Tag: Temperature rise

background

Blog

Latest News Thumbnail

A Milestone Amidst Climate Crisis

Renjini Liza Varghese

We at WriteCanvas are thrilled to celebrate a milestone – our 50th newsletter!

But even as we celebrate, the news about climate crisis casts a dense shadow.

June marked one of the hottest months ever recorded, adding to a concerning year of rising temperatures worldwide. Globally, the last 11 months consistently recorded above-normal or warmer temperatures.

The goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to the pre-industrial levels seems to be slipping further away, with temperatures consistently exceeding that benchmark. This isn’t just a number on a graph; it’s a stark sign of the URGENCY.

A Reality Check:

The first ten days of July alone have delivered a brutal wake-up call.

The delayed monsoon progression in June raised alarm bells across the agricultural sector, the economy, and the government.

Ten days in July, we are seeing intense rains. Mumbai in the past few days reported severe flooding. While the financial capital has been ravaged by floods, elsewhere in the country, chaos continues with landslides, earthquakes, overflowing rivers, and erosion eating away coastlines. The list is long and unforgiving.

The impact isn’t limited to the regions we traditionally associate with climate vulnerability – Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, or the Northeast. Even Rajasthan, historically considered drier has also joined the flooding region list.

This calls for a mindset shift.

In multiple blogs, we have highlighted the urgent need for preparedness, resilience building, and increasing awareness. These are all crucial steps. But the situation demands a more fundamental shift. The stories and experiences shared by those affected by climate change, particularly women who are often the most vulnerable raise a troubling question: Are we transitioning from charting a course of resilient action or simply surrendering to the circumstances?

Here’s what we can do, both individually and collectively:

Let us concentrate on reducing our carbon footprint, opt for public transport, use energy-efficient appliances, and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. Support sustainable businesses by choosing companies and products that are environmentally responsible and ethical.  Accountability while implementing climate change solutions must be a priority. Talk to your friends, family, and community about the importance of climate action.

Hope and Action:

Despite the challenges, I refuse to believe that I am surrendering to the circumstances.

This is a battle we must fight, and win.

But victory hinges on our collective action.

We can’t afford complacency or skepticism any longer.

Pledge with WriteCanvas: Sustainability as a Way of Life

We at WriteCanvas pledge to make sustainability a cornerstone of our work. We will continue to amplify the voices of those on the frontlines of climate change and advocate for solutions. But change starts at home. We urge each of you to join us in this fight. Make small changes in your daily lives. Join our campaign.

Climate action is no longer an option, it’s a necessity.

Together, let’s write a new chapter for our planet!!!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
«
»
background

Blog

Latest News Thumbnail

Steel Nests and Soaring Temperatures: A Wake-Up Call from Kerala

Renjini Liza Varghese

This blog is based on a Facebook post by a family friend who owns a building materials shop in Pathanapuram, Kerala. He recently found a discarded bird’s nest in his courtyard. Interestingly, this wasn’t made of twigs and coconut husks. But it was surprisingly built with scrap steel wires and components, in all likelihood picked up from his warehouse.

I have been writing about the soaring temperatures this summer in Kerala and the impact on people and their livelihoods. The bird’s nest post by my friend is an eye-opener.

Birds nest with wood and metals

Birds nest with wood and metal.

Kerala has been experiencing extreme heat for over a month, potentially causing birds to abandon their nests and flee due to the scorching temperatures. My friend separated the wooden materials and weighed the metal alone, which weighed 2.4 kilograms.

This is a stark reminder of how climate change is affecting all living beings. Just like humans, animals and birds are struggling. Birds’ habitats are changing from cozy hay and twigs to metal, and the increase in inside temperature may be the reason for this abandonment.

This was not an isolated incident. Several other friends from Kerala have narrated similar incidents during conversations.

The tale of this bird nest is heartbreaking and clever at the same time. It draws attention to how resourceful birds can be while simultaneously highlighting how urgent it is to combat climate change.

My friend tried adding humor to the post and said, “Maybe we need to hold a workshop for the birds by construction experts to teach them about eco-friendly nesting materials!”

But, on a serious note, this is a call to action for all of us. We can’t ignore this cry for help from nature. Here are some ways we can all take action:

Construction sector: The environment is greatly impacted by the construction sector. Green building techniques that reduce temperature rise must be promoted. This includes incorporating natural landscapes into building projects, encouraging energy efficiency, and employing sustainable materials.

