Explained Climate

News

EXPLAINED CLIMATE NEWS

Why China’s plan to reduce its emissions is significant for climate action

September 27, 2025 1:16 pm

China’s President Xi Jinping, making an appearance at the event through video-conferencing, finally unveiled his country’s plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and set a target of 7-10 per cent cuts by the year 2035 from its peak levels

What made Super Typhoon Ragasa so intense?

September 25, 2025 1:24 pm

Super Typhoon Ragasa, Ragasa Hong Kong impact: The storm is the most intense tropical cyclone recorded in 2025. At its peak, Ragasa was moving with the maximum sustained winds of 280 kmph.

Carbon emissions from fossil fuel companies linked to numerous deadly heatwaves: What a new study says

September 16, 2025 7:35 pm

The study analysed 213 heatwaves that occurred worldwide between 2000 and 2023. It showed that due to global warming, heatwaves between 2000 and 2009 became about 20 times more likely, and about 200 times more likely between 2010 and 2019

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood: What a new study says

August 30, 2025 6:45 pm

The analysis has said the tipping point that makes an Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) shut down inevitable could be breached within a few decades. However, the collapse of the current itself may not happen until 50 to 100 years later

Deforestation in tropical areas caused 28,000 heat-related deaths a year in the last two decades: What a new study says

August 28, 2025 12:33 pm

Tropical forests are some of the most biodiversity-rich environments on the planet. However, in recent decades, these forests have faced large-scale deforestation.

Melting of Arctic sea ice has slowed down. This is not ‘good news’

August 25, 2025 7:44 am

Despite the unprecedented increase in global temperatures, the melting of Arctic sea ice has slowed down over the last 20 years, according to a new study. However, scientists say this is only a temporary event, and the melting may resume at a more rapid rate

The spineless foe of nuclear power plants: How jellyfish disrupt these facilities

August 13, 2025 5:07 pm

Since at least the 1990s, nuclear power plants across the world have been forced to shut down due to jellyfish getting clogged in their cooling system. Such incidents are now on the rise as climate change and marine pollution have increased the jellyfish population.

Dharali disaster: the complex, uncertain relationship between extreme rain, landslides & flash floods

August 09, 2025 1:11 pm

Not all cloudburst-like events result in a flash flood or a disaster. And not all flash floods are triggered by an intense spell of rain. The Uttarkashi incident demonstrates the rising risk of disasters in ecologically fragile regions, and the increasing uncertainty around their occurrence. This makes the task of installing early warning systems and taking mitigation measures even more difficult.

How to reduce risks from glacial lake bursts and carry out effective rescue operations

August 08, 2025 1:11 pm

The Dharali flash flood in Uttarkashi could have been caused by a phenomenon known as GLOF. Five years ago, a document prepared by the NDMA had identified this risk in the Himalayas, and laid down detailed guidelines on ways to anticipate and deal with GLOF emergencies. Here’s what it said.

Increase in coal production capacity dipped in 2024: What does it mean for net-zero targets?

August 02, 2025 4:25 pm

Last year, the amount of production capacity that came online stood at 105 mtpa — a 46% decline from 2023, when the amount was 193 mtpa. In fact, the 2024 increase was the smallest production capacity increase in a decade