UN Confirms Record Breaking High Temperatures Around the World
Video Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories - Duration: 01:31s - Published
UN Confirms Record Breaking High Temperatures Around the World
UN Confirms , Record Breaking
High Temperatures , Around the World.
NPR reports that the United Nations confirmed
the Arctic hit a new record high temperature
over the summer, reaching over 100F.
.
In a December 14 statement, the World Meteorological Organization called the record high temperature reading , "more befitting the Mediterranean than the Arctic.".
According to NPR, the reading was taken in the
Russian town of Verkhoyansk on June 20, 2020.
The temperature was reached amid
a Siberian heatwave which saw the region
reach above-normal temperatures.
This new Arctic record is one of
a series of observations reported
to the WMO Archive of Weather
and Climate Extremes that
sound the alarm bells about
our changing climate.
, Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General, via NPR.
In 2020, there was also a new
temperature record (18.3°C)
for the Antarctic continent, Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General, via NPR.
According to the WMO, the Arctic region, "is among the fastest-warming
regions in the world.".
Due to the unprecedented temperatures, the WMO had
to add a new climate category to its database for , "highest recorded temperature at
or north of 66.5⁰, the Arctic Circle." .
The new Arctic record was only one
of many record-breaking high
temperatures reached in 2020 and 2021.
.
The island of Sicily broke the record
high in Europe, reaching 119.8F.
.
While one of the world's hottest locations,
California's Death Valley, reached a scorching 129.9F.
Forecasters Warn , Earth May Hit Critical
Warming Threshold , Before 2026.
'Time' reports that the Earth is inching closer
to a warming threshold that multiple international
agreements are aimed at preventing.
According to teams of meteorologists around the world,
there is almost a 50-50 chance that the planet will
reach that threshold within the next five years. .
The warning prediction was issued on May 9 by a
team of 11 different forecast centers working with
the World Meteorological Organization.
'Time' reports that just last year, the same
forecasters said that the odds of hitting
the temperature threshold were at 40%. .
Ten years earlier, they said
the odds were just at 10%. .
In this year's report, the team also predicted
that there is a 93% chance the planet will
experience five years of record-breaking heat. .
We’re going to see continued warming in line with what is expected with climate change, Leon Hermanson, U.K. Met Office senior scientist, via 'Time'.
We’re going to see continued warming in line with what is expected with climate change, Leon Hermanson, U.K. Met Office senior scientist, via 'Time'.
The world has already
warmed approximately
1.1 degrees Celsius since the late 1800s. .
In 2018, the United Nations
warned of dramatic and dangerous effects on
the world if warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In 2018, the United Nations
warned of dramatic and dangerous effects on
the world if warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Regardless of what is predicted here,
we are very likely to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next decade or so,
but it doesn’t necessarily mean that we
are committed to this in the long term —
or that working to reduce further
change is not worthwhile, Gavin Schmidt, NASA top climate scientist, via 'Time'.
Regardless of what is predicted here,
we are very likely to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next decade or so,
but it doesn’t necessarily mean that we
are committed to this in the long term —
or that working to reduce further
change is not worthwhile, Gavin Schmidt, NASA top climate scientist, via 'Time'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Biden Reverses Trump’s Plan , To Drill for More Oil in Arctic.
Biden Reverses Trump’s Plan , To Drill for More Oil in Arctic.
CNBC reports that on April 25, Biden reversed the previous administration's plan to lease over two-thirds of land in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
Trump wanted to open up
82% of the land to
drilling for oil.
but Biden has reverted to an Obama administration plan that only utilizes 52% of the reserve.
Environmental protections for certain areas of the
23 million-acre reserve will also be reinstated.
CNBC reports that earlier this year, drilling permit approval by the Bureau of Land Management plunged under the Biden administration.
According to the Bureau of Land Management, over $56 million in oil and gas lease revenue was generated in 2019.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the reserve can potentially release more than
5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air.
Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director of the Center for Biological Diversity, said more needs to be done to address the climate crisis.
More Arctic drilling also means more oil spills, more polluted communities and more harm to polar bears and other vulnerable wildlife. Biden officials can and must use their power to help us avoid disastrous climate change and support the transition to a just, renewable economy, Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director of the Center for
Biological Diversity, via statement.
More Arctic drilling also means more oil spills, more polluted communities and more harm to polar bears and other vulnerable wildlife. Biden officials can and must use their power to help us avoid disastrous climate change and support the transition to a just, renewable economy, Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director of the Center for
Biological Diversity, via statement
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Smart Regions heads to Europe's frozen wilderness to find out about a sustainable tourist project that aims to protect Europe's fragile Arctic ecosystem.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 03:00Published
How To Eat Healthy , on a Budget.
We all want to eat food we enjoy.
But our budget might be hampering
our ability to balance our finances with healthier food options.
Here are some tips on stretching your budget with healthy and wholesome foods.
Be Frugal.
Experts say don't be self-conscious
if you feel like you can't afford fancy
and expensive health food brands.
Healthy eating doesn't have
to break your bank account.
Watch for Buzzwords.
Buzzwords like organic and non-
GMO are on the labels of many of the healthy food options available to us.
Buzzwords like organic and non-
GMO are on the labels of many of the healthy food options available to us.
But experts say such buzzwords are
merely marketing terms that often
paint a false picture of health.
Organic is fine if that's what
you want to buy, but for someone who is [budget-conscious],
that's not necessary. , Shana Spence, professional dietitian, via NPR.
Coupons.
A great way to save money is
to pick up a grocery store flyer
to monitor weekly deals.
If coupons aren't your thing,
try downloading a store's app
to check for discounts
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Taiwanese President , Rebukes California Shooting.
NPR reports Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen condemned the recent shooting at a Taiwanese church in California.
As the shooter reportedly held
immense hatred for the island of
Taiwan, officials ponder whether
Chinese propaganda is to blame.
President Tsai Ing-wen's office released
a statement on May 17, condemning "any form of violence" and expressing condolences
for those who lost their lives.
According to NPR, the suspected shooter, David Chou, 68, is thought to have ties to China, which opposes the independence of Taiwan.
Chou will appear in California
state court on May 17.
Chou was born in Taiwan in 1953 and is a current U.S. citizen. He has been detained on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Authorities say Chou's hatred for Taiwan, displayed in hand-written notes found
during investigations.
could stem from when he lived on the
island and encountered mistreatment.
Law officials say Chou had hidden
firebombs before the church shooting,
which caused harm to a gathering of
elderly Taiwanese parishioners.
In the shooting, one man lost his life.
Five others were wounded
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Scientists Use Spinal Fluid , From Young Mice to Reverse , Age-Related Memory Loss.
NPR reports that a team
at Stanford University has successfully
reversed memory loss in mice.
The team found that an infusion of spinal fluid
taken from young mice was able to reverse
memory loss experienced by aging animals. .
The team found that an infusion of spinal fluid
taken from young mice was able to reverse
memory loss experienced by aging animals. .
Tony Wyss-Coray, a neuroscientist and senior author of the study, said that a growth factor found in the spinal fluid was also able to improve memory.
Tony Wyss-Coray, a neuroscientist and senior author of the study, said that a growth factor found in the spinal fluid was also able to improve memory.
When we put the factor
in the mice, they actually are
better able to perform a memory
task where they have to remember
something that happened to them
(a small electric shock), Tony Wyss-Coray, Neuroscientist and
senior author of the study, via NPR.
The findings, which were published in the journal
'Nature,' could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's
disease and other age-related conditions. .
NPR reports that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
bathes the brain and the spinal cord. .
We were hoping that by mimicking
a young environment, that the brain
would respond to that with better function, Tony Wyss-Coray, Neuroscientist and
senior author of the study, via NPR.
