 60% renewable energy by 2030.



arynews.tv

President for improving energy efficiency to curb climate change impacts

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday called for improving energy efficiency, adopting sustainable practices, and changing attitudes and priorities
arynews.tv arynews.tv
 
Climate change: Seasonal shifts causing 'chaos' for UK nature

The loss of predictable weather patterns is "causing chaos" for nature, according to the National Trust.

It warns climate change is upsetting the regular rhythm of the seasons, making plants and wildlife more susceptible to disease.

The effects can be seen across the estates the National Trust manages.

This seasonal "baseline shift" is disrupting the annual behaviours of animals in particular but also impacting trees and plants, it said.

"The incremental shifts we're experiencing in terms of our seasons extending may not feel like much in a 12-month period, but over a decade the changes are extremely significant", said Ben McCarthy, head of Nature and Restoration Ecology at the National Trust.

2023 saw a series of temperature records, with the warmest June and highest sea temperatures ever recorded around the coast of the UK.

An unusually warm winter allowed pests and diseases to thrive.

Meanwhile low water levels in rivers, lakes and reservoirs - caused by a lack of rain coupled with the high temperatures - has been a factor in increased algal blooms.

On some occasions this has led to mass fish deaths as oxygen levels crash, causing them to suffocate.

And there were dramatic storms too, with storms Babet and Ciaran damaging landscapes and coastlines around the country.

You may have noticed the impact the changes in the seasons are having in the parks around your home or in your garden.

Grass needs to be mowed much later into the year, for example.

The National Trust rangers and gardeners report it's because of the increasingly warm and wet conditions at its sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.



BBC
 

Climate activists block Amsterdam highway in protest against ING​

Dutch climate activists on Saturday blocked a major highway in Amsterdam to demand an immediate end to the financing of fossil fuel projects by lender ING.

Hundreds of activists walked onto the A10 highway to the south of Amsterdam around noon local time (1100 GMT), images on local TV station ATS showed, after police shut down the road to avoid casualties. The activists staged their protest at the location of ING’s former headquarters along the A10, as they said the bank is the main facilitator of fossil fuel projects in the Netherlands. ING, the largest lender in the Netherlands, earlier this month said it would stop financing oil and gas exploration and production by 2040 and triple new lending to renewable energy over the next two years as part of an updated climate strategy.

ING was not immediately available for comment. The Amsterdam city council had banned the A10 protest and had allocated a field nearby for the demonstration. But protesters climbed up the embankment and onto the highway.

Source: Reuters
 
The Bald Eagle said:

Climate activists block Amsterdam highway in protest against ING​

Dutch climate activists on Saturday blocked a major highway in Amsterdam to demand an immediate end to the financing of fossil fuel projects by lender ING.

Hundreds of activists walked onto the A10 highway to the south of Amsterdam around noon local time (1100 GMT), images on local TV station ATS showed, after police shut down the road to avoid casualties. The activists staged their protest at the location of ING’s former headquarters along the A10, as they said the bank is the main facilitator of fossil fuel projects in the Netherlands. ING, the largest lender in the Netherlands, earlier this month said it would stop financing oil and gas exploration and production by 2040 and triple new lending to renewable energy over the next two years as part of an updated climate strategy.

ING was not immediately available for comment. The Amsterdam city council had banned the A10 protest and had allocated a field nearby for the demonstration. But protesters climbed up the embankment and onto the highway.

Source: Reuters
Click to expand...

Blocking a highway for this is very stupid. This should be outlawed. What if someone has an emergency?

These climate change activists need to use more practical approaches.
 
Last year was the UK's second warmest on record, according to provisional data from the Met Office.

This puts it just behind 2022, which recorded an average temperature of only 0.06C higher.

For both Wales and Northern Ireland, 2023 was their hottest year on record.

The national weather service said climate change has made the high temperatures "significantly more likely".



Source: BBC
 

Britain hit by flooding after heavy rain swells major rivers​

Major rivers across Britain were flooded on Friday after heavy rain, with the government issuing more than 300 flood warnings, travel operators announcing serious disruption and around 1,000 homes suffering damage so far.

A succession of storms in recent weeks meant prolonged rainfall that started on Thursday fell on saturated ground and quickly caused already-swollen rivers and waterways to burst their banks across England and Wales.

The storms have also caused flooding in other parts of Europe in recent days.

The River Trent in central England flooded, prompting the local authority to declare a major incident. London's fire service said it had to escort around 50 people to safety late on Thursday after a canal in the east of the capital overflowed.

"We have woken up to, as many people will see, to a very wet situation across the country," Caroline Douglass, the director in charge of flood management at the Environment Agency, told the BBC.

Douglass said around 1,000 homes had so far been flooded. Great Western Railways said its lines in three parts of the south of the country were closed. Roads in the worst affected areas were also closed.

More rain was forecast for Friday, albeit not at the same intensity as seen overnight, with drier weather expected to follow.

Source : Reuters
 
2023 was world's hottest year on record, EU scientists confirm

Last year was the planet's hottest on record by a substantial margin and likely the world's warmest in the last 100,000 years, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Tuesday.

Scientists had widely expected the milestone, after climate records were repeatedly broken. Since June, every month has been the world's hottest on record compared with the corresponding month in previous years.

"This has been a very exceptional year, climate-wise... in a league of its own, even when compared to other very warm years," C3S Director Carlo Buontempo said.

C3S confirmed 2023 as the hottest year in global temperature records going back to 1850. When checked against paleoclimatic data records from sources such as tree rings and air bubbles in glaciers, Buontempo said it was "very likely" the warmest year in the last 100,000 years.

On average, in 2023 the planet was 1.48 degrees Celsius warmer than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.



tribune.com.pk

2023 was world's hottest year on record, EU scientists confirm | The Express Tribune

0.17°C hotter than the previous hottest year, highest CO2 levels on record; urgent calls for emission reduction
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 
Climate crisis casts a shadow over K-P's agriculture sector

Apart from their breathtaking landscape and picturesque sceneries, Pakistan’s northern areas are well known for producing some of the country’s finest variety of fruits and vegetables. In recent times however, the drastic changes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's (K-P) weather conditions and rainfall rate have come as a bolt from the blue for its agriculturalists, who rely heavily on farming for sustaining their livelihoods.

Nawab Khan is one such farmer from the Utmanzai district of Charsadda, who has been harvesting sugarcane and strawberry crops since the past 13 years. This year however, a severe scarcity of water due to a lack of adequate rainfall significantly reduced his crop yield. “My strawberry crop yield had declined by almost 50 per cent in March last year while the sugarcane crop also faced a similar drop in yield from November onwards,” resented Khan, who further claimed that the number of people associated with farming in Charsadda had reduced to half given the changing weather conditions and declining profitability of the profession.

Similarly, Nisar Chacha, who has been cultivating carrots in the Utmanzai area for the past 10 years, also worried about the sudden changes in rainfall and weather conditions. “Over the past five years, water scarcity has caused the cost of producing carrots to increase by five to 10 times,” regretted Nisar, who disclosed that a similar quandary was plaguing the orange production zones in Manki Sharif, Pir Piai and Ziarat Kaka Sahib located in the Nowshera district of K-P.



tribune.com.pk

Climate crisis casts a shadow over K-P's agriculture sector | The Express Tribune

Yield of fruits, vegetables and whole grains has undergone a sharp decline across several crop producing areas of K-P
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 
Amazon's record drought driven by climate change

One of our planet's most vital defences against global warming is itself being ravaged by climate change.

It was the main driver of the Amazon rainforest's worst drought in at least half a century, according to a new study.

Often described as the "lungs of the planet", the Amazon plays a key role in removing warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

But rapid deforestation has left it more vulnerable to weather extremes.

While droughts in the Amazon are not uncommon, last year's event was "exceptional", the researchers say.

In October, the Rio Negro - one of the world's largest rivers - reached its lowest recorded level near Manaus in Brazil, surpassing marks going back over 100 years.

As well as being a buffer against climate change, the Amazon is a rich source of biodiversity, containing around 10% of the world's species - with many more yet to be discovered.

The drought has disrupted ecosystems and has directly impacted millions of people who rely on rivers for transport, food and income, with the most vulnerable hit hardest.


www.bbc.com

Amazon's record drought driven by climate change

The world's largest rainforest protects us from climate change but deforestation has left it vulnerable.
www.bbc.com
 
A report by the British Broadcasting House (published five years ago) says that climate change poses serious threats to glaciers in the Himalayas and that 36 per cent of the glaciers will disappear by the year 2100 if priority measures are not taken.

These ice glaciers are the most important source of water supply for more than 250 million people living in eight countries including Pakistan, India, China, Nepal, and Bhutan. The Himalayan glaciers also provide a natural water supply to the world’s most significant rivers, such as the Ganges, Indus, Yellow, and Mekong.

The situation of the driest winter in the Himalayan region is not limited to Pakistan-administered areas, but all the Himalayan countries, including India, Nepal and Bhutan, are facing more or less the same challenges. Scientists are concerned that due to the rise in global temperatures, half of these glaciers will disappear by the end of the century. The damage to the glaciers in the Himalayan region will result in famine, food insecurity, and water crisis throughout the region.


The News
 
Wildfires rage near Colombia’s capital as temperatures soar

Forest fires have destroyed more than 17,000 hectares (42,008) in Colombia since November, authorities have said, as the country faces its hottest January in decades.

More than 340 fires have been recorded during that period, spurred by prolonged drought, record heat and the El Nino weather phenomenon, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad said on Friday, adding that 26 fires were still blazing.

One of the fires is burning about 900 metres (2,953) from Bogota’s eastern El Paraiso neighbourhood.

Some residents affected by the smoke were being treated, the Colombian Red Cross in Bogota wrote on social media platform X, alongside photos of emergency workers helping a man wearing a face mask.

President Gustavo Petro this week declared a natural disaster, allowing funds to be diverted from other budget items towards containing the blazes, and appealed for international aid.

Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport returned to normal operations on Friday after restrictions the previous day affected 138 flights.



www.aljazeera.com

Photos: Wildfires rage near Colombia’s capital as temperatures soar

Forest fires have destroyed more than 17,000 hectares, with blazes burning kilometres from Bogota’s residential areas.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com
 
Chile has declared a state of emergency as it battles spreading forest fires in the centre of the country that have so far killed at least 19 people.

“All forces are deployed in the fight against the forest fires,” President Gabriel Boric posted on X as he announced the measure, adding that emergency services would meet on Saturday to assess the situation.

The fires have ravaged thousands of hectares of forest since Friday, cloaking coastal cities in a dense fog of grey smoke and forcing people to flee their homes in the central regions of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso.

At least 19 people have died, and the death toll could rise as rescue teams reach more affected areas, Interior Minister Carolina Toha said.

“The report of fatalities is very provisional,” Toha said. “We have reports from other places where there are indications that there may be more people dead but we do not have confirmation on the ground.”

Leonardo Moder, the director of Valparaiso’s national forestry corporation, said earlier in the day: “We have winds of close to 40 or 50km [25-31 miles] per hour.”

“This wind is hard because it carries lit leaves, branches or pieces of wood, and each creates a new little fire that grows into more fires,” he added.

The blaze is being driven by a summer heatwave and drought affecting the southern part of South America caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon, as scientists warn that a warming planet has increased the risk of natural disasters such as intense heat and fires.

Throughout the country there were 92 active fires, leaving more than 43,000 hectares affected by the incident, Interior Minister Toha said.

In the towns of Estrella and Navidad, southwest of the capital, the fires have burned nearly 30 homes and forced evacuations near the surfing resort of Pichilemu.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” 63-year-old Yvonne Guzman told the AFP news agency. When the flames started to close in on her home in Quilpue, she fled with her elderly mother, only to find themselves trapped in traffic for hours.

“It’s very distressing because we’ve evacuated the house but we can’t move forward. There are all these people trying to get out and who can’t move,” she said.

Source: Al Jazeera
 
Chile Engulfed in Devastating Forest Fires: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

In a devastating turn of events, Chile is grappling with widespread forest fires that have wreaked havoc across various regions, leading to an alarming loss of life and property. The disaster has already claimed the lives of 51 individuals, a tragic count that reflects the sheer scale and severity of this catastrophe. Furthermore, the number of missing persons continues to rise, deepening the concern among authorities and local communities.

