Developing world urges rich nations to defy Trump’s ‘climate nihilism’

Fiona Harvey Environment editor The Guardian

Poorer countries want rapid emission cuts and more financial help in face of US leader’s stance on global heating

All countries are supposed to come up with stringent national plans on cutting emissions at Cop30 in Brazil this year. Photograph: Michel Euler/AP

Developing countries are calling on the rich world to defy the US president, Donald Trump, and bridge the global chasm over climate action, before the goal of limiting global temperatures to safe levels is irretrievably lost.

Diplomats from the developing world are rallying to support Brazil, which will host a crucial climate summit in November, after last year’s talks in Azerbaijan ended in disappointment and acrimony.

Ali Mohamed, the chair of the African group of negotiators and Kenya’s special envoy for climate change, pointed to record temperatures last year and continuing extreme weather. “Africa, responsible for less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, remains disproportionately affected by the intensifying impacts of climate change,” he said. “It is unacceptable that this devastation is caused by the pollution of just a few countries in the world, specifically the G20, and they must take responsibility for their actions.”

As well as needing rich countries to cut their emissions, vulnerable nations need financial help, as they struggle to cope with the devastation they are already seeing. “Adaptation is the priority for us, not a priority,” said Evans Njewa, chair of the least developed countries group. “We are prioritising adaptation, for our key sources of livelihood, and our economies. [Adaptation is essential to our] agriculture, water, the management of natural resources, food security and nutrition.”

On his first day in his second term as president, Donald Trump signed a letter giving notice to UN that the US was withdrawing from the Paris agreement. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris agreement came after a fraught and unsatisfactory ending to the Cop29 summit in Baku in November, at which poor countries were promised $1.3tn a year in climate finance by 2035, but of that sum only $300bn is to come chiefly from developed countries. The rest would be made up in hoped-for private sector finance and from potential levies, such as taxes on shipping and frequent flyers, which have yet to be agreed.

For many in the developing world, this is not good enough. If they are to play a role in curbing carbon – and most of the future growth in emissions is projected to come from the developing world – they are demanding a better financial settlement.

“The failure of Cop29 to secure sufficient financing for developing countries – those most affected by climate impacts – represents a grave setback,” said Harjeet Singh, a climate activist and the founding director of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. “Without this support, their recovery efforts and transitions to renewable energy are severely hindered, jeopardising global emission reduction goals and exacerbating the climate crisis.

Activists attend a protest at Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Photograph: COP29 Azerbaijan/EPA

At Cop30 in Belém, Brazil, all countries are supposed to come up with stringent national plans on cutting emissions, called nationally determined contributions (NDCs), that are in line with the goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C above preindustrial levels.

Current NDCs, agreed at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, are insufficient to hold temperatures within 1.5C of preindustrial levels. Last year was the first to be consistently above 1.5C, and if that trend continues in the longer term the crucial limit will be judged to have been irretrievably breached. The new NDCs will govern emissions for the next decade, so Cop30 represents one of the last chances to put the world on track to avoid irreparable climate breakdown.

Camilla More, a climate diplomacy researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development thinktank, said: “The world can’t afford to delay any further. That’s why this round of climate targets is critical in changing the course of global efforts to combat climate change.”

Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has boosted the prospects for Cop30 with two widely welcomed appointments. André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, a veteran climate diplomat, will take on the role of Cop president, and Ana Toni, the government’s climate change secretary, will be executive director of the summit.

The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, (centre) poses with workers during a visit the venue that will host Cop30 in Belém, Brazil. Photograph: Tarso Sarraf/AFP/Getty Images

The two will face a daunting task: Cop29 ended in fierce criticism of the developed world from poor countries, led by India, which denounced the outcome as “abysmally poor”.

Yalchin Rafiyev, the chief negotiator for the Azerbaijani hosts, told the Guardian that his experience of Cop29 made him optimistic for Cop30, as countries should have more common ground in discussions of how to reduce emissions than they had in settling who should pay for it. “Finance [the subject of Cop29] was the most divisive issue,” he said. “If we could manage to get agreement on finance, I am hopeful that we should be able to agree on NDCs.”

