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UN Weather Agency Issues ‘Red Alert’ On Climate Change After Record Heat, Ice-Melt Increases In 2023
GENEVA —A.P.he United Nations meteorological office has issued a “red alert” concerning global warming, citing record-breaking rises in greenhouse gases, land and ocean temperatures, and glacier and sea ice melting last year, as well as warning that the world’s efforts to reverse the trend have been inadequate.
The World Meteorological Organization predicts a “high probability” that 2024 will be another record-breaking year.
UN Weather Agency Issues ‘Red Alert’ On Climate Change After Record Heat, Ice-Melt Increases In 2023
In a “State of the Global Climate” report released Tuesday, the Geneva-based agency raised concerns that a much-vaunted climate goal—that the world can unite to limit planetary warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels—is increasingly in jeopardy.
“We’ve never been so close – albeit only temporarily – to the 1.5°C lower limit of the Paris climate agreement,” said Celeste Saulo, the agency’s secretary-general. “The WMO community is sounding the red alert to the world.”
According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Service, the 12 months from March 2023 to February 2024 exceeded the 1.5-degree limit by an average of 1.56 Celsius (2.81 Fahrenheit). It stated that the calendar year 2023 was just below 1.5 C at 1.48 C (2.66 F), but a record hot start to this year pushed the 12-month average above that threshold.
“Earth is sending a distress signal,” U.N General Antonio Guterres stated. “According to the most recent State of the Global Climate report, our planet is on the verge of catastrophe. “Pollution from fossil fuels is causing unprecedented climate chaos.”
According to Omar Baddour, the World Meteorological Organization’s chief of climate monitoring, the year following an El Niño event, which influences worldwide weather patterns, is often warmer.
“We cannot declare certainly that 2024 will be the warmest year. But I would say there is a good chance that 2024 will break the record set in 2023, but we’ll have to wait and see.” “This was the warmest January on record. “So the records are still being broken.”
The most recent WMO conclusions are particularly startling when presented in a single report. In 2023, more than 90% of ocean waters will have experienced at least one heat wave. Glaciers studied since 1950 have lost the most ice on record. Antarctic sea ice has receded to its lowest level ever.
“Topping all the bad news, what worries me the most is that the planet is now in a meltdown phase—literally and figuratively given the warming and mass loss from our polar ice sheets,” said Jonathan Overpeck, dean of the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, who was not involved in the report.
UN Weather Agency Issues ‘Red Alert’ On Climate Change After Record Heat, Ice-Melt Increases In 2023
Saulo referred to the climate issue as “the defining challenge that humanity faces” and claimed that rising food poverty and migration rates are indicators of an inequality crisis.
The World Meteorological Organization predicts that in 2023, climate change-related heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and tropical cyclones will have an impact on people’s lives and livelihoods on all continents.
“This list of record-breaking events is truly distressing, but not surprising given the steady drumbeat of extreme events over the past year,” said University of Arizona climate scientist Kathy Jacobs, who was also not involved in the WMO study. “The full cost of climate-change-accelerated events across sectors and regions has never been calculated in a meaningful way, but the cost to biodiversity and to the quality of life of future generations is incalculable.”
However, the EPA acknowledged “a glimmer of hope” in preventing the Earth from reaching a fever pitch. It stated that renewable energy generation capacity from wind, solar, and hydropower increased by over 50% from 2022 to 510 gigawatts.
The research comes as climate scientists and government ministers prepare to meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Thursday and Friday to advocate for more climate action, including increasing national commitments to combat global warming.
UN Weather Agency Issues ‘Red Alert’ On Climate Change After Record Heat, Ice-Melt Increases In 2023
“Each year the climate story gets worse; each year WMO officials and others proclaim that the latest report is a wake-up call to decision makers,” said Andrew Weaver, a climate scientist at the University of Victoria and former British Columbia MLA.
“Yet each year, once the 24-hour news cycle is over, far too many of our elected leaders return to political grandstanding, partisan bickering, and advancing policies with demonstrable short-term outcomes,” he said. “Most of the time, other priorities take precedence over the advancement of climate policy, so nothing gets done.”
SOURCE – (AP)
News
Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.
Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”
The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.
Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.
The Prime Minister dances.
This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.
Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf
— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024
“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”
“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.
On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”
Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.
Pro-Palestinian protests
Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.
Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.
Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.
On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.
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News
Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla
The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.
The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.
The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.
“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”
According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.
Calgary Zoo Questioned
It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.
An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.
Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.
“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.
The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.
“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.
“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.
While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”
Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.
The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.
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News
Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M
Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.
Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.
The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.
According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.
While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.
Lotto Max History
Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.
The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.
Let’s have a look at the rules:
- Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
- Numbers cannot be repeated
- Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
- Each play buys 3 lines
- Each play costs $5
Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)
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