CLIMATE HEALTH next three years surpass 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit Our planet is speeding toward a dangerous temperature milestone, we could surpass it before the end of this decade.What’s happening? if the Earth continues its current levels of pollution and carbon pollution, average global temperatures in the next three years will likely surpass 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit over preindustrial levels, That threshold is one agreed to by nearly 200 countries as part of the Paris Agreement as a level that the planet’s temperature needs to stay below. If temperatures consistently surpass that number, the United Nations warns, the planet could. not enough has happened to limit carbon pollution.”Things are all moving in the wrong direction,” \some unprecedented changes, and we’re also seeing the heating of the Earth and sea-level rise accelerating as well.”Why are higher temperatures important?The planet is warming at a rate of nearly half a degree Fahrenheit each decade — a level, the scientists note, that has never been seen before. The rate of warming is roughly double what it was 50 years ago. each of the 10 warmest years on record occurred within the past decade, with 2024 setting the all-time high mark. And that record is also expected to be broken As the planet gets warmer, extreme weather events are occurring with more frequency, more severity, or both.”steroids for weather.” changing climate. countries adopt green technologies and clean energy sources like solar and wind, the rate of harmful carbon pollution can slow down. And while some drastic carbon cuts will be needed to keep the planet from reaching that threshold, every bit of slowing helps. US lake sets shocking world record: ‘ world-record levels of toxic “forever chemicals” in a New Mexico lake. Holloman Lake along with soils, plants, algae, fish, reptiles, and various species of birds and mammals,\ Phys.org.All the samples had very high PFAS concentrations, up to or exceeding 10,000 times what the Environmental Protection Agency recommends in its drinking water standards.the highest concentration of PFAS anywhere in the world to date, as did one plant composite sample. The team also discovered the highest PFAS concentration recorded in a bird to date. extends beyond the lake itself, and they linked this to past flooding events. For instance, the most contaminated soil sample was located downstream from the lake. the playas in the area might be but stated that they can serve as important habitats for migratory birds.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances have been linked to a number of health concerns, including decreased fertility, increased risk of cancer, and reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections.\ migratory birds will become heavily contaminated at Holloman Lake and then move on to other areas, putting hunters and people elsewhere at risk.\could ingest contaminated meat. consuming just one bite of meat from a Holloman Lake duck would expose someone to more PFAS than is recommended for a lifetime.”We are worried about the possibility of toxicity on reproduction and development in local birds, PFAS could also be transgenerational, with contamination affecting not just animals living at or visiting Holloman Lake but also future generations. there are a number of other large water bodies contaminated with these chemicals. For instance, one study found forever chemicals all over the Great Lakes Basin, including in air, rain, and water. Hunting has been prohibited there since 2024.\\Student raises red flags after making alarming discovery in fish samples from one US region: ‘People don’t know much about it’And though PFAS are known for being difficult to remove from the environment, scientists have made breakthroughs, which could help safeguard people and wildlife in the future.to remove the full spectrum of PFAS from water in a single process, and a team at the University of Rochester is doing similar work.
