The second-largest and second-most populous continent in the world is Africa. Earlier this year, the African Development Bank released its African Economic Outlook 2022, which details how the continent is bearing the brunt of climate change despite contributing to just 3% of total global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. With a high vulnerability to climate change and poor preparation for adaptation to climatic shocks, it is the least climate-resilient continent in the world. Here are some of the most pressing environmental issues in Africa and how local and national governments are addressing them.

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Top Environmental Issues in Africa in 2024

1. Deforestation

Deforestation is one of the main factors that harm the ecological balance of the entire planet, not just Africa. Soil erosion, climate change, decreased rainfall, and many other unfavourable circumstances are partly the outcome of the clearance of forest cover for timber and agricultural land. Forested areas all across Africa have been cleared for many reasons, one of them being cocoa, one of the continent’s largest cash crops. Four African nations, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon, use enormous quantities of land to produce about three-quarters of the world’s cocoa.

When the forest is lost, local communities lose the system that kept them safe from floods. Forests function as a sponge, soaking up rainfall, stabilising soils, and continuously releasing water. Consequently, the soil structure changes, and the securely held soil particles are disturbed as the pace of deforestation in Africa rises. When it rains heavily, flash floods occur due to the loss of ground cover caused by deforestation. When forest cover is cleared, runoff quickly enters streams, raising river levels and increasing the vulnerability of villages, cities, and agricultural fields to floods, particularly during the rainy season.

Trees felled for a cocoa plantation inside the Scio Forest Reserve in western Ivory Coast. Photo by Mighty Earth.

Trees felled for a cocoa plantation inside the Scio Forest Reserve in western Ivory Coast. Photo by Mighty Earth

Rainfall decreases along with the loss of rainforests. Agriculture has always been highly dependent on the weather, particularly in Africa. Farmers need a consistent supply of light, warmth, and precipitation to produce the food that all of us depend on. Africa’s deforestation is increasing, resulting in less moisture being absorbed into the atmosphere. Less rain means increased chances of droughts.

Currently, African nations are increasing their own financial responsibilities. For instance, Rwanda has pledged to restore two million hectares by 2020, tripling its restoration budget over the past five years, while Malawi announced a US$4.5 million commitment for youth-led restoration implementation. 

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2. Air Pollution

According to a 2019 NASA study, 780,000 premature deaths in Africa each year can be attributed to air pollution. High mortality rates are brought on by the expansion of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria and South Africa, while deaths in West and Central Africa are mainly associated with fire emissions. According to a UNICEF research, outdoor air pollution deaths increased by 60% across Africa between 1990 and 2017. 

Air pollution in Africa can be traced back mainly to emissions of ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides, sulphates, soot, and organic carbon from the gas industry and cities, which together account for more than 300,000 deaths each year. 

Power generation from coal is set to jump by 9% in 2021 to an all-time high of 10,350 terawatt-hours, said the IEA.

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Despite the fact that one of the primary sources of air pollution is the burning of forests and fields, this practise is common in places with low human densities. Burning biomass is, therefore, ‘only’ the third-leading cause of fatalities brought on by air pollution, responsible for about 70,000 premature deaths every year.

Governments and private sector organisations who want to improve power connectivity in rural or sparsely inhabited areas have difficulties since many rural locations in Africa are isolated, a factor that inevitably raises the cost of capital infrastructure for energy distribution. Governments are investing in solar and wind power facilities to ensure that the people in these areas have access to clean and affordable energy, thereby minimising the health hazards and diseases brought on by long-term exposure to burning wood fuel, coal, or using kerosene lights and stoves. 

Africa has made significant strides in the growth of its solar energy industry in recent years, with the continent seeing an increase of over 1.8W in new solar installations, primarily led by Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and Ghana. In order to simultaneously speed up energy access and support sustainable economic growth, Africa’s renewable energy mix has increasingly switched away from conventional hydropower and thermal facilities to renewable alternatives. 

3. Water Pollution

African communities face a serious threat from contaminated water. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), an estimated 115 persons die in Africa every hour from illnesses brought on by poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation, and tainted water. 

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Fetching water from a reservoir used for animals, Oromia, Yabelo, Ethiopia. Image by: VCG Photo

Water is a crucial component of well-being and good health. Unfortunately, there are innumerable African communities without access to clean, safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene. Additionally, freshwater sources are contaminated by viruses, germs, parasites, and pollutants, creating a “water scarcity.” Tropical diseases including cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and diarrhoea ailments can spread because of a lack of water. Trachoma, an eye infection that can cause blindness, the plague, and typhus are some frequent illnesses.

In order to access clean drinking water, families must walk extremely long distances. Carrying large buckets of water back to their houses is a chore that frequently falls on the family’s female members and young girls. They often have to leave school early, missing out on the chance to further their education to support their family. These water-collecting expeditions are risky and can potentially harm girls and women physically or sexually. 

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4. Biodiversity Loss

The biodiversity of Africa is crucial to the world. The continent is home to 22% of the world’s mammalian species, nearly a fifth of avian species, and one-sixth of all plant species. Of the 36 biodiversity hotspots worldwide, eight are found in the continent. They include numerous endemic species and are the richest and most biologically endangered regions globally. 

A number of factors, including population growth, extensive farming techniques, fast urbanisation, infrastructural development, and illegal trafficking, are causing the continent to see an unprecedented decline in biodiversity. 

Ranomafana, Madagascar.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) singles out Madagascar and the islands of the Indian Ocean as being among the most endangered in Africa. According to IPBES, about one million species are endangered with extinction and many more will be in the coming decades. By the end of the century, it is predicted that overuse and degradation of ecosystems will cause the extinction of 20-30% of lake species, a loss of 50-60% of African bird and mammal species, as well as wildlife and fisheries.

To cope with these challenges, a regional strategy to combat poaching and the illegal trade and transportation of wildlife and wildlife products has been developed by member nations of the EAC, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, and Rwanda, and is currently being implemented at both the regional and national levels. The approach is built on six main pillars: a stronger policy framework, improved law enforcement capabilities, research and development, community engagement, and encouragement of regional and worldwide cooperation.

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5. Oil Spills

Africa’s top oil producer is Nigeria, where over 300 million litres of crude oil are produced daily and are thought to be the source of 70% of the country’s earnings. Since petroleum was discovered in Nigeria more than 60 years ago, uncontrolled spills have been a common occurrence in the oil industry, the country’s main source of GDP. An estimated 240,000 barrels of crude oil are spilled in the Niger Delta each year, poisoning agriculture, waterways, and the atmosphere with hazardous chemicals.

Over 40 million litres of crude oil are spilled in the Niger Delta each year, killing people and harming the ecosystem there in the process. Between 1976 and 2014, the oil-rich region experienced more than 12,000 oil spill occurrences, according to a 2018 report by the Journal of Health and Pollution. More than half of them were a result of tanker accidents and pipeline degradation.  

According to a study linking environmental pollution to infant and child mortality rates in the Niger Delta, oil spills within 10 kilometres of a mother’s home increased neonatal mortality rates and negatively impacted the health of the mother’s living offspring. 

Two men walk in an oil slick covering a creek near Bodo City. Photo by: Sunday Alamba/AP.

