Proof that climate change intensifies natural disasters

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♻️ This week’s sustainability news

Human-caused climate change and natural disasters

What’s happening: Since 2004, the ten most deadly weather events, which include three tropical storms, four heatwaves, two floods, and a drought, have resulted in the deaths of at least 570,000 people. A new study by World Weather Attribution reveals that global warming, driven by burning oil, gas, coal, and deforestation, made all these events worse. The authors pointed out that the actual number of deaths is much higher than reported. Many deaths caused by heat, possibly millions, are not officially recorded and don't appear in the International Disaster Database. This is especially true in poorer countries that are most affected by high temperatures.

Why it’s happening: The deadliest climate event recorded globally was a drought in Somalia in 2011, which killed at least 258,000 people. The report found that human-caused warming made the drought worse by changing rainfall patterns and increasing temperatures, which dried out the soil. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed over 138,000 people in southern Myanmar. A new study showed that global warming increased the storm's wind speed by 18 percent and made the warm ocean temperatures, which increased Nargis's rainfall, 47 percent more likely. For last year’s European heatwave that killed over 37,000 people, research indicated that some of the highest temperatures in the western Mediterranean would have been impossible without global warming and were made 1,000 times more likely across Southern Europe.

Why it’s important: The new study highlights that burning fossil fuels leads to climate change, which in turn causes harm and destruction, according to author Friederike Otto. She is a co-founder of World Weather Attribution and a senior lecturer at Imperial College London. Over the past 10 years, research in this area has changed how people talk about global warming and its effects. Before 2004, scientists were hesitant to connect extreme weather with human-caused climate change. However, these studies have helped many realize that climate change is already making life more dangerous. The challenge now is to use this knowledge to take action on a large scale.

The study was released as over 200 people have died due to severe flooding in Valencia, Spain, one of the worst floods in Europe this century. The prime minister has ordered 10,000 more troops and police to assist with the recovery efforts. This is the largest mobilisation during peacetime in the country’s history. In addition, a biannual report was released in Australia by the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO. It outlines how Australia’s climate is changing rapidly - hotter and more dangerous, and the temperature trends will only worsen in the future.

📖 Read the Inside Climate News article: New report shows how human-caused warming intensified the 10 deadliest climate disasters since 2004

📖 Read the study: 10 years of rapidly disentangling drivers of extreme weather disasters

Climate voters could swing US election

What’s happening: In the days leading up to the presidential election, about 2,000 volunteers from across the country gathered by the nonprofit Environmental Voter Project are spending time calling voters in 19 states. Their goal is to encourage people who care about climate change to vote, especially those who didn't vote in the last presidential election. During this period, volunteers from the League of Conservation Voters have also visited 2.5 million homes nationwide. They ask people what issues are important to them and then explain how those issues relate to climate change. Around 75 percent of the voters the group spoke with say they plan to vote for Harris, who was endorsed by the organisation. The group is also trying to connect with voters online by collaborating with TikTok influencers to engage younger people and making digital ads for platforms like Hulu and YouTube.

Why it’s happening: In a close election, the 8 million registered voters who care about the environment but didn't vote in 2020 could make a big difference, especially in states with tight races. For example, Environmental Voter Project found 245,000 registered voters in Pennsylvania who care about climate change but rarely vote. Research shows that climate voters had a big impact on the 2020 election. For voters under 45 who previously voted for third-party candidates or didn't vote at all, climate change was the main reason they chose to vote for President Joe Biden in 2020, according to a Navigator Research poll. Another study from the University of Colorado found that Biden might have lost 3 percent of the popular vote if climate change hadn't influenced voters' choices, which could have changed the election outcome.

Why it’s important: The climate vote could play a crucial role in this year's presidential election in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina. These are important states with many voters who care about the climate but might not vote, according to the Environmental Voter Project. Since 2017, the group says it has helped turn over 350,000 inactive voters in Pennsylvania into regular voters. This is significant because Biden won Pennsylvania by only 80,555 votes in 2020. On the other hand, the group isn't focusing on Michigan and Wisconsin because there aren't as many non-voting environmentalists in those states.

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Explore multiple archaeological sites in Mexico

Five major Maya sites: Read our article to uncover the history of the Maya civilisation in Yucatan as we travelled along this nearly 40km route that reveals distinctive architectural and cultural wonders.

😇 People doing great things

Solar-powered generators fuelling hurricane relief

The Footprint Project has built nearly 50 solar micro grids: After the disaster of Hurricane Helene, generators were widely in use across Western North Carolina. They provided power for trailers where people could take showers, powered food trucks that gave out hot meals to many people, and cleaned water for communities to drink and use for flushing toilets. Such generators are commonly used in relief efforts worldwide. However, Footprint Project is a nonprofit from New Orleans trying to replace these generators with solar-powered batteries in the region. Their motto is “Build back greener.” This is the biggest large-response effort the Footprint Project has ever done, and they hope it will have a long-lasting positive effect.

Using diesel and gas generators releases carbon, which worsens the climate crisis. It also produces smog and soot, which can cause asthma attacks and other breathing issues. After Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, many people were using generators because the electric grid stopped working. This caused air pollution in San Juan to rise above safe levels. Generators are also expensive, often costing over $1,000 at large retail stores. After the first supply of fuel is used up, which happened in some areas of Western North Carolina after Helene, it can be hard and expensive to get more. Additionally, generators are loud, which can be bad for health and increase stress for both responders and the people they are helping.

The Footprint Project has seven full-time employees who work with local solar companies, nonprofits, and others to help after disasters. Their team collects and gives out supplies like solar-powered charging stations and water filters. They focus on helping communities that have lost power or water, and also those who want to use less fossil fuel.

⭐️ Weekly inspiration

US power grid added massive battery power

Equivalent to four nuclear reactors: Faced with climate-accelerated natural disasters and increasing use of renewable energy, the US energy grid has gone from barely anything from just four years ago to over 20 gigawatts of energy, with five gigawatts coming just in the first seven months of this year per the US Energy Information Administration.

AI-powered robot picks out recyclables

Diverts cans from waste: Chicago's main recycling centre is using an AI-powered robot with a special optical scanner to quickly find aluminium cans in just 10-15 milliseconds to help save them from going to landfill, with over a million cans saved from being thrown away since its installation last year.

German city sees success from green contract

Protecting Hamburg’s green spaces: A unique agreement was signed in 2018 to protect 30% of Hamburg’s land area (10% as untouchable nature reserves and 20% with a wider conservation status) and ensure the share of public green space in the city rises over time, with a recent progress report showing the plan has been successful.

University of Chicago opens unique climate institute

The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth: According to a press release, the institute is a bold effort that brings together advanced research in economics, climate policy, and important energy and climate technologies, along with an innovative way of teaching to create better insights into climate issues and develop practical solutions.

First electric trains start running in East Africa

Tanzania has eight daily services to the capital Dodoma: At least 7,000 passengers travel on them daily, which is already approaching capacity, with expectations the number will double or triple and more services will be added as locals embrace the new clean and comfortable trains.

US grants $428 million to clean energy in coal-dependent communities

Announced by the Biden-Harris administration: The 14 projects are located in 12 states, such as Kentucky, Utah, West Virginia, Texas, and Pennsylvania, with the grants from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law expected to attract around $500 million from private companies and create over 1,900 well-paying jobs.

Startup to trial a new clean transport solution

From New Zealand-based company Whoosh: Construction will begin next year on a gondola-like ride-hailing network in a 370-acre area of tourism hot spot Queenstown, with each Whoosh cabin descending for passenger pick up and then using an electric motor to propel itself along a stationary network of cables and rails.

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