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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Lakshadweep's coral cover halved in 24 yrs
A 24-year-long study of corals in the Lakshadweep archipelago has found a 50% decline in coral cover compared to 1998 as a result of repeated marine heatwaves, exacerbated by climate change. The study published in the journal of Diversity and Distributions said this decline was explained by reduced recovery rates after each bleaching event, despite coral mortality decreasing with successive events. The paper concluded that the fate of corals in Lakshadweep will be determined by the return time of bleaching events. (HT photo) The paper concluded that the fate of corals in Lakshadweep will be determined by the return time of bleaching events, underscoring that urgent climate action is critical to secure the ecological integrity of tropical reefs. The scientists leading the study, including Rohan Arthur and Mayukh Dey from the Oceans and Coasts Programme of Nature Conservation Foundation concluded that 'the one thing reefs need to recover is time'. 'Without a pause in the frequency of marine heatwaves, whatever resilience tropical reefs have is likely to be short lived. Our results show that fewer corals die simply because less is available to die in later years,' they added. 'In the long run, we must call the crisis by its name and acknowledge that the integrity of tropical reefs, like the rest of global biodiversity, cannot sustain the seemingly impervious logic of the prevailing economic order. Without scale-appropriate radical policies, laws, and actions to address these ultimate causes, anything we do locally for reefs will be symptomatic and palliative fixes,' the scientists said. Lakshadweep Archipelago has 12 coral atolls in the northern Indian Ocean. The archipelago is among the most densely populated atoll systems globally with 10 populated islands, with more than 2000 people/sq km. Lakshadweep has experienced three marine heatwaves associated with the El Niño phase of the ENSO phenomena in 1998 (5.3 Degree Heating Weeks, DHW), 2010 (6.7 DHW) and 2016 (5.2 DHW), with 2010 being the most severe of the three. Hindustan Times, in a series on Lakshadweep published last year reported how the islands experienced a severe bleaching event in 2024. The heat stress in Lakshadweep (Laccadive Sea) and in Southeast India was record-setting in 2024 according to Derek P Manzello, Coordinator, NOAA Coral Reef Watch. The metric used to gauge heat stress on corals is called Degree Heating Weeks (DHW). DHW shows how much heat stress has accumulated in an area over the past 3 months. In 2024, Lakshadweep reached 9.2 DHWs, whereas SE India reached 9 DHWs. The prior record for Lakshadweep was 6.7 DHW in 2010, and it was 6.9 DHW for SE India in 2016, said Manzello. Since 1998, researchers from the Nature Conservation Foundation have been tracking reef conditions at three atolls across the Lakshadweep Archipelago , Agatti, Kadmat and Kavaratti , to understand how reefs respond to climate change. This monitoring programme has monitored reefs as they declined and recovered from three major El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events — in 1998, 2010 and 2016. The data was analysed to explore if changes in the composition of coral could be explained by the number of heatwaves experienced and by more local factors, such as seasonally strong wave action and depth at which corals are found. The team also found that these results challenge the simplistic narrative that all coral reefs respond in a similar fashion to climate change, and are universally doomed. Even within a small archipelago like Lakshadweep, there is a large variability in responses -- sometimes in reefs only a few kilometres apart. 'The Lakshadweep reefs have been home to me since I first dived here as a young researcher. To see these diverse ecosystems decline before my eyes is soul-destroying. Our findings are a bittersweet offering. On the one hand, it shows me that the reef is more complex and more resilient in its responses than I could ever have imagined it to be the first time I saw it bleaching in 1998. On the other hand, I realise that we have a limited window to change the narrative on tropical reefs. Without real and considered action on climate change, the reefs of Lakshadweep could well be functionally extinct in my lifetime -- and I cannot bear to think of what that would mean for my friends who call Lakshadweep their home,' said Rohan Arthur, Senior Scientist at the Nature Conservation Foundation who heads the Oceans and Coasts Programme. 'Many coral areas in our reefs are now dead. We have seen it first hand. The corals in the eastern end of Kavaratti are dead. This was seen after cyclone, Ockhi in 2017. We cannot express how we feel about this loss,' said Saheer Ali, diving instructor in Kavaratti. The Indian Ocean basin, the fastest warming basin in the world, will see accelerated warming at a rate of 1.7 degree C-3.8°C per century during 2020-2100, a research paper published in Elsevier last year said. It also warned that this will lead to an increase in severe weather events, prolonged marine heatwaves and extreme Indian Ocean Dipole events that will influence the monsoon and cyclone development.