Unprecedented Devastation

The fires have led to the obliteration of thousands of homes, rendering numerous residents homeless and in desperate need of aid. The situation is particularly grim in the region of Valparaíso, which has witnessed the deadliest blazes. The fires have not only resulted in blackouts and caused the destruction of two bus terminals but have also necessitated the evacuation of hospitals and nursing homes.

A State of Emergency

President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of emergency in response to the escalating crisis. The National System for Disaster Prevention has elevated the situation to a red alert and ordered the evacuation of at least 18 towns. The president and the authorities have urged residents to heed the evacuation orders, keeping their safety paramount amidst the worsening conditions. As a direct consequence of the El Niño weather pattern, the nation has been grappling with droughts and temperatures that are higher than usual, factors that have only exacerbated the crisis.

Battling the Fires

Emergency services and volunteers are working round the clock to combat the fires and extend relief to those most in need. Firefighters remain engaged in battles against blazes across several regions. The fires, fueled by a summer heatwave and the ongoing drought, continue to spread, making the task of containment all the more challenging. Drone footage capturing the extent of the damage paints a somber picture of the fires’ ferocity and the urgent requirement for support and recovery efforts.

Source: BNN

bnnbreaking.com

Chile Engulfed in Devastating Forest Fires: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

In a devastating turn of events, Chile is grappling with widespread forest fires that have wreaked havoc across various regions, leading to an alarming loss of life and property. The disaster has already claimed the lives of 51 individuals, a tragic count that reflects the sheer scale and...
bnnbreaking.com bnnbreaking.com
 
Pakistan has lost almost 20% of its forest area in the past 24 years following the rise of urbanisation and dearth of energy, The News reported citing research by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

In its latest research titled 'Challenges and Opportunities of The Billion Tree Tsunami Project (TBTTP), PIDE stated that Pakistan has the lowest rate of forestation in the world with almost 27,000 hectares of forest clearance annually. The percentage of private ownership of forest land in South Asia is highest in Pakistan and Bangladesh, 36% and 34%, respectively, as per the research.

The highest forest area in Pakistan is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province followed by Sindh, Punjab, ex-Fata, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan (GB), respectively. Rapid population growth, rising urbanisation, high poverty and shortage of energy such as gas are the main factors of deforestation in Pakistan, according to the research.

Further, in cities like Lahore and Islamabad, infrastructure development and construction of large road structures for individual mobility has taken a toll on forestation, reveals the study. Pakistan is among the countries with the lowest number of trees in the world with less than one billion trees.

Pakistan has 1,131 trees per sq km (only higher than Afghanistan in South Asia) and only five trees per person whereas a desirable tree level for sustainable development requires 900 trees per person, states the research.

Countries with the highest landmass have the highest totals. Russia (642 billion) has the highest number of trees in the world followed by Canada (318 billion), Brazil (302 billion) and the US (228 billion). Pakistan is among the countries with the lowest number of trees in the world with less than one billion trees.

Since 2000, the total forest area of Pakistan has decreased by 20%. In 2021 just 4.8% (36.9sq km out of total land area of 770.8sq km) of Pakistan’s land area had forest cover compared to 5.9% (45.1sq km) in 2000. About 27,000 hectares of forests are cleared every year in Pakistan (out of which 50% is used for cooking and heating in households that lack access to gas).

The forest cover in Pakistan is significantly lower than the average value of 31.2% forest cover across the world, 18.9% in South Asia, 24.4% in India and 14.5% in Bangladesh. “Ideally, a country should have 25% forest cover for a healthy environment”, states PIDE research.

Further it notes, “Distribution of the country’s total forest area varies; it is the highest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (32.7% of total forest area of Pakistan), followed by Sindh (14.8%), Punjab (12.4%), Ex-Fata (11.9%), Balochistan (11.1%), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (9.6%), and Gilgit-Baltistan (7%)”.

“Within the forest cover area of the country, dry temperate forests account for the largest share of 36%, followed by sub-tropical broadleaved shrub (19%), moist temperate (15%), Chir Pine (13%), Riverine (4%), irrigated plantation (4%), thorn (3%), mangrove (3%) and subalpine forests (2%)”, said research.

In addition, according to PIDE’s research, owing to rapid population growth, rising urbanisation, high poverty and shortage of energy, the forestation rate has declined in the country over time. Timber mafias and locals have chopped down immense swathes of forests. People, who do not have electricity or do not get it regularly, use wood fires for lighting, cooking and warmth.

It further notes that South Asia has 11 million hectares of privately owned forests and their area is increasing, with Pakistan and Bangladesh having the highest proportion of privately owned forests (36% and 34% respectively in 2010). An increase in the share of private ownership of forests could have serious implications for sustainable forest management in the future.

Indigenous people own the least among all categories of forest ownership, and the ratio is on the decline. This may have serious implications not only for forest conservation but also for the empowerment of indigenous people, who are already among the most deprived.

Source: Geo News
 

UAE, Azerbaijan, Brazil join forces to limit global warming to 1.5C​

The United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan and Brazil, former and future hosts of UN climate summits, are joining forces to push for an international agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

On Tuesday, the UAE’s Conference of the Parties (COP28) presidency said that it would form a “troika” to focus on ensuring that more ambitious CO2-cutting pledges are made ahead of a deadline at the COP30 summit to be held in 2025 in Belem, Brazil. Azerbaijan will host this year’s United Nations climate event in November.

“We cannot afford to lose momentum, we must do everything we can to keep 1.5 C within reach,” said Sultan Al Jaber, the Emirati president of last year’s negotiations.

In 2015, almost 200 governments signed the unprecedented Paris climate agreement to phase out fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy in the second half of the century by capping global warming at 1.5C.

That target is fast slipping out of reach, as global greenhouse gas emissions continue to soar. The next round of countries’ climate targets is seen as a crucial last chance to prevent global warming exceeding the 1.5C limit.

The troika partnership should “significantly enhance international cooperation and the international enabling environment to stimulate ambition in the next round of nationally determined contributions”, read the final agreement reached at COP28.

Last week European climate monitors reported that for the first time global warming had exceeded temperatures of 1.5C over a 12-month period, in what scientists called a “warning to humanity”.

Storms, drought and fires lashed the planet as climate change, as well as the El Nino weather phenomenon that warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, made 2023 the planet’s hottest year in global records going back to 1850.

“The troika helps ensure we have the collaboration and continuity required to keep the North Star of 1.5C in sight – from Baku to Belem and beyond,” Al Jaber said in a statement.

Taking into account current climate pledges, the world is still on track to warm between 2.5 and 2.9 degrees Celsius over this century, according to UN estimates.

The 1.5C limit will probably be reached between 2030 and 2035, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
 
It is good that they are looking to work together to tackle this important issue. This is something that needs collective effort from everyone.
 
Landslides halt traffic on Karakoram Highway, Baltistan Road

The Karakoram Highway (KKH) and Baltistan Road have once again been shut down due to landslides triggered by heavy snowfall and rain.

The closures, announced on Wednesday, follow brief periods of restoration for light traffic earlier in the week, aggravating the challenges faced by both residents and tourists due to adverse weather.

An official of the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority told Dawn the region’s weather was improving, but the damage from Monday and Tuesday’s severe weather events has led to significant disruptions.

The KKH was obstructed at several points near the Thore area of Chilas and the Diamer Basha Dam construction site, officials told Dawn. As a result, thousands of passengers were stranded once again on both sides of the highway.

Efforts to mitigate the impact include diverting light traffic through the old KKH route. Meanwhile, clearance operations are actively ongoing using heavy machinery.

Similarly, the Baltistan Road witnessed its fourth consecutive day of closure, with partial openings being short-lived due to new landslides near the Roundu area of Skardu, severing land communication for the residents once more.

Despite these challenges, GBDMA Director General Safdar Khan assured that traffic restoration efforts were in full swing across the affected areas, with no significant casualties or damage reported thus far.

The GB government has issued a weather alert effective until Feb 27, advising people to avoid non-essential travel. Meanwhile, aerial connections between Islamabad, Skardu and Gilgit face disruptions for the third day.

People in the region’s upper areas are in the grip of cold waves and are faced with power outages and communication disruptions.

SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
 
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Snowfall blocks roads in Tirah valley

The district administration had to employ heavy machinery to remove snow from roads leading to Tirah valley after heavy snowfall in the area that started on Sunday afternoon.

Local residents told Dawn that roads leading to Bagh-Maidan Markaz in Arganga Top, Sarry Kandaw, Haider Kandaw and Dwa Thoey were blocked due to excessive snowfall, which disrupted movement between these localities.

Sharif Khan, a Malakdin Khel resident told Dawn that local residents had to remove snow from the rooftops of their houses multiple times to avoid any accident.

Himself a shopkeeper, he said though the Bagh-Maidan Markaz, the valley’s main bazaar was open but local residents preferred to stay indoors due to closure of link roads. He said residents had never experienced such heavy snowfall during this time of the year.

Abdullah, another local resident, said that it was only the third time that Tirah received snowfall during this season with December and January last remaining mostly dry.

He said Tirah used to receive snowfall multiple times during winters but this year they had three spells of snowfall with little or insignificant amount of snow in the initial two.

He said residents of the valley were expecting a hot summer this year with shortage of water due to less snowfall.

A statement issued from Khyber House on Monday said that hectic efforts were under way to clear snow from the roads at various locations in order to restore vehicular movement.

It said that works and communication department has assisted in providing road clearing machinery which was immediately dispatched to the affected areas.

SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
 
Rains wreak havoc in Gwadar

The coastal city of Gwadar was submerged following heavy rainfall spanning over 16 hours, resulting in a deluge that inundated the streets with an alarming depth of six to seven feet.

The downpour wreaked havoc on the city's infrastructure, disrupting the already strained sewerage system and leaving its inhabitants grappling with the harsh reality of a paralysed existence.

"We demand of the government to ensure the launching of an immediate rescue operation," Senator Khoda Babar of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) said.

Babar said a large number of people were stranded and shelterless in the port city of the country.
The once bustling streets now resemble waterways as boats, intended for leisurely rides, now lie sunken reminders of the city's plight.

Adding to the woes, the city plunged into darkness as torrential rains also disrupted the power supply, further exacerbating the crisis.

Tragically, the fury of nature claimed seven houses, their structures unable to withstand the force of the inundation.

Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, a member of the provincial assembly, described the situation as one of utter paralysis, with residents left shelterless and helpless amid the chaos.

In response to the crisis, a frantic rescue operation is under way, striving to provide relief to the beleaguered populace and restore a semblance of normalcy to the inundated city.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast torrential rainfall and heavy snowfall in various parts of the country from Feb 29 to March 2.

The PMD has forecast torrential rainfall/heavy snowfall with windstorm/thunderstorms and isolated hailstorm in most parts of the country during the period.

The PMD has warned that heavy rainfall may generate flash floods/heavy snowfall may disrupt daily life in vulnerable areas.

A strong westerly wave was likely to approach western parts on Feb 29 and may grip most parts of the country on March 1 and persist till March 2.

Under the influence of this weather system, widespread heavy rain with windstorm/thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) is expected in Balochistan from Feb 29 to March 1.

Isolated hailstorm is also likely during the period.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, heavy to extremely heavy widespread rain with windstorm/thunderstorm with heavy snowfall over the hills is expected from Feb 29 to March 3. Isolated hailstorm is also likely during the period.

In Gilgit-Baltistan/Kashmir, heavy to extremely heavy widespread rain with windstorm/thunderstorm and snowfall is expected from Feb 29 to March 3. Isolated hailstorm is also likely during the period.

In Punjab/Islamabad, widespread heavy rain with windstorm/thunderstorm is expected on March 1 and 2. Heavy snowfall is also expected in Murree, Galliyat and surrounding areas during the period.

In Sindh, rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad Karachi,

Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Khairpur and Mirpurkhas on Feb 29 and March 1. (With input from app)

SOURCE: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457851/rains-wreak-havoc-in-gwadar
 
BouncerGuy said:
Rains wreak havoc in Gwadar

The coastal city of Gwadar was submerged following heavy rainfall spanning over 16 hours, resulting in a deluge that inundated the streets with an alarming depth of six to seven feet.

The downpour wreaked havoc on the city's infrastructure, disrupting the already strained sewerage system and leaving its inhabitants grappling with the harsh reality of a paralysed existence.

