On May 5, researchers from the University of Surrey launched new urban greening toolkits to combat air pollution and extreme heat. The guides offer specific advice for fast-growing cities in Malawi, Nepal, and Ethiopia. According to the University of Surrey, the initiative aims to reduce high particulate exposure in Malawian urban areas, where about 97 percent of households still rely on biomass fuels for cooking. The Malawi toolkit was co-authored with the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and the University of Malawi to help city planners use green infrastructure to ease flood risks and cool streets.
Update: African leaders and environmental experts are continuing their push for climate finance reforms, according to a May 4 report by the Tax Justice Network Africa. Building on earlier regional demands made at the 5th African Regional Conference on Loss and Damage in Lilongwe, officials cited weak data systems and limited institutional readiness as primary barriers to securing global funds for communities impacted by extreme weather.
In domestic weather updates, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services reported on May 4 that an easterly air mass from the Indian Ocean is currently driving weather patterns. The agency forecasted partly cloudy conditions alongside cool to hot temperatures across Malawi, noting a chance of isolated rain over northern lakeshore areas such as Karonga.