The 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. (Photo: USDA)

For growing flowers and fruits, temperature is critical. The coldest night of each year determines the survival of perennial plants, those that pop up again every year. Meanwhile hot summer days can cause fruit to spoil while early thaws can allow flowers to spring too early. As the climate crisis accelerates, gardeners across the United States have speculated that the iconic USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map created in 2012 needed updating to reflect the reality their plants were experiencing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has since done so, releasing a new 2023 map which depicts a warming country affecting gardens across the states.

The map is calculated based on the coldest temperature reached in the year and averaged over the period 1991-2020, as this ground temperature affects plant survival. Christopher Daly of Oregon State University, director of the PRISM Climate Group and the map’s lead author, addressed the methodology in a statement. Thirteen zones with a 10-degree-Fahrenheit range are subdivided into 5-degree range half-zones. “Overall, the 2023 map is about 2.5 degrees warmer than the 2012 map across the conterminous United States,” Daly said. “This translated into about half of the country shifting to a warmer 5-degree half zone, and half remaining in the same half zone. The central plains and Midwest generally warmed the most, with the southwestern U.S. warming very little.” As the data does not directly relate to global warming because of the random nature of “coldest days,” it is sobering in light of the hottest summer ever.

Gardeners had already noticed this warming in their daily activities. Rachel Patterson of Florida told NPR, “The sweet little grannies here are just heartbroken, they can't grow their tomatoes. It's so much hotter, the tomatoes burn.” Meanwhile, Megan London, a gardening consultant who lives in Arkansas, will take advantage of her warmer zone by planting what she could not grow before, including kumquats and mandarin oranges. She told NPR that these fun new possibilities come with a dark side: “We're excited, but in the back of our minds, we're also a little wary. In the back of our mind, we're like, ah, that means things are warming up. So what does this mean in the long run?”

The map is interactive and can be explored in detail online so that gardeners can zoom in on their exact locales. Additionally, researches use the map in research models on how plants and insects spread. The USDA considers it for risk and insurance purposes as well. Patterson, like other gardeners, wants the map to be a reminder of a dangerously warming future. She elaborated to NPR, “It's just going to keep getting hotter. So the government has to make policy changes to slow climate change down.”

The new USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for 2023 suggests the country is warming in ways which significantly affect viable local flora.

The 2021 edition of the map. (Photo: USDA)

h/t: [NPR]

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READ: New Plant Hardiness Map Confirms Gardener Suspicions That the U.S. Has Gotten Warmer

Photo: gustavofrazao/Depositphotos

The Amazon is considered the most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world. Sadly, it has been facing large-scale deforestation due to climate change and logging. In an effort to fight this, Brazil has just pledged $204 million to help restore degraded or destroyed woodland in the Amazon rainforest.

The announcement was made by Brazil's national development bank (BNDES) at the United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai. The project aims to rescue 60,000 square km (23,160 square miles)—an area around the size of West Virginia—in the Amazon rainforest by 2030.

The endeavor, named the Arc of Restoration program, will have access to a funding of up to 1 billion reais ($205 million) through 2024. In addition to fighting deforestation, it would also seek to capture 1.65 billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere in six years.

“Avoiding deforestation is no longer the answer to the climate crisis. We need to be more ambitious,” BNDES President Aloizio Mercadante said in a statement. “Let's reforest, so that the forest regenerates. It's the cheapest and quickest answer to the climate crisis because it captures carbon and stores it.”

Carlos Nobre at the University of Sao Paulo, who first proposed the concept for the Arc of Restoration, described the effort as a “very ambitious project.” However, according to him, it would take restoring 70,270 square miles of the Amazon to help avert a tipping point that would see the rainforest turn into a degraded savanna, with just under half that area requiring active replanting. Still, the project offers hope for the future of the Amazon forest. Nobre adds: “This project has been put in place now because the Amazon is nearing a point of no return, so this is a very important, urgent and innovative initiative.”

The Arc of Restoration project was preceded by the announcement of “Tropical Forests Forever,” an initiative spearheaded by Brazilian officials which aims to raise $250 billion for efforts to protect and restore the world’s tropical forests. As overseers of 60% of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil seems to be making important steps in the right direction to salvage a priceless resource.