"We demand of the government to ensure the launching of an immediate rescue operation," Senator Khoda Babar of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) said.

Babar said a large number of people were stranded and shelterless in the port city of the country.
The once bustling streets now resemble waterways as boats, intended for leisurely rides, now lie sunken reminders of the city's plight.

Adding to the woes, the city plunged into darkness as torrential rains also disrupted the power supply, further exacerbating the crisis.

Tragically, the fury of nature claimed seven houses, their structures unable to withstand the force of the inundation.

Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, a member of the provincial assembly, described the situation as one of utter paralysis, with residents left shelterless and helpless amid the chaos.

In response to the crisis, a frantic rescue operation is under way, striving to provide relief to the beleaguered populace and restore a semblance of normalcy to the inundated city.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast torrential rainfall and heavy snowfall in various parts of the country from Feb 29 to March 2.

The PMD has forecast torrential rainfall/heavy snowfall with windstorm/thunderstorms and isolated hailstorm in most parts of the country during the period.

The PMD has warned that heavy rainfall may generate flash floods/heavy snowfall may disrupt daily life in vulnerable areas.

A strong westerly wave was likely to approach western parts on Feb 29 and may grip most parts of the country on March 1 and persist till March 2.

Under the influence of this weather system, widespread heavy rain with windstorm/thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) is expected in Balochistan from Feb 29 to March 1.

Isolated hailstorm is also likely during the period.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, heavy to extremely heavy widespread rain with windstorm/thunderstorm with heavy snowfall over the hills is expected from Feb 29 to March 3. Isolated hailstorm is also likely during the period.

In Gilgit-Baltistan/Kashmir, heavy to extremely heavy widespread rain with windstorm/thunderstorm and snowfall is expected from Feb 29 to March 3. Isolated hailstorm is also likely during the period.

In Punjab/Islamabad, widespread heavy rain with windstorm/thunderstorm is expected on March 1 and 2. Heavy snowfall is also expected in Murree, Galliyat and surrounding areas during the period.

In Sindh, rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad Karachi,

Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Khairpur and Mirpurkhas on Feb 29 and March 1. (With input from app)

SOURCE: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457851/rains-wreak-havoc-in-gwadar
Click to expand...
The aftermath of the flash flooding caused due to heavy rains in Gwadar. A newly formed government should be focusing on this issue firsthand. This is getting serious now, People are losing their lives and stuff due to these rains.

View attachment gwader 1.mp4
 
Gwadar declared calamity-hit, emergency imposed after heavy rains wreak havoc

The Balochistan government on Thursday imposed an emergency in Gwadar and declared it calamity-hit after heavy rains wreaked havoc in the city.

Normal life and traffic remain suspended in Gwadar, Makran and northern and central parts of Balochistan as 30-hour-long showers triggered flash floods and submerged most of the areas.

According to officials, Gwadar received around 180 millimetres of rainfall over the past two days, disrupting normal life and rendering hundreds of people homeless. Several dozens of human settlements and commercial establishments collapsed as floodwater entered houses, while roads were badly affected.

“We have lost our precious households in the floodwater and our houses were not in a position to live in,” Hayatullah Baloch, a resident of Gwadar, told Dawn.

In a press release issued today, Balochistan caretaker Minister for Information Jan Achakzai said the provincial government had decided to declare Gwadar calamity-hit and impose an emergency.

He said caretaker Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki had already signed a summary in this regard and a notification would be issued soon. Achakzai highlighted that CM Domki would personally monitor relief activities in all the rain-affected areas.

He further stated that relief and rescue operations were underway in coastal areas affected by heavy rains.

“Teams of the district administration, army, navy, Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Levies and National Disaster Management Authority are working day and night in Gwadar, Ormara, Pasni and other areas,” the minister said, adding that all available resources were being utilised for the drainage of water and well-being of the affected population.

He also expressed concerns regarding significant damage to Gwadar’s fundamental infrastructure due to continuous rains.

“According to the latest information, two out of six disconnected roads from Gwadar city have been restored, and around 300 individuals have been safely relocated,” Achakzai said, adding that nearly 80 boats were also dispatched to the area for evacuation.

“Assessments are being conducted in the area to determine the extent of damage,” he stated, adding that no loss of life had been reported so far.

Separately, CM Domki said that rescue operations were underway in affected areas with the help of the army. In a statement, he noted that an “unusual and disastrous situation” had emerged due to heavy showers.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urged the federal and provincial governments to immediately allocate resources necessary to secure the lives and homes of those affected by “unprecedented rains” in Gwadar.

“The NDMA and PDMA must coordinate effectively and ensure that survivors are provided with food and shelter and clean water as a matter of priority and then helped to rebuild their homes and secure their livelihoods,” it said on X (formerly Twitter).

The HRCP added that the government must invest rapidly in Gwadar’s infrastructure from a pro-poor perspective, including proper drainage systems.

More rains expected

On the other hand, the Balochistan government said schools across the province would remain closed from Feb 29 to March 7 due to heavy rainfall. The Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education also said that Matric Part-I and Part-II exams in Gwadar, scheduled from March 1-4, had been postponed.

In its weather forecast issued today, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority in Balochistan said moderate to heavy rainfall was expected in Kech, Gwadar, Jewani, Ormara, Panjoor, Quetta, Pishin, Chaman, Kila Saifullah, Kila Abdullah, Ziarat, Zhob, Sherani, Awaran, Khuzadar, Harnai and adjoining areas in the next 24 hours.

It advised authorities to remain vigilant during the forecast period.

The PDMA added that moderate to heavy rain was reported in several areas of Balochistan, including Gwadar and Quetta, today.

“Pakistan Army and allied departments are engaged in rescue relief D-watering activities in Gwadar, Jewani and Ormara,” it said, adding that stagnant water was reported in Gwadar and adjoining areas.

Separately, the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned in its forecast that heavy rainfall may cause flash flooding in local nullahs of Gwadar, Ketch, Turbat, Panjgur, Awaran, Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Dalbandin and Khuzdar on Feb 29 and March 1.

SOURCE: DAWN
 
Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf has directed the naval force to take immediate measures for the rehabilitation and provision of relief to the victims of torrential rains, flash floods and land sliding in Gwadar.

He gave these directions while presiding over Command and Staff Conference at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the naval chief appreciated the acquisition of modern weapons and technology to meet the modern maritime security challenges.

He also commended the efforts of the participants of successfully holding Sea Spark exercises.

Regional as well as global maritime challenges were also discussed in the conference.

The naval chief was briefed regarding the ongoing and upcoming projects of Pakistan Navy.

Admiral Ashraf expressed confidence over the operational preparedness of Pakistan Navy for the defence of maritime boundaries of country.

SOURCE: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458110/naval-force-directed-to-provide-relief-in-gwadar
 

An unfortunate incident​

=====

At least 17 killed in K-P as extreme weather ravages Pakistan​

Pakistan is reeling from the devastating impact of persistent heavy rain and snowfall, with at least 17 people reported dead in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa due to incidents of roof collapse and mudslides. The adverse weather conditions have not spared other parts of the country, leading to tragic incidents, road blockades, and disruptions in daily life.

In K-P, Rescue Director General (DG) Peshawar confirmed that five children, a woman, and a man lost their lives, while five others sustained injuries in rain-related incidents in the Khyber district. Incidents of roof collapse were also reported in Peshawar, Lower Dir, and Bajaur, resulting in the unfortunate loss of human lives and livestock.

The Rescue DG expressed deep concern over the untold woes inflicted on the affected people, emphasising the challenges posed by the roof collapse incidents.

Tragedy struck in Lower Dir when a mudslide buried a house, leading to the death of three individuals. Rescue teams swiftly responded, recovering the bodies and transporting the injured to the hospital.

Khyber district experienced a third consecutive day of rain and snowfall, causing low-lying areas to be inundated and residents facing considerable difficulties in daily activities.

The adverse weather conditions are not confined to K-P alone. From Lahore to Balochistan, Karachi, and the northern mountainous areas, the entire country is grappling with the repercussions of unpredictable weather patterns.

In Karachi, authorities declared a 'rain emergency' due to the ongoing unpredictable weather, while Lahore witnessed light rain in various areas, including Gulberg, Lahore Cantonment, and Mall Road. Other cities in Punjab, such as Kasur, Muridke, Phoolnagar, Sharaqpur, and Jhang, reported downpours, resulting in casualties and property damage.

Gwadar, experiencing heavy rain, faced challenges as the drainage system and rescue infrastructure were severely affected, prompting residents to seek safer locations. In Sibbi and nearby areas, heavy rains persisted for 14 hours, leading to rising water levels in rivers and canals. The irrigation department issued a high alert, urging emergency rescue teams to be prepared for any unfortunate situation.

Northern mountainous areas, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), reported intermittent rain and snowfall, raising concerns about highway blockades due to snow and landslides.

Source: The Express Tribune
 

Heavy rains kill 29 in Pakistan as houses collapse, landslides block roads​


At least 29 people have been killed and 50 others injured due to heavy rains that swept Pakistan in the past 48 hours, causing several houses to collapse and landslides to block roads, particularly in the northwest.

At least 23 rain-related deaths were reported in various areas in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan since Thursday night, the provincial disaster management authority said in a statement on Sunday.

Five people died in the southwestern Balochistan province after the coastal town of Gwadar got flooded, forcing authorities to use boats to evacuate some 10,000 people.

Casualties and extensive damage were also reported in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the National Disaster Management Authority said in a separate statement.

Emergency relief was being provided to people in affected areas and heavy machinery was being used to remove debris blocking highways, the agency added.

The country’s Karakoram Highway, which links Pakistan with China, is still blocked in some places due to landslides, according to the spokesperson for the northern Gilgit Baltistan region, Faizullah Faraq.

Authorities advised tourists against travelling to the scenic north due to weather conditions. Last week, several visitors were stranded there because of the heavy rains, which came as Pakistan witnessed severe snowfall.

Pakistan is among the 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change despite the South Asian nation’s almost zero contribution to global carbon emissions, according to the United Nations.


This year, Pakistan is witnessing an unusual delay in winter rains, starting in February instead of November. Monsoon and winter rains cause damage in Pakistan every year.

In 2022, climate-induced unusual monsoon rains and flooding devastated most of the areas in impoverished Pakistan, killing nearly 1,800 people, affecting about 33 million people and displacing nearly eight million.

The rains and floods in 2022 also caused billions of dollars of damage to the country’s economy and some of the areas people who lost their homes are still living in makeshift homes.

www.aljazeera.com

Heavy rains kill 29 in Pakistan as houses collapse, landslides block roads

The majority of deaths reported in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com
 
Pakistan is the most vulnerable to climate change. If swift actions are not taken, it will be a disaster.
 
FearlessRoar said:
Pakistan is the most vulnerable to climate change. If swift actions are not taken, it will be a disaster.
Click to expand...
Dozens of people lost their lives while hundreds were stranded as heavy rain and snowfall have brought life to a standstill in Gilgit-Baltistan, parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Quetta and other parts of Balochistan remained in the grip of freezing weather, with sub-zero temperatures forcing people to remain indoors. Meanwhile, rains continued to lash several areas of KP.

On the other hand, major thoroughfares in KP and GB were blocked at multiple points for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), 22 millimetres of rain was recorded in KP’s Drosh in the last 24 hours, 17 in Upper Dir, 15 in Mirkhani, 12 in Saidu Sharif and six in Malam Jabba and Chitral.

It added that the lowest temperature today was recorded in Kalam, Kalat, Quetta, Malamjabba, Astore, Skardu, Gupis and Mir Khani.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the death toll from torrential rain and snowfall in KP reached 35 today. Besides, 43 people sustained injuries in separate rain-related incidents.

KP PDMA spokesperson Taimor Khan told Dawn.com that 46 houses across the province were completely damaged in rainfall and landslides while over 300 were partially destroyed.

He said relief items had been dispatched to the affected districts on the special directives of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Directives were also issued regarding the clearance of blocked roads, Khan added.

The PDMA official said Charsadda, Lower and Upper Dir, Malakand, Mohmand, Bannu, Khyber, Bajaur, Nowshera, Peshawar, Shangla and Kohistan districts were affected by rainfall.

Separately, electricity remained suspended in several districts for the last four days.

In Balochistan, the intensity of cold increased after light snowfall was recorded on the hilltops in Kalat, Ziarat, Chaman and Quetta, the PDMA said.