Oil companies have also been accused of failing to uphold their legal obligation to clean up spills within 24 hours as required by Nigerian law. Amnesty International charged Shell and Eni – the two biggest businesses in the Niger Delta – of negligence in how they handled local oil spills. According to the campaign group, the environmental disaster in the Niger Delta had gotten worse because of the companies’ “irresponsible response” to oil spills. Both companies, however, have since refuted this claim.

If you enjoyed this article about the biggest environmental issues in Africa, make sure to check out our Series of Environmental Problems around the world. So far, we’ve covered the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Europe, India, Hong Kong, and China.

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The post 5 Biggest Environmental Issues In Africa In 2024 appeared first on Earth.Org.

Yemen, a country already plagued by a protracted civil war and humanitarian crisis, now faces another major environmental challenge – a potentially catastrophic oil spill. As conflicts continue to ravage the region, the United Nations has stepped in to mitigate the devastating effects of the spill and prevent further harm to Yemen’s delicate ecosystems and the livelihoods of its people. This article explores the UN’s efforts in dealing with this environmental crisis and highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing such incidents.

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Aa Potentially ‘Catastrophic’ Oil Spill in Yemen

The potential oil spill off the coast of Yemen has raised concerns among experts and environmentalists due to the presence of the decaying supertanker, FSO Safer. This massive vessel, which has been left abandoned and deteriorating, poses a grave threat to Yemen’s delicate marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on them.

The FSO Safer, originally used to store and transport oil, currently holds more than one million barrels of crude oil. This volume is approximately four times larger than the infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, USA, in 1989. The tanker has been stationary off the coast of Yemen since 2015, following the escalation of the country’s civil war, which led to the abandonment of the vessel. This staggering amount of oil poses a significant threat to Yemen’s delicate marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on them.

Experts have described the FSO Safer as an ecological time bomb that could explode or disintegrate at any moment. The tanker has been deteriorating for years, largely due to the protracted conflict in Yemen, which has left it isolated and poorly maintained. The precarious condition of the vessel is now raising concerns about its stability, heightening the risk of a potential oil spill that could have severe and far-reaching consequences.

If an oil spill were to occur, it would ravage marine life in the surrounding area. The delicate balance of ecosystems would be disrupted, leading to the loss of valuable species and habitats. Moreover, the spill would have a direct and devastating impact on the fishermen and coastal communities that rely on these resources for their livelihoods. Among the communities most at risk is the town of Khokha, located in Yemen. Khokha is a coastal town situated in close proximity to the deteriorating supertanker, FSO Safer. Its geographical location makes it particularly vulnerable to the potential effects of the oil spill. With an estimated 10,000 fishermen in the town of Khokha alone, the spill could result in widespread unemployment and economic hardship for these individuals and their families.

The consequences of an oil spill would extend beyond the immediate environmental and socioeconomic impacts. The cleanup cost alone is estimated at $20 billion, and disruptions to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab strait, situated between Yemen and Djibouti, is strategically important for maritime trade, and any blockage or delays could have far-reaching economic repercussions. To understand the gravity of this risk, we can look back at the Ever Given incident in March 2021. The Ever Given, a massive container ship, ran aground and blocked the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest waterways. The consequences were felt globally, as the canal serves as a crucial maritime route connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The incident led to a massive backlog of ships waiting to transit through the canal, causing delays and substantial increases in shipping costs for goods traveling between Europe and Asia. Similar disruptions in the Bab al-Mandab strait, caused by an oil spill from the decaying FSO Safer, could result in daily losses of billions of dollars in global trade. 

Yemen’s already strained ports, crucial for the delivery of humanitarian aid, would face further disruption, exacerbating the existing humanitarian crisis in the country. Additionally, the closure of desalination plants due to contamination from the spill would deprive millions of people of access to clean drinking water, compounding the challenges faced by the population.

The potential spill also carries regional and global implications. Damage to coral reefs along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline would hamper the country’s plans for developing luxury tourism, impacting its economy and future prospects. Furthermore, the proximity of the tanker to key shipping lanes raises concerns about possible disruptions to global trade, affecting international commerce and supply chains.

UN Response and Actions

In response to the urgency and severity of the potential oil spill in Yemen’s Red Sea, the United Nations has undertaken a critical operation to prevent a catastrophic disaster.

In December 2021, the UN put forward a plan to prevent a spill by transferring the oil to a safe vessel and establishing long-term replacement capacity for the Safer was endorsed by the United Nations senior management. The implementation of this plan by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has been contingent on funding. The UN has leveraged expertise from its system, external contractors, partners, and experts to prepare for this unprecedented effort.

The salvage support vessel Ndeavor, operated by lead marine salvage company SMIT, has arrived at the site of the decaying FSO Safer supertanker off Yemen’s Ras Issa peninsula on May 31, 2023. This operation aims to remove more than one million barrels of oil from the tanker to avert an environmental and humanitarian crisis.

The Ndeavor’s crew of experts was inspecting the Safer and carrying out necessary measures to ensure its security during the oil transfer to the replacement tanker, Nautica. This milestone marks the culmination of extensive political groundwork, fundraising, and project development led by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, who was present aboard the Ndeavor.

Recognising the vital role of local engagement, comprehensive training and capacity-building support are being provided to Yemeni authorities, responders, and local communities. The initiative aims to equip them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to empower local stakeholders and enhance their preparedness in handling similar environmental crises in the future.

Addressing the Complexities 

Addressing the challenges associated with the FSO Safer has been a complex task. The protracted war in Yemen has turned the port city of Hudaydah into a battleground, impeding progress in salvaging the tanker. Disputes over the ownership of the oil and potential revenue have also complicated efforts to address the situation.

Negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels, who control the area where the tanker is moored, have shown promising progress. This development has fostered understanding and cooperation regarding the FSO Safer.

However, obstacles remain. Bureaucratic procedures within the UN have slowed down progress, and insufficient funding remains a significant challenge. The UN launched a crowdfunding campaign to bridge the funding gap, but it is still $29 million short of the required amount. The organisation continues to call upon the international community and corporations to contribute and support the operation.

While preparations for the oil transfer are underway and the timing depends on the inspection results, discussions are ongoing regarding the handling of the oil once it is transferred to the seaworthy tanker. Potential agreements may include partial sales of the oil to invest in repairing Yemen’s infrastructure, considering the desperate situation in the country.

As the UN takes charge of this critical situation, its primary focus is to mitigate the imminent threat and protect Yemen’s coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and vital resources. Through coordinated efforts, adequate funding, and international cooperation, the UN aims to prevent a catastrophic oil spill and alleviate the potential environmental, humanitarian, and economic consequences that would arise from the disintegration or explosion of the FSO Safer.

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The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine has not only resulted in a  massive flood and a humanitarian crisis but it has also unleashed a series of severe environmental impacts that are of great concern. The breach of this crucial dam has disrupted the ecological balance of the area, leading to contamination, habitat destruction, and long-term consequences for the region’s natural resources. This article delves into the extensive environmental impact of the Kakhovka Dam explosion, providing insights into the magnitude of the damage and the complex challenges faced in the aftermath.

