FOCUS on the Rise of AI: Climate Change
AI contributes to emissions in three ways: the burning carbon to build computer chips, the energy expended on training models, and electricity usage every time the product is used.
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Climate Change
Boat Crash in Italy Leaves at Least 65 Migrants Dead
A boat thought to have been carrying approximately 200 people crashed off the coast of Italy on February 26, leaving approximately 65 people confirmed dead, reports BBC News.
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Brazil Aims to Lead on Climate Issues After Lula Wins Presidency
Lula proposed an international alliance meant to practice forest management and biodiversity protection between the countries home to the largest rainforests in the world.
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COP27 Was Doomed Before It Started
The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) ended on November 20 without much to show for the delegates’ efforts.
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Water Scarcity and Armed Conflict Shaping Migration Patterns in the Middle East and North Africa
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), water scarcity, worsened by climate change, has contributed to a rise in global migration. Climate change, environmental degradation, and water stress drive extreme migration patterns throughout the MENA region. As climate change intensifies in states with weakened central government authority, armed groups, and extremist organizations exploit these challenges and weaponize water.
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Flooding in Pakistan Leaves Over 1000 Dead
Throughout Pakistan, millions of people are reeling from the losses caused by historic floods which, according to Al Jazeera, have led to over 1,300 deaths. Additionally, over 33 million people have been left homeless due to the damages, and many are bracing for a lack of food as floods have swept across farmlands and destroyed crops.
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“Weather” or Not: The Crisis of Global Environmental Governance
In the third volume of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, climate scientists suggest that the world is at a now-or-never point of global warming, where extreme climate events are imminent. This report, released on April 4, suggests that difficulties regarding greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels are the product of socio-political issues, rather than technological shortcomings, as clean energy technologies have become more affordable and accessible.
Read MoreChatham House Marks International Women’s Day with Climate Change Panel
Chatham House, an international affairs think tank, hosted a panel discussion on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022, called “Feminist Solutions to the Climate Crisis.” The panel brought together Dr. Sherilyn MacGregor of the University of Manchester, founder of EmpoderaClima Renata Koch Alvarenga, Executive Director of the Center for 21st Century Issues Titilope Ngozi Akosa, and Director of the WoMin African Alliance Samantha Hargreaves to discuss how climate solutions can be more intersectional. The panel was moderated by Nina Jeffs of Chatham House and included opportunities for questions from the audience.
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Brazil Devastated by Mudslides and Floods
Brazil has suffered from numerous devasting mudslides and flash flooding this month, as the death toll rises to 217. Climate experts and meteorologists believe that the source of this influx of flash flooding and landslides has to do with the rapid urbanization in the Rio De Janeiro state, especially areas like the city of Petrópolis, where summer rains are not usually severe, as Al Jazeera reports.
Read MoreIndonesia to Relocate Capital Due to Climate Change
On January 18, Indonesia’s parliament passed a bill to relocate the nation’s capital from Jakarta to the jungle island of Borneo, with the new city’s name to be Nusantara. The move, according to BBC News, will cost an estimated 466 trillion rupiah, or roughly $32.4 billion. The bill passed by approvals from eight factions, with one faction rejecting, according to Indonesian House Representative Puan Maharani.
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