Leaders crow like roosters. But another enemy approaches.

In the week that ended, while a large part of Brazilians danced in the streets trying to relieve tensions under the magical power of drumming, another part let themselves be lulled in temples by the sermons of evangelical pastors, and yet another part thought about how they would pay the bills in this harsh beginning of March, in the Northern Hemisphere yet another act of the horror show was staged, the ending of which no one knows how or when it will come. The absolute prima donna of this Grand Guignol of bad taste, Donald Trump, in his first speech to the US Congress, once again shouted: “We will take Greenland!” And also the Panama Canal, the Gaza Strip, Canada, the Moon, Mars, and probably Saturn and Pluto. 

At the same time, in France, Emmanuel Macron is launching the idea of ​​a shared deterrent between his country and the European Union as a whole. In the scenario of a possible US disengagement from NATO, Paris's position becomes crucial: France is the only state in Europe that possesses nuclear weapons and also has a completely independent arsenal.

For his part, Zelensky, after the dressing-down he received in the Oval Office, now declares he is ready to sign the agreement with the United States regarding his country's rare earth elements. Meanwhile, Russian drones continue to bomb Ukrainian cities. The population be damned.

In Gaza, the ceasefire continues in fits and starts, and day by day, when the fits and starts become even worse, more bombs fall on the suffering civilian population. 

Yes, some great leaders seem to revel in the suffering of the less fortunate. And, apparently intoxicated by the revelry of their desires for greatness, glory, and power, they seem unaware of the dark and heavy clouds already forming on the horizon, heralding the storm of great things. 

Quietly on the other side of the globe, China is beginning to issue warnings: we are indeed on the verge of a climate catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. And the catastrophe will not be quite as we expected.

The Chinese government's Xinhua news agency published this week the worrying results of a study conducted by researchers from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, and the University of Albany – State University of New York. The study, also published in the journal Climate and Atmospheric Science, explains that human-induced climate change is making extreme cold events increasingly less severe. Although intense cold waves still occur, their intensity and frequency have decreased significantly due to global warming – challenging the common perception that climate change paradoxically leads to harsher winters.

"Our findings confirm that human-induced climate change is, in fact, weakening extreme cold events," said Qian Cheng, a professor at IAP.

The study reveals that anthropogenic warming has reduced the likelihood and intensity of cold waves similar to that of 2023 by more than 92% and 1,9 degrees Celsius, respectively, compared to a world without human influence. Such events are predicted to become even rarer and milder by the end of the century, with a 95% reduction in frequency and a drop of more than 2 degrees Celsius in intensity under an intermediate emissions scenario. The results highlight the need for urgent adaptive strategies to mitigate the impacts of extreme cold events, Qian added.

How will agriculture react to increasingly shorter and less cold winters? Agriculture will be directly impacted by shorter and less cold winters, bringing both challenges and opportunities.

Possible Benefits: 

Longer growing season: With shorter winters, the planting and harvesting period is extended, allowing for greater productivity and even multiple crops per year in some regions. Less frost damage: Milder temperatures reduce the risk of late frosts that can harm young crops. Expansion into new areas: Some crops can be grown in regions that were previously too cold for agriculture.

Challenges and Risks:

Agricultural pests and diseases: Intense cold traditionally controls pest and pathogen populations. Milder winters can lead to larger outbreaks, requiring more pesticides and rigorous management. Impact on crop cycles: Some plants need a dormancy period in winter to flower properly (e.g., wheat, apple trees, and grapevines). Shorter winters can harm their productivity. Changes in water availability: Less snow and ice in winter means less water availability in summer, affecting crops that depend on snowmelt for irrigation.

Necessary Adaptations:

Development of plant varieties resistant to new climatic conditions. Improved irrigation management to compensate for potential droughts. Enhanced monitoring and control of pests and diseases. Adjustment of agricultural calendars to adapt to the new seasons.

In other words, agriculture will need to adapt quickly to changes in winters to avoid losses and take advantage of opportunities for greater productivity. All of this will require colossal investments, without which we risk crop failures, food shortages, inflation, and the exodus of millions of hungry and desperate people who, in order to survive, will try to migrate to more protected places.

Meanwhile, powerful leaders are playing with the "Gerson's Law" mentality, each one wanting to take advantage of everything...