The Vienna Tree Protection Act is considered one of the factors that makes Vienna the “most liveable city” in the world.  While Vienna has a highly effective and strictly enforced tree protection ordinance, the rest of Austria vehemently resists such strict nature conservation measures.  Regulations to protect trees an ...

Flooding is increasing due to climate change, urbanization and land-use changes.  Nature-based solutions (NBS) are commonly used as innovative and sustainable methods of flood risk management.  In addition to reducing flood risk, NBS also offer economic and ecological benefits for society and the environment.  However, ...

Mass mobilization driven by the pain and suffering of global climate shocks is expected to be the only way humanity can save itself from the climate crisis we have created.  As the social impacts of climate shocks increase in both frequency and severity, they will trigger an “AnthroShift” in which personal and economic ...

Global climate is constantly changing and global warming is moving faster than the best models can handle.  Assessing the future impact of influencing factors requires hundreds of years of simulations while we are moving further and further away from our reference points.   “We are asking a lot of the models” because m ...

While skepticism is crucial to scientific inquiry and research, the precautionary principle is ambiguous about the distinction between risk and uncertainty.  One challenge for proponents of the precautionary principle is to clarify when evidence that a harmful event could occur is sufficient to consider it a real possi ...

This time, Trump's rejection of global climate efforts could mean a more profound blow as it comes into effect sooner and at a time when the new president has more far-right allies overseas and at home. Promptly after taking office on January 20, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that the US will on ...

Climate change denial rejects, disputes or opposes the scientific consensus on climate change.  Climate change denial includes unfounded doubts about the extent of human-induced climate change, its impact on nature and human society, and the potential for human action to adapt to global warming.  Climate change denial ...

This large-scale survey on the climate anxiety of children and young people globally looks at their attitudes to climate change and its relationship with the perceived government response. It surveyed 10,000 young people aged 16 to 25 in ten countries with 1,000 young people in each. More than half – 56% – said that “h ...

Environmental risks present the greatest deterioration in the findings of the Global Risks Perception Survey 2024-2025, which captures insights from over 900 experts worldwide.  Extreme weather events are anticipated to become even more of a concern, with this risk ranked #1 in the 10-year risk list.  Biodiversity loss ...

The misconception that stringent climate policies are too costly is widespread among political decision-makers and the public and an often-used argument by governments for sluggish policy making.  However, the cost argument ignores the long-term economic benefits of policy changes and is build on the decomposition of e ...

Catastrophic losses from extreme weather events are on the rise across the world, severely testing the capital reserves and claims-paying capability of many insurers.  The total damage and economic loss from the Los Angeles fires alone is now estimated to be between $250 billion and $275 billion.  Of this, insurers are ...

In 2015, the international community committed to a shared global vision towards sustainable development that includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identifies the areas where the most resources are most needed.  The greatest potential for achieving the SDGs lies in aligning public and private resources w ...

Gujarat, an economically developed state of India, is under severe threat of water scarcity. Rapid urbanization, prolific industrialization and multiple cropping practice have increased the water demand and consumption over the years. At the same time, frequency of heatwaves and intensity of droughts have increased resu ...

India is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. It has long been a key player in international climate negotiations and has begun implementing a diverse portfolio of policies nationally and within individual states to improve energy efficiency, develop clean energy sources, and prepare for the impacts of a c ...

Climate change is accelerating the sea level rise in India and globally.  In December 2023, sea level was 104 mm above 1993’s measure, which reveals the unprecedented rate at which the sea level is currently rising.  This is the result of a two-fold effect, attributed to both the thermal expansion of seawater and melti ...