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The Kakhovka Dam, located in the city of Nova Kakhovka in Ukraine’s Kherson region, played a vital role in managing the flow of the Dnipro River, which stretches from the northern reaches of Ukraine into the Black Sea. The dam, constructed during the Soviet era, held back a substantial reservoir known as the Kakhovka Sea, providing water supply for communities upstream and serving as a source of cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which is now under Russian control.

However, the catastrophic breach of the dam has triggered a cascade of environmental consequences. Video footage captured the moment of the dam’s rupture, as water surged through the breach and flooded downstream areas towards Kherson. The resulting flood has displaced thousands of people and brought about a range of environmental challenges that pose significant threats to the delicate ecosystems and natural resources of the region.

Flooding and Contamination

The breach of the Kakhovka Dam unleashed a devastating flood that submerged vast expanses of agricultural land, villages, and towns downstream. As the floodwaters surged through the breached dam, they carried with them a significant quantity of industrial lubricant, estimated to be around 150 tonnes. This immense volume of hazardous substances has resulted in severe contamination of the river Dnipro, posing a grave environmental threat.

The presence of industrial lubricant in the river not only endangers aquatic ecosystems but also raises concerns about the long-term consequences on the region’s biodiversity and water quality. The toxic nature of the lubricant can have detrimental effects on aquatic organisms, including fish, plants, and other wildlife that depend on the river for their survival. The contamination can disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem, leading to the decline of certain species, habitat degradation, and long-lasting ecological damage.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed deep concerns over the situation, highlighting the risk of an additional 300 tonnes of industrial lubricant leaking into the river. This potential leakage further exacerbates the environmental crisis and underscores the urgency of containing the pollution. Swift and effective measures are necessary to prevent the spread of contaminants downstream and minimise the long-term impacts on the region’s water resources.

Long-Term Agricultural Consequences

The destructive flooding has resulted in the loss of approximately 10,000 hectares of agricultural land, as reported by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. These once fertile lands on the right bank of the Dnipro in Kherson oblast are now expected to remain submerged, rendering them unusable for future agricultural activities.

The consequences extend beyond the direct impact on agricultural lands. With the destruction of the water reservoir, the availability of water for irrigation is severely compromised. This absence of irrigation water is expected to lead to the desertification of formerly productive lands. 

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food further reported that the disaster disrupted 31 irrigation systems supplying fields in Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. These systems, which provided irrigation for half a million hectares in 2021, supported the production of four million tons of grain and oilseeds, with an estimated value of around US$1.5 billion.

Disrupted Ecosystems and Biodiversity

The dam, which played a crucial role in regulating the flow of the river Dnipro, supported a diverse range of habitats and species. The sudden release of floodwaters has led to the loss and alteration of critical habitats, such as wetlands, riparian zones, and floodplain areas. These habitats are essential for the survival and reproduction of many species, including fish, birds, amphibians, and plants.

Fish species in the Dnipro River and its surrounding waterways are particularly affected. Stranded fish, such as the thousands seen in videos near the village of Maryanske, face a high risk of death for being cut off from their natural habitats. The agricultural ministry estimated that up to 95,000 metric tons of fish may be lost, and warned against consuming fish swept downstream due to the potential for contamination and the risk of botulism. Birds that rely on the waterways and wetlands, reptiles like the Caspian whip snake, and vulnerable mammals such as Nordmann’s mouse are also at risk. The destruction of their habitats and the disruption of the natural flow of water pose significant challenges to their survival.

Landmine Risks

In addition to the devastating impacts on infrastructure and ecosystems, the flooding has created an additional danger in the form of dislodged landmines. The Halo Trust, a land mine clearance organisation, has conducted extensive surveys in the region and has found more than 5,000 anti-tank mines in the Mykolaiv region, with some minefields now submerged underwater. The scale of mine contamination in Ukraine hasn’t been seen since World War II, surpassing even the Balkan conflicts. The presence of these mines poses a significant risk to civilians, especially on the Russian-controlled side of the Dnieper River, where wide and extensive minefields had been set up.

Officials from both Ukraine and Russia urged civilians to be aware of the mine risk as they evacuate. The exact locations of the dislodged landmines are currently unknown, making it extremely hazardous for people to navigate and carry out recovery operations in the affected areas. Floodwaters may have moved the landmines downstream, potentially endangering communities residing in previously safe zones. The lack of precise information about the location and number of dislodged landmines further complicates the process of identifying and neutralising these hidden threats.

Water Supply and Infrastructure

The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam has significant implications for water supply and infrastructure in the region, posing challenges to both human populations and critical facilities such as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. The dam played a crucial role in supplying water to communities upstream. Its breach disrupts the normal flow of water, potentially leading to water shortages for residential, agricultural, and industrial purposes. The loss of a reliable water source can have far-reaching consequences, affecting daily life, sanitation, and economic activities in the affected areas.

Furthermore, the Kakhovka Dam provided cooling water to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which is located approximately 160 kilometres (100 miles) away from the dam and is currently under Russian control. Cooling water is essential for nuclear power plants to regulate reactor temperatures and ensure safe operation. The disruption of this cooling water supply raises concerns about the impact on the plant’s operations and nuclear safety.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reassured that there is no immediate nuclear safety risk following the dam’s destruction. However, ongoing monitoring of the situation is necessary to assess any potential long-term effects on the power plant’s cooling systems and overall safety.

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons.

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South Africa is currently grappling with its most severe energy crisis, marked by frequent and extended blackouts that can last up to 10 hours a day or even longer. President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government face mounting pressure to address the decades-long crisis, which has far-reaching implications for the country’s economy, social welfare, and overall development. To understand the causes of this energy crisis and what’s behind the persistent blackouts, it is essential to examine a combination of factors ranging from mismanagement and corruption to reliance on coal and inadequate investment in alternative energy sources.

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Mismanagement and Corruption within Eskom

A significant contributor to South Africa’s energy crisis is Eskom, the government-owned national power utility that generates approximately 95% of electricity in the country, as well as a substantial share of the electricity generated on the African continent. Mismanagement – including poor maintenance practices, inadequate investments, and inefficient operations – has plagued Eskom since 2007, resulting in a strained power supply. As a result, breakdowns and blackouts have become increasingly frequent, causing significant disruptions to daily life and economic activities. 

According to data provided by the company, South Africa is facing a severe electricity crisis in 2023, surpassing the levels of power cuts experienced last year. 

In 2022, the country witnessed more than 200 days of power cuts, which was already considered the worst year for blackouts in its history. The current situation has escalated to the extent that South Africans are enduring “Stage 6” power cuts, resulting in six to eight hours-long blackouts each day that affects the majority of the population. 

Furthermore, Eskom has been plagued by allegations of corruption and state capture, which have severely affected its ability to deliver consistent and trustworthy electricity. The utility has accumulated massive debt, estimated to be around 450 billion rands (about US$31 billion). This has limited its capacity to invest in infrastructure upgrades and modernisation. This debt burden has further strained Eskom’s operations, exacerbating the energy crisis and undermining the utility’s ability to provide consistent and reliable power to South Africans.

State capture allegations have raised concerns about political interference within Eskom, with contracts allegedly being awarded to politically-connected individuals and entities. This has compromised transparency and diverted resources away from essential infrastructure investments. The consequences of mismanagement and corruption extend beyond the energy sector, impacting the economy, businesses, and essential services like healthcare and education. Prolonged blackouts have disrupted productivity, deterred foreign investment, and affected public safety.

