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By Sharon Kimathi, Energy and ESG Editor, Reuters Digital

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Dozens of rural Australian towns were issued with fresh evacuation warnings on Friday while around 1,000 firefighters battled a bushfire in Victoria state which has destroyed properties, killed livestock and is threatening to spread through towns.

More than 2,000 people fled from towns in Victoria’s west after emergency evacuation orders were issued to leave on Thursday while it was still safe and head east to the nearby regional hub of Ballarat, 95 km (59 miles) west of Melbourne.

Firefighters, supported by more than 50 aircraft, battled to contain the massive blaze on Friday. Roughly 11,000 hectares (110 square kms) have been burnt, authorities said.

Stronger-than-expected winds are spreading fires faster and closer to towns as emergency crews urged residents to take shelter indoors if unable to leave.

Over in Canada, the western province of Alberta declared an early start to the wildfire season as a result of an unusually dry and mild winter.

Alberta is also suffering from drought, and there are 52 wildfires still burning in the province from last year as well as 17 new blazes so far in 2024.

Wildfire season in Alberta tends to peak in the spring and usually officially kicks off on March 1. The province declared an early start this year to better direct resources to fires already underway, the provincial government said in a news release.

1. Thousands ordered to flee while they can as bushfire burns in Australia’s south

More than two thousand people have been ordered to evacuate from towns in the west of Australia’s Victoria state due to a bushfire burning out of control.

The state emergency service urged residents in the towns of Raglan and Beaufort, home to around two thousand people, and those in surrounding areas to leave while it was still safe and head east to the nearby regional hub of Ballarat, 95 kms (59 miles) west of Melbourne.

A supplied image shows smoke from a bushfire near the town of Beaufort, west of Ballarat, Victoria. NSW. AAP Image/Supplied by Beaufort Park Cafe via REUTERS

2.  Alberta wildfire season starts early as Canada’s mild winter persists

The western Canadian province of Alberta declared an early start to the wildfire season as a result of an unusually dry and mild winter, allowing the government to put more money and resources into tackling blazes.

3. Chile risks repeat of deadly wildfires because of climate change, report says

Deadly wildfires like those that burned through central Chile and killed at least 133 people this month will become more likely in the South American country as climate change makes the world hotter and drier, according to a report from World Weather Attribution, an international group of scientists that studies the effects of climate change on extreme weather events.

4. Surging bills, fewer showers: India’s Bengaluru reels under water shortage

Bengaluru is facing an acute water shortage this year, months before peak summer, forcing many residents in “India’s Silicon Valley” to ration their water use and pay almost double the usual price to meet their daily needs.

This comes as farmers from around the world are struggling with their harvest due to dry weather. Tunisian wheat farmer Hasan Chetoui is seeking inspiration from the deep past as he tries to adapt to drought caused by climate change, sowing old wheat varieties that he hopes will produce crops throughout the year.

5. Melting snow and muddy pistes disappoint skiers in Bosnia

Visitors to Bosnia’s Mount Bjelasnica lugged skis through mud to reach ski-lifts this week as spring-like weather following the planet’s hottest January spoilt their usual winter activity.

Polar bears face an increased risk of starvation as a result of spending more time on land during extended ice-free seasons, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. Click here or on the image for more. 

Thermal battery maker Antora Energy said it has raised $150 million in a funding round led by a tie-up between the world’s biggest asset manager BlackRock  and Singapore state investment firm Temasek. That takes the company’s total funding since its Series A in 2022 to $230 million. Series A and B are the first and second major private fundraisings by a startup.

70%

Exclusive: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dropped a requirement for U.S.-listed companies to disclose so-called Scope 3 emissions, which was included in its original draft of the rules published in March 2022, people familiar with the matter said. 

Scope 3 emissions account for greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide, released in the atmosphere from a company’s supply chain and the consumption of its products by customers. For most businesses, Scope 3 emissions represent more than 70% of their carbon footprint, according to consulting firm Deloitte.

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