In an effort to fight deforestation, Brazil has just pledged $204 million to help restore degraded or destroyed woodland in the Amazon rainforest.

Photo: pedarilhos/Depositphotos

The project aims to rescue 60,000 square km (23,160 square miles)—an area around the size of West Virginia—in the Amazon rainforest by 2030.

Photo: pxhidalgo/Depositphotos

h/t: [Reuters]

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“Black Soldier Fly Farming (I)” by Maurizio di Pietro. Winner, Environmental Photographer of the Year.
“An innovative insect food experiment at the University of Turin assesses the potential of Black Soldier Flies as a source of nutrition for tomorrow’s world.”

Thousands of photographers submitted their images to the 2023 Environmental Photographer of the Year (EPOTY) contest, but it was Italy's Maurizio di Pietro who came out on top. His fascinating image of an experiment that tests the possibilities of black flies as a source of nutrition won him the overall prize in the 16th edition of the competition.

Launched by CIWEM and WaterBear and presented by Nikon in association with MPB and supported by Arup, the contest provides a platform for amateur and professional photographers to reflect the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet. Interestingly, many of this year's category winners find themselves on the frontlines, as they hail from climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh, Argentina, and India. They are using their cameras to raise awareness about the struggles their countries are currently facing.

This includes 18-year-old Solayman Hossain, who was named Nikon's Young Environmental Photographer of the Year for an image he shot in a village close to his home in Bangladesh. Taken during monsoon season, it shows a farmer leading his herd of cows through floodwaters, as he attempts to find them food. Jurors were drawn to the image for its beautiful composition and interesting color palette.

“I hope my photo will inspire environmental action by showcasing the importance of nature, raising awareness about environmental issues, and encouraging others to take positive steps towards sustainability,” Hossain shares.

Di Pietro has similar feelings about his winning photograph, which showcases an innovative insect food experiment at the University of Turin. With food insecurity on the rise in Italy, the professional photographer felt that it was his duty to show how academics are looking for unique solutions to the issue. By doing so, he wants to inspire people not to lose hope in the face of these challenges.

“The image encapsulates our dependence on the smallest creatures for survival. Moreover, it is beautifully executed, evoking an almost balletic fragility—apt for the crisis that stares us in the face,” commented juror Arati Kumar-Rao. “It was an image I came back to again and again, and by its nature made me want to know more.”

See more of the winners, as well as some of our favorite shortlisted entries below, and check out the full gallery on the EPOTY website.

The 2023 Environmental Photographer of the Year contest highlights the pressing challenges our planet is facing.

“Flood-Affected Area” by Solayman Hossain. Winner, Nikon's Young Environmental Photographer of the Year.
“A farmer and his cows are forced to wade through floodwater to find food, after the road became submerged in water during monsoon season.”

“Survival Of Buffaloes In Drought” by Md Shafiul Islam. Winner, Keeping 1.5 Alive.
“Buffaloes scour parched grasslands for food during a drought.”

“Corals At Night” Nicolas Marin Benitez. Winner, Recovering Nature.
“A nocturnal coral reef comes to life during a night dive in Aruba. Bioluminescence is a fascinating natural phenomenon illustrating the health of the oceans.”

“Intruder” by Anirban Dutta. Winner, Adapting for Tomorrow.
“A cunning drongo bird uses light from an urban petrol pump to catch termites during monsoon season, suggesting waning food sources in the wild. The camera uses its built-in functions of multiple exposures and long exposure to create an image combining three photos.”

“Walk Through Trash” by Jahid Apu. Winner, MPB Vision of the Future.
“This drone shot shows a bridge surrounded by plastic waste in Dhaka, Bangladesh, one of the most plastic-polluted countries in the world.”

“Price Of An Elephant” by Saurav Kumar Boruah. Shortlist, Keeping 1.5 Alive.
“Three wild elephants died in a village on the edge of a forest, due to electrocution. They used to come to villages during the night-time looking for food; their usual sources have grown scarce due to deforestation. The local villagers paid tribute to the elephants by offering prayers with flowers, incense sticks and coins.”

Many of this year's winners hail from climate-vulnerable countries, putting them on the frontlines of these environmental hardships.

“Red Dog Mine” by Mustafah Abdulaziz. Runner Up, MPB Vision of the Future.
“The Red Dog Mine is a lead and zinc mine in the Arctic Circle, located near Kotzebue in Alaska, USA.”