Insufficient Investment in Infrastructure

South Africa is struggling to meet the growing energy demands resulting from a growing population and increasing industrialisation. Another issue is that country’s energy infrastructure is outdate. Without proper maintenance and timely upgrades, these infrastructure components have become increasingly unreliable, leading to breakdowns and further power outages. 

Insufficient investment in infrastructure has also hindered the integration of renewable energy sources into the energy mix. South Africa has significant renewable energy potential, including solar and wind resources. However, the lack of adequate infrastructure has limited the country’s ability to harness these clean energy sources effectively. Instead, the nation remains heavily reliant on traditional coal-fired power plants, which further strains the power supply and contributes to the energy crisis.

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To address the issue of insufficient investment in infrastructure, the South African government has recognised the need for reforms. Initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) have been implemented to attract private investment in renewable energy projects and increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix. Yet, the pace of implementation and the scale of investment need to be accelerated to effectively alleviate the energy crisis and ensure a reliable and sustainable energy supply for South Africa.

Heavy Reliance on Coal

Coal has been the dominant source of energy in South Africa for decades, accounting for up to 87% of electricity generation. Despite playing a crucial role in meeting the energy demands of the nation, its drawbacks have become increasingly apparent. Coal-fired power plants are major emitters of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change and air pollution. 

Moreover, South Africa’s heavy reliance on coal has limited diversification in the energy mix. Over-dependence on a single energy source makes the country more vulnerable to supply disruptions. Shortages of coal or maintenance problems in coal-fired power plants can cause significant disruptions in the electricity supply, making frequent and extended blackouts a daily reality for South Africans.

Regulatory and Policy Challenges

One of the critical issues contributing to the energy crisis is the lack of a revised Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The current IRP, adopted in 2019, is already outdated, and the rapid developments in energy-generating technologies necessitate an updated plan. However, the absence of indications regarding the review of the IRP in President Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to keeping pace with advancements and aligning the plan with optimal electricity-generating scenarios.

The energy crisis was made worse by delays in construction projects. Indeed, despite the 2019 plan to expand wind power, solar power, and electricity storage capacity, development projects have faced significant delays. Initially intended to be operational by 2022, they are now expected to be ready only in early 2024. The identification of sites and developers for projects planned for 2023, including wind, solar, and new coal projects, hasn’t even started. These delays have slowed progress and pushed back the timeline for resolving the energy crisis.

Differing opinions and priorities among government officials have made it increasingly difficult to have a clear and unified approach to addressing the energy crisis. While Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe supports coal, gas, and nuclear sectors, he has also expressed support for renewable energy like solar and wind. These conflicting positions and lack of agreement within the government make it challenging to develop and implement a cohesive energy strategy.

In his regulatory efforts, President Ramaphosa has made some progress by easing power production licensing requirements, enabling private entities to establish their own power plants. While this has created opportunities to address the energy crisis, there is still more work needed to close the electricity gap and effectively tackle the pressing energy challenges.

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The post Understanding the Energy Crisis in South Africa appeared first on Earth.Org.

In September, one of the biggest low-cost carriers in Europe announced that it would stop offsetting carbon emissions from its aircrafts. While you probably hear a lot about commitments made by governments and corporations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to “net-zero” in an effort to halt climate change, many businesses assert that doing things the conventional way is not economically viable; this is where the idea of carbon offsets comes into play.

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What Are Carbon Offsets?

In a nutshell, offsetting carbon emissions means supporting projects that reduce or store emissions. In theory, that means any carbon dioxide emissions from businesses, governments, or people could be balanced out through investments in alternative methods that remove the same quantity of greenhouse gas from the atmosphere that was generated in the first place. 

Many accredited carbon offsetting programmes include:

• Preventing deforestation
• Reforestation, such as the planting of new trees
• Improving and maintaining forestry management
• Invest in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy
• Methane or landfill gas capture

Volunteer environmentalists in Indonesia celebrate International Mangrove Day every July 26 by planting mangroves in areas impacted by tsunamis. Photo by: Basri Marzuki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Cement producers, home heating suppliers, corporate giants like Google and Amazon, as well as the ride-hailing company Lyft all claim to be decreasing their carbon footprint through carbon offsets. When a business purchases offsets, it contributes to the funding of initiatives elsewhere that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as the planting of trees in Indonesia or the placement of massive machines inside California dairy farms that absorb methane produced by farting and burping cows and convert it into a fuel that can be used.

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When properly implemented, carbon offsets offer several advantages, as the businesses involved work together with local communities to improve the environment by cleaning up rivers, planting trees, reducing reliance on oil, and funding clean energy. With many carbon offset programs available, you can even designate the one you want to support financially. 

Trees near Mount Rainier National Park in the state of Washington allow for the sale of ‘carbon credits’ that companies can use to offset their emissions. Photo by: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

At the same time, however, the purchase of offsets has the potential to serve as a marketing strategy that ends up covering up businesses’ climate-harming behaviours. As long as they reach their offset goals, businesses that buy carbon offsets are not necessarily compelled to change anything else about how they conduct their business. 

Offsets allow businesses to establish their green credentials while giving consumers the appearance that their purchase has no adverse environmental effects. If they are not additional and long-term, these carbon offset schemes could be categorised as greenwashing, which has varying degrees ranging from zero, to moderate, to severe. 

The Problems With Offsetting Carbon Emissions

In 2021, only one billion tonnes of CO2 worth of carbon offset credits have been advertised for sale by green projects on the market, in contrast to the 35 billion tonnes of CO2 emitted worldwide. In other words, offsetting carbon emissions lessens the gravity of the issue, but it is still very far from providing a solution to the fundamental problem of lowering overall CO2 emissions to halt global warming. Cutting them at the source is a much more efficient approach to do it.

Companies are scrambling to buy carbon offset credits based on forest conservation projects, but the accounting is often riddled with flaws.

Another common strategy of carbon offset initiatives is planting trees. Yet, this is hardly a long-term strategy for reducing emissions. We would need to plant and care for a tremendous quantity of trees for decades in order to even partially balance out global CO2 emission levels, not to mention that deforestation is still taking place at tremendous rates around the world. 

The quantity of carbon that an offset programme pledges to capture may take a newly planted tree up to 20 years to absorb. Additionally, there is always a chance that newly planted trees will be destroyed by droughts, wildfires, disease outbreaks, and deforestation. The tremendous amount of time, money, and resources that we need to invest into maintaining newly planted trees thus arguably outweighs the benefits of carbon sequestration through tree planting.

Offsetting means preventing or removing equivalent emissions from your flight, but there is no agreement on how to calculate that.

Furthermore, a significant portion of the issue stems from the absence of a recognised international standard for carbon offsets. Instead, a variety of techniques are employed by private vendors such as Gold Standard, Verra, and the American Carbon Registry to count, certify, and broker offsets. In a study published in April 2022, the authors examined 100 offsets that had received certification from the Gold Standard and other organisations. They discovered that 90% of them did not offset as much as they initially claimed, were not permanent, had negative side effects on the local communities or ecosystems, or some combination of the above.

