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 August 2024 is Cassandra Mountain. Many thanks!


“Incredible. For the 2nd day in a row, 20°C [68F] is reached in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Before yesterday, the Longyearbyen August temp record was 18.1°C.

“It is only the 7th time ever 20°C is recorded in Longyearbyen, of which 6 times since 2020.”

https://x.com/Daaanvdb/status/1822963369822810411


“How the City of London is preparing for climate change…

“Historic financial centre is investing £68mn in an ‘extreme weather’ plan — but is it enough? …the City of London Corporation is rolling out environmental measures, from upgrades to riverside walls for protection against rising water levels to swapping British flowers for Mediterranean varieties better suited to the heat.”

https://www.ft.com/content/eafeddeb-6dca-42d9-9f22-d821d158ec6d


“How climate change is transforming the Wadden Sea [southeastern part of the North Sea]…

“”Climate change is impacting the Wadden Sea at all levels: Rising temperatures and sea levels are changing the coastal morphology and sediment dynamics that have shaped the Wadden Sea for more than 8,000 years,” explains Dr. Christian Buschbaum.”

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-climate-wadden-sea.html


“HISTORIC ALPINE HEAT WAVE – 33 consecutive hours above freezing on Mt Blanc! Aig. du Midi broke its all-time record – 17.4°C / 63.3F (3842 m).

“MORE ALL TIME RECORDS in Austria: 15.2 Sonnblick 3106m; 15.7 Brunnenkogel 3437m* ; 17.9 Pitztaler Glacier 2864m.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1823064713678217634


“On Monday evening, several severe storms hit Switzerland. The Bernese Oberland was particularly affected.

“A landslide occurred in Brienz. People had to be evacuated and several people were injured. Axentrasse is closed in central Switzerland. Torrential rain, heavy hail, waterlogged rails, strong currents crossing the railway line, roads blocked by falling debris and impassable…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd5JSBPC9Fc


“Drought devastates corn and sunflower fields in Romania…

“Still struggling after an intense heatwave, some farmers fear losses of up to 90% of all of their crops. Romania is suffering from the effects of one of the worst heatwaves in the country’s history. In July, temperatures exceeded 40C…”

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/08/12/drought-devastates-corn-and-sunflower-fields-in-romania


“Heat aggravated by carbon pollution killed 50,000 in Europe last year – study.

“Hot weather inflamed by carbon pollution killed nearly 50,000 people in Europe last year, with the continent warming at a much faster rate than other parts of the world, research has found.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/12/heat-aggravated-by-carbon-pollution-killed-50000-in-europe-last-year-study


“The Croatian heatwave isn’t set to relent just yet, with scorching temperatures and red warnings issued for multiple regions of the country.

“As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, get prepared to sweat as the Croatian heatwave that has dominated the summer season with above average temperatures in the air and in the sea so far is set to continue.”

https://total-croatia-news.com/news/croatian-heatwave-4/


“Athens: Massive wildfire with 25 metre-high [80 foot] flames rages out of control in Greek capital…

“The massive blaze, helped by strong winds and bone-dry conditions, has forced many people in the northern suburbs of the Greek capital to leave their homes. Hospitals have been evacuated and some areas have suffered power cuts, as temperatures neared 40C (104F).”

https://news.sky.com/story/athens-massive-wildfire-with-25-metre-high-flames-rages-out-of-control-in-greek-capital-13196124


“Italian hospitals report rise in heat cases as weather fails to deter tourists…

“The number of people accessing emergency care for heat-related illnesses has risen sharply in some of Italy’s most popular tourist cities, as the country experiences an intense heatwave that is failing to deter visitors.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/12/italian-hospitals-heat-illnesses-tourists


“Summer heatwave pounds traditionally cooler northern Spain…

“Temperatures soared over the weekend across Spain but especially in the traditionally cooler northern Cantabrian Sea area, triggering “extreme risk” alerts in the regions of Cantabria and the Basque country, weather service AEMET said.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/summer-heatwave-pounds-traditionally-cooler-northern-spain-2024-08-11/


“Nearly 46 DEGREES [114.8F] IN PORTUGAL – on 10 August the hot airmass passed through Portugal and Galicia, Spain with temperatures >40C.

“Particularly hot the area of Pinhao which reached 45.6C [August record]. Hot also in the hill town of Vila Real which reached 40.2C, first time >40C in August.”

https://www.publico.pt/2023/08/23/azul/noticia/metade-portugal-continental-atingiu-superou-40c-tercafeira-2060963


“The Mediterranean just reached a new record high average Sea Surface Temperature of 28.15ºC [82.7F]!

