Latest news with #climatechange
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Swiss glacier collapse offers global warning of wider impact
The collapse of the Swiss Birch glacier serves as a chilling warning of the escalating dangers faced by communities worldwide living under the shadow of fragile ice, particularly in Asia, experts say. Footage of the May 28 collapse showed a huge cloud of ice and rubble hurtling down the mountainside, into the hamlet of Blatten. Ali Neumann, disaster risk reduction advisor to the Swiss Development Cooperation, noted that while the role of climate change in the specific case of Blatten "still needs to be investigated", the wider impacts were clear on the cryosphere -- the part of the world covered by frozen water. "Climate change and its impact on the cryosphere will have growing repercussions on human societies that live near glaciers, near the cryosphere, and depend on glaciers somehow and live with them," he said. The barrage largely destroyed Blatten, but the evacuation of its 300 residents last week averted mass casualties, although one person remains missing. "It also showed that with the right skills and observation and management of an emergency, you can significantly reduce the magnitude of this type of disaster," Neumann said at an international UN-backed glacier conference in Tajikistan. Stefan Uhlenbrook, Director for Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere at the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), said it showed the need for vulnerable regions like the Himalayas and other parts of Asia to prepare. "From monitoring, to data sharing, to numerical simulation models, to hazard assessment and to communicating that, the whole chain needs to be strengthened," Uhlenbrook said. "But in many Asian countries, this is weak, the data is not sufficiently connected." - 'Not enough' - Swiss geologists use various methods, including sensors and satellite images, to monitor their glaciers. Asia was the world's most disaster-hit region from climate and weather hazards in 2023, the United Nations said last year, with floods and storms the chief cause of casualties and economic losses. But many Asian nations, particularly in the Himalayas, lack the resources to monitor their vast glaciers to the same degree as the Swiss. According to a 2024 UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction report, two-thirds of countries in the Asia and Pacific region have early warning systems. But the least developed countries, many of whom are in the frontlines of climate change, have the worst coverage. "Monitoring is not absent, but it is not enough," said geologist Sudan Bikash Maharjan of the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). "Our terrains and climatic conditions are challenging, but also we lack that level of resources for intensive data generation." That gap is reflected in the number of disaster-related fatalities for each event. While the average number of fatalities per disaster was 189 globally, in Asia and the Pacific it was much higher at 338, according to the Belgium-based Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters' Emergency Events Database. Geoscientist Jakob Steiner, who works in climate adaptation in Nepal and Bhutan, said it is not as simple as just exporting the Swiss technological solutions. "These are complex disasters, working together with the communities is actually just as, if not much more, important," he said. - 'Sad disparity' - Himalayan glaciers, providing critical water to nearly two billion people, are melting faster than ever before due to climate change, exposing communities to unpredictable and costly disasters, scientists warn. Hundreds of lakes formed from glacial meltwater have appeared in recent decades. They can be deadly when they burst and rush down the valley. The softening of permafrost increases the chances of landslides. Declan Magee, from the Asian Development Bank's Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, said that monitoring and early warnings alone are not enough. "We have to think... about where we build, where people build infrastructure and homes, and how we can decrease their vulnerability if it is exposed", he said. Nepali climate activist and filmmaker Tashi Lhazom described how the village of Til, near to her home, was devastated by a landslide earlier in May. The 21 families escaped -- but only just. "In Switzerland they were evacuated days before, here we did not even get seconds," said Lhazom. "The disparity makes me sad but also angry. This has to change." pm/pjm/bc
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump cancels $75 million grant to cut fuel use at Gallo Glass plant in Modesto
The Trump administration on Friday canceled a $75 million grant that would help reduce fuel use at Gallo Glass Co. in Modesto. Its massive furnaces make bottles for the adjacent E.&J. Gallo Winery, the world's largest. The company declined to comment on the grant withdrawal, including a possible legal challenge. The grant was among 33 announced in March 2024 by then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, totaling $6 billion across several industries. The funding came from two climate spending packages signed by President Joe Biden. Gallo's grant would help it test a gas/electric hybrid technology on a furnace. It projected a 70% drop in gas consumption. The project also would add about 30% to the plant's already substantial use of recycled glass. It employs several hundred people and sits between the main winery and the airport neighborhood. About 7,000 people in all work in Gallo operations in Modesto and elsewhere. The cancellation of this and 24 other grants, totaling $3.7 billion, was announced by current Energy Secretary Chris Wright. A news release said he spared only projects that 'bolster affordable, reliable energy sources' and 'generate a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.' The move is in line with President Donald Trump's many statements downplaying climate change and other effects of fossil fuels. He also claims authority to rescind Biden-area grants in areas beyond energy. That has drawn numerous lawsuits. The 2024 energy grants went to sectors including concrete, chemical, metal and food processing. Supporters hailed them for supporting jobs in manufacturing while reducing annual emissions equivalent to 3 million gasoline-powered cars. 