How To Avoid Greenwashing When Choosing Carbon Offset Programmes To Invest In?

Voluntary carbon market (VCM) offsets are widely available and frequently uncontrolled. More often than not, companies promote certain initiatives to gain public’s support and attention rather than for environmental reasons.

Businesses who are accused of “greenwashing” either invest in unverified credits, do not emphasise internal emissions reductions, or double-count carbon credits. Occasionally, even all of the above. These actions trick consumers into believing they are reducing their emissions when they are actually not. 

A carbon offset programme should meet the following criteria:

• A well-defined process that establishes which projects are acceptable and how emission reductions will be measured.
• Independent third-party verification of the protocol. 
• Registration of offsets in an offset register, which tracks each credit with a distinct serial number to ensure it is only used once. 
• Transparency in project execution and reporting.

The best chance of lowering carbon emissions and thus minimising climate change is to provide carbon offsets programs that are additional, permanent, fulfil certified project standards, and are completed to the end of their lifespan. Because some programmes are more effective than others, companies must evaluate the pros and cons of different programmes and select the ones that can benefit the environment the most. 

If you want to get into the game of reducing carbon emissions, carbon offsets are a good place to start. However, in order to be successful in the long run, we must not rely only on them. The best strategy to reduce our carbon footprint and offer the greatest environmental benefits is still to reduce emissions at the source and then offset the remaining amounts.

If you liked this article, you might also enjoy: Is Carbon Offset a Form of Greenwashing?

The post The Pros and Cons of Offsetting Carbon Emissions appeared first on Earth.Org.

Since the 1990s, the popularity of fast fashion has increased significantly in first-world nations. Consumers buy inexpensive, fashionable clothing for a small fraction of the cost of high-end goods. Clothes manufacturers have been able to build this business model by relying on cheap labour in developing nations, where workers are exploited and underpaid and often work in inhumane conditions. We explore what sweatshops are and how the trend has been evolving in recent years.

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What Are Sweatshops?

A sweatshop refers to a “typically tiny manufacturing establishment employing workers under unfair and unhygienic working conditions”.

Many fast fashion retailers like H&M and Forever 21 receive new clothes shipments every day. These brands are able to sell a huge amount of clothing and at extremely low prices by contracting with suppliers in underdeveloped nations. These businesses subsequently contract out the production to unregistered vendors that do not have to abide by any laws. In other words, there is no requirement for these brands to provide safe working conditions to these workers. 

Underpaid And Overwork: The Human Cost Of Cheap Clothing

Sweatshops are not a recent phenomenon and have been covered in the media for decades. The fast fashion industry has long been complicit in a system that pays workers below subsistence in order to maximise profits. This business model, which focuses on selling mountains of clothing at unsustainable costs, has yielded less and less profit to those who directly create them.

From Bangladesh to Leicester, the fashion industry is built upon mass exploitation. Credits: A.M. Ahad/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press.

In order to manufacture things quickly and inexpensively, sweatshop workers – often women and children – suffer grueling workdays and meager pay that does not cover basic expenses, while offering them cruel working and living circumstances. In several manufacturing nations, including Bangladesh, China, and India, the minimum wage only covers half to a fifth of what a family needs to make ends meet. In Bangladesh, workers are paid about 33 cents per hour, while the average wage in sweatshops in India is barely 58 cents. 

Working conditions are poor, unhygienic and unsafe since a large number of sweatshops are located in poor nations with weak labour laws and little government control; as a result, if workers attempt to challenge their rights or work conditions, they risk losing their jobs. Workers in the garment industry are required to put in 14 to 16 hours per day, seven days a week, and endure verbal and sometimes even physical abuse from managers. Oftentimes, workers are exposed to harmful substances while working without enough ventilation. Accidents and injuries are also frequent. In 2013, over 1,000 garment employees in Bangladesh lost their lives while at work as a result of the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory.

Bangladesh garment factory collapsed in 2013. Source: Business and Human rights. 

While these businesses rely on the poor, they particularly target underprivileged kids. According to a survey on mills in India, 60% of the employees were under the age of 18 when they started working. These kids are particularly vulnerable to being compelled to work in sweatshops because they are caught in the cycle of poverty.

The Severe Impact of Sweatshops and Fast Fashion on The Environment 

The ongoing demand of consumers for new clothing has a significant negative impact not only on humans but also the environment. When you combine this with the fashion brands’ planned obsolescence, which ensures that items wear out more quickly due to poor manufacturing quality, you have a business strategy that is inevitably wasteful. 

Between 80 and 100 billion new pieces of clothing are reportedly manufactured annually around the world, while a lorry load of worn clothing is burned or buried in landfills every single second. The number of wears an item of clothing receives before being discarded has reduced by more than a third since 15 years ago, according to market experts Euromonitor International. British citizens alone reportedly discard around one million tonnes of textiles annually. 

Fashion is ranked as the second most polluting business in the world by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD), right behind the oil industry. It takes 93 billion cubic metres of water annually, which is equivalent to 7,500 litres needed to create just one pair of pants. The amount of plastic microfibre that is dumped into the oceans each year is close to 500,000 tonnes. 

The poisonous colours produced in factories and the chemicals used in cotton growing are other aspects that highly contribute to polluting the environment. Water that is chemically contaminated kills organisms that are in or close to streams, therefore reducing ecological biodiversity in these regions. The chemicals used in dyeing have also been linked to a number of malignancies, digestive problems, and skin irritation, all of which have a detrimental effect on human health. When crops are irrigated with dirty water, contaminated vegetables and fruit enter the food chain, representing a huge threat to human health.

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How Can You Tell Which Brands Rely on Sweatshops?

A good rule of thumb is to verify a brand’s level of transparency; if they are not openly releasing information, it is definitely a red flag. In May 2020, two reports from Global Labour Justice (GLJ) describe the mistreatment of Asian female garment workers in H&M and Gap supplier factories, including (but not limited to) physical abuse, sexual harassment, unfavourable working conditions, and mandatory overtime. 

The best way to learn more about a brand is to visit its website and read what it has to say. These days there are a number of websites such as Fashion Revolution which produce an annual Fashion Transparency Index reviewing 150 of the world’s biggest fashion brands. You can also use apps like GoodOnYou to search for specific brands that have been rated based on factors like how they treat their employees, the impact they have on the environment and animals, and more.

Featured Image: Flickr

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The post Sweatshops and Fast Fashion: The Human and Environmental Cost of Cheap Clothing appeared first on Earth.Org.

Europe has seen a significant snow shortage in recent years and many are beginning to wonder what this could mean for the future of our planet. The abnormally warm winter Europe is currently experiencing is a clear consequence of global warming and it is yet another warning sign that we must take immediate action to address climate change and mitigate its devastating impacts on our lives and the environment.

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According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), the average temperature in Europe has risen by 1.5C since the pre-industrial era, with the greatest warming occurring in the Arctic and the Mediterranean regions. This warming is projected to continue, with temperatures in Europe projected to rise by 2 to 5C by the end of the current century.

