Eco Minute

BULLETIN 12 December 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The World Meteorological Organisation has warned of a 55-percent likelihood that La Niña conditions will emerge between this month and February. It refers to the large-scale cooling of the ocean surface temperatures. Secretary-general Celeste Saulo says even if a La Niña event does emerge, its short-term cooling impact will be insufficient to counterbalance the warming effect of record heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The previous update, issued in September, forecast a 60-percent likelihood of La Niña in December to February.

# Researchers warn that climate hazards could reduce corporate earnings by seven-percent annually by 2035. A World Economic Forum report urges businesses to address these risks through decarbonisation and resilience strategies. The report indicates that sectors like energy and telecommunications face mounting vulnerabilities. Despite risks, green markets are projected to grow to 248-trillion-rand by 2030, offering significant opportunities for early adopters of sustainable solutions. The forum stresses action to ensure economic and environmental stability.

# And finally: A humpback whale has made one of the longest and most unusual migrations ever recorded. It was seen in the Pacific Ocean off Colombia in 2017, and now popped up near Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, a distance of at least 13-thousand kilometres. Experts think this epic journey might be down to climate change depleting food stocks or perhaps an odyssey to find a mate. Humpback whales live in all oceans around the world and have one of the longest migrations of any mammal.

Stay tuned for more news………….