global climate

UN News reports that the recent global energy crisis has accelerated the shift toward renewable energy, changing how countries think about energy security. The piece argues that renewables reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and imported supplies, turning the transition into a security strategy rather than only a climate goal. It highlights how governments are rethinking infrastructure and supply chains to build more resilient, domestically sourced energy systems.

World leaders continued addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the sixth day of the annual high-level debate. The sessions, broadcast live, feature speeches from heads of state and government on topics ranging from conflict and security to climate and development, drawing international attention to the diplomatic calendar's most prominent gathering.

Leaders of Pacific island nations used their addresses at the UN General Assembly to highlight the existential threats climate change poses to their countries, including rising sea levels and extreme weather. They urged the international community to take stronger action on emissions and to support vulnerable states facing displacement and loss of land.

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.

Global leaders are gathering on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss the future of development finance, with a focus on how multilateral lenders can fund sustainable growth. CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America, is highlighting its role in shaping financing models for emerging economies. Discussions centre on reforming global financial systems so developing countries can access affordable capital for infrastructure and climate priorities.

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.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature says it advanced its nature, ocean and climate agenda during the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week. The organisation used the gatherings of world leaders, businesses and campaigners to press for stronger action on protecting ecosystems and oceans alongside emissions cuts. Details of specific commitments or outcomes were not given in the announcement.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres used his final address to the UN General Assembly to warn that superpowers alone cannot solve the world's problems, touching on climate change and global cooperation. The speech, covered by The Guardian, is being shared widely as it marks the end of his tenure and delivers a pointed message to major powers about shared responsibility.

A UK climate minister has warned that the global food system is vulnerable to El Niño, the periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters that disrupts weather patterns and can hit crop harvests. The warning highlights concerns that extreme weather linked to El Niño could drive up food prices and threaten supply security at a time of already strained agricultural conditions.

UNESCO has unveiled its ONE OCEAN installation in New York during the UN General Assembly. The artwork puts the state of the world's oceans in front of world leaders gathering for high-level diplomacy, adding ocean protection to the agenda at a moment when climate and marine conservation remain contested topics globally.

A new examination challenges the frequent corporate argument that individual companies' fossil fuel emissions are insignificant compared to global totals. The piece asks what the true cost of those emissions would be if they were fully counted, pushing back on a common justification used by major polluters to downplay their share of responsibility for climate change.

New figures show the world added around 690 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2025, according to reporting by pv magazine. The total underscores the continued rapid expansion of solar energy worldwide, as installations keep outpacing forecasts driven by falling costs and strong demand in major markets. Industry observers are weighing what the record-scale buildout means for grids, fossil fuel demand and global climate targets.

Commentators argue that as El Niño strengthens and disrupts weather patterns, more money should go toward supporting the world's farmers, who face crop failures and income losses from droughts and floods. The argument is that smallholder agriculture is underfunded despite being on the front line of climate shocks, and that investment in resilience is urgently needed.

The UN General Assembly's general debate continued into its fifth day in New York, with world leaders and foreign ministers taking the rostrum to lay out their governments' positions on conflicts, climate and development. UN News is summarising the day's key speeches and moments for audiences following the annual high-level week.

The Bank of Japan is increasing its lending scheme that channels funds to banks supporting climate action, a programme first introduced in 2021. The move comes as policymakers and economists argue over how far central banks should go in supporting green goals, with critics warning that climate policy sits outside monetary mandates and supporters arguing financial stability depends on it.

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.

The United Nations Development Programme is highlighting China's path within the global green transition, drawing attention to the country's approach to shifting toward sustainable, low-carbon development. As one of the world's largest emitters, China's clean energy choices carry significant weight for international climate goals, making its transition strategy a subject of global interest and debate.

Yale School of the Environment experts shared five main takeaways from Climate Week NYC, summarising key discussions on climate action held alongside the UN General Assembly. The school's roundup highlights what environmental scholars view as the most significant developments and priorities emerging from the annual New York gathering of policymakers, businesses and climate advocates.

Debate is focusing on who bears responsibility for keeping global warming within the 1.5-degree Celsius limit set by international climate goals. The question touches on the division of duties between wealthy historical emitters and developing nations, as well as the roles of governments, corporations and individuals. Observers say blame and burden-sharing remain among the most contested issues in climate negotiations.

Commentary from China Daily argues that international cooperation is essential for accelerating the global transition to clean energy. The piece stresses that no country can manage the energy shift alone, and that coordinated policy, technology sharing and investment are needed to meet climate goals.

A joint study by the OECD, World Bank and Global Green Growth Institute finds Morocco is among the African countries most exposed to climate change risks. The report describes systemic ecological shifts already affecting the country and acting as active macroeconomic constraints, putting pressure on growth and development planning. Commentators are highlighting the findings as a warning for Morocco's economic future.

The United States has finalised steep anti-dumping duties on imported solar products, raising costs for foreign-made panels and equipment entering the American market. The move is expected to affect solar developers and importers who rely on overseas supply chains, while domestic manufacturers may benefit from reduced competition. The exact countries and companies targeted and the size of the duties are not specified in available reporting.

Palau's President is drawing attention for his country's efforts to combat climate change, outlining his mission to protect the small Pacific island nation from rising seas and other climate threats. The story highlights Palau's advocacy on the world stage, where its leader argues that low-lying island states are on the front line of a crisis they did little to cause.

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.

New analysis indicates the global heatwave season has expanded by roughly 39 days, with extreme heat now arriving earlier in the year and lasting longer than before. Researchers attribute the lengthening season to warming temperatures, warning that prolonged exposure raises health risks and strains infrastructure. Coverage highlights how gradual change can go unnoticed even as extreme heat events become more frequent and severe.