The authority said five people, including children, had died in roof collapse incidents since the start of the spell. Meanwhile, 82 houses were fully damaged and over 120 houses suffered partial damage.

The PDMA said relief operations were underway in nine districts of Balochistan including Gwadar, Quetta, Kech, Kharan, Chaman, Kohlu, Kila Saifullah and Kachi and Zhob.

So far, over 900 people across Balochistan have been rescued and moved to safer locations.

Separately, in its weekly weather forecast, the PMD said a westerly wave was expected to enter Balochistan tomorrow. Rain and thunderstorms with snowfall over hills were predicted in northwest/south Balochistan, it stated.

On the other hand, the Karakoram Highway and the Jaglot-Skardu road were blocked at multiple points for the fourth consecutive day today, National Highway Authority Deputy Director Ghulam Abbas said.

He said two huge landslide boulders had blocked the KKH at Upper Kohistan of KP and Tata Pani of GB’s Diamer. Abbas added that the machines from the Bhasha dam site had been called for the clearance of the road.

The NHA official added that passengers had been stopped at safer locations in Bisham, Kohistan and Diamer due to the road blockade, adding that they would be allowed to resume their journeys once the roads were cleared.

Separately, the Bisham-Swat road in Shangla was also blocked at multiple locations due to landslides and snowfall.

www.dawn.com

Dozens killed, hundreds stranded as rain and landslides paralyse parts of country

Death toll from rain-related incidents in KP rises to 35; PMD says westerly wave expected to enter Balochistan tomorrow.
www.dawn.com
 
Cities like Karachi, which often face flooding during rain, what hopes can be pinned on the Pakistani government for the development of rural areas!!!
 
Pakistan: At least 35 die due to surprise snowfall and heavy rains

At least 35 people died while dozens more were injured as freezing rain and unexpected snowfall hit remote areas of Pakistan over the weekend.

Twenty-two children were among the fatalities, many of whom were crushed in landslides that buried their homes, disaster management authorities said.

The extreme weather hit Pakistan's northern and western regions, clogging roads and damaging hundreds of houses.

Experts were surprised by the snow as Pakistan is typically humid in March.

Mushtaq Ali Shah, a former director of the country's meteorological department, attributed the unusual conditions to climate change.

He added that a light hail storm that lasts "for a few moments" would not be as surprising, but it is unusual for that to continue for over 30 minutes.

Hajit Shah, a resident of Kirk district in the north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said that he had experienced snow in his neighbourhood only once before.

"As far as I can remember, there was light snowfall for a few minutes about 25 or 30 years ago," he told the BBC.

The heavy rains completely destroyed at least 150 houses and partially damaged 500 others, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the south-western Balochistan province, authorities said.

Electricity has been completely cut off in some districts for several days.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's provincial government has provided relief supplies to affected areas and announced financial assistance for the injured and the families of those who died.

Pakistan's meteorological department said in its weekly forecast that "mainly cold and dry weather" is expected in most parts of the country for the rest of this week, although some parts of Balochistan and Kashmir should expect to see "snowfall over hills".

BBC
 
Oceans break high-temperature record in warmest February marked globally

Ocean temperatures hit a record high last month, which was also the warmest February on record globally, scientists in the European Union have said.

The average global sea surface temperature stood at 21.06 degrees Celsius (69.91 degrees Fahrenheit) in February, surpassing the previous record of 20.98C (69.77F) set in August 2023, in a dataset that goes back to 1979, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the average air temperature in February was 13.54C (56.4F), 1.77C (3.18F) warmer than the pre-industrial average for the month. It marked the ninth consecutive month that was the warmest on record for the respective month of the year.

Earlier, January had also been recorded as the warmest first month of the year, surpassing the previous warmest January in 2020, as per C3S’s records going back to 1950.

Last month, after scientists warned of the hottest January on record as the world continued a run of exceptional heat fuelled by climate change, C3S Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said, “Rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are the only way to stop global temperatures increasing.”


www.aljazeera.com

Earth smashes global heat records for ninth consecutive month

Marine high occurs during what was also hottest February on record, the ninth straight month with such a milestone.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com
 

Global ocean heat has hit a new record every single day for the last year​

The world’s oceans have now experienced an entire year of unprecedented heat, with a new temperature record broken every day, new data shows.

Global ocean surface temperatures started breaking daily records in mid-March last year, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer, fueling concerns for marine life and extreme weather across the planet.

“The amplitude by which previous sea surface temperature records were beaten in 2023, and now again in 2024, is remarkable,” said Joel Hirschi, associate head of marine systems modeling at the National Oceanography Centre in the UK.

Global average ocean temperatures in 2023 were 0.25 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous year, said Gregory C. Johnson, a NOAA oceanographer. That rise is “is equivalent to about two decades’ worth of warming in a single year,” he told CNN. “So it is quite large, quite significant, and a bit surprising.”

Scientists have said ocean heat is being supercharged by human-caused global warming, boosted by El Niño, a natural climate pattern marked by higher-than-average ocean temperatures.

 
Everyone in every part of the World should make some contribution to tackle this very important issue.
 
Global heat records were "smashed" last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.

The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization issued its annual State of the Climate report, confirming preliminary data indicating that 2023 was by far the hottest year ever recorded.

And it came at the end of "the warmest 10-year period on record", the WMO report said.


NDTV
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Global heat records were "smashed" last year, the UN confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss.

The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization issued its annual State of the Climate report, confirming preliminary data indicating that 2023 was by far the hottest year ever recorded.

And it came at the end of "the warmest 10-year period on record", the WMO report said.


NDTV
Click to expand...

I guess all the worldwide wars are making the situation worse.

"They" talk about climate change on one hand but sell arms to Ukraine/Israel on the other hand (which are used to prolong wars).
 
Human-driven climate change has 'slowed the Earth's rotation' and could affect how we measure time, study suggests

The melting of polar ice due to human-driven climate change has slightly slowed the Earth's rotation - and it could affect how we measure time, according to a study.

Although the disappearance of the ice has reduced the speed of the planet's rotation, the Earth is still spinning a bit faster than it used to.

The overall increase in speed means that for the first time in history, world timekeepers may have to consider subtracting a second from our clocks.

This means clocks may have to skip a second - called a "negative leap second" - around 2029 to keep universal time in sync with the Earth's rotation, according to the study published in the Nature journal.

If it wasn't for the impact of melting ice, the time change would have been needed three years earlier in 2026.

In recent decades, the Earth has rotated faster due to changes in its core but the melting ice has counteracted this burst of speed.


news.sky.com

Human-driven climate change has 'slowed the Earth's rotation' and could affect how we measure time, study suggests

The melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica is said to have slowed the rotation of the Earth because it has changed where the planet's mass is concentrated.
news.sky.com news.sky.com
 

Torrential Rains, Landslides Kill At Least 7 In Pakistan​


Four children under the age of 10 were among the dead in Pakistan due to bad weather.

Heavy rains and landslides have killed at least seven people and injured nine others in Pakistan’s northwestern Kyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, rescue officials said on March 30. Most casualties were caused by collapsing roofs and landslides, Khateer Ahmed, the head of the regional rescue service, told RFE/RL, adding that there were four children under the age of 10 among the dead. The incidents took place in the Peshawar, Nowshera, Shangla, Bannu and Bajaur districts, officials said. Crops and houses in several areas across the province were partially destroyed.

www.rferl.org

Torrential Rains, Landslides Kill At Least 7 In Pakistan

Heavy rains and landslides have killed at least seven people and injured nine others in Pakistan’s northwestern Kyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, rescue officials said on March 30.
www.rferl.org www.rferl.org
 

Zimbabwe's President Mnangagwa declares national disaster over drought​


Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a national disaster to tackle the prolonged drought crisis.

Mr Mnangagwa said on Wednesday the country needs $2bn (£1.6bn) to tackle hunger caused by low rainfall which has wiped out about half of the maize crop.

The grain shortage has pushed up food prices and an estimated 2.7 million people will face hunger.

Neighbouring Zambia and Malawi have also declared states of disasters due to drought recently.

The drought is a result of the El Nino global weather pattern and has triggered a humanitarian crisis in southern Africa.

Zimbabwe now joins the regional scramble to find enough maize on the international market.

Authorities say that the number of people needing food aid will be higher than the initial projection.

www.bbc.com

Zimbabwe's President Mnangagwa declares national disaster over drought

About 3 million people are facing hunger as the drought wipes out crops across the country.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
India Heatwave: Bihar records maximum temperature of 42.2°C

Bihar endured blistering heat on Thursday, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in nine districts, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Buxar district recorded the highest temperature at 42.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Sheikhpura at 42.1, Aurangabad at 41.5, Banka at 41, Khagaria at 40.8, Gopalganj at 40.6, and both Bhojpur and Siwan at 40.4, with Nawada not far behind at 40.3 degrees Celsius.

TOI
 
South Asia is the most vulnerable region to climate change, and now it's becoming increasingly evident.
 

Climate policy key to mitigating health risks for vulnerable​

Experts have highlighted the profound challenges faced by vulnerable communities in the wake of climate change-induced natural disasters, suggesting comprehensive policies to mitigate the impact, especially on women and the poor.

Communities, particularly those already marginalised, are bearing the brunt of events such as droughts and floods, exacerbating health risks like undernutrition and malaria.

Talking to APP on Sunday, experts emphasised the intricate relationship between human health and environmental hazards, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address these issues.

For many impoverished populations, adapting to climate change is not a choice but a bitter reality.

Research indicates that the poor, especially in developing nations, are disproportionately affected by climate variability and change.

Experts in various findings have examined the myriad ways in which climate change adaptation policies and strategies are developed, and they systematically discuss the factors which either facilitate or hamper the involvement of all stakeholders in the development of these intervention measures.

Our findings indicate that women seem to be the group of people who are mostly unaware of community initiatives, policies, and strategies for adaptation to climate change.

Various studies recommend that to achieve successful public participation in climate change adaptation policy development, there must be an all-inclusive system which incorporates all stakeholders, including vulnerable groups.

Source: The Express Tribune
 

Just 57 companies linked to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions since 2016​

A mere 57 oil, gas, coal and cement producers are directly linked to 80% of the world’s global fossil CO2 emissions since the 2016 Paris climate agreement, a study has shown.

This powerful cohort of state-controlled corporations and shareholder-owned multinationals are the leading drivers of the climate crisis, according to the Carbon Majors Database, which is compiled by world-renowned researchers.

Although governments pledged in Paris to cut greenhouse gases, the analysis reveals that most mega-producers increased their output of fossil fuels and related emissions in the seven years after that climate agreement, compared with the seven years before.

In the database of 122 of the world’s biggest historical climate polluters, the researchers found that 65% of state entities and 55% of private-sector companies had scaled up production.

During this period, the biggest investor-owned contributor to emissions was ExxonMobil of the United States, which was linked to 3.6 gigatonnes of CO2 over seven years, or 1.4% of the global total. Close behind were Shell, BP, Chevron and TotalEnergies, each of which was associated with at least 1% of global emissions.

The most striking trend, however, was the surging growth of emissions related to state and state-owned producers, particularly in the Asian coal sector.

This expansion, which has continued since, runs contrary to a stark warning by the International Energy Agency that no new oil and gas fields can be opened if the world is to stay within safe limits of global heating. Climate scientists say global temperatures are rapidly approaching the lower Paris target of 1.5C above the pre-industrial era, with potentially dire consequences for people and the rest of nature.

“It is morally reprehensible for companies to continue expanding exploration and production of carbon fuels in the face of knowledge now for decades that their products are harmful,” said Richard Heede, who established the Carbon Majors dataset in 2013. “Don’t blame consumers who have been forced to be reliant on oil and gas due to government capture by oil and gas companies.”

www.theguardian.com

Just 57 companies linked to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions since 2016

Analysis reveals many big producers increased output of fossil fuels and related emissions in seven years after Paris climate deal
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
Climate change: 'Uncharted territory' fears after record hot March

Climate change could move "into uncharted territory" if temperatures don't fall by the end of the year, a leading scientist has told the BBC.

The warning came as data showed last month was the world's warmest March on record, extending the run of monthly temperature records to 10 in a row.

It's fuelled concerns among some that the world could be tipping into a new phase of even faster climate change.

