climate change

The 2023-24 El Niño is described as record-shattering, with analysis of its wide-ranging effects on global temperatures, weather patterns and ecosystems. The event has driven exceptional ocean warming in the tropical Pacific, contributing to record global heat, shifts in rainfall, droughts and flooding in various regions, and stress on fisheries and agriculture. Commentators are weighing how much of the recent temperature surge should be attributed to El Niño versus longer-term climate change.

Leaders of Pacific island nations used their addresses at the UN General Assembly in New York to spotlight the mounting threats climate change poses to their countries, including rising seas, extreme weather and threats to livelihoods and sovereignty. Their speeches press larger nations for stronger emissions cuts and support, giving small island states a prominent platform in the global climate debate.

Scientists are developing new methods to control mosquitoes, the world's deadliest animal to humans, as warmer temperatures stretch mosquito seasons and expand the reach of diseases like malaria and dengue. PBS News reports that longer warm periods give the insects more time to breed and spread illness, prompting renewed research into control strategies as climate change shifts where the threat lands.

New polling indicates climate change has returned to people's top priorities, according to research by Climate Outreach. The organisation shared the finding publicly, suggesting renewed public concern about the issue after a period in which it had slipped down voters' lists of most important concerns. Further details from the poll, including specific rankings and regional breakdowns, were not provided.

Le Monde examines how climate change is pushing people, planners and governments to reconsider where and how they live. As heatwaves, floods and rising seas make some areas less habitable, questions about relocating, adapting cities and rebuilding our relationship with the surrounding environment are moving from the margins to the centre of public debate.

Commentary is examining how climate change is increasingly framed as a human rights issue, with warming temperatures, displacement and resource shortages threatening basic rights to housing, food and safety. The discussion reflects a growing push to hold governments accountable for protecting vulnerable populations from climate impacts and to embed human rights obligations into climate policy.

Small island states in the South Pacific are being called on to fight climate change without having their debts turned into a tool of pressure. The argument is that nations already facing existential threats from rising seas and extreme weather should not be squeezed financially by creditors as they cope with climate damage. The piece calls for fairer treatment of climate-vulnerable economies in debt negotiations.

Scientists warn that shifting climate conditions could change the risks posed by deadly rodent-borne diseases. As temperatures and rainfall patterns alter habitats, rodent populations may move into new areas, potentially increasing human exposure to pathogens such as hantavirus and leptospirosis. Researchers say understanding these ecological shifts is becoming increasingly important for public health planning.

Organic beef farming emitted nearly twice as much carbon per unit as conventional beef farming, though it may outperform conventional methods on other environmental metrics. The discussion notes that beef production accounts for roughly a quarter of global food-related greenhouse gas emissions, making it a leading contributor to climate change and prompting debate over which farming approach is truly better.

World leaders are addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York as the annual high-level debate reaches its sixth day. Heads of state and government are delivering speeches covering global conflicts, climate change and international cooperation. The general debate traditionally draws wide attention as countries outline their foreign policy priorities before the world body.

The Trump administration has moved to lower federal fuel economy standards for vehicles, weakening requirements that automakers improve average mileage across their fleets. The change, reported by Beloit Daily News as part of its latest news updates, is likely to affect vehicle costs, emissions levels, and the broader US auto industry.

The Trump administration is preparing to roll out lower fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks in the United States, easing requirements that automakers improve mileage efficiency. The move is being reported across major US outlets and is likely to draw criticism from environmental groups while being welcomed by auto industry figures who argue existing rules are too costly. The change signals a further rollback of climate-related vehicle regulations.

A new survey finds 21% of German companies report that climate change is already having an adverse impact on their business operations. The figure suggests climate effects such as extreme weather and supply disruptions are moving from long-term risk to present-day reality for parts of the German economy, prompting debate about how firms are adapting and what it means for Europe's largest economy.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $16.8 million in funding to help farmers across the state deal with the impacts of climate change. The money is intended to support agricultural producers facing weather-related pressures such as extreme rainfall, drought and shifting growing conditions. The announcement is drawing attention from regional outlets covering rural New York and the state's response to climate threats facing its farm sector.

Attention is turning to how India will fund its adaptation to climate change, including resilient infrastructure, flood defences and agriculture. Discussion centres on the role of green bonds and other financing tools in closing the gap between the country's climate needs and available investment, as extreme weather increasingly stresses the economy.

New York City is pressing ahead with construction and infrastructure projects designed to withstand a changing climate, Crain's New York Business reports, outlining four key approaches the city is taking. The reporting highlights how planners and builders are adapting the built environment to rising climate risks facing the city.

Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands, delivered a statement at the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. As leader of a low-lying Pacific nation, Heine has frequently used UN addresses to press for stronger global action on climate change and rising seas threatening island states. Details of her specific remarks were not available.

An international conference of NGOs hosted under the Council of Europe framework is putting climate risks, violence against women and social rights at the centre of its agenda. Delegates and civil society organisations are expected to debate how these interconnected issues should shape future human rights policy, with organisers framing the event as a key forum for international NGO cooperation.

A Chicago museum is drawing attention for its efforts to get visitors talking about climate change. According to Yale Climate Connections, the institution uses its exhibits to encourage public discussion of the issue, positioning itself as a space where audiences can engage with climate science and its implications. The approach highlights the growing role of cultural institutions in climate communication.

A young climate champion from Oxfordshire, England, is calling on children to take action on climate change, saying they can change the world. Explaining his focus, he said his target audience is young people because the world is going to be full of disasters when they are older. The remarks were reported by the Oxford Mail and have drawn attention to youth-led climate activism in the region.

New findings from Eurofound indicate that Europeans broadly accept the need for climate action, yet many are unwilling to change how they travel or heat their homes. The agency reports that north-western European countries are better prepared to design green policies that fit how people actually live, highlighting a gap between climate attitudes and personal behaviour across the continent.

Andy Katz, a director of the East Bay Municipal Utility District, says climate change is bringing the biggest challenges to water management in the region. As a utility board member overseeing water supply for parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, he points to shifting precipitation, drought and other climate-driven pressures as the key issues shaping the district's planning.

The United Nations has declared that solving climate change is a 'decisive test of global solidarity', framing collective action on emissions and adaptation as the defining challenge for international cooperation. The statement underscores growing pressure on governments to deliver coordinated commitments, with the UN urging countries to set aside divisions and treat the climate crisis as a shared responsibility requiring joint effort.

Senator Loren Legarda said the Philippines should refuse to remain a mere victim of climate change, urging the country to take a more active stance despite being among the nations most vulnerable to its effects. Her remarks frame climate vulnerability as a call for leadership and resilience rather than passivity.

NASA scientists are mapping vast valleys buried beneath the Greenland ice sheet, revealing dramatic hidden landscapes that were shaped before ice covered the island. The research helps scientists understand how the bedrock terrain influences ice flow and could improve predictions of how the ice sheet will respond to climate change and contribute to global sea-level rise.

The US has significantly weakened its vehicle fuel economy standards, a move framed as an effort to unwind Biden-era electric vehicle policies. The rollback eases requirements that would have pushed automakers to sell more electric cars, marking a major reversal in federal climate and transportation policy. The change affects automakers nationwide and is expected to draw criticism from environmental groups while easing pressure on car manufacturers.

The Trump administration is rolling back federal fuel economy standards for cars, lowering the target from the roughly 50 mpg set under President Biden to 34.5 mpg. The change relaxes requirements on automakers to improve efficiency, reversing a signature Biden-era climate policy. Supporters say it will make vehicles cheaper, while critics warn it will increase fuel consumption and emissions.