In Brief:
- The upcoming economic downturn might not reach the intensity of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, yet it could persist longer.
- Flooding has hit Australia once again, with 30,000 Sydney residents under evacuation orders.
- California is mandating that plastic producers fund recycling efforts and ensure single-use products are either compostable or recyclable by 2032.
Economy, Supply Chain
Recent Forecasts: The next recession might not match the severity of the 2007-2009 Great Financial Crisis, but it could endure for a longer period:
Opinion: Should a recession occur, don't expect government intervention in the form of stimulus checks or enhanced unemployment benefits. I assume the author is referring to federal aid, as some states are already considering tax rebates or inflation relief payments.
Here are some practical steps to help you eliminate or avoid medical debt entirely.
The U.S. is halting new oil and gas leases in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans but is permitting new leases in the Gulf of Mexico and the Cook Inlet in Alaska. On one hand, scaling back drilling is necessary to combat climate change; on the other, the administration aims to address rising gas prices. This decision could reflect a compromise. It's worth noting that it typically takes years between issuing a drilling lease and seeing gasoline at the pump.
Chili peppers, coffee, wine: How the climate crisis is leading to food shortages.
Climate Change, Environment, Extreme Weather
Southern China faced Typhoon Chaba, marking the year's first typhoon. Forecasters warn of significant disaster risks in Guangdong, the country's most populous province. Extreme weather is expected to continue across China until August, partly due to climate change. Hainan upgraded its emergency response to Level II on Saturday. Railway services on the island were suspended, and over 400 flights were canceled. In Hong Kong, dozens of people are missing from an engineering ship that broke in two:
Dramatic footage shows Hong Kong rescuers pulling sailors from a sinking ship in the South China Sea.
At least three people from the crew of 30 have been brought to safety, officials said. https://t.co/AZXVdjKhFX pic.twitter.com/ruw7PDmzdC
— ABC News (@ABC) July 2, 2022
Owing to "life-threatening" floods, 30,000 Sydney residents are under evacuation orders. Australia is experiencing its fourth round of flooding within less than a year. These floods represent one of the worst extreme weather events for the nation's largest city in 18 months.
The water level of Lake Mead continues to drop, revealing a WWII-era boat. Previously submerged 185 feet (56 meters) below the surface, the Higgins landing craft is now half-exposed.
Drought is creating such extreme climate conditions that California's landscape could undergo profound and permanent changes, according to scientists. Some believe the current situation in the U.S. and elsewhere closely resembles the conditions that wiped out ancient civilizations like the Pueblos, the Maya, and even Mesopotamia. Climate change and carbon emissions are driving California's transformation, not only making droughts longer and more severe but also hotter. This process, known as aridification, appears to be here to stay. The solution lies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Opinion: A water strategy for the parched West: Cities should pay farmers to adopt more efficient irrigation systems. Congress was recently informed that seven Colorado River basin states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming – must cut their diversions from the Colorado River by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet in 2022. An acre-foot is enough water to cover an acre of land with a foot of water – roughly 325,000 gallons. States need to focus on the region's largest water user: agriculture. Eighty percent of the water used in the Colorado River Basin goes to farmers.
Four counties in North Texas declared disasters, banning fireworks due to drought. Seventy-five percent of the state is currently under a burn ban.
California will mandate that plastic manufacturers cover the costs of recycling and ensure single-use items are compostable or recyclable by 2032. Packaging manufacturers will bear the costs of recycling infrastructure, recycling plants, and collection and sorting facilities, rather than taxpayers, who currently shoulder these expenses. Last summer, the first producer-responsibility laws were passed in Maine and Oregon.
India has banned single-use plastic items. Plastic bags are exempt from the ban, but the government has encouraged manufacturers and importers to increase thickness to promote reuse.
An Australian direct air capture (DAC) company will remove two tonnes of CO2 annually. The prototype is solar-powered and about the size of a tent. This marks the first time an Australian company has secured a deal to use DAC technology to remove CO2. By 2027, AspiraDAC plans to deploy 180 of these machines to capture and store 500 tonnes of CO2.
Monkeypox
A study of 54 patients in the UK found that monkeypox patients exhibit very different symptoms compared to those previously reported. Patients reported fewer fevers and fatigue but more skin lesions in their genital and anal areas than is typical for monkeypox. Case definitions may need revision to prevent cases from being overlooked, especially since monkeypox can mimic other common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like herpes and syphilis.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the virus is spreading to new provinces. Monkeypox has been present in the Congo Basin rainforests since the 1970s but is now found in mountains and savannas. There may be more animal species involved in spreading the virus than previously thought. It's unclear which animals carry the virus, though rodents were previously thought to be most affected. Scientists are testing various animals in the region to better understand transmission chains. Global health experts warn that as populations expand into previously uninhabited areas, diseases will increasingly jump from animals to humans. DRC's limited testing capacity complicates investigations. Although monkeypox has a long history in the DRC, health leaders fear a wider spread could exacerbate existing outbreaks of malaria and typhoid.
The Rest
North Korea announced plans to bolster its military to counter the U.S., South Korea, and Japan's pact. According to their southern neighbors, the country is prepared for its first nuclear test in five years.
Opinion: Six historical threat patterns suggest cyberwar could be inevitable.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in 30 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and South Korea. Once established in wild populations, the disease cannot be stopped. There is no cure or method to test live animals. As the disease progresses, deer become more vulnerable to other illnesses, less capable of defending themselves, and more prone to accidents. Infected deer typically survive for 18 months to two years. CWD has never been detected in humans, but laboratory experiments indicate the prion could transfer to other mammals. The CDC advises against consuming meat from infected animals.
Elastomeric respirators, a lesser-known, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to N95s, are mostly made in the U.S. They filter out more than 99% of pathogens. However, they require disinfection and can muffle communication.
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