Maria Lehtinen, a neuroscientist at Harvard
Medical School, has been studying the role CSF
plays in the development of mouse brains. .
We found that the CSF delivers
these important health and growth
promoting factors that can, essentially,
modulate brain growth, Maria Lehtinen, Neuroscientist
at Harvard Medical School, via NPR.
What's been lacking, so far, is the next
step of testing whether these CSF factors
can confer benefits to adult [brains], Maria Lehtinen, Neuroscientist
at Harvard Medical School, via NPR
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
The United States , Has Already Experienced , 198 Mass Shootings in 2022.
NPR reports ten people lost their
lives in the recent racially charged
attack in Buffalo, New York, .
making it the deadliest mass shooting
of 2022 in the United States.
With just over 19 weeks into the new year,
the country has already experienced
198 mass shooting events.
That equates to around ten
mass shootings per week.
Mass shootings have become increasingly common in the United States.
In 2021, the country saw 693 mass shootings. In 2020, that number was 611 and
2019 saw 417 such events.
Experts say such deadly massacres
aren't happening at random.
This is planned violence. , Mark Follman, author of 'Trigger Points,' mass shooting researcher, via NPR.
There is, in every one of these cases, always a trail of ... behavioral warning signs. , Mark Follman, author of 'Trigger Points,' mass shooting researcher, via NPR.
Experts say the role of mental health in such devastating events are often misunderstood.
The general public views mass shooters as people who are totally crazy, insane. It fits with the idea of snapping, as if these people are totally detached from reality. , Mark Follman, author of 'Trigger Points,' mass shooting researcher, via NPR.
Instead, experts believe "a very rational thought process" occurs in planning and initiating a mass shooting
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Texas Supreme Court Rules , State Can Investigate Parents
of Trans Kids.
The ruling by the Texas Supreme Court was handed down on May 13.
It overrules the injunction of a lower court that disallowed state officials to investigate parents for child abuse who allow gender-affirming care for their trans kids.
Republican TX Governor Greg Abbott had issued
a directive on Feb. 22 that equated
"sex change procedures" to "child abuse.".
Furthermore, his office ordered the Texas Department
of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)...
... to "investigate the parents of a child who is subjected to these abusive gender-transitioning procedures." .
I hereby direct [DFPS] to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the state of Texas, ACLU of Texas, via NPR News.
The Texas Supreme Court's ruling was unanimous and surely to be contentious.
While it
overrules the injunction
placed upon Abbott's order, .
it also states that child welfare agencies are
"not compelled" to follow the views of Abbott or his
Attorney General, Ken Paxton.
Just as the governor lacks authority to issue a binding 'directive' to DFPS, the court of appeals lacks authority to afford statewide relief to nonparties, Texas Supreme Court, via NPR News.
In responding to the ruling, advocacy groups seemed to recognize the nuances of how the court responded.
Denying healthcare to trans kids is life-threatening, ACLU of Texas, via NPR News.
Multiple court rulings have now made clear that enforcement of this policy causes harm to youth and their families, ACLU of Texas, via NPR News.
According to NPR,
Gov. Abbott's order has
caused some families who
support their trans children
to leave Texas
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
The US hopes India will ‘reconsider’ its decision to ban wheat exports. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield addressed the issue.
#WheatExport #US #India
U.N. Warns, 1 in 4 Children Could Face, Water Shortages by 2040.
A report by the United Nations warns that the risk
of drought has increased by 29% in the last 20 years
and will only be worsened by the ongoing climate crisis.
A report by the United Nations warns that the risk
of drought has increased by 29% in the last 20 years
and will only be worsened by the ongoing climate crisis.
'The Independent' reports that the warning
was issued by the U.N. Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
According to the report, while droughts present a global
problem, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Eastern
Europe and Latin America are particularly vulnerable.
