söndag 5 juli 2026
Climate Threat Global Challenges
Huge Marine Heat Wave Expected to Have Major Weather Impact
A
widespread marine heat wave is currently sweeping the Pacific Ocean. It
covers an area more than eight times the size of the continental United
States, or 13.5 percent of the Earth's surface, reports the Washington
Post.
It stretches from the Philippines to Peru and is the result
of two combined heat waves, one in the North Pacific and one linked to
El Niño in the South.
The high water temperatures are expected to have major – and long-lasting – effects on the weather.
“Several months of heat could have a major impact this winter and spring,” says climate scientist Dillon Amaya.
The
heat wave is expected to lead to a super typhoon in the western Pacific
and a heat dome in the western United States as early as this month.
Climate
change has contributed to the share of the world's oceans affected by
marine heat waves growing from 9 to 30 percent since the 1980s.
Despite Coral Bleaching – Great Barrier Reef Not Endangered
The
Great Barrier Reef off Australia will not be classified as endangered.
The UN agency UNESCO announced this on Friday, Reuters and AFP write.
The decision has been made despite the reef being severely affected by
coral bleaching as a result of global warming.
The reef is
important for the Australian tourism industry and the government in
Canberra welcomes UNESCO's decision. Deputy Tourism Minister Nita Green
says the government appreciates that UNESCO has noted the work underway
to protect and preserve the reef, Reuters writes.
Foreign aid for severe wildfire in Portugal
A severe wildfire in Portugal continues to grow and foreign aid has arrived.
The fire in the area around Viseu southeast of Porto started on Wednesday and has grown by 2,000 hectares in the last 24 hours alone. Now around 12,000 hectares have been ravaged by fire.
Nine people have been injured, two of whom are civilians seriously.
Around 1,200 firefighters are trying to get the fire under control with the help of nearly 400 ground vehicles and 15 aircraft and helicopters.
Spain has sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles to Portugal. Three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain have also arrived.
A wildfire is also raging outside Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki.
Evacuation warnings have been issued for three suburbs and in parts of the city, residents are being urged to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed due to toxic smoke.
Syria: Macron to visit soon
According to Syria, French President Emmanuel Macron will visit soon.
It will be the first visit by a Western European head of state or government since Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa took office in 2024.
State news agency Sana reports, citing the presidential office as a source, that Macron is expected to visit Syria “to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and issues of common interest”.
No date was given and Macron’s office has not commented.
Macron will be accompanied by a delegation “consisting of investors and representatives of French companies”, according to Sana. The talks will also cover “regional and international” events.
Macron – who received Ahmed al-Sharaa in Paris last year – would become the first Western European head of state or government to visit the country after taking power in 2024.
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