Plant trees everywhere you go because they absorb carbon dioxide, cool the air, and provide shade. Plant trees in your backyard, support reforestation-focused organizations, and support community tree-planting campaigns.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Our everyday choices contribute to climate change. Consider ways to reduce your carbon footprint, like using public transportation, switching to renewable energy sources, and consuming less energy at home.

Spread awareness: Share this story and educate others about the impact of climate change. Encourage others to take action to build a cooler planet.

Let’s not wait for birds to construct steel nests. We must cooperate to build a more sustainable future for all living things, including ourselves.

We must move past planning and take decisive action now. If not, get ready to be burned every summer!

The Bird’s Nest can be a beautiful bedtime story we can narrate to our children/grandchildren or impart as a lesson to the kindergarten/Anganwadi. This can become a collective initiative and an integral part of everyday routine for the future generations who are looking up to us. The responsibility is on our shoulders: Do we want to make sustainable raw materials and a healthy climate a science lesson for them at school? Or a reality and a green planet for them to lead a stress-free, healthy life.

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
«
»
background

Blog

Latest News Thumbnail

FSI CSOs Taking Responsibility for Net-Zero Tasks

Sonal Desai

The role of CSO or chief sustainability officer in the rapidly growing financial services industry is changing. More and more CSOs are taking proactive steps to mitigate climate change in a bid to limit global warming to pre-industrial levels.

It must be noted that the IPCC has warned that to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, emissions must peak before 2025, then decrease by 40% by 2050, and a quarter by 2030.

Commitments:

A recent Deloitte and the Institute of International Finance (IIF) survey reveals that FSI leaders are aware of time constraints and have shifted their approach to managing net zero internally. According to the survey, 45% of firms now have a chief sustainability officer (CSO), with more business functions taking responsibility for specific net-zero tasks.

The firms must be at the forefront of a whole economic transition to meet decarbonization targets, the Deloitte study notes.

It found that a majority of the world’s largest publicly traded companies have yet to announce net-zero targets. Nearly two-thirds of the companies have not fully specified how they plan to reach them. However, global financial firms are moving ahead at speed, with rapid growth in net-zero commitments, particularly through the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ).

Key findings:

Financial firms must transform themselves and manage risks to drive real-world change, engaging with customers and markets, and designing credible decarbonization strategies to transition economies to a low-carbon future.

A net-zero commitment is crucial for firms to meet the climate challenge, leading to increased product innovation, enterprise engagement, and faster progress on data sourcing.

The CEO delivers the net-zero strategy, which requires tight program management across multiple divisions and operating layers.

Over 70% of firms now have a CSO or equivalent, and CSOs must be agile change agents. Talent is also increasing, with over 50% hiring to deliver net-zero strategies.

Firms are shifting their focus to new value drivers and opportunities, launching new products to accelerate clients’ transitions.

Risk skillsets are in high demand, and modeling methodologies are maturing rapidly. Firms must design credible decarbonization strategies, focusing on data, communication, and the ecosystem.

The key to effective net-zero communications is transparency, accountability, and authenticity. The only way to meet the unique nature of the climate challenge is through extensive collaboration across the entire ecosystem, including peers, clients, scientists, NGOs, governments, and regulators.

The regional divide:

The survey of global financial firms reveals significant variations in their approach to implementing and executing net-zero commitments.

The study analyzes climate risk management in businesses across different regions. Most firms incorporate net zero into risk management, but regional variations were observed. North America and the rest reported basic integration, while APAC and European businesses had more integration.

Overall, regional confidence in data accuracy was low.

Businesses in APAC and Europe frequently use shadow carbon pricing, with NGOs moderately influencing net-zero commitments. Financial sector cooperation with governmental bodies and public institutions is crucial for energy transition.

European respondents prioritize societal expectations and regulatory compliance, while North American respondents highlight the market opportunity’s scale.

Asia-Pacific participants highlight physical factors escalating climate risk, prompting businesses in developing nations and emerging markets to address the concerns of significant foreign investors.

Businesses in many geographical areas exhibited a similar pattern of integration. However, North American businesses showed similar integration patterns but reported low net-zero strategy integration with overall corporate strategy, customer screening, and product innovation.

