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Archive for November 23rd, 2015
School dropout rate rising as drought boosts hunger in Zimbabwe
Posted by Reuters: Marko Phiri on November 23rd, 2015
Reuters: When Thabiso Dube isn't helping his mother at home, the scrawny 8-year-old is working alongside her, doing odd jobs in exchange for food.
He should be in class, but has virtually dropped out of school because he is always hungry, said his mother Sithandile Dube, of Lupane district in Matebeleland North province.
Thabiso only goes to school "if he has the strength," she says - which can be as little as once a week, usually when there is enough to eat at home.
"We haven't had enough (food)...
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Climate change and the catastrophic wildfire
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 23rd, 2015
PhysOrg: Over the past several months news of widespread wildfires has coursed through the media from every corner of the world. In the United States, the wildfire season is now two months longer than it was 100 years ago. In 2015 alone, over 9.3 million acres of land have burned in the U.S. (the 2nd largest amount on record) and with current elevated fire risk in California and Texas (as of 11/12/15) that number seems likely to rise by the end of the year. The manifold economic costs of fires to land and...
Climate deal urgent after weather-linked disasters kill 600,000 20 years: UN
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 23rd, 2015
Agence France-Presse: Weather-related disasters have grown more frequent over the last 20 years, claiming more than 600,000 lives, the UN said Monday, issuing a further call for nations to strike a landmark deal on climate change.
The report from the United Nations agency for disaster risk reduction (UNISDR) said floods, storms and other extreme weather events have killed 606,000 people since 1995, "with an additional 4.1 billion people injured, left homeless or in need of emergency assistance."
The report noted...
A dam and mine disaster in Brazil causes major environmental damage
Posted by Mongabay: Ruxandra Guidi on November 23rd, 2015
Mongabay: Earlier this month, the Fundão dam in the state of Minas Gerais broke, starting the biggest environmental disaster in the country. Since then, the possibly 62 million liters of toxic mud travelled around 600 miles, transforming the Doce River into a pot of dust, killing most of its biodiversity.
The tsunami did not only cause biological damage: so far, 11 people have died, dozens are missing and 500 are left homeless. The water supply in the cities along the river’s path has been interrupted....
US states at risk from climate change
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 23rd, 2015
BBC: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events around the world. One US group has given the 50 states a report card, ranking the risk of potential disasters and long-term dangerous changes.
Most US states are well-prepared for current natural disasters, but across the country, states have done little to factor in how climate change will increase or change risks - from wildfire, extreme heat, inland and coastal flooding and drought.
"Many of these states haven't...
World leaders seek new path to slow warming of planet
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 23rd, 2015
Reuters: Next week, in the waning days of what is set to be the hottest year on record, world leaders meet on the outskirts of Paris for a summit that seeks nothing less than to steer the global economy away from its ever-growing reliance on fossil fuels.
The challenge is enormous and has proven elusive in the past. The U.N.-sponsored talks are aimed at getting 195 countries to agree on a path for cutting the greenhouse gas emissions which scientists say have raised global temperatures and begun upending...
New Report Finds Largest Global Miners Failing To Handle Major Climate Risks
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on November 23rd, 2015
Blue and Green: A new report, analyzing a group of the largest metal and mining companies, with combined market capitalization of US$329bn, has found they are failing to adequately manage carbon and water risks, with most unsupportive of new climate regulation.
The report uses data from CDP, the only global environmental disclosure system, and assesses whether the companies are taking action such as setting meaningful emissions reduction targets, conducting water stress evaluation or preparing for the expected...