Mohamed Adow, the director of the Power Shift Africa thinktank, said the fierce controversies that overshadowed Cop29 need not dog Belém. “There’s a good chance that the rancour and acrimony of Cop29 will be less problematic in Brazil. A large part of the blame was due to the weak Azeri hosts, who mishandled the talks, offended a number of countries and lacked either the diplomatic nous or geopolitical heft to steer talks to a positive outcome,” he said. “The good news is Brazil is much better suited to the job. A progressive leadership, experienced diplomats and one of the great rising forces in geopolitics should result in a much more positive environment.”

Brazil will need powerful allies, however, and with Trump and his many admirers around the world ascendant, there is a dearth of strong leadership on the climate among the biggest economies. Influential countries that have championed climate action in the past are facing fraught elections this year, or internal political crises: in Germany, the coalition led by the chancellor, Olaf Scholz, broke down in the face of a far-right challenge, with elections to be held this weekend; in France, the president, Emmanuel Macron – who convened several climate finance conferences – remains mired in political turmoil; across the EU, rightwing parties are fomenting a backlash against green policy; and in Canada, the previous fragile cross-party consensus on climate action could crumble in the election looming after premier Justin Trudeau’s resignation.

The stance taken by China, which with more than 30% of global emissions is the world’s biggest source of greenhouse gases by some distance, will be crucial. China has a target of peaking emissions by 2030, and reaching net zero by 2060. This is “highly insufficient” and would lead to a world more than 3C hotter than preindustrial levels, according to Climate Action Tracker. With rapidly increasing power generation from renewable sources, and a burgeoning electric vehicle market, the country could do much better.

Piles of coal at a storage facility in Chongqing, south-west China, which produces more than 30% of global emissions. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

When it does come, China’s NDC needs to be tough if hopes of a 1.5C limit are to be kept alive. “We believe a 30% reduction [in emissions] by 2035, based on an imminent emissions peak of 2025, would be a strong Chinese NDC,” said Li Shuo, the director of the China climate hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute. “This goal will be very challenging, though, in light of the geopolitical environment, as well as China’s domestic economic struggles.”

India, the world’s sixth biggest economy, will also be a key player, with its heavy reliance on coal alongside a rapidly growing renewable energy sector. Arunabha Ghosh, the chief executive of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a New Delhi-based thinktank, said: “India must remain steadfast in its commitment to climate action – to capitalise on the strategic opportunities in technology, investment, industrial development, green livelihoods, and greater resilience for the economy. Climate risks are now macroeconomic risks, and climate policy is now industrial policy.”

While many of Europe’s major economies are taking a rightward turn, the exception is the UK, where the prime minister, Keir Starmer, has made shifting to a low-carbon economy one of his key “missions” for government. Starmer is seeking closer relations with China, the US and Europe. He had a 45-minute phone call with Trump days after the inauguration, though climate policy was not discussed. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor of the exchequer, visited China in January, and Ed Miliband, the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, is expected to make a trip to Beijing this year.

Paul Bledsoe, a former Clinton White House climate adviser, now with the American University Center for Environmental Policy, called on the UK to fill the global leadership vacuum left by the “climate nihilism” of the US president. “Given the dearth of EU centre-left leadership, UK leaders like Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband must step forcefully into the void, leveraging relationships with key nations in the global south including Brazil, India, and Kenya,” he said. “This ought to be Britain’s most important Cop since Glasgow.”

Links

• Climate advocacy groups file two lawsuits against Trump administration
• Outrage as Trump cites ‘emergency’ to fast-track fossil fuel projects
• Trump vows to ‘unleash’ oil and gas drilling as he rolls back climate rules
• A ‘recipe for extinction’: can the US’s envied nature protections survive Trump and his ‘God squad’?
• Melting glaciers caused almost 2cm of sea level rise this century, study reveals
• Richest nations ‘exporting extinction’ with demand for beef, palm oil and timber

Heatwave mortality studies reveal climate change impacts and risk for cities - Queensland University

The Heatwave Vulnerability Index research is published in Environmental Impact Assessment Review. The mortality and climate change research was led by ANU’s Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and is published in Environmental Research Climate.

Mortality rates during heatwaves have been put in the spotlight with research from The University of Queensland showing a 20 per cent increase in heatwave-related deaths due to human-induced climate change.

Another UQ study has also revealed people living in cities are at a higher risk of dying from heatwaves than regional areas.

The two studies examined the mortality burden of heatwaves in Australia and Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne from the School of Public Health hopes this research will assist communities and health authorities to prepare for extreme temperature events.

“Our results suggest heatwaves with associated periods of higher mortality will occur more often than they did in the past,” Dr Osborne said.

