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Millions will die if world fails on climate promises
By Tim Radford Action to keep climate promises could prevent millions of deaths each year. Unless nations try harder, that won’t happen. LONDON, 16 February, 2021 − Scientists have looked at conditions in just nine of the world’s 200 nations and found that − if the world keeps its Paris climate promises, of containing global heating…
Willis Research Network Annual Review 2021
The Willis Research Network is an award-winning collaboration supporting and influencing science to improve the understanding and quantification of risk, with the aim to improve the resilience of our clients and society as a whole. Download the Willis Research Annual Review here. The purpose of the Willis Research Network (WRN) is to help society better…
TCFD adoption in the real estate sector
Real estate has led the way as an early adopter of TCFD requirements. In this whitepaper Willis Towers Watson outlines key lessons learnt throughout the sector. Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) is being increasingly adopted by the real estate sector, with the past two years seeing significant momentum in adherence to the guidance1.…
Tackling COVID-19 and Climate Change in Unison Will Help Us Better Protect People on the Move
By Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson This article is part of a United Nations University Migration Network series that explores the interrelations and acute challenges of migration, climate change, and COVID-19. As a build-up to International Migrants Day on 18 December 2020, the series examines these connections at local and global levels, highlights impacts on migrants, and provides evidence-based insights for United…
Science suggests possible climate link to Covid-19
By Tim Radford Researchers think there could be a climate link to Covid-19. In which case, worse could yet happen. LONDON, 5 February, 2021 − British and US scientists think there may be a connection between global heating driven by profligate fossil fuel use, and the emergence of the bat-borne virus that has triggered a global pandemic and…
UN survival plan offers new hope for the planet
By Tim Radford A bold UN survival plan could put nature back in charge of the Earth − and researchers explain why that should happen. LONDON, 26 February, 2021 − UN chiefs want to transform the world by putting nature back at the heart of global decision-making, arguing that the global economic shutdown triggered by the Covid-19…
Climate action offers a hidden peace dividend
By Patrick Verkooijen & Tawakkol Karman * Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation. On Feb. 23, the United Nations Security Council met to discuss the threat that climate change poses to global peace. The question is no longer whether global warming sparks the flames…
What motivates natural resource policymakers in Africa to take action on climate change?
Climate services are vital tools for decision makers addressing climate change in developing countries. Science-based seasonal forecasts and accompanying materials can support climate risk management in agriculture, health, water management, energy, and disaster risk reduction. But in East Africa, natural resource managers have been slow to use climate information services, partly because they are difficult…
New Report: Climate Change Risk Assessment for the Insurance Industry
The Geneva Association Task Force on Climate Change Risk Assessment for the Insurance Industry The Geneva Association’s new report offers the insurance industry an integrated, decision-making framework for designing climate risk assessment and scenario analysis. Join their #RiskConversations webinar on 3 March for a discussion of the report’s findings. Dramatic changes are still needed to pivot the world economy…
Millions will die if world fails on climate promises
By Tim Radford Action to keep climate promises could prevent millions of deaths each year. Unless nations try harder, that won’t happen. LONDON, 16 February, 2021 − Scientists have looked at conditions in just nine of the world’s 200 nations and found that − if the world keeps its Paris climate promises, of containing global heating…
Marine heatwaves are becoming more common and intense. What can we do to minimize harm?
By Jen Monnier In the summer of 2015, Laurie Weitkamp was walking on the beach near her coastal Oregon home when she saw something strange: The water was purple. A colony of tunicates, squishy cylindrical critters that rarely come to shore, had congregated in a swarm so thick that you could scoop them out of…
Willis Research Network Annual Review 2021
The Willis Research Network is an award-winning collaboration supporting and influencing science to improve the understanding and quantification of risk, with the aim to improve the resilience of our clients and society as a whole. Download the Willis Research Annual Review here. The purpose of the Willis Research Network (WRN) is to help society better…
Perspective of LDC youth: what COP26 outcomes will enhance global action on adaptation and resilience?
By Thinley Choden Young people from the LDCs have the energy and knowledge to drive climate action – but they need collaboration and investment from decision-makers at the national and international level. “Young people are the future, and we need to hand over a better world.” Youth often hear such sentiments – and we are…
India protests: farmers could switch to more climate-resilient crops – but they have been given no incentive
By Shruti Bhogal and Shreya Sinha India is witnessing a historic mass mobilisation of farmers against three new farm laws. The country’s government maintains that these laws are the cure for a longstanding agrarian crisis. While this claim has been analysed from several angles, the environmental angle has often been overlooked. This is no small oversight since…