The scientists said their goal was “to provide clear, evidence-based insights that inspire informed and bold responses from citizens to researchers and world leaders – we just want to act truthfully and tell it like it is.” Decisive, fast action was imperative to limit human suffering, they said, including reducing fossil fuel burning and methane emissions, cutting overconsumption and waste by the rich, and encouraging a switch towards plant-based foods.

“We’re already in the midst of abrupt climate upheaval, which jeopardises life on Earth like nothing humans have ever seen,” said Prof William Ripple, of Oregon State University (OSU), who co-led the group. “Ecological overshoot – taking more than the Earth can safely give – has pushed the planet into climatic conditions more threatening than anything witnessed even by our prehistoric relatives. (ed) And yet humanity shows utterly little concern.....read on   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/08/earths-vital-signs-show-humanitys-future-in-balance-say-climate-experts

Deforestation has killed half a million people in the past 20 years, study finds. Localised rises in temperature caused by land clearance cause 28,330 heat-related deaths a year, researchers find. Deforestation has killed more than half a million people in the tropics over the past two decades as a result of heat-related illness, a study has found. Land clearance is raising the temperature in the rainforests of the Amazon, Congo and south-east Asia because it reduces shade, diminishes rainfall and increases the risk of fire, the authors of the paper found. Deforestation is responsible for more than a third of the warming experienced by people living in the affected regions, which is on top of the effect of global climate disruption. About 345 million people across the tropics suffered from this localised, deforestation-caused warming between 2001 and 2020. For 2.6 million of them, the additional heating added 3C to their heat exposure.In many cases, this was deadly. The researchers estimated that warming due to deforestation accounted for 28,330 annual deaths over that 20-year period. More than half were in south-east Asia, owing to the larger populations in areas with heat vulnerability. About a third were in tropical Africa, and the remainder in Central and South America. The study was published on Wednesday in the journal Nature Climate Change. Researchers in Brazil, Ghana and the UK compared non-accident mortality rates and temperatures in areas affected by tropical land clearance.

Previous studies have shown how cutting and burning trees causes long-term localised warming, but the new paper is the first to calculate the ensuing death toll. Prof Dominick Spracklen of the University of Leeds said the message was that “deforestation kills”. He expected many people would be shocked by the findings because the local dangers of deforestation were often lost in the global climate debate and the market-focused expansion of agricultural frontiers. As an example, he pointed to the Brazilian region of Mato Grosso, where there has been massive deforestation to open up land for vast soya bean plantations. Farmers from this area are now pushing for an end to the soy moratorium in the Amazon so they can clear more territory......read on The study was published on Wednesday in the journal Nature Climate Change. Researchers in Brazil, Ghana and the UK compared non-accident mortality rates and temperatures in areas affected by tropical land clearance.........read on     https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/27/deforestation-has-killed-half-a-million-people-in-past-20-years-study-finds

The relationship between climate change and humanitarian crises is often oversimplified in public dis­course.Humanitarian Alterternatives Rodrigo Mena Contrary to popular belief, climate change is not the direct cause of disasters, but rather an amplifier of pre-existing risks, exacerbating socio-economic and political vulnerabilities. This nuanced vision calls for an integrated approach that goes beyond a simple emergency response to tackle the root causes of vulnerability and promote anticipatory and resilience strategies, notably through anticipatory humanitarian action and climate-resilient local adaptation. Multiple reports highlight the significant role of anthropogenic climate change (CC) in both the occurrence of humanitarian crises and its impact on humanitarian action. Regarding the latter, CC can contribute to the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters, health challenges, food insecurity and migration. Additionally, its compounded effects can exacerbate conflicts and livelihood deterioration, while the rising number of crises intensifies competition for limited humanitarian funding, further straining response efforts.[1] As a result of the former, humanitarian organisations and donors have begun integrating CC into their risk frameworks and action plans.[2] However, public discourse, along with some academic and grey literature in the humanitarian sector, often oversimplifies the issue, portraying CC as a primary cause of disasters, conflict, displacement and humanitarian crises. This oversimplification is also reflected in United Nations (UN), non-governmental organisations (NGO) and donor strategies, as well as broader political, institutional, economic, and social frameworks. This article challenges that perspective by unpacking a more nuanced understanding of CC vis-à-vis humanitarian crises and actions.

