Latest news with #YaleClimateConnections
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Farmers issue warning as extreme weather threatens food supply: 'Threatening the socioeconomic livelihoods of our farmers'
A food report from a West African nonprofit leader spotlights how our planet's overheating is causing more than severe storms and health risks. Solidaridad West Africa regional director Isaac Gyamfi said that air pollution is threatening farmers' livelihoods and, in turn, endangering food supplies, according to a story from Ghana Business News (GBN). Our planet has warmed about 2 degrees Fahrenheit since 1850, according to U.S. government data. Experts from organizations such as NASA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology agree that unlimited warming will bring to fruition worst-case scenarios already being realized, including droughts and wildfires. "Climate change impact is not just an environmental challenge because rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and land degradation continue to affect yields, threatening the socioeconomic livelihoods of our farmers and national food security, " Gyamfi said in the GBN report. His organization promotes sustainable production methods in collaboration with farmers and others in the community. Yale Climate Connections reported that rising food prices are a "constant reminder" about the "havoc" that our planet's warming is causing. Yale cited a New York Times article that highlighted droughts in India that hurt food supplies, among other examples. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast overall food prices to "rise slightly faster than the historical average rate of growth." The price of all food is expected to jump 3.5%. "Food-at-home" costs are predicted to increase 3.2% this year. Foreign policy, trade, and other factors contribute to the rates, in addition to disease and the weather. Yale added that staples such as corn, wheat, rice, and potatoes are at particular weather-related risk. Crucial rice yields could decrease by 40% by the end of the century, according to Yale Climate Connections. What's more, researchers are even concerned that hotter temperatures will impact farm labor productivity, contributing to yield losses. In Ghana, Solidaridad is working on efforts that include farmers, policymakers, researchers, and others to develop more sustainable land-use strategies and "climate-smart" practices, according to GBN. Experts at the University of Texas are making a hydrogel that mitigates nitrogen runoff from excess fertilizer, negating water contamination. Quub, a Pennsylvania-based company, is working to deploy a network of satellites to monitor Earth's health, providing updates on deforestation, weather alerts, and other data. The tech can help to modernize farming with better data and tools. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Individually, it's important to stay on top of policies that impact farming practices. Talking to your local representative about planet-friendly regulations is a good place to start. At home, try growing a garden and including more vegetables in your meal plans. You can save hundreds of dollars annually on groceries while cutting pollution. Plant-based diets can also contribute to better health and improve how you feel, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm on fast-moving threat that could affect millions of Americans if unchecked: 'We won't be prepared'
Our changing environment presents many challenges, and there always seems to be a new one cropping up. One of the most recent is a huge spike in dengue fever, a potentially deadly mosquito-borne illness. This uptick is occurring during a time when the Trump administration has drastically cut back on climate and health research. According to Yale Climate Connections, this unfortunate pairing could present serious risks to countless Americans. The Centers for Disease Control reported that around 3,500 American travelers contracted dengue fever in 2024, an 84% spike from the previous year. Dengue outbreaks were also declared in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands last year and have continued into 2025. In the United Kingdom, there was a 50% increase in travel-related dengue, per Yale. This outbreak is directly connected with our planet's rising temperatures and increased flooding, both of which allow dengue-carrying mosquitoes to thrive. Research into this connection is crucial for understanding how to stem the tide of the virus, but that research just became far more challenging to conduct. The Trump administration recently slashed the budget at the National Institutes of Health by $18 billion. It also announced that the CDC's budget would be nearly halved and 10,000 members of its workforce would be laid off. These institutions are vital for health and climate research, not only in America but around the world. The NIH is the single largest source of medical research funding on the planet. The organization's Climate Change and Health Initiative conducted crucial research about the health effects of a changing climate until its funding was cut early this year. The CDC's Climate and Health Program helps public health agencies of all sizes prepare for the health impacts of rising global temperatures, like dengue fever. The agency's funding is being cut by billions, and its workforce is expected to be reduced by 20%. These cuts, paired with a surge in dengue fever, could result in a significant outbreak of the virus. "Disease doesn't have national borders," an American vector biologist who wishes to remain anonymous said, per Yale. "I'm worried that if we're not studying it, we're just going to watch it continue to happen and we won't be prepared." There is no treatment for dengue, which means prevention is key. The CDC recommends being mindful of the health risks associated with vacation destinations. The agency also recommends using bug spray, wearing loose-fitting clothes, and taking steps to control mosquitoes around your home, like removing standing water where they'd lay their eggs. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts warn of hidden health threat impacting millions: 'People realize how severe this is only after their health deteriorates'