Salinas De Maras (Maras Salt Flats) by Marina Abello. Shortlist, Adapting for Tomorrow.
“The ponds in Salinas de Maras have been used for salt extraction since the pre-Inca period, and have been in continuous operation since then. Located in the Sacred Valley, the Salinas consist of approximately 4,500 salt pans, set in stepped terraces of irregular stone walls that follow the Qaqahuiñay hill. These traditional salt mining practices have a lower environmental impact than industrial methods, such as mining and evaporation from brine ponds.”

“Devastated Shepherd” by Frederick Dharshie Wissah. Shortlist, Keeping 1.5 Alive.
“Mr. Loonkishu Lemerketo of the Samburu sobs as he points to his three dead goat kids. They died because their dehydrated mother was unable to produce milk. The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd cattle and keep goats, sheep and camels. They have been among the people worst impacted by the climate change-related severe drought in Kenya.
At the time of this photo (October 2022), Kenya had been contending with 5 back-to-back failed rainy seasons and the worst drought in 40 years. This drought has robbed the Samburu of their livelihoods and their food security.”

“Guaranteeing Bali's Reef A Future” by Giacomo D'Orlando. Shortlist, Recovering Nature.
“Two local divers install concrete structures in a new coral restoration site. The local NGO Perkumpulan Pemandu Penyelam Amed (P3A) works together with Dutch NGO Coral Reef Care (CRC) to restore the marine ecosystem damaged by unsustainable fishing by building artificial reefs on damaged reef areas. Natural recovery of the coral reef is unlikely without this additional support. Coral recruits are transplanted onto these artificial structures, which vary in materials and dimensions to maximize the refuge area for different fauna.”

“Quick Assistance” by Adrián Irago. Shortlist, Keeping 1.5 Alive.
“A helicopter from the San Xoan Forest Fire Reinforcement Brigade (BRIF) performs an unloading manoeuvre in the town of Moreiras in the province of Ourense. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Galicia, and especially the province of Ourense, suffer forest fires every year that destroy natural heritage and endanger people. In 2022, more than 51,000 hectares were burned in Galicia, representing 19% of the total hectares burned in Spain, according to Government data. The rural environment of Galicia is especially vulnerable due to depopulation and an aging demographic: there are not enough resources to prevent or manage the mountainside fires.”

“Crossing The Riverbed” by Ahsanul Haque Nayem. Shortlist, MPB Vision of the Future.
“The Jamuna river in the Bogura district dries up completely every year, but during the rainy season, it is flooded again. When the river is dry, horse carts are the only means of transportation for the people of the Char.”

Environmental Photographer of the Year: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by EPOTY.

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Photo: pyzata/Depositphotos

While small actions can help fight global warming, the best efforts are those coordinated on a larger scale with support from the government. A great example of this has taken place in Kenya, where they just celebrated their first National Tree Planting Day on November 13. Like the name suggests, this special holiday aimed to bring all Kenyans together in planting 100 million trees.

This is just the first step in the Kenyan government's plan to plant 15 billion trees in 10 years. To reach the target set for this first event, officials called for all citizens to plant at least two trees on their own land. On top of freeing up people's time with the establishment of the national holiday, 150 million saplings were made available in tree nurseries around the country. “Conservation of the environment is the urgent and collective responsibility of our time,” wrote Kenyan president, William Ruto, on Twitter.

Since the holiday was announced just a week prior to the date, many didn't get to learn about where to pick up saplings or find planting areas in time. However, those who managed to partake in the activities, did so in huge numbers. The Guardian reports that the forests around the capital city of Nairobi were buzzing with activity. “Families, environmental groups, students, government officers and forest rangers plodded through muddy grounds in the Ngong forest with saplings in hand,” writes reporter Caroline Kimeu. Even cyclists roamed through different routes, stopping to plant trees along the roads.

To keep a record of the tree-planting efforts, the government has launched an app named JazaMiti (which means “fill with trees” in Swahili). There, Kenyans can find real-time updates on nationwide tree-planting efforts, information on the species that best suit the local ecosystem, and the location of nearby tree nurseries. Users are also asked document their own planting, which will be verified every four months each year. Those who plant the most trees will receive an award for being “outstanding tree planters.”