According to the report, while droughts present a global
problem, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Eastern
Europe and Latin America are particularly vulnerable.
The report warns that the climate crisis
will lead to more people facing
water shortages around the world.
By 2040, an estimated one in four
children could face water insecurity. .
According to the UNCCD, efforts
to reduce projected warming and protect
land could mitigate these growing risks.
Barron Orr, lead scientist at UNCCD, said the report , "unambiguously tells the world:
everybody’s problem is drought.".
'The Independent' reports that droughts
directly impact human health and
the systems that society relies upon. .
Water shortages also carry
significant repercussions for
food production and economies. .
Water shortages also carry
significant repercussions for
food production and economies. .
According to the UNCCD report, drought
and other climate impacts threaten to displace
hundreds of millions of people by 2050.
The group stressed the urgent need
to coordinate and cooperate globally
in order to prepare for drought.
We cannot wait for
a disaster or a drought to happen.
We need to be prepared for drought, Daniel Tsegai, UNCCD officer, via 'The Independent'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
The number and duration of droughts has risen 29% globally since 2000 and the effect of severe droughts is estimated to have reduced India’s gross domestic.. IndiaTimes
Last month Antarctica experienced a record-breaking heatwave, and unusually high amounts of snowfall in some places. Climate Now asks experts on the ice to explain what's really happening on the frozen continent.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 05:00Published
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told regional authorities they must deal with forest fires in Siberia, warning this year must not be a repeat of last year's.. Sky News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told regional authorities they must deal with forest fires in Siberia, warning this year must not be a repeat of last year's.. Sky News
$5 Gas Could Become More Common , as Prices Hit Another Record.
According to AAA, on May 17, the national average for regular gas was $4.48 a gallon.
CNN reports that's a 40-cent increase
over the course of a month.
Gas prices are 27% higher than the
day before Russia attacked Ukraine.
Everything is pointing toward even higher prices. We are well on our way toward $5. , Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, via CNN.
AAA reports that the average cost of gas in
four states is already above $5 a gallon.
Those states are California, Washington, Nevada and Hawaii with Oregon not far behind.
Still, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says that after adjusting for inflation, gas prices are not yet at record highs.
That record was set in 2008 when gas averaged $5.38 a gallon after adjusting for inflation.
As inflation, shipping issues and COVID continue to be a problem worldwide, supply simply can't keep up with demand.
No one can crank up the refinery because they don’t have any spare capacity, Robert Yawger, vice president of energy futures at Mizuho Securities, via CNN
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
US officials have discovered an underground tunnel about the length of five football pitches used to smuggle drugs from Mexico to a warehouse in California. Sky News
Travis Barker and
Kourtney Kardashian , Are Officially Married.
NBC News reports Travis Barker
and Kourtney Kardashian officially
tied the knot on May 15.
According to TMZ, the former drummer
of Blink-182 and the reality TV star were wed in Santa Barbara, California.
The couple had recently held a "practice" ceremony of their nuptials at One Love Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.
In an April Instagram post, Kardashian shared photos of her and Barker's
practice wedding, captioning the post:.
Once upon a time in a land
far, far away (Las Vegas)
at 2am, after an epic night
and a little tequila... , Kourtney Kardashian, in an Instagram post, via NBC News.
...a queen and her handsome king ventured out to the only open chapel with an Elvis and got married (with no license). , Kourtney Kardashian, in an Instagram post, via NBC News.
Practice makes perfect. , Kourtney Kardashian, in an Instagram post, via NBC News.
In a recent interview, Kardashian was candid about her relationship with Barker.
Asked if their relationship would be
the "center of your storyline" on
their television show, Kourtney said "no.".
No, I definitely hold my relationship really close. , Kourtney Kardashian, in an interview with 'Variety,' as reported by NBC News.
There is a lot of us on there ... but I definitely want to protect it as much as I can. , Kourtney Kardashian, in an interview with 'Variety,' as reported by NBC News
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
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