A Warm Start to 2023 for Europe

This winter in Europe will be remembered for record-high temperatures and a significant snow shortage. Several countries have experienced an unprecedented heatwave, with temperature breaking records in several areas including Germany, France, and the Netherlands. In North America, cities such as Seattle and Portland have experienced some of the warmest temperatures on record, while ski resorts in California and Colorado are also struggling due to an unprecedented snow shortage. In Asia, regions such as Siberia have seen temperatures rise far above the average, melting permafrost which releases large amounts of methane gas into the atmosphere. 

Economic Consequences 

This “abnormal” winter has led to a number of negative consequences, including economic losses for ski resorts and other winter tourism businesses, as well as potential ecological damage worldwide. 

According to the EEA, the average snow cover in Europe has declined by 15% since the 1960s, with the greatest decrease occurring in the Mediterranean region. This snow shortage is having a significant impact on winter tourism, a major economic driver in many European countries. According to the International Ski Federation, the number of ski days in Europe decreased by 40% during the first two months of the current winter season, owing not only to changes in weather patterns but also to the long-lasting economic repercussions of the Covid19 pandemic. 

Another study published by the European Environmental Agency found that Europe has experienced a significant increase in average winter temperatures over the last few decades, leading to a decline in snowfall and making it difficult for ski resorts to maintain their slopes. This also has a major impact on the winter sports industry. Already challenged by the pandemic and inadequate snow conditions, the Winter Olympics now face an uncertain future.

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Environmental Consequences

Furthermore, the lack of snow has also led to concerns about the health of ecosystems. Snow acts as a natural insulator, helping to keep the ground frozen and preventing the release of carbon from the soil. Without it, there is a risk that more carbon will be released, contributing to further warming.

In addition to the snow shortage, climate change is also leading to increased heatwaves and extreme weather events in Europe. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the number of heatwaves in Europe has increased by more than 50% since the 1980s, with the most significant increases occurring in Southern and Eastern regions. Extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and storms are becoming more frequent, causing significant damage to infrastructure and resulting in economic losses.

Climate change is also significantly impacting Europe’s biodiversity, with many species struggling to adapt to the changing conditions. According to the EEA, almost half of Europe’s species, including several species of birds, butterflies, and plants dependent on specific temperature and rainfall regimes, are currently at risk of extinction.

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The impact of these heatwaves on food and water supplies is significant. Extreme temperatures can cause crops to fail, leading to food shortages and price increases. Heatwaves also affect water supplies, as they increase the demand for irrigation and can cause drought, leading to water scarcity. Oftentimes, heatwaves also lead to power outages, as high temperatures put pressure on energy systems not designed to cope with extreme weather.

Despite significant progress being made in terms of emissions reduction, more action is needed. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) have plateaued in recent years but they are still not declining at the pace required to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5C. In order to limit the rise in global temperatures, it is estimated that GHG emissions must decrease by at least 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050. However, the current pace of emissions reduction is not enough to achieve these targets. 

According to data from the Global Carbon Project, global CO2 emissions reached a record high in 2019, and emissions from energy production and transportation, the largest sources of CO2 emissions, are still increasing.

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Solution Suggestions

Scientists have been studying the effects of climate change on Europe and have proposed a number of ways to mitigate its impact. 

One key solution is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to renewable energy sources and implementing energy efficiency measures. This can help slow the planet’s warming and reduce the intensity of heatwaves. Europe has made significant progress in the adoption of renewable energy sources over the past year. The majority of this progress has been driven by wind and solar power generation, and the smaller countries in Europe are leading the way. However, there is still a lot of work to be done if Europe is to meet its ambitious targets for a more sustainable energy mix. 

According to recent data, around 33% of Europe’s total energy consumption comes from renewable sources. The majority of this renewable energy is generated from wind and solar power, with smaller contributions from hydro, geothermal, and biomass sources. In 2021, Europe continued to make progress in its transition to a more sustainable energy mix. The total installed capacity of renewable energy in Europe increased by 12.5GW, reaching over 300GW. This was mainly driven by the growth of wind and solar power, which accounted for more than 90% of new renewable energy capacity.

When it comes to the best-performing European countries in terms of renewable energy, countries including Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, are leading the way. These small nations have made significant investments in renewable energy and have set ambitious targets for the future. For example, Sweden generates more than 50% of its energy from renewable sources and aims to become 100% renewable by 2040.

On the other hand, some of the larger countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom, are still struggling to keep pace with their smaller counterparts. Despite being two of the largest economies in Europe, they generate less than 40% of their energy from renewable sources. This highlights the need for continued investment and political support for the transition to a more sustainable energy mix.

Another important solution is to adapt to the changing climate by developing more heat-resistant crops such as Sorghum, Quinoa, Amaranth, and Cowpea, and building infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events. 

By transitioning to renewable energy and implementing climate adaptation measures, we can help protect our communities and economies from the negative effects of climate change and snow shortage. It is also equally important for other countries to take action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changes that are already happening.

You might also like: Top 6 Environmental Issues in Europe in 2023

The post What Europe’s Snow Shortage Tells Us About Global Warming appeared first on Earth.Org.

Companies committed to making alternative energy sources more widely available are becoming more significant and well-known as the world shifts away from fossil fuels and its reliance on fossil fuels. Whether it be in the form of solar, wind, hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, or biofuel, these businesses are not only working to reduce reliance on fossil fuels but also offer potentially promising investment possibilities. Here are 5 renewable energy companies to look out for in 2023.

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The market for renewable energy was valued at $881.7 billion in 2020, and Allied Market Research estimates that it will nearly double in size by 2030. In addition, their analysis shows that 7% of the world’s energy needs are currently met by all renewable energy sources put together. Renewable energy sources will continue to be primarily used to produce electricity, which is anticipated to make up over 30% of the world’s electricity demand this year. The largest contribution, hydropower, is expected to account for 16% of the world’s electricity needs, followed by wind, solar, and biofuels at 6%, 4%, and 3%, respectively.

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5 Top Renewable Energy Companies To Support In 2023

1. Canadian Solar 

Canadian Solar Inc. is a solar energy company with headquarters in Ontario that specialises in the design, production, and sale of solar modules, inverters, system kits, and utility-level products. The company, which was founded in 2001, has subsidiaries across six continents and has active clients in over 160 nations. The business adheres to fair trade practices and neither buys conflict minerals nor uses child labor.

For Canadian Solar, the well-being of its more than 13,500 workers is of utmost importance. It also takes environmental protection and conservation very seriously. In fact, the business keeps reducing the amount of water and electricity used during the production process in an effort to stop climate change. Additionally, the company incorporated the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its business plan by doing things like providing solar panels to a hospital in Sierra Leone.

2. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP)

Located in Canada, Brookfield Renewable is a company that owns and manages renewable energy assets. The corporation has a global portfolio of renewable energy-generating installations. In addition to its primarily focused on hydroelectric power operations, it also owns and manages wind, solar, distributed generation, and storage facilities. Currently, the company employs more than 3,200 employees just in its renewable energy division. It is a leader in the field of renewable energy and one of the biggest producers of hydroelectricity, which accounted for 50% of the company’s portfolio in 2022.

Moreover, Brookfield’s portfolio, like other companies on this list, has made significant strides in reducing its emissions. More specifically, the company is able to save about 29 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to the emissions of approximately 6 million vehicles. Around 6,000 power-generating facilities with a combined capacity of about 24,000MW spread across North America, South America, Asia, India, China, and Europe are part of this renewable power business.

