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May 12 - May 17, 2023
 
     
A weekly digest on impacts, politics and science of the climate emergency; from the Global South perspective. Access our extensive coverage on climate. You can find this newsletter in the web here.
Dear readers,

Welcome to the Climate Weekly newsletter by the Centre for Science and Environment’s Climate Change programme and Down to Earth.

Extreme weather events, rising heat, and the Indian monsoon are once again in focus this week. Cyclone Mocha made landfall on Myanmar’s coast on May 14th last week, reaching a maximum speed of 277 kmph before reducing to 190 kmph when it hit the Myanmar coast, and has been categorized as an ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm’ by the IMD. Meanwhile, a second cyclone is brewing in the Indian Ocean which can intensify as a category 2 cyclone, reaching a speed of 148 kmph. Watch Down to Earth’s Himanshu Nitnaware explain more here. At the same time many districts across India faced arid conditions last week. DTE’s Shagun reports that at least 78% of all districts across India faced arid, drought-like conditions according to the IMD. 46 districts in India faced ‘severe’ arid conditions. Furthermore, the IMD has predicted a delayed arrival of the monsoon this year, and farmers need to prepare for a failed or shortened monsoon season. Read DTE’s Akshit Sangomla’s reports here and here.

Avantika Goswami, from CSE’s Climate Change team explains a new report from the Union Ministry of Power’s Central Electricity Authority which offers updated projections on what India’s energy mix for the power sector could look like in 2030. Watch the video here.

And here’s a quick reminder that the term ‘Climate Change’ turns 70 this year!

And finally, do register for CSE’s Global Online Certificate Course on Demystifying Environment Data for Communication and Impact – more details can be found here.
   
 
Down To Earth
 
By - Ananya Rao
Climate Change, CSE
 
 
   
 
EXTREME WEATHER TRACKER
 
Humid heatwaves in South Asia made 30 times more likely by climate change: Study, 17 May 2023
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Down To Earth Heavy rains, flooding in north Italy claim 8 lives; thousands evacuated, 17 May 2023
 
   
 
Delayed monsoon: How a possible El Nino can lead to failed rains in parts of India, 16 May 2023
A cyclone before onset, floods also not ruled out; farmers across the country need to be prepared, say experts
 
   
 
After catastrophic drought for 6 years, flash floods in Somalia displace 200,000, 15 May 2023
Floods by ongoing Gu rains destructed Belet Weyne district, Hirshabelle State and Baardheere in Jubaland State, says UN
 
   
 
COMMENTARIES
Mocha and the ever-growing fiasco we are pushing ourselves into, 16 May 2023
Will the Anthropocene be the shortest era in history?
 
     
 
Biden’s strategy for cutting carbon emissions from electricity generation could extend the lives of fossil fuel power plants, 15 May 2023
The rule’s reliance on carbon capture and storage ought to be music to fossil fuel companies’ ears
 
   
 
Can ALMM mandate bolster India’s renewable energy sector, 15 May 2023
Amendments in ALMM have led to a superficial rise in solar module costs due to gaps in the demand-supply of products, according to some stakeholders
 
   
  CLIMATE NEWS | SCIENCE| IMPACTS| POLITICS  
   
 
Down To Earth
If your city is sinking, why not make it float?, 17 May 2023
Floating cities are emerging as a possible solution for residents of many of the world's sinking megacities, if they can be built and operated sustainably
 
   
 
Down To Earth
How small family farms are adapting to climate change in Brazil, 17 May 2023
Agroecology offers a production strategy that enables small farmers in northeastern Brazil’s semi-arid region to survive through droughts
 
   
 
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Climate change believers are more likely to cooperate with strangers, new research finds, 17 May 2023
One psychological mechanism that could explain variation in climate change beliefs and pro-environmental behaviour is a general willingness to cooperate in responding to social dilemmas
 
   
 
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11 lions killed in a week in Kenya as climate-linked human-wildlife conflicts escalate, 17 May 2023
Climate change, changing land use and human, livestock and wildlife population increase are major drivers
 
   
 
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There’s no evidence indicating dominant link between warmer climates and COVID-19 spread: WMO, 17 May 2023
However, even secondary factors like weather and air quality can significantly impact the number of infections and deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic
 
   
 
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Climate change is playing spoilsport in kendu leaf collection across eastern India; here’s how, 17 May 2023
Rains, instead of heat and dust storms during April and May, have led to a proliferation of flies which are bothering collectors
 
   
 
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Arid conditions in 78% of India; may affect summer crops, 17 May 2023
Southwest monsoon season in Kerala expected around June 4; 80% chance of El Niño event in May-June-July
 
   
 
Down To Earth
Monsoon arrival may be delayed this year, predicts IMD, 16 May 2023
Looming El Nino can cause rainfall deficit, droughts, say experts citing historical data
 
   
 
Down To Earth
Rising sea levels could swamp sinking Shanghai, 16 May 2023
More than half the city will be under 1.2 metres of flood waters by the end of this century if action is not taken now
 
   
 
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Satellite data signals early hints of a looming El Nino, 16 May 2023
During El Nino years, the Indian monsoon appears to be weaker and less consistent
 
   
 
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Sea butterflies are threatened by climate change. Here’s how this can impact Antarctic marine ecosystems, 16 May 2023
Ocean acidification more dangerous for shelled, smaller sea butterflies but can impact entire ocean foodweb
 
   
 
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Climate change may wipe out Eswatini’s 2 major savanna tree species: Study, 15 May 2023
While marula will move towards cooler sites from warmer ones, Knobthorn will be unable to expand beyond its core range
 
   
 
Down To Earth
Climate change first ‘went viral’ exactly 70 years ago, 15 May 2023
Throughout the 50s and 60s US, Swedish, German and Soviet scientists were examining the issue
 
   
 
Down To Earth
Odisha’s model colony for climate refugees in Kendrapara should be emulated across India, 15 May 2023
More than 45 million people in the country will be forced to migrate due to environmental disruptions by 2050
 
   
 
Down To Earth
‘Dynamic system’: Why Mocha is a storm with a difference, 13 May 2023
A careful analysis shows that the prediction of the storm’s wind speed has been modified several times in the past 3 days
 
   
 
Down To Earth
Climate change mitigation: Flood insurance scheme launched to protect small farmers in Kenya, 12 May 2023
Farmers, experts welcome move, call it ‘game changer’
 
   
 
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This Weekly Newsletter is published by Down to Earth and the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based global think tank advocating on global south developmment issues.
We would love your feedback on this newsletter. To speak to our experts for quotes and comments on the above stories. Please email to vikas@cseindia.org
 
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