A weather system called El Niño is behind some of the recent heat.

Temperatures should temporarily come down after El Niño peters out in coming months, but some scientists are worried they might not.

"By the end of the summer, if we're still looking at record breaking temperatures in the North Atlantic or elsewhere, then we really have kind of moved into uncharted territory," Gavin Schmidt, the director of Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, told BBC News.

March 2024 was 1.68C warmer than "pre-industrial" times - before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels - according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.

For now, longer term warming trends are still pretty much consistent with expectations, and most researchers don't yet believe that the climate has entered a new phase.

But scientists are struggling to explain exactly why the end of 2023 was so warm.

The March record was expected. El Niño, which began last June and peaked in December, has been adding heat to the warmth put into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels, the main driver of high temperatures.

But temperatures began breaking records by a particularly large margin around last September, and back then, El Niño was still developing, so can't explain all of the extra warmth.

'Harder to predict the future'

Dr Schmidt is concerned about what this means for predictions going forward.

"Our predictions failed quite dramatically for the specifics of 2023, and if previous statistics don't work, then it becomes much harder to say what's going to happen in the future," he said.

"We're still trying to understand why the situation changed so dramatically in the middle of last year, and how long this situation will continue, whether it is a phase shift or whether it's a blip in long-term climate trends," agrees Dr Samantha Burgess from Copernicus.

The current El Niño is now waning, and will likely end in the next couple of months.

While scientists aren't sure exactly how conditions in the Pacific will evolve, current predictions suggest it could be replaced by a full La Niña cool phase later this year.

That cooling of the sea surface would normally see a temporary drop in global air temperatures, but it remains to be seen exactly how this will evolve.

"We're definitely seeing a weakening of El Niño, but the question is, where will we end up?" says Michelle L'Heureux, a scientist with the NOAA climate prediction centre.

But scientists are certain about one thing: the way to stop the world warming is to rapidly cut emissions of planet-warming gases.

"We have this window in the coming years to try and mitigate the impacts of climate change, by cutting emissions," says Dr Angélique Melet from Mercator Ocean International.

"I do understand the challenges but it's also true that if we don't act, we are committing ourselves towards a future where 2023 will be the new normal."

"How fast will that happen? It depends on us."

BBC
 

European court rules human rights violated by climate inaction​

A group of older Swiss women have won the first ever climate case victory in the European Court of Human Rights.

The women, mostly in their 70s, said that their age and gender made them particularly vulnerable to the effects of heatwaves linked to climate change.

The court said Switzerland's efforts to meet its emission reduction targets had been woefully inadequate.

It is the first time the powerful court has ruled on global warming.

Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg joined activists celebrating at the court in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

"We still can't really believe it. We keep asking our lawyers, 'is that right?' Rosemarie Wydler-Walti, one of the leaders of the Swiss women, told Reuters news agency. "And they tell us it's the most you could have had. The biggest victory possible."

"This is only the beginning of climate litigation," said Ms Thunberg. "This means that we have to fight even more, since this is only the beginning. Because in a climate emergency, everything is at stake."

The ruling is binding and can trickle down to influence the law in 46 countries in Europe including the UK.

The Court ruled that Switzerland had "failed to comply with its duties under the Convention concerning climate change" and that it had violated the right to respect for private and family life.

It also found that "there had been critical gaps" in the country's policies to tackle climate change including failing to quantify reductions in greenhouse gases - those gases that warm Earth's atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas.

The Swiss women, called KlimaSeniorinnen or Senior Women for Climate Protection, argued that they cannot leave their homes and suffer health attacks during heatwaves in Switzerland.

On Tuesday data showed that last month was the world's warmest March on record, meaning the temperature records have broken ten months in a row.

More than 2,000 women are in the KlimaSeniorinnen group. They launched the case nine years ago, calling for better protection of women's health in relation to climate change.

Swiss President Viola Amherd told a news conference that she needed to read the judgement in detail before commenting, according to Reuters news agency.

She said: "Sustainability is very important to Switzerland, biodiversity is very important to Switzerland, the net zero target is very important to Switzerland."

The court dismissed two other cases brought by six Portuguese young people and a former French mayor. Both argued that European governments had failed to tackle climate change quickly enough, violating their rights.

www.bbc.com

European court rules human rights violated by climate inaction

"We are not made to sit in a rocking chair and knit," said one of the older Swiss women who won.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Two children were killed while another was injured on Friday as heavy rainfall was predicted in Balochistan.

According to state-run Radio Pakistan, the Met Department stated that apart from Quetta, areas including Pishin, Muslim Bagh, and Ziarat were expected to witness showers, while heavy rainfall was predicted in Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Musa Khel, Kohlu, Sibi, and Jhal Magsi.

Thunderstorms accompanied by heavy showers were also predicted in Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Loralai, and Kalat. Moreover, rainfall was also expected in Turbat, Harnai, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Chagi, Panjgur, Gwadar and Kech.

Today, low-lying areas in Quetta were flooded after heavy rainfall. A dust storm also battered Kalat, hampering visibility in the area.

An update shared by Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Jahanzeb Khan said that two children had died in a lightning strike in Sorab district.

He said that the weather had remained dry/sunny in most parts of the province, while rainfall occurred in Chaman, Chagi, Noshki, Surab, Khuzdar, Quetta and surrounding areas.

He said that the PDMA was in contact with its district-level counterparts and other allied departments to monitor the weather situation.

PDMA urges citizens to exercise caution
In a statement, the PDMA said that the Met department had predicted rainfall in the province. It said that westerly winds would cause rainfall in most districts from today till April 14 (Sunday).

As a result, rain was expected in Jiwani, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Lasbela, Hub, Kech, Panjgur, Turbat, Awaran, Kalat, Sorab, Chagi, Noshki, Mastung, Quetta, Chaman, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Barkhan, Duki, Loralai, Harnai, Zhob, Sherani, Sibi and Musa Khel districts.

Source: Dawn News
 
Lightning strikes killed 15 people in Punjab and Balochistan on Saturday amid heavy rainfall and downpours, according to weather updates from their respective Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

Thirteen people were killed in Punjab while the death toll in Balochistan rose to five with two more deaths. One man and two children were killed in lightning strikes a day ago as rainfall lashed parts of Balochistan.

A statement from the Punjab PDMA spokesperson said Director General Irfan Ali Kathia contacted the deputy commissioners of the affected districts and gave guidelines to give the best medical care to the injured while financial assistance would be provided to the families of the deceased.

“Combating natural calamities is only possible with joint and mutual cooperation,” DG Kathia was quoted as saying in the statement, adding that all organisations and departments were on alert and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had given clear instructions that negligence or irresponsibility would not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Provincial Emergency Operations Centre In-charge Younus Mengal told Dawn.com that two more deaths due to lightning were reported in Dera Bugti today while another person was injured in the Surab area of Kalat district.

A PDMA update said 10 to 15 houses were partially damaged due to flooding from torrential rails in the Hamidabad area of Pishin, adding that the affected people were evacuated and moved to safer places.

Two rescue teams along with machinery were engaged in rescue activities to tackle the flood situation in Pishin, it said.

Source: Dawn News
 
Pakistan: Lightning and unusually heavy rain kill dozens

At least 39 people have been killed in Pakistan after days of unusually heavy rains battered the country's southwest.

Some of those killed were farmers struck by lightning while harvesting wheat, authorities said.

Images online show swathes of farmland engulfed by rainwater. Flash floods have also disrupted power supplies and transportation networks.

Pakistan has experienced an increase in extreme weather events, as it grapples with the impacts of climate change.

In 2022, a third of the country was completely submerged by unprecedented flooding, killing more than 1,700 people and injuring thousands. Millions were left homeless and lacked clean drinking water for months after.

Some of the areas affected by the 2022 floods, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, are being impacted again by the recent storms.

With more rain expected in the coming days, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority has also warned of landslides and flash floods.

Pakistan's most populated province Punjab has suffered the highest death toll so far, with 21 people killed by lightning between Friday and Sunday, AFP news agency reported.

At least eight were killed in the westernmost Balochistan province according to AFP, where authorities have declared a state of emergency. Schools in the province were ordered to shut on Monday and Tuesday.

Extensive areas of Pasni, a Baloch coastal town, have been covered by rainwater.

"Pasni looks like a big lake at the moment as flash floods entered the human settlements and main commercial areas," Noor Ahmed Kalmati, chairman of the town's municipal committee, told Pakistan newspaper Dawn.

Heavy flooding has also been reported in neighbouring Afghanistan. At least 33 people have been killed and hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed, Afghan authorities said on Sunday.

Scientists have said that global warming is likely to have played a role in the devastating floods that hit Pakistan in 2022. Pakistan is also ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the UN's Global Climate Risk Index.

BBC
 
Today temperature in Mumbai/Thane is extremely hot, around 39-41 degree, walking on road is like walking on furnace
 
15 killed in Chaman, AJK as rain continues to wreak havoc

Seven more people have been killed in accidents in Balochistan as heavy rains continue to inflict damages across the province.

So far, 17 people have died and 15 injured due to roof collapses, lightning strikes and other mishaps since heavy rain and thunderstorms started last week.

Separately, eight people were killed in two accidents as rainfall continued in several areas of Azad Kashmir.

The seven new deaths in Balochistan were reported from the border town of Chaman on Thursday.

According to Chaman Deputy Commissioner Athar Abbas Raja, the victims, including four women and two children, were travelling in a car which was swept away by a flash flood.

A large number of mud houses have also been swept away by flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall on surrounding mountains, Mr Abbas told Dawn over the phone.

He said gushing water has also badly damaged roads, cutting Chaman off from other areas of Balochistan and suspending transit trade with Afghanistan.

A railway track was also affected, suspending the train service between Quetta and Chaman. Damage to another track at the Spintangi area in the Sibi-Harnai section has also suspended rail service between Sibi and Harnai.

The northeastern district of Harnai, which has been receiving heavy rain with thunderstorms for the last many days, has been cut off from Quetta and other areas as link roads were washed away by flash floods.

The link of Makran division with Karachi was also cut off after a bridge on the coastal highway between Ormara and Basool collapsed.

A small dam in Chaman burst as it received excessive rainwater during a downpour which started early Thursday morning and lasted for several hours.

Officials said that Pado Dam on the outskirts of border town was washed away, causing massive destruction in old and new Chaman.

The water entered human settlements and damaged houses, forcing the residents to flee to take refuge at safer places.

Flash floods also swept away eight cars parked in a showroom at Chaman Bypass, a senior official of Levies force said.

He added that life had been virtually suspended in Chaman as all roads were inundated due to urban flooding.

Roghani Road, Killi Roozudin, Killi Salehzai and other areas were badly affected with dozens of houses damaged.

Officials said personnel of Frontier Corps, Levies and local administration had launched rescue operations in the affected areas and were shifting stranded families.

Similar destruction of houses and roads was also reported in other areas as heavy rains continued in Ormara, Pasni, Jewani, Ziarat, Loralai, Musakhail, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Sibi, Bolan, Noshki, Dalbandin, Washuk, Panjgur and areas bordering Iran and Afghanistan.

Eight killed in accidents

At least seven people were killed and 14 injured when a careened off a slippery road near Moiyan Khakheyan in AJK during heavy rain on Thursday, police and rescuers said.

The coach was travelling to the mountainous Kai Manja village from Garhi Dupatta when it met with the accident around 6pm, some nine kilometres away from its last destination, according to Muzaffarabad SSP Yaseen Baig.

The vehicle was overloaded when it veered off the narrow and slippery road amid downpour, the SSP said, adding that the vehicle fell hundreds of feet down into a ravine.

Four of the passengers died on the spot, while the rest were critically injured and moved to a hospital.

Two more victims succumbed to their wounds during the treatment, SSP Baig said, adding that two of the injured were still in critical condition.

One of the victims was living in a shack which the bus hit while plunging down, a rescuer told Dawn.

He said tiny hut was completely destroyed, leaving one of its occupants dead and others injured.

In a separate accident, a landslide along the Muzaffarabad-Mansehra road claimed one life on Thursday, triggering protest from drivers and locals for the construction of a tunnel.

Saddar Police SHO Manzar Chughtai told Dawn that a mini-truck, loaded with vegetables, fell off the road after being caught in the landslide at around 1:30am.

The truck driver, Mohammad Raqeeb, 32, died on the spot.