“Next year the region will double down on the aerosol termination shock, when sulphur emissions from shipping reduce with another 80%, from May 1st, 2025.”

https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/1823127268119429453


“Algerians flee wildfires in country’s northeast…

“Residents were told to leave homes in the fire’s path in Tizi Ouzou province, news site Ennahar Online reported quoting a forest official, though it was not immediately clear how many people were affected.”

https://www.newarab.com/news/algerians-flee-wildfires-countrys-northeast


“Thousands of records are falling all over Oceania, Asia, Northern and Southern Africa, North and South America, Antarctica and the Arctic. What about Central Africa?

“Record heat too, of course: 36.5 [97.7F] Gamboma CONGO August record.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1822339732019311065


“Cape Town Had Record Rainfall in July as Storms Battered City.

“Cape Town had the most most rainfall on record in July as a series of winter storms battered South Africa’s second-biggest city. The Oranjezicht station, near the city center, recorded 317.6 millimeters (12.5 inches) of rain in the month, the highest since records began…”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-12/cape-town-had-record-rainfall-in-july-as-storms-battered-city


“In a rare event.. Rain and lightning visit the driest Arab regions for the first time in 100 years [NE Africa]…

“Weather forecasters at the Arab Weather Center said that the Libyan desert and southern Egypt are among the driest regions in the world, and it is rare for these regions to experience rain… it is expected that these areas will witness the influx of large amounts of tropical moisture…”

https://www.arabiaweather.com/en/content/arab-countries-in-a-rare-event-rain-and-lightning-visit-the-driest-arab-regions-for-the-first-time-in-100-years


“A drowning town: are Bentiu’s dykes [Sudan] high enough to save it from disaster?

“UN troops are shoring up flood defences in the South Sudan town. But with record rains forecast, the lives of tens of thousands of displaced people could be at risk… fears are mounting that attempts to preserve Bentiu are futile and that it could soon be washed away, potentially with huge loss of life…”

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/13/south-sudan-bentiu-floods-dykes-refugee-camp-internally-displaced-people-climate-lake-victoria-united-nations


“Pain of children displaced by floods [Kenya]…

“Swelling of Lake Victoria and the bursting of River Nyando banks due to heavy rains have created a new generation of refugees, with children paying the heaviest price as they have little to eat and have to grapple with a sanitation crisis.”

https://nation.africa/kenya/health/pain-of-children-displaced-by-floods-4722820


“The death toll from a landslide at a vast garbage dump in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, has risen to 21, police said Sunday…

“After torrential rain in recent weeks, a huge mound of garbage at the city’s only landfill site collapsed late Friday, crushing and burying homes on the edge of the site as residents slept.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/death-toll-landslide-uganda-garbage-dump-rises-13-rcna166122


“CENTRAL ASIA-MIDDLE EAST HEAT WAVE: Brutal heat continues in IRAN with up to 44C [111.2F] at 1500m asl and it will get worse breaking more world records next week.

“MINIMUMS up to 35C in EGYPT and 32C in the former USSR including an insane record of 27.3 Jalalabad on KYRGYZ highlands today.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1822295375689978184


“28 dead as rains wreak havoc in north, northwest [India]; several Haryana villages inundated.

“…heavy downpours lashed north and northwest India, causing landslides, traffic chaos and house collapses, as well as a dam breach which inundated several villages in Haryana.”

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/28-dead-as-rains-wreak-havoc-in-north-northwest-several-haryana-villages-inundated/article68513927.ece


“HISTORIC HEAT IN MYANMAR. Records of August hottest day fell: 40.5 [104.9F] Mandalay; 38.4 Lunkyaw; 31.5 Loilin.

“Barely any country in the world outside Europe has been sparred by breaking records these days.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1822686716207009801


“EXTRAORDINARY HEAT WAVE IN VIETNAM:

“Records are being brutalized from North to South with huge margins. Most important August records today: 40.1 [104.2F] Do Luong; 39.3 Ha Dong; 39 Nam Dinh; 38.7 Hung Yen; 38.1 Hai Duong – and dozens more.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1822263352795562047


“THAILAND did it again! MINIMUM of 29.6C [85.3F] at Bangkok Pilot on 11 August tied the THAI AUGUST HOTTEST NIGHT in history.

“More records of high minimums on 12 August too: 29.4 Rayong; 28.5 Tak; 28.0 Anthong, Sukhothai and Sri Samrong… Apart of the 39C+ inland, 36.4 Koh Samui also record.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1822806268064510362


“South Korea heatwave likely to persist until Aug 22.

“…major cities, such as Incheon and Busan, have been experiencing tropical nights for 20 and 18 days in a row respectively. The two cities saw temperatures reach up to 29.7 and 28.8 deg C as at 8am on Aug 12.”

