Almost Everyone in India Vulnerable to Climate Change Impacts; Need for Concerted Efforts: Dr. Soumya Swaminathan
At COP29, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist, emphasized the widespread vulnerability of Indians to climate change and the urgent need for collaborative action to address its health, gender, and economic impacts. She highlighted that over 80% of India’s population faces climate-related health risks, including respiratory illnesses from air pollution and malnutrition due to disrupted agriculture. Women and children, especially in rural areas, are disproportionately affected, and she urged policies that promote clean energy to mitigate these health risks.
Dr. Swaminathan advocated for green public transportation as a "win-win solution" for reducing air pollution and enhancing public health. She also called for gender-focused climate policies to support the poorest and most vulnerable. Stressing the economic costs of climate-related health impacts, she noted that air pollution alone costs trillions globally. Cross-border cooperation, particularly through initiatives like the Our Common Air Commission, is crucial to combat air pollution effectively. Dr. Swaminathan concluded that India has the potential to lead in climate adaptation and sustainable urbanization by integrating climate resilience into development strategies. For more details, visit
UN Climate Talks 'No Longer Fit for Purpose' Say Key Experts
Key climate experts, including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, have criticized the UN’s COP climate talks as "no longer fit for purpose," urging a significant overhaul. In a letter to the UN, these leaders argue that host countries should support the phase-out of fossil fuels to be eligible to hold COP events. This call follows controversy at COP29 in Azerbaijan, where President Ilham Aliyev praised natural gas as a “gift from God” despite its role in global warming. The letter also highlights issues with COP hosting, pointing out that fossil fuel lobbyists often outnumber scientific and Indigenous representatives, undermining fair representation.
The experts acknowledge achievements such as the Paris Agreement but believe the slow COP process cannot match the speed required to address the climate crisis. The letter suggests reforms to ensure more accountability and advocate for smaller, more frequent COPs. Climate scientist Johan Rockström emphasized that while a “safe landing” for humanity is still possible, it demands a global policy shift that delivers change rapidly and at scale.
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Tropical Rainforests can Survive Global Warming: Study by IIT-CU-Ontario University
Researchers from IIT Kharagpur, Calcutta University, and the University of Western Ontario found that tropical rainforests, including those in the Western Ghats and the Amazon, show resilience to climate warming, which could allow them to endure future temperature rises. Their study analyzed tropical rainforest fossils from Gujarat's Vastan coal mines, dating back to the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) about 56 million years ago. During this time, global CO₂ levels rose drastically, leading to extreme temperatures above 40°C. Despite the warming, increased rainfall helped maintain these rainforests through a "rainfall-buffered temperature" effect, which balanced the temperature and supported biodiversity. This study suggests that rainforests may adapt to changing climates, but only if conditions like rainfall remain supportive. Lead researcher Anindya Sarkar highlighted that these findings help understand how rainforests might cope with future climate challenges.
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