Businesses in all regions agree that their governance systems do not effectively represent their net-zero objectives, with North America reporting the least updates or revisions.

The way forward:

The sector already shows an appetite for this challenge and an undertaking to help green the global economy. A growing number of financial institutions have pledged to make their portfolios net zero by 2050 or sooner, and a few have already started measuring their financed emissions.

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
«
»
background

News

Latest News Thumbnail

Kerala High Court Sheds the Traditional Black for Summer

WriteCanvas News

In its recent history, lawyers and judges in the Kerala High Court have  the option to ditch black! In other words, the lawyers will be moving from black and white to all-white this summer.

So, if you happen to be in the Kerala High Court premises and see the lawyers wearing white attire, don’t be shocked.

India’s southernmost state has been in the grip of a brutal heatwave for weeks.  Temperatures in many areas have skyrocketed above 42 degrees Celsius, with temperatures in regions like Palakkad and Punalur soaring every day.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts these scorching temperatures will continue for the coming days, with 12 of the state’s 14 districts placed under a yellow alert, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.

Recognizing the discomfort caused by the traditional black coats and gowns worn by the lawyers, the High Court has passed a resolution allowing them to ditch these formal garments until May 31st. This is the first time such a relaxation of dress code has been implemented. Lawyers can now appear in district courts in cooler attire, opting for white shirts and pants. Even within the High Court itself, the use of black attire has been made optional, offering a welcome respite from the heat.

This decision comes in direct response to an application by the Kerala High Court Bar Association. The association highlighted the difficulties faced by lawyers due to the record-breaking temperatures and the additional discomfort caused by the dark clothing. The High Court’s resolution demonstrates a commendable level of understanding and a willingness to adapt to challenging weather conditions.

This action by the Kerala High Court paves the way for other institutions to consider similar measures to help their employees and the public beat the heat. As heatwaves become more frequent and intense due to climate change, practical solutions like this will become increasingly necessary to ensure the well-being of all citizens.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
«
»
background

Blog

Latest News Thumbnail

Planetary Fever: Too Hot to Handle?

Renjini Liza Varghese

The earth is warming at a rapid pace. The year 2023 served as a blistering preview of what’s to come. Data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirms that last year was the second-hottest in over a century (since 1901).

And the heat is not limited to the daytime. A recent study reveals a worrying trend: rising nighttime temperatures in Indian cities. The culprit? Surface urban heat islands (SUHIs). Delhi leads the pack with a 2-degree nocturnal increase, followed by Ahmedabad and Surat at 1.9 degrees, respectively.  It’s not just about rising temperatures but the impact of the volcanic heat on the lives of people and the environment.

Remember, 2023 wasn’t just toasty for India; it was the hottest year for the entire planet. Extreme weather events fueled a feverish Earth.

India alone saw nearly 3,000 reported climate deaths. And these are just the official numbers; unreported cases may paint a far starker picture. More than half of these deaths were caused by floods, landslides, and lightning, a reminder that nature’s wrath comes in many forms.

The fact draws home a heated argument: Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius seems improbable. But the world is reaching a reluctant consensus for below 2 degrees Celsius.

The massive earthquake in Japan, which triggered several more on New Year, is a wake-up call.

One may argue that Japan is earthquake-prone. But the intensity and frequency of these tremors raise alarm bells.

This grim reality leads us to a crucial crossroads: how do we build climate-ready communities? Is there a magic bullet?

Certainly NOT. But there is hope. By working together, we can invest in infrastructure that can withstand rising temperatures and extreme weather. We can educate and empower communities to cope with climate change risks. We can nurture green spaces that cool our cities and revitalize our planet.

So, while 2023 may have brought us planetary fever, let’s not succumb to the heat. Let’s rise to the challenge in 2024, and make it resilient, cooler and safer for all.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
«
»
background

SDGs

Latest News Thumbnail

15% SDGs on track due to climate change and extreme weather

WriteCanvas News

Halfway through meeting the 2030 Agenda for climate goals, the world is nowhere closer to meeting the objective. Climate change is causing global extreme weather events, with record temperatures causing global damage.

A new United in Science report by the World Meteorological Organization indicates that only 15% of the Sustainable Development Goals are on track due to climate change and extreme weather. According to the report, the 2030 Agenda’s half-time point indicates the planet is far from meeting its climate goals, hindering global efforts to address hunger, poverty, ill health, and improve access to clean water and energy.

