Cliimate & Wildlife

South Korea's capital, Seoul, was hit by a record-breaking snowstorm on Wednesday, bringing transportation to a standstill, causing power outages, and leading to at least two fatalities. The snowstorm, the heaviest in November since records began in 1907, dumped over 20 centimeters of snow in parts of the city, surpassing the previous November record set in 1972. The intense snowfall, attributed to a significant temperature difference between the sea surface and cold air, affected other regions of South Korea as well, including the central, eastern, and southwestern parts of the country. Youn Ki-han, director of Seoul's Meteorology Forecast Division, explained that the unusually warm sea surface temperatures in recent weeks contributed to the intensity of the snowfall. Strong westerly winds carried the snow into the Seoul metropolitan area, leading to significant accumulation. The snowstorm caused widespread disruption, with hundreds of […]

The UN climate summit, COP29, concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a record pledge of $300 billion per year by 2035 to assist developing countries in combating climate change. However, the agreement, reached after marathon negotiations, has faced criticism from poorer nations who argue the amount falls significantly short of their needs. The deal acknowledges the disproportionate burden faced by developing countries due to climate change, despite their historically lower contribution to the problem. However, the final pledge is far less than the $1.3 trillion developing countries had sought, leading to expressions of disappointment and frustration. The head of the UN climate body, Simon Stiell, acknowledged the agreement's imperfections, stating that "no country got everything they wanted, and we leave Baku with a mountain of work still to do." The agreement includes a commitment to raise $1.3 trillion annually from both […]