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Madagascar
Cyclone Gezani Strikes Port City
Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall on Tuesday in Toamasina, Madagascar’s main port city. At least 36 people were killed and another 36 seriously injured as the cyclone’s wind speeds reached more than 121 mph (195 kph), the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane. Collapsed buildings caused some of the deaths and injuries, with four people missing and more than 6,000 displaced from their homes. Gezani weakened to a tropical storm as it moved west and inland on Wednesday, passing around 62 miles (100 km) north of the capital, Antananarivo. Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island, and one of the world’s poorest countries, has been impacted by more than a dozen tropical storms or cyclones since 2020, all occurring during the region’s November to March cyclone season.
This map depicts cyclone Gezani’s track across Madagascar. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Relief Web
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United States
EPA Finding To Be Rescinded
The Trump administration is preparing to rescind the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 endangerment finding, a decision that would halt federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The original finding concluded that greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane from fossil fuel extraction and combustion, threaten public health and welfare. Administration officials argue the 2009 decision was reached in a “flawed and unorthodox” manner and did not fully adhere to the legal requirements outlined in the Clean Air Act. Rescinding the finding is expected to eliminate federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Transportation remains the largest direct source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that reversing the finding could save about $1.3 trillion, largely through lower vehicle purchase prices.
This map depicts CO2 emissions from various sectors in 2024. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Climate Trace
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Chile-Argentina
Climate Change Fueled Wildfires
A new report has found that the wildfires in Argentina’s Patagonia region and central-southern Chile have been intensified due to human-induced climate change. The hot, dry, and windy conditions that enabled the fires to blaze across huge areas in January were made about three times more likely by global heating. Parts of Chile and Argentina are experiencing significantly drier summers as a result of human-caused carbon emissions. With the spread of flammable pine plantations in Patagonia’s once-humid native forests, these dry summers have led to uncontrollable fires. Last month, severe wildfires killed 23 and displaced over 52,000 people in Chile. The fires also burned many of Patagonia’s 3,000-year-old alerce trees, among the oldest trees on Earth. Climate models project that these fire conditions will worsen throughout the next decades, to which Chile has responded by increasing its budget for fire-fighting programs. Argentina’s government, meanwhile, has slashed its fire management spending by over 80%.
This map depicts active fires in Patagonia in January, as well as HDWI anomalies prior to and during the fire events. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What country was the first to establish a shark sanctuary and official protections for 80% of its water resources?
A: Palau
Commonly referred to as one of the seven underwater wonders of the world, Palau’s western Pacific Ocean islands boast ecosystems of remarkable biodiversity. Palau created the world’s first shark sanctuary in 2009. The country forbids all commercial shark fishing within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters. The sanctuary protects about 230,000 square miles (600,000 sq km) of ocean. Palau is home to 135 endangered or vulnerable shark and ray species. In 2015, Palau voted to establish the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS), one of the world’s largest marine protected areas with a planned five-year phase-in. On January 1, 2020, Palau fully protected 80% of its EEZ, prohibiting all forms of extractive activities including mining and fishing.
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Q: What country is home to the world’s largest man-made urban forest?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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