The authors highlight the potential of weather, climate, and water sciences to enhance food and water security, clean energy, health, sustainable oceans, and resilient cities.

Data

Between 1970 and 2021, nearly 12,000 disasters resulting in over 2 million deaths and 4.3 trillion in economic losses occurred. Over 90% of these reported deaths and 60% of economic losses occurred in developing economies, undermining sustainable development. Rising global temperatures and extreme weather conditions are causing a 66% chance of global near-surface temperatures exceeding 1.5°C.

Fossil fuel CO2 emissions increased by 1% globally in 2022 compared to 2021 and preliminary estimates from January-June 2023 show a further 0.3% rise, the authors noted in the report. The Paris Agreement’s temperature goal requires a 30% and 45% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with CO2 emissions close to net zero by 2050.

On the other hand, the report highlights the benefits of weather predictions, integrating epidemiology and climate information, and early-warning systems in boosting food production, reducing poverty, and preventing climate-sensitive diseases.

Require real-time forecasting

For example, how weather predictions help boost food production and move closer to zero hunger. Integrating epidemiology and climate information helps understand and anticipate those diseases sensitive to climate. And early-warning systems help to reduce poverty by giving people the chance to prepare and limit the impact.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns that the global response is inadequate, and science is crucial for solutions. He emphasizes the importance of weather, climate, and water-related sciences in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas emphasizes the science community’s unity in achieving the SDGs, highlighting the potential of groundbreaking technologies like climate modelling and AI to transform and safeguard sustainable development.

“The science continues to show that we are not doing enough to lower emissions and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – as the world prepares for the first global stocktake at COP28, we must increase our ambition and action, and we must all do the real work to transform our economies through a just transition to a sustainable future for people and planet,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Program.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
«
»
background

Blog

Latest News Thumbnail

When will the dry spell end?

Renjini Liza Varghese

Every conversation in Mumbai now revolves around the prolonged summer, delayed monsoon, and water scarcity. The list does not stop here. Escalating temperatures over the past few years, and the intensifying heat with each passing day add to the woes.

I find myself joining the chorus, albeit with a slightly different perspective. I would like to draw your attention to the pattern of electricity consumption.

Now, before anyone reaches for their metaphorical daggers in defence, I agree that our per capita electricity consumption is considerably lower than that of our global counterparts. There is certainly room for improvement, and it is expected that the numbers can/will double sooner than later.

I would like to emphasise that my observations are solely based on my personal consumption patterns and are not drawn from any external sources. Over the past few years, I have noticed a considerable jump in my electricity usage. Allow me to provide an example for better understanding. In 2013, my monthly consumption stood at approximately 120 units. By 2017, it had risen to over 250 units, and now, in 2023, it exceeds 600 units. I wonder why, the number of electrical appliances remained the same, on the contrary, it was replaced with more energy efficient ones. The number of ACs has gone up by 1 more unit. I personally believe this increase is not solely attributed to the addition of an extra air conditioner.

Can somebody explain the reason for this noticeable increase in my electricity consumption?

I believe that the impact of climate change has compelled us to run fans round the clock, resulting in higher energy usage. Additionally, household air conditioners, which used to operate for an average of 12 hours per day, now run for around 20 hours. Now what is worrying me is, as we further embrace electric vehicles, consumption is likely to escalate even more. I must mention that I am a strong advocate of electric vehicle adoption in India.

It is evident that the root cause is the visible impact of climate change. The question then becomes: how can we effectively tackle this issue? For many, being part of the climate mitigation plan is in vogue, but are we truly doing enough? Are there sufficient narratives in place to create the necessary awareness? It is crucial that we collectively take steps towards addressing this challenge and not lose sight of the difficulties we face during the summer season once the monsoon arrives.

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
«
»

Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function twenty_twenty_one_the_posts_navigation() in /home2/writecxc/public_html/wp-content/themes/twentytwentyone-child/archive.php:31 Stack trace: #0 /home2/writecxc/public_html/wp-includes/template-loader.php(106): include() #1 /home2/writecxc/public_html/wp-blog-header.php(19): require_once('/home2/writecxc...') #2 /home2/writecxc/public_html/index.php(17): require('/home2/writecxc...') #3 {main} thrown in /home2/writecxc/public_html/wp-content/themes/twentytwentyone-child/archive.php on line 31