“These higher mortality rates associated with extreme temperature heatwaves are projected to continue and we hope our research will help communities be better prepared for heatwaves.”

Heatwave risk for those living in cities

In one study, UQ researchers analysed two decades worth of temperature and mortality data to determine which areas in Australia are more vulnerable to heatwaves, through a Heatwave Vulnerability Index.

PhD candidate Patrick Amoatey, from the School of Public Health, said the study – the largest of its kind conducted in Australia – found people living in cities were at higher risk of death during extreme temperature events.

 “We used an index mapping tool to assess how human populations will fare under a range of heat scenarios,” Mr Amoatey said.

“We found the Heatwave Vulnerability Index, frequently used in other countries, could reliably predict heatwave related deaths in Australia.

“In analysing data for more than 2000 suburbs, we found city dwellers with low income, low education, diabetes and limited access to health services, were at the highest risk of heatwave related deaths.

“This was the case for all of Australia’s capital cities, which are home to 70 per cent of Australia’s population.

Afternoon sun setting over
city skyline. Image, Adobe.

‘Heat island effect’

The researchers found that even during low-intensity heatwaves there was a strong association with deaths and the Heatwave Vulnerability Index in Australia’s capital cities.

“We believe the risk is higher in cities because of the ‘heat island effect’, as there are more heat-absorbing surfaces like roads, buildings, and railway lines,” Mr Amoatey said.

“In Greater London, for example, research has shown the Heatwave Vulnerability Index could be used to predict an increase in ambulance callouts and mortality rates during heatwaves, which is helpful for health authorities and something we could use in Australia.

“We already have useful tools and State-based action plans to reduce the impact of heatwaves, but we believe a vulnerability index could help supplement this to help communities plan and build resilience.”

Mr Amoatey said a heatwave was considered a period of 3 consecutive days where the maximum temperature was in the top 5 per cent for that area.

Climate change impacts on heatwave deaths

In a separate study, researchers from UQ and The Australian National University analysed mortality rates during an extreme heatwave in Victoria in January 2009, along with decades of climate data, to examine the impacts of climate change on heat related deaths.

An estimated 374 excess deaths occurred in Victoria during the five-day event, with maximum temperatures reaching 12 – 15 degrees above normal.

“Human-induced climate change had increased the excess heatwave-related mortality in the 2009 event by 20 per cent,” Dr Osborne said.

“These findings were in line with other research that shows heat-related deaths are increasing due to human-induced climate change.

“From a public health perspective, our studies and further research can provide guidance on the need for adequate health infrastructure and workforce that might be needed to cope with higher demand for health services during heatwaves.”

Links

• Heatwave fatalities in Australia, 2001–2018: An analysis of coronial records
• Australia’s deadliest natural disaster you’ve never heard of
• Extreme weather related injuries in Australia over the last decade
• Extreme heat and heatwaves
• Concerns more Australians at risk of heat-related injuries as people do it tough in cost-of-living crisis
• State of the Climate 2024: Australia is enduring harsher fire seasons, more ocean heatwaves and sea-level rise
• Extreme heat fans flames of inequality

AUSTRALIA: Climate Change Ecological Overview

This Ecological Overview of Climate Change in Australia is part of a series examining the impact of Lethal Heating in key areas, including: Australia Social Australia Economic Australia Ecological Australia Political Australia Cultural Global Social Global Economic Global Ecological Global Political Global Cultural

Climate change is profoundly affecting Australia’s ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. 

As one of the most climate-vulnerable continents, Australia is experiencing rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and environmental degradation at an alarming rate.

1. Rising Temperatures and Heatwaves

• Australia’s average temperature has increased by 1.5°C since 1910, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves.
• Prolonged heat events contribute to mass die-offs of flying foxes, birds, and fish, disrupting ecosystems.
• Coral reefs, forests, and wetlands are under extreme thermal stress, altering species distributions.

2. Coral Bleaching and Marine Ecosystem Decline

• The Great Barrier Reef has suffered repeated mass bleaching events due to ocean warming and acidification.
• Loss of coral reefs affects marine biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal protection.
• Warming waters are shifting fish populations southward, disrupting food chains and commercial fishing.

3. Bushfires and Forest Ecosystem Collapse

• The 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires burned over 18 million hectares, killing or displacing an estimated 3 billion animals.
• Fire-sensitive ecosystems, such as Gondwana rainforests and alpine forests, struggle to recover from increased fire frequency.
• Smoke pollution from wildfires has severe health impacts on both humans and wildlife.

