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Japan Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Japan Times
Climate heat extremes driving tropical bird decline: study
Tropical bird populations have plummeted not only due to deforestation but also extreme heat attributable to climate change, according to a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Intensifying temperatures caused a 25% to 38% reduction in tropical bird populations between 1950 and 2020, compared to a scenario without global warming, scientists based in Europe and Australia reported. "The findings are pretty stark," lead author Maximilian Kotz, a researcher at the National Supercomputing Centre in Barcelona and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), said. Bird populations in the tropics now face 30 days of heat extremes per year compared to three per year in the mid-20th century, he noted. "This has major consequences for how we think about biodiversity conservation," Kotz said by email. "Protecting pristine habitats is crucial, but without dealing with climate change it won't be enough for birds." Nearly half of all bird species are found in biodiversity-rich tropical regions. These often colorful animals perform essential services for ecosystems, such as dispersing plant seeds. But birds living in these regions may already be "close to the limits" of their tolerance to high temperatures, which can cause heatstroke (hyperthermia) or dehydration. The overview study does not provide figures for individual species, but earlier literature is rich with examples of the devastating impact of rising temperatures. One documented the heat-related decline of birds in Panama, including the king quetzal, the red-crested quetzal, the two-colored kingfisher and the aurora trogon. Another study published in 2017 showed how some tropical hummingbirds are now forced to seek shade to regulate their temperature in extreme heat, cutting into the amount of time they can spend searching for life-sustaining nectar. Extreme heat waves, which are becoming more frequent, represent a far greater threat than increases in average temperatures or rainfall, another result of human-induced climate change. Up to now, it has been assumed that the decline in bird populations worldwide was due mainly to other well-identified factors, especially habitat loss, pesticide use, hunting, and invasive species, especially snakes that snack on bird eggs and mosquitos carrying avian malaria. But the new findings "challenge the view that direct human pressures have so far been the dominant driver of impacts on bird populations compared to climate change in tropical regions," according to the authors. To reach this conclusion, they analyzed observational data from more than 3,000 bird populations around the world and used statistical modelling to isolate the effects of extreme weather from other factors. The findings help complete the picture of tropical bird decline, noted Aimee Van Tatenhove, a post-doctoral fellow at Cornell University's Center for Avian Population Studies who was not involved in the study. "Deforestation has an obvious impact — trees are cut and habitat is destroyed," she said. "We need long-term datasets like the authors used to understand how extreme temperatures impact avian populations." "This study is an important reminder that we need to continue examining different causes of population declines and apply those findings to conservation initiatives," she continued.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Science
- Malay Mail
Extreme heat from climate change driving sharp decline in tropical bird populations, study finds
PARIS, Aug 12 — Tropical bird populations have plummeted not only due to deforestation but also extreme heat attributable to climate change, according to a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Intensifying temepratures caused a 25-38 per cent reduction in tropical bird populations between 1950 and 2020, compared to a scenario without manmade global warming, scientists based in Europe and Australia reported. 'The findings are pretty stark,' lead author Maximilian Kotz, a researcher at the National Supercomputing Centre in Barcelona and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), told AFP. Bird populations in the tropics now face 30 days of heat extremes per year compared to three per year in the mid-20th century, he noted. 'This has major consequences for how we think about biodiversity conservation,' Kotz said by email. 