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Many parts of the world can expect above average temperatures in the coming months even without the presence of an El Niño event to drive warming, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday. The UN agency published its latest update on El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a naturally occurring phenomenon in the equatorial Pacific linked to heavy rains, floods, drought and other…

Above average temperatures are expected in many parts of the globe in the next few months, even without the presence of a warming El Niño event, according to the World Meteorological Organization. WMO’s El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Update said that there is a 60% chance of ongoing ENSO-neutral conditions continuing during March-May 2020. The chances for an El Niño or La Niña are 35%…

The Food and Agriculture Organization states that the demand for cereals, both for human consumption and animal feed is projected to be three billion tonnes by 2050. In developing countries, the increase in food production will need to more than double (2009 FAO article entitled "Global agriculture towards 2050"). Another set of heat-maps and graphs from the World Resources Institute projects…

Revitalization of a traditional agricultural practice known as farmer managed natural regeneration is bringing new life to millions of acres of degraded land while boosting food, fuel, habitat and carbon storage. Around the world, more than 2 billion hectares (nearly 5 billion acres) of land — an area larger than Russia — are degraded. Degradation can take many forms: clearing of forests, soil…

Half of the world's beaches could disappear by the end of the century due to coastal erosion, according to a new study led by the JRC. Erosion is a major problem facing sandy beaches that will worsen with the rising sea levels brought about by climate change. According to the study, published today in Nature Climate Change, effective climate action could prevent 40% of that erosion…

A groundbreaking new tool, launched today by the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership, can predict the risk of violent conflicts up to 12 months ahead of time. The WPS Global Early Warning Tool uses machine learning coupled with environmental, meteorological, social and economic data to forecast exactly where organized violence is likely to occur. This tool will enable global development,…