“Climate change: Warning signs across the world suggest the situation is already out of control [nice overview of recent events]…
“The world’s climate scientists recently warned that the predicted impacts of global warming are happening faster and more strongly than previously expected. Tumbling weather records around the world do indeed show climate change accelerating.”
“Flash flooding in parts of south-west England following torrential rain has led to a major incident being declared in Somerset [UK].
“Heavy thunderstorms on Tuesday evening resulted in Devon and Somerset fire and rescue declaring a major incident in the Galhampton, North Cadbury, and South Cadbury areas.”
“Warning of downpours and hail as wettest start to year on record continues [Netherlands]…
“2023 has been the wettest year on record so far, with 372mm of rain falling at the central weather station in De Bilt, Utrecht, up to and including May 9… So far this year the thermometer at De Bilt has passed the 20C mark on just four days.”
“Extreme weather caused record amount of damage last year: Insurers.
“Extreme weather caused a record amount of damage in the Netherlands last year at over 886 million euros. The Dutch Association of Insurers reports this in its Climate Damage Monitor on Thursday. By far the most damage (714 million euros) was caused by the tree storms that left a trail of destruction in February 2022.”
https://nltimes.nl/2023/05/11/extreme-weather-caused-record-amount-damage-last-year-insurers
“Swiss village of Brienz told to flee imminent monster rockslide.
“Residents of the tiny Swiss village of Brienz have been told to pack their bags and leave immediately. The reason: two million cubic metres of rock from the mountain above them is set to come loose and crash down to the valley in the next few days… Switzerland’s Alpine regions are especially sensitive to global warming.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65533681
“The French Pyrenees-Orientales department, which borders Spain’s Catalonia autonomous region, will be officially declared to be in a drought “crisis” level from 10 May…
“There are currently more than 40 departments in France, amounting to nearly half the country, which is officially at “alert” or “vigilance” levels of drought. The Pyrenees-Orientales will become the fourth district to declare a “crisis” drought level.”
“Scorching heat today in Spain and Morocco again. Temperatures at exceptional levels at Taroudant with 42.9C / 109.2F (3 hourly max) in Morocco. Also over 40C at Guelmin. In Spain Seville rose above 37C again. Tomorrow it will be another extremely hot day.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1655973376811212803
“Dozens of fruit growers arrested in Spain over illegal wells as drought grips the country.
“Spanish Civil Guard statement said a four-year investigation had uncovered 250 illegal wells and ponds in the in a drought-stricken area Axarquia district east of Malaga, along the Mediterranean coast. In addition to the dozens arrested, 44 people are under investigation in the alleged scheme…”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/09/europe/spain-drought-illegal-wells-intl/index.html
“Europe’s Drought-Riven Future Is Here, Decades Earlier Than Expected.
“…the heat doesn’t stop in Spain; hotter and drier weather is becoming the norm across Europe. The water battle brewing in Letur is a harbinger of conflicts that will play out elsewhere, and whatever happens to Spain’s farming industry — a major source of groceries for its neighbors — will be felt throughout the region.”
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/europe-drought-riven-future-decades-050012132.html
“Severe drought spreads in Portugal, officials seek EU help.
“Around 90% of mainland Portugal is suffering from drought, with severe drought alone affecting one-fifth of its territory, twice as much as in March and nearly five times the area reported a year earlier. Some parts are in an extreme drought situation, which did not exist at the same time in 2022.”
“Cape Verde’s drought shows vulnerability to climate change.
“Cape Verde is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change as evidenced by the recent four-year drought, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Tuesday as its team visited the Portuguese-speaking country between May 2-9.”
“At least 16 people killed in multiple landslides in eastern DRC.
“Ten people were killed in a landslide in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s Lubero territory in North Kivu province overnight on Wednesday, local authorities have said – additional victims of recent heavy rains that have killed hundreds in floods in the broader region.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/10/at-least-sixteen-killed-in-landslide-in-eastern-dr-congo
“Over 5,500 still missing in flood-hit east Congo: local official.
“Democratic Republic of Congo, May 9 (Reuters) – More than 5,500 people are still unaccounted for in an area in east Democratic of Congo where floods killed more than 400 people last week, a local official said on Tuesday, as shaken survivors waited for food aid.”
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/over-5500-still-missing-in-flood-hit-east-congo:-local-official
“Rwanda floods, landslides fueled by climate change…
“Richard Munang, deputy regional director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Africa office, believes that temperature rise is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. While the globe has warmed to 1.1C, he notes that Africa is “warming up at twice the global average,” and that “extreme events” will only get worse.”
“Heavy floods in Yemen kill at least 24…
“In its regular agrometeorological early warning bulletin last week, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization said that heavy rainfall and flash flooding would continue to imperil mountainous and coastal areas, affecting thousands of residents.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2300586/middle-east
“Methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure in Turkmenistan had a greater impact on global warming last year than the carbon emissions from all of the UK, new satellite data has revealed.
