Helen Jackson @hjcksn@qoto.org

Some very interesting ideas on how Athens can adapt to rising temperatures from an architect who has advised the City Council
https://www.ekathimerini.com/society/1217496/climate-change-saving-athens-from-itself/

Pakistan's climate vulnerability is a "national emergency" says Dawn op-ed:
"investment should pour into drainage systems, dams, waterways, warning mechanisms"
adaptation strategy cannot be set in motion without "superlative" efforts
https://www.dawn.com/news/1767814

Part of Syria affected by last February's earthquake hit by wildfires
Local farmer: “I’ve never seen any weather like this. The soil and the trees were so impacted by the heat that they lit up quickly”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2346706/middle-east

China is massively underinsured – Munich Re analysis
"Typically, the insurance gap, whether it’s on flooding, or on earthquakes, or tropical cyclones, or typhoons, is 90 per cent or above"
https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3229168/under-insured-china-vulnerable-amid-rise-natural-catastrophes-munich-re

Italy deploying hot weather furlough scheme for farming and construction
https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/2023/07/27/italy-allows-firms-to-lay-off-staff-in-areas-hit-by-extreme-weather/

File under #maladaptation
https://www.redfin.com/news/climate-migration-real-estate-2023/

The recurring wildfire crises we can expect in the Med from now on are an absolute tragedy for the people of these nations. They need to learn to prevent & manage them as best they can, share firefighting resources & expertise, and prepare their populations.

34 people dead from wildfires in Algeria
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/deadly-fires-rage-along-algeria-coast-spread-tunisia-2023-07-25/

Regional President of Sicily: "scorching heat and unprecedented devastating fires" made yesterday "one of the most difficult days in decades"
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/three-dead-sicily-counts-losses-devastating-fires-2023-07-26/

Greek PM: "For the next few weeks, we must be on constant alert. We are at war ... We will rebuild what we lost, we will compensate those who were hurt… The climate crisis is already here. It will manifest itself everywhere in the Mediterranean"
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/25/we-are-at-war-more-evacuations-as-greece-battles-wildfires

Electricity grid in Malta struggling due to the heat, with impact on tourism
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/tourists-check-out-costs-mount-power-outages-wreak-havoc.1045273

Ipsos research on climate adaptation:
• UK public are deeply concerned about the seriousness of climate change risks
• need for "enhanced, ongoing and extensive communication and engagement" about key risks and adaptation actions
https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/public-call-immediate-climate-adaptation-action-prioritises-vulnerable-and-risk-communities

Can't say I have absorbed the newly released UK 3rd National Adaptation Programme in full, but I would issue a plea to policymakers that following the events of last summer the risk of peri-urban wildfire needs to be recognised as an adaptation issue.

As with past documents, wildfire is viewed through the lens of risks to "terrestrial habitats". It is, but there's also a risk of multiple concurrent peri-urban wildfires overstretching fire services and people getting killed.

Reminder of what happened last summer - quote from a fireman with West Yorkshire FRS at the time:

" It’s about a completely and fundamentally different operating environment where fires burn with such ferocity, and spread with such speed in suburban areas that you CAN’T STOP THEM. We’ve seen the kind of conditions faced by international colleagues just miles from our capital city, and in towns, villages and cities the length and breadth of the country. You can’t ask your neighbouring FRS for mutual aid when they’re just a busy as you are"

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-adaptation-programme-to-tackle-climate-impact

India's cities are failing to cope even with unexceptional rainfall due to urban planning failures, says this piece in the Deccan Herald. Blue-green infrastructure is part of the solution.
https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/caught-in-the-deluge-flooding-in-india-s-ill-equipped-cities-1237366.html

The no. people whose flood insurance is subsidised under Flood Re who know this subsidy will be withdrawn in 16 years must be negligible. This is one reason why there needs to be a comprehensive public information campaign on flooding in the UK.
https://www.ft.com/content/acc5c9f4-eadc-4e2d-9f68-d83303f85b70

The water shortages are prompting hostility towards a new data centre being planned by Google
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/11/uruguay-drought-water-google-data-center

If govts don't ensure infrastructure is resilient to droughts, floods *before* they hit, then this is what ensues – scrabbling around for emergency fixes + welfare losses for the population. Sick and pregnant advised not to drink tap water in Montevideo.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230712-race-against-time-to-find-fresh-water-for-uruguay-s-capital

Water rationing imminent in Delhi due to flooding. Up to 25% of water supply could be affected. Schools and colleges have been closed and people asked to work from home.
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indian-capital-faces-drinking-water-shortage-pumps-flooded-2023-07-13/

Also in Mexico this week:
"enormous pressure on the country’s power grid" from heat dome
"Experts say a lack of investment has left the Mexican electric system unprepared for the challenge"
Electricity reserve reached a historic low on Tuesday
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/29/mexico-power-grid-strain-deadly-heat

Israeli Energy Minister orders an immediate examination of the effects of climate change on the energy sector after heatwave-related power cuts. In so many countries governments are reacting to events rather than foreseeing and preparing for them.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-power-outages-during-heatwave-energy-ministry-to-study-climate-change-effects/