Environment
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1 day agoEarth on track for record heat over next 5 years UN report
Global temperatures are likely to reach record levels between 2026 and 2030, with a high chance of surpassing 1.5°C and increased El Niño risk.
Analysis by insurer Aviva reveals that 11% of the 396,602 new homes in England built between 2022 and 2024 were built in areas of medium or high risk of flooding, while more than a quarter (26%) have some flood risk. While comparable statistics have not been published since 2022, Aviva said its assessment showed the number of homes built in flood risk areas has accelerated as housebuilding increases. The problem is particularly acute in and around the capital, the analysis reveals.
Data published by the insurer Aviva reveals that of the 396,602 new homes recorded by the Ordnance Survey in England between 2022 and 2024, 43,937 are in areas of medium or high risk of flooding, while 26% of new homes have some risk of flooding.
This week's storm pummeling the Bay Area has already unleashed pouring rain, more than 500 lightning strikes, snowy peaks and reports of hail. And more is on the way - rain will fall all week on the coastal region, with frigid temperatures in the North and South Bay Area, and plenty of snow in the Sierra Nevada by the end of the week.
Like much of Miami, the area faces mounting climate risks. Miami's sea levels have risen eight inches since 1950. By 2040, the water is projected to be 10 to 17 inches higher than it was in 2000. As the water rises, that's making "sunny day" flooding from high tides more common-up 400% over the last 20 years in Miami Beach-and storm surges are increasingly dangerous.
Southern California is heading into the New Year with another round of rain, renewed flood risks and what forecasters say is a near-guarantee of a wet Rose Parade. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state had again pre-positioned fire, rescue and emergency crews in areas most at risk for flooding, mud and debris flows, with special attention to recent burn scar areas.
Californians looking to traverse the state by car during the holiday week can expect to face a potentially historic dose of wet weather and should exercise extreme caution - and even be ready to alter travel plans, Caltrans officials said. The agency has been preparing for months for a perfect storm like this, when some of the busiest travel days of the year coincide with a weather pattern that portends the state's most prolific rainfall in decades, Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski told SFGATE via phone Monday.
When Zillow Group Inc. removed climate risk scores from its home listings last month, following a complaint from the real estate industry, many observers took to the press and social media to warn that disappearing the data doesn't get rid of the risk. In a world assailed by extreme weather, homeowners and purchasers need to know their property's vulnerability to wildfire or flooding.
The campaign is over, the ballots counted, and now the hard part begins. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani ran on a promise to tackle New York City's affordability crisis, pledging to triple the pace of affordable housing construction, freeze rents, and make housing attainable again. Voters agreed: the ballot measures that passed made clear that New Yorkers see expanding the housing supply as the city's most urgent challenge.
Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to a large swathe of central and southern England and Wales on Friday into Saturday. This rain will become slow moving and some areas could see up to a month's worth of rain in 24 hours. Much of this will fall on saturated ground, increasing the chances of flooding and contributing to the amber warnings we have issued. Within the amber warning areas, some could see in excess of 150mm accumulate during the event, with 60-80mm fairly widely.
In the Miami area, where nearly a third of homes face flood risk, nearly 70,000 more people moved away than moved in last year, according to a new report from Redfin. In Houston, the domestic outflow was more than 30,000 people; in Brooklyn, where around a quarter of homes face flood risk, around 28,000 more people left than moved in.
Extreme weather events are now more than just an occasional disruption; they are redefining the landscape of housing finance. And, the frequency and intensity in which these events occur, combined with rising insurance and utility costs, fluctuating property values, and shifting housing rates, provide challenges for lenders looking to effectively streamline operations, mitigate risk, and support their borrowers. For many lenders, gaining insight into the potential and actual impact of climate disasters on their loan pipeline has lacked in providing the full picture.
Met Éireann issued the rain alert yesterday for counties Cork and Kerry, valid from 11am tomorrow until 8pm. Joining them under the alert tomorrow will be Galway and Mayo between the times of midday and 8pm, the national forecaster said today. The rain warnings will follow the trend of unsettled conditions across the country this week, signalling the potential for flooding and strong gusts in the south and southwest, Met Éireann has said.
The expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program during the recent federal government shutdown has put coverage for millions of homes at risk, affecting home closings and buyers in flood-prone areas. An analysis in Miami and Tampa shows that homes with lower flood risk have seen faster price appreciation over the past decade, highlighting changing buyer preferences. Market trends indicate a shift toward prioritizing flood risk data in home-buying decisions, with younger buyers leading the change.
At the untamed confluence of the Paraná River and the Uruguay River, where the waters flow into the vast Río de la Plata, a singular commission is established. The landscape, a symphony of wetlands and scattered jungle green, evokes the unknown: a primordial nature accessible only by waterway and living under the constant threat of floods. Here, architecture does not seek to disappear but to assert itself; not to go unnoticed, but to engage in dialogue with the organic power of the place.
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Compared with England, where the beaver population is estimated at 500, that's quite a feat. But there's a significant downside to the booming Dutch beaver population. Beavers are increasingly digging burrows and tunnels under roads, railways and even more worrying in dykes. For a country where a quarter of the land sits below sea level, this is not a minor problem especially as beavers are not exactly holding back when digging.