United Nations agrees on loss and damage fund to settle climate damages

United Nations agrees on loss and damage fund to settle climate damages

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt, Conference of the Parties 27, was met with mixed reactions, as many experts termed the annual climate conference a “failure,” according to The Conversation. However, despite what BNN Bloomberg cites as weak commitments regarding the reduction of carbon emissions and fossil fuel phase-outs, the summit found its greatest success in a last-minute proposal of a loss and damage fund. According to Reuters, if implemented, the fund would help ensure a more equitable stabilization of the global climate. According to Climate Home News, a plan for the fund has been drafted by the Alliance of Small Island States.

Mauna Loa volcano in Hawai‘i erupts for the first time in 38 years

Mauna Loa volcano in Hawai‘i erupts for the first time in 38 years

On Nov. 27, 2022, residents of the Hawaiian Islands were alerted of an impending volcano eruption. Approximately an hour later, lava began to flow from Mauna Loa for the first time in 38 years, The New York Times reported. “Mauna Loa,” which is Hawaiian for “Long Mountain,” is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, according to a report from the U.S. Geological Survey. The volcano stretches over half of the Island of Hawai‘i and measures around 10.6 miles tall, the report said. According to the report, Mauna Loa’s first “well-documented historical eruption” was in 1843, and it has since erupted 33 times, most recently in 1984.

World population surpasses eight billion people

World population surpasses eight billion people

On Nov. 15, 2022, as projected by The United Nations, Earth’s population reached eight billion, approximately 11 years after the global population reached seven billion. According to The New York Times, the global population growth rate is expected to slow in the next few decades. Countries like the U.S. and China are expected to have lower growth rates, while poorer countries are expected to grow faster, with India predicted to become the world’s most populous nation in 2023.

Elon Musk buys Twitter, causing mass layoffs and platform-wide confusion

Elon Musk buys Twitter, causing mass layoffs and platform-wide confusion

Elon Musk’s turbulent takeover of Twitter has caused confusion on the platform, with mass layoffs of employees and impersonations of accounts such as Eli Lilly, which resulted in the pharmaceutical company’s stock drop, according to NBC News. An NBC News timeline of the saga explains that this all began in April 2022, when Musk first started purchasing shares of the social media platform.

Weather outlooks for this winter include warmer-than-usual temperatures

Weather outlooks for this winter include warmer-than-usual temperatures

Nov. 15, 2022, was the first snow of the season for students at Mount Holyoke College. Despite the early snow shower, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that this winter will see “drier-than-average conditions across the South with wetter-than-average conditions for areas of the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.”

NASA prepares for future Artemis missions with Orion spacecraft

NASA prepares for future Artemis missions with Orion spacecraft

At 8:40 a.m. EST on Nov. 26, 2022, Artemis 1 mission’s uncrewed Orion spacecraft officially set the record for flying the furthest distance compared to any previous spacecraft designed to carry humans, outperforming the 1970 Apollo 13, an Engadget article reported.

EPA seeks public input on how to spend its Inflation Reduction Act funds

EPA seeks public input on how to spend its Inflation Reduction Act funds

On Nov. 4, 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency published a press release announcing “public engagement and input opportunities,” designed to gather feedback from the public on potential climate change and pollution reduction programs. These new programs are part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law this past August, according to the press release. The EPA’s public engagement effort is made up of four elements: a “Request for Information,” expert input, a listening session and a webpage dedicated to the new programs, the press release stated. The RFI consists of six public dockets, each of which describes a potential program and has a section for comments.

Moon blushes red in the final total lunar eclipse for three years

Moon blushes red in the final total lunar eclipse for three years

The Earth and moon aligned with the sun on Nov. 8, 2022, to form the second total lunar eclipse of the year, and the last one until 2025, ABC News reported. The article explained that a total lunar eclipse is caused by the perfect alignment of the sun, Earth and moon, when the moon passes directly through the Earth’s shadow. NASA reported that totality occurred between 5:17 and 6:42 a.m. EST with partial and penumbral phases ending at 8:50 a.m. EST.

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