Climate change is the long-term alteration of the Earth's climate system, mainly caused by human activities that increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
These gases trap heat and warm the planet, leading to a variety of impacts on the environment and human society. In this article, we will explore top NWN climate change news in 2023.
The world is facing a climate breakdown as human-caused climate change from burning fossil fuels has led to record-breaking heat and extreme weather events.
The UN says that the current pledges for action are insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5C, the internationally agreed-upon goal, and that a rapid transformation of society is the only option to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
The article also reports that the main heating gases reached new highs in 2021, that climate change affects air quality and human health, and that the oil and gas industry needs to pay high windfall taxes to finance the switch to clean energy.
2. $145-B System Needed to Minimize Risk of Climate Change in Asia Pacific
The need for a $145 billion system to minimize the risk of climate change in Asia Pacific, according to a UN report.
The report warns that the region is facing a crucial time to strengthen its defenses against climate-related threats, such as floods, earthquakes, droughts, and typhoons, which could cause up to $1 trillion in economic damage and increase inequality and insecurity.
The report also emphasizes the importance of investing in multi-hazard early warning systems, which can reduce fatalities and losses by up to 60%, and calls for high windfall taxes on the oil and gas industry to finance the switch to clean energy.
Climate change causes frequent extreme heat waves in the US, which can lead to heat-related health concerns and wildfire damage.
Climate change influences the global climate by increasing the temperature and precipitation patterns, which in turn affect the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, such as droughts, hurricanes, and storms.
El Nino and global warming contribute to warmer winters and reduced snowpack, which exacerbate the heat waves. Effective mitigation and adaptation strategies are needed to reduce the risk of heat waves, such as investing in multi-hazard early warning systems, having cool roofs and plants, and imposing high windfall taxes on the oil and gas industry.
4. Impact of Climate Change in Antarctica Are 'Sporadic and Unpredictable', Study Says
The study found that the continent is not a static giant frozen in time, but rather a dynamic and complex system that is influenced by various factors, such as El Nino, global warming, and natural variability.
It is virtually certain that future Antarctic extreme events will be more pronounced than those observed to date, unless climate change is addressed. Example of such events, such as the record-breaking heat wave in March 2022, the rapid melting of sea ice and glaciers, and the impact of climate change on air quality and human health.
5. Global Temperatures, Heatwaves to Rise As El Niño Expected in 2023
Global temperatures and heatwaves will rise as El Niño is expected to return in 2023, adding to the effects of human-caused climate change from burning fossil fuels. El Niño is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the Pacific Ocean becomes warmer and affects the weather patterns around the world. La Niña, which brings cooler conditions, will end this year and that the next El Niño could push the global temperature above 1.5C, the internationally agreed-upon goal to limit warming.
The article also discusses the impacts of El Niño and climate change on the environment, such as droughts, storms, wildfires, and coral bleaching.
