Category: Extreme weather

Spreading like wildfire; the double-threat of changing landscapes and climate

Posted on by Grantham Institute

Wildfire is the single greatest terrestrial disturbance agent on Earth. Satellite data suggest that in an average year, wildfires burn a total area of around 3.5 million km2, an area around 15 times larger than the UK. While some of these fires are purposefully controlled or are manageable, and can have benefits for ecosystems and livelihoods, other fires burn uncontrollably, with sometimes devastating consequences for safety, livelihoods, wildlife and climate.

Why a debate over who should take responsibility for climate change’s impending humanitarian disaster is proving hard to solve at COP21

Posted on by Grantham Institute

Dr Gabriele Messori, Imperial physics alumnus and climate scientist writes about the contentious issue of the loss and damage caused…