resilience
Credit: Bex Walton/Flickr
A global push to develop climate-resistant coffee
An international partnership is driving innovative coffee breeding to protect coffee farmers from the impacts of climate change.
In short:
- Arabica coffee, the most consumed coffee species, is highly vulnerable to climate change, risking significant drops in production by 2050.
- Innovea, led by World Coffee Research, is developing climate-resilient coffee varieties through global collaboration, aiming to help farmers like those in Kenya.
- The project combines traditional breeding with genetic technology to create high-yield, disease-resistant coffee plants.
Key quote:
“The idea is to identify the genes we’re looking for and move on with those plants instead of others.”
— Jane Cheserek, lead breeder at Kenya’s government-run Coffee Research Institute
Why this matters:
Innovea is driving a cutting-edge experiment aimed at creating the climate-proof coffee of the future. This isn't just about preserving your daily caffeine fix; it's about safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide while protecting our environment. Read more: Alexa White on supporting small-scale farmers.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: VectorMine/BigStock Photo ID: 436555070
Geo-engineering's potential to tackle climate change sparks debate
As climate change intensifies, scientists are exploring geo-engineering as a potential solution, but the approach raises both hope and serious concerns.
In short:
- Geo-engineering aims to cool the planet by manipulating the climate, but experts warn it could disrupt weather patterns and divert attention from reducing carbon emissions.
- Techniques like marine cloud brightening and stratospheric aerosol injection show promise but also pose risks, such as exacerbating droughts and altering global weather.
- Conspiracy theories around geo-engineering are on the rise, complicating scientific research and public acceptance.
Key quote:
“The regional impacts are very much unknown. We may be able to mitigate global average temperature [rise], but we may actually make things worse in certain regions of the world."
— Professor Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society
Why this matters:
Whether geo-engineering is our ticket to a cooler planet or Pandora’s box, it’s a conversation that’s heating up fast. Is it better to take a risky shot at cooling the planet or stick to traditional methods like cutting emissions and hoping for the best? Read more: Opponents of geoengineering misunderstand humanity’s choices.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: International Labour Organization ILO/Flickr
Indoor farming: a climate solution with hidden dangers for workers
Greenhouse workers face extreme heat and humidity, risking their health in structures designed to protect plants, not people.
Melina Walling and Dorany Pineda report for the Associated Press.
In short:
- Greenhouse and nursery workers are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, often exceeding 100°F, leading to heat-related illnesses.
- These workers lack adequate protections and breaks, making them vulnerable to heat stress, dizziness, and other health issues.
- Efforts to include greenhouses in indoor agriculture solutions need to account for better worker protections and enforcement.
Key quote:
"Many times we don’t leave to cool off for a short while. It’s not because we wouldn’t want to do it, but because we’re scared that they would dismiss us."
— Eulalia Mendoza, former greenhouse worker.
Why this matters:
This isn't just a labor issue; it's an environmental and public health crisis. With regulators slow to adapt and industry leaders often prioritizing profit over people, greenhouse workers are left in a perilous bind. Read more: “Dehumanizing” conditions for Michigan farmworkers.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: Coast Guard News/Flickr
Hurricanes are becoming less predictable and more dangerous
Fueled by rising ocean temperatures, hurricanes are intensifying faster, lasting longer, and becoming less predictable, posing new challenges for communities worldwide.
In short:
- Climate change is extending hurricane seasons and increasing their intensity, with warmer oceans providing more energy for storms.
- Hurricanes are slowing down, leading to prolonged rainfall and increased damage in affected areas.
- Shifting hurricane tracks are bringing extreme storms to regions unaccustomed to such events.
Key quote:
"Because we can't suddenly turn off climate change and have everything go back to the way it was. There's an inertia to the system that we can't really get past. And so adaptation is going to be a big part of it."
— James Kossin, climate and atmospheric scientist, NOAA, retired
Why this matters:
Hurricanes are no longer playing by the rules. As climate change cranks up the Earth's thermostat, these once somewhat predictable storms are turning into wild cards, packing unpredictable punches that leave communities scrambling to pick up the pieces. Read more: Robbie Parks on why hurricanes are getting deadlier.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: Hermann Traub/Pixabay
Opinion: Building climate resilience fails to protect human health
The Department of Health and Human Services' focus on climate resilience is insufficient to address the extensive health impacts of climate change.
In short:
- The HHS Climate Action Plan emphasizes resilience without adequately addressing prevention.
- Resilience policies overlook the pervasive and constant health threats posed by climate change.
- The approach may lead to accepting climate disasters as inevitable, rather than preventable.
Key quote:
"Resilience is the categorical imperative of business-as-usual; it is crisis managers buying time. For others, resilience is exhausting."
— Ajay Singh Chaudhary, author of The Exhausted of the Earth.
Why this matters:
Focusing solely on resilience without prevention leaves populations, especially the vulnerable, in perpetual danger. This approach risks normalizing climate disasters instead of aiming to mitigate them.
Relevant EHN coverage:
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Nicholas Erwin/Flickr
Vermont farmers face uncertain future amid increased flood risks
Vermont farmers, reeling from last summer’s devastating floods, now face an uncertain future as persistent rains continue to threaten their livelihoods.
In short:
- Last summer’s floods caused nearly $45 million in damages to 264 farms across Vermont, devastating crops and financial stability.
- With 70% of farmers lacking crop insurance, many are left relying on inadequate federal disaster loans, adding to their financial burden.
- Ongoing weather unpredictability and insufficient government support leave farmers worried about their future sustainability.
Key quote:
“Easy access to loans is a good thing, but when you’ve already borrowed to the point where you know you can’t afford it, it doesn’t solve anybody’s problem.”
— Roy Beckford, director of University of Vermont Extension.
Why this matters:
The resilience of Vermont's agricultural community is being tested as they navigate the challenges of climate change and inadequate support. As forecasts predict more rain, uncertainty looms large, leaving farmers to question their ability to sustain their livelihoods in a flood-prone future. Read more: Soggy springs, scorching summers: Higher temperatures taking toll on US staple crops.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: ucumari photography/Flickr
Wildlife struggles to survive amid rising global temperatures
As global heatwaves intensify, animals are increasingly unable to cope, leading to widespread deaths and altered behaviors.
In short:
- Extreme heatwaves are causing mass die-offs in various animal species worldwide, from howler monkeys in Mexico to Magellanic penguins in Argentina.
- Animals, such as koalas and bears, are adapting their behaviors to cope with the heat, but it is unclear if these changes are sustainable long-term.
- Birds are particularly vulnerable due to their poor cooling mechanisms, leading to significant population declines in areas like the Mojave Desert.
Key quote:
"This effect that climate change and extreme heat has on the living world really gets worse the less of the living world that we have left."
— Andreas Nord, ecologist at Lund University.
Why this matters:
The ripple effects of extreme heat extend far beyond the immediate loss of animal life. Ecosystems are being thrown out of balance, with predator-prey dynamics shifting and plant life also suffering. The same heat waves that are devastating wildlife are also a direct threat to human populations. Read more: Solving the climate crisis will help both ‘sacrifice zones’ and ‘cute’ puffins.
Keep reading...Show less
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