However, despite the positive reactions this endeavor has had, local environmentalists have called out the government for the two-faced nature of the endeavor. Recently, Ruto lifted a six-year logging ban, allowing old trees to be cut down for economic activity. Environmental groups expressed their concern, saying it would increase illegal logging in the area.

Still, the tree-planting holiday offers a glimmer of hope in a country that has been hit by extreme weather lately. “The environment is everyone’s responsibility—everyone has to make a contribution,” said Elizabeth Wathuti, an environmental activist. “It was incredible to see so many people asking where they could plant trees or get seedlings. It shows that more people are beginning to take the issues of conservation seriously, and having a national tree planting holiday shows political goodwill and intentionality.”

Kenya just celebrated their first National Tree Planting Day on November 13.

Conservation of the environment is the urgent and collective responsibility of our time. #NationalTreeGrowingDay #NationalTreePlantingDay pic.twitter.com/XVsZLhy537

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) November 13, 2023

Photo: KatyaKiseleva/Depositphotos

This special holiday aimed to bring together all Kenyans in planting 100 million trees, with the longterm goal of planting 15 billion in 10 years.

Photo: amenic181/Depositphotos

h/t: [BBC]

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Photo: TTstudio/Depositphotos

Thanks to its unique geography, Portugal can truly benefit from renewable energy. It boasts over a thousand miles of coast, over 300 sunny days a year, and, when it's cloudy, it can get powerful winds. This convenient mixture resulted in Portugal running on 100% renewable energy for six days in a row, painting a hopeful picture for the future.

On October 27, the largest energy company in the nation, Redes Energéticas Nacionais, reported that conditions of wind and waves were generating the entirety of Portugal's energy supply. While they originally hoped they would last a whole day, the conditions carried on for another five days. During certain periods, the clean energy production was so high that Portugal's grids were exporting power to neighboring Spain.

“The gas plants were there, waiting to dispatch energy, should it be needed. It was not, because the wind was blowing; it was raining a lot,” Hugo Costa, who oversees Portugal for EDP Renewables, told Canary Media. ​“And we were producing with a positive impact to the consumers because the prices have dropped dramatically, almost to zero.”

With a population of 10 million people, having powered the entire country with renewable energy is a commendable feat. In total, there were 149 hours of renewable energy generation. Out of those, 95 hours had Portugal exporting energy to the Spanish grids. This is in line with their previous achievement in March 2023, when renewable sources generated 103% of total energy consumption.

For now, it is also reassuring that electrical grids are reliable enough to work with both traditional and clean energy. “The key conclusion, in my opinion, is that it shows that the Portuguese grid is prepared for very high shares of renewable electricity and for its expected variation: We were able to manage both the sharp increase of hydro and wind production, and also the return to a lower share of renewables, when natural-gas power plants were requested again to supply some of the country’s demand,” Miguel Prado, a journalist covering Portugal’s energy sector, told Canary Media.

Portugal has pledged a 2050 deadline for net-zero carbon emissions. To get closer to its goal, the country is now looking to take steps like investing in deepwater offshore wind farms. With some luck, the six-day period record will be broken often in the coming years, until one day, clean energy simply becomes the standard.

Portugal just ran on 100% renewable energy for six days in a row.

Photo: sepavone/Depositphotos

On October 27, the largest energy company in Portugal reported that conditions of wind and waves were generating the entirety of the country's energy supply.

Photo: mlehmann/Depositphotos

h/t: [Canary Media]

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Set against the backdrop of a dusted pink sky, the icebergs almost glowed with an eerie luminescence. Glacial structures like these form and break away from Antarctica's sprawling ice shelf, drifting out from their fortresses into the water like sentinels scouting the open ocean. In the pastel shimmer of dusk, the world seemed perfectly still. But I knew deep beneath these icy giants was a symphony of frozen crystals forming and shattering; the silent call of the polar South.

Conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier has dedicated her career to the protection of the natural world. Specifically, she is passionate about the state of our world's oceans, and through SeaLegacy, a non-profit she founded with her partner Paul Nicklen, she helps shine a spotlight on environmental issues through visual storytelling.

