Enormous thanks to my anonymous donor for May, who wishes to call attention to Rob Mielcarski’s thought-provoking un-denial site, also featured in my blogroll, which looks at overshoot and related issues.
“US pushes financial regulators to backtrack on climate risk project…
“Top officials at US financial watchdogs are seeking to weaken the power of a high-level task force set up in 2020 to examine climate change risks to the financial system by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the standard-setter for global financial regulation…
““It’s the wrong move at the worst possible time,” said Benoît Lallemand, secretary-general of the lobby group Finance Watch.
““Disbanding the Basel committee’s climate task force would send the absurd signal that climate risks are no longer a concern for financial stability, just as extreme weather, credit losses and asset repricing accelerate,” he added.”
https://www.ft.com/content/c6dca292-ebc0-40a9-93d5-477e3b05e8b3
“Why Trump’s Plan to Stop Tallying Weather Losses Matters to the Insurance Industry…
“NOAA staff will no longer update the site or crunch the numbers for any weather-related catastrophes that have occurred since this past December… That includes the Los Angeles wildfires, recent flooding in the Midwest and Southeast and a March tornado outbreak that killed at least 39 people across the central and eastern US — all multibillion-dollar events…”
“Using a 15-year trend, we have now officially passed 1.5°C of global warming.
“All recent La Niña months are above the trendline. Extrapolating this linear trend, we’ll hit +1.75°C by 2031 and +2.0°C by 2037.” [Leon Simons]
https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/1920872808747237837
“Global sea-surface temperatures are once again 2nd hottest on record for the day, as of May 7.”
[Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://bsky.app/profile/climatecasino.net/post/3loo6x2mdjc25
“Dolphin populations are rapidly disappearing along the English coast.
“Researchers at the Zoological Society of London have found a clear connection between environmental stress and the spread of diseases among dolphins in British waters. So, what’s causing this environmental stress? It’s a combination of chemical pollutants in the water and rising sea temperatures.”
“A Merseyside farmer says he can see harvest disappearing in front of his eyes, following the driest start to spring in 69 years…
“”There’s not going to be any quality or volume of any wheat or barley yields this year at all. “Everyone talks about 1976 being dry but I think this year is already drier than that…””
https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/liverpool/news/merseyside-farmer-harvest-disappearing-eyes/
“European and British soils seriously degraded by intensive farming…
““Europe and the UK are experiencing extremes – parched fields one month, flooded towns the next. What this report makes clear is that our soils are no longer buffering us,” said a spokesperson for the group. “We are losing the natural infrastructure that manages water.””
“Killer hail: unusual tornado killed cows in Orenburg region [Russia]…
“The Tobolsky state farm in the Orenburg region suffered greatly due to bad weather. A powerful tornado destroyed a complex of farm buildings, leaving the cattle defenseless. After gusts of hurricane wind, large hail fell on the cows…”
“Today, May 9, Rostov was hit by a downpour with large hail [Russia]. Residents are sharing photos of the bad weather on social networks…
“According to eyewitnesses, the center of the Don capital quickly went under water, and those who stayed at home complained on social networks that the hail could damage seedlings and cars.”
https://bloknot-rostov.ru/news/na-rostov-obrushilsya-liven-s-grozoy-i-krupnym-gra
“Hail, rain and floods hit Valencia again, reminding locals of the DANA tragedy…
“Avamet shared a stunning video showing an intense river of rain and hail streaming through a Valencian locality. The storm flooded towns from Utiel to Chiva. Rivers burst, roads vanished, and homes filled with mud, echoing the October 29th, 2024 DANA disaster that claimed 224 lives, wrecked 100,000 cars, and left Paiporta’s suburbs buried in toxic mud.”
“Balearic Sea temperature above average for the whole of 2025 so far…
“SOCIB records show a progressive increase in sea surface temperatures in certain areas of the Mediterranean. In the Balearic Islands, these have increased by 0.4 degrees per decade since 1982… In 2024, there was a record increase in the average annual temperature of the Mediterranean…“
“EXCEPTIONAL MEDITERRANEAN HEAT WAVE:
“North Africa and Europe with exceptional heat: 45.3C [113.5F] in Algeria,43.1 in Libya with minimums up to 29C on the coast. 36.1C in Crete (Greece) and Cyprus.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1920917713427263970
“Social media was flooded on Wednesday… with impressive images of hailstorms in the Kef governorate [Tunisia]…
“An exceptional meteorological episode, marked by heavy hailstorms. The videos show rainfall of rare intensity, raising concerns about its impact on several agricultural crops.”
