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When taps run dry in the Caribbean, it’s not enough to blame El Niño
Matched: climate
Caribbean nations are facing severe water shortages, with governments quick to blame El Niño. But experts argue climate change is amplifying the weather pattern's effects, warming land and seas beyond historical norms. The region's water infrastructure and storage capacity are also inadequate. Vulnerable Caribbean communities bear disproportionate consequences despite contributing little to global emissions driving these worsening conditions.
Heatwave Britain: why are politicians so slow to act? – podcast
The UK's repeated heatwaves are raising concerns about excess deaths, ageing infrastructure and food shortages, yet politicians have been slow to respond. Journalists examine how prepared Britain is for extreme heat now and in future. Also discussed: Tory leader Kemi Badenoch's handling of Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi who became a Conservative council candidate, whom she distanced herself from before offering an advisory role.
Climate change may be making us lonelier: How heat waves and extreme weather disrupt social connections everyone relies on
Matched: climate
Extreme heat and severe storms are driving people indoors and disrupting communal events, festivals, and shared spaces that foster social bonds. Researchers warn this climate-driven isolation compounds existing loneliness problems. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and low-income residents lacking air conditioning, face the greatest risk, as repeated disruptions to community traditions and gathering places can permanently erode social ties.
‘Was this heatwave caused by climate change?’ – we’re asking the wrong question
Matched: climate
Scientists say framing extreme weather events as simply "caused or not caused" by climate change is misleading. A better question is how much worse climate change made an event. Research shows heatwaves are now hotter and more frequent due to fossil fuel emissions. Attribution science can quantify this difference, giving a clearer picture of climate change's real-world impact on extreme weather.
‘The fire has such power’: why the wildfires gripping France and Spain are off the charts
Wildfires in France and Spain are becoming increasingly difficult to control due to hotter, drier conditions linked to climate change. Fires are burning more intensely and spreading faster, overwhelming firefighters. Experts warn that traditional suppression methods are less effective against these "mega-fires," which generate their own weather systems, making them nearly impossible to extinguish until conditions change.
Climate-Impacted Communities Across Asia Are Taking Their Fight To Court
Matched: climate
Communities across Asia are increasingly using legal action to address climate change impacts. In South Korea, the Philippines, India, and Indonesia, people affected by extreme weather events are taking governments and corporations to court to demand accountability. The trend reflects growing frustration as climate-fueled disasters strike the region with greater frequency and severity.
Factcheck: No, Europe’s heatwaves are not being ‘caused’ by declining air pollution
A claim circulating online attributes Europe's heatwaves to declining air pollution rather than climate change. Experts say this is misleading. While reduced aerosol pollution does contribute a small amount of additional warming by allowing more sunlight through, scientists are clear that human-caused climate change from greenhouse gas emissions remains the dominant driver of increasingly frequent and intense European heatwaves.
A strong El Niño spells more climate pain for the Philippines
Matched: climate
El Niño is intensifying concerns for the Philippines, a country already struggling with frequent climate disasters. Forecasters warn the weather phenomenon will bring more extreme conditions to the region, compounding existing vulnerabilities. The Philippines, which regularly faces typhoons, flooding, and drought, is already experiencing early effects of the pattern.
A supercharged El Niño is coming – are we ready?
Matched: climate
Scientists warn a powerful El Niño is approaching, likely intensifying extreme weather events including droughts, floods, and storms worldwide. Experts urge governments to strengthen climate resilience by protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, which can buffer against impacts. Current preparedness levels are considered inadequate given the scale of disruption expected from the combined effects of El Niño and ongoing climate change.