SOURCE: DAWN
 
Rain-related incident kills 20 individuals in AJK

At least 20 people have lost their lives and 34 others sustained injuries in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a notification of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) issued on Saturday, 20 people-13 men, five women, and two children were killed in Muzaffarabad Division in land sliding incidents and some 34 got injuries.

According to details, some 20 houses were completely destroyed and 79 houses were partially damaged due to landsliding whereas, three shops, one school, one wooden bridge, and two cattle enclosures got damaged.

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE
 
Asia hit hardest by climate, weather disasters in 2023: UN

Global temperatures hit record highs last year, and the UN’s weather and climate agency said Asia was warming at a particularly rapid pace.

The World Meteorological Organisation said the impact of heatwaves in Asia was becoming more severe, with melting glaciers threatening the region’s future water security.

The WMO said Asia was warming faster than the global average, with temperatures last year nearly two degrees Celsius above the 1961 to 1990 average.

“The report’s conclusions are sobering,” WMO chief Celeste Saulo said in a statement.

“Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms.

“Climate change exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events, profoundly impacting societies, economies, and, most importantly, human lives and the environment that we live in.”

The State of the Climate in Asia 2023 report highlighted the accelerating rate of key climate change indicators such as surface temperature, glacier retreat and sea level rise, saying they would have serious repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems in the region.

“Asia remained the world’s most disaster-hit region from weather, climate and water-related hazards in 2023,” the WMO said.

Heat, melting and floods

The annual mean near-surface temperature over Asia in 2023 was the second highest on record, at 0.91°C above the 1991-2020 average, and 1.87°C above the 1961-1990 average.

Particularly high average temperatures were recorded from western Siberia to central Asia, and from eastern China to Japan, the report said, with Japan having its hottest summer on record.

As for precipitation, it was below normal in the Himalayas and in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, southwest China suffered from a drought, with below-normal precipitation levels in nearly every month of the year. The High-Mountain Asia region, centred on the Tibetan Plateau, contains the largest volume of ice outside of the polar regions.

Source: Dawn News
 
A Bangladeshi court ordered on Monday a nationwide shutdown of schools due to an ongoing heatwave, a day after they were reopened by the government.

"The High Court bench of Justice Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat passed a suo moto order closing all primary and secondary schools and madrasas until Thursday due to the heatwave," deputy attorney general Sheikh Saifuzzaman told AFP.


Barron's
 
Fatalities surge in K-P amid rain fury

At least ten people have lost their lives as heavy rains continue to lash large swathes of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, bringing life to a standstill and rendering Karakoram Highway and other thoroughfares impassable due to landslides and flashfloods.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had issued a nationwide alert on Friday, cautioning against severe weather conditions expected to persist until April 29 (Monday).

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, ten people were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in different incidents of roof collapses caused by recent heavy rainfall in the province.

According to a report issued by the PDMA on Monday, several roads were damaged in Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Mansehra and Upper Kohistan due to landslides and floods caused by heavy downpours in the province.

According to the report, 100 heads of cattle perished. At least 42 houses, four schools and six other buildings were also damaged in various incidents reported from Bajaur, Battagram, Mansehra, Buner, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Lower Chitral, Malakand, Mohmand, Nowshera, Orakzai, Shangla, Swat, Dir Upper and Lower due to widespread rainfall.

It said that Shishiko-Madaklasht road, Chitral-Garamchashma road, Ayun-Bumborate Bobash road were blocked in Lower Chitral while Chukyatan-Sheringal road, Shalgah-Bedami road, Thall Jandrai road, Bandai to Buchail road and Sheringal-Douangdara road were affected in Upper Dir.

Similarly, the link road to Bhandhian was washed away by heavy rainwater in Mansehra and KKH was blocked on both ways at RD-311 near Bodha bridge in Upper Kohistan.

The rains come at a time when crops are ready to be harvested, especially the wheat crop. Prolonged spells of rain have already delayed wheat harvest. Farmers have complained about an unprecedented rise in the cost of harvest, saying it has doubled compared to last year due to an increase in fuel prices.

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE
 
UN experts have written to oil firm Saudi Aramco and its financial backers challenging them on allegations that their activities are fuelling climate change-related negative impacts on human rights.

A cache of correspondence was published on Saturday on a United Nations human rights special procedures website, exactly two months after it was sent.

The letters said UN experts had received information “concerning Saudi Aramco’s business activities … which are adversely impacting the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change”.

The allegations accused Aramco of “maintained crude oil production, exploration for further oil and gas reserves, expansion into fossil fuel gas, and misrepresentation of information”, the letters said.

“Such activities have negative impacts on the enjoyment of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment,” they said.

The letters to Aramco and its backers were sent by a number of experts including the UN working group on human rights and transnational corporations, as well as UN special rapporteurs dealing with rights and climate change; a clean and sustainable environment; management of hazardous substances; and on safe drinking water and sanitation.

The UN experts also alleged Aramco’s activities appeared to be “contrary to the goals, obligations and commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change”, which was signed in 2015 and set the ambitious target of limiting the world to a temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

‘Largest emitter’ claim
The UN experts claimed these activities were funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as well as 11 major international banks, investment banks and firms, which also received similar letters.

The letters asserted that fossil fuels account for more than 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and cited reports claiming that over half of such emissions could be traced to 25 fossil fuel business enterprises, “with Saudi Aramco ranking as the largest greenhouse gas emitter”.

“Therefore, through its historic emissions, it is alleged that Saudi Aramco has already significantly contributed to adverse climate change-related human rights impacts.

“The company’s current exploitation of fossil fuels and proposed business plans will continue to cause adverse climate change-related human rights impacts.” UN experts are unpaid independent figures who do not speak for the UN but are mandated to report their findings to it.

‘Significantly worsened’ impacts
Aramco’s “refusal to reduce its production of oil and gas — and continued exploration for more oil and gas — contributes to the risk of overshoot of the 1.5C carbon budget, with resultant significantly worsened climate change-related human rights impacts”.

The letter asked for Aramco’s observations on 10 points, within 60 days, after which the letter and any response received would be made public.

No such reply from Aramco was on the UN human rights special procedures website early on Sunday.

The largely state-owned Aramco is undertaking investments to ramp up national production capacity to 13 million barrels per day by 2027.

Aramco reported record profits totalling $161.1 billion last year.

Aramco is the main source of revenue for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s sweeping economic and social reform programme known as Vision 2030, which aims to shift the economy away from fossil fuels.

Source: Dawn News
 
I have a hunch the gcc and iran are to blame for cloud seeding

Because in winter you get western front which then reaches afghanistan , pakistan, Northern India, kashmir , tibet and you have a lot of snowfall.

But since these countries are now cloud seeding those winter snows are not reaching the northern parts of subcontinent.

So its messed the weather patterns and you are getting later rainfall and rainfall during wheat harvest in April may which is destroying crops and getting flooding in balochistan since the weather is warmer in April may compared to may so instead of snow it's dropping much later as rain.

I could be wrong but weather manipulation needs to be looked into because it could become a form of future warfare.
 
Gilgit-Baltistan cut off as rains trigger landslides

A fresh rain and snowfall spell brought life in Gilgit-Baltistan to a standstill, leaving thousands of people stranded on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) after it was blocked at various points due to landslides triggered by the deluge.

According to rescue officials, intermittent rain continued across GB and adjoining areas on Tuesday, with KKH blocked at two locations in Basari and Lotter in Kohistan due to landslides. The Gilgit-Nagar section of the Karakoram Highway was also blocked along with blockades in Gandlo Nullah and Tatapani (Chilas). The Baltistan Road was also blocked at two points in Roundu, Skardu, due to mudslides.

The Chilas section, however, was opened to traffic by the time this report went to press.

Some parts of the region, including areas in the Gilgit city, also faced communication outages due to untimely snowfall received in the upper areas of Astore, Skardu, Hunza, Nagar, Ghanche, Kharmang, Shigar, and Ghizer. Likewise, the flight link of the GB region remained suspended due to bad weather conditions. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the first regular international flight from Skardu to Dubai scheduled to start on Monday was cancelled due to weather.

AFP adds: At least 143 people died in Pakistan from lightning strikes and other storm-related incidents in April, with the country receiving more than twice as much rain as usual for the month, AFP said citing unnamed officials.

Pakistan saw a rainfall “increase of 164 per cent above the normal levels in April, which is very unusual”, said Zaheer Ahmad Babar, spokesperson for the Pakistan Meteorological Department. The largest death toll for April was in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 83 people died, including 38 children, and where more than 3,500 homes have been damaged.

Environmental expert Maryam Shabbir Abbasi told AFP that overall weather patterns had shifted by “about a month and a half, and we should shift our calendars for the agriculture sector accordingly to avoid damages caused by unprecedented rainfall”.

Officials earlier this month said several people, including farmers harvesting wheat, were killed by lightning in Punjab, and that a total of 21 people were killed in different rain-related incidents.

Another 21 deaths were reported in Balochistan in April, including seven people who were struck by lightning, with rain disrupting life in some districts and causing school closures. In parts of Azad Kashmir, 14 people were killed, and at least four were killed in road accidents linked to floods in Sindh.

SOURCE: DAWN
 

Warmest April for Eastern India Since 1901; Searing Heat Waves to Impact Northern States This May: IMD​


Hit by two prolonged spells of severe heat waves, east and northeast India witnessed its warmest April since 1901 with average monthly temperatures nearly 2 degrees Celsius above normal. The intense conditions scorched Odisha for 18 days and unleashed unbearable heat over West Bengal for 14 days, which was also the highest for the state in the last 15 years.

“The temperatures were quite high this month, settling around 44℃ to 45℃ for days over the eastern states. Even the mean night temperatures were the highest for eastern India since 1901 – 1.7℃ warmer than normal, which worsens the heat stress,” said Dr M Mohapatra, director-general of meteorology, on Wednesday.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, from April 19 to June 1, are taking place amid intense heat. The deadly heat waves swept Rayalaseema, Jharkhand, North Interior Karnataka for nearly 10 days, followed by South Interior Karnataka (8), Tamil Nadu (7), Konkan and Goa (6), Bihar (6), Kerala (5), Saurashtra (4), Telangana (4) and Chhattisgarh (2).

According to the weather department, the mercury rose largely due to the absence of rains over the region. The rainfall was deficient by 20 per cent in April over the country.

“There is a lot of thunderstorm activity around this time, which brings down temperatures significantly during the evenings. However, we did not see much activity in these regions. Another reason was that an anticyclone persisted on most days over Andhra Pradesh along the eastern coast. This weather system cut off the cooler sea breeze over Odisha, West Bengal, and strengthened the land breeze that is drier and warmer,” said the IMD chief.

The humidity levels also surged past normal levels, compelling the MeT to issue hot and humid warnings for Kerala, Konkan and Goa, including Mumbai. Scientists have also observed a warming trend, especially over the southern states with temperatures rising over a long term.

The record-breaking summer is now set to hit its peak in May, and the severe heat conditions are expected to sweep major parts of the country. Northwest India, which escaped the heatwave impact in April, can brace for searing heat conditions. According to the IMD, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh could experience at least five to seven heatwave days this May. This is also the period when polling begins in these states.

www.news18.com

Warmest April for Eastern India Since 1901; Searing Heat Waves to Impact Northern States This May: IMD - News18

Warmest April eastern India since 1901 searing heat waves impact northern states this May IMD; forecast suggests intense heat conditions likely to expand across northwest India this May at least 5 to 7 days heat waves expected in Punjab Haryana Delhi adjoining regions; latest news on news18.com
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Landslides and massive flooding kill 60 in Brazil

Massive flooding and landslides triggered by days of heavy rain in Brazil's southernmost state have killed 56 people.

Officials say another 67 people are missing in Rio Grande do Sul.

Nearly 25,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes since the storms began last Saturday.

At least half a million were without power and clean water, with further rainfall expected.

The extreme weather has been caused by a rare combination of hotter than average temperatures, high humidity and strong winds.

More than half of the 497 cities in the state have been affected by the storms, with roads and bridges destroyed in several areas.

The storms also caused landslides and the collapse of a hydroelectric dam near the city of Bento Gonçalves, killing 30 people.

A second dam in the area was also at risk of collapsing due to rising water levels, authorities said.

In Porto Alegre, the regional capital, the Guaiba river broke its banks, flooding streets and submerging some neighbourhoods.

