Author, M. Snyder, BSMIS; Co-author, Arshad-Snyder, Siti, Ed.D., CPHIMS | ☀ Abstract – The irrefutable evidence surrounding human-derived global climate change has been accumulating over many decades. In August of 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its 3,949 page report on climate change entitled; “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis (AR6)-[**][∞].”…
Extreme Weather in 2024 Demonstrated the Growing Costs of Climate Change
Author: L. Hall, Staff Writer | ☀ The Costs of Climate ChangeThroughout 2024, communities around the world experienced destructive floods, severe heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and tropical cyclones. These events caused deaths, displaced residents, damaged infrastructure, and placed additional pressure on governments and emergency services. Although extreme weather has always occurred, the changing climate increasingly influences…
2024 Became the Hottest Year in Recorded History
Author: M. Stockton, Staff Writer | ☀ 2024 Was One of the Hottest Years on RecordThe year 2024 marked a historic milestone in the development of the global climate crisis. Temperatures reached unprecedented levels, extending a period of extraordinary warmth that had already made 2023 the warmest year in the historical record. The significance of…
Ocean Warming in 2024 Threatened Marine Ecosystems & Coastal Communities
Author: L. Hall, Staff Writer | ☀ 2024 Ocean Warming Threatens Marine Ecosystems & Coastal CommunitiesWhile record-breaking atmospheric temperatures attracted headlines in 2024, the world’s oceans experienced another year of exceptional warmth. This development was especially important because the ocean absorbs most of the excess heat accumulating in the climate system. Ocean warming influences marine…
Hurricanes Helene and Milton Highlighted America’s Growing Climate Risks
Author: M. Roby, Staff Writer | ☀ Climate Risks Grow After Hurricanes Helene & Milton Hit America’s East CoastThe 2024 Atlantic hurricane season provided a sobering reminder that the United States remains highly vulnerable to tropical cyclones, storm surge, extreme rainfall, and flooding. Among the most consequential storms were Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which struck…
Renewable Energy Surged in 2024, Offering Hope for a Lower-Carbon Future
Author: E. Yorke, Staff Writer | ☀ Renewable Energy Sources Offer A Cleaner FutureThe global transition toward renewable energy continued to gain momentum in 2024. Solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage systems, and modern electricity networks became increasingly important components of national energy strategies. As the effects of climate change grew more visible, renewable energy…
COP29 and the Continuing Struggle to Finance Climate Action
Author: M. Roby, Staff Writer | ☀ COP29 – Financing Climate ActionIn November 2024, world leaders, diplomats, scientists, and environmental advocates gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference known as COP29. The summit took place against a troubling scientific backdrop: global temperatures were reaching record levels, climate-related disasters were imposing mounting…
Climate Change in December 2023: A World at a Turning Point
Author: D. Townsend, Staff Writer | ☀ Climate Change in December 2023: A World at a Turning PointAs 2023 draws to a close, record-breaking temperatures, intensifying climate impacts, and the outcomes of the COP28 climate summit underscore the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the transition to clean energy. December 2023 marked a…
The 1997-1998 Coral Bleaching Event
Author: S. Reynolds, Staff Writer | ☀ The 1998 coral bleaching event occurred in various locations worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions with coral reef ecosystems. Some notable areas affected by this event include: “The Middle East, East Africa, the Indian Ocean, South, Southeast and East Asia, far West and far East Pacific, the Caribbean and Atlantic…
How Climate Change is Affecting the World’s Oceans
Author: O. Watts, Staff Writer | ☀ The Earth’s oceans play a vital role in regulating global climate, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining life on our planet. However, decades of greenhouse gas emissions has fundamentally altered the composition and dynamics of these vast bodies of water. As the Earth’s atmosphere warms due to human activities, such…