Are Camels the Next Cows?

Are Camels the Next Cows?

Camels have evolved to cope with very hot days and freezing cold nights in the desert. They can go days with little water or vegetation. They also produce less methane than cows, sheep, and other ruminants. These traits make them uniquely resilient to climate change. The camel may be the next cow, as they are ideal livestock and play a key role in adapting food production as the climate changes. There is already a growing demand for camel milk, as it is high in vitamin C and low in fat. The increasing demand for industrial camels and their milk is driving entrepreneurs to breed camels that produce higher yields of milk, which is what happened with domesticated dairy cows. Of course, this potential is also met with concern from traditional camel herders.

Ariell Ahearn and Dawn Chatty, Phys.org

Only 10 Countries Had Healthy Air in 2023

The average person can go up to 2 months without food, 3 days without water, but only a few minutes without air. Air is essential to life, but yet in 2023 only 10 countries and only 9% of global cities had air quality that met the World Health Organization guidelines for harmful fine-particle, or PM2.5, pollution. Places in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia had the worst air quality. Brick kilns, mining, and burning of fossil fuels are common sources of PM2.5. PM2.5 is said to kill more people than any other pollutant. According to the WHO, more than 4 million deaths can be contributed to outdoor air pollution annually, with fossil fuels being blamed for about 65% of those deaths. In the U.S. last year, Canadian wildfires were a major source of PM2.5, with the particles being carried into the U.S. with the wildfire smoke and prevailing winds.

Kendra Pierre-Louis, The Japan Times

Climate Change Migrates Some Diseases

The malaria parasite is mostly spread to people via infected mosquitoes and can cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, and chills. Crowded neighborhoods, stagnant water, poor sanitation, and lack of access to treatment and prevention all play a role in the spread of such diseases. Scientists warn that as the climate warms and as extreme weather events become more frequent, areas that were once inhospitable to mosquitos could be exposed. This is especially true for some low-and-middle-income regions in Africa.

Africa News