4. Drought and Water Scarcity

• Prolonged droughts are affecting water availability in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia’s largest river system.
• Reduced rainfall threatens wetlands, rivers, and groundwater supplies, leading to declines in aquatic biodiversity.
• Farmers and rural communities are facing increasing hardship as water scarcity affects agriculture and livestock.

5. Biodiversity Loss and Species Extinction

• Australia has the highest mammal extinction rate in the world, with climate change accelerating habitat loss.
• Species like the koala, greater glider, and corroboree frog are at risk due to rising temperatures and habitat destruction.
• Coastal erosion and rising sea levels are threatening shore-nesting birds like the little penguin and eastern curlew.

6. Ocean Acidification and Fisheries Decline

• Increased CO₂ absorption is making Australian waters more acidic, threatening shell-forming marine life like oysters, mussels, and plankton.
• Commercial fisheries, such as those for lobster, abalone, and tuna, are facing shifting fish stocks and declining populations.
• Marine heatwaves are causing seagrass and kelp forest die-offs, further reducing habitat for marine species.

7. Coastal Erosion and Rising Sea Levels

• Rising sea levels are inundating low-lying islands and coastal communities, particularly in northern Australia and the Torres Strait.
• Saltwater intrusion is damaging freshwater ecosystems, affecting mangroves, estuaries, and agriculture.
• Increased storm surges and extreme weather events accelerate coastal erosion, threatening infrastructure and biodiversity.

Conclusion

Climate change is driving widespread ecological changes across Australia, from collapsing ecosystems to species extinctions. 

As temperatures continue to rise, urgent conservation efforts, habitat restoration, and emissions reductions are needed to mitigate these impacts.

Links

• Recent climate-driven ecological change in Australia
• Climate change impacts on our biodiversity | AdaptNSW
• What are the impacts of climate change?
• Regional biodiversity responses to climate change
• Helping nature adapt to climate change
• Australia Climate Change Effects | Get The Facts Right

AUSTRALIA: Climate Change Cultural Overview - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

This Cultural Overview of Climate Change in Australia is part of a series examining the impact of Lethal Heating in key areas, including: Australia Social Australia Economic Australia Ecological Australia Political Australia Cultural Global Social Global Economic Global Ecological Global Political Global Cultural

Climate change is reshaping Australia’s cultural identity, traditions, and way of life. 

As extreme weather events become more frequent and ecosystems degrade, the nation is experiencing shifts in art, literature, Indigenous cultural practices, and national attitudes toward sustainability.

1. Impact on Indigenous Culture and Traditions

Australia’s First Nations peoples have a deep spiritual and cultural connection to the land. Climate change threatens sacred sites, disrupts traditional knowledge systems, and affects cultural practices such as fire management. Rising sea levels endanger Torres Strait Islander communities, forcing discussions on climate migration and cultural preservation.

2. Art, Literature, and Media

Australian artists and writers are increasingly addressing climate change in their work. Contemporary literature and films explore themes of environmental loss, resilience, and activism. Bushfires, coral bleaching, and droughts are central motifs in recent creative expressions.

3. Climate Anxiety and Changing National Identity

The increasing prevalence of climate disasters—such as the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires—has altered Australia’s national psyche. Climate anxiety, especially among younger generations, is influencing lifestyle choices, activism, and even migration patterns.

4. Impact on Rural and Coastal Communities

Traditional industries like farming, fishing, and tourism (particularly around the Great Barrier Reef) are facing existential threats. As these industries decline or adapt, regional cultures and ways of life are being redefined.

5. Sport and Outdoor Lifestyle

Australia’s sporting culture, deeply tied to outdoor activities, is being affected by rising temperatures and extreme weather. The Australian Open has faced heat stress concerns, while surfing competitions are increasingly impacted by unpredictable ocean conditions.

6. Activism and Climate Movements

Climate activism is becoming a key part of Australia’s cultural identity. Movements like the School Strike 4 Climate and Extinction Rebellion have gained traction, influencing public discourse and political engagement.

Conclusion

Climate change is reshaping Australia’s culture in profound ways, influencing everything from Indigenous heritage to art, activism, and lifestyle choices. 

As the impacts intensify, Australians are finding new ways to adapt, express, and advocate for a sustainable future.