While CC may play a role in migration, disasters and conflict, the true drivers behind these crises are mediated by human actions and decisions, governance structures and societal vulnerabilities. CC alone does not directly cause crises. Rather, it magnifies existing weaknesses within human systems, as explained below.The mediating role of human action in climate-related crises......A cornerstone of disaster theory is the understanding that disasters are not solely the result of hazards (processes or phenomena that can cause harm)[3] but that vulnerability sharply determines how such events affect people and the environment. Extreme weather events alone do not inherently lead to disasters, forced migration or social conflict. Rather, societal actions – or inaction – determine whether these events escalate into crises or disasters.[4] This understanding underscores the notion that disasters are not natural, but rooted in sociopolitical dynamics.[5] For example, some countries have robust infrastructure capable of absorbing rainwater, well-equipped disaster response systems, or advanced early-warning mechanisms to predict storms, while others lack these capacities. As a result, the same rainfall can have vastly different impacts, largely due to disparity in governance, infrastructure and socio-economic inequality.

Similarly, while many disasters and humanitarian crises are linked to weather-related events such as hurricanes, droughts and floods – and some of these can, in turn, be attributed to CC – the key factor determining their impact is how societies anticipate, respond to and mitigate these risks.[6] This also applies to climate-related displacement and conflict. Whether people decide to leave a place, to stay or may lack the option to move (e.g. trapped populations) is often driven by socio-economic factors rather than a singular climate stressor.[7] Likewise, conflicts attributed to CC typically stem from deeper issues such as poor resource management, political instability and historical grievances.[8] Research further shows that while disasters and conflicts frequently co-occur (with up to 70% of conflict-affected areas also experiencing disasters), their relationship is indirect, mediated by multiple societal factors.[9] The previous arguments establish that CC’s role in humanitarian crises is indirect and mediated by human (in)action. While a full explanation of how this happens is complex and beyond the scope of this article, below are four key ways in which this occurs:

First, a well-established argument in literature is that CC acts as a risk-amplifier rather than the root cause of crises. It exacerbates vulnerabilities and magnifies existing social, economic and political challenges, acting as a trigger or accelerator rather than a sole cause.[10] 

Second, CC contributes to livelihood deterioration, particularly in sectors like agriculture. For example, prolonged droughts or unpredictable weather can devastate agriculture, leaving farmers unable to sustain their families. Without effective mitigation, many may be forced to migrate as a coping mechanism. Such displacement can strain resources, heighten social tensions, and, in extreme cases, contribute to conflict and humanitarian crises.[11]

Third, CC may increase (or reduce) the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.[12] Without adequate prevention and response measures, such events can lead to mass casualties, infrastructure damage and societal disruption. An important caveat here is attribution: many extreme weather events cannot be conclusively linked to CC, though some have varying levels of confidence.[13] This uncertainty should not be problematic though, as action is needed to protect at-risk populations, regardless of attribution.

Fourth, CC is not just a climatological phenomenon. It also shapes political, economic and societal dynamics. It has given rise to a vast industry focused on climate mitigation and adaptation, including carbon trading, climate-neutral products and political movements like the Extinction Rebellion. This reinforces the idea that CC is deeply embedded in societal narratives and structures, influencing decision-making at multiple levels.....read on https://www.alternatives-humanitaires.org/en/2025/03/31/climate-change-and-humanitarian-crises-a-nuanced-perspective/n 

 Heatwaves have grown hotter and stronger as the planet has warmed, making what doctors call a “silent killer” even more dangerous. How worried should we be about heat – and how can we stay safe as the climate changes?Guardian Ajit Niranjan 27 June 2025 Heatwaves have grown hotter and stronger as the planet has warmed, making what doctors call a “silent killer” even more dangerous. How worried should we be about heat – and how can we stay safe as the climate changes?