Latest news with #afp
25-07-2025
- Climate
Can we reclaim the narrative in a world abandoning climate protection?
Headlines Latest News Podcasts (new window) Home Environment Climate Change The Kongsfjorden fjord in Arctic Norway where warming waters are fueling the growth of seaweed forests.' Photo: afp via getty images / Dominique Faget Irene Quaile (new window) · The Ice Blog/Eye on the Arctic (new window) I am not one to complain about the weather. I love a sunny summer afternoon, get a buzz from a wild, wet, windy day, relish an icy tramp through the snow… but all in the right place , at the right time . I grew up in Scotland, used to changeable weather; my work as a journalist has taken me to the coldest parts of the planet, and to some of the hottest, from the Arctic ice to the deserts of Africa and Australia. We have our expectations of what the climate should be like in different places, and prepare accordingly. But like so many Europeans this summer, I have been taken aback as temperatures even in this part of Germany peaked at 40C. Yes, unheard of in this region of the world, and early in the summer season. — Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) (@ 1 juillet 2025 à 08:04 Fin du widget . Retour au début du widget? The EU climate monitoring service Copernicus confirmed (new window) Western Europe as a whole saw its warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 20.49°C. Two major heatwaves led to 'very strong heat stress' in large parts of western and southern Europe, with 'extreme heat stress' and 'feels-like temperatures' reaching 48°C in parts of Portugal. Spain experienced its warmest June in 64 years. And even northernmost Europe (new window) sweltered under a heat dome . The good old British summer ? Even my native UK, usually famous – or notorious – for its cool, wet, windy weather has experienced a series of extreme heatwaves. England reported the highest temperatures for June since data records began in 1884. The Glasgow region of Scotland, where I grew up, has been threatened by wildfires. But we've always had floods and storms, and 1974 was a hot summer … ? No. The recently published State of the UK Climate (new window) report confirms this is not just a temporary blip, a natural variation: Observations show that our climate in the UK is now notably different to what it was just a few decades ago. We are now seeing records being broken very frequently as we see temperature and rainfall extremes being the most affected by our changing climate , said Met Office climate scientist and lead author Mike Kendon: Every year that goes by is another upward step on the warming trajectory our climate is on. Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, Professor Liz Bentley, stresses the report, based on robust observational science, documents changes in temperature, rainfall, sea level, and weather extremes that are affecting lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems across the UK . The growing impact of extremes is possibly the most striking element of the observations: While long-term averages are shifting, it is the extreme heat, intense rainfall and droughts that are having the most immediate and dramatic effects on people and nature. And this is happening across the globe. No respite for icy regions A look at the icy regions of the planet confirms that even the bastions of cold are increasingly struggling to cope with our human-induced planetary heating. The Earth's polar refrigerators and life-supporting mountain glaciers are under pressure. A range of studies published in the last few months and continuous observation provide some chilling insights into the warming cryosphere. On June 23rd, the Arctic sea ice was the lowest on record: A study published in Nature Climate Change on July 9 (new window) shows that the Arctic Ocean is losing oxygen six times faster than the global average. Warmer Atlantic water is flowing in, speeding up deoxygenation and putting marine life at risk. Climate warming, which is even faster at high northern latitudes due to polar amplification is increasing the vulnerability of these ecosystems to fire (new window) , with potentially severe implications for the global climate. When peatlands ignite, they release massive amounts of fossil carbon that have been locked away for centuries or even millennia. Canadian wildfire smoke deposits black carbon on Arctic ice sheets, which experts say may have more of a warming effect than thought earlier: Warmer water, toxic blooms Findings (new window) published in the journal Nature on July 7 showed that warming Arctic conditions resulting from climate change are increasing the prevalence and concentration of toxic algae in the ocean (new window) . These conditions include shrinking sea ice, expanding tracts of open water and more sunlight penetrating the ocean's depths. Bowhead whales are ingesting toxins driven by warming in Arctic. We have a direct relationship between higher toxin concentrations and warmer ocean conditions, said Kathi Lefebvre, the paper's lead author and a research biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle. Enlarge image (new window) The Kaskawulsh Glacier in the Yukon's St. Elias Mountains region. The glacier is retreating due to climate change. The retreat caused meltwater that normally fed the Slim's River to start flowing in a different direction in 2016, reducing the river to the size of little more than a stream in a matter of days. Photo: CBC / Susan Ormiston Antarctic changes, global impacts Since 2015, the frozen continent of Antarctica has lost an area of sea ice similar to the size of Greenland (new window) . That ice hasn't returned, which some experts say marks the largest global environmental change during the past decade. A team from the University of Southampton, the Barcelona Expert Centre and the European Space Agency warned in June (new window) that the Antarctic sea ice may be in terminal decline because of the unexpected satellite finding that the water there is becoming saltier: Losing Antarctic sea ice is a planetary problem , the team stress. 