The Climate Question
News update: Sea level rise, Mexico's "green" president, Ivory Coast's chocolate crisis
Sep 23, 2024
Esme Stallard, a BBC Climate Reporter, reveals alarming insights from the latest UN report on sea level rise, emphasizing the impact on vulnerable Pacific islands. Will Grant shares a lively account of Mexico's new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, an environmental scientist, and her ambitious sustainability plans. Meanwhile, the podcast dives into the chocolate crisis in Ivory Coast, where climate change has driven cocoa prices soaring. The discussion highlights the challenges faced by farmers and the urgent need for supportive measures.
26:26
Episode guests
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The recent UN report highlights accelerated sea level rise, posing an existential threat to low-lying Pacific islands due to climate change.
- Mexico's new environmental president, Claudia Sheinbaum, faces challenges in balancing economic growth with sustainability as a major carbon emitter.
Deep dives
The Rising Threat of Sea Level Increase in the Pacific
Sea level rise poses an existential threat to low-lying Pacific islands, as highlighted by recent warnings from the UN chief. Current rates of sea level rise are accelerating, being recorded at double the rates of the 1990s, with projections indicating that the region may experience increases 10 to 30% higher than the global average. This phenomenon is driven by two primary factors: thermal expansion of seawater as it warms and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, both exacerbated by climate change. The situation is critical, as even if emissions were stopped entirely today, the historical accumulation of greenhouse gases would continue to affect sea levels for decades into the future.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
