Weather disasters becoming more frequent and costly: UN (September, 2021)

Number of extreme weather disasters shot up nearly fivefold from 1970s to most recent decade due to global warming. The number of weather disasters – such as floods and heatwaves – driven by climate change has increased fivefold during the past 50 years, killing more than two million people and costing $3.64 trillion in total

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Thousands of Iranian farmers protest against severe water shortages

Thousands of protesters have converged on Isfahan in central Iran to voice their anger after the city’s lifeblood river dried up due to drought and diversion. The massive protest, that drew in farmers and other people from across Isfahan province, was the biggest since demonstrations over the water crisis started on November 9. “Thousands of

Let’s talk about water in the southwest US –

The Roaring 20’s: Crash Course US History #32

In which John Green teaches you about the United States in the 1920s. They were known as the roaring 20s, but not because there were lions running around everywhere. In the 1920s, America’s economy was booming, and all kinds of social changes were in progress. Hollywood, flappers, jazz, there was all kinds of stuff going

U.S. to bolster firefighter ranks as wildfires burn year-round

U.S. wildfire managers have started shifting from seasonal to full-time firefighting crews to deal with what has become a year-round wildfire season as climate change has made the American West warmer and drier. The crews also could remove brush and other hazardous fuels when not battling blazes. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said Thursday

Weather disasters jump fivefold and will get worse: UN

Extreme weather and climate events have become more frequent, intense and costlier since the 1970s — and that’s unlikely to change, a UN agency has said. But thanks to early warning systems, fewer people are dying. Disasters caused by extreme weather have become much more frequent and costly since the 1970s even as warning systems have

California’s top Democrats took money from big oil and gas. Then climate legislation died

When California legislators went home to their districts for their summer recess in mid-July, our state was gripped by climate disasters of historic proportions. It still is. The Dixie Fire became the second-largest single wildfire in California history. Desperately low water levels forced the Oroville hydro-electric plant offline for the first time ever, giving Californians even more reason

Brazil forest fire season begins with concerns of mass destruction

The season of Brazilian forest fires has begun, and early data plus severe drought is sparking concern that nationwide destruction in 2021 will stay at the high levels recorded in the past two years, despite efforts to tamp down the blazes. The government space agency that uses satellites to monitor fires reported more area burned in the

Spain launches inquiry after dams drained for profit during drought

Firm used water to generate cheap electricity while price to customers in grip of heatwave is at record high The Spanish government has launched an inquiry after it emerged that a power company drained two reservoirs during a heatwave and drought in order to profit from exceptionally high electricity prices. Iberdrola, the country’s second biggest

Australia rejects climate targets despite damning UN report

Australia’s conservative prime minister rejected growing calls Tuesday to adopt more ambitious emissions targets, insisting the country was doing enough to tackle climate change. Hours after a landmark UN climate report warned catastrophic global warming is occurring far more quickly than previously forecast, Prime Minister Scott Morrison signalled he would not adopt a net-zero target.