Still think climate change isn't real?

Hi friend,

2023 was a shitshow.

It was the hottest year on record, coming in at 1.48°C warmer than 2022, and dangerously close to the 1.5°C disaster zone. But we’ll cross that line this year, according to an ex-NASA scientist, who is also the ‘godfather of climate science’.

In 2023, the oceans were also the hottest they’ve been in 1,000 years, with each of the past 10 years being hotter than the year that went before it. These record ocean temperatures supercharged “freak” weather around the world, driving up the global average air temperature by a huge margin.

But I have a feeling that 2023 was just the teaser before the main event.

We’re barely two weeks into 2024 and it’s already looking like a good contender for the most fucked up.

Here’s a recap of the year so far:

🌊 Flash floods in South Africa 🇿🇦

⛈️ Storm Henk terrorises the UK 🇬🇧

🌨️ Storms, floods, and snow in Northwest Europe 🇪🇺

🌊 Floods and landslides in the Democratic Republic of Congo 🇨🇩

⛈️ A second week of extreme storms and flooding in Queensland, Australia 🇦🇺, with warnings of more wild weather on the way and the army pulling in to assist.

🌪️ Tornados along the US’s Gulf Coast 🇺🇸, with nearly all 50 states on weather alert for a massive winter storm that’s on its way, bringing blizzards, hail, extreme cold, and more tornados.

The World Economic Forum surveyed a bunch of people who are paid to spot risks, and they warn that “humanity faces a perilous future, marked by an explosion of disinformation turbocharged by AI and the devastating effects of climate change”. Two-thirds think we’ll face a global catastrophe in the next decade. A third are betting it’ll happen in the next two years. I’m putting my money on the next 12 months.

— Tarryn ✌️

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This week's climate and sustainability news worth noting

🤦🏻‍♀️ Azerbaijan’s Ecology Minister, Mukhtar Babayev, has been appointed as the President-Designate to oversee COP29 later this year in Baku. Azerbaijan becomes the third consecutive oil and gas exporter to host the UN Climate Conference, raising concerns about the influence of fossil fuel industry participants in shaping COP outcomes. Oh, and Azerbaijan plans to increase its fossil fuel production by a third over the next decade, which would emit 781 million tonnes of carbon dioxide – more than two times the annual carbon emissions of the UK.

🌏 More people in Asia were displaced by climate change in 2022 than by conflict and violence. A record 32.6 million displacements were associated with disasters in 2022 — 41% higher than the annual average of the past decade, and higher than the 28.3 million displaced by conflict. The countries with the highest number of displacements were Pakistan, Philippines, and China. The World Bank warns that things will get worse, saying climate change could force 216 million people across six regions to move by 2050.

🇺🇸 Cities along the US Atlantic coast are sinking at a rate of one to two millimetres per year, with some sinking at rates of up to 5mm per year. New research has found that Baltimore, New York, Norfolk, and other cities along the east coast are being impacted by rising sea levels, with researchers warning that if something drastic were to happen – like accelerated glacier melt – it would impact millions of people.

🧊 As if melting glaciers weren’t a big enough problem on its own, we now have a twit in Greenland who harvests ice from the fjords that he ships to the United Arab Emirates to sell to exclusive bars to be used in drinks. Yes, really.

🌨️ It’s been nearly 700 days since Central Park in New York City measured an inch of snow in a single day – almost double the previous record of 383 days in March 1998. Last year, there was only 2.3 inches of snow in the park, the lowest amount recorded since record-keeping began in 1869. In a normal winter, Central Park will see nearly 24 inches of snow through the season.

🇩🇪 Germany’s emissions hit a 70-year low last year, thanks to its reduced reliance on coal. The country emitted 673 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2023, 73 million tonnes fewer than in 2022.

🇺🇸 The US’s emissions also dropped last year. Emissions were 1.9% lower in 2023, the same year that the burning of coal to produce electricity plummeted to its lowest level in half a century. Coincidence? I think not.

🔥 But these emissions reductions have been more than offset by the emissions generated during the first two months of the war in Gaza. Emissions from the war were higher than 20 of the world’s most vulnerable countries and was equivalent to burning at least 150,000 tonnes of coal.

😒 Norway will open up 280,000 square kilometres of its seabed to mining exploration. I’ve written before about deep sea mining and what a terrible idea it is.

🦅 New research has found that 88% of 42 African raptor species (eagles, vultures, etc.) have suffered declines over the past 20 to 40 years, and 69% are either more endangered than previously thought or now meet criteria for being threatened with extinction. Habitat loss was identified as the biggest threat.

🌀 There were a record 28 climate disasters in the US last year, each costing over US$1 billion.

One small thing you can do

New research looking into how people around the world spend their 24 hours in a day found that, on average, we spend only five minutes a day on activities that directly alter the environment and climate change, suggesting there’s an opportunity to put in more time to help the planet.

Here are a few ideas that take less than 15 minutes to give Mother Earth a bit of TLC:

• Go around the house and turn off all lights and appliances that you’re not using; turn the aircon down a degree or two.

• Plant a tree in a public space.

• Put your produce and reusable grocery bags in your car (whether you remember to take them inside when you get to the store is a different story, but we’re aiming for baby steps).

Because lots of little actions combined can add up to something remarkable.

I'll leave you on this happy note...

Top images from the Wildlife Photographer of the year award.

See them all here.

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