Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Special sponsor for September 2024 is [you?] contact me here if you fancy helping me out and spending a month atop the C&E wall of fame.


“Australian climate history rewritten once more. An insane 39.7c [103.5F] at Birdsville is the HOTTEST WINTER DAY EVER RECORDED IN QUEENSLAND…

“37.5c at Delta AWS is the 3RD HOTTEST WINTER DAY FOR NEW SOUTH WALES. 37.3c at Moomba ties as 3RD HOTTEST WINTER DAY FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA.”

https://x.com/Hitchy04/status/1829526689011122308


“Alarm as Australia records ‘gobsmacking’ hot August temperatures…

““I haven’t seen this kind of spread of record-breaking temperatures really anywhere. You don’t usually see the whole country light up [with extreme temperatures] like a Christmas tree. It’s a whole lot of summer coming a whole lot earlier.””

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/31/australia-heatwave-weather-sydney-melbourne-august-heat-record-temperatures


“EXCEPTIONAL HEAT IN OCEANIA – despite the official end of El Nino, 100% of all tropical islands are smashing every heat record, every day.

“Latest ones: FRENCH POLYNESIA: Min 26.0 [78.8F] Atuona HOTTEST AUGUST NIGHT IN HISTORY; KIRIBATI: min 28.4C Bonriki NATIONAL RECORD OF AUGUST HOTTEST NIGHT.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1829312933337198986


“Another exceptional heat wave in SOUTH AMERICA: August Records from Colombia to Bolivia.

“COLOMBIA TMIN 29.0 Providencia Record Hottest night; BOLIVIA: Records beaten and rebeaten: 40.7 Puerto Suarez, 39.4 Magdalena; BRAZIL: 39.7 Porto Murtinho record etc. Next heat wave will see >44C [111.2F]!”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1829272507506966550


“Brazil braces for intense winter heatwave.

“This upcoming heat wave could surpass the intensity and duration of those earlier this year in March and May, Climatempo warned on Thursday. While September heat waves are not unusual in much of Brazil… recent years have seen them grow more severe, last longer, and start earlier.”

https://brazilian.report/liveblog/politics-insider/2024/08/30/intense-september-heat-wave/


“Worst Drought in 40 Years Puts Brazil’s Major Crops at Risk…

“From May through August, some key agriculture areas faced the driest weather since 1981, according to natural disaster monitoring center Cemaden. And there is no relief in sight: there’s no rain in the forecast for at least two more weeks…”

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/commodities/2024/08/30/worst-drought-in-40-years-puts-brazils-major-crops-at-risk/


“Brazil wildfires worsened by ‘mega drought,’ extreme heat…

“At the latest count, authorities said more than 59,000 hectares (some 146,000 acres) had been destroyed by the flames, an area about the size of Chicago. This included vast swaths of sugar cane fields, one of the country’s top exports.”

https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-wildfires-made-worse-by-drought-extreme-heat/a-70088581


“Record drought in Yucatán prompts revival of ancient Maya rain ceremony…

“The extended dry season has prevented local farmers from generating sufficient harvests to provide enough food to sustain Indigenous people from remote regions. In early May, the Yucatán Peninsula experienced a record high temperature of 43.7°C (110.7°F) after an already year-long drought.”

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/08/record-drought-in-yucatan-prompts-revival-of-ancient-maya-rain-ceremony/


“As a result of the heavy rains recorded in the southern municipality of Tejupilco [central Mexico], the overflow of the Rincón de López River caused an emergency that affected around 400 homes…

“In addition, a significant landslide was reported on Federal Highway 134, specifically in the Community of Ojo de Agua…”

https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2024/08/30/por-fuertes-lluvias-y-el-desbordamiento-de-un-rio-300-casas-y-18-autos-quedan-afectados-en-tejupilco/


“As the U.S. Midwest swelters under the effects of yet another heatwave, temperatures and humidity in the region are being further fueled by “sweating” corn…

“…“corn sweat” is a real phenomenon, well known to meteorologists and farmers alike, that adds moisture to the atmosphere and makes hot conditions even hotter and more unpleasant.”

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/corn-sweat-warming-hole-hurricane-drought


“As climate change worsens, deadly prison heat is increasingly an everywhere problem [US].

“With heat waves sweeping across the country, incarcerated people in states with traditionally milder climates are facing brutal conditions that have long plagued the South and Southwest.”

https://grist.org/extreme-heat/as-climate-change-worsens-deadly-prison-heat-is-increasingly-an-everywhere-problem/


“Climate Change Comes to the Tetons.

