Water: The key to unlocking synergies between the Rio Conventions
The management of water resources is intrinsically linked to challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and desertification. However, global efforts to address these issues remain fragmented, carried out through the separate frameworks of the three Rio Conventions. Each convention approaches water management from distinct perspectives—land degradation, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation. The interconnected nature of these issues points to the critical need for a more coordinated strategy. Strengthened policy alignment, shared financing, and unified frameworks provide an opportunity to harmonize water management across these conventions.
The Worst Flood in 100 Years Just Hit South America
South America has a long history of floods, but it is rare to see a flood of this magnitude. The continent’s diverse geography, from the mighty Amazon River to the Andes mountains, has been both a blessing and a curse. Historically, floods have been part of the natural cycle, feeding the lush rainforests and supporting biodiversity. However, they can also bring devastation to human settlements. The recent flood, however, surpasses any in living memory, marking a significant deviation from the norm. In comparison to past floods, this event stands out not just in scale but also in its impact on the population and infrastructure.
South Korea wildfires ‘largest on record’: disaster chief
Wildfires in South Korea are now the largest and deadliest on record, having burned more forest and killed more people than any previous blaze, officials said Thursday, as the death toll hit 27.
More than a dozen fires broke out over the weekend, scorching wide swathes of the southeast and forcing around 37,000 people to flee, with the fire cutting off roads and downing communications lines as residents escaped in panic.
South Korea’s Ministry of Interior and Safety said that 27 people had been killed and dozens more injured, with the toll likely to rise. It is the highest number of deaths since the Korea Forest Service started records for wildfires in 1987.
Few could have predicted the following cascade of consequences when a fire broke out at an electrical substation in Hayes, west London, on the evening of March 21, 2025. By morning, Europe’s busiest airport—London Heathrow—had been completely shut down, with more than 1,300 flights canceled, affecting up to 200,000 passengers worldwide. What began as a localized incident quickly became an international transportation crisis that would take days to resolve.
The Heathrow shutdown represents a stark reminder of how vulnerable our modern society has become to critical infrastructure failures, whether caused by accidents, natural disasters, or deliberate attacks.
Coastal communities in Tonga live with the ongoing psychological scars of the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami. Tonga Broadcasting Commission explains how communities have responded to recent earthquake activity in the country. The weather and how it affects you is already part of your life, so let’s keep talking about being prepared.
Africa is proof that investing in climate resilience works – and that it makes good business sense
Investment is pouring into renewable energy, green transport and smart agriculture in an effort to both slow down the accumulation of heat-trapping emissions and adapt to our warming planet. The benefits of taking early action are well understood, even if the needs outpace the funding for it. Africa was an early champion of climate adaptation. That is because 17 of the 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change are on our continent.
Preparing for extreme weather scenarios in Cambodia
For decades, weather extremes have disrupted lives and livelihoods in Cambodia. Yet, despite the increasing frequency and severity of floods, storms, and droughts, the models used to estimate their economic impacts remain underdeveloped. While we can estimate long-term warming trends, the exact impacts of acute disasters remain uncertain. This uncertainty makes it crucial to prepare not just for what is expected, but for what might happen.
Occupational heat safety standards in the United States
Extreme heat poses a range of potentially debilitating or deadly threats to workers. Although experts have been recommending commonsense criteria for a standard to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for most of its 50-year history, many millions of workers in America lack adequate protection from heat.
Next generation city climate services using advanced weather models and emerging data sources
Record-breaking temperatures are becoming ever more frequent and intense. Over 1.7 billion people around the world are at risk, says the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). They add that around half of the world’s cities have faced increased heat exposure over the last four decades. This has an impact on public health, labour productivity and infrastructure.
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