Canada Standard
26-05-2025
- Business
- Canada Standard
Heat Pumps Continue to Push Fossil Fuels Out of Canadian Homes
Heat pumps play a critical role reducing emissions in the residential building sector because they run on electricity and can be up to three times more efficient than a standard gas furnace. This means that not only will they help shift Canada's dependence away from fossil combustion, but they will also reduce the demand for electricity relative to other technologies, such as electric baseboards which are only 15% more efficient than gas furnaces. That's important in a sector that makes up approximately 13% of Canada's national emissions. Getting households to switch to heat pumps is expected to be the most cost effective way to meet Canada's climate goals, writes Arthur Zhang for 440 Megatonnes. In Institute analysis of the most cost effective pathways to net zero, heat pumps are projected to represent over 10% of total home heating in Canada by 2030, increasing up to 99% by 2050. But tracking the rate of adoption in real time is often a challenge, since publicly available data for heat pump uptake can lag by as much as three years. To fill this gap, 440 Megatonnes examined data on the shipments of heating systems, which can be an early indicator of the progress that Canada is making toward electrifying heating and cooling in buildings. Shipment data track how many heat pumps are flowing into the country. However, it's not a perfect indicator: it doesn't show when heat pumps were purchased or actually installed, whether they are moved across jurisdictions within Canada before their sale, or whether they serve as a building's primary or secondary heating source. Nevertheless, shipment data is useful because it can give an early indication of increased uptake, as more Canadians eventually buy heat pumps from distributors and install them in their homes. Using data from the Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Cooling Institute of Canada (HRAI), 440 Megatonnes analyzed the shipments of fossil fuel furnaces compared to different heat pump systems-including single package, split system, and ductless mini-splits-over the past five years. View our latest digests Calculating the average annual growth rate in shipments in Figure 1, positive trends emerge for the heat pump transition. Since 2020, heat pump shipments have increased by an average of 5% annually while furnace shipments have declined by 3.4% on average annually. In turn, the gap between heat pump and furnace shipments has closed significantly, jumping up to 0.84 heat pumps for every furnace shipped, compared to 0.57 in 2020. Looking at shipments by province, while Quebec currently leads in absolute heat pump shipment volume, followed by Ontario, British Columbia, and then Atlantic Canada, the Prairie provinces actually saw the highest rates of average annual growth. Notably, Alberta led in heat pump shipment growth, up an annual average of 32.9% over the past five years. Furnace shipments also fell on average 3.4% annually across Canada, decreasing by over 50,000 units over the past five years, and Quebec and the Atlantic provinces saw the largest drops in furnace shipments. In terms of the ratio of heat pumps to furnace shipments, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces are far above the rest of the country, each with more than 50 heat pumps per furnace shipment. While it is important to note that unlike furnaces, some homes may install multiple (usually two or three) heat pumps throughout their homes. Still, even after accounting for this potential discrepancy, the number of heat pumps in these two regions still surpasses the number of furnace shipments. Historically, the Atlantic provinces have had a few drivers that helped support heat pump adoption, including relatively moderate winters compared to the rest of Canada, volatile heating oil prices which have hurt household wallets, and strong financial incentives such as grants and rebates. In Quebec, on top of their own rebates, adoption has been driven by the fact that Quebec has the cheapest electricity prices in all of Canada. In the Prairie provinces, heat pumps have been less cost competitive due to cheaper gas prices relative to electricity. In recent years as the demand for cooling has increased, more households have made the switch to heat pumps instead of air conditioning units. To summarize the trends above: first, heat pump shipments throughout Canada have remained robust over the past five years as furnace shipments have been declining, resulting in the gap between heat pumps and furnaces being closer than ever before. Second, looking at provincial breakdowns, Quebec and Atlantic provinces still remain leaders bringing in more heat pumps than furnaces, while growth is also starting to pick up in historically lower uptake jurisdictions, like Alberta. It can be helpful to compare the above shipment data with existing but lagging data on how many Canadian homes have adopted heat pumps to get a sense of the potential trends. Overall, the Comprehensive Energy Use Database's heating stock data also shows similar trends for heat pump adoption. The share of Canadian households that had heat pump