“In one of North America’s most stunning mountain ranges, melting glaciers and warmer temperatures are raising fears of ecological tipping points… It’s a story playing out around the country.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/29/climate/grand-teton-yellowstone-climate-change.html


“Golf-ball-size hail rocks D.C.’s western suburbs during intense storm outbreak…

“The large hail was the most unusual aspect of the storm outbreak… Hail this big is much more common in the Plains and South than the Mid-Atlantic. Damage from large hail can be very costly…”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/08/30/virginia-maryland-storms-hail-lightning-flooding/


“‘I panic when I hear rain’: New York’s deadly basement apartments face growing flooding risk…

“In addition to those who died in Ida’s floods, hundreds more, like Alba, found themselves displaced after flooding rendered their living quarters uninhabitable, and homeowners struggled to make repairs.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/30/flooding-basement-apartment-new-york-climate-change


“Wettest August on record for Montreal…

“Powered by the remains of tropical storm Debby, Montreal has added another dubious weather record to the books, the wettest August dating back to 1871… The total rainfall for the three summer months is also a record for the city, currently at 450mm.”

https://www.thesuburban.com/blogs/suburban_weather/wettest-august-on-record-for-montreal/article_265b646a-6608-11ef-9a69-ffa8f02e6402.html


“A new study sheds light on the vital role that the mixing of Atlantic and Arctic waters plays in sustaining the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is crucial for regulating Earth’s climate…

“This reduced mixing weakens the AMOC by decreasing the density and depth of its southward flow, potentially leading to an overall slowdown of the circulation.”

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-reveals-crucial-role-atlantic-arctic.html


“People in Ireland face living in “a bloody cold, bloody wet” country if increasingly strong warnings that climate change could interrupt Atlantic Ocean current patterns come true, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has warned.

“Scientists increasingly raise fears that the so-called Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which regulates the exchange of water between the world’s oceans, is threatened…”

https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2024/08/30/ireland-faces-a-bloody-cold-bloody-wet-future-unless-action-on-climate-speeds-up-warns-ryan/


“Aquatic life under threat as pollution and warmer waters wreak havoc [UK]…

“In Britain the privatised water companies and poorly controlled industrial farming companies have been increasingly pouring raw sewage, animal waste and fertilisers into our waterways for decades.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/30/aquatic-life-under-threat-as-pollution-and-warmer-waters-wreak-havoc


“Why is Lapland on fire? Finland’s far north set for record-breakingly hot summer…

“Finnish Lapland’s summer is on track to be record-breakingly hot, according to experts, after a season marred by wildfires in the far north. July brought unusually hot temperatures throughout the country, the Finnish Meteorological Institute says…”

https://au.news.yahoo.com/why-lapland-fire-finland-far-150054315.html


“Second hottest Swiss August since records began in 1864.

“As MeteoSwiss announced on Friday, a new August record is likely to be set in Samedan, canton Graubünden, with an average temperature of 14.5 degrees. That would be 0.3 degrees higher than the hot summer of 2003.”

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/alpine-environment/second-hottest-august-since-measurements-began-in-switzerland-in-1864/87466061


“Climatological summer is ending in Europe with unusual heat specially in Central Eastern parts with temperatures >35C [95F] in Germany, Austria, etc.

“While the heat will easy in some areas, it will persist into September in the East and September records will fall in several countries.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1829213308811092283


“Wine wins, crops lose, as farmers grapple with record Balkans heat.

“Rastislav Pucovski held a fistful of soy beans shriveled to the size of peppercorns on his farmland in northern Serbia where the soil, dried to dust by drought, swirled in the wind. A brief rain shower, the first in over 40 days, offered no relief.”

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/wine-wins-crops-lose-farmers-grapple-with-record-balkans-heat-2024-08-30/


“Streets are turned into rapids in Spain after end-of-summer rain storms – with hail even seen in Malaga.

“Videos shared on X showed cars being carried away in central and north-east areas after hours of rainfall fell across much of the country… areas also bore witness to giant balls of hail, which were even seen in the south, specifically in Granada and Malaga…”

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2024/08/30/watch-streets-are-turned-into-rapids-in-spain-after-end-of-summer-rain-storms-with-hail-even-seen-in-malaga/


“Moroccan Government Intensifies Efforts to Address Water Shortages…

“During a press conference in Rabat yesterday, Mustapha Baitas, the Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and government spokesperson, highlighted the urgency of projects such as dams, water interconnection initiatives, and seawater desalination efforts.”