'Protecting pristine habitats is crucial, but without dealing with climate change it won't be enough for birds.' Nearly half of all bird species are found in biodiversity-rich tropical regions. These often colourful animals perform essential services for ecosystems, such as dispersing plant seeds. Invasive species another threat But birds living in these regions may already be 'close to the limits' of their tolerance to high temperatures, which can cause heatstroke (hyperthermia) or dehydration. The overview study does not provide figures for individual species, but earlier literature is rich with examples of the devastating impact of rising temperatures. One documented the heat-related decline of birds in Panama, including the king quetzal, the red-crested quetzal, the two-coloured kingfisher and the aurora trogon. Another study published in 2017 showed how some tropical hummingbirds are now forced to seek shade to regulate their temperature in extreme heat, cutting into the amount of time they can spend searching for life-sustaining nectar. Extreme heat waves, which are becoming more frequent, represent a far greater threat than increases in average temperatures or rainfall, another result of human-induced climate change. Up to now, it has been assumed that the decline in bird populations worldwide was due mainly to other well-identified factors, especially habitat loss, pesticide use, hunting, and invasive species, especially snakes that snack on bird eggs and mosquitos carrying avian malaria. But the new findings 'challenge the view that direct human pressures have so far been the dominant driver of impacts on bird populations compared to climate change in tropical regions,' according to the authors. To reach this conclusion, they analysed observational data from more than 3,000 bird populations around the world and used statistical modelling to isolate the effects of extreme weather from other factors. The findings help complete the picture of tropical bird decline, noted Aimee Van Tatenhove, a post-doctoral fellow at Cornell University's Center for Avian Population Studies who was not involved in the study. 'Deforestation has an obvious impact—trees are cut and habitat is destroyed,' she told AFP. 'We need long-term datasets like the authors used to understand how extreme temperatures impact avian populations.' 'This study is an important reminder that we need to continue examining different causes of population declines and apply those findings to conservation initiatives,' she continued. — AFP
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Ardagh has support for deal from 90pc of holders of senior debt
The company needs to get over 90pc consent from all classes in order to implement the deal on a fully consensual basis. However, now the level of PIK support has passed 75pc, it could seek to push through the deal through a court restructuring process known as a scheme of arrangement. Giving the Transition Services Update, the Irish company encouraged all remaining holders of senior debt and of PIK notes to agree to the deal by the 'early bird' deadline of tomorrow. Under the terms of the proposed restructuring, holders of $4.3bn (€3.7bn) in combined senior unsecured notes and PIK notes will swap their debt for equity. Secured creditors who do not consent to the deal by today will have their holdings exchanged for new debt at a discounted price of 80c, according to a presentation given by the company to investors. Holders of senior unsecured bonds and of PIK bonds would also lose access to a portion of the allocated equity if they do not sign up. Consenting holders of senior secured notes who sign up to the deal by the early bird deadline will get new exchange notes at par value. Last week Bloomberg reported that a small cohort of Ardagh Group creditors were pushing back against the restructuring deal agreed to by the packaging company and most of its debt holders. The news agency quoted unnamed sources as saying that the minority group, which owned PIK bonds, were consulting with the legal firm White & Case. PIK bonds give the company the option of paying interest in more bonds, or additional debt, instead of cash. The senior unsecured bondholders are due to own 92.5pc of the equity once the deal goes through, while the PIK holders will get the remaining 7.5pc. The PIK notes are trading for less than 5c on the dollar, while the unsecured bonds, due in August 2027, are indicated at about 45c, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The Ardagh restructuring deal involves unsecured creditors taking over control of the business from the current shareholder, Irish businessman Paul Coulson. His investment vehicle, Yeoman Capital, is set to get a $300m pay-off to walk away. As Mr Coulson currently owns about 36pc of the Ardagh Group, it is expected that he will earn about $108m for the deal. ADVERTISEMENT Ardagh, a recyclable metal and glass packaging firm, is one of the largest manufacturers of its type in Europe. It operates 58 metal and glass production facilities in 16 countries, employing about 19,000 people, and had sales of about $9.1bn last year. Mr Coulson took over Ardagh's predecessor, the Irish Glass Bottle Company based in Dublin, in the late 1990s. Ardagh has been negotiating with bondholders for months as it attempted to find a way of dealing with debt due to mature next year. Higher interest rates and running costs had weighed heavily on the company's balance sheet, which pushed the Irish businessman into a position where he had to negotiate with creditors to reduce the debt load. The company has $2.6bn in obligations due next year. Creditors previously rejected a plan to leave Mr Coulson in control of Ardagh Metal Packaging SA, the most profitable arm of the business, which is listed in the US.
