Carbon Copy The India Meteorological Department (IMD) this week delivered its first long-range forecast for this year’s monsoon. In terms of total rainfall observed over the season, the IMD expects this year’s monsoon to bring 96% of the Long Period Average (with a modelling error of +/-5%). The forecast, if it materialises, places monsoon performance within the “normal” range, albeit narrowly.  Despite the normal forecast, mid-way into summer 2023, India is jittery....

-Press released by Christian Aid dated 27 December, 2022 * Study identifies the year’s 10 costliest extreme events influenced by the climate crisis - each caused more than $3 billion in damage. * Report also examines 10 other extreme events that caused massive human and environmental damage, mostly in the poorest countries. * The floods that submerged parts of Pakistan in June displaced 7m people and caused more than $30 billion in estimated...

-Down to Earth The habitability of housing, rather than just its availability, will be an important factor in the future, given the trends in climate change The summer of 2022 has been the second-hottest since 2010, according to Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The winter, monsoon and post-monsoon are also warming up. The mere availability of housing is no longer sufficient in such a scenario. It should also...

-The Hindu Western nations have started reinterpreting the Paris deal and look to downgrade their commitments Countries in Europe led by Germany, Austria and the Netherlands are cranking up their coal plants again. Coal exports to Europe are surging. Fossil fuels are making a comeback and countries are rejecting the European Union (EU)’s plan to reduce natural gas consumption by 15%. Dutch, Polish and other European farmers are protesting against emission cuts...

-Down to Earth Average river water temperatures may rise 7°C in summer by 2070-2100 Climate change may turn India’s rivers into hostile environments for aquatic life by 2070-2100, scientists warned in a new study.  River water temperatures may increase during the period and dissolved oxygen levels may decrease, the study published in Scientific Reports has predicted.  Under a high-emissions scenario, average river water temperatures are expected to climb 7 degrees Celsius in summer, reaching...