All headlines are from the Guardian,
Headline : Flourishing plants show warming Antarctica undergoing ‘major change’
February 15th
Flowers are florishing in Antartica, because of global warming. The temperature is rising and flowers are spreading. The polar ecosystem is fragile and there are changes. The increase in plants since 2009 coincides with the rising air temperature and the reduction in the number of seals. A new record of temperature each year, summer warming increased from 0.02°C to 0.27°C since 2012.
But there is a problem with this; the spread of flowers will change the soil acidity, how organic matter decomposes. And changing the soil acidity will cause a degradation of permafrost and a cascade of changes.
Headline : Storm Eunice : hundreds of thousands still without power in UK
February 19th
Storm Eunice shut down power for hundreds of thousands people last night. The storm did a lot of dammages and killed four people, people called yesterday the « day of destruction ». The wind speed was recorded AT 122 mph and is likely the highest ever speed recorded in England since a storm 32 years ago that did 47 deaths (that was in 1979 the wind was at 118 mph).
At the moment 435, 000 homes are left without power and many of train, flights are cancelled and roads closed, millions of people have to stay at home.
Headline : Draughty window or door ? Now it can be seen from space
February 20th
The British space company Satellite Vu wants to send heat-sensing satellites on a Falcon 9 Rocket next year. The role of these satellites is to detect heat loss from buildings and to save this energy. To achieve the goal of zero emissions of greenhouse gases, this project will prevent how heat is wasted in a building with thermal cameras and sensors. Six probes are to be launched in the next 3 years by Space X and to earn money to finance this project Satellite Vu will sell the data from these cameras.
Headline : London flooding poses ‘significant risk’ unless immediate action taken
February 20th
London is threatened by flooding. These last years, more and more natural events due to global warming hit London. For exemple, in July the amount of water due to the rainfall reached in an hour what fell in one month. The threat of flooding is increasing and the city wants to rely on the Victoria Drainage System to tackle the water surface, but the drainage system is not designed to deal with the situation. London has to find solutions to takle the surface water flooding. And the consequences may be greater because the government doesn’t know how many people will be concerned about this threat. Their homes will be flooded and people will have nowhere to live.
Headline : African countries spending billions to cope with climate crisis
February 27th
African countries are forced to spend billions dollars to strenghten their infrastructure against natural events. Due to global warming, natural disasters such as floods, storms, droughts are frequent and destroy infrastucture and supplies (food and water) of the population. AT COP 26, developed countries pledged (promised) billions of dollars to help African countries cope with global warming, but the money was invested in projects to cut greenhouse gas emission reduction and windfarms. Africans countries like Ethiopia, have to spend money while the US pollutes 80 times more than poor people in Africa.
Headline : IPPCC issues ‘bleakest warning yet’ on impacts of climate breakdown
February 28th
Climate breakdown is accelerating sharply, and impacts are more frequents and worst than before. The IPCC (The intergovernmental panel on climate change) has stated that we have a little chance left to avoid the worst damage. The human actions that are causing global warming are devastating the environnment and humans like dominoes, heat waves, droughts, floods, storms are frequent and severe. The next problem in the future will be hunger and illness of people due to global warming. Because of flood or droughts there will be less plants therefore less food for humans. In poor countries this will be devastating.
Headline : World leaders agree to draw up ‘historic’ treaty on plastic waste
March 2nd
An important treaty since the Paris climate agreement in 2015 was approved by the UN environment assembly in Kenya. This treaty aims to recycle plastic waste for all plastic products. Today 75 % of plastic waste is in landfills or accumulates in environments, this represents 9,2 bn tons of plastic since 1970 that are now the source of pollution. This treaty would cover the design, production and waste of plastic products. And with a financial support it will improve recycling technology and solutions. More than 60 countries are concerned about plastic pollution.
Headline : Sydney Harbour turns brown as authorities warn against swimming after floods
March 10th
In Sydney after floods, the pollution of waterways is increasing. Rainfall is a driver of pollution : it can carry debris, sediments which color the water. Waterways are murky and spread viruses and bacteria that are dangerous for swimmers, because this water flows into the ocean. Swimmers must avoid swimming in the ocean on the following days after rainfall or flood. Because they can put themselves at risk for illnesses such as skin infections and debris are hide in the water color and can hurt swimmers.