Climate Change Bulletin

Climate Change Bulletin

5/16/2025, 1:33:50 PM

*🌊 SHIPPING: The Silent Driver of Climate Change—And What Our Habits Have to Do With It* Every time we click “Buy Now,” we may be unknowingly fueling one of the world’s biggest polluters: the global shipping industry. Up to 90% of global trade relies on ships. From clothing and electronics to furniture and food, much of what we consume travels thousands of miles by sea before reaching us. But while the products arrive conveniently at our doorsteps, the emissions they generate stay behind trapped in our atmosphere. Here’s what you should know: a) The shipping industry emits more CO₂ than Germany each year. b) 60% of vessels run on heavy fuel oil, one of the dirtiest fossil fuels. c)  These ships release Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter—chemicals that harm human health and accelerate global warming. d)  And it’s not a one-way effect. Climate change, worsened by these emissions, is now disrupting shipping itself. In 2023, a severe drought linked to shifting rainfall patterns from global warming—reduced water levels in the Panama Canal, one of the world’s busiest trade routes. The result? Fewer ships could pass, supply chains slowed, and trade costs spiked. e)     By 2050, such climate-induced disruptions could cost the shipping industry $10 billion annually in port-related damages alone. But this isn’t just a shipping problem. It is a consumption problem. Our growing appetite for fast, cheap, and globally sourced goods places enormous pressure on the shipping industry to move more, faster, and cheaper often at the planet’s expense. At ASEC, we believe sustainability education must help young people connect the dots between their choices, global systems, and climate outcomes. Recognizing our role in driving demand is the first step toward building more conscious consumption patterns and advocating for greener shipping alternatives. Let’s rethink the way we consume and push for cleaner ways to connect our world. #SustainabilityEducation #ClimateAction #GreenShipping #ConsciousConsumption #ASEc #YouthForClimate #SustainableTrade #CircularEconomy https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alliance-for-sustainability-education-asec_sustainabilityeducation-climateaction-greenshipping-activity-7328675520290664450-sKpi?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAACcAqrgBS7Dcq-0g6FU40ug_OAd4WCZU1yo

Climate Change Bulletin

5/22/2025, 9:01:10 PM

*🎯 Rethinking NDCs: Where Is Climate Education in Your Country’s Plan?* As countries look ahead to updating their national climate pledges in 2025, one critical area continues to receive far less attention than it deserves: climate education. Under the Paris Agreement, nations are expected to revise their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years. These documents outline each country’s roadmap to addressing climate change. Yet, across the globe, only a fraction of nations—fewer than 50—have made meaningful efforts to integrate climate and environmental education into their official plans. That’s not just a statistic; it’s a warning sign. In fact, recent global findings show that less than one-third of NDCs even mention climate education, and an even smaller number include strategies for building green skills—the practical tools needed to drive a low-carbon future. Countries like Colombia, Vanuatu, Costa Rica, and the Gambia are showing early leadership by recognizing the role of education in climate resilience. But these examples remain the exception, not the rule. It’s time we shift the narrative. Embedding climate education into national policy isn’t just a box to tick—it’s a powerful catalyst. When communities are equipped with the knowledge to understand climate challenges and the skills to act, they become active participants in change: supporting renewable energy transitions, advocating for sustainable practices, and embracing innovation. Let’s not forget: Article 12 of the Paris Agreement directly underscores the importance of education and public awareness in climate action. Still, we’ve yet to see this commitment reflected at scale. As we approach the next wave of NDC submissions, governments must do more than commit to emission targets—they must commit to educating their people. Climate literacy fuels climate leadership. At ASEc, we believe a climate-conscious generation is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Now is the moment to reimagine education as a climate solution in itself. #ClimateLiteracy #GreenCurricula #EducationForClimateAction #NDCs #ASEc #JustTransition #EnvironmentalEducation #PolicyShift https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alliance-for-sustainability-education-asec_climateliteracy-greencurricula-educationforclimateaction-activity-7331356431041937408-4_ms?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAE9gQOsB4pQO7UqvWl7YrorqOHyNNakgeds