“Environmental intelligence company Kayrros analysed data from a network of satellites tracking methane emissions across the world.”
“At least 21 dead as wildfires rage across Urals and Siberia…
“Wildfires have raged in the Kurgan region of the Urals and in Siberia all week. Local media reported that most of the dead were older people unable to leave their homes. According to local authorities, many of the deaths occurred on Sunday in the village of Yuldus…”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/10/many-dead-as-wildfires-rage-across-urals-and-siberia
“Poaching surges as wildfires force animals out of forests [Nepal]…
“Forests in Rautahat are home to tigers, blue bulls, deer, wild boars, elephants, and monkeys, among others, according to the forest office. Illegal poaching activities are being reported from Chetanagar, Chandrapur, Gaidatar, Rangapur, and Balari forest areas.”
https://asianews.network/poaching-surges-as-wildfires-force-animals-out-of-forests/
“Deadly combo of extreme heat and air pollution grips parts of Southeast Asia…
“Heat waves can be deadly on their own, but parts of Vietnam and Thailand have also been blanketed in thick smog in recent weeks. Experts say the combination of extreme heat and poor air quality can lead to upticks in respiratory, cardiovascular and kidney diseases — impacts that will only worsen as climate change intensifies…”
“Central Vietnam faces water shortage as El Nino [+ unprecedented heat] drains reservoirs…
“At the Cau Do Water Plant, which provides about 80% of clean water for Da Nang’s population of more than 1 million people, salinity in recent days has reached approximately 1,000 mg/liter, making it difficult to collect water.”
“Black Summer bushfire smoke likely triggered record flooding [Australia].
“The vast plumes of smoke that billowed from the Black Summer bushfires increased cloud cover over the Pacific, cooled sea surface temperatures and likely influenced the formation of the rare triple La Nina weather pattern, which brought record-breaking floods to Australia.”
“Mind blowing temperature of 37.3C [99.1F] at Tranque Lautaro in Chile. It’s near winter and it’s 1300m above sea level. And next days it will stay there .
“3 provinces with temperatures above 35C for several days and even at 1000m-1500m asl. Historic event.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1656031243857698816
“Chile rushes to quench record-breaking drought with water investments.
“Chile’s public works ministry (MOP) is looking to speed up investments in water infrastructure, as much of the country experiences a drought that has lasted over a decade.”
“Central America with endless hot and dry conditions.
“Today Panama rose to 39.5C [103.1F] at Guarumal, its hottest May day on records and just 0.5C from the hottest temperature for any month (recorded in 1998).”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1656051081254764544
“Endless record heat in Central America and the Caribbeans: Today the city of Santa Cruz in Costa Rica rose to 39.7C [103.5F], only 0.3C from the record set during the mega drought of 1979 and few decimals from the Costa Rican hottest day on records.
“More Records of highest minimums too.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1656439389755457537
“Forest fires have consumed more than 4,500 hectares in the Yucatán Peninsula so far this year.
“The beginning of spring and the heat waves that have been recorded during the last few weeks in the Yucatan Peninsula have favored the creation of forest fires, which have destroyed 4,552 hectares of jungle.”
“Endless record heat in Central America and the Caribbeans. Dominican Republic again:
“Santiago de los Caballeros rose to 36.2C [97.2F] yesterday, setting a new record for the month of May.
“Almost all the area has been with record heat for weeks.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1656264869761499139
“14,000 Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells in the Gulf of Mexico Are Spewing Methane.
“A study published in Nature Energy found that there are 14,000 orphaned oil and gas wells in waters throughout the Gulf of Mexico’s waters and in Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. Plugging the wells would prevent environmental damage, but that could cost up to $30 billion.”
https://gizmodo.com/14-000-abandoned-oil-and-gas-wells-in-the-gulf-of-mexic-1850416009
“US already struck by 7 separate billion-dollar weather disasters through April.
“The first four months of the year have been costly and record-breaking regarding weather and climate disasters… The disasters comprised of five severe storm events, one winter storm and one flooding event. The total cost exceeded $19 billion and resulted in 97 deaths, data from NOAA reports.”
https://news.yahoo.com/us-already-struck-7-separate-151806257.html
“Seven Eastern States Had Their Warmest-Ever Start in 2023.
“Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia all had their warmest January to April on record, data from NOAA’s U.S. climate report show. Other Eastern states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina and West Virginia—posted their second-warmest period.”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/its-been-a-warm-2023-for-the-eastern-u-s-78337cc3
“Parts of U.S. and Canada brace for potentially historic heat wave.