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/08/364844/moroccan-government-intensifies-efforts-to-address-water-shortages


“Flood disaster hits Niger, seven missing, 89 houses affected…

“At least seven people have been reported missing after three vehicles were washed away and over 89 houses were affected by a torrential rainfall that lasted for about 11 hours non-stop.”

https://tribuneonlineng.com/flood-disaster-hits-niger-seven-missing-89-houses-affected/


“‘My land is a river now’: South Sudan’s glimpse into an apocalyptic future…

“Somewhere beneath the expanse of floodwater stretching beyond the horizon, lies William Yon Bol’s lost home and livelihood. His dead livestock and most of his possessions are waist-deep under the water which swept in one night three years ago.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/south-sudan-floods-climate-change/


“Spectacular contrasts in SOUTHERN AFRICA:

“Winter returned in SOUTH AFRICA with temperatures as low as -9C; meanwhile HISTORIC HEAT MOZAMBIQUE: MIN 27.0 [80.1F] at Tete, the HOTTEST WINTER NIGHT IN MOZAMBIQUE…”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1829233885798142268


“Yemen floods kill nearly 100 and damage scores of homes.

“Scores of people have died after three dam bursts following heavy rains and flooding in western Yemen, according to a United Nations body. Yemenis have already been suffering from a ruinous civil war that began in 2014.”

https://www.dw.com/en/yemen-floods-kill-nearly-100-and-damage-scores-of-homes/a-70098987


“Saudi Arabia has been hit by heavy rain and flash flooding along much of its Red Sea coast.

“Images on social media showed cars stranded in floodwaters and others swept away by the torrential rains in Madinah… Saudi Arabia’s National Centre of Meteorology on Friday issued a red alert for rainfall in several regions in the west and south-west of country.”

https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2024/08/30/heavy-rain-and-major-flooding-hits-saudi-arabia/


“MIDDLE EAST still with exceptional heat with max still above 50C [122F] and min above 35C on the Iranian coast.

“Abnormal and unprecedented heat in Oman for late August with up to 49C. Heat indexes are locally near world records levels.“

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1829525490023239779


“A lightning strike caused the shutdown of Armenia’s single nuclear power plant, Interfax news agency reported on Saturday, citing local authorities.

“The plant was hit at 9:55 p.m. (1755 GMT) on Friday and was disconnected from the grid, the report cited the ministry of territorial administration and infrastructure as saying.”

https://www.xm.com/research/markets/allNews/reuters/armenia-says-lightning-strike-shuts-down-nuclear-power-station-interfax-reports-53916208


“Tehran breaks drought and water consumption records simultaneously…

“”Historical data shows that drought periods in Tehran typically lasted two years before a wet period would follow. However, this water year marks the fourth straight year of drought for Tehran province, which is unprecedented in all recorded periods,” Khosravi said.”

https://www.intellinews.com/tehran-breaks-drought-and-water-consumption-records-simultaneously-341192/?source=iran


“Cyclone in Arabian Sea baffles meteorologists. It hasn’t happened in 48 years…

“The timing of this cyclone is particularly baffling. Typically, the Arabian Sea’s temperature during the monsoon season remains below 26 degrees Celsius, making cyclone formation unlikely between July and September.”

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/cyclone-in-arabian-sea-baffles-meteorologists-it-hasnt-happened-in-48-years-2590971-2024-08-30


“Mudslide In Pakistan Kills 12, Mostly Children, Amid Monsoon Rains…

“Twelve people died on August 30 when a landslide triggered by heavy rains destroyed their house, rescue officials said, with more than 300 killed since the start of the monsoon season.”

https://www.rferl.org/a/deadly-mudslides-pakistan/33099968.html


“Half a dozen villages of the Sohawa tehsil [Punjab, Pakistan] were inundated as the barrage of Bhaati Dam gave way to spilling water during heavy rains in the area.

“According to Engineer Saeed Ahmed District Emergency Officer (DEO), the sudden surge of flood waters spread to the low-lying villages.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1855842/bhaati-dam-breach-wreaks-havoc-in-surrounding-villages


“MALDIVES AGAIN AND AGAIN:

“33.4 [92.1F] at Male today as well and record for August tied; Record also at Khadhoo with a minimum of 28.6C. Records have been falling in Maldives since March 2023 without stopping.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1829507773220135422


“HISTORIC HEAT IN NEPAL – records have been falling both of high max and high min throughout the month.

