THE RECORD for the week of April 2, 2026

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DOMAIN: Economics

• DELTA: Global GDP Growth Rate
  FROM: 3.2%
  TO: 1.5%
  MAGNITUDE: A decline of 1.7 percentage points, marking the lowest annual growth in over a decade. This stagnation reflects significant investment in fossil fuels at the expense of renewable energy development.

• DELTA: Unemployment Rate
  FROM: 5.1%
  TO: 8.4%
  MAGNITUDE: An increase of 3.3 percentage points, largely due to mass layoffs in industries unable to adapt to the climate crisis and ongoing economic woes, particularly in sectors like hospitality and retail.

• DELTA: Fossil Fuel Subsidies
  FROM: $400 billion annually
  TO: $600 billion annually
  MAGNITUDE: A surge of $200 billion, indicating a continued preference for short-term economic gains over the long-term viability of the planet, further entrenching dependency on carbon-intensive energy sources despite urgent climate calls.

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DOMAIN: Geopolitics

• DELTA: Number of Climate Refugees
  FROM: 30 million
  TO: 50 million
  MAGNITUDE: An increase of 20 million, as rising sea levels and extreme weather events displace populations, aggravating geopolitical tensions and straining resources in host nations.

• DELTA: International Cooperation Agreements on Climate Policy
  FROM: 80 active agreements
  TO: 50 active agreements
  MAGNITUDE: A decrease of 30 agreements, highlighting a significant backslide in collaborative efforts to address the climate crisis, as nations retreat into nationalist policies rather than working toward global solutions.

• DELTA: Military Spending Related to Climate Security
  FROM: $50 billion
  TO: $90 billion
  MAGNITUDE: An increase of $40 billion, with governments reallocating funds to address perceived threats from climate-induced instability rather than investing in mitigation strategies or adaptation measures.

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DOMAIN: Environment

• DELTA: Global Carbon Emissions
  FROM: 36.4 billion tons
  TO: 39.2 billion tons
  MAGNITUDE: An increase of 2.8 billion tons, reflecting continued reliance on fossil fuels and insufficient progress in transitioning to renewable energy sources, exacerbating climate change effects.

• DELTA: Deforestation Rate in the Amazon
  FROM: 8,000 square kilometers annually
  TO: 12,000 square kilometers annually
  MAGNITUDE: An increase of 4,000 square kilometers, driven by agricultural expansion and illegal logging, severely impacting biodiversity and contributing to the global carbon footprint.

• DELTA: Biodiversity Index
  FROM: 75% of species at stable populations
  TO: 60% of species at stable populations
  MAGNITUDE: A decrease of 15 percentage points, indicating a dramatic loss of species stability due to habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, pushing numerous species to the brink of extinction.

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DOMAIN: Technology

• DELTA: Investment in Renewable Energy Technologies
  FROM: $500 billion
  TO: $350 billion
  MAGNITUDE: A decrease of $150 billion, reflecting a lack of commitment to transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, highlighting the prioritization of short-term profits over sustainable development.

• DELTA: Cybersecurity Breaches in Environmental Data
  FROM: 50 incidents annually
  TO: 120 incidents annually
  MAGNITUDE: An increase of 70 incidents, indicating a growing vulnerability in systems handling critical environmental data, which undermines trust in climate science and policy-making.

• DELTA: Adoption of Green Technologies by Corporations
  FROM: 65%
  TO: 50%
  MAGNITUDE: A decline of 15 percentage points, showing a regression in corporate responsibility towards sustainability amidst economic pressures and profit-seeking behaviors.

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DOMAIN: Health

• DELTA: Air Quality Index in Major Cities
  FROM: 45 (Good)
  TO: 90 (Unhealthy)
  MAGNITUDE: A degradation of 45 points, correlating with increased respiratory illnesses and other health complications due to pollution from industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust.

• DELTA: Incidence of Climate-related Health Disorders
  FROM: 2 million cases
  TO: 5 million cases
  MAGNITUDE: An increase of 3 million cases, as rising temperatures and extreme weather events contribute to heat strokes, vector-borne diseases, and mental health issues, overwhelming healthcare systems.

• DELTA: Access to Clean Drinking Water
  FROM: 85% of the population
  TO: 70% of the population
  MAGNITUDE: A drop of 15 percentage points, as climate change exacerbates water scarcity and contamination, depriving millions of a basic necessity and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.

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THE WEEK'S SIGNAL

The most significant delta this week is the increase in global carbon emissions, which rose to 39.2 billion tons. This spike underscores the persistent failure of governments and corporations to implement effective climate strategies. The implications are dire: without immediate action to reverse this trend, the already precarious balance of Earth's climate systems will continue to deteriorate, leading to catastrophic environmental, economic, and health consequences for future generations.