In a recent Facebook Story, Mittermeier called on world leaders to step up to the plight that Antarctica is facing. This fragile ecosystem is at a critical point due to numerous factors that include climate change, overfishing, and deep-sea mining.  Tackling the issue head-on, Mittermeier uses her creative skills as a photographer to remind the public of what is at stake.

We had a chance to speak with Mittermeier on the heels of the annual CCAMLR (Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) to discuss the victories and challenges that the area faces. Read on for My Modern Met's exclusive interview and prepare to get inspired to effect change.

The evening sun catches the misty haze lingering over the glassy, icy waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. A humpback whale graces us ever so briefly with her presence before diving deep back under the dark sea.

What have been the biggest successes and challenges for ocean conservation in 2023?

There have been a number of wins so far this year, including the fact that many countries, including Canada and the UK, have placed a moratorium on Deep Sea Mining. Just like the wholesale liquidation of natural resources of land has had devastating effects on biodiversity and climate, the pursuit of mining assets at the bottom of the sea is a shortsighted, colonial proposal that will result in the further devastation of our oceans and our planet.

Knowing that countries are taking a serious look at understanding the ecology of the deep sea before any consideration is given to a mining proposal is a great step in the right direction.

Crabeater seal

We see a lot of imagery about Antarctica and the melting glaciers, rising water tables, etcetera. What are the biggest changes you've seen there in your latest trip?

The changes that are easy to see are the dislodging of enormous blocks of ice from the continental shelf. These icebergs will eventually melt completely and add a large amount of freshwater to the ocean ecosystem, which will contribute to changing currents and rising sea levels. In addition, the weather patterns have changed from ice and snow to rain, which makes the survival of young animals, like baby penguins, much harder.

The international body in charge of creating additional protections for the Southern Ocean, known as CCAMLR (Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources), has met several years in a row, and they have failed to develop an agreement to protect this fragile ecosystem, which is a real tragedy.

Nature is the greatest architect. This is just one the many examples of the stunning configurations of ice and water to be found across the southern continents' oceans. As the ocean heats up we risk losing these beautiful and critical creations of nature.

It's still sometimes difficult for individuals to see how they can effect change to reverse the climate trend. What do you recommend to those people who feel like they can't make a difference on their own?

Nobody is making a difference on their own. It is important to understand that for every naysayer, there are 1,000 people making strides to have a positive impact. From reducing the amount of meat we consume to traveling less to becoming less materialistic, shifting to greener energy, and being more invested in reducing waste, the collective effect is massive. We all need to do more, and we all need to donate more to environmental efforts. Environment and climate remain the most underfunded causes in the United States.

A Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea)glides through the snowy skies of the Drygalski Fjord in Antarctica. These graceful birds rely on the sea ice for hunting and rest while on the open sea.

CCAMLR 2023 just wrapped up. What are your biggest takeaways from what happened there?

I am baffled that a country like Russia, which is in the middle of an illegal war, would be allowed to have a voice in the decision to not protect the Southern Ocean. Still, in the end, conservation happens by consensus, and even though every other member country of CCAMLR elected to enact protections, the single voice of a rogue Russia negated the effort. Tragic, really.

What's on your list creatively and as an activist for the new year?

I am working on my first Masters of Photography course, and I have been busy creating new work and editing old work for both that course and my upcoming exhibition at Galleria D'Italia.

Cristina Mittermeier: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Cristina Mittermeier.

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Photo: QS Supplies via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Taking a shower is a routine part of life. For some, it is a relaxing activity; for others, it is a brisk way to start the day. But have you ever thought of how much it costs? QS Supplies, a UK-based bathroom furnishing provider, set out to find the yearly price of taking a warm shower around the world. They then put together their findings in an insightful infographic, revealing that the costs of jumping into the shower are not the same for everyone.

To measure how much a year of daily showers cost, QS Supplies looked at electricity and water usage costs in 89 countries. They then compared it to the average annual income in each country to determine its overall affordability.

On average, the price of a warm shower is $260 a year, but there are huge differences from country to country. In Denmark, a year of daily hot showers costs $802, making it the most expensive in the world. On the other side of the spectrum, Egypt and Suriname have the lowest annual shower costs at $33 per year. In the U.S., the yearly cost of taking a shower is $264, making it the 36th most expensive in the world.

