Biodiversity loss in all species and every ecosystem linked to humans

Humans are driving biodiversity loss among all species across the planet, according to a synthesis of more than 2,000 studies. The study – which accounted for nearly 100,000 sites across all…Continue readingBiodiversity loss in all species and every ecosystem linked to humans

Only 15 countries have met the latest Paris agreement deadline. Is any nation serious about tackling climate change?

The latest deadline for countries to submit plans for slashing the greenhouse gas emissions fueling climate change has passed. Only 15 countries met it—less than 8% of the 194 parties currently…Continue readingOnly 15 countries have met the latest Paris agreement deadline. Is any nation serious about tackling climate change?

Sahara flooding, Amazon tributaries drying, warming tipping over 1.5°C—2024 broke all the wrong records

Today, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) published its annual State of the Climate report, which found heat records kept being broken in 2024. It’s likely 2024 was the first year to…Continue readingSahara flooding, Amazon tributaries drying, warming tipping over 1.5°C—2024 broke all the wrong records

More than 150 ‘unprecedented’ climate disasters struck world in 2024, says UN

The WMO’s report on 2024, the hottest year on record, sets out a trail of destruction from extreme weather that took lives, demolished buildings and ravaged vital crops. More than 800,000…Continue readingMore than 150 ‘unprecedented’ climate disasters struck world in 2024, says UN

Unprecedented peril: Disaster lies ahead as we track towards 2.7°C of warming this century, researchers warn

We are seeing unprecedented rapidly intensifying tropical storms such as Hurricane Helene in the eastern United States and Super Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam. Unprecedented fires in Canada have destroyed towns. Unprecedented…Continue readingUnprecedented peril: Disaster lies ahead as we track towards 2.7°C of warming this century, researchers warn

Climate report warns of escalating crisis, urges immediate action as UN summit nears

An international coalition led by Oregon State University scientists concludes in its annual report published in BioScience that the Earth’s worsening vital signs indicate a “critical and unpredictable new phase of…Continue readingClimate report warns of escalating crisis, urges immediate action as UN summit nears

Earth’s ‘vital signs’ show humanity’s future in balance

Many of Earth’s “vital signs” have hit record extremes, indicating that “the future of humanity hangs in the balance”, a group of the world’s most senior climate experts have said. More…Continue readingEarth’s ‘vital signs’ show humanity’s future in balance

Planet ‘on the brink’, with new heat records likely in 2024: UN

The annual State of the Climate report by the UN weather and climate agency confirmed preliminary data showing 2023 was by far the hottest year ever recorded. And last year capped…Continue readingPlanet ‘on the brink’, with new heat records likely in 2024: UN

Copernicus: 2023 is the hottest year on record, with global temperatures close to the 1.5°C limit

Continue readingCopernicus: 2023 is the hottest year on record, with global temperatures close to the 1.5°C limit

Climate tipping points are nearer than you think. Our new report warns of catastrophic risk.

Most people expect that if a system, like someone’s body, an ecosystem, or part of the climate system, becomes stressed, it’ll respond fairly predictably—double the pressure, double the impact, and so…Continue readingClimate tipping points are nearer than you think. Our new report warns of catastrophic risk.

Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels to hit record high

The world is on track to have burned more coal, oil and gas in 2023 than it did in 2022, according to a report by the Global Carbon Project, pumping 1.1%…Continue readingGlobal carbon emissions from fossil fuels to hit record high

Queensland’s wet tropics see 25% rise in threatened species in three years as climate change bites

The number of listed threatened species in Australia’s world heritage northern rainforests has increased by 25% since 2020, as ecologists say they are now clearly observing the long-predicted impacts of global…Continue readingQueensland’s wet tropics see 25% rise in threatened species in three years as climate change bites

Emissions Gap Report 2023

Total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020 were 54.5GtCO2e, and grew to 57.4 in 2022. The emissions gap for 2030 is defined as the differencebetween the estimated total global GHG…Continue readingEmissions Gap Report 2023