Porto Alegre's international airport has suspended all flights for an "undetermined" period.

One resident said the damage was "heart breaking".

"I live in this area, so I feel sorry for everyone who lives here. It's very sad, and it's regrettable that all this is happening," Maria Luiza told the BBC.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has visited the region, promising help from the central government.

Meteorologists have predicted further rains to fall in the region as a cold front moves across it.

Last year, more than 30 people were killed in a cyclone in Rio Grande do Sul.

Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology attributed the increased intensity and frequency of rainfall to the climate phenomenon El Niño.

BBC
 
Call for strategies to avert risks of climate change

Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan, Jakob Linulf, said climate change is casting adverse impacts on the globe and it is equally important for Pakistan and Denmark to develop strategies for averting its risks to humanity and biodiversity.

He was speaking at a workshop organised for journalists on Climate-Smart Reporting: Carbon Market and Equitable Development organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) the other day.

“Denmark has faced a lot of challenges in the way and that’s why it wants to share its lessons learnt with Pakistan so that it does not repeat the same mistakes,” said the envoy.

The ambassador spoke at the event as a representative of a green-transitioned country since, as he too pointed out, Denmark has already completed its green transition and transformed its energy sector from a fossil fuel-dependent energy mix to a greener one that is based on solar, wind, and biomass.

Linulf said that carbon markets are a new opportunity for Pakistan to improve its economic situation and reduce carbon emissions for green development through sustainable and environment friendly practices.

The Danish ambassador highlighted that the Embassy was collaborating with the SDPI for experience and knowledge sharing. He noted that Danish companies which had adequate technologies to address the impact of climate change can collaborate with their Pakistani counterparts.

“Pakistan is facing double crises; economic crisis coupled with climate change as the 2022 floods inundated 1/3 of the country leaving millions of millions displaced and billions of dollars’ worth livestock, infrastructure and ready to harvest crops washed away,” he said.

He highlighted that the carbon market can be an important tool in developing efficient tools to benefit from latest mechanisms to cut carbon emission and address climate change.

He further said that business leaders can take the lead in influencing green transition, especially in the sectors of steel, fertiliser and cement, where carbon adjustment can be a useful method along with fuel adjustment and waste management.

SDPI, Senior Economist and Energy Expert, Dr Khalid Waleed, briefed the participants on the concept of carbon markets and its link to economy and the role of media in creating awareness on the matter to circumvent serious impacts of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on the exports of the country in the future.

SDPI Executive Director, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, said that the aim of the workshop was to address knowledge gaps, leverage international practices and find a way forward in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. “Journalists can shape public opinion and guide policymakers on adopting efficient carbon markets, whereas the think-tank and media both can benefit from each other's experiences to reduce carbon emissions.”

“It is important to highlight the urgency of climate change and the critical nature of the transformative power of carbon markets as South Asia currently suffers from many environmental crises,” said Dr Suleri.


Tribune
 
World's record-breaking temperature streak extends through April

The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.

Each month since June 2023 has ranked as the planet's hottest on record, compared with the corresponding month in previous years, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said in a monthly bulletin.

Including April, the world's average temperature was the highest on record for a 12-month period - 1.61 degrees Celsius above the average in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period.

Some of the extremes - including months of record breaking sea surface temperatures - have led scientists to investigate whether human activity has now triggered a tipping point in the climate system.

"I think many scientists have asked the question whether there could be a shift in the climate system," said Julien Nicolas, C3S Senior Climate Scientist.

Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are the main cause of climate change. In recent months, the natural El Nino phenomenon, which warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, has also raised temperatures.

Scientists have already confirmed that climate change caused some specific weather extremes in April, including a heatwave, opens new tab in the Sahel linked to potentially thousands of deaths.

Hayley Fowler, a climate scientist at Newcastle University, said the data showed the world is perilously close to breaching the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.

"At what point do we declare we've lost the battle to keep temperatures below 1.5? My personal opinion is we've already lost that battle, and we really need to think very seriously about keeping below 2C and reducing our emissions as fast as we can," she said.

Countries agreed the 1.5C goal at a U.N. climate summit in 2015. It is the level scientists say would avoid the most disastrous consequences of warming, like fatal heat, flooding and the irreversible loss of ecosystems.

Technically, the 1.5C target has not yet been missed, as it refers to an average global temperature over decades. But some scientists have said the goal can no longer realistically be met, and have urged governments to cut CO2 emissions faster to limit overshoot of the target.

C3S' dataset goes back to 1940, which the scientists cross-checked with other data to confirm that last month was the hottest April since the pre-industrial period.

REUTERS
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Venezuela may be the first nation in modern history to lose all its glaciers after climate scientists downgraded its last one to an ice field.

The International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI), a scientific advocacy organisation, said on X that the South American nation's only remaining glacier - the Humboldt, or La Corona, in the Andes - had become "too small to be classed as a glacier".

Venezuela has lost at least six other glaciers in the last century.

With global average temperatures rising due to climate change, ice loss is increasing, helping to raise sea levels around the world.


BBC
 
‘Plastic denting Pakistan’s climate efforts’

As Pakistan grapples to combat climate change, experts are sounding alarms about the significant hurdle posed by plastic pollution, which threatens to overshadow the nation's efforts to safeguard its ecosystems and address environmental degradation.

Despite advancements in environmental policy and activism, the pervasive presence of plastic pollution remains a pressing concern, hindering Pakistan's sustainability goals.

Renowned environmentalist Dr Ejaz Ahmed, a former Director at WWF-Pakistan, emphasised the urgent need for action to tackle plastic pollution's detrimental effects. He highlighted how plastic pollution, from clogging waterways to disrupting ecosystems, casts a shadow over Pakistan's sustainability aspirations.

Dr Ejaz Ahmed also discussed the potential of recycling initiatives and scientific advancements in turning plastic waste into valuable resources, such as co-processing fuel in cement production and creating construction materials.

The adverse impacts of plastic on human life and health were also underscored by the expert, who pointed out the manifold repercussions, including endangering aquatic life, clogging drainage systems, and contributing to health issues. Despite awareness campaigns and regulatory efforts, plastic continues to pervade daily life, from household items to food packaging, posing a persistent challenge.

Plastic pollution's omnipresent and insidious nature has wreaked havoc across ecosystems, presenting a daunting challenge to Pakistan's sustainability efforts. The sheer volume of global plastic production, with over 300 million tons annually and half of it being single-use plastics, highlights the urgency of addressing this issue.

While countries like Bangladesh, France, and Rwanda have taken decisive steps to curb plastic proliferation, Pakistan faces a critical juncture with the highest percentage of mismanaged plastic in South Asia.

Experts say initiatives such as banning plastic bags in key cities like Islamabad, Lahore, and Hunza through a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) signify progress, albeit amidst the absence of comprehensive policy frameworks at federal and provincial levels.

Shafee Muhammad Marwat, a director at the capital's civic body leading anti-pollution campaigns, emphasised the dangers of plastic to human and aquatic life, as well as infrastructure. Despite previous efforts to discourage plastic use, its pervasive nature persists, even extending to food and waste disposal.

Climate and health experts echoed concerns about the dire health consequences of plastic, citing the rise of lung diseases, cancers, and dermatological ailments. Dr Shazia Aslam, a prominent Lahore-based dermatologist, highlighted the release of toxic chemicals from plastic when heated, emphasising the need for biodegradable alternatives and sustainable practices.

She said in recent years, combating plastic pollution has emerged as a crucial frontier in the pursuit of environmental sustainability.


Tribune
 
Ahead of impending heatwave, Punjab decides to close all schools from May 25 to May 31

With temperatures expected to soar due to an impending heatwave, the Government of Punjab has decided to close all public and private schools in the province from May 25 to May 31 in order to ensure the safety of students.

Severe heatwaves will sweep most parts of the country over the coming days, the Meteorological Department warned last Thursday, forecasting dust storms, thunderstorms, and heavy rains in the country’s northern areas.

The presence of high pressure in the upper atmosphere will result in heatwave conditions in most parts of the country, especially Punjab and Sindh from May 21 and a severe heatwave from May 23 to 27, the advisory had warned.

In light of the advisory, the provincial government in Punjab decided today to close schools for seven days.

However, a notification it issued stated that examinations will still be carried out “as scheduled”, with “necessary precautions to ensure the safety of students”.

The decision to temporarily close schools came after the Punjab government last week reduced the timings of all public and private schools from May 18 to May 31.

It had also instructed school heads to ensure that fans were in working condition, water coolers were available and that no student was made to sit in an open space or school lawn during the summer.

Source : Dawn News
 

Extreme heatwave could trigger glacier burst, floods in GB, KP: NDMA GLOF alert​

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued an alert and stating there was a risk of glaciers bursting and floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan due to the ‘extreme heat wave’.

The authority alerted concerned departments about the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) threat.

According to the alert, from May 21st to 27th, there is a risk of severe flooding and landslides in the mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

NDMA said SPARCO has been monitoring the GLOF site areas.

Mock drills in risk-prone areas

The NDMA has said that the concerned areas should be in constant contact so that immediate action can be taken in case of a flood or any other emergency, conduct mock drills to ensure timely evacuation of people in the risk-prone areas.

After the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted a possible GLOF in KP and GB, the NDMA issued instructions to PDMA, KP and GBDMA.

In view of increasing temperature and meteorological conditions, GLOF or severe floods, landslides and strong winds were likely to increase in the mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan from May 21 to 27.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authorities have been directed to be in full coordination with the concerned departments to arrange and pre-deploy necessary inventory and equipment in case of any disruptions, road closures and damage as well as emergencies in vulnerable locations whereas availability of personnel can be ensured.

The departments are further directed to pre-warn the local community, tourists and travelers in risk areas to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel or movement.

However, the departments should also conduct mock drills to ensure timely evacuation so that people’s lives and property could be secured in time of need.

Source: SAMAA
 
Climate change ministry warns of more heatwaves in June

As almost 26 districts of the country swelter in the oppressive heat that has gripped the country since May 21, the climate change ministry said on Thursday the first wave will last until May 30, followed by two more separate heatwaves in June, blaming unsustainable environmental practices and deforestation for the extreme weather conditions.

Addressing a press conference along with senior officials from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Romina Khurshid Alam, the PM’s coordinator on climate change, called upon the federal and provincial government departments to mobilise available resources to protect citizens, particularly children and the elderly, from the sweltering heat.

Citing data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Romina Alam noted that temperatures across most regions were currently 5 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal. She revealed that 26 districts in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan were experiencing severe heatwave conditions, which were expected to persist in three waves throughout the summer.

The first wave, ongoing from May 22-30, would be followed by additional waves in early and late June. As per the state-run APP, she said the second heatwave would be from June 7-8 and the third wave would be during the last week of June.

“The country is facing a severe heatwave, and this is just the beginning,” she stated, adding, “High atmospheric pressure is exacerbating these conditions, adversely affecting the socio-economic activities of our people.”

Joined by NDMA’s Member for Disaster Risk Reduction Idrees Mahsud, and technical expert Dr Tayyab, the PM’s aide emphasised the importance of comprehensive guidelines and early warnings that had been disseminated to prevent heatwave-related casualties, akin to those during the deadly 2015 heat wave, which had claimed nearly 2,500 lives.

Ms Alam stressed that heat waves were predominantly a human-caused crisis, exacerbated by deforestation and other unsustainable environmental practices. “Global warming is impacting the entire world, and we are seeing its effects in the form of these frequent and intense heat waves,” she explained. “Public awareness campaigns through various media outlets are ongoing to educate people on the health risks and preventive measures.”

Urging swift measures to prevent heat wave casualties, she urged the public to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, especially vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with serious health conditions. The NDMA was actively working on early warnings and coordinating with provincial departments to manage natural disasters and calamities.

Melting glaciers and forest fires

Ms Alam warned that the heat wave was accelerating glacier melt and increasing the risk of forest fires. The aide advised the public to exercise caution in national parks and avoid discarding cigarette butts or other flammable materials. She also recommended leaving vehicle windows slightly open to prevent fires and ensuring that workers have access to water to prevent heat-related emergencies.

Dr Tayyab from the NDMA informed that Pakistan ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, with the agency having developed a disaster calendar projecting natural calamities for the next six months. He noted that recent erratic weather patterns had led to significant rainfall variations, impacting regions, like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Dr Tayyab also highlighted water stress and the risk of drought as major concerns during heat waves, with regions like Tharparkar and Jacobabad already experiencing mild drought conditions.

