climate impacts
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Decades of water mismanagement threaten Yaqui culture in Mexico
The Yaqui tribe in Sonora, Mexico faces cultural and environmental devastation as the Yaqui River dries up due to overuse, drought, and dam construction.
In short:
- The Yaqui River, crucial for cultural ceremonies and subsistence, has dried up, impacting plant and animal species central to Yaqui traditions.
- Traditional structures and ceremonial instruments, dependent on riverbank flora and endemic species like the four-mirror butterfly, are endangered.
- The tribe now relies on purchased water and faces health issues from dietary changes due to the loss of their natural resources.
Key quote:
“We are facing a very critical situation of loss of many aspects that have to do with culture. In the way they work the land, the way they eat and also in the way they carry out their rituals.”
— José Luis Moctezuma, National Institute of Anthropology and History
Why this matters:
The loss of the Yaqui River disrupts not only the tribe's daily life but also their cultural heritage, leading to health and ecological consequences. Immediate attention to water management and conservation is important to preserve the Yaqui way of life.
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Tribes and conservationists work to save spearfishing from climate change
As climate change impacts walleye populations in Wisconsin lakes, Indigenous tribes and conservationists are striving to preserve the traditional practice of spearfishing.
Melina Walling and John Locher report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Ojibwe and other Indigenous tribes rely on spearfishing for food, cultural connection, and tradition, but climate change and lakeshore development threaten walleye populations.
- Conservation efforts include permits to limit fish catch and fish stocking, but natural reproduction remains a challenge due to environmental changes.
- Indigenous knowledge is increasingly valued in conservation strategies to adapt to these changes and ensure sustainable fishing practices.
Key quote:
“We’ve seen things here over the last couple of years that I’ve never seen before. It worries me, what I’ve seen in my lifetime, what’s my grandson going to see in his lifetime?”
— Brian Bisonette, conservation director of the Lac Courte Oreilles Conservation Department
Why this matters:
Climate change and habitat loss threaten Indigenous food sources and cultural traditions. Collaborative conservation efforts aim to preserve these practices for future generations, emphasizing the intersection of environmental and cultural sustainability.
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Credit: VectorMine/BigStock Photo ID: 436555070
UChicago’s climate initiative explores controversial solar geoengineering
The University of Chicago has launched a Climate Systems Engineering initiative, aiming to explore solar geoengineering, despite the controversial nature and potential risks of the field.
Jessica McKenzie reports for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
In short:
- The new initiative will focus on solar geoengineering and other Earth system modifications to combat climate change.
- Solar geoengineering involves reflecting sunlight to cool the Earth, but it poses significant ethical, environmental, and geopolitical risks.
- Critics fear it could lead to reduced efforts in carbon reduction and create unpredictable climate impacts.
Key quote:
“We’re going to wish we had effective carbon dioxide removal technologies operating at scale, or we’re going to wish we knew how to modulate temperatures with various forms of geoengineering to prevent human suffering.”
— Michael Greenstone, director of the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC)
Why this matters:
As climate change accelerates, all potential solutions, including controversial ones like solar geoengineering, appear increasingly attractive for blunting severe global impacts. Read more: Solar geoengineering: Scientists decry a 'foolish' idea.
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Credit: Wayne S. Grazio/Flickr
Scorching heat wave in Mexico and Southwest US intensified due to climate change
Climate change has significantly worsened the recent deadly heat wave in Mexico and the Southwestern United States, making it 35 times more likely and 2.5 degrees hotter.
In short:
- Human-caused climate change increased the likelihood and severity of the heat wave, with daytime temperatures soaring 2.5 degrees hotter.
- Nighttime temperatures were even more devastating, becoming 2.9 degrees warmer and 200 times more likely, contributing to at least 125 deaths.
- The prolonged heat wave highlighted existing inequalities, as those without air conditioning faced greater risks.
Key quote:
"It’s an oven here; you can’t stay here."
— Margarita Salazar Pérez, Veracruz resident
Why this matters:
This heat wave underscores the immediate and lethal impact of climate change, exacerbating health risks and highlighting social inequalities. As extreme weather events become more common, the need for effective climate action grows ever more urgent. Read more: Worsening heat waves are hammering the disabled community.
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Labor and environmental groups push FEMA to classify extreme heat as a major disaster
A coalition of labor, environmental, and healthcare organizations is urging FEMA to classify extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters, aiming to unlock federal funds for community protection and worker safety.
In short:
- More than 60 groups filed a petition for FEMA to classify extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters.
- The move is supported by major labor unions aiming to protect outdoor workers and those without air-conditioning during heat waves.
- Previous attempts to classify heat waves as disasters were denied, but petitioners cite the precedent of COVID-19's disaster declaration to bolster their case.
Key quote:
“We are never going to be able to address the changing climate or threats to the future under the existing system.”
— Brock Long, FEMA administrator during the Trump administration
Why this matters:
Extreme heat kills more people in the U.S. annually than hurricanes and floods combined. Recognizing heat as a major disaster would improve public health protections and infrastructure resilience. Read more: We are undercounting heat-related deaths in the US.
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Water crisis looms in Oklahoma panhandle as pork processing booms
A pork processing plant has revitalized Guymon’s economy but has accelerated the depletion of the region’s vital groundwater supply.
In short:
- Seaboard Foods' pork processing plant has markedly increased groundwater depletion in the Oklahoma panhandle, exacerbating an already declining water supply.
- Weak state water laws and lack of enforcement have allowed unchecked water use, creating a looming crisis for local agriculture and residents.
- Guymon officials are concerned about the sustainability of water resources, with new wells needed to support continued economic activity.
Key quote:
“Seaboard takes a lot of water, but if we didn’t have the feedstuff to feed the million-plus pigs, Seaboard would not be there and Guymon would dry up and blow away, as with the rest of the panhandle.”
— Oklahoma senator, Casey Murdock
Why this matters:
The depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer threatens both the economic stability and future viability of agriculture in the region, impacting food production and local livelihoods. Read more: As hog farms grow in size and number, so do Iowa water problems.
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Uncertain weather forecasts are raising grocery costs
Predictions of extreme weather events are increasingly affecting food prices, driving up costs even before actual climate shocks occur.
In short:
- Weather forecasts can prompt food manufacturers to raise prices in anticipation of supply chain disruptions.
- Increased costs in production and transportation due to extreme weather are often passed on to consumers.
- The resilience of the food supply chain mitigates some impacts, but rising frequency of climate events threatens stability.
Key quote:
“When it comes to the climate risk on food prices, people typically look at the production side. But over the last two years, we learned that extreme weather can raise food prices, [cause] transportation disruptions, as well as production disruptions.”
— Seungki Lee, agricultural economist at Ohio State University
Why this matters:
As meteorologists warn of potential droughts, floods, or hurricanes, commodity traders react swiftly, often raising prices and premiums to mitigate perceived risks. These preemptive hikes ripple through the supply chain, ultimately reaching consumers who are already strained by rising costs.
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