'Sea ice acts like a giant mirror reflecting sunlight back into space. Without it, more energy stays in the Earth system, speeding up global warming, intensifying storms and driving sea level rise (new window) in coastal cities worldwide.' Recent research published in AGU Advances (new window) indicates Earth is trapping much more heat than climate models forecast – and the rate has doubled in 20 years. A study published in Science Daily on July 8 (new window) suggests that as glaciers melt around the world, long-dormant volcanoes may be waking up beneath the ice. New research reveals that massive ice sheets have suppressed eruptions for thousands of years, building up underground pressure. But as that icy weight disappears, it may trigger a wave of explosive eruptions—especially in places like Antarctica. This unexpected volcanic threat not only poses regional risks but could also accelerate climate change in a dangerous feedback loop . The 1.5C target: too high for ice and sliding out of reach A recent study (new window) led by Professor Chris Stokes of Durham University indicates efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C, as agreed in the Paris Climate Agreement 10 years ago, may not go far enough to save the world's ice sheets. The research suggests the target should instead be closer to 1°C to avoid significant losses from the polar ice sheets and prevent a further acceleration in sea level rise. Alas, the latest assessment of the state of global warming (new window) suggests that the Earth could break through the symbolic 1.5C warming limit in as little as three years, if carbon dioxide emissions continue at current levels. More than 60 of the world's leading climate scientists were involved in the study, including Professor Joeri Rogelj, Research Director at the Grantham Institute and Climate Science & Policy Professor at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London: The window to stay within 1.5°C is rapidly closing , says Rogelj. Global warming is already affecting the lives of billions of people around the world. Every small increase in warming matters, leading to more frequent, more intense weather extremes. Emissions over the next decade will determine how soon and how fast 1.5°C of warming is reached. They need to be swiftly reduced to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. The big disconnect So what are we waiting for? Whether you look at science publications or the news reports of weather extremes and disasters across the globe, there can be no doubt that climate warming is already playing havoc with our livelihoods and lifestyles. At the same time the willingness to do something about it appears to be decreasing. That applies both to individuals and to policy makers. There is a huge gap (new window) between the threat we face from climate change and taking any action to respond. Newspaper coverage of climate change around the globe dropped 6% from May to June 2025 — and by 28% compared to June 2024, despite increasing frequency and severity of climate-fueled extreme weather events. A study (new window) using data from around the world, suggests that exposure to extreme weather events alone does not affect people's view of climate action. The connection between climate change and natural disasters – and the link to our behaviour, consumption, fossil fuel burning – doesn't seem to be happening. Many stories about disasters linked to climate change fail to mention the link (new window) , or indeed mention climate change at all. Making these connections clearer (new window) could encourage stronger public support for climate action. Information battles There is a small window of opportunity between 2025 and 2050 to avert a looming climate catastrophe for humanity and biodiversity. Accurate and actionable climate information is a necessary part of responding to and solving the climate crisis, write the authors of the review in The Conversation . Instead, there seems to be a widespread, highly influential campaign to play down the climate crisis. ' Can you trust climate information? How and why powerful players are misleading the public ' was the title of an article in The Conversation (new window) on July 8: 'Our study (new window) found that the human response to the climate crisis is being obstructed and delayed by the production and circulation of misleading information,' the authors write. We found that this is being done by powerful economic and political interests, such as fossil fuel companies, populist political parties, and some nation states . The Trump administration in the USA is turning back the clock: prolonging the fossil fuel era, negating decades of science and experience, and getting rid of climate expertise and data monitoring. The German case Here in Germany, much of life came to a standstill when the temperature reached 39C. People felt paralyzed