U.S. Sets Record of 23 Weather Disasters in a Single Year

Sep 13, 2023

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U.S. Sets Record of 23 Weather Disasters in a Single Year

The Guardian, CNN, & NOAA

Devastation left behind by Hurricane Idalia in Florida in August 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Julio Cesar Chavez

In 2023, so far, the United States experienced 23 natural disasters. The losses from each event exceeded USD 1 billion, and the total damages were over USD 57 billion. There were two floods, 18 severe storms, one tropical cyclone, one wildfire, and one winter storm. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these 23 catastrophes have resulted in 253 fatalities and surpassed the previous record of 22 natural disasters in 2020. Experts are cautioning that climate change is only making matters worse, following the predictions of climate scientists. Contrarily, more communities are being built in high-risk areas, amplifying the impact of extreme weather. Experts say that the U.S. must take more significant measures to adapt to these disasters as they are only projected to increase in frequency and intensity.

Small Island Nations Bring High-Emitting Countries to Court

Climate Change News and The Guardian

Last Monday, several small island nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, among others, brought high-emitting countries to court in Hamburg, Germany in a historic climate justice case. A request was made to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to decide if greenhouse gas emissions absorbed by the marine environment should be considered pollution. If the request is granted, it could result in a decrease in carbon emissions and actions to safeguard marine environments that have already been affected by CO2 pollution. The tribunal's decision may have consequences for other courts and establish a basis for future legal proceedings.

U.S. and Peru Agree on USD 20M Debt-for-nature Swap to Safeguard Amazon Rainforest

Reuters & Climate Change News

In their third and most recent debt-for-nature swap agreement, the United States and Peru have settled to provide USD 20 million to help restore and protect parts of the Amazon rainforest. The money will be used to preserve protected areas, enhance the management of natural resources, and aid in the creation of sustainable livelihoods for individuals who depend on the rainforest. Debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps are being increasingly implemented throughout the Western Hemisphere. These strategies are a reaction to unsustainable approaches that promote exports by destroying forests for logging or farming.

CH4 Global is a climate tech company based in Nevada committed to developing technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in animal agriculture. Their primary focus is addressing methane emissions, the largest single-sector source of this harmful gas and a significant contributor to climate change. Their product lines offer animal feed supplements made from Asparagopsis seaweed, which are effective in reducing enteric methane emissions by up to 90%. One product is the Methane Tamer Beef Feedlot, created for beef and dairy cattle in feedlot operations. The use of Asparagopsis has no negative impact on the animals, their products, or the environment. Just a few weeks ago, the company announced it had raised USD 29 million in funding to scale production.