Climate Change
Hot nights are worsening India’s heat crisis. But low-tech solutions show some promise.
Summer is in full swing in India, and many cities are experiencing scorching heat, fueled in part by climate change. And in India’s bustling cities, as the sun sets and the worst of the day’s heat subsides, a sinister threat emerges: high nighttime temperatures. But some low-tech solutions may help address the problem.
Australian researchers study oysters’ resilience in face of climate change
Moreton Bay, on Australia’s eastern coast, has lost over 95% of its oyster reefs over the past few centuries. These reefs are not just the source of a culinary delicacy, but they help filter seawater and protect shorelines from the effects of storms, sea level rise and increasing temperatures. Scientists are now studying the oysters’ resilience in the face of climate change.
Australia’s beaches recover from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred as extreme weather intensifies
The tropical storm that hit eastern Australia’s shores battered many beaches along a 300-mile stretch of coastline that draws millions of tourists each year. Now, local governments and volunteers are working to clean up the destruction.
South Africa’s largest city is running out of water
In 2017, Cape Town nearly became the world’s first major city to essentially run out of municipal water. Although this was eventually avoided, water woes continue to plague South Africa and have been worsened by climate change. Now, the main economic hub, Johannesburg, is facing its own crisis, with outages becoming part of daily life.
Rare cyclone batters Brisbane and Australia’s Gold Coast
Over the weekend, residents of Brisbane, Australia, were bracing for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The storm was downgraded to a tropical low, and made landfall on the mainland on Saturday. It was the first storm of its kind in the area in 51 years. The city is further south of where tropical cyclones typically hit, and scientists say climate change is playing a role in increasing extreme weather events around the world.