by the heat. The country recently marked the fourth anniversary of an unprecedented flood disaster that killed 135 people, shocking this wealthy industrialised country. Still, the willingness to admit we humans had something to do with all this – and that we could and must do something about it – is not keeping pace with worries about the cost of living or maintaining the high standard of lifestyle we take for granted. At the last election people voted out the Greens party in the government, that was pushing the energy transition and climate action. A rightwing narrative talking down climate change and branding green policies as elitist and expensive prevailed over the realisation that cheap petrol and gas heating now will have long-term costs far beyond what we can afford. It seems to be easier to put on blinkers and carry on regardless. The pendulum is swinging way out in the direction of global- warming- inducing behaviour and policy, an extension of the fossil fuel economy. How long will it take to swing in the other direction, towards a low-carbon world? And what will have happened on and to our planet in the meantime? The focus is understandably shifting to adaptation. Sure, we have to build up resilience and prepare for worse to come. But we can't afford to let that divert attention from reducing emissions and making the lifestyle changes that will protect us against even more extreme climate conditions in the very near future. As I write this, Iran is battling temperatures over 50C (new window) and acute water shortage. Half the population of the small island state of Tuvalu have applied to move to Australia (new window) , as their island home slips beneath the waves. As a journalist focusing on environment and climate, I find myself under pressure to produce a positive narrative . But on the wider scheme of things, 10 years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, with things moving backwards and emissions still on the rise, I have to admit, I am struggling. Irene Quaile (new window) · The Ice Blog/Eye on the Arctic (new window) 'Canada could be one where there's just a tariff,' says U.S. president, with his Aug. 1 deadline looming 2 hours ago Trade Agreements Permits for Sean Feucht shows on public land in some Canadian cities have been pulled 2 hours ago Rights & Freedoms Study finds rate of liver disease has more than doubled over the last 20 years 5 hours ago Medical Research As the climate warms, Canadians will be faced with more heat waves, but having access to AC isn't equitable. Judge tells packed London, Ont., court that complainant E.M.'s story not credible or reliable 6 hours ago Trials & Proceedings
Express Tribune
01-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Knitwear exports to China rise 11%
Textile and apparel exports have stagnated around $1.4 billion per month, which is $600 million below the installed capacity of $2 billion a month. PHOTO: afp Listen to article Pakistan's exports of knitted and crocheted apparel, including jerseys, pullovers, cardigans and waistcoats, to China have grown steadily by 11% during the first five months of 2025, reaching $4.30 million, up from $3.87 million in the same period of last year, according to the latest data from China Customs. This growth highlights Pakistan's increasing presence in China's competitive apparel market, especially in mid-range and winter-wear segments. Industry insiders attribute the growth to Pakistan's expanding capacity in cotton-blended knitwear production and improved compliance with Chinese quality and certification standards. "Pakistani exporters have upgraded their production lines with better dyeing and finishing techniques, which has helped meet Chinese consumers' preference for comfort and durability in winter clothing," said Mohammad Azhar, a Lahore-based trade expert. Market observers note that most of these exports are routed through China's eastern coastal provinces, with Zhejiang and Jiangsu leading in import volume. Jiangsu province imported more than $2.79 million worth of products, followed by Zhejiang and Henan. Trade and Investment Counsellor Ghulam Qadir stated that Pakistan benefits from zero-tariff access under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, which gives it a competitive edge over other regional suppliers.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
India reopens 32 airports after ceasefire with Pakistan
afp Indian policemen stand guard along a road in Srinagar on May 12, 2025. The frontier between arch-foes India and Pakistan was peaceful and had the "first calm night in recent days", the Indian army said on May 12, after a surprise weekend ceasefire. Picture: AFP India reopened 32 airports on Monday following a weekend ceasefire that ended the worst fighting with neighbouring Pakistan since 1999. The Airport Authority of India said the 32 airports from Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir to Bhuj in the western state of Gujarat -- were now available for civil operations "with immediate effect". They were closed last week after fierce fighting erupted between India and Pakistan for four days, setting off a global alarm that it could spiral into full-blown war. Leading Indian airline IndiGo said it would "progressively commence operations on the previously closed routes". The truce was announced on Saturday, but both sides immediately accused the other of breaking it. However, both India and Pakistan said the border areas were calm on Monday. AFP