'Decarbonizing our industrial processes is key to achieving our ambitious climate goals,' Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said in a 2024 news release. 'Today's announcement marks an innovative step forward toward net-zero industrial production while improving air quality and generating hundreds of good-paying jobs for Californians.' Ernest and Julio Gallo founded their namesake winery in 1933 and added the glass plant in 1958. The latter's website said it is the largest maker of container glass in the United States, at about 500,000 tons per year. Some of the bottles hold the hard liquors that have become a sizable part of Gallo's business. The glass plant has four furnaces and has had previous improvements to cut emissions. It already was a major user of electricity from the Modesto Irrigation District even before the hybrid furnace grant was sought. Gallo has a newer venture in the Beard Industrial District, Halo Glass Recycling, which handles material from curbside pickup and other sources. Volume is expected to grow due to California adding wine and liquor containers to its deposit program last year. The current energy secretary said many of the grants announced in early 2024 were not finalized until the weeks after the November election. Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris and took office Jan. 20. 'Today, we are acting in the best interest of the American people by canceling these 24 awards,' Wright said. Some of the grant money came from the bipartisan infrastructure package approved by Congress in 2021. The rest was from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which narrowly passed the Democrat-controlled House and Senate.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Increased risk for heat-related illnesses and deaths as temperatures rise: Data
SALT LAKE CITY () — With , the danger for heat-related illnesses and even death increases — and it's only going to get worse as temperatures get more extreme due to climate change. According to data from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services on heat-related deaths in Utah from 2019 to 2024, a total of 47 people died in the past five years of heat-related illnesses in Utah. The most common heat-related causes of death were hyperthermia (heat stroke) and dehydration. The five counties with the most heat-related deaths during that time were: Salt Lake County, 11 deaths Washington County, eight deaths Grand County, seven deaths San Juan County, five deaths Utah County, four deaths Dr. Casey Londer, who has practiced emergence medicine for 15 years, told that the most vulnerable populations to heat-related illnesses are the elderly, people with comorbidities, children, and pets. Salt Lake Co. crews conduct 4 rescues over Memorial Day weekend Heat is most deadly when the temperatures are highest — the summer — but there are several times within the summer that cases of heat-related illnesses go up, Dr. Londer said. The first of those times is 'the very end of spring or beginning of summer, when people are sort of not really used to how hot it is,' Dr. Londer said. He added that it's especially bad when the temperatures increase suddenly. The second wave is the end of July to the beginning of August, when 'when we get those long, dry heat waves that never end, and I think those are sort of dangerous for a bunch of reasons,' Dr. Londer said. Homeless populations are especially at risk, as are people without air conditioning in their homes. 'I think we've seen in the emergency department during these really hot kind of prolonged heat waves, higher numbers of folks coming in,' Dr. Londer said. As temperatures continue to increase year after year due to climate change, heat is only going to become more dangerous. 'The hotter it gets, the more you see heat injury. I mean, that's just the common sense basics,' Dr. Londer said. As with many issues, the first step to staying safe is having information and planning. 'Recognition is a big initial precaution… is just sort of knowing what the weather is going to be so you can plan your day,' Dr. Londer said. This applies of course to something like planning to bring water on a hike, for example, but it is also important to plan any time you are going to be in the heat and recognize the risks. Plan to go outside early in the morning or late in the evening and taking a long break in the day, making sure your AC unit is in working order, and getting HVAC filters cleaned are a few other precautions that Dr. Londer mentioned. 'If you're in the middle of a prolonged heat wave and your AC goes out, and you can't get someone to come help you for a few days, then you could potentially be at risk,' Dr. Londer said. Driver in Idaho crash that killed 7 people had a blood alcohol content of .20, police say It is also important to know the , according to Dr. Londer, especially the more severe symptoms such as cramping, heat rash, and extreme fatigue. If you encounter someone who is suffering from heat stroke, rapid cooling is very important, Dr. Londer said, in addition to replacing fluids with water with electrolytes in it. He also said that removing layers of clothing can help facilitate sweating, because heat stroke can make it so that a person can't sweat anymore. However, if it is that severe, Dr. Londer said it is always a good idea to seek medical attention. As the summer heats up, Dr. Londer suggested that everyone make sure 'that you look out for your elderly family members or neighbors, during a prolonged heatwave, just check in with them, make sure they've got the resources that they need to stay cool during the hot summer months.' With temperatures increasing, many people will flock to the water to try to beat the heat, but that can also prove deadly. The Provo River is especially dangerous this weekend due to seasonal high-water levels. The Utah County Sherriff's Office is warning the public to be careful. They said to watch your kids, stay away from the water, and keep pets on a leash. Sergeant Dallin Turner with the Utah County Sherriff's Office told 'One slip is all it takes.' Is your name Ryan? Denver meetup hopes to set world record at Rockies game Las Vegas police look for 3 who 'may have' caused train derailment Nurse burnout is a huge issue in Utah now more than ever before, especially in rural areas UVU shocks #12 Oregon in NCAA Tournament, 6-5 Increased risk for heat-related illnesses and deaths as temperatures rise: Data Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Arab News
37 minutes ago
- Climate
- Arab News
