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New data strongly suggests that 2023 will undoubtedly be the warmest year on record, marked by deadly heatwaves, floods, and fires. The EU’s climate change service reports that global average air temperatures in October 2023 were 0.4C higher than the previous record set in 2019, making it the fifth consecutive month of record warmth. Researchers predict that extreme global temperatures will persist into 2024.

This year has already seen numerous records shattered, with July potentially being the hottest month in 120,000 years and September surpassing the previous record by an astonishing 0.5C. Although October wasn’t as scorching as September, it still set a new record for the month by a significant margin of 1.7C compared to the pre-industrial average.

Multiple scientific organizations, including Copernicus, NOAA, and Berkeley Earth, assert that there is a more than 99% probability that 2023 will go down as the warmest year on record. Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather from Berkeley Earth emphasizes the persistent trend of record-setting months, indicating no sign of reversal.

While the scientific implications of these unprecedented temperatures are alarming, the real-world consequences are even more concerning. Dr. Friederike Otto from Imperial College London highlights the human suffering, including thousands of deaths, displacement, and livelihood losses, caused by extreme heatwaves and droughts exacerbated by these extraordinary temperatures.

The primary driver of this heatwave is the continuous release of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. This year’s rise in temperatures is further compounded by the emergence of an intense El Niño event, causing warm waters to surface in the eastern Pacific Ocean and release additional heat into the atmosphere. Researchers are still uncertain about the nature of this particular El Niño event, as it appears to deviate from previous occurrences and may be contributing to greater ocean surface heating compared to past El Niño events.

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Claudia Duarte Agostinho vividly recalls the fear she felt during the devastating heatwave and wildfires that swept through Portugal in 2017, claiming over 100 lives. The trauma of those wildfires left her and her siblings anxious about their future. Claudia, aged 24, her brother Martim, aged 20, and her 11-year-old sister Mariana are among a group of six young Portuguese individuals who have taken an unprecedented step by filing a lawsuit against 32 governments, including all European Union member states, the UK, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Their lawsuit accuses these nations of inadequately addressing climate change and failing to sufficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This groundbreaking case is the first of its kind to be brought before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, potentially carrying legally-binding implications for the accused governments. The initial hearing took place recently.

These six claimants, ranging in age from 11 to 24, argue that the annual forest fires in Portugal since 2017 are a direct consequence of global warming. They assert that their fundamental human rights, including the right to life, privacy, family life, and freedom from discrimination, are being violated due to governments’ failure to combat climate change adequately. They have already experienced significant impacts, such as extreme temperatures forcing them indoors, restricting their daily lives, and causing health issues like eco-anxiety, allergies, and respiratory conditions. Remarkably, none of them seeks financial compensation.

The case’s proponents argue that the policies of these 32 governments are steering the world toward a catastrophic 3-degree Celsius global warming scenario by the century’s end. They demand urgent action to prevent unbearable heat extremes that threaten their health and well-being. In a 2021 study, the Lancet found widespread climate anxiety and dissatisfaction with government responses among children and young people worldwide, impacting their daily lives.

The governments, in their responses, contest that the claimants haven’t adequately demonstrated that their suffering directly results from climate change or Portuguese wildfires. They argue that there is no immediate evidence of climate change posing a risk to human life or health, and they question the ECHR’s jurisdiction over climate policy.

This David vs. Goliath case could have far-reaching implications, potentially binding these governments to increase climate action by reducing emissions and phasing out fossil fuels. It would also guide domestic courts dealing with climate change-related cases. A verdict is anticipated in nine to 18 months.

For Claudia, this case represents a glimmer of hope in an otherwise uncertain world. She contemplates the possibility of having children one day, but winning this case would mean that people are truly listening, governments are taking action, and a brighter future might be on the horizon.

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Italy is currently experiencing extreme heat, leading to red alerts being issued for 15 cities, including Rome, Florence, and Bologna. This heatwave is part of a larger trend of increasing temperatures and longer heatwaves globally due to global warming.

The European Space Agency (ESA) predicts that Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland may face extreme conditions, with potential record temperatures. Greece has already been experiencing temperatures of 40°C or higher, leading to the closure of tourist attractions like the Acropolis. There are concerns about the increased risk of wildfires in Greece and other areas with high winds.

Central parts of Europe, including Germany and Poland, are also affected by high temperatures. In contrast, the UK is experiencing heavy showers and cooler weather due to the southern shift of the jet stream. The current heatwave in Italy, named Cerberus, is expected to be followed by another heatwave called Charon, pushing temperatures above 40°C.

Heatwaves are also occurring in other parts of the world, including the US, China, North Africa, and Japan. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to global warming have become the new normal, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

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Even though Lithuania has just heard the pitter-patter of rain, the country is still suffering from a severe drought.

In certain areas of the country, the earth has turned to ash, while toxic dust has blown through the streets of Vilnius, the capital. 

The grass is a burned golden colour, and some of the trees’ leaves are beginning to turn brown.

Many find it unsettling.  

The small Baltic nation’s Farmers’ Union already projects that up to a third of its crops may fail, and summer has just begun. 

With officials this week barring trips to several woods owing to fire concerns, many more months of intense heat might yet be ahead.

A component of this intricate and varied environmental issue is low precipitation.

