Category: CLIMATE CHANGE

Papua New Guinea has announced it will boycott next month’s UN climate summit (COP29) in Azerbaijan, with Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko calling it a “waste of time.” Despite being the world’s third-largest rainforest nation, PNG criticizes big polluters for empty promises and consultancy-focused aid. The country plans to pursue bilateral climate deals instead, with negotiations already underway with Singapore. PNG’s decision has reportedly gained support from other Pacific nations.READ FULL

The upcoming COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan this November faces critical challenges over climate aid negotiations. Nations remain deadlocked over who should pay and how much, with developing countries seeking $1 trillion annually – ten times current amounts. The summit, expecting 50,000 attendees, comes amid political uncertainty including the US election. Rich nations haven’t committed to specific funding amounts, while developing countries insist historical polluters must maintain their payment responsibilities.READ FULL

The UN’s World Meteorological Organization reports unprecedented water-related climate events in 2023, with rivers at their driest in 30 years and record glacier mass loss. Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warns these extreme floods and droughts are “distress signals” of climate change’s impact on Earth’s water cycle. Currently, 3.6 billion people face insufficient water access monthly, expected to reach 5 billion by 2050. The UN urges better monitoring and immediate action.READ FULL

Thame, a Nepali village near Mount Everest, was devastated by a glacial lake outburst flood in August. The disaster destroyed half the homes and key infrastructure. Climate change is accelerating glacier melt, forming unstable lakes. Nepal faces increasing risks from such floods, with over 2,000 glacial lakes mapped in 2020. Experts urge better monitoring and preparation for future disasters in Himalayan communities.READ FULL

Norway is set to inaugurate the Northern Lights project, the world’s first commercial CO2 storage service. The facility on Oygarden island will capture CO2 emissions from European factories and inject them into undersea reservoirs. With an initial capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year, the project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Despite its potential to combat climate change, CCS remains costly and heavily dependent on subsidies. The project is expected to start operations in 2025.READ FULL

A new study reveals that climate change is causing typhoons in Southeast Asia to form closer to coastlines, intensify more rapidly, and last longer over land. Researchers analyzed over 64,000 modeled storms from the 19th to 21st centuries. The changes pose unprecedented threats to coastal communities and cities like Hai Phong and Bangkok. Warmer oceans are altering storm paths and increasing their strength. The study emphasizes the need for emission reduction and coastal protection measures to mitigate future impacts. AFP