Paris Olympic temperatures 'virtually impossible' without global warming, and other nature and climate stories you need to read this week
This year's Olympic athletes are facing challenging conditions. Image: REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
- This weekly round-up contains the key nature and climate news from the past week.
- Top nature and climate news: Olympic temperatures 'virtually impossible' without global warming; EU wind and solar energy on the rise; Global methane emissions rising at fastest rate in decades.
1. Olympic temperatures 'virtually impossible' without global warming
Analysis by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) revealed that temperatures experienced by athletes during the Paris Olympics "would not have occurred without human-induced climate change".
The extreme temperatures reached in July would have been virtually impossible if humans had not warmed the planet by burning fossil fuels.
—World Weather Attribution”This extreme heat would have been 2.5°C to 3.3°C cooler in a world without the climate crisis, and unless the world rapidly stops burning fossil fuels, these events will become hotter, more frequent and longer-lasting, the WWA warns.
It highlighted studies that showed elite Olympic athletes who are exposed to high temperatures and not acclimated to them may see impacts such as a decline in performance, and an increase in heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps and exhaustion.
Athletes and fans, alike are seeking respite from the heat in a variety of ways, from using ice blocks to eating ice cream.
2. Wind and solar energy overtake fossil fuels in the EU
In the first six months of 2024, the European Union (EU) generated more electricity from wind and solar than from fossil fuels, according to monthly data from energy think tank Ember.
Wind and solar generated 30% of the EU's electricity in the first six months of the year, compared to fossil fuels, which generated 27%.
Yet this shift isn't being driven by only a few countries. As many as nine member states have already generated more electricity from wind and solar than fossil fuels over the first half of 2024 than in previous years.
3. News in brief: Other top nature and climate stories this week
Global methane emissions are currently rising at the fastest rate in decades, scientists warn, urging for immediate action to limit global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C.
The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland in the far north of Scotland has been awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. This award makes the Flow Country the world’s first peatland World Heritage Site.
A Sicilian goat breed is at risk of extinction due to a period of prolonged drought in the arid hills of San Cataldo in Sicily.
The Mangrove Photography Awards, run by the Mangrove Action Project, has revealed this year's winners across a range of categories, from people to landscapes. Celebrating its 10th year, the awards harness the power of visual storytelling to drive awareness for mangrove conservation.
The largest wildfire in the US has grown to cover an area bigger than Los Angeles, The Guardian reports. The fire has scorched more than 386,000 acres.
A landslide in Kerala, India, has killed 167 people. It was caused by heavy rain during the monsoon season.
The Marine Conservation Society’s annual UK litter survey reveals an 80% reduction on average in the number of plastic bags found on beaches since the plastic bag charge was introduced over a decade ago.
How is the World Economic Forum fighting the climate crisis?
4. More on the nature and climate crisis on Agenda
85% of countries support a swift transition away from fossil fuels, according to the United Nations' latest Peoples’ Climate Vote. But how do we make that transition equitable? A new World Economic Forum report Accelerating an Equitable Transition: A Data-Driven Approach analyzes individual country data to identify equity gaps.
Aggressively reducing super pollutants and phasing out fossil fuels could prevent four times more warming by 2050 than focusing on carbon dioxide alone. Here's how that can help us avoid climate fatalism.
The average temperature in cities is rising as a result of the climate crisis, here's how Japan is using technology to mitigate the effects of extreme heat on people and crops.