Links

• Guide to Developing a Climate Change Policy 
• Climate change and heritage 
• Aboriginal people and climate change 
• Cultural dimensions of climate change impacts and adaptation
• Developing a culturally relevant framework for climate adaptation and resilient landscapes  
• How Pop Culture and Science communicate climate change 
• Climate and culture lessons from the Pacific Islands

AUSTRALIA: Climate Change Economic Overview - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

This Economic Overview of Climate Change in Australia is part of a series examining the impact of Lethal Heating in key areas, including: Australia Social Australia Economic Australia Ecological Australia Political Australia Cultural Global Social Global Economic Global Ecological Global Political Global Cultural

Climate change poses significant challenges to Australia’s economy, affecting multiple sectors—from agriculture and mining to tourism and insurance. 

Extreme weather events, shifting resource availability, and the global transition to low-carbon energy sources all have far-reaching consequences for economic stability, employment, and growth. 

Below is an overview of key economic impacts:

1. Agriculture and Food Production

• Droughts and Water Scarcity: Prolonged drought conditions reduce crop yields, affect livestock, and increase water costs, leading to higher food prices and lower export volumes.
• Extreme Weather Damage: Floods, cyclones, and bushfires can devastate farmland and infrastructure, causing immediate losses and long-term soil degradation.
• Supply Chain Disruptions: Transport and logistics can be hindered by damaged roads or rail lines, increasing costs for producers and consumers.
• Adaptation Costs: Farmers invest in water-saving technology, more resilient crop varieties, and insurance to mitigate risks, raising production costs.

2. Mining, Energy, and Resources

• Fossil Fuel Transition: Australia’s significant coal and gas exports face growing international pressure as trading partners shift to cleaner energy sources, potentially reducing demand and revenue.
• Renewable Energy Growth: Investments in solar, wind, and other renewables create new economic opportunities and jobs, particularly in regional areas. However, the transition can be disruptive for communities reliant on fossil fuel industries.
• Infrastructure Vulnerabilities: Extreme weather events can damage extraction sites, pipelines, and ports, leading to costly downtime and repairs.

3. Tourism and Hospitality

• Great Barrier Reef Bleaching: Coral bleaching events deter international visitors, reducing tourism income and impacting local businesses such as dive operators, hotels, and tour companies.
• Extreme Weather Deterrents: Severe heatwaves, bushfires, and floods can discourage travel, leading to short-term and seasonal dips in tourism revenue.
• Shifts in Seasonal Patterns: Changing weather patterns may alter peak tourist seasons, forcing businesses to adapt operational and marketing strategies.

4. Infrastructure and Property

• Damage to Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, and public facilities suffer from storms, floods, and bushfires, leading to significant repair and maintenance costs for governments and private entities.
• Property Values: Homes in bushfire-prone or low-lying coastal areas risk devaluation as insurance premiums rise and the likelihood of climate-related damage increases.
• Urban Heat Impacts: Cities face increased costs to maintain livable conditions (e.g., cooling systems, green infrastructure), particularly during heatwaves.

5. Insurance and Financial Services

• Rising Premiums: More frequent and severe natural disasters push up insurance costs, making coverage unaffordable for some households and businesses.
• Banking Sector Risks: Mortgage lending can be exposed to climate risks if properties become uninsurable or devalued. Regulatory bodies increasingly require financial institutions to account for climate-related risks.
• Public Liability: Governments may need to step in with disaster relief or insurance guarantees, straining public finances.

6. Government Expenditures and Policy

• Disaster Relief and Recovery: Frequent extreme events lead to higher government spending on emergency responses, reconstruction, and social support programs.
• Climate Adaptation and Mitigation: Investments in infrastructure resilience (e.g., flood defences, fire management) and emissions reduction (e.g., renewable energy incentives) require substantial public funding.
• Regulatory Frameworks: Carbon pricing, emissions trading schemes, and other policies can drive innovation but also create short-term costs for certain industries.

7. Employment and Workforce Shifts

• Fossil Fuel Employment: Communities reliant on coal or gas extraction face job losses if global demand declines. Economic diversification and reskilling programs become crucial for transitioning workers.
• Green Jobs: Growth in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation projects can generate new employment opportunities, especially in regional areas.
• Climate-Related Migration: Some regions may experience population decline due to resource scarcity or disaster risks, while others may see inflows of workers seeking new opportunities in climate-resilient sectors.