“A heat wave that looks like the historic June 2021 event is getting underway in parts of northern Canada. It will eventually spread to British Columbia and Alberta, as well as into the northern United States.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/05/10/canada-northern-hemisphere-fire-heat-drought/
“Wildfires in Alberta off to an exponentially fast start compared to recent years…
“With temperatures expected to rise significantly by this weekend and into next week, a provincial state of emergency has been declared as weather conditions threaten to aid in fire growth and worsen the situation.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/10/americas/canada-alberta-wildfires/index.html
“‘Like Nagasaki’: devastating wildfires will only get worse, new book warns…
“The world has entered an unprecedented era of wildfire danger, Vaillant argues in his upcoming book Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World which chronicles the devastation of Fort McMurray and warns of a hotter, more volatile future.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/10/fire-weather-john-valliant-new-book-alberta-wildfire
“The ocean is hotter than ever: what happens next?
““We are probably looking at a string of record highs over the next year or so,” says Josh Willis, an oceanographer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “This coming year is gonna be a wild ride if the El Niño really takes off.”
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01573-1
“Sea Surface Temperatures starting to increase again!
“Last time temperatures where this high was during the Eemian period, when sea levels 6-9 meters higher than today!
“Daily records could continuously be broken for another year, like with the past two strong El Niños.”
https://twitter.com/LeonSimons8/status/1656347517234053156
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
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“Hotter and faster than expected!”, is no longer headline material, Richard Dixon. 🙂
Its climate day, but this is economics – oops.
Yves Smith has a very well informed perspective on most things. The way I read her introduction is that de-dollarization is coming, but not this week. My view is slightly different – more like my view on AGW and peak affordable oil – its happening, and if one watches carefully one can see the building effects every (other 😉 ) day.
Of course, Ms. Smith is introducing Michael Hudson who cant hide his delight:
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/05/ny-times-is-wrong-on-dedollarization-economist-michael-hudson-debunks-paul-krugmans-dollar-defense.html
But, this story from yesterday is a good example of initial effects being seen. I dug around a little deeper, and found an article that mentioned that if the IMF denies the funding (which is likely since (by some seriously perverted logic) if Pakistan defaults they will thereby be punished for working with Chinese finance, it will push Pakistan closer to China who also holds significant Pakistani debt. Of course, the IMF wants all of the Chinese debt to be forgiven, so that it can recover all of its investment, and of course, the IMF is requiring that Pakistan raise taxes, eliminate fuel subsidies, and cut social programs.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/pakistan-may-default-if-imf-denies-bailout-warns-moodys-12572032.html
I found a good thread on Twitter looking at de-dollarization by MacroAlf. His view mirrors Yves Smith’s, ie it is a trend but cannot happen overnight:
Intro:
“A true de-dollarization of our system can and will happen over time, but it won’t be orderly. It will come with tectonic geopolitical events and the transition to another system will be very painful. This is why you keep hearing about it, but it never happens.”
https://twitter.com/MacroAlf/status/1655210919423627264
This is the actual thread:
https://twitter.com/MacroAlf/status/1655210891908874242
Therefore it seems to me that the complete collapse of industrial civiilization will occut before de dollarization. Time until the completer collapse of industrial civilization between 2 days from now and 20 years from now. Time until something replaces the dollar, ??.
Oh, it seems that I just created a symbol for a new currency. Now someone just needs to create the currency. They have my permission to use the symbol that I created. If they want to distort it a little bit so it would look like ZZ that would be ok too. I do not think that ZZ Top will sue for copy right infringement.
“…the complete collapse of industrial civilization will occur before de dollarization.”
Curt, I agree. Furthermore, this gradual financial splintering is itself a symptom of collapse.
Hello Panopticon
Since yesterday but started some small renovations in the house. Put all the plants outside as it’s raining and cold. Wood stove on all day.
In the Netherlands it’s a wet mess as you pointed out and here in the parched area in the South of France, I don’t foresee any further significant problems this summer. About 120 litres are expected to fall over the next 10 days and low temperatures.
Normally that is enough for the grass, grain and maize at the moment! Springs are also running well.
Watch the alps over the next few days there is going to be a lot of rain that village of Brienz is bound to be doomed.
Today though another ruling by the council of state on the French government’s failure to take ‘effective’ CO2 measures. Well they must be sorry they ever signed the Paris agreements…. 🙂
They keep getting harassed with their surely historically speaking ‘ non’ climate conference.
An interesting ‘ dilemma’ the EU and certainly the Netherlands is preoccupied with after the ‘ nitrogen crisis’ is EU commissioner Timmermans’ new ‘ nature plans’. If implemented, at least 10 per cent of the agricultural industrial complex’ would have to ‘ surrender’ the lucrative farmlands’….
https://businessam.be/klimaat-europese-commissie-handels-barrieres/
Zip, I hadn’t fully digested until I posted those articles about the Netherlands yesterday just how gloomy the weather has been there this year. Crazy to think it has been unprecedentedly wet in parts of northern Europe and unprecedently dry in parts of the south.
Glad to hear your corner of France is finally getting some decent precipitation!