'Humanity is on thin ice'

Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY
·5 min read

"Urgent" actions are needed to counter human-caused climate change, says a report released by the United Nations. Also in the news: There is no confirmation yet if former President Donald Trump will be indicted Tuesday, despite his claims he will be arrested. The United States and Japan will face off tonight in the World Baseball Classic final.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. 2023 Women of the Year Honoree Nicole Mann spoke to USA TODAY from the International Space Station (!).

Here's Tuesday's headlines.

Major UN report calls for action to combat climate change

The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a report this week which says climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health – and the window to do something about it is closing fast. “Humanity is on thin ice – and that ice is melting fast,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

This report is the culmination of an eight-year-long series of climate science papers, the sixth assessment since the IPCC was established in 1988.

  • The report says human activities, principally through greenhouse emissions, have unequivocally caused global warming, driving widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.

  • The key question facing the globe is whether the global average temperature increase, now warming at 0.2 degrees a decade, can be held to 1.5 degrees. Experts say that has become increasingly unlikely.

  • There's a way forward: Rapid and sustained mitigation and faster movement toward adaptation in this decade would reduce losses and damages and deliver many co-benefits, especially for air quality and health.

Read USA TODAY's recap of the report here and how the USDA is combating wildfires caused by climate change.

In this image taken with a drone, a residential swimming pool hangs on a cliffside after a landslide occurred in San Clemente, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023.
In this image taken with a drone, a residential swimming pool hangs on a cliffside after a landslide occurred in San Clemente, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Biden's first veto

President Joe Biden issued his first veto Monday after Congress voted to block a Labor Department rule allowing retirement plans to weigh the long-term impacts of social factors and climate change on investments — a move Republicans say is a "woke" policy that hurts retirees' pockets. "I just signed this veto because the legislation passed by the Congress would put at risk retirement savings of individuals across the country," Biden said in a video posted to Twitter. Read more

President Joe Biden speaks during a Nowruz celebration in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Washington.
President Joe Biden speaks during a Nowruz celebration in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Washington.

More news to know now

🌤 What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Chinese leader welcomed in Russia

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a visit eyed warily by the U.S. and Western allies. Xi's first visit since Russia invaded Ukraine would appear to show support for Putin, who needs trade deals and bullets as he faces pressure from economic sanctions and reports that his military is running low on ammunition and fighting equipment. The trip comes days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of war crimes in Ukraine. Read more

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a photo during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, March 20, 2023.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a photo during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, March 20, 2023.

Why would Trump get arrested?

Former President Donald Trump has predicted Tuesday will be the day he is indicted as an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's office comes to a close. Though there is no confirmation the indictment will come Tuesday, Trump may face charges for his alleged role in making a $130,000 hush-money payment to an adult film actress just before the 2016 presidential election to silence her about a past affair. Trump's indictment would be the first time in American history a former president faces criminal charges. Read more

Former President Donald Trump watches the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Former President Donald Trump watches the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Just for subscribers:

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. 

Japan faces USA in World Baseball Classic final

Japan pulled off a dramatic victory Monday in the World Baseball Classic: A walk-off 6-5 victory over Mexico, with Shohei Ohtani triggering the comeback. Now Ohtani is the player to watch in Tuesday night's final as he faces Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout. Ohtani, who’s eligible for free agency after the season, and risking perhaps $500 million simply by playing in the WBC, is here to win it all. Read more

Shohei Ohtani circles the bases after a three-run home run by Masataka Yoshida against Mexico.
Shohei Ohtani circles the bases after a three-run home run by Masataka Yoshida against Mexico.

One more thing

Photo of the day: 'Ted Lasso' in the White House

The cast of Apple TV+'s Emmy-winning "Ted Lasso" found itself meeting President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden to promote mental health awareness Monday,. "We encourage everyone, and this big theme of the show, is to check in with your neighbor, your co-worker, your friends, your family, and ask how they're doing and listen sincerely,"  actor Jason Sudeikis said. Read more about the visit.

The cast of Ted Lasso met with US President Joe Biden on March 20, 2023 to discuss the importance of addressing mental health to promote overall well-being.
The cast of Ted Lasso met with US President Joe Biden on March 20, 2023 to discuss the importance of addressing mental health to promote overall well-being.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daily Briefing: 'Humanity is on thin ice'

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