8. Opportunities for Growth and Innovation

• Clean Technology Development: Australia’s strong research sector and abundant natural resources (sun, wind, minerals for batteries) can position the country as a leader in clean tech and sustainable innovation.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Advancements in drought-resistant crops, precision farming, and regenerative agriculture can help maintain global competitiveness.
• Circular Economy Models: Emphasizing recycling, waste reduction, and resource efficiency can reduce environmental impacts and create new business models.

Conclusion

Climate change has wide-ranging economic implications for Australia, affecting everything from primary industries to urban infrastructure. 

While the challenges—rising costs, potential job losses, and damage to vital resources—are substantial, there are also opportunities for innovation, diversification, and leadership in emerging green industries. 

Strategic policy decisions, public-private collaborations, and proactive adaptation measures will be essential to safeguarding Australia’s economic future in a changing climate.

Links

• Climate change impacts on our economy - AdaptNSW
• $6.8 trillion GDP hit if renewable energy transition is delayed
• 2024 climate change statement reports progress towards climate goals
• Report: Australia at risk of financial losses from climate change
• Farming Down Under: Agriculture’s role in Australia’s climate pollution
• Climate change threatens Australian tourism more than is widely believed. Here’s why
• What are the economic costs of climate change?

AUSTRALIA: Climate Change Social Overview - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

This Social Overview of Climate Change in Australia is part of a series examining the impact of Lethal Heating in key areas, including: Australia Social Australia Economic Australia Ecological Australia Political Australia Cultural Global Social Global Economic Global Ecological Global Political Global Cultural

Australia is on the frontline of climate change, facing increasing extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and shifting ecosystems.

The social consequences of these changes are significant, affecting communities, livelihoods, health, and Indigenous cultures.

1. Community Displacement &
    Infrastructure Damage

• Natural Disasters: Australia has seen more frequent and intense bushfires, floods, and heatwaves. Events like the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires and the devastating 2022 floods have displaced thousands and caused billions in damages.
• Rural & Coastal Communities: Rising sea levels threaten low-lying coastal towns, while prolonged droughts make inland farming areas less habitable, forcing people to migrate to cities.

2. Economic & Employment Challenges

• Agriculture & Tourism: Prolonged droughts and extreme heat reduce crop yields and threaten the agricultural sector, impacting farmers' livelihoods. The Great Barrier Reef, a major tourism attraction, suffers from coral bleaching, affecting jobs in reef-dependent industries.
• Energy Transition: The push to phase out coal and gas impacts workers in fossil fuel industries, raising concerns about job losses and the need for reskilling programs.

3. Health & Wellbeing Impacts

• Heat-Related Illnesses: Rising temperatures increase heatstroke cases, particularly among the elderly, outdoor workers, and low-income populations.
• Mental Health Crisis: Climate anxiety, PTSD from disasters, and financial stress contribute to worsening mental health, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities.

4. Indigenous Cultural Disruptions

• Land & Heritage Loss: Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are closely connected to the land and rely on it for cultural practices. Rising sea levels in places like the Torres Strait Islands threaten sacred sites and traditional ways of life.
• Traditional Knowledge in Conservation: Indigenous knowledge is increasingly recognised for its role in fire management (e.g., cultural burning) and ecosystem protection, but stronger integration into climate policies is needed.

5. Social Inequality & Climate Justice

• Vulnerable Populations: Lower-income groups, Indigenous Australians, and remote communities face the greatest risks from climate change but often have fewer resources to adapt.
• Housing & Insurance Issues: The rising cost of home insurance due to frequent disasters makes it difficult for low-income Australians to afford protection, increasing homelessness risks.

6. Political & Public Response

• Climate Activism: Youth-led movements like School Strike 4 Climate and organizations like the Australian Conservation Foundation push for stronger climate policies.
• Government Actions: While Australia has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, critics argue that policies still favour fossil fuel industries, delaying meaningful climate action.

Conclusion

The social impacts of climate change in Australia are profound, affecting communities, health, jobs, and Indigenous cultures. 

Addressing these challenges requires urgent action, stronger government policies, community resilience programs, and a just transition to renewable energy.