“Conflict, extreme weather worsening hunger in West and Central Africa, WFP warns.
“In the lean season — a period between harvests when food supplies are very low and which runs from June to August — nearly three million of those people throughout the region will face emergency levels of hunger… The report did not include the Democratic Republic of Congo…”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2600167/world
“Dredging and pollution threaten fishing in the Niger River…
““Every night, local residents take advantage of the darkness to dump their garbage in the river,” says Traoré, the young fisherman. “This irresponsible behavior is a serious problem, not only for us fishers but for the entire fishing industry.””
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/05/dredging-and-pollution-threaten-fishing-in-the-niger-river/
“CENTRAL ASIA RECORD HEAT:
“Another insane hot night with tropical nights at 2000m above sea level! in Tajik and Kazakh highlands with several monthly records smashed. An absolute madness. MAX: 39C [102.2F] in Kazakhstan again, 33C in Siberia.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1920791240422916339
“Flash floods kill two, injure three in eastern Afghanistan…
“The floods were triggered by heavy rainfall in the outskirts of Yaqubi Sabri district, causing widespread destruction and prompting concern over the country’s increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events.”
https://ilkha.com/english/world/flash-floods-kill-two-injure-three-in-eastern-afghanistan-456449
“India-Pakistan conflict over water reflects a region increasingly vulnerable to climate change.
“The region is home to nearly a quarter of the global population, and relies on huge transboundary rivers fed by Himalayan glaciers… A breakdown in water diplomacy could trigger environmental collapse, humanitarian crises and geopolitical instability.”
“Punjab-Haryana water crisis [India]: Cooperation is needed before the wells run dry [Punjab borders Pakistan].
“The dispute highlights not only a fight over water but also a fundamental failure of sustainable resource management. Punjab’s groundwater running at extraction is at a critical 165 per cent of its sustainable limit. It means that the state is withdrawing far more water than can be naturally replenished.”
“At 22.2C [72F], Mumbai wakes up to coldest May day; previous low was 22.80C in 1951…
“In what marks a departure of a whopping eight degrees in only two days, the dip in heat levels came along the heels of Mumbai recording a minimum temperature of 28.9 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning.”
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-coldest-may-day-decade-9990436/
“‘If I had to choose, I’d prefer the earthquake’: the 2015 disaster left Nepal in ruins, now record rains wreak fresh havoc…
“Nepal’s topography leaves it vulnerable to floods and landslides and this is exacerbated by increasingly erratic rainfall patterns. Studies suggest the Himalayas are warming up to 0.7C (1.26F) faster than the global average.”
“Against the tide: N. Korea’s desperate race to prevent another flood disaster.
“In North Pyongan province, construction crews are working at a feverish pace to build levees before the summer rains arrive. Following last year’s devastating floods, authorities have mobilized thousands of workers in an unprecedented effort to strengthen flood defenses along the Yalu River.”
“The hail in Xi’an is as big as pigeon eggs! [China]
“The hail in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province was as big as pigeon eggs, and the sheet metal of hundreds of cars was… dented and deformed. In addition, due to continuous heavy rains, the interior of the Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, which had only been in operation for three months, had turned into a water cave.”
https://news.tvbs.com.tw/china/2865860
“BRUTAL HEAT IN SE ASIA:
“Up to 44.4C [111.9F] in CHINA; Minimums >30C in VIETNAM (30.4C Rach Gia), 42C and high humidity in THAILAND with heat indexes >50C. Record heat also in the PHILIPPINES,MALAYSIA (35.7 Limbang), INDONESIA (35.9 Tanjungkarang).”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1920832891199639906
“Flood waters pour into Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in rare spectacle ‘supercharged by climate change’…
“After months of record-breaking rainfall and widespread flooding across inland Queensland, dark, serpentine channels of flowing water have reached the [far northern] South Australian outback.“
“Perth set to equal 118-year-old May heat record amid historically warm autumn for NSW, Tasmania and Victoria…
“Autumn has failed to load across many parts of Australia this year. March was the nation’s warmest on record… On Friday Perth got to 33.8C [92.8F].. this is the hottest day this late in autumn on record.”