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-heat-wave-likely-to-persist-until-aug-22


“JAPANESE HEAT WAVE NEVER ENDS: Extreme conditions persist since June with mins up to 30C, maxes up to 40C [104F] and high humidity.

“Heat spread to Hokkaido with >36C and more all time records: 36.3 Naganuma; 34.4 Atsuma; 33.9 Shizunai; 35.8 Isen; 37.8 Hokota; 34.7 Ebetsu monthly; TMIN 27.3 Oshima.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1822990147249434787


“A severe storm has battered Japan’s Kuji city, bringing record-breaking rainfall and significant disruption.

“Over a 24-hour period, the storm delivered 368 millimeters (14 inches) of rain, shattering previous records and far surpassing the area’s average August rainfall of 177.9 millimeters.”

https://wenewsenglish.pk/severe-storm-hits-japan-with-record-rainfall/


“Another record in the tiny Cocos Islands AUSTRALIA – 31.0C [87.8F] Today broke its August record of highest temperature, after breaking those of all previous months.

“Despite the official end of El Nino, nearly 100% of the tropics are pulverizing all records, every day, without stopping.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1822613812002119748


“EXTRAORDINARY 40 DEGREES [104F] IN WINTER IN BRAZIL & SOUTH AFRICA.

“A cold front pushed the heat towards Northern Brazil: 40.5 Alto; Parnaiba; 38.8 Caico; 38.6 Patos. 39.4 Skukuza,38.1 Hoedspruit; 37.8 Pongola; 37.6 Makatini; 37.6 Thohoyandou… all places at 500m-600m asl.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1822721009188835690


“Torrential rains in Brazil have eroded parts of a fossil site, revealing what scientists think could be the world’s oldest known dinosaur skeletons.

“The “almost fully preserved” dinosaur fossil, discovered next to a reservoir in Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, could be around 233 million years old, researchers say.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/brazil-rain-dinosaur-fossil-oldest-b2591864.html


“Heavy rains cause severe flooding in Valdez and Mariño municipalities in Sucre [Venezuela].

“The heavy rains recorded early Saturday morning in the Paria area, Sucre state, caused serious flooding in the municipalities of Valdez and Mariño, where homes were damaged and property was lost in several areas.”

https://correodelcaroni.com/region/lluvias-causan-graves-inundaciones-en-municipios-valdez-y-marino-de-sucre/


“HISTORIC – 41.8 [107.2F] at Boca de Mao DOMINICAN REPUBLIC …IS THE HIGHEST RELIABLE TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED ANYWHERE IN THE CARIBBEAN.

“Climatic history rewritten.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1823029036022374796


“Tropical Storm Ernesto forecast to form soon, may bring flooding to Puerto Rico…

“Forecasters are tracking a fast-moving system in the central tropical Atlantic Ocean that could soon become Tropical Storm Ernesto and eventually a major hurricane. It is headed west toward the Caribbean with heavy rain…”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/08/12/tropical-storm-ernesto-puerto-rico/


“Rain causes flooding and traffic chaos in southern Mexico City.

“Due to heavy rains this afternoon, areas in Tlalpan, such as Hermenegildo Galeana and Calzada de Tlalpan, as well as the center of the Coyoacán Municipality , are reporting water levels of 1.50 meters and 40 centimeters high.”

https://www.reforma.com/registra-tlalpan-inundaciones-hay-alerta-roja-por-lluvias/ar2855458


“A rare tornado brought winds up to 100 miles per hour to Cripple Creek in Teller County, Colorado, on Friday afternoon, near Colorado’s popular Pikes Peak mountain.

“AccuWeather shared video footage of damage from the storm several days after the tornado struck, noting how rare it is for a tornado to form in high-elevation areas.”

https://www.newsweek.com/rare-tornado-tears-through-colorado-pikes-peak-1938238


“Wild Flash Floods Force Rescues And Leave Homes, Cars, Roads Submerged [Oklahoma]…

“Flash floods struck the Oklahoma City area, causing road closures and prompting emergency rescues after a slow-moving thunderstorm dumped nearly 10 inches of rain in 24 hours.”

https://www.newsweek.com/oklahoma-rainfall-flash-flood-damage-1938057


“A surge of sick sea lions are washing up along the California coast suffering from symptoms of algae poisoning, experts say.

“The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito has responded to 90 sick sea lions in San Luis Obispo County since July 29, and nearly 30 percent of the animals they helped have died.”

https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/other/sea-lions-are-suddenly-dying-in-huge-numbers-along-beloved-coastline/ar-AA1oCiMG


“Algal blooms, fueled by warmer Northwest waters, create toxic recipe for coastal shellfish…

“It’s been an active year for toxic algal blooms within Washington’s waters. The Washington State Department of Health has detected paralytic shellfish poison in many of the state’s marine areas.”

