Happy Thursday! Today we'll cover the UN Secretary-General's latest climate intervention, explain why global warming could be bad news for allergy sufferers, and introduce a neat new scheme that could shake up the world of weather forecasting. Let’s dive right in 👇:

Matcha's Gulp

António Guterres spits facts 🇺🇳

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasised the “urgent need to end global heating with cold, hard facts”. He warned that the world is at the “tip of a tipping point” as we approach the internationally agreed target of keeping warming below 1.5 °C – and called on world leaders to follow the science when it comes to understanding, and avoiding, the worst impacts of climate change.

Well, we certainly don’t disagree with any of that – but sometimes, a red-hot meme can make a cold, hard fact that bit more persuasive 😉

Climate change unleashes allergy Armageddon 🤧

Do you suffer from allergies? If so, then it could be bad news: according to scientists, the US allergy season is starting earlier, lasting longer, and hitting harder.

Of course, the culprit here is climate change. As temperatures rise, so does the amount of pollen in the air; this can cause allergy and asthma symptoms to get worse, and become more difficult to treat.

The good news? Cutting carbon emissions should help to reverse this trend. But as Matcha Straw readers know, that’s easier said than done!

Can weather forecasts inspire climate action? 🌤

The climate is changing – so why should weather forecasts stay the same? That’s the idea behind a new initiative from French TV stations France 2 and France 3. They’re now offering ‘weather and climate bulletins’ to explain the underlying science behind the forecast. As the stations’ director points out, “It's unacceptable to be happy about it being 25°C in Biarritz in February, without explaining why.”

This neat idea should help people to understand how climate change is already impacting their daily lives, and could inspire new efforts to prevent it: good job, France.

News Sip

• Biden: Younger generations will be 'damned' without climate change action: Says the guy who just approved Willow 🤔

• UK Plans ‘Green Day’ in Response to Biden’s Climate Subsidies: A certain rock band might not be too happy with that name 🎸

• Growing mushrooms could feed millions and mitigate climate effects: A magic solution to climate change? 🍄

• Climate change threatens spring wildflowers: The planet’s getting hotter and uglier 🌼

Today's Climate Meme