The Big Game Brings Big Climate Impacts

The Big Game Brings Big Climate Impacts

Around 1,000 private jets were expected to land at Las Vegas airports ahead of the Super Bowl. Greenhouse gas emissions for mega-events like this just from air traffic alone are expected to be at least double that of an average day. Quantifying the exact carbon dioxide emissions from a cluster of planes landing in Vegas is difficult, but experts estimate that private plane travel worldwide emitted more than 573,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2022. For comparison purposes, it was calculated that the 1,040 private jet flights in Davos for last year’s World Economic Forum produced carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 350,000 cars in a week. Las Vegas already faces energy, heat, and drought challenges, so the addition of increased emissions and pollution is raised concerns with locals.

Gerald Narciso, The New York Times

Global Warming Exceeds 1.5C Across an Entire Year

The European Union’s climate change monitoring service announced that the world just experienced its warmest January on record, marking the first 12-month period in which temperatures averaged more than 1.5C above pre-industrial times. In 2015 at the United Nations climate talks in Paris, countries agreed to keep global warming well below 2C, aiming to limit it to 1.5C. Experts say we’ve hit a significant milestone, as 1.5C is a level regarded as crucial to preventing the most severe consequences. Some scientists say the 1.5C aim can no longer be realistically met, and are urging governments to act faster to cut CO2 emissions to limit the amount of overshoot of the target.

Kate Abnett and Gorida Dickie, Reuters

Surge in December Tornado Outbreaks

For the third year in a row, the U.S. saw devastating tornado outbreaks in December. Although tornadoes are typically associated with the spring and early summer months, the warmer atmosphere has created more conducive environments for tornado formation during typically cooler months. Efforts to comprehend and mitigate the escalating risks associated with these changing weather patterns are imperative. Experts say this can be done through advanced weather technology, enhanced radar coverage, improved numerical weather prediction models, and the integration of artificial intelligence.

Climavision

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