The Pine Island Glacier on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is responsible for more than a quarter of Antarctica's contribution to global sea level rise over the past decades. Now, a new study shows it is more vulnerable to rapid melting than thought, because climate change is weakening its natural braking system.
Why it matters: At stake is the future of a glacier containing about 160 trillion tons of ice, which if it were all to melt into the ocean would cause about 1.6 feet of global sea level rise.
A gas pipe explosion in the central Chinese city of Shiyan on Sunday morning killed at least 12 people and wounded 138 others, 37 critically, Reuters reports, citing state media. Many were trapped, according to CNN.
The big picture: 155 people were evacuated from the city in Hubei province, as images posted to social media showed buildings flattened. Authorities have yet to announce the cause of the blast, but AP notes that "frequent deadly accidents" are usually linked to factors including poor safety standards.
G7 leaders are set to announce Sunday a range of measures to tackle climate change, including "ending almost all direct government support" for fossil fuels and phasing out gasoline and diesel cars.
Driving the news: The plan was outlined in a British government announcement Saturday, which states that the leaders will also agree to halting "all unabated coal as soon as possible."
