Africa
Sahara Desert floods for first time in half a century
By Marco Lopez More than 100mm of rainfall in just 24 hours resulted in rare flooding across parts of the Sahara Desert. This unprecedented weather event has not occurred in 50 years – changing the topography of the typically arid landscape overnight. The Moroccan village of Tagounite – located 450 kilometers from the capital Rabat […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAdaptation
Revolutionizing Rivers and Oceans: The Future of Hydropower and Marine Energy
by Climate Spotlight Staff From the powerful rivers to the boundless oceans, these proven and novel energy sources are ushering in a new era of clean and sustainable power. Overview of Hydropower Today In the landscape of renewable energy, hydropower accounts for a significant chunk of the global electricity pie. As of 2021, it contributed […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAction and Advocacy
Biomass Energy: Is It a Hidden Hero or a Silent Villain?
By Climate Spotlight Staff Understanding Biomass Energy Let’s start at the roots. Biomass energy is derived from organic materials, such as wood, agricultural crops, and waste. Think of it as tapping into nature’s energy bank, where the stored energy in plants and organic matter becomes a potential source of power. Biomass and Carbon Neutrality Here’s […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAction and Advocacy
What’s Geothermal Power?
By Climate Spotlight Staff We have to take a dive deep into the heart of the Earth to uncover the secrets of geothermal power. Literally. The Earth’s Subterranean Heat Source The Warmth Within Vision this: beneath our feet lies a reservoir of untapped energy, not from fossil fuels or the sun; but from the Earth’s […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
Time is of the essence…
COP28 may be the world’s last opportunity to get on track to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement and stay below 1.5C by Climate Spotlight Staff According to a study published by Earth Systems Science Data in mid-2023, global greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high. A so-called “carbon budget” established as a […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
Harmonizing people, coastlines, and nature-based solutions
By Marco Lopez Coastlines have served as the foundation for communities since the dawn of human history. Their proximity to the ocean has offered life-sustaining benefits, anchoring civilizations to these shores. In our current era of climate change, the urgency to safeguard these coastlines has intensified. Threats from flooding, storm surges, and hurricanes jeopardize the […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
Seeing is Belizing: Community-Led Resilient Reef Restoration
“This is probably the single, collectively the most successful coral restoration individual project in the world at this time. It’s phenomenal, “ Dr. Les Kaufman of the Boston University Marine Program said about the Laughing Bird Caye reef restoration work. By Marco Lopez As heatwaves sweep across the globe, very few consider the silent sufferers […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
Protecting Earth’s Lungs
by Climate Spotlight Staff RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil. August 15, 2023 The Brazil National Institute of Space Research detected a 33.6% drop in deforestation in the Amazon during the first six months of President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva’s term. In July, the federal agency reported that the satellite data was gathered from a system […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAction and Advocacy
Youths from Montana win landmark climate trial
By Climate Spotlight Staff The first of its kind ruling from the District Court in Helena, Mont., was handed down today, August 14th. Helena, Montana is today the epicenter of climate activism in the United States. A District Court handed down its decision in a first-of-its-kind climate activism case in the country. The attorneys for […]
Climate Spotlight Staff1.5 To Stay Alive
One woman’s mission to protect Caye Caulker’s mangroves
This story was written by Marco Lopez, a Belizean multimedia journalist. It was published with the generous support of the Caribbean Climate Justice Journalism Fellowship, a joint venture between Climate Tracker and Open Society Foundations. On the Belizean island of Caye Caulker, Allison Ifield is affectionately called “Mangrove Mama” due to her connection with mangroves and unrelenting […]
Climate Spotlight StaffAction and Advocacy
World Environment Day 2023: Addressing the Urgent Challenge of Plastic Pollution
As we commemorate World Environment Day, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) warns that by 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean could surpass the quantity of fish. This year’s theme, “Finding Solutions to Plastic Pollution,” highlights the pressing need to tackle this issue. Plastic pollution is not only a major contributor to greenhouse […]
Climate Spotlight Staff