“Mass livestock sell-off as farmers run out of feed and water amid drought…
“Large parts of southern Australia are enduring a horror run of dry conditions — the driest on record in some parts. Some drought-stricken farmers are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on hay and grain, and selling livestock they cannot afford to keep.”
“Experts say South Australia’s mass marine die-off a dire warning on climate change amid fears of ecosystem collapse…
“Dr Mike Bossley, who has studied SA’s oceans for nearly five decades, said the scale of destruction was unlike anything he had seen and blamed the worsening bloom on climate-related conditions. “I’ve never seen anything like this … it’s a wasteland out there,” Dr Bossley told ABC Radio.”
“‘We’re Already at the Limit’ of a Livable Climate Warns Brazil’s Marina Silva…
““Even if we can nullify deforestation, with climate change, if we don’t reduce carbon from fossil fuel emissions, the [Amazon] forest will be destroyed anyway,” she says.”
https://time.com/7284519/marina-silva-amazon-climate-interview/
“SOUTH AMERICA HEAT WAVE:
“Another ridiculous hot night with Minimum temperatures up to 27.2C [81F] in PARAGUAY – higher than a summer night. Records of Highest May temperature were broken including: 25.0 Paraguari PARAGUAY and 24.6 Trinidad BOLIVIA.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1920880399690953027
“Emergency in Sabaneta | Rains caused a serious landslide in San Isidro: five dead and two missing [Colombia].
“The incident occurred in the San Isidro neighborhood. Access to other neighborhoods was affected. Some neighborhoods in the city center were also affected by the flooding.”
“EXCEPTIONAL HEAT IN MEXICO:
“Three states with 46C/115F: Guerrero, Oaxaca and San Luis Potosi.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1920377355941384325
“Drought hitting close to 50% of Mexico…
“Drought and climate change have generated the country’s water crisis, along with technical losses, which is aggravated by excessive water use, causing companies in sectors such as mining and manufacturing to face increasingly strict regulations on their consumption.”
https://www.bnamericas.com/en/analysis/drought-hitting-close-to-50-of-mexico
“Everglades ‘Drying Up’ as Drought Plagues Florida…
“The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map shows that nearly the entire state is suffering from abnormally dry conditions. More than 25 percent of the state is facing extreme drought, the second worst drought category…”
https://www.newsweek.com/florida-everglades-drying-drought-2070396
“Extreme Heat Risks Summer Power Shortages, Warns Largest US Grid…
““PJM continues to voice concerns about the supply and demand imbalance driven by generator retirements and the slow build of new resources in the face of accelerating demand growth,” the statement said.”
“Deadly US rainfall in April 9% more intense due to climate change: Report.
“Human-driven climate change made the extreme rainfall that caused dozens of deaths in early April in the U.S. South and Midwest more intense and likely, according to a new rapid analysis from World Weather Attribution (WWA).”
“Breaking News! Code Yikes!
“April data for “total column precipitable water” just came in from ECMWF, and, you guessed it, yet another record high for the 36-month running average, while April 2025 was the third highest April since 1940… a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.” [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://bsky.app/profile/climatecasino.net/post/3lonyvi2e3226
“Annual mass change of the world’s glaciers from 1976 to 2024 by temporal downscaling of satellite data with in situ observations…
“While glaciers featured moderate mass loss rates in the 1970s and 1980s, the rates strongly increased in the 1990s, reaching about 375 ± 16 Gt per year in the last decade (2015–2024) and a record annual loss of 540 ± 69 Gt alone in 2023.”
https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/1977/2025/
“Even as emissions level off, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is growing faster than ever. Here’s why…
“Recent research suggests a weakened biosphere has strongly contributed. Severe droughts across the northern hemisphere in 2024 cut the ability of the planet’s soils and plant life to soak up and store CO₂.”
“Ground-level ozone wreaks havoc on warming planet.
“Ozone at ground level harms human health… In addition to harming human health, ozone at ground level also limits the growth of plants, reducing their ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide.”
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/ground-level-ozone-wreaks-havoc-on-warming-planet/
“Could a new wave of urgent theatre hold the key to tackling climate change?