“For example Janakpur max. 38.4 [101.1] and min 29.6 are both records for August. Nearly all world countries this month have broken records, from few to hundreds, more than any other month.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1829583185220386897


“Scientists discover 1,700 new species of ancient viruses in rapidly melting permafrost from the Himalayas…

“Ninety-seven per cent of the viruses in the ice were new to science. The discovery increased by a factor of 50 the amount of viral information from permafrost that scientists have collected.”

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2024-08-29/viruses-permafrost-ancient-climate-melting-himalayas/104270012


“Today, 20 stations in China broke the record for late August, and 7 of them broke the record for August.

“Tomorrow in Qinghai and other places, records may be broken again. In addition, there will be a rare heat wave in southern China in early September!”

https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/1829166782424485959


“China Heavy Rains: Record rainfall kills 11, 14 remain missing in Huludao in northeastern province of Liaoning…

“Massive flooding triggered by heavy rains has killed eleven people, and 14 remain missing. The hardest-hit parts of the city experienced a year’s worth of rain in just half a day. Overall it was the strongest rainfall in Huludao since meteorological records began in 1951.”

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-08-30/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDgwNTY1/index.html


“Typhoon Shanshan Brings Devastating Rainfall, Halts Transportation Across Japan; Casualties Include 6 Dead, 127 Injured, 1 Missing…

“In the 48 hours leading up to Saturday morning, rainfall exceeded 400 millimeters [15.8 inches] in some areas of Kyushu, Shikoku, Tokai and Kanto regions.”

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20240831-208514/


“Flood disasters still threaten West Kalimantan [Indonesia].

“Floods have hit several locations recently amidst the haze alert status due to land fires. Environmental protection should be included in the vision and mission of regional head candidates as a control tool to demand real action commitments.”

https://www.kompas.id/baca/nusantara/2024/08/29/banjir-masih-mengancam-kalbar-visi-misi-lingkungan-calon-kepala-daerah-dinanti


“Global timber supply threatened as climate change pushes cropland northwards…

“Researchers at the University of Cambridge have uncovered a looming issue: as the land suitable for producing our food moves northwards, it will put a squeeze on the land we need to grow trees. The timber these trees produce is the basis of much of modern life—from paper and cardboard to furniture and buildings.”

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-global-timber-threatened-climate-cropland.html


“How taxpayers’ cash is funding controversial efforts to manipulate the climate [UK]…

“…with growing fears the world could fail to limit global warming to 2C, the British Government is preparing to put taxpayer cash from the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) towards field trials that can test whether sci-fi climate engineering could become a reality.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/08/31/how-taxpayers-cash-funnelled-climate-manipulation/


“How Exxon chases billions in US subsidies for a ‘climate solution’ that helps it drill more oil…

“The US multinational has not always been such a strong advocate for the technology, but now argues that CCS is crucial in the climate fight and works, in theory, by capturing carbon dioxide from hard-to-abate heavy industries, like steel or cement, and pumping it underground to be stored indefinitely.”

https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/aug/29/exxon-mobil-carbon-capture-government-subsidies


“There Are Limits to Storing CO2 Underground To Combat Climate Change, Say Researchers…

“the researchers found that the IPCC included results from integrated assessment models – tools combining different sources of information to predict how carbon storage methods can impact our climate and economy – that often overestimate how much CO2 can be stored underground.”

https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/there-are-limits-to-storing-co2-underground-to-combat-climate-change-say-researchers-390352


“Countries still far apart on COP29 finance goal…

“With less than three months until this year’s COP29 UN climate negotiations, countries remain far from agreement on the summit’s biggest task: to agree a new funding target to help developing countries cope with climate change.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/countries-still-far-apart-cop29-finance-goal-2024-08-30/


“Boiling Point: Is it ethical to have children in the face of climate change?

“A Pew Research Survey published in July found that among U.S. adults aged 18 to 49 who don’t plan on having kids, more than a quarter — 26% — cited “concerns about the environment, including climate change,” as a major factor.”

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2024-08-29/boiling-point-is-it-ethical-to-have-children-in-the-face-of-climate-change-boiling-point


“Are We Only 20 Years from the Singularity?

“Ray Kurzweil… is best known, and wants to be best known, for popularizing the idea of a technological Singularity, a societal tipping point when the exponential growth of technology — culminating in an artificial general intelligence — will surpass human intelligence.”

https://www.govtech.com/opinion/are-we-only-20-years-from-the-singularity


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You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.