Antarctica's shrinking ice shelves and other nature and climate stories you need to read this week
Top nature and climate stories: Antarctica's shrinking ice shelves; the IEA urges for greater methane emissions reduction to limit global warming; and more. Image: Photo by 66 north on Unsplash
- This weekly round-up contains key nature and climate news from the past week.
- Top nature and climate stories: Antarctica's shrinking ice shelves; the IEA urges for greater methane emissions reduction to limit global warming; climate change is knocking the world's water cycle off balance.
1. More than 40% of Antarctica's ice shelves have shrunk since 1997
Scientists have found that over 40% of Antarctica's ice shelves have shrunk since 1997, due to climate breakdown.
Researchers at the University of Leeds say half of these ice shelves show 'no sign of recovery'.
They calculated that, between 1997 and 2021, 67 trillion tonnes of ice was lost in the west, while 59 trillion tonnes was added to the east. This means there has been a net loss of 7.5 trillion tonnes of ice.
Study lead, Dr Benjamin Davison told The Guardian: “There is a mixed picture of ice-shelf deterioration, and this is to do with the ocean temperature and ocean currents around Antarctica.
“The western half is exposed to warm water, which can rapidly erode the ice shelves from below, whereas much of east Antarctica is currently protected from nearby warm water by a band of cold water at the coast.”
2. Cutting methane emissions essential to limit global warming - IEA
Rapid cuts in methane emissions from fossil fuels could have a greater impact in the climate fight than removing all cars and trucks from the road, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The Imperative of Cutting Methane from Fossil Fuels report says reduction of methane emissions could prevent a temperature rise of up to 0.1 °C by mid-century.
Methane is responsible for around 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. But, the IEA estimates more than 80 million tonnes of annual methane emissions from fossil fuels could be avoided by 2030 using existing technologies.
Targeted actions, such as eliminating venting and flaring and repairing leaks, are needed in addition to decreasing fossil fuel use, to limit global warming and prevent irreversible climate changes, the IEA said.
3. News in brief: Other top nature and climate stories this week
Human-caused climate change is knocking the world's hydrological cycle off balance, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) that offers an extensive assessment of global water resources. The WMO's State of Global Water Resources 2022 report calls for a significant policy change, improved monitoring, data sharing, cross-border collaboration, and increased investments to manage extreme conditions.
Damage caused by extreme weather has cost the world $16 million an hour for the past 20 years, according to a study of the impact of storms, floods, heatwaves, and droughts.
Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, have warned that almost half of world's known flowering plants are at risk of extinction, including orchids, pineapple varieties, and crucial crop species. They also said more than 2 million species of fungi are still waiting to be identified.
Natural disasters and extreme weather cost China $42 billion in direct economic losses in the first nine months of 2023, the government has reported. Torrential rains, deadly landslides, hailstorms, and multiple typhoons were among the catastrophic events the country faced.
Meanwhile, global economic losses under a 'plausible increase' in extreme weather events could reach $5 trillion, according to insurance marketplace Lloyd's of London.
The indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon have called on the Brazilian government to declare a climate emergency. Their villages are suffering from a severe drought, causing a lack of drinking water, food, and medicine.
It comes as World Weather Attribution found global warming caused South America's heat wave in August and September, which saw temperatures rise by as much as 4.3C.
How is the World Economic Forum fighting the climate crisis?
4. More on the nature and climate crisis on Agenda
Plastic pollution is a critical challenge for the future of the ASEAN region, with over 31 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually in six out of ten ASEAN countries. The ASEAN region has huge potential in terms of creativity, innovation and transformative business models. Liviana Zorzi explains how bold models of cooperation among governments, businesses and civil society can address the plastic crisis.
Carbon removal is a strategic imperative for businesses, essential for their future and the well-being of our planet. Investment in carbon removal is critical, not only to remove emissions immediately but also to build market capacity to achieve net zero. Nasim Pour and Leila Toplic explain how robust digital MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) systems enable businesses to act immediately.
Carbon Brief delves into the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, research on habitat loss and climate change as the main extinction risks facing plants and fungi. Here are five key findings from the State of the World’s Plants and Fungi report.