Climate change

A new report examines how climate change and emerging technologies are transforming periods of extreme electricity demand. As heat waves and cold snaps grow more intense, grids face sharper demand peaks, while renewables, storage and smart-grid tools change how utilities respond. Experts say utilities must plan for a future where extreme weather drives record power use and new technology offers part of the solution.

The next United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 31, is being discussed as governments, environmental groups and observers prepare for a new round of global climate negotiations. Attention is focused on which country will host the summit and what commitments on emissions reduction and climate finance will be on the agenda.

Spiritual teacher Acharya Prashant has presented a live demonstration of melting Himalayan glaciers, challenging viewers to deny the visible evidence of climate change. The presentation, part of his 2026 series, uses satellite-style imagery of retreating Himalayan ice to make the case that the climate crisis is unfolding now and cannot be rationally dismissed. It has drawn large online attention.

A heated exchange between conservative commentator Michael Knowles and an environmental advocate over climate change is drawing wide attention. In the clip, the environmentalist loses his composure after Knowles challenges his claim, and viewers are debating who won the argument and how climate sceptics engage with climate advocates.

Researchers at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory say human-driven climate change has delayed the onset of the next ice age. Rising greenhouse gas levels have altered Earth's natural orbital cycles that would otherwise trigger glacial expansion across the Northern Hemisphere. The finding underscores how profoundly industrial emissions have reshaped the planet's long-term climate trajectory.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has introduced a Red List of Coral Reef Ecosystems, a new assessment tool to track the health and extinction risk of the world's coral reefs. The announcement is drawing attention among conservation groups and climate watchers, who see it as a milestone in documenting how warming oceans, bleaching and pollution are pushing reef ecosystems toward collapse.

West Virginia has opened an investigation into environmental groups, accusing them of engaging in 'deceptive' climate change advocacy. The probe targets organizations' campaigns in the state and marks a new front in tensions between officials and climate activists. Details about which groups are involved and what specific conduct is alleged have not yet been made fully public.

Hailstorms are inflicting billions of dollars in damage worldwide, and scientists say climate change is making the problem worse. Reporting highlights how warming conditions may be driving more frequent or more severe hail events, straining insurers, farmers and homeowners. The story is drawing attention as extreme weather losses keep climbing and communities debate how to adapt and prepare.

New coverage explains how climate change is being experienced across life on Earth, examining the varied ways species and ecosystems respond to shifting temperatures and weather patterns. The piece, carried by science outlets, reviews research on how organisms from different habitats are affected, underlining growing scientific concern about biodiversity under a warming climate.

A new work titled 'Arctic Passages' explores how climate change is reshaping competition over Arctic shipping routes, as melting ice opens passages that nations are increasingly seeking to control. The project highlights the link between a warming planet and emerging geopolitical and commercial stakes in the Far North.

New research from Finland indicates that habitat quality explains changes in species populations and distributions more strongly than climate factors. The findings suggest conservation efforts focused on improving and protecting local habitats may be more effective for biodiversity than measures targeting climate impacts alone, challenging assumptions about the primary drivers of species decline.

Scientists are looking to the 'Great Dying', the mass extinction around 252 million years ago, to understand how plants might cope with modern climate change. The event, triggered by massive volcanic eruptions and extreme warming, devastated life on Earth, yet plant life ultimately recovered and adapted. Studying fossil records from that period may help predict which plant species can withstand today's rapidly rising temperatures.

The UN Environment Programme is drawing attention to food systems, the way food is produced, distributed and consumed, as a central issue in environmental policy. Food systems are widely linked to climate change, biodiversity loss and resource use, and UNEP's focus signals that sustainable food production is becoming a priority topic in global environmental discussions.

An opinion piece in the Des Moines Register argues that climate change has gone largely unmentioned in the US midterm elections, and says the issue will stay marginal unless voters explicitly demand that candidates address it. The author calls on the public to press politicians on climate policy during campaigns, framing voter pressure as the key to breaking the silence.

The European Union has presented a new strategy for the Arctic, setting out its priorities for the polar region. Details of the plan's specific measures were not immediately clear, but the announcement touches on issues such as climate change, security and resource interests in the far north, where geopolitical competition has been growing among major powers.