India monsoon floods kill five in northeast
GUWAHATI: Torrential monsoon rains in India's northeast triggered landslides and floods that swept away and killed at least five people in Assam, disaster officials said annual monsoon season from June to September offers respite from intense summer heat and is crucial for replenishing water supplies, but also brings widespread death and deaths recorded are among the first of this season, with scores often killed over the course of the rains across India, a country of 1.4 billion monsoon is a colossal sea breeze that brings South Asia 70-80 percent of its annual swollen by the lashing rain — including the mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries — broke their banks across the the intensity of rain and floods has increased in recent years, with experts saying climate change is exacerbating the State Disaster Management Authority officials on Saturday confirmed five deaths in the last 24 hours.A red alert warning had been issued for 12 districts of Assam after non-stop rains over the last three days led to flooding in many urban situation was particularly bad in the state capital authorities have disconnected the electricity in several districts to cut the risk of low-lying areas of Guwahati were flooded, with hundreds of families forced to abandon homes to seek shelter Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government had deployed rescue teams.'We have been reviewing the impending situation for the last three days,' he said in a statement, saying that supplies of rice had been dispatched as food Asia is getting hotter and in recent years has seen shifting weather patterns, but scientists are unclear on how exactly a warming planet is affecting the highly complex Monday, lashing rains swamped India's financial capital Mumbai, where the monsoon rains arrived some two weeks earlier than usual, the earliest for nearly a quarter century, according to weather forecasters.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Swiss glacier collapse offers global warning of wider impact
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan: The collapse of the Swiss Birch glacier serves as a chilling warning of the escalating dangers faced by communities worldwide living under the shadow of fragile ice, particularly in Asia, experts say. Footage of the May 28 collapse showed a huge cloud of ice and rubble hurtling down the mountainside, into the hamlet of Blatten. Ali Neumann, disaster risk reduction adviser to the Swiss Development Cooperation, noted that while the role of climate change in the specific case of Blatten 'still needs to be investigated,' the wider impacts were clear on the cryosphere — the part of the world covered by frozen water. 'Climate change and its impact on the cryosphere will have growing repercussions on human societies that live near glaciers, near the cryosphere, and depend on glaciers somehow and live with them,' he said. The barrage largely destroyed Blatten, but the evacuation of its 300 residents last week averted mass casualties, although one person remains missing. 'It also showed that with the right skills and observation and management of an emergency, you can significantly reduce the magnitude of this type of disaster,' Neumann said at an international UN-backed glacier conference in Tajikistan. Stefan Uhlenbrook, Director for Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said it showed the need for vulnerable regions like the Himalayas and other parts of Asia to prepare. 'From monitoring, to data sharing, to numerical simulation models, to hazard assessment and to communicating that, the whole chain needs to be strengthened,' Uhlenbrook said. 'But in many Asian countries, this is weak, the data is not sufficiently connected.' Swiss geologists use various methods, including sensors and satellite images, to monitor their glaciers. Asia was the world's most disaster-hit region from climate and weather hazards in 2023, the United Nations said last year, with floods and storms the chief cause of casualties and economic losses. But many Asian nations, particularly in the Himalayas, lack the resources to monitor their vast glaciers to the same degree as the Swiss. According to a 2024 UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction report, two-thirds of countries in the Asia and Pacific region have early warning systems. But the least developed countries, many of whom are in the frontlines of climate change, have the worst coverage. 'Monitoring is not absent, but it is not enough,' said geologist Sudan Bikash Maharjan of the Nepal-based International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). 'Our terrains and climatic conditions are challenging, but also we lack that level of resources for intensive data generation.' That gap is reflected in the number of disaster-related fatalities for each event. While the average number of fatalities per disaster was 189 globally, in Asia and the Pacific it was much higher at 338, according to the Belgium-based Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters' Emergency Events Database. Geoscientist Jakob Steiner, who works in climate adaptation in Nepal and Bhutan, said it is not as simple as just exporting the Swiss technological solutions. 'These are complex disasters, working together with the communities is actually just as, if not much more, important,' he said. Himalayan glaciers, providing critical water to nearly two billion people, are melting faster than ever before due to climate change, exposing communities to unpredictable and costly disasters, scientists warn. Hundreds of lakes formed from glacial meltwater have appeared in recent decades. They can be deadly when they burst and rush down the valley. The softening of permafrost increases the chances of landslides. Declan Magee, from the Asian Development Bank's Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, said that monitoring and early warnings alone are not enough. 'We have to think... about where we build, where people build infrastructure and homes, and how we can decrease their vulnerability if it is exposed,' he said. Nepali climate activist and filmmaker Tashi Lhazom described how the village of Til, near to her home, was devastated by a landslide earlier in May. The 21 families escaped — but only just. 'In Switzerland they were evacuated days before, here we did not even get seconds,' said Lhazom. 'The disparity makes me sad but also angry. This has to change.'
