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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece here in The Guardian or enjoy below
🗞️ Driving the news: Recently, South Korea suffered a major climate disaster involving flash floods and landslides, resulting in 46 deaths and four missing
• This has sparked discussions on disaster responsibility and response, with President Yoon Suk Yeol citing poor preparation for extreme weather as the cause
🔭 The context: This disaster comes amid rising climate activism in South Korea
• Youth 4 Climate Action group and other activists have been questioning the government's commitment to tackling climate change
🌎 Why it matters for the planet: The rising frequency of extreme weather incidents, as witnessed in South Korea, underscore the escalating impacts of climate change and highlight the pressing need for immediate climate action
⏭️ What's next: In response to the disaster, President Yoon declared 13 municipalities as special disaster areas and recognized the increasing frequency of extreme weather events
• However, he has not yet presented a concrete plan for comprehensive climate action
💬 One quote: "Is it normal for a society where survival itself is determined by luck if we don’t make efforts to become safe?” (Kim Seo-gyeong, member of the Youth 4 Climate Action group)
📈 One stat: In 2022, wind and solar power in South Korea accounted for just 5.4% of the country's electricity production, much lower than the global average of 12%
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