India among 5 Countries with most Extreme Heat Exposure
According to a Lancet Countdown report, India is one of the five countries in the world whose vulnerable populations had the most exposure to extreme heat over the past five years. And this exposure is increasing. Yet, like many countries, India is under-prepared to prevent, mitigate or treat the health effects of climate change.
By continuing to support fossil fuels and failing to do enough to adapt to the changing climate, countries including India are endangering the health of their citizens, as well as leaving them at risk of widespread food and water shortages and extreme weather, the report has pointed out.
Oct 21, 2021
India at Top in Emissions Related to Crop Burning
Climate tech start-up, Blue Sky Analytics, published its report on emissions related to crop burning. In the report, India has been ranked at the top position.
As per report, India accounted for 13 per cent of total global emissions in the period of 2015-2020.
Report notes a 12.2 per cent contribution by India towards the cropland fire emissions in 2020 alone.
The data highlights the new insights into recent trends in biomass fires, including emissions from crop residue and forest residue fires in India.
For instance, data in report verifies the downward trend of crop fires between 2016 and 2019. As per report, GHG emissions due to cropland fires have reduced by 11.39 per cent in between 2016-2019.
In between 2019-20, GHG emissions have increased by 12.8 per cent. As a result of this, India's global contribution has become 12.2 per cent.
Blue Sky Analytics is the Indian Climate tech start-up. It was founded by an IIT alumnus. It is a part of global coalition called "Climate TRACE".
Oct 20, 2021
China's Transition to Clean Energy Faster than Expected: Study
The costs of solar and coal power in China could become comparable countrywide by 2023, a new US-China study has found, indicating that the country, the largest carbon emitter globally, could be at a tipping point towards transitioning to clean energy faster than expected.
In two years, China will have the capacity to install solar power across the country at the same price as coal, and currently has that ability to do so in three-quarters of the country, the joint study found. "About 78.6% (79.7 PWh or petawatt-hour) of China's technical potential will realise price parity to coal-fired power in 2021, with price parity achieved nationwide by 2023."
Japan's Mount Aso Erupts; Alert Raised to Level 3
Mount Aso, a volcano on Japan's main southern island of Kyushu, erupted, Japan's Meteorological Agency said, spewing volcanic ash 3,500 metres (2.17 miles) into the sky.
The eruption took place at around 11:43 a.m. Tokyo time (0243 GMT), the agency said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage at the popular tourist destination.
But, the meteorological agency raised the alert level for the volcano to level 3 on a scale of 5, telling people not to approach the mountain. It also warned of large volcanic blocks and pyroclastic flows scatterering within a range of approximately 1 kilometre from the mountain's Nakadake crater.
Oct 15, 2021
Polar Bears Could Vanish by the End of the Century
Arctic sea ice has been steadily decreasing since the beginning of satellite records in 1979, but a new study comes with a chilling (or perhaps, warming) prediction: By the end of this century, Arctic sea ice may disappear during the summer, which could drive polar bears and other ice-dependent species to extinction.
Oct 12, 2021
Twenty-four more Countries join Global Methane Pledge
Twenty-four more countries have joined a US and EU-led effort to slash methane emissions 30 per cent by 2030, giving the emerging global partnership momentum ahead of its launch at the UN climate summit in Glasgow later this month.
Nigeria, Japan and Pakistan are among the 24 new signatories to the Global Methane Pledge, which was first announced by the United States and EU in September with the aim to galvanise rapid climate action before the start of the Scotland summit on October 31. It could have a significant impact on the energy, agriculture and waste sectors responsible for the bulk of methane emissions.
The nine original partners include Britain, Indonesia and Mexico, which signed on to the pledge when it was announced at the Major Economies Forum last month. The partnership will now cover 60 per cent of the global GDP and 30 per cent of global methane emissions.