UPDATE: The Devastation Caused by Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu and other parts of Oceania is the latest example of how catastrophic weather extremes can be

With extreme weather and changing climatic patterns taking a heavier toll on the planet, mitigating and adapting to them remains “among the great tests of our time,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, as he stressed the need for timely, reliable information to further strengthen resilience. “Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of these extremes and threatening water and food security in many parts of the world,” Mr. Ban said in his message for World Meteorological Day. “In the last three decades, floods, storm surges, droughts and wildfires have taken a huge toll in lives and caused massive economic losses. The devastation caused by Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu and other parts of Oceania is just the latest example of how catastrophic weather extremes can be,” he added. World Meteorological Day commemorates the coming into force on 23 March 1950 of the convention establishing the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This year’s theme for the Day, ‘Climate Knowledge for Climate Action,’ highlights both recent advances in climate science and the need for decisive measures to limit climate change. Mr. Ban noted that over the last 12 months, thousands of lives have been saved around the world by improved weather forecasting, early warning systems and disaster readiness. The economic benefits of climate services such as seasonal outlooks have been worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

UPDATE: Malaria, Dengue and West Nile Virus could hit Britain within decades due to Climate Change

Mosquitoes are insects endemic to Asian and African nations. But ailments caused by this small insect such as malaria, dengue and West Nile virus could hit Britain within decades because of climate change. According to health experts, as the weather becomes warmer and there is more rainfall, it would create ideal conditions for the tiger mosquito to breed and expand into the UK, reports Reuters. That breed is the carrier of dengue and chikungunya which has claimed thousands of lives in nations with temperate weather.

ASIA WELLNESS FOR PEACE: Singapore 3D-Printed Solar-Powered Car Made By University Students set to race

Behold the NV8 (Nanyang Technological University Venture 8)! This is a 3D-printed solar-powered car capable of hitting ~60 km/h (37 mph). The solar car — which was made by two teams of 16 students each at the university in Singapore — is composed of a carbon fiber single shell chassis + 150 printed parts which are attached in various ways to the chassis. Altogether the vehicle weighs only 120 kilograms (256 lbs), and measures 3.2 x 1.3 x 1.3 m (10.5 x 4.3 x 4.3 ft). “Using the latest engineering techniques learnt from their studies in NTU, the students have developed innovations such as silicon solar cells that can be contoured to follow the car’s shape. This allows for maximum harvesting of the solar energy and a tilting mechanism in NV9 that can ‘lean’ in the direction of the turn to avoid losing speed,” stated one of the project’s mentors, Associate Professor Ng Heong Wah The NV8 is set to race in the Urban Concept category at this year’s Shell Eco-marathon Asia — taking place in Manila from February 26 through March 1.

UPDATE: Save the trees: New campaign against deforestation launched

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Since the money raised by governments and corporations hasn't managed to halt the destruction of the world's rainforests — an area the size of Alabama or Greece is lost every year — a new U.S. campaign is now inviting individuals to chip in. The U.S. Agency for International Development and Code REDD, a California-based advocacy group, on Tuesday announced the launch of an online store for carbon offsets, certificates that will fund forest conservation projects in tropical countries.http://www.hickoryrecord.com/news/business/ap/save-the-trees-new-campaign-against-deforestation-launched/article_4111eac6-9610-5c95-8d18-00025dc7e2d8.html

UPDATE: Large storms like blizzards more severe but less frequent now as Earth's climate changes

The Canadian-led study noted that warmer air can hold more moisture, meaning more fuel for rain, hail or snow, and found knock-on effects on how the atmosphere generates storms "In a future climate, the global atmospheric circulation might comprise highly energetic storms," they wrote in the journal Science. At the same time, "fewer numbers of such events" may occur, they said. More evaporation and precipitation of water are likely to use up more energy in the atmosphere, contributing to reduce the intensity of winds around the world. The report looks at how the atmosphere works as a heat engine, shifting heat from the sun from the tropics towards the poles. It is part of the effort to pin down the probable affects of climate change to help everyone from farmers to city planners cope with the shifts. Source: http://news.yahoo.com/storms-u-blizzard-may-stronger-less-frequent-study-191250869.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Germany’s Wind Energy Is Right On Track!

Germany’s Energiewende Is Right On Track. The series of graphs shows how the renewable targets are on track, have lowered emissions, decoupled energy consumption from economic growth, pushed wholesale prices down to record lows, and are now pushing retail prices down. And it has done some interesting things to the energy mix. The graphs were prepared in a report by Agora Energiewende, a Berlin-based think tank whose former head Rainer Bakke is now the chief advisor to Germany’s energy and economics minister on the future of the Energiewende. The first graph shows that the renewable target is still on track. This graph shows the target for 2025, and that will continue to a target of 55-60 per cent by 2035, and 80 per cent by 2050. See Graphs and Complete Report to: http://cleantechnica.com/2015/02/01/analysis-shows-germanys-energiewende-right-track/

Eco-Friendly EARTHSHIPS HOME. No Need to Use Fossil Fuels to Heat or Cool a Home

One of the main principles of an Earthship Home is the use of thermal mass. It is built about 1.2 metres under the surface of the earth, where the temperature remains more or less stable, so there's no need to use fossil fuels to heat or cool a home. Another important aspect is use of water. All Earthships utilise and re-utilise water harvested from rain and snow. Household sewage is treated and used to grow food in "grey water planters", as well as for flushing toilets. Sewage from toilets is then contained in an outdoor botanical cell called a "black water planter". Reynolds' experiments to find sustainable ways of living were once questioned by the mainstream architecture community. "I was an idiot for building out of garbage," he recalled. "I have been persecuted for doing this - for treating sewage in the house or building the house out of garbage." Reynolds was referring to the time when the state of New Mexico took away his architect's license about a decade ago. He got it back in 2007, only after agreeing to comply with state rules. "But people are starting to realise that maybe there is something to look at here. It is going more mainstream," he said. Today there are Earthships in 50 US states and more than 25 countries worldwide.http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/01/trashing-earthship-homes-150125082356020.html