TEN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS
December 2024
1. Landfills and PFAS pollution
Pippa Neill and David Megson, “Landfill leachate treatment process is transforming and releasing banned per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to UK water,” Frontiers in Water (3 Nov 2024). bit.ly/4fzsknd
“Landfills are a known source of PFAS pollution. Many have environmental permits allowing the discharge of treated leachate to controlled waters. In this article we compared leachate data for 17 PFAS from 17 different landfill sites across the UK. The results show that the landfill leachate treatment process (designed to improve water quality) is generating the banned PFAS; PFOA and PFOS. Approximately 80% of locations tested showed an increase in PFOS, with an increase of 1,335% in one sample. The highest concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in treated leachate were 2,460 ng L−1 and 26,900 ng L−1, respectively. When compared against the environmental quality standard of 0.65 ng L−1 for PFOS this leachate could pose a significant concern. Landfill leachate treatment has proven effective for a wide range of different pollutants, but this research shows in several instances that it is not appropriate for PFAS remediation.”
See also, Rachel Salvidge, “Decontamination of landfill waste leads to increase in toxic chemicals, says study,” The Guardian (4 Nov 2024). bit.ly/4fz6jVE
2. 60,000 heat-related deaths in Europe in Summer 2022
Thessa M. Beck, et al., “Mortality burden attributed to anthropogenic warming during Europe’s 2022 record-breaking summer,” Climate and Atmospheric Science (29 Oct 2024). bit.ly/48RN9rJ
The record-breaking temperatures in Europe during the 2022 summer were associated with over. By combining epidemiological models with detection and attribution techniques, we attribute half of this mortality burden (~56% [95% CI 39–77%]) to anthropogenic warming. Likewise, this applies to all sexes, ages, and heat-related mortality burdens during previous years (2015–2021). Our results urgently call for increasing ambition in adaptation and mitigation.
3. Ireland not acting aggressively enough to hit climate targets
Vahid Aryanpur, et al., “Implications of accelerated and delayed climate action for Ireland’s energy transition under carbon budgets,” NPJ/Climate Action (2 Non 2024). bit.ly/4fd2Egh
See also, Kevin O’Sullivan, “Ireland not acting aggressively enough to hit climate targets – UCC study: Report warns not cutting emissions risks greater long-term costs, stranded assets, and dependence on unproven carbon removal technologies after 2030,” The Irish Times (11 Nov 2024). bit.ly/4hFD4Cj
“Ireland’s climate progress is too slow and it must front-load its investment in energy transition to avoid escalating climate and economic costs, a study by UCC energy analysts warns.
The current target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 is too late, the study by the Energy Policy and Modelling Group (EPMG) concludes. Deep emissions cuts must occur sooner than currently planned for Ireland to contribute effectively to limiting global warming, the study published in npj Climate Action adds.
It indicates meeting ambitious carbon budgets would cost between €600 million and €1.4 billion annually between 2024 and 2050, depending on level of ambition. If the country pursues the most ambitious climate budget, it would only cost “the equivalent of five cups of coffee a month for every person in Ireland” – less than 0.33 per cent of gross national index annually to 2050.
While delays in cutting greenhouse gas emissions may reduce short-term pressures in the economy, “failing to accelerate climate action risks greater long-term costs, stranded assets, and dependence on unproven carbon removal technologies after 2030,” it says.
4. The impact of climate change on extreme weather events
Emily Beament, “Climate change ‘worsened all 10 deadliest weather events in past two decades’, say scientists,” Irish Independent (30 Oct 2024). bit.ly/48ErcMD
“Climate change made the 10 deadliest extreme weather events over the past two decades worse, contributing to the deaths of more than 570,000 people, scientists have said.
Climate scientists said the finding “underscores how dangerous extreme weather events have already become” with just 1.3C of global warming above pre-industrial levels.
It also highlights the urgency of cutting the greenhouse gas emissions driving rising temperatures and more extreme weather, they said, as the world is currently on track for 3C of warming by the end of the century – a level recently described by UN chief Antonio Guterres as “catastrophic”.
The assessment comes from the World Weather Attribution group and is published on the 10th anniversary of its formation in 2014 to analyse the impact of climate change on extreme weather events in their immediate aftermath…”
5. Lancet’s Countdown on Health and Climate Change
Caroline O’Donerty, “Climate crisis risks reversing progress in life expectancy and health, study shows,” Irish Independent (29 Ocr 2024). bit.ly/4hMxMFh
“It is the eighth year that The Lancet has published its “Countdown on Health and Climate Change” and the findings are described by the authors as “the most concerning yet”.
“Last year was the hottest globally in over 100,000 years with heat records broken in all continents.
People were exposed to an unprecedented 50 extra days of health-threatening temperatures on average last year than would be expected without climate change.
Extreme drought affected 48pc of the global land area – the second-highest level recorded.
More frequent heatwaves and droughts were associated with 151 million more people suffering moderate or severe food insecurity than was the average between 1980-2010…”.
“The report is the work of 122 authors from 57 academic institutions and UN agencies and it monitors 15 climate-related health hazards including heat, disease, hunger and wildfires.”