As temperatures climb across the globe, more people are at risk of life-threatening conditions associated with diabetes. Asha Sonawane, 65, recalls once working in agricultural fields for 12-hour shifts, but worsening heat in India's Maharashtra state has left her dehydrated, exacerbating her diabetes mellitus and forcing her to stay inside. Sonawane is one example of a growing trend — Yale Climate Connections reported that rising global temperatures are making life harder for those living with this condition and possibly contributing to an increase in cases. For instance, the publication shared that one study determined that a 1 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures could lead to more than 100,000 new diabetes cases annually in the United States alone. "People realize how severe this is only after their health deteriorates to the point where they can't work in the fields anymore," Sonawane told the news site. According to the article, more than 2 million people across the globe died from diabetes and related kidney diseases in 2021. Extreme outdoor temperatures seem to exacerbate some life-threatening conditions related to type 2 diabetes, including low blood sugar and ventricular arrhythmia, a condition that can lead to fainting or sudden cardiac arrest. Diabetes isn't the only health threat that scientists are worried about in the warming world, though. For instance, skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and cancer are worsening because of higher temperatures. And extreme heat, which the World Health Organization says is on the rise, can lead to heat stroke, a life-threatening condition. Plus, extreme weather events linked to the changing climate are threatening crops and creating a mental health crisis for farmers in places such as Montana. To help people better manage their diabetes in the heat, Yale Climate Connections pointed to recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which include drinking plenty of water, testing blood sugar often, keeping medicine and equipment out of the heat, making a plan for power outages, and staying inside in air conditioning when it's hottest. Meanwhile, we can all do our part to slow the overheating of our planet by reducing our reliance on dirty energy sources including coal, oil, and natural gas, which the United Nations reports are responsible for more than three-fourths of all warming pollution. For instance, Wales is banning most new roadway projects to cut down on carbon pollution, while Tokyo is requiring most new buildings to have solar panels. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. You can make an impact by taking simple actions such as enrolling in a community solar program, taking public transit more, and voting for candidates who support climate-action legislation. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Scientists reveal which produce may soon fill grocery store shelves — and which may vanish completely
A new study by the U.K. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in collaboration with the University of East Anglia has predicted which crops will thrive and wilt as a result of climate change in the coming decades. This study is the first to track crop future variance across the United Kingdom and is the most comprehensive projection of its kind. In investigating future suitability for over 160 existing and new crops in different regions of the U.K. under two different global warming scenarios — 2 degrees Celsius and 4 degrees Celsius greater than preindustrial temperatures (for context, 2024 temperatures were 1.35 degrees Celsius higher) — scientists found climate change could result in increased suitability for many existing and new crops across the U.K. Potential winners of the warmer climate include sunflowers, durum wheat, soybeans, cowpeas, chickpeas, citrus fruits and okra. On the other hand, the U.K.'s most fertile regions are expected to become less arable over time. The 2 degrees Celsius scenario sees wheat and strawberries declining in suitability, while the 4 degrees Celsius scenario kills the prospects of many other popular British crops, including onions and oats. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Global warming is here and has gotten worse year over year. Naturally, this affects crop yields everywhere, and one of the reasons the U.K. group commissioned this study is that the country has already been impacted significantly in recent years. The U.K. recorded its wettest 18-month stretch on record from October 2022 to March 2024, per Yale Climate Connections. However, counterintuitively, heavy rainfall and flooding may result in decreased crop yields throughout 2025. Additionally, in the last few years, British supermarkets have had to ration produce due to extreme weather, and the country recently suffered its second-worst harvest season ever. Everyone is hurting under this current agricultural strategy, from farmers who harvest fewer crops and make less money to customers who pay higher prices due to increased scarcity. The study at hand projected patterns out to 2080 for a reason. Changing the way agriculture and farming operate will be a long process that requires trial and error with various crops and constant adaptation to the unpredictable nature of global warming. Nations around the globe are investigating potential futures like the U.K. Northern European scientists are conducting research into crop diversification, Bangladeshi farmers gave up shrimp farming for agriculture, and an eight-year study in India concluded that the second-most populous nation in the world should adopt more principles of conservation agriculture to preserve as much arable land as possible. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
