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  Why Hurricane Melissa is one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever Jamaica is being directly hit by what may be  the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the Atlantic Ocean , forecast to produce  up to a metre (40 inches) of rain  over its mountains – and there is virtually no doubt that global warming has made Hurricane Melissa  as strong as it is . The warm waters that fuelled its intensification were 500 to 700 times more likely as a result of climate change, according to  initial estimates by Daniel Gilford and his colleagues at Climate Central,  a US non-profit organisation. “The ‘500 to 700 times more likely’ number is big,” says Gilford. “It really illustrates how unlikely the extremely warm temperatures we are observing around Melissa would be without human-caused climate change.” Tropical cyclones like Melissa are  powered by warm water . The warmer the sea surface, the more water vapour forms as storms move over them. As m...

  Kashmir’s Apple Industry Faces Climate Crisis Apple cultivation in Kashmir is more than an agricultural pursuit — it is heritage, culture, and the foundation of rural livelihood. Over seven lakh families depend directly or indirectly on this industry, contributing over Rs. 10,000–15,000 crore annually to the region’s economy. Yet this lifeline of the valley stands at a critical turning point. Climate change, once a theoretical concern, is now an everyday reality reshaping Kashmir’s orchards, productivity, and livelihoods. The climate over the past two years has turned dramatically inconsistent. In 2025, regions once immune to hailstorms — including Pulwama, Anantnag, Sopore, and Ganderbal — were battered by severe hail that shredded canopies and flattened orchards. Cloudbursts and flash floods have become disturbingly frequent, eroding fertile soils and damaging tree roots. Extended heat spells in early spring, followed by unseasonal rains, have disrupted fruiting cycles and stre...

  Climate-smart agric in action: The role of hybrid seeds, Pfumvudza in strengthening maize farming resilience in Zimbabwe AS Zimbabwe enters another maize farming season under the shadow of unpredictable rains, farmers are turning to hybrid seeds and Pfumvudza to secure their livelihoods and strengthen national food security. Climate change has been a main topic of discussion in the world over the past years. Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. The results of climate change include global warming, drought and low or no rainfall. Zimbabwe has been experiencing climate change for a number of year, which has severely impacted the country’s weather patterns, such as rising temperatures and decreased rainfall. These impacts are hindering the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Zimbabwe which include SDG1 of eradicating poverty, SDG 2...

Trump’s blithe dismissal of climate science In November 2015, in the midst of what was then considered a long-shot campaign for the presidency, Donald Trump released a book called Crippled America. In it, Trump set out his ideas about what was wrong with the US: immigrants, mostly, but also Barack Obama, the “often pathetic” media, and the “total losers” in Congress. The book, the 18th in the Trump canon , is typically self-aggrandising, with Trump describing his own brand as “one of the world’s great icons of quality and excellence”. Trump writes of himself: “Donald Trump builds businesses. Donald Trump builds buildings. Donald Trump develops magnificent golf courses. Donald Trump makes investments that create jobs. And Donald Trump creates jobs for legal immigrants and all Americans.” I did a live-read of Crippled America for the Guardian (I think I was being punished for something), and one bit that jumped out at me, amid the get-off-my-lawn complaints about foreigners and how th...

How Bill Gates is reframing the climate change debate Bill Gates' shift from "doomsday" climate warnings to a focus on improving human lives is triggering sharp reactions from scientists and activists. Why it matters: As one of the world's most prominent funders of both climate and global health efforts, Gates' positioning influences the political and philanthropic center. The big picture: In his open memo released Tuesday, Gates urged leaders to focus less on emissions targets and more on tangible improvements in human welfare — echoing his dual role leading the Gates Foundation and Breakthrough Energy. What they're saying: Some scientists — including some of the best-known figures in the climate field — say the memo risks framing climate action as a rival to poverty alleviation. "The content was mostly really great, but I would have framed it radically differently," says Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy."People of...

Climate plan captures clean energy benefits and boosts investment Working people and businesses to feel the benefit of clean energy and climate action with lower bills, good jobs, warmer homes and cleaner air government sets out plans in line with Climate Change Act, the landmark framework that has helped to secure billions of private investment into the UK since 2008 net zero economy is growing 3 times faster than the rest of the economy, with 400,000 additional clean energy jobs across the country to come by 2030 Working families and businesses across the country will benefit from clean energy and climate action, as the government confirms plans to seize the opportunities of the booming clean energy economy. The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published today (Wednesday 29 October) sets out how the UK will continue to reduce emissions in a way that lowers bills and secures good jobs, in line with the landmark 2008 Climate Change Act. This framework has been supported by Brit...

In 2024, the climate crisis worsened in all ways. But we can still limit warming with bold action Climate change has been on the world’s radar for decades . Predictions made by scientists at oil giant Exxon in the early 1980s are proving accurate . The damage done by a hotter, more chaotic world is worsening and getting more expensive. Even so, many countries around the world are failing to meet their emissions targets , with major gaps found even this week between the commitments and actions needed to hold global warming to 1.5°C. This has put Earth on a dangerous path, as our new report on the state of the climate reveals. Earth’s vital signs ailing Last year was the hottest on record . It was also likely the hottest in at least 125,000 years . Every year, we track 34 of the planet’s vital signs. In 2024, 22 of these indicators were at record levels. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and ocean heat both hit new highs, as did losses of trees to fire. Meat consumption kept ri...

  Trump declares victory against climate ‘hoax’ after Bill Gates comments U.S. President Donald Trump claimed victory Wednesday over what he called the “hoax” of climate change, after billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates said a warming world would not end civilization. “I (WE!) just won the War on the Climate Change Hoax. Bill Gates has finally admitted that he was completely WRONG on the issue,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “It took courage to do so, and for that we are all grateful.” Microsoft co-founder Gates said in a long memo this week that climate change “will not lead to humanity’s demise,” in what was seen as a major pivot by the 70-year-old. Gates added that while climate change would have “serious” consequences, “people will be able to live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future.” He argued that tackling global disease and poverty would instead help prepare the planet’s poorest for a warming world. Gates acknowledged that critics may c...

Mechanisms Responsible for the Increase in Bee Structure of Aged SBS-Polymer Modified Asphalt A mysterious phenomenon can be observed under atomic force microscopy (AFM) in SBS-modified asphalt (SBSMA), where the bee-structure size significantly increases after aging. Numerous studies have focused on the factors that induce changes in bee structures but have overlooked the relationship between macromolecular accumulation and bee-structural evolution during aging. The work here investigated the essential reason for the increase in the bee structure of SBSMA during aging. The geometric and topological parameters of bee structures are used to quantify microstructural characteristics, including axial length, area, interquartile range (IQR), and standard deviation (S.D.) from the Delaunay triangulation method. Nanoindentation tests quantified nanomechanical property evolution, while molecular dynamics simulation was used to obtain the contribution of macromolecular accumulation for the bee...