All articles tagged with #climate adaptation
A study in Nature Communications uncovers 2.7-million-year-old stone tools in Kenya's Turkana Basin, demonstrating a long-standing tradition of toolmaking that helped early humans adapt to environmental changes over nearly 300,000 years, highlighting their resilience and technological continuity.
A UN report reveals that financial aid from wealthy nations to help poorer countries adapt to climate change is declining, with 2023 aid dropping 7% and unlikely to meet the $40 billion annual pledge by 2025, highlighting a setback in global climate efforts.
Archaeologists have discovered a 23,000-year-old stone wall in Greece's Theopetra cave, making it the oldest known human-made structure, showcasing advanced prehistoric engineering and adaptation to harsh climatic conditions, predating famous monuments like the pyramids and Stonehenge.
A large-scale installation of vertical bifacial solar panels in Tromsø, Norway, demonstrates that vertical solar technology is highly effective in northern, snowy, and windy climates, offering higher energy yields, easier maintenance, and better snow clearance compared to traditional tilted panels, paving the way for broader adoption in challenging environments.
The termination of federal climate grants by the Trump administration has left small communities and environmental groups in a difficult position, threatening their climate adaptation projects and raising concerns about trust in government aid, with some facing potential relocation due to ongoing erosion and lack of funding.
Singapore plans to build an 8-mile-long artificial island called 'Long Island' as a massive seawall and land reclamation project to protect against rising sea levels, enhance water security, and create new urban spaces, reflecting its long-term climate resilience strategy.
Researchers at McGill University have successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to genetically modify oats, making them more resilient to climate change and potentially transforming the $900 million Canadian oat industry by enabling faster breeding of crops that can better withstand environmental stresses.
A new study using 3D reconstructions of ancient and modern human ribcages reveals that ribcage shape and size are linked to climate, with colder environments associated with larger, broader ribcages, challenging previous beliefs about human body morphology and highlighting the influence of climate on human evolution.
New research suggests that Triassic reptiles, ancestors of dinosaurs and crocodiles, were capable of migrating up to 10,000 miles through inhospitable tropical zones following the end-Permian mass extinction, which may have contributed to their survival and subsequent dominance in Earth's ecosystems.
A study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that land radiative management (LRM), a climate adaptation strategy involving reflective surfaces to cool urban areas, may inadvertently increase temperatures in neighboring regions by altering weather patterns and reducing rainfall. This could exacerbate climate inequity if applied in high-income areas adjacent to low-income ones. However, the researchers note that LRM could still be beneficial if implemented over appropriate scales, minimizing unintended warming effects.
An emperor penguin, the first of its species to be found in Australia, was discovered malnourished on a beach in Denmark, Western Australia, far from its Antarctic habitat. The penguin, an adult male, is being cared for by wildlife experts who are working to rehabilitate it, including using chilled water mist to help it adapt to the warmer climate. Weighing only 23 kilograms, the penguin is significantly underweight, as healthy males typically weigh over 45 kilograms. Authorities are considering options for potentially returning the penguin to Antarctica.
A new study led by the University of California, Davis reveals that invasive plants can remain dormant for decades or even centuries before rapidly expanding and causing ecological damage. The research, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, analyzed over 5,700 species of invasive plants in nine regions globally, finding that nearly one-third exhibited lag periods between introduction and rapid expansion, with the average time being 40 years. The study emphasizes the need to consider dormancy periods in managing pests and preventing widespread invasion and economic losses in the future.
As coastal erosion threatens many countries, the traditional approach of beach nourishment is proving to be unsustainable and costly. A new strategy called the "sand motor," pioneered by the Netherlands, involves creating a sculpted landscape that allows natural wave action to distribute sand along the coastline, providing longer-lasting protection. While successful in some areas, the high upfront costs and need for international assistance make it challenging for many countries to implement. The World Bank is funding sand motor projects in West Africa, but the effectiveness of these interventions depends on comprehensive climate adaptation plans that include shifting development away from vulnerable coastlines.
Climate adaptation funds pledged by wealthy countries are failing to reach vulnerable frontline communities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The current structure of climate finance, including a lack of funding and barriers in the application process, prevents these communities from accessing support. Additionally, administrative and political barriers hinder the flow of international support to local levels. To address this, funding for adaptation needs to be increased, a greater proportion of funding should be dedicated to the most vulnerable countries, and application procedures should be simplified and standardized. Wealthy countries must accept imperfect governance and push for increased transparency while experimenting with innovative approaches to ensure more funding reaches frontline communities.
A UN report warns that the world is "woefully" unprepared for the escalating impacts of the climate crisis, with international funding for climate adaptation falling short. The report estimates that between $215bn and $387bn per year is needed for climate adaptation in poor and vulnerable countries alone, but funding actually fell by 15% in 2021. Rich nations pledged $40bn by 2025, but more action is needed. The report emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of adaptation measures and the need to limit future compensation through a loss and damage fund. Every country is underprepared for climate impacts, making adaptation a "matter of survival." The UN Secretary-General calls for action to close the adaptation gap and deliver climate justice, including taxing the windfall profits of the fossil fuel industry.