In response to media queries, Romina Alam confirmed that the PM had established a high-level committee to coordinate efforts across relevant authorities and keep the national forum updated on climate-related challenges.

NDMA’s Mahsud added that the authority was developing a mobile application to provide real-time alerts, advisories, and disaster management plans to the public and media. The NDMA’s national coordination cell maintained close contact with provincial disaster management authorities and international agencies, ensuring comprehensive disaster preparedness and response.

SOURCE: DAWN
 

Climate change threatens low-lying Caribbean hospitals, UN says​

May 27 (Reuters) - Tens of millions of people living in coastal areas around the Caribbean and Latin America face imminent risks to healthcare and key infrastructure as climate change brings more severe weather events, according to a United Nations report on Tuesday.

According to the report by the U.N. sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), some 41 million people - 6% of all people living in the overall region - live in low-lying coastal areas at risk of storm surges, flooding and hurricanes.

In the Caribbean alone, this represents some 17%.

"Behind our modeling of exposed coastal populations are millions of people – including poor and vulnerable Afrodescendent and indigenous women and girls – who are the least responsible for the climate crisis but are paying a heavy price when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health and rights," said UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem.

"Climate change is not gender neutral and exacerbates existing inequalities," she said.

The report identified over 1,400 key hospitals located in low-lying coastal areas, using satellite imagery and population estimates to identify communities most at risk.

In the Caribbean nations of Suriname, Guyana and the Bahamas, as well as the Dutch and British territories of Aruba and the Cayman Islands, these accounted for over 80% of hospitals.

In Pacific-facing Ecuador, this represented 12% of hospitals, in Haiti this was 10%, and in Mexico, the region's second-largest economy, more than 5%.

Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, counted the most hospitals in vulnerable low-lying areas, with 519 - representing just over 7% of the number nationwide.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has warned of a highly active Atlantic hurricane season starting this June due to hotter ocean waters combined with effects from the La Nina weather phenomenon.

UNFPA launched the report as leaders from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) meet in Antigua to discuss economic and political solutions, as well as the impact of climate change on governments with high debt loads seeking to protect their vulnerable coastlines.

 
Extreme temperatures across India are having their worst impact in the country’s teeming megacities, experts have warned, as its capital reported its first death this season due to record-breaking heat

Parts of northwest and central India have been experiencing heatwave to severe heatwave conditions for weeks, prompting warnings that it is fast becoming a public health crisis.

On Thursday, the Reuters news agency reported that the temperature in New Delhi reached a record high of 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Mungeshpur neighbourhood on Wednesday.

Source: Al Jazeera
 

Heat dome brings dangerous weather to western US​

A heat dome in the western part of the US will subject more than 34 million people to extreme temperatures beginning Tuesday.

Forecasters are warning residents in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona to prepare for temperatures to reach triple digits.
Later in the week, extreme temperatures are expected to reach the Pacific Northwest.

Similar temperatures last year killed at least a dozen people in the American Southwest.

www.bbc.com

Heat wave brings dangerous weather to western US

More than 34 million Americans in the western US are under excessive heat advisories this week.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Ban fossil fuel ads to save climate, says UN chief

The world's fossil fuel industries should be banned from advertising to help save the world from climate change, the head of the United Nations said on Wednesday.

UN Secretary General António Guterres called coal, oil and gas corporations the “godfathers of climate chaos” who had distorted the truth and deceived the public for decades.

Just as tobacco advertising was banned because of the threat to health, the same should now apply to fossil fuels, he said.

His remarks were his most damning condemnation yet of the industries responsible for the bulk of global warming. They came as new studies showed the rate of warming is increasing and that global heat records have continued to tumble.

Data from the EU's climate service confirms that each of the past 12 months set a new global temperature record for the time of year. The high temperatures were driven by human-caused climate change, although they were also given a small boost by the El Niño climate phenomenon.


BBC
 
Six killed, 40 injured as storm brings havoc in Punjab

A severe storm accompanied by scattered rains swept through parts of Punjab, including Gujranwala, Narowal and Khushab, on Wednesday leaving six people killed and 40 injured.

In Gujranwala, four people were killed, including two children, while seven others were injured due to the collapse of walls and roofs. The heavy storm and rain led to the collapse of several signboards, walls, and roofs, resulting in the deaths and injuries.

In Narowal, strong winds and storms caused walls, trees, and electricity poles to fall, injuring 30 people, including women.

The power system was suspended, and dozens of trees and billboards fell due to the storm. The wall of a government school in Ahmedabad town collapsed.

In Sialkot, 13 people were injured due to strong winds and storms.

Rains and hailstorms in Khushab district caused havoc, killing two brothers, Amir Khan (15) and Zahid Khan (18), due to lightning strikes. Their father, Mubarak Khan, was admitted to hospital.

In Lahore and other cities, a dust storm accompanied by scattered showers brought the mercury down providing a temporary relief to citizens from the heatwave. The highest temperature in the city was recorded at 41 and minimum 28 degrees Celsius.

The Met office says dust-raising winds to be followed by light rains are likely to hit many Punjab towns during the next three days under the impact of a westerly wave affecting upper and central parts of the country.

More rain-windstorm/thunderstorm is expected in upper/central Punjab, Potohar region, Islamabad, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Dry weather is likely to prevail elsewhere in the country.

More rain-windstorm/thunderstorm are expected at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha and Mianwali, a Met office report said.

On Thursday, the weather is expected to be mainly hot and dry in most districts of the province. However, rain and thunderstorm are expected at isolated places.

DAWN
 
World has been breaching key 1.5C threshold for the last year, scientists warn

The last 12 months have all been over the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees of global warming, according to a new analysis of temperature data.

Global average temperatures from June 2023 to May 2024 were 1.63 degrees above the 1850-1900 "pre-industrial" baseline according to Copernicus, the EU's climate monitoring service.

A short-term annual breach isn't the same as global warming remaining consistently above 1.5 degrees compared to the average for pre-industrial times that global climate negotiations are trying to avoid.

But it is a reminder of how temperatures continue to rise in line with carbon emissions from human activities and the importance of ongoing efforts to reduce them.



SKY News
 
Extreme heat kills hundreds, millions more sweltering worldwide as summer begins

Deadly heatwaves are scorching cities on four continents as the Northern Hemisphere marks the first day of summer, a sign that climate change may again help to fuel record-breaking heat that could surpass last summer as the warmest in 2,000 years.

Record temperatures in recent days are suspected to have caused hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths across Asia and Europe.

In Saudi Arabia, nearly two million Muslim pilgrims are finishing the haj at the Grand Mosque in Mecca this week. But hundreds have died during the journey amid temperatures above 51 degrees Celsius (124 degrees Fahrenheit), according to reports from foreign authorities.

Egyptian medical and security sources told Reuters on Thursday that at least 530 Egyptians had died while participating - up from 307 reported as of yesterday. Another 40 remain missing.

Countries around the Mediterranean have also endured another week of blistering high temperatures that have contributed to forest fires from Portugal to Greece and along the northern coast of Africa in Algeria, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth Observatory.



Reuters
 
PMD predicts heavy rainfall across Pakistan over next 24 hours

Rain is to be expected in the federal capital Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and other parts of the country over the next 24 hours.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), strong winds and rain have already begun in various parts of the country. Over the next 24 hours, most areas of the country are expected to experience strong winds, thunderstorms, and heavy rain.

In northeastern Balochistan, Punjab, Islamabad, K-P, AJK, and G-B, there may be gusty winds, thunderstorms, and rain in some places. However, the weather will remain hot and dry in other parts of the country.

Rawalpindi and its surrounding areas have recently experienced their first pre-monsoon rain, signalling the potential danger of monsoon floods in Nullah Leh and other rain drains.

This heavy rain, which fell on June 17 night, has already stressed the administration and indicated the start of the flood season, which runs from June 15 to August 15.

The heavy rainfall caused significant inflows into Rawal, Simli, and Khanpur dams, which supply water to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This influx of water has alleviated the anticipated summer water crisis that was expected this month.

However, the cleaning and desilting of the 18 km Nullah Leh and ten major rain drains had not been completed before the monsoon season, as work was temporarily halted due to the Eid ul Adha holidays.

EXPRESS TRIBUNE
 

Emma Thompson backs Just Stop Oil at London march as protesters boo 'all politicians'​

Dame Emma Thompson has backed Just Stop Oil, just days after the climate action group attacked Stonehenge with orange paint.

The actress led thousands of people on a Restore Nature Now march in London on Saturday, aimed at persuading politicians to put nature and climate first.

Asked if she supported Just Stop Oil, whose supporters have also targeted private jets, the Magna Carta and the Duke of Westminster's wedding this year, she said: "I think I support anyone who fights this extraordinary battle."

Dame Emma added: "We cannot take any more oil out of the ground. I mean, there's much argument about it. And I know there's a lot of very complicated economic arguments about it.

"We have to leave all the resources in the ground, we cannot bring them out of the ground."

More than 350 charities, businesses and direct action groups joined Dame Emma on the protest, along with renewable energy tycoon and Labour donor, Dale Vince, and naturalists Chris Packham and Steve Backshall.

Mr Packham said it was the first time organisations across the entire spectrum of campaigning and conservation have united, from the National Trust to Just Stop Oil.

Reflecting on the long campaign to achieve action on climate change, Dame Emma called it "extraordinary", as "we have known about this for decades and government after government have completely ignored the advice".

"All the scientists are saying we are in deep, deep trouble," she added.

The UK, she said, is "one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world".

She added: "But we are also one of the most rich, so this is not good for anybody.

"Anyone who has ever written about our country [has written] about the beauty of these islands and they are being despoiled, polluted and destroyed at an unprecedented rate.

"We have to take action now. There is not enough discussion about this. It has to come to the forefront of our politics at every level."

Protesters marched from Hyde Park to Parliament Square, staying in a line, led by Dame Emma and Mr Packham who held a banner reading Restore Nature Now.

Other banners carried different messages, including There's No Life Without Wildlife and There Isn't A Reset Button.

Some of the crowd booed and gestured as they walked past Downing Street.

Gary Smith, a 64-year-old ex-veteran, said: "The booing was because they're useless in acting against any policies to do with wildlife. It's the booing of all politicians."

While wildlife rescuer Sally Burns, 58, said: "The state of this country... it's politicians that run it and look at the state of it, a mess in many many ways. It's the people in power that have caused all this."

Source: SKY
 

Flooded Brazil 'ghost town' a climate warning to world, UN advisor says​

SAO PAULO, June 25 (Reuters) - Record floods that killed over 170 people and displaced half a million in southern Brazil are a warning sign of more disasters to come throughout the Americas because of climate change, an official at the United Nations' refugee agency said on Tuesday.

Roughly 389,000 people, opens new tab in the state of Rio Grande do Sul remain displaced from their homes because of the intense rain and flooding, which local officials say was the worst disaster in the region's history. Scientists say climate change made the flooding twice as likely to happen.

Andrew Harper, special advisor on climate action to the refugee agency UNHCR, visited a flooded neighborhood in state capital Porto Alegre over the weekend and called it "a ghost town."

"It was underwater for almost 40 days. There wasn't even any rats running around. Everything had died," Harper said in an interview on Tuesday.

Even after the flood waters subsided, residents have not returned to the neighborhood where streets are piled high with water-logged garbage and debris. Many are still living in shelters, including Venezuelan refugees who had resettled in Porto Alegre.

UNHCR is helping the local government to build temporary housing.

Residents of some hard hit areas may never return, having been forced to move by repeated flooding, Harper said. But how many would become so-called climate migrants will only be known years after the disaster.

The floods surpassed all expectations that local authorities had for climate disasters, and governments need to do more to prepare for these events, Harper said.

"We're seeing the emergence in Brazil of what we may be seeing throughout the Americas. So to ignore this, they do it at their own peril," Harper said.

Governments need to understand where the people most vulnerable to climate change live, like the neighborhood he visited in Porto Alegre, and include those people in their climate plans, he said.

"It's a warning signal, but we've been seeing warning signals now for five, ten years," Harper added. "At what point do you basically have to slap somebody in the face and say, 'Wake up, you're not going to ignore this.'"

Source: Reuters
 
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