Long-term climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather and climate events. In Ghana, some regions have unexpectedly experienced incessant downpour in the month of March. Yet heatwaves abound throughout the country. Heavy rains and heatwaves are among hazards faced by the ever-growing global population. With urbanization and the spread of megacities, … Read more
Though it has about 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, Africa’s net food import is predicted to grow from $39bn in 2016 to over $110bn by 2025. Food production is desperately low due in part to the region’s poorly developed climate and weather alert systems to help farmers plan for crop seasons. In the … Read more
In withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate pact, President Donald Trump claimed that honouring its terms would cost the country billions of dollars for a miniscule change to the global warming trajectory. Is this true? How will Washington quitting the 196-nation Paris club affect the fight against climate change? The Paris Agreement’s stated … Read more
The US withdrawal from the Paris climate pact could “in a worst case scenario” add a 0.3 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures over the 21st century, the UN said Friday. The head of the World Meteorological Organization’s atmospheric research and environment department, Deon Terblanche, underscored however that the likely impact of US President Donald … Read more
Latest: Dangers posed by the littering of plastic bags and surface mining (galamsey) I had wanted to wait until you had been sworn in before addressing this letter to you. But the “Ayarigasation” of the Appointments Committee has forced my hand: I mean, who knows how much longer you will have to wait before the … Read more
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that the year of 2016 is on track to be the hottest on record, said UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq on Monday. Preliminary data show that global temperatures are approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to a new assessment made by the WMO. “The WMO also says … Read more
2016 looks poised to be the warmest year on record globally, according to preliminary data. With data from just the first nine months, scientists are 90% certain that 2016 will pass the mark set by 2015. Temperatures from January to September were 1.2C above pre-industrial levels, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The body … Read more
In the past few months, it seems we’ve made great leaps in the race to curb global warming. In early October, 191 countries signed the world’s first agreement to curb greenhouse gas pollution from aviation. On October 15, nearly 200 nations agreed to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, another greenhouse gas. And on November 4, last year’s … Read more
From Rio to Rio with Kyoto, Copenhagen and Durban in between Paris right after and the recent China’s G-20, the conclusion remains the same: There is fundamental disagreement on the realities of this planet and the ways we can address them. A decisive breakthrough would necessitate both wider contexts and a larger participatory base to … Read more