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Business Standard
30-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Small coalitions could unlock $66 bn a year to fight climate change: Study
New research from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) suggests that smaller alliances of fossil fuel-importing countries could raise up to $66 billion every year to help developing nations reduce emissions. This approach, the study says, would not increase costs for consumers and could be a realistic way to support global climate goals, news agency PTI reported. At the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, held in November 2024, countries agreed on a new goal to raise $300 billion per year by 2035 for climate finance. There is also a broader target of mobilising $1.3 trillion from both public and private sources. However, the agreement did not include any concrete plan on how this money would be raised. Several countries are proposing different types of levies to support climate funding: -Brazil and other nations are supporting a 2 per cent global wealth tax on billionaires, which could generate up to $250 billion annually. -The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has approved a carbon dioxide fee of $100 per tonne on shipping emissions starting in 2027. This could bring in $13 billion per year. Fossil fuel levies could raise $66 billion annually According to the PIK study, countries working together on fossil fuel import taxes could generate $66 billion a year to help lower-income countries shift to cleaner energy. If levies also covered emissions from international flights and shipping, the total could reach $200 billion per year. 'Governments are facing tightening fiscal space and are grappling with the question of where the money for international climate finance will come from. Smaller coalitions of countries cooperating on different kinds of levies could go a long way to solve the problem, without extra cost to consumers,' said Ottmar Edenhofer, PIK Director and lead author of the study, as quoted by PTI. EU-China cooperation could be a game-changer The research also shows that cooperation between large importers like the European Union and China could significantly boost climate finance. In one scenario, EU-China collaboration would quadruple the funds raised compared to what either could generate on its own. Consumers could also benefit from this cooperation, as lower global fuel prices would balance out any price increases from the levies. The study estimates that such collaboration could deliver: -$66 billion yearly for emission reductions in developing nations -$33 billion in net gains for those countries -$78 billion in avoided climate damages -$19 billion in annual fossil fuel savings India achieves non-fossil power target India has reached its target of 50 per cent non-fossil fuel-based power capacity five years prior to its 2030 deadline, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced earlier this month. Out of a total 484.8 GW installed capacity, 242.8 GW now comes from non-fossil sources. India has also set a goal of generating 500 GW from renewable energy by 2030. Fossil fuel combustion kills 1,500 In a separate study, scientists found that about 1,500 people died during the heatwave in the first week of July in Europe, solely because of climate change. 'These people would not have died if it had not been for our burning of oil, coal and gas in the last century,' said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-author of the study. Researchers from Imperial College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used peer-reviewed methods to estimate that 2,300 people died across 12 cities due to the heat. Nearly two-thirds of these deaths were directly linked to higher temperatures caused by climate change. Of the 1,500 climate-related deaths, over 1,100 were people aged 75 or older, the study found.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cooperative fossil fuel levies could raise 66 bn annually to fight climate change: Study
A new study by PIK proposes that coalitions of fossil fuel-importing countries could generate USD 66 billion annually to aid developing nations in cutting emissions. Cooperative levies on fossil fuels, especially with EU-China collaboration, could significantly boost climate finance. This approach offers a win-win scenario, reducing emissions and benefiting consumers through lower fuel prices and avoided climate damages. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Smaller coalitions of fossil fuel-importing countries could generate USD 66 billion annually to help developing nations cut emissions, according to a new study by climate economists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).Governments at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024 agreed to a new climate finance goal of USD 300 billion per year by 2035, with an ambition to mobilise USD 1.3 trillion from public and private sources, but failed to propose a mechanism to incentivise are advancing new taxes to boost climate finance. Brazil and others back a 2 per cent global wealth tax on billionaires, which could generate USD 230-250 billion International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved a USD 100 per tonne carbon dioxide shipping fee from 2027, expected to generate USD 13 billion. France, Spain, Kenya, and Barbados plan levies on premium flyers and private jets, which could add over USD 100 billion yearly for climate to the PIK study, cooperative levies on fossil fuels could raise USD 66 billion every year for financing emission reduction efforts in low and middle-income the scope to include pricing emissions from international aviation and maritime shipping could push contributions to USD 200 billion annually."Governments are facing tightening fiscal space and are grappling with the question of where the money for international climate finance will come from. Smaller coalitions of countries cooperating on different kinds of levies could go a long way to solve the problem, without extra cost to consumers," said PIK Director and lead author Ottmar study explores scenarios where countries act in their own interest but cooperate on fossil fuel levies and channel the revenues to support energy transition in developing finds that if the European Union makes the levy rates conditional on other countries joining, large importers like China would have an incentive to one scenario, the EU-China cooperation would quadruple the climate finance raised by each compared to acting alone. Such collaboration would also benefit consumers by lowering global fuel prices, offsetting any price increases from the study estimates that with the EU-China cooperation, developing countries could receive USD 66 billion annually to reduce fossil fuel use, including USD 33 billion in net damages from climate impacts could be worth USD 78 billion, with an additional USD 19 billion saved on fossil fuel prices each funding from these levies could also cut emissions by more than a billion tonnes of CO2 annually, exceeding Germany's current researchers say this approach offers a model for funding global public goods."Our analysis strongly suggests that coalitions to raise funds for global public good provision would be a win-win. We show by pairing targeted spending of these levies on international climate finance, benefits can be shared by all," said Matthias Kalkuhl, one of the study's study is part of the project "ODA in the Mutual Interest of Donors and Recipients", funded by the Gates Foundation and coordinated by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