3. Vestas Wind Systems

Vestas Wind Systems is a Denmark-based wind energy company. It creates, produces, and installs wind turbines. The business also runs a service component that offers service contracts, replacement parts, and related services. The company provides wind turbines for numerous nations across the world.

By designing, producing, installing, developing, and maintaining wind energy and hybrid projects all around the world, 29,000 employees contribute to making the world a better place every single day. Their sustainable energy solutions have already prevented 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 from being released into the environment and contributed to a more sustainable energy system, with +145GW of wind turbines installed in 85 countries.

4. Clearway Energy

One of the biggest owners of renewable energy generating facilities in the US is Clearway Energy. With extremely effective natural gas-powered facilities, it complements its portfolio of wind and solar energy. Additionally, Clearway sells its power through PPAs, which give the business a consistent stream of income. In 2022, the company sold its thermal division, bringing in $1.35 billion in cash that is being reinvested in the expansion of its operations.

Clearway Energy now anticipates that, as a result of its transactions, it will be able to increase its dividend toward the high end of its target range of 5 to 8% annually through at least 2026. It plans to keep up it’s good financial standing in the interim. In the upcoming years, the company is expected to further expand its activities in the renewable energy sector while also generating significant value for shareholders.

5. SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG)

Last on our list of renewable energy companies is SolarEdge Technologies, an Israeli-based company founded in 2006. SEDG specialises in inverter systems for solar projects all around the world. The business has also started to develop other smart energy solutions using its experience in inverters. Through a series of acquisitions, it has increased the range of products it offers. These new products and services address a number of energy market segments, including solar, storage, electric vehicle charging, batteries, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), electric vehicle powertrains, and grid services solutions.

Although SolarEdge presently rules the solar hardware market, its future is likely to be influenced by energy storage. Developers of residential solar energy systems like SunPower, Sunrun, and Tesla are combining their energy storage systems into what are essentially power plants that can provide electricity as needed. In order to add value to all parties and establish a long-term new cash flow stream, they can charge an in-home energy storage system while power is cheap and discharge into the grid when electricity is expensive using control systems.

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The post 5 Renewable Energy Companies To Support In 2023 appeared first on Earth.Org.

2022 was another record-breaking year. Rising pollution, extreme weather events, unprecedented heatwaves, and devastating floods, coupled with the war in Ukraine, growing inflation, and energy shortages, have contributed to a year without precedents. As life finally resumes worldwide after three years of the Covid19 pandemic, the fight against global warming is really getting started. Here are four 2022 natural disasters that show us what the future might hold for us if we don’t take rapid, drastic action.

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2022 was a year for the record books. The WMO’s State of the Global Climate annual report said that the global mean temperature in 2022 is currently estimated to be about 1.15C above pre-industrial levels. And while temperatures kept rising, a series of natural disasters claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. River levels reached historic lows, compromising crops and halting international trade, while erratic rainfall resulted in devastating floods. Unprecedented heatwaves and droughts increased the duration and intensity of wildfires and contributed to food insecurity. The limitations of humans’ tolerance to intense heat were a topic of discussion among researchers.

While it is impossible to summarise them all, Earth.Org tried to recap some of the worst 2022 natural disasters to remind our readers of the dangers of inaction on climate change.

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4 Natural Disasters in 2022

1. Pakistan Floods 

First on our list of 2022 natural disasters are the cataclysmic floods that affected one-third of Pakistan, the fifth most populated nation on Earth and among the most vulnerable to climate change. Despite contributing as little as 0.8% to global greenhouse gasses, the South Asian nation bears the most brunt of global warming, with experts agreeing that rising temperatures have likely increased the flood’s intensity by up to 50%. 

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time weather catastrophes have occurred in Pakistan. In March, the country experienced a historic heatwave, with surface land temperatures in some areas crossing more than 60C, threatening millions of lives and the nation’s electricity demand and crop harvests. 

A woman cooks bread outside her tent. Estimated figures indicate that around 33 million people have been affected by the floods and will most likely require humanitarian assistance for a long time. When a disaster strikes, prompt support is vital. Photo by: Abdul Majeed/European Union (Flickr)

Weak governance and cooperation are major barriers to Pakistan’s ability to adapt to climate change. These elements have contributed to the growth of water mafia, unauthorised buildings, and inadequate urban and rural planning. The majority of climate resilience initiatives under the former Imran Khan administration were focused on tree planting, sustainable energy, and electric vehicles. Despite all of these admirable efforts, more pressing issues like unauthorised buildings, subpar urban planning, and a lack of adequate water storage should have been more prioritised.

You might also like: Floods in Pakistan: An Announced Tragedy?

2. The Melting Of Greenland Ice Sheet 

Climate change is warming Northern regions nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet. This, scientists warn, will trigger catastrophic weather events worldwide, from heatwaves and droughts to storms and floods.

This September has seen record ice melt in the Arctic – the kind typically seen in the middle of summer – affecting nearly 592,000 square kilometres of the ice sheet. According to scientists, we are looking at the largest melt event to occur in September in nearly four decades.

The ice sheet in Greenland, the second largest in the world after Antarctica, has melted so much during the previous ten years that the sea level has risen by one centimetre. According to a study, the global warming-trigger melting of 110 trillion tonnes of ice from Greenland alone will result in a minimum sea level increase of 27 centimetres (10.6 inches). A sea level increase of several metres seems likely due to ongoing carbon emissions, other ice caps melting, and ocean thermal expansion.

Mountain glaciers in the Himalayas and the Alps are already on track to lose one-third and half of their ice, respectively, and experts believe that the west Antarctic ice sheet has already passed the tipping point at which significant losses are unavoidable and the consequences irreversible. Beyond sea level rise, the extensive melting of the Greenland ice sheet would have long-term effects on the Amazon rainforest and weather patterns, as changes in sea water could stop the Gulf Stream ocean movement.

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3. Historic Heatwaves, Droughts, and Water Shortages

This summer, China, Europe as well as south-west and central US states witnessed dangerous and often unprecedented heatwaves.

Unprecedented temperatures have been experienced on several continents as a result of five distinct high-pressure weather systems that are connected by atmospheric waves and spread across the northern hemisphere. The UK broke its record for the hottest day ever, as did other places in Texas and Oklahoma, notably Wichita Falls, which on July 2022 reached a scorching 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46.1 degrees Celsius).

Wildfires have forced tens of thousands of people to flee from their homes as Europe’s heatwave brought record-high temperatures in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and France. Hungary and Italy have been blasted by high temperatures of around 100 F (almost 38C) in certain locations, while Germany had its hottest day of the year with temperatures reaching 104.5 F (40.3C) in Bad Mergentheim, a town in the Main-Tauber-Kreis district in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

Due to record-breaking high temperatures and a long-lasting absence of precipitation, European rivers including Po in Italy and Rhine in Germany dried up, with devastating consequences on agriculture, trade, and hydropower supplies.

In China, a heatwave brought scorching temperatures across large parts of the country, with dozens of cities recording temperatures over 40C (104F) for several days straight. For the first time in nine years, the government issued a national drought alert while local authorities in Sichuan ordered power cuts to homes, businesses, and factories amid persistent blackouts. Water levels in the Yangtze river – the third-largest in the world flowing about 6,300 kilometres (3,900 miles) through China– reached dangerous lows, affecting trade, limiting drinking water supplies, and causing rolling blackouts. 