Climate Change Bulletin

6/3/2025, 11:00:12 AM

🌍 *Outdated Systems in a New Climate: It’s Time to Rethink Infrastructure 🏗️🌧️* What happened in Mokwa, Nigeria last week is heartbreaking—but unfortunately, not unexpected. Days of intense rainfall resulted in severe flooding, leaving more than two hundred people dead, over five hundred still unaccounted for, and more than three thousand displaced. Entire communities were submerged. Local authorities have described it as the worst flooding the area has seen in over sixty years. But this is not a one-off incident. It is part of a growing pattern. In 2022 alone, floods across Nigeria displaced approximately 1.4 million people and destroyed over 440,000 hectares of farmland. Each year, the statistics climb—and so does the toll on families, livelihoods, and food systems. Just west of Nigeria, in Ghana’s Volta Region, another climate crisis has been unfolding more quietly. Along the coast, communities such as Salakope, Amutinu, Agavedzi, Dzita, and Fuvemeh have been battling tidal waves and rising sea levels for close to a decade. Since 2015, these towns have lost land, homes, and sources of income. For many residents, relocating is no longer a choice—it has become a necessity, even if no clear options exist. Just days earlier, from May 18–19, torrential rains battered Ghana’s two most urbanized cities—Accra and Kumasi—triggering severe flooding that overwhelmed aging and inadequate drainage infrastructure. Authorities describe this as the most extreme flood event in five years in many parts. The floods claimed three lives, displaced residents, destroyed property, and significantly disrupted livelihoods. These are two different climate impacts—flooding inland, and coastal erosion along the shore—but they reveal the same core problem: climate change is outpacing our infrastructure, our planning systems, and in many cases, our ability to respond. Much of the infrastructure in our towns and cities—from drainage systems to road networks and housing layouts—was built to withstand historical weather patterns. Those patterns are changing. Rainfall that once stretched across a season now falls in a matter of hours. Storm surges that used to occur occasionally are now frequent and more aggressive. Sea level rise is not a distant threat—it is an encroaching force that communities are confronting today. What we are witnessing across the region is not just the result of extreme weather—it is the result of infrastructure that was never designed with climate risk in mind, and planning systems that are struggling to catch up. This is not only a technical challenge. It is also about governance, accountability, and the political will to invest in long-term adaptation. Emergency response is critical—but it cannot be our only strategy. We need to prioritize resilient infrastructure, locally-informed planning, and community-led adaptation solutions. We need risk data that is current, funding that is flexible, and institutions that are empowered to act before disaster strikes. The stories from Mokwa and from Ghana’s disappearing coastlines are not future projections. They are happening now—and they are growing more frequent. If we want to change the trajectory, we must start by acknowledging that we are already living in the era of climate impacts. The question is not whether change is coming. The question is whether we are ready to meet it with the urgency and coordination it demands. Jollof Might Divide Ghana 🇬🇭 and Nigeria 🇳🇬 But the Climate Crisis Doesn’t Discriminate 😃 #ClimateChange #Adaptation #Infrastructure #WestAfrica #Flooding #SeaLevelRise #ClimateResilience #Ghana #Nigeria #Sustainability #DisasterPreparedness #CommunityResilience #ASEC https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/outdated-systems-new-climate-its-time-iispc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via