Links

• We aren’t all equal when it comes to climate vulnerability
• The Ipsos Climate Change Report
• Climate change and its impact on people experiencing disadvantage
• Three ways climate change is changing childhood in Australia
• We aren't all equal when it comes to climate vulnerability
• Climate change is forcing Australians to weigh up relocating. How do they make that difficult decision?
• How should we address the psychological impacts of climate change

Massive methane leaks detected in Antarctica, posing potential risks for global warming

Manuel Ansede Antarctica Base Gabriel de Castilla

 

A Spanish scientific expedition has discovered columns of gas emerging from the seabed. Geologists also warn about the possibility of huge landslides that could generate tsunami

The research vessel 'Sarmiento de Gamboa' next to Spain's Antarctica base Gabriel de Castilla, on February 9. Luis Manuel Rivas

A team of Spanish scientists exploring the Antarctic seabed has detected “massive emissions” of methane, a gas with a capacity to warm the planet around 30 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO₂).

 

The researchers, on board the ship Sarmiento de Gamboa, have observed columns of methane in the ocean up to 700 meters long and 70 meters wide, according to the geologists Ricardo León and Roger Urgeles, leaders of the expedition, in statements to EL PAÍS. 

 

These previously unknown emissions could potentially represent an environmental bomb for the planet’s climate.

What they have discovered is exactly what they feared. Scientists set sail on January 12 in search of these massive but at that point still hypothetical leaks. The compound accumulated on the seabed about 20,000 years ago through the decomposition of organic matter in the form of methane hydrates, a crystalline solid. 

“It is like ice that you could set on fire and it would burn,” explains Urgeles, of the Institute of Marine Sciences, based in Barcelona. 

The theory was that the thinning of the enormous Antarctic ice sheet, which began at the end of the last ice age, is causing a decrease in the weight on the land and a rise of the continent’s land mass; this phenomenon, known as post-glacial rebound, favours leaks of frozen methane hidden for millennia in the seabed.

Researchers looked for leaks on the edges of Antarctica, one of the regions of the planet hardest hit by global warming, with a rise in temperature of more than three degrees in just half a century. 

“We have estimated that in this area there are some 24 gigatons of carbon accumulated in methane hydrates, an amount equivalent to what all of humanity emits in two years,” warns Urgeles.

Two members of the research vessel 'Sarmiento de Gamboa.'CSIC

Frozen, solid methane is turning into methane gas. 

“These phenomena have already been recorded in the Arctic, but this is the first time they have been detected in Antarctica,” says León, from the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain. 

His team met two EL PAÍS journalists on Antarctica’s King George Island on February 8, the day they ended their expedition. Their results, still very preliminary, suggest that the gas is bubbling up from the subsoil along faults, often through mud volcanoes hundreds of meters above the seabed.

The Sarmiento de Gamboa research vessel, part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has been cruising the dangerous Antarctic seas for almost a month, taking water and sediment samples and performing X-rays of the subsoil. 

Methane hydrates, similar to ice, are stable at low temperatures and high pressures, but with the warming of the oceans and the decrease in the weight of the sea - due to the uplift of the Antarctic land mass - they become destabilized and the gas erupts. 

The methane columns observed by the researchers dissolve at about 150 meters from the ocean surface. Future analysis of the samples will reveal to what extent the gas is released into the atmosphere.

Geologists Ricardo León and Roger Urgeles warn of another threat. The instability of marine sediments can cause huge landslides on the continental slope, with the potential to generate tsunamis. 

“When methane hydrates turn into gas, they occupy a volume 160 times greater. If they do not dissipate quickly, they can cause huge landslides, such as the Storegga landslide in the Arctic,” stresses Urgeles, alluding to the largest known submarine landslide, which caused a tsunami that devastated the coasts of northern Europe some 8,150 years ago.

Wave heights reached 20 meters on the Shetland Islands in present-day Scotland, but the geological traces of the natural disaster can still be found all along the Norwegian coast, in Denmark and even in Greenland. 

“The Storegga landslide was of similar dimensions to the whole of Andalusia (in southern Spain) and coincided with periods of major climate change on Earth. Given the time of the landslide, one of the reasons could be that these changes caused a dissociation of methane hydrates and triggered the huge landslide,” warns León.

Links

• Dangerously Overlooked: Why we need to talk about methane
• Cutting methane emissions key to fighting climate change and harmful ozone
• Australia's Methane Crisis: Unmasking the gas we can't ignore
• The world hasn't hit the brakes on methane emissions
• Methane emissions are at new highs. It could put us on a dangerous climate path
• Global Methane Tracker 2024 – Analysis
• Q&A: Why methane levels are rising with no 'hint of a decline'