6. Novel attribution framework to assess the impact of human-caused ocean warming on hurricane intensities
Daniel M. Gilford et al., “Human-caused ocean warming has intensified recent hurricanes,” Environmental Research (20 Nov 2024). bit.ly/3ZcZweO
Abstract
“Understanding how rising global air and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) influence tropical cyclone intensities is crucial for assessing current and future storm risks. Using observations, climate models, and potential intensity theory, this study introduces a novel rapid attribution framework that quantifies the impact of historically-warming North Atlantic SSTs on observed hurricane maximum wind speeds. The attribution framework employs a storyline attribution approach exploring a comprehensive set of counterfactuals scenarios—estimates characterizing historical SST shifts due to human-caused climate change—and considering atmospheric variability. These counterfactual scenarios affect the quantification and significance of attributable changes in hurricane potential and observed actual intensities since pre-industrial. A summary of attributable influences on hurricanes during five recent North Atlantic hurricane seasons (2019–2023) and a case study of Hurricane Ian (2022) reveal that human-driven SST shifts have already driven robust changes in 84% of recent observed hurricane intensities. Hurricanes during the 2019–2023 seasons were 8.3 m s−1 faster, on average, than they would have been in a world without climate change. The attribution framework’s design and application, highlight the potential for this framework to support climate communication.”
7. Human-caused global warming elevated ocean temperatures and boosted intensities of eleven Atlantic hurricanes in 2024
Climate Central, Climate change increased wind speeds for every 2024 Atlantic hurricane: Analysis (20 Nov 2024). bit.ly/4fAFfpi
“Climate change increased maximum wind speeds for every Atlantic hurricane in 2024, according to a Climate Central analysis based on new, peer-reviewed research. Human-caused global warming elevated ocean temperatures and boosted all eleven storms’ intensities, increasing their highest sustained wind speeds by 9 to 28 miles per hour. This increase moved seven of the hurricanes into a higher Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale category and strengthened Hurricanes Debby and Oscar from tropical storms into hurricanes.
This analysis used the methodology from a new study published on November 20, 2024, in Environmental Research: Climate, which introduced a rapid attribution framework to assess the impact of human-caused ocean warming on hurricane intensities. The study, Human-caused ocean warming has intensified recent hurricanes (Gilford et al., 2024), applied this framework to Atlantic hurricanes from 2019-2023, and these findings cover the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.”
Key findings
- All eleven hurricanes in 2024 (as of November 10) intensified by 9-28 mph during the record-breaking ocean warmth of the 2024 hurricane season, strengthening over waters made as much as 2.5°F warmer because of climate change.
- Climate change made elevated sea surface temperatures (SST) in the tracks of 2024 hurricanes up to 800 times more likely.
- Human-warmed ocean temperatures made major hurricanes Helene and Milton even stronger, adding 16 mph and 24 mph, respectively.
8. Increased scientific and regulatory attention in California reducing toxic exposure
Kristin E.. Knox, et al., “Trends in NHANES Biomonitored Exposures in California and the United States following Enactment of California’s Proposition 65,” Environmental Health Perspective (21 Oct 2024). bit.ly/4fIklV6
Abstract. The prevalence of toxic chemicals in US commerce has prompted some states to adopt laws to reduce exposure. One with broad reach is California’s Proposition 65 (Prop 65), which established a list of chemicals that cause cancer, developmental harm, or reproductive toxicity. The law is intended to discourage businesses from using these chemicals and to minimize consumer exposure. However, a key question remains unanswered: Has Prop 65 reduced population-level exposure to the listed chemicals?
Our findings suggest that increased scientific and regulatory attention, as well as public awareness of the harms of Prop 65-listed chemicals, prompted changes in product formulations that reduced exposure to those chemicals nationwide. Trends in bisphenols and several phthalates suggest that manufacturers replaced some listed chemicals with closely related but unlisted chemicals, increasing exposure to the substitutes. Our findings have implications for the design of policies to reduce toxic exposures, biomonitoring programs to inform policy interventions, and future research into the regulatory and market forces that affect chemical exposure. doi.org/10.1289/EHP13956
See also, Tom Perkins, “California limits on ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS in products are effective, study says,” The Guardian (22 Nov 2024). bit.ly/4fFhU5D via @guardian
9. Research reflects rising optimism about China’s green transition as it takes leading position on climate action
Amy Hawkins, “China’s CO2 emissions have peaked or will in 2025, say 44% of experts in survey,” The Guardian (26 Nov 2024). bit.ly/4eNPK7p
“Nearly half of experts surveyed by a climate thinktank believe China’s carbon dioxide emissions have already peaked, or will do so in 2025, reflecting increasing optimism about the country’s green transition at a time when it is being called on to take a leading position on global climate action.
According to a report published on Tuesday by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a research organisation, 44% of climate experts from academia and industry believe that China’s CO2 emissions will peak, at the latest, in 2025. In last year’s survey, only 21% of experts gave the same response.
There is also more optimism about China reducing its reliance on coal. Asked if they believed that its coal consumption had already peaked, 36% of experts said yes, up from 20% last year.
China’s official targets are to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Beijing has also pledged to “strictly control” the use of coal during the 14th ”five-year plan”, which covers the period until the end of 2025.”
10. Cruise line emitting more CO2 than City of Glasgow
Karen McVeigh, “Carnival cruise line emitted more CO2 in 2023 than Scotland’s biggest city – report,” The Guardian (25 No 2024). bit.ly/4g4JU2y
“The world’s largest cruise line company is responsible for producing more carbon dioxide in Europe than the city of Glasgow, a report has found.
Analysis by the Transport and Environment (T&E) campaign group, provided to the Guardian, found Carnival to be the most climate-polluting cruise company sailing in Europe in 2023.
The data covered all Europe-bound cruise ships last year, including 53 that belonged to Carnival. The second most climate-polluting cruise company in Europe was MSC, followed by Norwegian Cruise Line, the group found.”
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