ifd66 comments

This "Global Dimming" effect has long been known about. For example, after flights were stopped because of 911, there was an observable spike in temperature.

This highlights a serious problem that some of the effects of global warming have until now been offset by pollution. As this pollution reduces, the full effects of climate change will kick in. A scary prospect.

In the dock are the usual suspects: global warming, which is driving rising temperatures leading to water evaporation that causes more wildfires, but also human activity, which is the biggest culprit, notably due to intensive farming.

In other words:

In the dock are the usual suspects: greed, capitalism, poor leadership, politics.

"this lasted one": ...latest one...

"When El Nino ends, the global weather situation should stop being so extreme," 

El Niño comes on average every 4~7 years.

The last one was the 3rd hottest year ever recorded (2019) and the one before that the hottest year ever recorded (2016).

And this lasted one - on course for the hottest year ever recorded.

So yes, El Niño is a natural event but CLEARLY being made more extreme by the human climate crisis.

We built our house using passive house techniques.

We don't have AC and are still coping with this summer in relative comfort.

Relying on natural air flow and good insulation is also much healthier compared to having all the windows closed and AC on most of the time.

With round 92% of Japan squashed into urban areas, falls in population should be embraced as an opportunity to create a society that offers a better quality of life.

More space, more resources to share, combined with forward thinking employment and tax policies that don't simply prioritise the economy, and instead help build a fairer, less materialistic (more sustainable) society.

Again, truly amazed that there are still people out there who would down thumb posts that are simply pointing out FACTS (ie by @virsrex)

"there has been no upward trend in the amount of solar energy reaching our planet."

SCIENTIFIC FACT

Plenty to see on an open-top London bus. But what can you see in Tokyo? 

Very true. Beautiful architecture - historic and modern, is to be seen everywhere in London.

The photo doesn't do Tokyo any favours - just square concrete blocks side by side, and hot as hell.

 "long-term warming from burning coal, oil and natural gas is the chief cause of rising temperatures"

This seems to be a fundamental problem, talking of long-term warming.

The scariest part of the climate crisis is how fast the changes are happening - acidification of the oceans, rise in CO2 levels etc.

In geological terms, it's all happened in an extremely SHORT time frame. Corals, and other natural systems just won't have the ability to adapt and survive.

@gcFD1 did you even read the article?

The time frame of the changes we are seeing including the ones covered in this article - in geological terms - is staggering, and as most scientists are trying to reiterate, extreemely alarming.

I simply don't understand why there are still people who cannot accept facts, and seem intent on keeping Climate Crisis related issues political.

I was hit by heatstroke this week even staying indoors. I felt dizzy and shaking. Had to lie down for several hours to recover.

Why would anyone down thumb this comment?

We've had two so far in our pond. Such a beautiful flower but a shame they only last 1 or 2 days at the most.

One other factor that bears mention is the relocation of measuring stations from parks and other "green" areas, 

Urban area are part of the global environment so should be included. And any changes in measuring stations are accounted for.

@Herve L'Eisa - Here is a very INFORMATIVE site on how average global temperature is measured: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate/science/global-temperature-records

"Grooves"

ROOVES!

Green or living grooves are a big part of the answer. We've made three so far on sheds.

They look wonderful, reduce water runoff, support biodiversity and significantly reduce heat both inside the buildings and outside.

China is leading the way in green energy in many respects. It accounted for over 50% of the world's combined new wind and solar installation last year and are expected to be responsible for increasing the world's global capacity by 85% by 2025.

And although it is still the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, its per capita emissions are still far lower than most western nations - 28th from the top spot (2020).

@AomoriExpat From what I’ve read most of these fires have been intentional started by humans and some by climate activists themselves

Really? I'd love to see some of the sources of these 'readings'

The science is relatively simple, hotter drier weather, combined with higher chances of lightening, which is also the result of warmer air are obviously going to lead to a higher incidence of forest fires.

it intends to resume operations Thursday morning.

In other words they are going to roll over and pay the ransom... so encouraging hacker groups to continue their 'work'.

Records are being not just broken, but smashed almost on a daily basis (June average temperature, sea temperatures...)

Many of these events are relegated to regular, rather than headline news - part of the same problem - society in general is not treating the climate issue as the 'crisis' that it clearly is.

 was found guilty Tuesday but avoided jail time.

So what's the point of the court system here?

I've just had to give two fail grades for two essays that I suspected were AI generated. Two AT checking tools were 98% confident the texts were AT generated.

So it seems the education ministry needs to release guidelines for universities, not just schools.

Based on the 'precautionary principle' upon which sustainable development rests, geo-engineering should not even be considered.

Look at our track record on what could be said to be our first geo-engineering project - the mass burning of fossil fuels since the 1800's.

Besides, any geo-engineering project to combat climate change will be used as an excuse for business as usual by those alined with the FF industry.

Good news but may be the article should be in the environment section.

We have a compost toilet and people are always amazed how normal looking the compost looks and smells.

Other than upcycling waste, compost toilets also save huge amounts of water which is otherwise wasted with regular toilets.

 @commanter: in the summer there is a limit to how much you can take off - so air conditioning is needed. 

Well, more houses could be designed better so they don't need air conditioning.

We designed and built our house to power itself and to rely on passive cooling - no Air Conditioning. And I'm not an expert or a qualified architect.

A final section looking at some solutions would have been useful.

Things people, communities, regions etc can do to help mitigate the worse effects of this fast growing but still largely ignored crisis

To help reduce energy, how about start by not cutting down the trees in Meiji Jingu Gaien.

While other major cities (London, NY ...) are greening their centers - which can substantially reduce air temperatures, Tokyo seems to be making no progress at tackling its heat island effect.

The video in the link is just weird.

Another total waste of research time and resources.

Keeping such animals inside is abuse.

Our goats are only inside if there is strong wind, rain, or snow.

And they are always happy to get back outside.

Very good to see these environment articles regularly appearing.

However, given the severity of the issue of climate change, I'm always left wondering why news articles like this one aren't headline news.

As a famous teenager once said, we need to act as if our house is on fire. Or as the head of the UN recently said, our inaction is going to be collective suicide.

LOL little ole Denmark doing their best to destroy western civilization.

Right... and yet is year after year ranked one of the happiest countries in the world (currently #2).