Allergies are increasingly prevalent, largely due to the impacts of climate change and pollution. Vulnerable populations with limited access to healthcare and green spaces, are particularly affected by longer pollen seasons and heightened allergic responses.

Ongoing climate research in human health, coastal community resilience, and agriculture environmental impacts may all find their solutions from the same naturally occurring source: seaweeds. With ever increasing natural disasters due to climate change, it is believed by researchers at Running Tide and the Bigelow Laboratory of Ocean Sciences that harnessing the power of seaweed could unlock answers for reducing atmospheric carbon and global food insecurity.

In early Sep, a catastrophic flood hit Derna, Libya, killing over 5,000 people and leaving thousands missing. The flood was triggered by Storm Daniel, which had characteristics of both hurricanes and typhoons. Climate change likely intensified the devastating floods caused by the storm. Rising sea surface temperatures injected energy and moisture into the storm, escalating its winds and rainfall. Although sea surface temperatures were not exceptionally high, they were sufficient to enhance and fuel such storms.

In early August, Hawaii experienced a series of wildfires that resulted in the loss of over 100 lives and the burning of more than 10 square miles of land in Maui.

Greenhouse gases are well known for their role in driving climate change. By trapping heat from the sun in the atmosphere, they increase the global average temperature and change the Earth’s climate. Climate change is responsible for causing various health hazards, such as extreme heat, an increased severity of wildfires and floods, and more incidences of natural disasters.

Our reliance on fossil fuels for transportation, electricity generation, and industry makes carbon dioxide (CO2) the most emitted greenhouse gas warming our planet. Although CO2 occurs naturally in the atmosphere, human activities have caused a 50% increase in its concentration in the last 200 years.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as a crucial measure in mitigating climate change due to the road transportation sector being responsible for 15% of energy-related emissions globally. The market for electric vehicles is in fact booming. In 2022, EVs made up 14% of all new car sales, compared to just 5% in 2020.

How can we ensure that the resources we rely on for energy generation will remain available for use in the future? How can we meet energy demand without emitting greenhouse gases and contributing to climate change? Although sustainability and climate change are often discussed together, certain methods of energy generation can emit zero greenhouse gases yet be unsustainable, and vice versa.

In Held v. Montana, 16 young people, all of whom were 18 or younger at the time of the court filing, have sued the state in what is considered the country’s first youth-led climate-change related case to make it to trial.

With the importance of climate change action becoming more prevalent, it is especially crucial for young children to get a taste of what they have to work with for the future of our planet. This can be done through the implementation of climate change studies in school curricula on a national level. Not only is climate change knowledge a tool for promoting education in younger children, but it helps to raise a generation of aware, proactive leaders.

Understanding climate change is crucial for protecting public health, making it essential to improve climate knowledge in schools and universities worldwide.​ Accessible learning opportunities should be provided in diverse locations to reach underserved communities.

One of the most significant consequences of climate change is the increased frequency and intensity of abnormal weather patterns, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and periods of extreme heat or cold.

Climate change content can evoke a range of negative emotions, such as anger, grief, despair, fear, and guilt, collectively known as “climate anxiety” or “eco-anxiety.” Evidence from the Annual Review of Environment and Resources suggests that worry about climate change and recognition of its risk can motivate pro-environmental action. However, people must believe that their individual actions can mitigate environmental risks for them to take action.

Milder winters have a noticeable impact on human health through elongated allergy seasons. In February 2023, states along the eastern seaboard have already broken winter temperature records, ranging from the high 60s in New England to the low 80s in the Carolinas, prompting a rise in CO2 levels.

The rate and intensity of wildfires is increasing year over year, drawing concern from health officials that chronic exposure to toxic compounds constitutes an acute public health crisis.

Stillbirths are a “neglected tragedy,” with one occurring every 16 seconds worldwide on average. A recent Nature Communications article suggests that almost one million stillbirths are associated with air pollution every year, reiterating the globally pervasive consequences that the climate crisis has on health.  

Can we expect governments, more capable and with greater means, but slow-moving and subject to changing agendas, to increase investment sufficiently in the next 30 years? Or are there other potentially untapped means of climate action available?

With significant political change in both monarch and prime minister of the UK, decisiveness is essential. Yet, recent climate news has been dominated by King Charles III’s non-attendance at the 27th Convention of Parties (COP27) following governmental advice, the belated decision to hold a pre-conference reception, and Rishi Sunak’s U-turn on attending COP27. But is such climate indecision and inaction becoming a recurring theme for the UK?

Climate Change is transforming our global ecosystems. With each passing year, rising temperatures give way to more drought and increased intensity of storms. No location or city is entirely immune to the effects of climate change, but some may feel the heat more than others.

Mining and the production of critical minerals has jumpstarted in the last decade as demand for green energy sources, such as solar panels and electric vehicles, has increased. To meet rapidly growing demand, mining critical and rare earth minerals will require new infrastructure and legislation that allows for growth while preventing the exacerbation of social and environmental damages associated with mining in the past.