This is Beirut - climate

Painting the Heat Away: Vienna Museum Uses Art to Cool Urban Spaces

This is Beirut, 14:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Art Climate Vienna Museum Austria Culture

Equipped with an infrared thermometer, Austrian artist Jonas Griessler measures the sweltering heat in an inner courtyard in the center of Vienna. Thanks to his collective's art work covering the black asphalt with a multitude of bright colors, the ground temperature has dropped from 31C to 20C. Initiated by the museum showing the private ...

Water Shortages Plague Beirut as Low Rainfall Compounds Woes

This is Beirut, 14/08 18:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Water Climate Shortage

People are buying water by the truckload in Beirut as the state supply faces its worst shortages in years, with the leaky public sector struggling after record-low rainfall and local wells running dry. "State water used to come every other day, now it's every three days," said Rima al-Sabaa, 50, rinsing dishes carefully in Burj al-Baranjeh, in ...

Plastic Pollution Treaty Talks in Disarray

This is Beirut, 14/08 05:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

International Plastic Pollution Climate

Attempts to secure a landmark treaty combating plastic pollution descended into disarray on the penultimate day of talks Wednesday as dozens of countries rejected the latest draft text, leaving the talks in limbo. With time running out to seal a deal among the 184 countries gathered at the United Nations in Geneva, several countries slammed a ...

Five Key Things About Heatwaves in Europe

This is Beirut, 13/08 11:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

europe climate heatwaves

Scorching temperatures, such as those recorded in southern Europe, illustrate the intensifying heatwaves in Europe, which scientists consider a direct result of climate change. Here are five things to know about the heatwaves in Europe, which the EU climate monitor Copernicus says is the "fastest-warming continent on Earth". 2003: ...

Third-Hottest July on Record Wreaks Climate Havoc

This is Beirut, 07/08 06:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Heat Climate Climate change

The third-hottest July worldwide ended a string of record-breaking temperatures last month, but many regions were still devastated by extreme weather amplified by global warming, the European climate monitoring service said Thursday. Heavy rains flooded Pakistan and northern China; Canada, Scotland and Greece struggled to tame wildfires ...

Natural Disasters Caused $135 BN in Economic Losses in First Half of 2025

This is Beirut, 06/08 13:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

switzerland insurance climate Economy

Natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses globally in the first half of 2025, fuelled by the Los Angeles wildfires, Swiss Re said Wednesday. Swiss Re, which serves as an insurer of insurance companies, said first half losses were up from the $123 billion in the first half of 2024. The Zurich-based reinsurance giant estimated that ...

Climate Disruption Drives Up Grocery Costs

Christiane Tager, 05/08 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

New York United Kingdom lebanon Japan Climate

There was a time when fuel prices were the main concern. Today, it’s the cost of food that’s raising eyebrows. What ends up on our plates is no longer determined solely by supply, demand or inflation. Temperature has become a key factor. Behind the sharp rise in food prices, a quieter but increasingly decisive force has emerged: climate ...

World's Top Court Paves Way for Climate Reparations

This is Beirut, 23/07 23:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

International Court of Justice United Nations USA climate

The world's highest court Wednesday declared that states are obliged under international law to tackle climate change and warned that failing to do so could open the door to reparations. In a historic statement, the International Court of Justice said climate change was an "urgent and existential threat" and countries had a legal duty to prevent ...

World's Major Courts Take Growing Role in Climate Fight

This is Beirut, 21/07 09:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

International Court of Justice United Nations Climate

The world's top court is poised to tell governments what their legal obligations are to tackle global warming, and possibly outline consequences for polluters that cause climate harm to vulnerable countries. Wednesday's highly anticipated advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice comes in the wake of landmark international decisions ...

Historic Heatwave in Europe: Extreme Temperatures and Maximum Vigilance

This is Beirut, 30/06 11:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Europe Climate Heat wave

A punishing heat wave gripped southern Europe on Monday, prompting authorities to issue health and wildfire warnings as temperatures are expected to soar again. France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain have been sweltering for several days as the mercury climbed to 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) in some places. "This is unprecedented," Agner ...

Canada Faces Another Severe Wildfire Season as Burned Area Surpasses Averages

This is Beirut, 11/06 10:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Canada Wildfires Climate

Two years after a historically devastating summer, Canada is once again facing a massive fire season, with burned areas already exceeding year-to-date averages from recent years. More than 220 active fires were burning across the country Tuesday, with half of them considered out of control. More than 3.3 million hectares (12,700 square miles) ...

Half the World Faced an Extra Month of Extreme Heat Due to Climate Change: Study

This is Beirut, 30/05 10:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Climate Environment Heat

Half the global population endured an additional month of extreme heat over the past year because of manmade climate change, a new study found Friday. The findings underscore how the continued burning of fossil fuels is harming health and well-being on every continent, with the effects especially under-recognized in developing countries, the ...

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