“From a New Forest giant inspiring an asthmatic teen to a herd of animal puppets walking to the Arctic Circle, theatre far and wide is taking action – but with energy and optimism, rather than doom-laden tales.”
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You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an ”Economic” thread.
““I’ve walked these beaches for my entire life and have never seen anything close to this,” he said.
“This is nothing short of an environmental catastrophe.”
Others have reported struggling fish and discoloured surf near Marion Bay and Innes National Park.
“If mortalities continue, a food chain and ecosystem collapse is entirely possible,” Mr Cameron warned.”
Welcome to the future.
😱😭😱😭
Cassandra, it didn’t make the cut but I saw an article about Texas’s plan to address future water shortages with desalination plants. Current environmental regs are wholly inadequate for that:
“… environmentalists, coastal residents, and some legislators caution that without stronger regulation, the build-out of half a dozen proposed desalination plants threatens to harm coastal bays and estuaries that drive tourism and host dozens of endangered species…
“Seawater desalination, which removes salt to produce potable water, leaves behind a concentrated brine that must be disposed of, usually back into the ocean… Current regulation requires only that salinity levels in estuaries are maintained to support “aquatic life uses,” but doesn’t define what that means or establish numerical standards.”
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/water-bill-desalination-20306700.php
The oft cited model food chain collapse and species extinction is for Stellar’s seacow – it took less than twenty years from humans starting to hunt sea otters to the seacow’s extinction (via an explosion of sea urchins and consequential destruction of the kelp beds the seacows lived on). I wonder how many other such trophic collapses we are currently in the middle of.
George, Jeremy Jackson’s “Ocean Apocalypse” talk is well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zMN3dTvrwY
Next week is looking like the start of hot weather, forecasts for Tue -102, Wed- 103 and mid to high 90s after that. Any forecast greater than 24 to 36 hours out is sure to change but I “got a feeling “ it’ll be a brutal summer. Pretty much given up on the river across the street flowing for more than a day if and when it ever does. Ten years ago come Memorial Day (later this month) it was a ‘once in 500 year’ flood that devastated the area and killed many. Hasn’t been the same since. Now our worries are about the aquifers, which all of us in the rural areas tap into. I’ve not heard one thing about ANYTHING getting better, more prepared perhaps, that’s about it. Time for a vodka tonic. Cheers mates.
Thanks. Yes, scary times. Bottoms up!
Here is an essay by George Tsakraklides that readers here might find of interest.
Technophilia: The Mental Illness Behind Civilisational Collapse
2nd paragraph:
“Any product created for the purpose of profit is incredibly toxic to the planet however “green” it claims to be. The problem is not whether our products are “green” or not. The problem is modern products themselves, every single one of them: they take too many people to make, accumulate too many miles, and become trash way too soon. These are not products. These are planet-killing machines.”
Good one.
“We talk about energy transition when it should be energy use reduction. We talk about family and prosperity when it should be population decrease. We talk about jobs and growth when it should be a steady-state economy. We talk about protecting nature when we should simply leave it alone. We always do, never undo. This obsession with doing rather than leaving things alone is the classic cognitive and behavioural bias behind technophilia.”
My “favorite” from this was
We’re Already at the Limit’ of a Livable Climate Warns Brazil’s Marina Silva…
““Even if we can nullify deforestation, with climate change, if we don’t reduce carbon from fossil fuel emissions, the [Amazon] forest will be destroyed anyway,” she says.”
Yes, apparently we are trapped in a Catch 22 situation…
Time for me to climb back in the Sycamore tree
The Egyptians believed sycamore trees provided a gateway to the afterlife, and the tree’s wood was often used for coffins
The Celts believed that the sycamore was a home to fairies and other spirits, and they often planted sycamore trees near their homes for protection.
There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich. Zacchaeus was a little man, and wanted to see Jesus, so he climbed a sycamore tree.
The phrase “Thomas Merton sycamore tree” refers to a book by Edward Rice, titled “The Man in the Sycamore Tree: The Good Times and Hard Life of Thomas Merton”. This book is a biographical account of Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, writer, and poet, with a focus on his life before and after entering the monastery.
Elaboration:
The Book:
“The Man in the Sycamore Tree” was published in 1970 by Doubleday. It includes photographs and personal stories about Merton, offering a glimpse into his life as a Beatnik, scholar, and later, a saint. Pop