A clean power grid is a weapon against global warming but could also be a victim of it, a report has claimed.
Extreme weather could dry up reservoirs, freeze power lines and overheat nuclear power plants, the World Meteorological Organisation has warned.
It said the threat to energy security from climate change had gone unnoticed compared to other effects of global warming.
The 52-page report said:
· Coastal power plants could come under threat from rising sea levels
· More than a quarter of hydroelectric dams are in river basins prone to drought
· One in three power plants that rely on freshwater for cooling are in areas of water stress
International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said: “We urgently need to respond to the growing impact of climate change on energy systems if we are to maintain energy security while accelerating the transition to net zero.
“This requires long-term planning and bold policy action to spur investment, which in turn needs to be underpinned by comprehensive and reliable weather and climate data.”
The WMO’s report said energy security was already at risk from the weather, at a time of turmoil for gas and electricity markets.
Recent alarm bells included a heatwave in Buenos Aires that knocked out power for thousands of homes in January, and frozen rain that disabled power lines in Russia in November 2020.
Sea levels are expected to rise regardless of whether greenhouse gas emissions are brought under control, leaving low-lying areas vulnerable.
More than 70 nuclear power plants are located near the sea, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.
In addition, the proportion of nuclear reactors in areas of water stress is expected to rise from 15 to 25 per cent in the next two decades.
Despite these challenges, building new clean power capacity is indispensable, the report said. It called for doubling the global supply of low-carbon electricity in the next eight years.
In all, 87 per cent of electricity generation provided by nuclear, thermal and hydroelectric systems is directly reliant on water availability.
Most nuclear power plants are cooled by water. The failure of cooling systems during an earthquake was the cause of the Fukushima disaster in 2011.
Scientists expect drought to become more common as the planet warms, especially if the target of limiting the temperature rise to 1.5ºC is missed.
Drought could become twice as likely even with a 1.5ºC increase, or 2.4 times more likely if the temperature rises by 2ºC, a landmark report last year said.
That report gave a push to global efforts to decarbonise and the energy crisis in Europe has generated fresh momentum behind renewable expansion in the continent.
However, recognition of the risks to the energy sector “remains extremely low compared with other climate-sensitive sectors”, the WMO report said.
It praised some examples where precautions were taken, including in Tajikistan where hydropower plants received early warnings of dry conditions.
“There are huge opportunities to go further and faster, investing in climate services to scale up our resilience to climate change, increase clean energy generation and safeguard a sustainable future,” said WMO chief Petteri Taalas.
“Time is not on our side and our climate is changing before our eyes. Sustainable energy security and reaching net zero by 2050 will mean a complete transformation of the global energy system.”
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
In The Heights
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda
Rating: ****
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
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Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
