European Union

Weekly Climate News

Feb. 25, 2021

  • The European Union has poured 440 million euros into failed or incomplete gas pipeline projects in the past decade.  

  • The United States has officially rejoined the Paris Agreement. 

  • Avalanche warnings have been issued for areas in Washington and Oregon due to recent rain and snowfall.  

  • A Russian gas tanker has foraged a round trip along the Northern Sea Route, marking the first time a ship has made the voyage across the Arctic at this time of year. The trip was made possible due to melting sea ice. 

  • The Perseverance Mars rover has captured pictures and videos from its recent descent onto Mars. 

  • John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, said there are nine years left to avert the worst consequences of the climate crisis.

  • Despite a damaged economy resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. had a record-breaking number of renewable energy installations in 2020. Wind and solar energy increased by 61 percent, adding 33.6 gigawatts of energy to the grid and producing enough energy to power about 11 million American homes for one year. 

  • While the Earth faces a looming crisis of animal species extinction, many animals that were projected to be completely eradicated have been recovering.  

Weekly Climate News

Jan. 28, 2021

  • An earthquake hit Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, causing buildings to collapse and leaving 42 people dead.

  • One-third of American rivers have turned green as a result of human activity since 1984. Only 5 percent are now considered blue.  

  • Newly inaugurated U.S. President Joe Biden rolled out a slew of environmental policies and climate change goals, including canceling the Keystone Pipeline and rejoining the Paris Agreement. 

  • America’s greenhouse gas emissions plummeted more than 10 percent in 2020.  

  • Earth is reaching serious climate tipping points.

  • European Union foreign ministers called for an end to financing fossil fuels. 

  • 2020 is tied with 2016 for the hottest year on record, and Earth is now committed to a 2-degree hotter future. 

  • As a result of our changing climate, land ecosystems have been found to become less absorbent of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, recent research suggests that trees may become carbon sources rather than carbon sinks.

  • Women in Kenya are claiming more land rights, a significant step forward, as women’s involvement in decisions about land use and resource allocation is essential to slow down climate change.