Climate Chronicles #3 - From Glaciers to Galaxies, our planet’s challenges at a crossroad

France has reached its "Overshoot Day"... amid general indifference

During the month of May, no fewer than 11 countries worldwide reached their "Overshoot Day," marking the point at which they have consumed all the natural resources that the Earth can renew in a year. On the occasion of France's "Overshoot Day" on May 7, Fabrice Bonnifet , president of C3D, emphasized that France consumes 86% more resources than its own ecosystems can produce: if the entire planet lived like the French, three planets would be needed to meet global needs. He calls for signing a new social contract focused on meaning and well-being, advocating for a more lucid and collaborative approach in the face of planetary limits, far from the short-termism and excessive consumption that lead to ecosystem collapse.

???Read here (translatable article in French)

#1 - Atmospheric CO2 Increasing 10x Faster Than in Last 50,000 Years

A recent study led by researchers from the University of St. Andrews and Oregon State University has found that atmospheric CO2 levels are increasing ten times faster today than at any point in the past 50,000 years. It analyzed chemicals in ancient Antarctic ice cores, revealing that while there have been natural CO2 spikes in the past, today's rates are unprecedented : a rapid rise that is primarily driven by human activities… Previous study warns that strengthening westerly winds, could impair the Southern Ocean's ability to absorb CO2, resulting in exacerbating climate change.

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#2 - The "Proper" Use of AI for the Planet

In this article, Antoine Denoix , CEO of AXA Climate, prompts us to reconsider AI's role as a performance-enhancing solution and the associated costs. Striving for maximum efficiency can often undermine systems by degrading other variables. To ensure AI positively contributes to the regeneration of life, should it prioritize robustness instead of just performance?

???Read here (translatable article in French)

#3 - New Global Wildlife Crime Report Finds 4,000 Species Being Targeted in 162 Countries

From 2015 to 2021, authorities seized 1,652 species, 40% of which are considered threatened or near threatened by the IUCN. The United Nations’ Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a new report revealing that over 4,000 wildlife species are targeted by illegal trade in 162 countries, posing a significant threats to ecosystems, public health, livelihoods, governance, and climate change mitigation.

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#4 - Venezuela Thought to Be First Country To Lose All of Its Glaciers

The Humboldt glacier, was Venezuela’s last remaining glacier. Initially 450 hectares, it shrank to just 2 hectares by 2023 and might vanish within five years, possibly even two, according to experts. Due to significant shrinkage, the Humboldt glacier has been reclassified as an ice field and marks Venezuela as the first Andean and global country to lose all its glaciers in modern times.

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#5 - Dazzling auroras are just a warm-up as more solar storms are likely, scientists say

Recent stunning auroras seen at unusually low latitudes were caused by a powerful solar storm, signaling the Sun's approach to its 11-year activity peak. Despite the storm's intensity, the most severe since 2003, critical infrastructure like satellites and electrical grids mostly withstood the impact, though there were some disruptions. Future solar activity remains a concern as scientists predict more storms, potentially even stronger, will follow the solar maximum expected later this year.

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