GHG emissions across G20 nations on the rise again: Report

Despite net-zero commitments and updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the G20 is not on track to meet the 1.5°C global warming limit, according to the Climate Transparency Report released this week. Also, despite a decline triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are on the rebound across the G20, the report stated. China, Argentina, India and Indonesia are projected to exceed the 2019 emission levels, it warned. 

The report found that the dependence of G20 countries on fossil fuels is not declining, rather it projected that the consumption of coal will rise by nearly 5% in 2021. As the demand for coal, oil, and natural gas returns to “normal”, the average share of fossil fuels in the G20’s Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) is projected to increase to 81.2% in 2021 from 80.8% in the last year.

India topmost hotspot for terrestrial water storage loss: WMO

A new World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report estimated terrestrial water storage (TWS) globally dropped at the rate of 1cm per year between 2002 and 2021. The State of Climate Services report. The analysis declared India to be the ‘topmost hotspot of TWS loss’, losing 3cm of TWS per year in the past 20 years. In some regions, this loss was reported to have gone up to 4cm as well. North India recorded the highest loss within the country. TWS includes all water found on the land surface as well as the subsurface.

Rising temperatures will decrease above-ground biomass of old-growth forests: Study 

Rising temperatures will decrease above-ground biomass of old-growth forests by 41% in the tropics and 29% globally, according to a new study. The study, published in Springer Nature, used a model that determined the impact of rising air temperature on above-ground biomass by comparing air temperature data for 1970–2000 with monthly air temperature projections for 2081–2100.

Need global cooperation on climate, weather and water issues: World Meteorological Congress

The World Meteorological Congress called for global cooperation in meteorology, climatology and operational hydrology, and stated that weather, climate and water cycles are oblivious to national borders. In a statement, the WMO said addressing the growth in demand for water, weather, climate, atmospheric and ocean services was crucial considering the rapid changes in the environment, demographics and the rise of extreme weather. 

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