From The Drop by OZY

LESSER-KNOWN CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

With world leaders set to discuss action to tackle climate change at the upcoming UN Climate Summit in Egypt (COP27), in Sharm el-Sheikh from Nov. 6 to 18, The Drop is focusing on the conversation around climate change in a series of newsletters. In this issue, we look at some of the places and communities at the vanguard of the battle against climate change, some of the challenges they’re facing and the innovative solutions they’re deploying to combat it. How they fare against climate change could determine all of our futures.

Preparing for a Challenging Future   1 On the front lines in Chad A combination of extreme poverty, a large refugee population and decreasing rainfall in agriculture-dependent Chad means that short of being physically wiped out, the central African nation could suffer even more from shifting climatic conditions than oceanic countries. But farmers in the rain-deprived, landlocked nation are using cultivation practices that both save water and enrich the soil, while the country diversifies its economy and prepares for an even drier future. Read More on OZY    2 Can crypto turn clean and green? Cryptocurrencies have an energy problem. The Bitcoin network alone consumes as much energy as the entire Netherlands. But dig a little and you’ll find a surprising green revolution afoot that could allow cryptocurrencies to work in conjunction with sustainability goals. A growing number of crypto firms are now using waste and excess energy from the fossil fuel and renewables sectors, helping reduce emissions and change their reputation. Read More on OZY    3 Worn down donors As floods, droughts, typhoons and other extreme weather phenomena batter nations with growing frequency, donors are becoming weary and selective. This is leaving South Asia, one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, even less able to grapple with the mounting crises. The new weariness isn’t a one-off and it’s hitting the world’s most populated region at a time when the U.N. is warning that climate change-related humanitarian crises are set to explode in number and scale.  Read More on OZY

Challenging Geopolitical Issues   1 Why spies need to focus on climate changeT here is a growing acknowledgment by intelligence agencies the world over that climate change is no longer a subject related primarily to science and economics. Today, it’s increasingly a national security threat that’s already impacting how countries deal with the issues of mass migration, extremism and deadly terrorism. For example, the Taliban’s rapid resurgence in recent years has been aided by historic extreme weather events — floods and droughts — that have devastated the livelihoods of Afghanistan’s farmers.  Read More on OZY    2 The fight for Antarctica’s future For more than a century, Antarctica has quietly survived as a theater for research, trade and fascination for generations of humans. But now, the deepening footprint of humankind is clashing against a web of global laws and norms meant to safeguard the pristine continent — the world’s largest landmass that isn’t claimed by any one country, and that genuinely belongs to all. The outcome of these emerging battles could shape the future of Antarctica Read More on OZY   3 The battle over Arctic’s oil There is a scramble by nations to benefit from climate change — or, in some cases, to benefit from the wreckage left in its wake. Nowhere is that battle being played out more aggressively than in the Arctic, where Russia and the U.S. are engaged in a new cold war that’s dropped well below freezing. Oil companies like the Russia-based Transneft are expanding drilling while profiting from new shipping routes created by ice breakage.  Read More on OZY

Dietary Adjustments  1 Vanishing potatoes For centuries, Bolivia’s Aymara indigenous community has cultivated potatoes and turned them into a freeze-dried product called chuño, which can last up to four years. It’s often their most reliable source of calories in the bitter cold of the Andean highlands. Legend has it that Incan warriors carried and survived on chuños during long military expeditions. But climate change is doing what colonialism and innumerable wars and conquests couldn’t: force the Aymara to contemplate a change in their diet. Unpredictable weather manifesting in the form of frost, rain and sun on consecutive days is making cultivation hard. Ready More on OZY   2A truly ancient grain A staple in Ethiopian cuisine, teff is a gluten-free grain that is also gaining popularity with farmers responding to climate change. They are drawn to it for its drought-resistant properties, while you may be more excited by the health perks of what is the world’s smallest grain. Teff is a good source of protein and contains lots of beneficial minerals, along with a high dose of the amino acid lysine. It’s also one of a range of old, climate-resistant grains — some dating back over 7,000 years — that researchers globally are trying to revive as the answer to the food security challenges of the future. Read More on OZY   3 Crawling protein Edible insects — already popular in large parts of the non-Western world — are rich in protein but are more sustainable to produce than beef or pork. All of this is driving an explosion in demand for these creepy crawlies, which are expected to have a global market worth $4.6 billion by 2027. One country that could really benefit economically is Mexico, home to 29% of the world’s edible insect species. Read More on OZY

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