Climate Change

UN News has published a feature looking at how the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is changing the idea of energy security. The piece argues that the recent global energy crisis pushed countries to rethink dependence on imported fuels, and that expanding wind, solar and other renewables can reduce exposure to price shocks and supply disruptions while supporting climate goals.

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 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.

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.

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.

World leaders, citing climate change as an existential threat, are demanding that the United Nations function effectively on the issue. The call reflects frustration among governments over stalled international climate action and the UN's struggles to deliver coordinated global responses to warming, extreme weather and rising sea levels affecting member states.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has withdrawn from a major climate-change case just days before it was due to be heard, according to a New York Times report. The recusal of a justice at the last minute from such a consequential case is highly unusual, and it remains unclear what prompted the decision or how it will affect the court's handling of the dispute.

Scientists are developing new ways to control mosquitoes, the animal that kills more people than any other on Earth. As the climate warms, mosquito seasons are growing longer, giving the insects more time to spread dangerous diseases such as malaria and dengue. Reports highlight how extended warm periods are expanding the threat to new regions and prompting research into novel control methods.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will not take part in a pending climate change case before the court, the Wall Street Journal reports. No reason for his recusal was given in the report. His absence leaves eight justices to decide the matter and could affect the outcome if the court splits. The case is one of several climate-related disputes drawing attention to the high court.

Nepali political figure Balen Shah is featured delivering a speech at the UN General Assembly focused on climate change, carrying a message on behalf of Nepal in 2026. The speech is drawing wide attention, with discussion centring on Nepal's climate concerns and Shah's rising international profile as a voice for climate-vulnerable countries.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a major climate change case the Court is set to decide. No reason for the recusal was given in the report, but his withdrawal means the case will be decided by the remaining eight justices, potentially increasing the chance of a split ruling on an issue with far-reaching environmental and regulatory consequences.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will no longer take part in a pending climate change case before the court. The announcement, reported by SCOTUSblog, removes one justice from a dispute with potential consequences for climate regulation, leaving eight justices to decide the outcome. Reasons for the withdrawal were not stated in the report.

Island nations facing severe impacts from climate change say they are not giving up the fight, continuing to press for action despite mounting threats such as rising seas and extreme weather. Their representatives emphasize resilience and ongoing advocacy on the global stage.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back fuel economy standards for automakers, loosening federal requirements on vehicle efficiency. The change would give car manufacturers more flexibility but is likely to draw criticism from environmental groups and states that back stricter emissions rules. Details on the scope and timing of the rollback remain limited.

USA Today reports that hurricane activity is behaving abnormally across two ocean basins, with conditions described as historically out of whack. The Atlantic and Pacific seasons have both deviated from typical patterns, prompting meteorologists and readers to question how climate change may be reshaping storm formation, timing, and intensity this year.

The US Department of Transportation has moved to loosen federal fuel economy standards, easing requirements on automakers to improve vehicle efficiency. Supporters frame the rollback as cutting compliance costs and giving consumers more choice in vehicle types, while environmental and clean-energy advocates criticise it as a step backward on emissions reduction and climate goals. The change is expected to face legal and political challenges.

The Trump administration has moved to roll back US fuel economy standards, loosening requirements on how efficient cars and light trucks must be. The change, reported by Spectrum News, is expected to benefit automakers by easing compliance costs, while critics warn it will increase gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The rollback reverses stricter efficiency rules put in place under previous administrations.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a major climate change case before the court, according to reports from USA Today and the Detroit Free Press. The move means the remaining eight justices will decide the landmark litigation. His withdrawal is drawing attention because recusals at the Supreme Court are rare and the case could shape US climate policy.

The Trump administration has finalized its reversal of US fuel economy standards, undoing stricter efficiency requirements for cars and light trucks introduced under the previous administration. The move, reported by France 24, is expected to allow automakers to sell less efficient vehicles, drawing criticism from environmental groups and praise from industry, and could reshape the US auto market and emissions trajectory.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a major climate change case before the court, CNN reports. The move means only eight justices will weigh the dispute, raising the possibility of a 4-4 split that would leave lower-court rulings in place. No reason for the recusal has been given, and the development is drawing attention because the case could shape US climate policy.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will not take part in a major climate change case when it is heard next week. The case is one of the most significant climate-related disputes to reach the Court, and his absence leaves eight justices to decide it, raising the possibility of a 4-4 split that would leave lower court rulings in place. No reason for his non-participation has been given in the announcement.

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.

The US Department of Transportation has finalized plans to weaken federal fuel efficiency standards, describing the move as one of the largest deregulatory actions of the second Trump Administration. The decision rolls back Biden-era rules that would have required carmakers to raise fleet-wide average fuel economy, easing pressure on automakers while drawing criticism from climate and consumer advocates.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will not take part in a pending climate change case, according to multiple US news outlets. No reason for his recusal was given in the reports. His absence could affect the outcome of the case, which is seen as pivotal for climate-related litigation and regulation in the United States.