Climate Change Bulletin

6/4/2025, 3:56:32 PM

*🌍 #DidYouKnow tropical forests vanished in 2024 at the fastest rate ever recorded?* New data released by the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch platform shows that the world experienced record-breaking forest loss in 2024 — with tropical primary forests disappearing at nearly double the rate recorded in 2023. On average, forest the size of 18 soccer fields was lost every minute throughout the year. For the first time in over two decades, the majority of this loss in tropical regions was caused by fires, not agricultural expansion. While agriculture has long been the main driver of deforestation, 2024 saw a shift — with widespread fire activity, often linked to drier and hotter conditions, leading the trend. The loss of these forests had a significant climate impact. An estimated 3.1 gigatons of greenhouse gases were released into the atmosphere as a result — more than many industrialized nations emit in an entire year. Tropical forests are crucial for carbon storage, biodiversity, clean water, and local livelihoods. Their continued destruction undermines global efforts to address climate change, protect nature, and support communities. It’s worth remembering that in 2021, more than 140 countries signed the #Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests, committing to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030. The latest data suggests that, without major shifts in how we protect and manage forests, that goal is quickly slipping out of reach. At ASEc, we see timely access to this kind of data as essential — not only to understand the pace of environmental change, but to hold ourselves and others accountable to global commitments. #ForestWatch #ClimateData #SustainabilityInsights #TropicalForests #ASEcUpdates #EnvironmentalPolicy #ForestsAndClimate https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alliance-for-sustainability-education-asec_didyouknow-glasgow-forestwatch-activity-7335620611693522945-3hrl?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAACcAqrgBS7Dcq-0g6FU40ug_OAd4WCZU1yo

Climate Change Bulletin

6/6/2025, 2:48:33 AM

*🌍 World Environment Day 2025 | Beat Plastic Pollution 🌱* In Ghana, it is common to wrap banku—a local staple—in flexible plastic films. But have we stopped to consider the health and environmental risks? Plastics like polyethylene often contain phthalates and BPA, chemicals known to interfere with human hormones. Even worse, reheating food wrapped in plastic can release dioxins and furans, toxic compounds linked to serious health problems. At ASEc, we are advocating for sustainable, local alternatives—starting with the way we wrap our food. In this video, we demonstrate how plantain leaves, a traditional and biodegradable material, can be used instead of plastic to safely wrap banku—preserving health, heritage, and the environment. Let’s rethink our everyday choices. 🎥 Watch, learn, and join the movement to #BeatPlasticPollution. #Sustainability #WorldEnvironmentDay #FoodSafety #GreenAlternatives #ClimateAction #ASEcGhana https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alliance-for-sustainability-education-asec_beatplasticpollution-sustainability-worldenvironmentday-activity-7336300768548818944-SxUt?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAE9gQOsB4pQO7UqvWl7YrorqOHyNNakgeds

Climate Change Bulletin

2/26/2025, 5:49:55 AM

Microplastics: The Invisible Pollution We Can’t Ignore 🌍💧 Every year, up to 23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into our water systems. To put this into perspective, the average person may eat, drink, or breathe between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles annually. 🔹 But where do these tiny plastic particles come from? 1️⃣ Primary microplastics – These are intentionally small plastics, like: ✅ Microbeads (once common in cosmetics) ✅ Plastic pellets (nurdles) used in manufacturing ✅ Plastic glitter (yes, that festive sparkle has an environmental cost) 2️⃣ Microfibers – Shed from synthetic clothing during washing, these are a major source of microplastic pollution. 3️⃣ Secondary microplastics – Larger plastic debris breaks down over time, including: ⚠️ Discarded fishing gear ⚠️ Plastic litter degraded by sunlight and weather 4️⃣ Nanoplastics – Even smaller and harder to detect, these are now found in remote locations like the Alps, carried by tyre wear particles and other sources. 💡 Why does this matter? Microplastics have been found in our food, water, and even the air we breathe. As research continues, so does the urgency to rethink our plastic use. What can we do? Reduce single-use plastics, choose sustainable materials, and support policies that tackle plastic pollution at its source. Let’s start the conversation. What actions do you take to reduce plastic waste? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇 #PlasticPollution #Microplastics #Sustainability #Environment https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alliance-for-sustainability-education-asec_plasticpollution-microplastics-sustainability-activity-7300085464529547266-RQuv?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAACcAqrgBS7Dcq-0g6FU40ug_OAd4WCZU1yo