Climate Central

Global renewable energy from wind and solar continues to expand, but fossil fuel use is rising alongside it rather than declining. Commentators note that clean energy growth is being outpaced by overall energy demand, meaning renewables are adding to the energy mix instead of replacing coal, oil and gas.

Hawaii is facing its third near miss from a tropical storm this season, according to an Atlantic report on an unusually crowded Pacific hurricane season. Forecasters note the central Pacific has seen an exceptional number of storms tracking close to the islands, raising questions about whether climate patterns are making such close calls more frequent. Residents and officials are watching each new system warily as the season continues.

WIRED argues that growing public and political resistance to data centers, driven by energy demands and local impacts, should be framed as a climate reckoning but so far is not. The piece contends the backlash focuses on siting and costs while missing the industry's broader carbon footprint, and urges climate to become central to the debate.

Swiss National Bank chairman Martin Schlegel says the central bank is monitoring how hot weather could push up food prices and feed into inflation. The comments highlight growing attention among policymakers to climate and weather shocks as a potential driver of consumer prices, alongside traditional inflation pressures.

Vox has published a piece examining why Democrats have largely stopped making climate change a central talking point. The article, built around an interview with William Lawrence, a climate activist from Michigan's 7th district associated with the Sunrise Movement, suggests the party has shifted focus toward other issues, including data centers and economic concerns, as climate politics have grown quieter in national debate.