Down to Earth
Climate Weekly
A weekly digest on impacts, politics and science of the climate emergency; from the Global South perspective. Access our extensive coverage on climate. You can find this newsletter in the web here.
September 22 – September 28, 2021
Dear readers,

Rising concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to global warming. This is threatening the Sustainable Development Goals, causing erratic rainfall, drought, and wildfires which release even more emissions. Smoke from world’s worsening wildfires is killing more than 33,000 people every year.

In Northeast India, states are experience increased rainfall, while in other parts mountain springs have dried up.

Artic sea ice is also disappearing, and sea level rise is accelerating. Children born in 2020 will experience 6.8 times more heatwaves than those born in 1960, according to a new report.

In response, many companies are setting ‘net zero’ targets to reduce their emissions footprint, but this must be critically evaluated.

On a positive note, India added the highest rooftop solar capacity for a quarter in July-September 2021, with Gujarat accounting for 55 per cent of the new capacity.
   
 
EXTREME WEATHER TRACKER
 
Climate crisis in North East India: An outlier in Arunachal, Upper Siang now experiences increased rainfall, 29 September 2021
Down To Earth
 
   
 
Down To Earth Arctic ice is disappearing: How clouds interact with sea ice change, 24 September 2021
 
     
 
Sea level rose 3.1 mm each year between 1993 and 2020: Report, 24 September 2021
Warming ocean waters have caused many marine species to move towards cooler waters, leading to introduction of non-native and invasive species to different marine ecosystems
 
   
 
COMMENTARIES
How 'wise phones' and wise humans can help avert a climate apocalypse, 23 September 2021
The right to unrestricted access to the internet ought to coexist with the responsibility to self-regulated consumption of smartphone internet activity. The fate of the planet lies in the hands of the consumer
 
     
 
Arctic sea ice hits its minimum extent for the year — 2 NASA scientists explain what’s driving the overall decline, 23 September 2021
As the Arctic's bright ice is replaced by a darker open ocean surface, less of the sun’s radiation is reflected back to space, driving additional heating and ice loss
 
   
 
Ozone layer recovery may take several lifetimes. But Montreal Protocol saved the Earth, 22 September 2021
The stratospheric ozone layer absorbs a portion of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun, preventing it from reaching the surface of Earth
 
   
 
More companies pledge ‘net-zero’ emissions to fight climate change, but what does that really mean?, 22 September 2021
Some companies take advantage of carbon reductions elsewhere by buying carbon credits; but it draws criticism because it allows those companies to keep generating greenhouse gases
 
   
  CLIMATE NEWS | SCIENCE| IMPACTS| POLITICS  
   
 
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Is a land cyclone brewing over West Bengal, 28 September 2021
Two global forecasting facilities, including the US Navy have said a land cyclone is forming over West Bengal, but the IMD is yet to declare so
 
   
 
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Global population exposed to floods grew over 20% in 15 years: Study, 28 September 2021
The growth was concentrated in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
 
   
 
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Children born in 2020 will experience 6.8 times more heatwaves than those born in 1960: Report, 28 September 2021
Limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels will reduce the additional lifetime exposure of new-borns to heatwaves by 45%, droughts by 39% and river floods by 38%
 
   
 
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From sea to shining sea: Cyclone Gulab, born in Bay of Bengal, to re-emerge in Arabian Sea, 27 September 2021
Cyclone Gulab, which made landfall on India’s east coast, will now cross into the Arabian Sea near Surat and then skirt Saurashtra before intensifying
 
   
 
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Strong fires in 4 Brazilian states, Federal District, satellite images show, 27 September 2021
It will rain in the last quarter of the year in Brazil but it won’t be enough to end the drought aiding the fires, say experts
 
   
 
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Cyclone Gulab: Excess rainfall, landslides in Odisha; national highways blocked, 27 September 2021
Possibility of floods have been ruled out; more rainfall predicted as cylone moves towards Chhatisgarh
 
   
 
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A third of global cropland will be drought-hit by 2040 if emissions don’t stop: Report, 24 September 2021
The yield of staple crops could be globally hit in a business-as-usual scenario for emissions, just at the time when more food is required, according to Chatham House
 
   
 
Down To Earth
Climate crisis in North East India: Villages parched as springs dry up, 24 September 2021
From Bhalukpong on border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to Morgung village in West Kameng district, at least 10 major mountain springs have dried up, DTE observed
 
   
 
Down To Earth
India adds highest rooftop solar capacity for a quarter in July-Sept: Mercom, 24 September 2021
Gujarat accounted for 55 per cent of the new capacity
 
   
 
Down To Earth
June-August dry spell, heavy September rain signs of climate change: Odisha experts, 23 September 2021
Erratic rainfall, floods, water-logging, cyclones and sea erosion are factors that make Odisha a state highly exposed to climate change, say experts
 
   
 
Down To Earth
Rising CO2 concentration threatens all 17 SDGs, says WMO report, 23 September 2021
If rising carbon dioxide levels are not controlled, the global goal to end hunger and achieve food security will be severely affected, according to a WMO report
 
   
 
Down To Earth
Global CO2 emissions from wildfires in July, August highest since 2003: Copernicus, 22 September 2021
The Mediterranean basin emerged as the wildfire hotspot that contributed to intense smoke pollution
 
   
 
Down To Earth
Smoke from world’s worsening wildfires is killing more than 33,000 people every year, 22 September 2021
Japan accounted for the highest number of annual deaths, at 7,000, in its 47 cities; the study was carried out in 749 cities across 43 countries from Jan 1, 2000 through Dec 31, 2016
 
     
This Weekly Newsletter is published by Down to Earth and the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based global think tank advocating on global south developmment issues.
We would love your feedback on this newsletter. To speak to our experts for quotes and comments on the above stories. Please email to vikas@cseindia.org
 
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