Climate Action

Nepali political figure Balen Shah is featured in a widely shared recording of a full address to the UN General Assembly focused on climate change and Nepal's message to the world in 2026. The speech is drawing large attention, with strong engagement around his call for climate action on behalf of Nepal.

Rotting food waste produces around five times more greenhouse gas emissions than the aviation industry, according to a UN report. The finding highlights food loss and waste as a major and often overlooked driver of climate change, prompting calls for stronger action across supply chains and households to cut the amount of food thrown away.

A Fijian climate activist has issued a call for concrete commitments ahead of UN climate talks being held in the Pacific region, saying communities 'want action' rather than words. The message highlights the stakes for low-lying island nations facing rising seas and extreme weather as negotiations approach.

US Senator Brian Schatz argued that failing to address climate change is one of the reasons goods and services are becoming more expensive. His claim ties everyday inflation pressures, from food to insurance and energy, to the mounting costs of extreme weather and a warming planet. The remarks add to an ongoing debate in Washington over whether climate policy should be framed as an economic necessity rather than an environmental issue alone.

A group of US states has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's repeal of federal climate regulations for power plants. The legal action seeks to restore emissions limits on the power sector, a centerpiece of US climate policy. The case sets up another courtroom fight over the scope of federal authority to regulate greenhouse gases, and environmental groups have voiced strong support for the states' challenge.

The United Nations will place climate change, food systems and migration at the centre of the 2026 SDG Forum, the annual platform where countries review progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. The three themes are expected to shape discussions on how governments accelerate action on interlinked crises affecting development worldwide, ahead of the forum's sessions next year.

Tuvalu, one of the world's lowest-lying nations, is hosting the Pacific Islands Forum while its very existence is threatened by rising sea levels. The spotlight on the tiny Polynesian state comes as its leaders push for urgent global climate action, arguing that Tuvalu is on the frontline of a crisis that could render parts of it uninhabitable within decades.

A group of environmental activists who vandalised pipeline infrastructure, causing an estimated $100 million in damage, became targets of an FBI investigation. The action, intended as a symbolic protest against fossil fuel projects, led to criminal charges and sparked ongoing debate about whether such sabotage counts as legitimate climate protest or dangerous crime.

A message circulating online urges people to do their part for the environment, framing small individual actions as meaningful in the fight against climate change. The post ties the appeal to children and upbringing, suggesting everyday habits and teaching the next generation matter when tackling environmental problems.

UNESCO is spotlighting education for climate action at COP31, arguing that teaching and learning are central to helping societies understand and respond to climate change. The organisation is calling on governments to make climate education a core part of school curricula and national climate commitments discussed at the conference.

The phrase 'apocalyptic optimism' is circulating in climate coverage, capturing a mindset that accepts the severity of climate collapse while insisting on continued action and hope. Writers and commentators are using it to describe a growing mood among climate advocates: neither denial nor despair, but clear-eyed determination to fight for the future even as worst-case scenarios unfold.

New York Climate Week 2026 has drawn reflections under the theme of 'holding the line', with participants weighing progress on climate commitments against mounting political and economic pressure. Mars, Incorporated is among the companies publishing takeaways, signalling continued corporate engagement with climate goals even as momentum faces headwinds.

Byron Donalds, a Florida congressman and Republican candidate, is being examined for his positions on climate and energy policy. Voter-education efforts are laying out where he stands on issues such as clean energy, fossil fuels and federal climate action, as part of broader coverage comparing candidates' records ahead of the election.

The Philippines is intensifying efforts to cut methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons as part of its goal to reduce and avoid greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent under its 2026 Nationally Determined Contribution. The move targets potent short-lived climate pollutants alongside carbon dioxide, aligning the country with international climate commitments.

The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over its rollback of fuel economy standards. The challenge targets the administration's weakening of rules requiring vehicles to meet higher efficiency benchmarks, arguing the move will increase pollution and gasoline consumption. Environmental groups have repeatedly gone to court over deregulatory actions affecting climate and emissions policy, and this suit adds to that legal pressure.

Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging its rollback of vehicle mileage and emissions standards. The legal action argues the weakened fuel efficiency rules will increase pollution and gasoline consumption. It marks the latest courtroom clash over the administration's efforts to undo climate and auto regulations put in place by prior governments.

The Boston Globe is running a piece examining climate change through the lens of religion and gun culture, tying together three of America's most divisive issues. The article reportedly explores how faith communities and gun owners relate to environmental concerns, suggesting these identities shape political positions on climate policy. It is drawing attention as commentary on the cultural divide surrounding climate action in the United States.

Middlesex County in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against major oil companies, seeking to hold them accountable for escalating climate change impacts affecting the county. The case follows a growing wave of state and local governments suing fossil fuel firms for damages linked to rising seas, flooding, and extreme weather.

A new appeal is urging Europe to become a 'powerful' continent that breaks its dependence on fossil fuels and takes control of its own destiny. The argument links climate action with strategic autonomy, framing the energy transition as a way for the European Union to strengthen its independence and global standing.

San Diego Climate Week is returning with around 200 events across the region. Among the most eye-catching is a planned action featuring surfers wearing hazmat suits, highlighting concerns about ocean water quality and pollution along the coastline. Organizers aim to draw attention to local climate challenges, from coastal contamination to resilience efforts, through a wide program of community activities spanning the week.

A city council has voted to approve a climate action plan, but only as a planning resource rather than as guiding policy. The distinction means the plan can inform future decisions without binding the city to its targets or requirements. The council's decision reflects a compromise between adopting climate goals and avoiding firm regulatory commitments.

Climate Week 2026 is being highlighted by organisations including Regional Plan Association, which referenced the event in its communications. The annual gathering brings together businesses, governments and advocates to discuss climate action and policy. Attention is building ahead of the event as groups begin signalling their plans and priorities for the week.

New research published in Nature argues that emissions driven by population growth require climate mitigation to start earlier than current timelines assume. The study suggests delaying action shifts a heavier burden onto future policies and makes warming targets harder to reach. Researchers say population trends should be factored into mitigation planning rather than treated as a background variable.