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/08/11/northwest-shellfish-harvest-struggles-toxic-algal-blooms-climate-change/


“Sudden, massive die-off claims thousands of fish in Duncan area lake [BC, Canada]…

“A massive fish die off, likely in the thousands, has struck Somenos Lake. The fish appear to be mostly pumpkinseed fish, which is an invasive species, although there are reports of some young coho salmon and sunfish among the dead.”

https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/sudden-massive-die-off-claims-thousands-of-fish-in-duncan-area-lake-7482416


“Pacific Northwest tribes battered by climate change but fight to get money meant to help them…

“Coastal tribes in the Pacific Northwest experience some of the most severe effects of climate change — from rising seas to severe heat — but face an array of bureaucratic barriers to access government funds meant to help them adapt, a report released Monday found.”

https://www.voanews.com/a/pacific-northwest-tribes-battered-by-climate-change-but-fight-to-get-money-meant-to-help-them-/7739779.html


“Quebecers face months of cleanup after record rainfall…

“Quebec municipalities hit by the remnants of tropical storm Debby say they’re looking at months of recovery from a natural disaster that was unlike anything they had seen before.”

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-slowly-recovers-after-record-rainfall-knocks-out-power-floods-homes-and-roads


“Parts of Canada’s Boreal Forest Are Burning Faster Than They Can Regrow…

“The boreal forests are the largest forests in the world, and in Western Canada they evolved to burn once every century or so. But this patch of forest had just burned for the second time in a decade.”

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/08/12/climate/canada-wildfires.html


“Another exceptionally hot day in the Canadian Arctic! New MONTHLY records in Nunavut.

“30.7°C / 87.3F Arviat; Previous record: 30.4°C (Aug. 1, 1985) [hourly max]; 30.6°C Chesterfield Inlet; Previous record: 28.7°C (Aug. 3, 2020).”

https://x.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1822807873564348548


“Warming climate changing CO2 balance in northern ecosystems.

“A recent study has found that climate change is significantly altering how northern ecosystems manage carbon dioxide (CO2) in permafrost and non-permafrost areas, something the researchers say could have major implications for the global carbon balance.”

https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/2024/08/warming-climate-changing-co2-balance-northern-ecosystems-study


“Earth just had its warmest July on record [NOAA agrees with NASA]…

“The average July global surface temperature was 2.18 degrees F (1.21 degrees C) above the 20th-century average of 60.4 degrees F (15.8 degrees C), ranking as the warmest July in NOAA’s 175-year global record.”

https://www.noaa.gov/news/earth-just-had-its-warmest-july-on-record


“I guess August 2024 might be another record warm month?

“But September 2023 won’t possibly be broken, right? Nobody knows -we’re in uncharted territory.”

https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/1822979428101640545


“Global mean sea surface temperature anomalies (departure from average) so far this year – still the highest on record.

“[Data from NOAA ERSSTv5 averaged over January to July]”

https://x.com/ZLabe/status/1822976492617245008


“The climate impact of feeding ourselves is getting worse and worse…

“With the world’s population growing, the only way to reduce the enormous greenhouse gas emissions from farming is to make food production ever more efficient. Unfortunately, efficiency gains have stalled since 2010…”

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443472-the-climate-impact-of-feeding-ourselves-is-getting-worse-and-worse/


“We’re Burning More Climate-Warming Coal Than Ever. Why?

“Developing countries value coal as a cheap and convenient source of power they can use to modernize their economies — just as Western nations did before them… And coal remains resilient in many Western countries…”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-12/coal-and-climate-change-why-we-re-burning-more-of-the-fossil-fuel-than-ever?embedded-checkout=true


“Wary of Trump and Azerbaijan, businesses shun COP climate talks…

“Verena Radulovic, vice president for business engagement with think tank Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, said the shift is tied to companies wanting to separate their climate messaging from COP.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-us-elections-2024-climate-talks-cop29-republican-azerbaijan-baku-un/


“‘Who will protect us from seeing the world’s largest rainforest burn?’ The mental exhaustion faced by climate scientists…

“Only 6% of 380 lead authors and review editors for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) think that the 1.5 °C warming limit set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement can be achieved… Most said they felt distress and frustration…”

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02605-0


You’ve probably noticed this post is free. I rely on donations and tips from my readers to sustain this effort. Every little bit helps. Can you chip in even a dollar? Buy me a coffee or become a Patreon supporter. I personally acknowledge every donation individually. Thank you.

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