Category: climate change
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The Cost of Climate Action vs. the Cost of Inaction
We stand at a pivotal moment in our fight against #ClimateChange. As we address #GHGemissions, a critical question emerges – what is the true cost of meaningful #ClimateAction?The #IPCC and leading #IAMs show striking differences. The IPCC suggests substantial reductions are possible at low/negative costs. But economic models indicate higher overall costs. This discrepancy has…
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Unprecedented Coral Reef Loss Under Escalating Marine Heatwaves
The dire findings in this latest report on the unprecedented damage to coral reefs worldwide must shock the global conscience into urgent climate action. Marine ecosystems hang in the balance as oceans undergo sweeping changes at a breakneck pace. Coral reefs are dying! We have already breached the safe limit of 1.5°C warming. Marine heatwaves…
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Drowning in Plastic: The Urgent Need to Tackle the Crisis Upstream
We have already created 11 billion metric tons of plastic, surpassing the combined weight of all terrestrial and marine animals. Every year, we add another 430 million tons to this total. A significant portion of this is single-use plastic, briefly used and then discarded without a second thought. The economic loss is equally alarming. We…
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Responsible Pathways for Ocean Carbon Removal
The health of our oceans offers promise in the fight against climate change, but only if we act decisively to leverage their potential responsibly and equitably. The ocean naturally absorbs over a quarter of annual carbon emissions. We can optimise this process by protecting marine ecosystems and enhancing natural ocean carbon sinks. Mangroves, seagrasses, and salt…
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5MinutesToChangeTheWorld
#5MinutesToChangeTheWorld: What rich and poor countries can learn from how we spend our days- The recent global study on how humans allocate time revealed that across nations, we only spend around 5 minutes per day on activities directly related to energy, waste and environmental impact. On average, we spend about a third of each day…
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Accelerating Global Action Through the Green Climate Fund
The 2022 Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks’ Climate Finance highlights the urgent need to scale up efforts to meet the climate crisis. While climate financing has increased, current commitments fall short of the vast requirements developing countries face. The report identifies critical gaps like lack of funding for adaptation, difficulties in leveraging private finance,…
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The Complex Relationship Between Climate Change and Infectious Diseases
The relationship between climate change and infectious diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika is complex. Different diseases are affected differently by climate change. Malaria transmission may decrease in some areas as temperatures rise, but dengue and other diseases spread by different mosquitoes are likely to increase. Rising temperatures will alter the spread of these mosquito-borne…
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Beyond the Horizon: Projecting Bhutan’s Water Future in a Changing Climate
My journey with Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, has been a long and fulfilling one. From supporting their hydro-met services to developing flood forecasting in the Wangchhu River Basin (https://lnkd.in/gj7aW5aN), conducting climate risk assessments for hydro-power and water resources management, and building capacity on disaster risk reduction – it’s been a deeply rewarding experience.…
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Rethinking Corporate Climate Action: Beyond Emission-Reduction Targets
The fundamental assumption that emission-reduction targets should be the central and often sole metric for setting or benchmarking individual corporations’ climate action ambition is flawed. This approach fails to account for the dynamic nature of markets and the crucial role of future innovators in driving the necessary transformations. While corporate emissions targets can help curb…
Bapon (SHM) Fakhruddin, PhD 