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4. Hurricane Ian 

On September 28, Category 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida with catastrophic fury and winds near 150 mph (241 kph), killing at least 148 people and leaving millions displaced. According to experts, it ranks as one of the strongest hurricanes on record to hit the United States.

The warming oceans caused by climate change, which gives hurricanes more energy to release through pounding winds and waves, is one of several causes that contributed to increasing Ian’s intensity. Climate experts have no doubt that global warming contributes to the slow passage of storms like Ian, allowing them more time to strengthen and cause mass destruction.

According to a 2022 study, an increasing number of tropical cyclones around the world have seen as “extreme rapid intensification,”. Another 2018 study that concentrated on the Atlantic basin discovered that the rates of intensification of the cyclones that have strengthened most quickly had accelerated, increasing by around 4mph (6.4 km/h) every decade over the last 30 years.

Conclusion

By discussing the regional and local impacts of climate change-induced natural disasters, we hope to raise awareness of the necessity to increase global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and guarantee a safer future to new generations. 

At the same time, we are extremely grateful for the progress made in 2022 and we believe that there is still hope for the future. You can check our Earth.Org’s favourite positive environmental news stories from 2022 here. 

Featured image: Florida Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement response in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, September 30, 2022. Photo by: FWC Photo (Flickr)

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The post What 2022 Natural Disasters Tell Us About Climate Change appeared first on Earth.Org.

Between 2008 and 2015, extreme weather events and climate change-triggered disasters forced an average of 26.4 million people per year to flee their homes; and according to projections, another 1.2 billion people may be displaced globally by 2050. As societies keep burning fossil fuels and overexploit our planet’s resources, the climate crisis is worsening day by day. The consequences of it, from rapid shocks like floods and storms to more gradual disasters like crop failures and droughts, are going to add burden to entire societies and force people to move elsewhere. 

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Understanding Climate Migration

Even though worsening weather conditions are escalating poverty, crime, and political instability as well as igniting tensions over depleting resources flowing from Africa to Latin America, climate change is frequently neglected as a factor in people departing their homes. For instance, hundreds of Salvadorans depart their country every year as a result of gang violence after being forced to move from their villages due to crop failure brought on by drought or flooding.

Climate migrants have few legal options under present international or American laws since it is not always possible to pinpoint climate change as the sole or primary cause of migration. The 1951 Refugee Convention offers legal protection only to those fleeing their home “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.” Climate migrants, as per definition, are not granted refugee status. 

When their home is no longer habitable, people have no choice but to move. However, the lack of an organisation in charge of regulating climate migration makes it dangerous and extremely difficult to find a suitable and safe home elsewhere. And with no social and legal framework coordinating these movements, this crisis has overwhelmed not only countries affected by climate change – most of which are located in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America – but also those receiving incredibly high and ever-rising numbers of refugees.

Fortunately, the situation has slowly improved in recent years. In 2020, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) published legal guidance to “guide interpretation and steer international discussion” on the recognition of refugee status to climate migrants. Despite not going so far as to redefine the 1951 Refugee Convention or endorsing the term “climate refugee”, the UN Organization set out “key legal considerations concerning the applicability of international and regional refugee and human rights law when cross-border displacement occurs in the context of the adverse effects of climate change and disasters.” An increasing number of countries are also slowly laying the groundwork for welcoming climate migrants in the future. In 2022, for example, Argentina established a special three-year humanitarian visa for citizens from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean who have been forced to flee following natural disasters.

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Why Do People Have To Move?

According to a report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC), extreme weather displaced 24 million people within their countries in 2019, with conflict and other disasters forcing a further 9.5 million to leave their homes. About 10 million fled following floods and storms, while another 900,000 people were displaced by wildfires, droughts, landslides and temperature extremes. About one million people fled volcanoes and earthquakes.

Asia is by far one of the most affected areas. In countries like China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, hundreds of millions of people residing in low-lying coastlines and deltas are particularly vulnerable to floods, which have become more frequent and powerful as sea levels keep rising. 

Last year, 200,000 people had to be evacuated when the most powerful cyclone to strike India in 20 years made landfall in the state of Gujarat. Although early warning systems can save lives by mobilising rescue teams and bringing people to safety before a major weather event hits, many do not have a place to return to. 

Bangladesh, one of the world’s most vulnerable to climate change, has an estimated 3.5 million people at risk of river flooding every year. The UN predicts that over the next decade, about 17% of Bangladeshi would need to be relocated if global warming persists at the present rate. Indeed, besides destroying human settlements, these frequent and devastating weather events greatly threaten the country’s agriculture, infrastructure, and clean water supply, making entire cities and regions inhabitable.

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In 2020, conflict was the primary cause of relocation in Africa. People were evicted from their homes due to ongoing violence in nations like Burkina Faso and Mozambique, while new hostilities broke out in other nations like Ethiopia. According to the IDMC, 500,000 people had reportedly left hostilities in Ethiopia’s Tigray area by the end of last year. UNICEF has since raised the estimate to over a million.

In countries already impacted by violence, several wars were accompanied by abnormally lengthy and intense rainy seasons that caused floods and crop losses. According to the UN, in nations including Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Niger, heavy rains forced people who had previously been displaced to escape again. In 2020, 4.3 million people were displaced in sub-Saharan Africa alone as a result of environmental catastrophes. 

Future Prospect 

Contrary to popular opinion, disasters brought on by extreme weather are not temporary issues that can be quickly fixed, allowing people to return home. Instead, the complicated network of food and water shortages brought on by climate disruption leads to a cascade of socioeconomic problems and ongoing hardship as crops fail and people lose their jobs. 

Unlike wealthy nations like the US or Germany, which are also dealing with an increasing number of catastrophic weather events – including heatwaves and droughts, floods, and wildfires – people in underdeveloped nations lack any substantial safety net to help them cope with climate-related setbacks.

First and foremost, nations need to increase the issue’s visibility and establish a legal framework to recognise climate migration on a national and international level and protect those affected. Climate change must be addressed to lessen its effects and safeguard those who will be harmed. Nations could be hesitant to open what might seem like a fresh door for migrants, but since the number of climate migrants is set to increase rapidly in coming years as the crisis worsens, it is imperative to establish such frameworks as soon as possible.

Shifts in population distribution can be part of a successful adaptation strategy when foreseen and well-managed, enabling individuals to escape poverty and create durable livelihoods. The key to this is long-term planning for an orderly and well-managed internal climate migration, for example by incorporating climate migration into broader migratory patterns that can help drive a country’s next generation of skills and jobs in both sending and receiving nations.

Planning well helps ensure that both sending and receiving regions are well-equipped to meet the requirements and ambitions of those displaced. Along with appropriate health care, education, and public services, investments are required to assist working-age people in finding opportunities in climate-resilient labour markets. Investments in human capital can also help communities adapt to the effects of climate change, especially by empowering women and young people who are frequently the first to experience high unemployment rates.

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The post Climate Migration Is the Crisis of the Century appeared first on Earth.Org.