Christopher Bailey, director of the World Health Organization's Art and Health program, emphasizes the role of art in trauma recovery, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters like the DANA in Valencia. He highlights how art can provide emotional and spiritual healing, helping individuals reconnect with the present and their community. Bailey's insights draw from his extensive experience, including recent work with displaced individuals in Ukraine, demonstrating art's transformative power in fostering community and belonging.

The report 'Impacto sostenible: resiliencia mediante la adaptación climática' by Women Action Sustainability and Schneider Electric examines how companies are adapting to climate change. It highlights the importance of investments, particularly from the banking and financial sectors, in supporting adaptation plans. The report reveals that many companies lack insurance coverage for climate-related impacts and are behind in implementing Nature-Based Solutions. Only a small percentage have fully implemented adaptation measures, and few have detailed methodologies to assess financial impacts of climate risks. The report also identifies challenges and opportunities for companies in their adaptation journey.

The article highlights the pervasive issue of violence against women globally, citing alarming statistics from organizations like the UN and WHO. It discusses various forms of gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, and female genital mutilation, emphasizing the systemic nature of these issues rooted in patriarchal structures. The piece also examines legislative efforts worldwide to combat such violence, noting both progress and setbacks in countries like Spain, Afghanistan, and the United States. It underscores the need for targeted prevention efforts, particularly towards men and boys, and highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing and preventing gender violence.

The COP29 climate summit in Baku is struggling to reach a consensus, with negotiations on carbon markets and climate financing facing significant hurdles. Despite a minor agreement on carbon markets, the summit is at risk of being deemed a failure, reminiscent of past unsuccessful climate conferences. Key issues include the lack of consideration for inflation in financial commitments and the dissatisfaction of vulnerable nations with the proposed funding levels. The summit's outcome remains uncertain as delegates continue to negotiate.

The COP29 climate conference in Baku concluded with a $300 billion annual climate finance agreement, falling short of the $1.3 trillion needed by vulnerable nations. The agreement, reached after contentious negotiations, lacks ambition and omits commitments to phase out fossil fuels, with Saudi Arabia and petro-states opposing such measures. A minor victory was achieved with progress on carbon markets, though accusations of geopolitical manipulation by petro-states, particularly from Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, marred the conference. The focus now shifts to the next COP in Brazil, where further negotiations on climate finance and carbon markets will continue.

The presidency of COP29 has released a draft agreement urging developed countries to increase climate financing for developing nations to at least $1.3 trillion annually by 2035. The draft specifies an immediate investment of $250 billion per year until 2035, sourced from public and private, bilateral and multilateral funding. It encourages voluntary contributions from wealthier nations, aligning with Chinese negotiators' demands for non-mandatory investments. The draft acknowledges fiscal constraints and the rising costs of climate adaptation, emphasizing the need for public funding and grants, particularly for vulnerable developing countries. However, it lacks clarity on implementation strategies.

The COP29 climate summit in Baku faces criticism for its lack of ambition, with delegates expressing dissatisfaction over the draft text. The European Union and other groups, including the G77 and AILAC, demand clearer financial commitments, while small island states emphasize the urgency of action. Despite low expectations for an ambitious agreement, there is hope for a resolution before the weekend. The negotiations highlight the challenges of reaching consensus amid diverse national interests and the pressing need for systemic changes to address the climate emergency.

The draft agreement for COP29 in Baku has been criticized as 'unacceptable' by European Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra and other stakeholders due to its lack of precision in climate financing and mitigation. Spanish negotiator Valvanera Ulargui expressed dissatisfaction with the draft, highlighting progress in adaptation and gender issues but noting the inadequacy of mitigation and financing measures. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, urged negotiators to find common ground, emphasizing the importance of climate justice. WWF and other organizations expressed concern over the lack of ambitious financial targets, while negotiations face challenges, particularly from countries like Saudi Arabia, in moving away from fossil fuels.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is significantly more intense due to record-high sea temperatures, exacerbated by human-induced climate change. Research led by Daniel Gilford from Climate Central highlights that 18 tropical cyclones have formed, with 11 becoming hurricanes, and at least 7 reaching category 3 or higher. The study, published in Environmental Research Climate, attributes the increased intensity to ocean temperatures over 3°C above normal, making cyclones 800 times more likely to become hurricanes. The Climate Shift Index: Ocean methodology was used to quantify climate change's impact, revealing that extreme weather events are now 44 times more likely. The Gulf of Mexico experienced particularly high temperatures, intensifying storms like Helene and Milton.

The G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro has been criticized for its weak stance on fossil fuel transition, despite aligning with the UN's COP29 climate conference in Baku. António Guterres emphasized the inevitability of ending fossil fuel use, while Simon Stiell urged negotiators to secure new climate finance goals. The UK, New Zealand, and Colombia joined a coalition to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. Financial negotiations remain a sticking point, with discussions on voluntary contributions from wealthy nations. The WWF expressed disappointment over the G20's lack of clear language on fossil fuel transition.