By Violet, Quincey & Rhea
The Clim8
12.13.20-12.19.20
Pakistan’s prime minister announces a national shift away from coal power towards renewable power (Climate Home News)
The country, vows to halt the construction of anymore coal power plants. Pakistan is just one of the many countries that relies on coal power plants built and financed by Chinese companies. Experts hope this is the first step in the ultimate downfall of the “Chinese belt” that fueled this coal power boom.
NASA’s COVID-19 Dashboard provides the public with research linking the pandemic to climate change (NASA Climate)
Researchers at NASA have tracked and studied the climate and environment’s response the Covid-19 pandemic. Thermal data shows that even less congested parking lots were substantially cooler during the pandemic.
To check out the COVID-19 Dashboard, click here.
United Nations names Indian engineer UNEP Young Champion of the Earth for 2020 for his technology that aims to both reduce climate change and produce energy (UN News)
Vidyut Mohan invented portable machinery that burns agricultural waste without emitting dangerous greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Mohan’s device turns waste into both charcoal and fertilizer, which can be utilized by farmers in India.
Russia will benefit the most from our changing climate and the migrations it will cause (The New York Times)
As average temperatures warm each year, Russia’s once inhospitable soil is becoming more and more fertile, and earlier frost thaws are leading to longer growing seasons. Additionally, Russia may eventually receive a mass influx of displaced refugees, as regions considered “cold” today will become more favorable.
As climate change shrinks Brazilian forests, studies find the trees are beginning to release more carbon than they consume (ABC News)
Mass deforestation and dry seasons have turned Brazil’s forests from “carbon sinks to carbon sources.” Experts believe the Brazilian government must act now in order to reverse this shift before it is too late.
Pediatricians nationwide determine climate change negatively impacts children’s health, and the effects will intensify as pollution increases (STAT News)
Climate change is connected to health, and children will suffer the worst from its effects. Air pollution and heat - which are both worsened by climate change - lead to a higher chance of premature labor and increases the risk for stillbirth. For the first time in U.K. history, air pollution was listed as a cause of death of a 9-year old girl. Prior to her passing in 2013, the young girl suffered from seizures and asthma attacks brought on by air pollution.
Five years after the Paris Summit, 71 countries submitted new and updated NDC’s at the Climate Ambition Summit (The Chemical Engineer)
Last week, world leaders gathered at a virtual summit to discuss new ambitions and commitments towards combatting climate change. In addition, country leaders, NGO’s (non governmental organizations) and businesses used this as an opportunity to declare their own commitments to climate action.
Scientists find that wildfire smoke may spread infectious disease, a possible answer to unexplainable patterns of infection around the world (BBC)
The CDC has claimed that firefighters may be at risk for a common infection spread through airborne fungus and researchers have begun to find a diverse array of additional bacteria and fungi that is carried through smoke. There is still more research to be done as there is no experimental data on the impact of infectious smoke on people’s health yet.