Despite the disparaging numbers, the tables turn once again when looking at each country's economy. The country with the most affordable annual shower costs is Norway, as it equates to 0.31% of the average local income. It is followed by Kuwait and the U.S., where it represents 0.35% and 0.49% respectively. Meanwhile, showers are prohibitively expensive in Rwanda, where they take up 46.17% of the average annual income, making them the least affordable in the world.

The stark differences in showers are not far off from the overall global inequality panorama. That's why it is important to guarantee everyone has access to it. After all, even the UN considers it a human right “to have physical and affordable access to sanitation, in all spheres of life, that is safe, hygienic, secure, and socially and culturally acceptable.” How often it should be done is a different conversation.

QS Supplies, a UK-based bathroom furnishing provider, set out to find the yearly price of taking a warm shower around the world.

Photo: QS Supplies via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

To measure how much a year of daily showers cost, QS Supplies looked at electricity and water usage costs in 89 countries. They then compared it to the average annual income in each country to determine its overall affordability.

Photo: QS Supplies via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo: QS Supplies via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

QS Supplies: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Digg]

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READ: Eye-Opening Infographic Reveals the Yearly Cost of Taking a Shower Around the World

Photo: LeonidSorokin/Depositphotos

From solar panels to electric cars, clean energy has become a bigger part of our lives in recent years. A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that it will only develop a stronger foothold in the decades to come, with more solar panels, electric cars, and renewable energy by 2030.

IEA analyzed the current policies, and adds that there will likely be two-thirds more clean energy 10 years from now with a decreased dependence on fossil fuels. “The transition to clean energy is happening worldwide and it’s unstoppable. It’s not a question of ‘if,’ it’s just a matter of ‘how soon’—and the sooner the better for all of us,” says IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Governments, companies, and investors need to get behind clean energy transitions rather than hindering them. There are immense benefits on offer, including new industrial opportunities and jobs, greater energy security, cleaner air, universal energy access and a safer climate for everyone. Taking into account the ongoing strains and volatility in traditional energy markets today, claims that oil and gas represent safe or secure choices for the world’s energy and climate future look weaker than ever.”

Although this is welcome news for many, the IEA stresses that more improvement will need to be made for the 200 countries in the Paris Agreement to meet the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celcius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit). In fact, governments will have to triple renewable capacity, slash methane emissions from fossil fuel operations by 75%, and triple clean energy in developing economies. “Every country needs to find its own pathway, but international cooperation is crucial for accelerating clean energy transitions,” Dr. Birol asserts. “In particular, the speed at which emissions decline will hinge in large part on our ability to finance sustainable solutions to meet rising energy demand from the world’s fast growing economies. This all points to the vital importance of redoubling collaboration and cooperation, not retreating from them.”

While the demand for fossil fuels is still currently strong, the IEA finds that it is slowly changing with the rise of solar panels, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. This report comes out ahead of the United Nations climate summit in Dubai this December, where leaders will discuss phasing out fossil fuels, among other issues.

h/t: [The Verge]

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A new climate report has been published by scientists, and, unfortunately, the outlook isn't good. Though this shouldn't come as a shock, particularly given the ominous U.N. climate report in 2021, it's disheartening nonetheless. According to the 2023 state of the climate report, 20 of 35 vital signs on Earth used to track climate change are at record highs.

So what does this mean? Simply put, life is in peril. The concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has soared, extreme heat waves are more frequent, sea ice levels in Antarctica are at record lows, the oceans are historically warm, and the amount of trees lost to wildfires is extraordinary. Scientists are concerned that all of these factors are placing us closer to a dangerous tipping point.

“These record extremes are alarming in themselves, and they are also in danger of triggering tipping points that could do irreversible damage and further accelerate climate change,” states Professor Tim Lenton of the UK's University of Exter. Professor Lenton, a co-author on the study.

Photo: ginasanders/Depositphotos

“Our best hope to prevent a cascade of climate tipping points is to identify and trigger positive tipping points in our societies and economies, to ensure a rapid and just transition to a sustainable future.”

The scientists stress that the 35 vital signs in the study each correlate to potential destruction that can harm all living things on our planet. And, unfortunately, we are already starting to see the effects with an increase in wildfires, flooding, and other extreme weather.

