insert_link Environment One third of global population affected by desertification Some 3.2 billion people, or almost one-third of the global population, are affected by desertification and land loss driven, in part, by climate change, according to the UN’s most senior official dealing with the issue. Ibrahim Thiaw is the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. todayJune 17, 2024 19
insert_link Uncategorized Is Earth really getting too hot for people to survive? A scientist explains extreme heat and the role of climate change Heat waves can get dangerously hot, especially when it’s also humid. gjohnstonphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus By Scott Denning, Colorado State University Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. My parents said the planet is getting too hot for people to live here. They called it climate change. What does that mean? – […] todayJune 17, 2024 9
insert_link Africa World’s oldest termite mounds discovered in South Africa – and they’ve been storing precious carbon for thousands of years Purple spring flowers growing on termite mounds in Namaqualand. A Potts, Author provided By Michele Francis, Stellenbosch University The landscape along the Buffels River in South Africa’s Namaqualand region is dotted with thousands of sandy mounds that occupy about 20% of the surface area. These heuweltjies, as the locals call them (the word means “little hills” in Afrikaans), are termite mounds, inhabited by an underground network of […] todayJune 17, 2024 41
insert_link Africa Malawi farming experiment shows how simple changes can boost maize yields and improve soil By Alan Dixon, University of Worcester Malawi’s increasingly unpredictable rainfall and higher than usual temperatures are causing problems for smallholder farmers. Soil erosion has increased, causing soil fertility and water availability to decline. Crops often fail. Farmers are already struggling financially. Many farm only one crop: maize. They can’t easily afford chemical fertilisers that would boost the soil’s fertility and sustain yields. Agriculture accounts for just […] todayJune 13, 2024 15
insert_link World Green parties suffer EU poll drubbing By Sam Reeves Green parties suffered major losses in the EU elections, particularly in France and Germany, hit by growing discontent at the bloc's environmental push and by voters' shifting priorities. They had notched up their best ever results at the last European Parliament polls five years ago, which were accompanied by mass rallies over climate change. But the parties appeared to be the biggest losers […] todayJune 10, 2024 12
insert_link Environment Flooding and landslides kill three in Vietnam’s north Flooding and landslides in northern Vietnam have killed three people, state media said Monday, after days of heavy rain that partially submerged thousands of homes. Images on state media showed water gushing down the steep roads of mountainous Ha Giang province, a popular spot for motorcycle tours, with vehicles overturned and abandoned in the floodwater. Residents in Ha Giang city stood on rooftops waiting for rescue. Around […] todayJune 10, 2024 34
insert_link Videos Future Media News-Week in Review: June 3-7 https://youtu.be/3E9aXHclgx8 OndangwaStateVet suspends services due to a water shortage affecting essential operations. Our Northern Correspondent Maria Namupala speaks with Dr. Johannes Iipinge. ClimateChange continues to challenge the agricultural sector, causing floods, droughts, and pest outbreaks. Erastus Ngaruka from AgriBank discusses the impact on farmers. WorldOceansDay on June 8 highlights the theme "Catalysing Action for Our Oceans and Climate." Minister Derek Klazen emphasizes the need for global awareness. […] todayJune 7, 2024 26
insert_link Environment Hydropower damages river systems in Africa: how more solar and wind power can solve this problem By Angelo Carlino, Carnegie Science; Andrea Castelletti, Polytechnic University of Milan, and Rafael Schmitt, Stanford University Across the African continent, more than 300 new hydropower projects are planned to meet the growing demand for electricity. Some of these will require big dams, which can have major negative environmental impacts. Another looming problem with hydropower is that the water cycle is affected by climate change. Water […] todayJune 7, 2024 24
insert_link Namibia African Insurance Organization’s 50th Conference in Namibia Pivots Focus to Climate Change Financing Namibia is hosting the 50th Conference and Annual General As-sembly of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO), which focuses on the insurance industry’s financial contribution to climate change catastrophes. According to Sanlam Namibia Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tertius Stears, the conference seeks to promote insurance education that is relevant to African markets, specifically the financing of climate risks, agriculture and the devel-opment of sustainable businesses across […] todayJune 4, 2024 40