systems in 2022 increased to 6.1%, up from 4.8% four years prior, putting Canada closer to alignment with the 10% share in 2030 projected in the Institute's research. To get on track to this target, heat pump sales will need to accelerate. As was the case with the shipments data, these data for heat pump adoption show Atlantic Canada and Quebec leading the country. Atlantic provinces have broken well over double digit heat pump adoption, and Quebec has followed second. Adoption from the rest of Canada remains relatively low, with the outlier being B.C. where adoption is starting to pick up. However, the shipment data for these other jurisdictions shows growth in recent years, so we may expect to see adoption following suit in the near future. Policy support will still likely be necessary to promote adoption for colder climates where colder climate heat pumps are less cost competitive compared to gas, and to address equity barriers like upfront costs for low-income households. Some examples of existing policy programs include Ontario's new Home Renovation Savings Program that will offer up to $7,500 in rebates for cold climate heat pumps, and CleanBC's Energy Savings Program, which was recently expanded to provide additional support for low-income households and renters. Boosting public knowledge and skilled workforce capabilities for heat pumps will also be important to prevent bottlenecks due to labor shortages. Investing in these processes can ensure that homeowners know the full capabilities of their heat pumps, and that the heat pumps are ultimately installed properly across Canadian homes. Heat pump shipments are starting to take off in parts of Canada-the next step is to get the rest of the country on board too. Source: The Energy Mix
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning wants to make Gen Z the 'toolbelt generation'
As the nation celebrates skilled trades workers this month, the Brooklyn-based home service company encourages recent high school graduates to consider trade school BROOKLYN, N.Y, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, a family-owned home service company serving Brooklyn and Manhattan since 1906, wants to celebrate National Skilled Trades Day this week by encouraging upcoming high school graduates to consider a career in the trades. National Skilled Trades Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday of May to honor the importance of these workers. "As more Baby Boomers retire, there is a shortage of qualified tradesmen and women to fill the positions that retirees are leaving open," said Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning. "The Class of 2025 will soon be graduating from high school, and many of these graduates don't know what they want to do for the rest of their professional lives. We'd like to see their parents, teachers and other influencers encourage them to consider trade school." Petri said that there are several other benefits, such as: Trade schools are less than half the cost of most traditional four-year colleges. Most programs can be completed in 18-24 months, so graduates can start their careers sooner. Many entry-level positions in the skilled trades industry pay more than entry-level positions that require a college degree. Several home service companies offer apprenticeships that allow students to get paid while they learn on the job. "For many years, young people were encouraged to attend college instead of the skilled trades industry because many wrongly believed that a career in the trades wasn't as fulfilling or paid as well as those jobs that are attained with a college degree," Petri said. "But with the cost of college skyrocketing and student loan debts weighing down college graduates, it may be time for students who like technology and working with their hands to consider trade school." For more information about Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, visit or to schedule service, call (718) 717-1089. About Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain CleaningPetri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning is a family owned and operated business serving Brooklyn and the New York City area. Founded in 1906, the company offers a 100 percent guarantee on all services, upfront pricing, and friendly and knowledgeable service experts for all kinds of home and business plumbing and heating needs. Services offered include water and gas pipe leak repair and installation, fixture installations, inspections, boiler repair, water heater installation, complete bathroom, kitchen, laundry & utility room remodeling and more. Petri is also licensed and certified by Green Plumbers USA, the first in New York City to receive this designation. For more information, please visit or call (718) 717-1089. MEDIA CONTACT:Heather RipleyRipley PR865-977-1973hripley@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Glasgow Times
03-05-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
£6 million paid to help Glasgow residents with heating bills