“Life on our planet is clearly under siege,” warns lead author Professor William Ripple. Ripple is a faculty member at Oregon State University College of Forestry. “The statistical trends show deeply alarming patterns of climate-related variables and disasters. We also found little progress to report as far as humanity combating climate change.”

Photo: CherNika/Depositphotos

Their findings make it clear that we, collectively, aren't doing enough to turn the tides back. In fact, the study states that, in 2019, the top 10% of emitters were responsible for almost 50% of global emissions. This means that events like Canada's record wildfire season, which created CO2 emissions equal to the annual emissions of Japan, could be a signal of a devastating new normal.

“Without actions that address the root problem of humanity taking more from the Earth than it can safely give, we’re on our way to the potential collapse of natural and socioeconomic systems and a world with unbearable heat and shortages of food and fresh water,” shares former OSU postdoctoral researcher Christopher Wolf, who is the study's other lead author.

The study makes it clear that it's more important than ever to see how you, as an individual, can do your part to help the planet and why it's also critical to get out and vote for officials who support your views and will put pressure on businesses and governments to fall in line via legislation.

h/t: [The Guardian]

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Photo: nadik29/Depositphotos

After the devastating fires that hit Maui a couple of months ago, one of the biggest questions regarding the community’s cultural heritage was whether Lahaina's 150-year-old banyan tree would survive. The storied tree, which was first planted in 1873, was severely burned during the wildfires. Now, the arborists working on the tree have shared some uplifting updates. According to those working on the tree, it has sprouted new leaves, raising hopes about its future.

“After not being here for two weeks and looking at the new sprouts, especially on the makai side of the tree it is enlightening and exciting to see all the new growth, but also how high up in the canopy it is,” arborist Steve Nimz, part of the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project, said in a news release.

Nimz explained that one-third of the tree is showing really strong recovery, another third is showing a little progress, and the final third has not shown anything yet. “In my opinion the tree is still in a coma. I relate it to people,” the arborist explains. “They’re in a coma and all of a sudden they blink an eye or move a finger. This tree needs to put out enough foliage and green to be able to feed itself.” According to experts, the soil beneath the tree became extremely hot during the fire, which altered the ground’s ability to absorb water.

The banyan fig, which now stands 60 feet tall, was first planted in the 19th century when it was an 8-foot-tall sapling. It was placed in downtown Lahaina by the sheriff to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first Protestant mission. Despite the attachment the community has to it, the Ficus benghalensis is not a species native to Hawai'i. It was actually shipped from India, becoming a symbol of Hawai'i's burgeoning multicultural exchange.

The historic banyan tree is not the only plant the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project is taking care of. With the help of volunteer construction companies, they've been watering the banyan tree as well as numerous ulu (breadfruit trees), kukui nut, and Royal palm trees. “We’re also taking care of a lot of other historical trees in Lahaina, but most of them have been charred pretty bad,” Landscaping business owner Chris Imonti told CNN. “I mean, everything is gone. We’re running around watering a few trees in town and that’s all that’s left.” Since most landmarks were destroyed, the landscaper describes the tree as “your only compass in town.”

While the locals have more pressing matters as they rebuild their life following the fire, those looking after it know it can be a good vehicle for change, and a symbol for the resilience of those who call Maui home. “People see it as a sign of hope,” Imonti says. “A sign of new beginnings.”

After the devastating fires that hit Maui a couple of months ago, one of the biggest questions regarding cultural heritage was whether Lahaina's 150-year-old banyan tree would survive.

Photo: PiKappa/Depositphotos

Now, the arborists working on the tree have shared some uplifting updates. According to those working on the tree, it has sprouted new leaves, raising hopes about its future.

“It is enlightening and exciting to see all the new growth, but also how high up in the canopy it is,” says Steve Nimz, an arborist part of the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project.

“In my opinion the tree is still in a coma. I relate it to people. They’re in a coma and all of a sudden they blink an eye or move a finger. This tree needs to put out enough foliage and green to be able to feed itself.”

Signs of #hope:

the historic banyan tree burned during the #Lahaina fire last month has sprouted new leaves, showing signs of resilience and recovery pic.twitter.com/z2oPnP91e3

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 20, 2023

h/t: [CNN]

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READ: Lahaina Banyan Tree Has Sprouted New Leaves Since the Devastating Maui Wildfires