|
Jon Henley, Angela Giuffrida and Stephen Burgen, The Guardian
There is ongoing coverage of the extreme heat, drought and wildfires sweeping across Europe. The Guardian reports that “successive intense heatwaves and an increasingly severe, continent-wide drought have left many of Europe’s farmers in an ‘unprecedented’ crisis, with vegetable and grain growers in particular warning of ‘catastrophic’ harvests”. It adds: “Accelerated, human-caused global heating and a supersized El Niño have scorched fields across Europe this summer, with plant development prevented by temperatures routinely exceeding 30C and often 35C, almost no rainfall, and hot winds.” Reuters reports that “climate damage is adding to a list of strains on Europe's finances that already includes higher defence spending and rising costs associated with an ageing population”.
Reuters reports that rain has “brought some relief to firefighters” battling Belgium's “biggest wildfire on record”. The Associated Press reports that the fire is still burning “out of control”, despite the rain. Euractiv says “the return of rain may not be enough to end the drought” in Belgium. The Guardian reports that across Europe, temperatures are expected to drop over the coming days. Reuters reports on “record-early champagne harvest”, driven by high temperatures. Reuters reports that French prime minister Sebastien Lecornu has announced tax breaks for companies affected by recent wildfires. BBC News says he was “heckled on a visit to the area of the country worst hit by wildfires”.
MORE ON EUROPE
Reuters reports that the west African cocoa sector is struggling to meet EU anti-deforestation rules, raising supply concerns. Agence France-Presse reports that Germany’s coalition is split over whether to "enshrine a ‘joint mission for climate adaptation and nature conservation’ in the German constitution”.
Jim Pickard, Financial Times
Richard Tice, the deputy leader of the hard-right climate-sceptic Reform UK has said British people “should ‘enjoy’ multiple heatwaves and shrug off warnings of dangerous climate change while enjoying more English fizzy wine”, reports the Financial Times. It says Tice told journalists that it was “arrogant” to try to stop climate change. It quotes him saying: “When it’s a bit warm, let’s enjoy it…Let’s celebrate some of these things, rather than just be doom and gloom about it.” The newspaper continues: “The National Farmers’ Union has said that farmers in England and Wales are facing ‘one of the worst ever’ harvests and that drought is ‘the dark daily reality affecting crops, livestock and the viability of farms’.” The Guardian reports Tice’s comments on its frontpage, saying he had been “accused of spreading misinformation”. It adds that the comments “prompted a backlash from nurses, medical experts and green campaigners”. The Daily Mirror and the Times also have the story.
MORE ON UK
The Daily Telegraph reports that Britain “could be gripped by a sixth heatwave next month” and the Guardian outlines “how marine heatwaves affect life in British seas”. The Guardian: “UK government ‘irresponsible’ for not publishing emergency drought plans.” The Daily Telegraph reports that “floods could hit Britain after weeks of drought”. The Times says that prime minister Andy Burnham is “expected to push” decisions on two oil and gas projects into the autumn “because of concerns about the ‘optics’” amid extreme heat, wildfires and drought. The Guardian says more than 200 musicians have signed a letter to Burnham, urging him to reject the drilling projects. The Daily Telegraph says: “A key aide to the Energy Secretary has urged Labour to ignore declining public support for net-zero, insisting that its opponents ‘do not support us and never will’.”
Reuters
Chinese president Xi Jinping called for “improving the country’s ability to prevent, mitigate and respond to natural disasters”, as deadly floods and landslides battered the country, reports Reuters. Xi made the remark in an article on Qiushi, China’s top ideological journal, in which he says: “As global warming continues, extreme weather events and disasters such as torrential rains, floods, typhoons, and droughts are increasing significantly, with their destructive impact exacerbated.” Tan Jing, senior engineer at China’s National Marine Environmental Forecasting Centre, writes for state news agency Xinhua that the risk of extreme weather is further amplified by El Niño and global warming caused by human activity, adding that “working to mitigate global warming” is a “major issue that needs to be seriously considered right now”. China’s policymakers are monitoring the impact of extreme weather events as “they assess whether more aid is needed for the economy to ensure their growth goal is within reach”, says Bloomberg.
Huang Runqiu, head of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), and Sun Jinlong, MEE party secretary, write in the Communist party-affiliated newspaper People’s Daily that the assessment measures for “Beautiful China” construction outcomes will tighten local authorities’ “political responsibility”. They say the measures curb “trading ecological damage for short-term, localised economic growth” and support effective economic growth amid the low-carbon transition. China Environment News publishes an article under the byline Zhong Huanping, signalling approval from the environment ministry, saying that China must “work hard” to drive the low-carbon transformation of the industrial, energy and transportation sectors. MEE’s Wang Min tells Economic Daily that high population and industrialisation in some high-risk areas for climate disasters pose “long-term hidden dangers” to urban climate safety. The National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planner, says it will carry out actions to ensure the carbon-peaking goal is achieved on schedule, reports state broadcaster CCTV.
MORE ON CHINA
China’s thermal power generation fell 3.5% in July, with wind and solar power generation growing 4.5% and 5.6%, respectively, says CEPN. BJX News reports that renewables accounted for 41.2% of total power generation in January-June. Reuters reports that China wasted “enough clean energy to power Mexico for a year in the six months through June”. China has set out new targets for energy infrastructure development in its 15th “five-year plan” for the oil and gas sector, reports Reuters. Jiemian reports that China has set out clear technical requirements for the safety of small modular nuclear reactors. People’s Daily publishes an article under the byline He Yin – indicating the views of party leadership on foreign policy – saying that foreign automakers are deepening cooperation with Chinese partners as the industry accelerates toward electrification.
Agence France-Presse
Water levels in the two largest reservoirs in the US – Lake Powell and Lake Mead – have fallen to a record low, reports Agence France-Presse. [The news is also covered by Carbon Brief.] The newswire warns that “their water levels are now just above the threshold at which electricity production would be affected”. It adds: “The new records highlight the difficulties fueled by climate change facing the Colorado River, a crucial resource for 40 million people.” The New York Times says: “The shrinking reservoirs are the immediate result of record-low snowpack this winter, which was erased by record heat in the spring. Melted snowpack creates most of the Colorado’s flow during the dry summer months. But as the south-western climate has grown hotter and drier, the river’s flow has become smaller and less reliable.” The Washington Post, the Hill and the Independent also cover the story.
MORE ON US
E&E News unpacks “how $600bn of Biden’s clean-energy funding escaped Trump’s cuts”. E&E News: “25 groups urging Supreme Court to kill climate case have ties to oil companies, report says.” E&E News says: “A senior House Democrat is calling for an ‘immediate investigation’ into President Donald Trump’s decisions last month to deny millions of dollars in disaster aid for four Democratic-led states.” Inside Climate News: “Offshore wind will struggle long after Trump’s attacks.” Desmog explains why the right-wing majority in the Supreme Court is “crucial for protecting oil companies from climate lawsuits”.
|
