Climate Disasters Daily? Welcome to the ‘New Normal.’

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece here in The New York Times or enjoy below

🗞️ Driving the news: Unprecedented extreme weather events are taking place across the United States, from catastrophic floods in the Hudson Valley to heat domes over Phoenix
• Meanwhile, “El Niño” is developing in the Pacific Ocean, and is expected to amplify these conditions even further

🔭 The context: Previously unique events like wildfires, floods, and deadly heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent and widespread
• The shift in weather patterns and its stark effects are not unnoticed, but the public's reaction varies (some acknowledging the link to climate change and others denying it)

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: The escalating severity of climate disasters highlights the urgent need for robust action to address climate change 

⏭️ What's next: There are calls for major societal change and more aggressive climate policies to counter greenhouse gas emissions which keep on rising globally

💬 One quote: “We are going to see stuff happen this year around Earth that we have not seen in modern history.” (Jeff Berardelli, chief meteorologist and climate specialist for WFLA News)

📈 One stat: Weather disasters causing more than $1 billion in damage are increasing in the US
• In 1980, the average time between billion-dollar disasters was 82 days. From 2018-22, the average time between these extreme events, even accounting for inflation, was just 18 days

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