Only a few times have there been raindrops since April, with the most recent one occurring in the middle of May, according to Gytis Valaika of the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service. 

She notes that whereas May rainfall generally measures 53mm, this year it barely registered 16mm (in some locations less than 10mm).

According to Gabija Tamulaityt, an environmental specialist at the Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania, many farmers lack irrigation systems in their fields since they are typically not required, making them particularly sensitive to excessive heat.

The worst scenario is in western Lithuania, where cattle and arable cultivation have long been practised. Since early May, this region has been experiencing drought.

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Young climate activist Greta Thunberg has announced her plan to trademark her name and the movement she has launched to mobilise the people of the world against the issue of climate change – Fridays For Future.

The decision has been justified on the ground that her global movement has been misused by some to amass funds.

The big decision taken by the youngster has been announced through her social media handle – where she is extremely active nowadays.

Many in the platform have supported her brilliant decision.

Ms. Greta is a global figure at this moment. The Fridays For Future movement she has launched has already surmounted the limitation of border, becoming a powerful global movement to sensitise the people of the world about the problems of the issue of climate change.

The climate activist is very active in the social media. She recently engaged in a heated exchange of words with US President Donald Trump – who is known for his narrow minded attitude towards the issue of climate change.

The activist now has many supporters across the world. Over the last few years, many have come out openly in the streets to voice their support to the cause raised by the activist.

The climate movement is active not only in the west but also in the developing world – even in the under-developed world.

The youngster represents a generation who is worried about the irresponsible attitude of the establishment towards the issue of climate change.


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Global Climate News

The Health Minister of France has said that around 1,435 people have been killed due to the record heatwaves in June and July, this year, in the country.

Agnès Buzyn, while speaking to a French radio said that about half among the died people were aged above 75.

But, she thanked for the preventative measures and said that the rate was 10 times lower than the same period in 2003 when a deadly heatwave hit Europe.

The highest-ever temperature of 46C (114.8F) has been recorded in France, in June. In July, Paris had a high temperature of 42.6C (108.7F).

During France’s first heatwave this year, around 567 people have been dead from 24 June to 7 July, reported the Ministry of Health. Later, from 21 to 27 of July, 868 died in the second heatwave.

Reports said that 10 among them died while at work.

France faced Red alerts, the most severe warning category, during the summer season.

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The European regions of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have marked their highest temperatures ever in an extremely severe heatwave.

Kleine Brogel in Belgium have experienced the highest temperature since 1833 ( 39.9C ). Eindhoven, the southern Dutch city hit the highest temperature of 39.3C, which is a national record of 75 years.

The weather service of Germany said that a new record of 40.5C – just 0.2C higher – had been set in Geilenkirchen, near the Belgian and Dutch borders.

Confirmation regarding the new German record has to be obtained. A warning has been given by their team that it could get even hotter on Thursday.

As a result of this extremely hot climate, a Eurostar train broke down, creating trouble for passengers.

People, cooling off in the water atomisers, in Paris

At least 600 passengers has reportedly been stuck in the Eurostar train, near the Belgian town of Halle for two hours. Some carriages of the train were inside the tunnel and the other were outside, in the sun.

The reports said that the tigers in the zoos are being fed with chicken ice-cubes.

The Notre-Dame de Paris is said to be in the risk of collapse on Wednesday, due to the severe hot climate.

5 recorded deaths in France have been doubted for being linked with this hot climate.

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Most parts in the US has been hit by extremely hot weather, with temperatures set to peak over the weekend, as per the opinion of meteorologists.

About about 200 million people, who lives in the major cities like New York, Washington and Boston in the East Coast, and the Midwest region would be affected by the heatwave.

Some places are reportedly being closer to very high temperature of 100F (38C). The temperature is expected to be exceeding this soon. Parts of Canada are also affected by this temperature waves.

According to the new data by experts, the world experienced its hottest June on record this year, with an average temperature worldwide of 61.6F (16.4C).

In the starting of July, the US state of Alaska, part of which lies inside the Arctic Circle, registered record high temperatures.

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Global Climate News

The prime crude oil conglomerates show no interest to reduce their production capacity, despite repeated calls that demand the reduction of their production capacity to bring the pollution rate, especially the carbon emission rate, under the safe limit prescribed by scientists.

ExonMobil

An oil production conglomerate based in the United States, ExonMobil, is set to increase its oil production by at least 25 per cent in the year 2025. Other major oil producers, such as Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Total, are also on the similar path. It is the growing demand for oil that prompts the conglomerates to consider that path. Each year, the demand for oil increases by one to two per cent in the global market.

The aforesaid figures indicate that only the conglomerates are not to be blamed for the raise of carbon in the atmosphere. The world’s reluctance to reduce the usage of oil is also needed to be criticised.

Some of these oil production conglomerates have assured that they would invest in the renewable energy sector.

The past experiences have already taught that the assurances made by conglomerates should not be believed until those enter the phase of implementation.

The world must reduce its oil production by at least 20 per cent by 2030 if it wants to bring the global temperature under the safe limit prescribed by scientists.

The US decision to step out from the Paris climate accord is the biggest mistake that country has ever committed.

A framework like the one formed in Paris several years ago to address the issue of climate change is not to be discarded by any of its founding members until and unless it comes up with another equally applicable framework.

Vignesh. S. G
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