Social Security Scotland paid a total of £6,227,000 to more than 87,340 people across the city to help with their heating bills in 2024/2025. Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to those who receive certain low-income benefits, including households with young children, disabled people, or older people. Read more: Glasgow charity helping pupils from different faiths work together The payment replaced the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. Winter Heating Payment is a guaranteed payment that everyone who is eligible receives, regardless of the weather. For 2024/2025, a total of 81,655 Winter Heating Payments, worth £4,797,000, were made. As well as 5,685 Child Winter Heating Payments, worth £1,430,000. The figures, taken from statistics released on April 29, show that 95 per cent of Winter Heating Payments were made by last December and 93 per cent of Child Winter Heating Payments were made by last October. Read more: Plan to dispose of Glasgow City Council building sparks fear over 'loss' Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "We have issued over 505,100 payments to families on low incomes, and those supporting children or young people with a disability, to help with the cost of heating their homes. "Many people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and higher energy bills. "The importance of these payments was brought home to everyone this month with the Energy Price Cap rising by 6.4 per cent. "Ofgem estimates that this will add £9.25 a month to the typical household's energy bill. "This year we will also be providing extra support to pensioners. "While the DWP's Winter Fuel Payment will only be available to some pensioners, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide money to every pensioner household in the country. "The Scottish Government will continue to protect pensioners and people on low incomes in Scotland."
Cision Canada
01-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Lennox Calls on Communities to Nominate Local Heroes for the 2025 Feel The Love® Program
Now through August 31, community members are encouraged to submit nominations for deserving individuals who could benefit from a donated HVAC system. DALLAS, May 1, 2025 /CNW/ -- Lennox (NYSE: LII), a leading provider of innovative home comfort solutions, announced that nominations are open for its Feel The Love program, sponsored by the LII Lennox Foundation. In partnership with its generous dealer network across the U.S. and Canada, Lennox will donate and install heating and cooling (HVAC) units for community heroes. Deserving individuals can be nominated until August 31 at "Feel The Love reminds me that the strength of our team goes beyond the products we build. It's grown into an impactful tradition that would not be possible without our dealer partners," said Lennox Residential HVAC VP/GM Lanessa Bannister. "As awareness, engagement, and reach increase each year, we're proud of where the program stands and excited about the possibilities ahead." For 16 years, Feel The Love has impacted numerous communities and continues to grow with more dealer involvement each year, reflected by nearly 30 percent increase in dealer participation from 2023 to 2024. Nominees have included educators, first responders, healthcare professionals, families facing financial challenges, and individuals impacted by natural disasters. Since 2009, Feel The Love has installed over 2,700 heating and cooling systems for homeowners in need, including over 435 installations last year. In 2024, Lennox and We Care Plumbing, Heating, and Air partnered to donate a brand-new air conditioning unit to Mike and Sarah Hooper, nominees from Riverside County, CA. Their daughter, Landis, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident that requires constant care and comfortable living conditions. "We've been on the other side, where we're trying to give as much as possible," said Feel The Love recipient Mike Hooper. "For people to step up and give to our family during this tragedy, in the middle of this storm as we suffer daily, we're really grateful for We Care Plumbing, Heating, and Air and Lennox." Throughout Feel The Love Installation week, October 3-12, 2025, selected recipients will receive free brand-new heating and cooling systems. For more information and updates, follow Lennox on Facebook and Instagram. About Lennox Lennox (NYSE: LII) is a leader in energy-efficient climate-control solutions. Dedicated to sustainability and creating comfortable and healthier environments for our residential and commercial customers while reducing their carbon footprint, we lead the field in innovation with our cooling, heating, indoor air quality, and refrigeration systems. Additional information is available at For media inquiries, contact [email protected]. About Feel The Love™ Since 2009, Feel The Love has been a key program for Lennox Residential to give back to its communities. Culminating in Feel The Love Installation Week in October, Lennox partners with HVAC installers and local community members in the United States and portions of Canada to deliver units at no cost to people who consistently put others before themselves and need a helping hand. For more information about how Lennox is bringing perfect air to deserving households across the United States and Canada, visit The LII Lennox Foundation sponsors the Feel the Love program.
