Monday Briefing: U.N. sounds 'deafening' warning on climate change

The Reuters Daily Briefing Monday, August 9, 2021 by Linda Noakes Hello Here's what you need to know. Once-in-50-year heat waves are now happening every decade, Florida can't ban a cruise ship's 'vaccine passport' program, and Alibaba's #MeToo moment Today's biggest stories People walk in a flooded St. Mark's Square during an exceptional high water in Venice, Italy, August 8, 2021. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri LANDMARK CLIMATE REPORT The U.N. climate panel has sounded a dire warning, saying the world is dangerously close to runaway warming – and that humans are "unequivocally" to blame. Extreme heat waves that previously only struck once every 50 years are now expected to happen once per decade, while downpours and droughts have also become more frequent. In four decades of climate negotiations, the world has focused intensely and exclusively on the most abundant climate-warming gas: carbon dioxide. This year, scientists are urging a focus on another potent greenhouse gas – methane – as the planet's best hope for staving off catastrophic global warming. Here are the key takeaways from the U.N. climate report, and the panel's five possible scenarios for the future. FILE PHOTO: Afghan commando forces gather together in Kunduz, Afghanistan, July 7, 2021 in this still image taken from a video WORLD Afghan commandoes launched a counter-attack to try to beat back Taliban fighters who overran the northern city of Kunduz a day earlier, with residents fleeing the conflict describing the almost constant sound of gunfire and explosions. Sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who was removed from the Olympics by the Belarusian team after she criticized her coaches, is auctioning a medal from the 2019 European Games to support athletes who say they have been targeted by authorities. President Alexander Lukashenko said she had been "manipulated" by outside forces and would not have fled abroad otherwise. Australia expanded a COVID-19 lockdown to a rural town and the coastal region of Byron Bay, as fears grew that the virus has spread from Sydney to the northern tip of the country's most populous state. Meanwhile, virus-free New Zealand plans to reopen its borders amid a labor shortage. Support for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga slid below 30% for the first time since he took office, a survey showed, a sign the Tokyo Olympic Games failed to boost his ratings amid a resurgence of coronavirus infections. U.S. A senior aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned in the wake of a state attorney general's report that the governor sexually harassed 11 women. Melissa DeRosa, secretary to the governor, was linked in the report to efforts to cover up the governor's actions and retaliate against one of his accusers. Following months of negotiation and delay, the U.S. Senate is inching closer to finishing a $1 trillion infrastructure spending bill, with a vote on passage of the bipartisan deal possible by tomorrow. A U.S. judge has allowed Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings to demand that passengers show written proof of coronavirus vaccination before they board a ship, dealing a major blow to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's effort to ban 'vaccine passports.' COVID-19 vaccinations should be required for U.S. teachers to protect students who are too young to be inoculated, the head of the nation's second-largest teachers' union said on Sunday, shifting course to back mandated shots as more children fall ill. BUSINESS Chinese e-commerce leader Alibaba said it has fired a manager accused of sexual assault and promised policies to prevent sexual harassment - action blasted by state media as coming only after the accuser went public. The #MeToo moment rings loud alarm bells for China’s embattled technology sector at a bad time, say Breakingviews columnists Yawen Chen and Robyn Mak. Amazon.com and Walmart's Flipkart must face antitrust investigations ordered against them in India, the country's Supreme Court ruled, in a blow to the leading e-commerce giants which had urged judges to quash the inquiries. Oil prices fell by 4%, extending last week's steep losses on the back of a rising U.S. dollar and concerns that new coronavirus-related restrictions in Asia, especially China, could slow a global recovery in fuel demand. China's factory gate inflation in July rose at a faster clip from the previous month and exceeded market expectations, adding to strains on an economy losing recovery momentum as businesses struggle with high raw material costs. Meanwhile, German exports rose more than expected in June despite persisting supply bottlenecks in manufacturing, suggesting a solid recovery in Europe's biggest economy. Quote of the day "Today’s IPCC Working Group 1 Report is a 'code red' for humanity. The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable" Antonio Guterres United Nations secretary general Reactions to the U.N. climate science report Video of the day Greece wildfires "like a horror movie" Thousands of people have fled their homes on the Greek island of Evia as wildfires burn uncontrolled, and ferries are on standby for more evacuations after taking many to safety by sea. And finally… Tearful Messi confirms he is leaving Barcelona Lionel Messi wept as he bade farewell to his boyhood team FC Barcelona and confirmed he was talking with French club Paris St Germain over a possible move. More from Reuters COVID-19 Investigations Breakingviews Legal News Thanks for spending part of your day with us. Share your thoughts You are receiving this email because you signed up for newsletters from Reuters. No longer want to hear from us? Unsubscribe from The Reuters Daily Briefing. 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