‘Insanity’: petrostates planning huge expansion of fossil fuels

The world’s fossil fuel producers are planning expansions that would blow the planet’s carbon budget twice over, a UN report has found. Experts called the plans “insanity” which “throw humanity’s future…Continue reading‘Insanity’: petrostates planning huge expansion of fossil fuels

Researchers argue that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not enough to combat climate change

According to a new paper in Oxford Open Climate Change, the strategies humanity must pursue to reduce climate change will have to include more than reducing greenhouse gases. This comes from…Continue readingResearchers argue that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not enough to combat climate change

Remaining Carbon Budget

The remaining budget for a reliable chance (83%) of not exceeding 1.5˚C global warming has been expended – After making all these changes, our best (50%) RCB estimate starting from 2022…Continue readingRemaining Carbon Budget

When Idiot Savants Do Climate Economics

By Christoper Ketcham The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has assumed Nordhaus is to be trusted. The integrated assessment models used at the IPCC are based on Nordhausian visions of adaptation…Continue readingWhen Idiot Savants Do Climate Economics

UN report warns of catastrophic risks to Earth systems

The Interconnected Disaster Risks Report identifies thresholds it calls “risk tipping points,” defined as “the moment at which a given socioecological system is no longer able to buffer risks and provide…Continue readingUN report warns of catastrophic risks to Earth systems

Climate report: ‘Uncharted territory’ imperils life on Earth

Earth’s vital signs have worsened beyond anything humans have yet seen, to the point that life on the planet is imperiled. William Ripple, a distinguished professor in the Oregon State University…Continue readingClimate report: ‘Uncharted territory’ imperils life on Earth

Energy System of Australia

A profile of Australia’s energy system has been published on this site.Continue readingEnergy System of Australia

Earth ‘well outside safe operating space for humanity’

Earth’s life support systems have been so damaged that the planet is “well outside the safe operating space for humanity”, scientists have warned. Their assessment found that six out of nine…Continue readingEarth ‘well outside safe operating space for humanity’

US hit by record number of billion-dollar disasters so far this year

Between January and August, the United States was struck by a record-breaking 23 weather and climate disasters where losses exceeded $1 billion in each case. The tally for 2023 has already…Continue readingUS hit by record number of billion-dollar disasters so far this year

International report confirms record-high greenhouse gases, global sea levels in 2022

Greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level and ocean heat content reached record highs in 2022, according to the 33rd annual State of the Climate report. “People are causing the largest known…Continue readingInternational report confirms record-high greenhouse gases, global sea levels in 2022

Signs of the human era, from nuclear fallout to microplastics

Soaring greenhouse gases, ubiquitous microplastics, pervasive “forever chemicals”, the global upheaval of animals, even old mobile phones and chicken bones—all have been put forward as evidence that the world entered the…Continue readingSigns of the human era, from nuclear fallout to microplastics

Last week the hottest worldwide on record: UN

“The world just had the hottest week on record, according to preliminary data,” the WMO said in a statement, after climate change and the early stages of the El Nino weather…Continue readingLast week the hottest worldwide on record: UN

Evidence in Canada lake indicates start of new Anthropocene epoch

Scientists say human activity has so fundamentally altered the geology, atmosphere and biology of the earth that it has entered a new geologic epoch known as the Anthropocene. On Tuesday, members…Continue readingEvidence in Canada lake indicates start of new Anthropocene epoch

UN: World is on ‘highway to climate hell’

The UN secretary general, António Guterres, stated:Continue readingUN: World is on ‘highway to climate hell’

UN: ‘No credible pathway to 1.5˚C in place’

There is “no credible pathway to 1.5C in place”, the UN’s environment agency has said, and the failure to reduce carbon emissions means the only way to limit the worst impacts…Continue readingUN: ‘No credible pathway to 1.5˚C in place’

UN: Current emissions pledges will lead to catastrophic climate breakdown

Pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions will lead to global heating of 2.5˚C, a level that would condemn the world to catastrophic climate breakdown, according to the United Nations. “At the…Continue readingUN: Current emissions pledges will lead to catastrophic climate breakdown