The New Climate

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has withdrawn from a major climate-change case just days before it was due to be heard, according to a New York Times report.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.

The Trump administration's push to expand domestic production of critical minerals is setting its sights on a region conservationists call America's 'forgotten wildlife corridor'. Reporting by InvestigateWest and Inside Climate News examines how mining development promoted under the minerals agenda could fragment habitat and disrupt wildlife movement, drawing criticism from environmental groups who say ecological values are being sidelined for resource extraction.

New research highlighted by ScienceAlert finds that as the Pacific Ocean warms, its water-age circulation is behaving counterintuitively: younger surface waters are becoming older, while older deep waters are becoming younger. The finding suggests warming is disrupting normal ocean mixing and ventilation patterns, with possible implications for heat storage, carbon uptake and marine ecosystems across the Pacific.

Corporations frequently defend their fossil fuel emissions as insignificant compared to the global total, a framing critics call misleading. A new Guardian piece examines what the true cost of those emissions would be if their full environmental and economic impact on the oceans were properly counted, challenging the industry's 'drop in the ocean' argument and reigniting debate over corporate accountability for climate damage.

The Trump administration has moved to sharply scale back US fuel economy standards, easing requirements that automakers improve the efficiency of cars and light trucks. The rollback, reported by The New York Times, is likely to be welcomed by carmakers seeking lower compliance costs but criticised by environmental groups who say it will increase emissions and fuel consumption.

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.

New reporting from researchers, including work covered by the Natural History Museum and Phys.org, suggests shifting climate conditions could change the risks humans face from deadly rodent-borne diseases. Changes in temperature and rainfall may alter rodent habitats and populations, potentially bringing infected animals into closer contact with people and expanding where diseases like hantavirus and Lassa fever pose a threat.

UNESCO has unveiled its ONE OCEAN installation during the UN General Assembly in New York. The installation forms part of the organization's ongoing ocean advocacy, timed to coincide with the annual gathering of world leaders where marine protection and climate issues are on the agenda.

A new poll shows bipartisan support among American voters for reducing air pollution and expanding clean energy. The findings, highlighted by Environment America, suggest that concern about air quality and interest in renewable power cross party lines, with majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents reportedly backing action on both fronts despite political divisions on climate policy more broadly.

New research warns that global sea-level rise will create a new biological invasion front, as advancing saltwater allows non-native marine and coastal species to move into previously inaccessible habitats. Scientists say shifting shorelines could let invasive species establish in estuaries, wetlands and low-lying areas, with consequences for native biodiversity and coastal ecosystems. The finding adds to concerns about how climate change reshapes species distributions worldwide.

A new analysis argues that diversifying staple crops toward millets would strengthen food security, improve nutrition, and support sustainability across the Global South. Millets are hardy, climate-resilient grains that require less water than rice or wheat, making them attractive amid climate pressures and import dependence. The piece calls for policy support, research investment, and consumer awareness to bring millets back into mainstream diets across developing countries.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a climate change case scheduled ahead of the new court term, an unexpected move that could affect the outcome if the remaining eight justices split. Recusals by sitting justices are rare and usually tied to potential conflicts of interest. The court has not explained the decision, and observers are watching closely as the case moves forward without him.

Survey data reported across several US regional news outlets indicates Latino Americans rank the environment as a more important issue than non-Latinos do. The finding, picked up by papers including the Fresno Bee and azcentral, is drawing attention as climate and pollution concerns appear to shape voter priorities differently across ethnic groups heading into election season.

Denmark's Permanent Representative to the United Nations delivered an address during the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The statement formed part of Denmark's annual intervention, where member states outline their positions on international peace and security, climate policy and multilateral cooperation before the global body.

A new lawsuit accuses the US Department of Agriculture of unlawfully cutting back a federal program that funds solar development in rural areas. The claim, reported by Utility Dive, argues the reductions violated the law and threaten clean energy projects and investment across rural America. The dispute adds to ongoing battles over the pace of federal support for renewable energy.

Yale School of the Environment published five key takeaways from its experts following Climate Week in New York City. The roundup distills what environmental scholars saw as the most significant themes and outcomes from the annual gathering, which brings together governments, businesses and advocates on climate action.

A new colloquium from the American Physical Society reviews the scientific legacy of Syukuro Manabe, whose pioneering computer simulations laid the foundation for modern understanding of global warming. The review highlights how his early climate models established the link between rising carbon dioxide and planetary temperature, work that earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics and continues to shape climate research.

A second federal court has struck down New York's Climate Change Superfund Act, the state law requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay for climate adaptation costs. The ruling is a significant setback for the law's backers and raises fresh legal questions over states' attempts to make energy producers liable for past emissions.

Climate scientist Paul Beckwith has published a new video titled 'Dust in the Wind: Less than Before', examining how dust levels in the wind are lower than in the past. The discussion points to connections between dust, deserts, drought and weather patterns across Africa and Asia, framed within the wider climate conversation.

Stephanie Castellano has joined Savannah Morning News (SMN) as its new climate change reporter. She will cover environmental and climate stories for the Savannah, Georgia outlet. The hiring reflects growing newsroom investment in dedicated climate coverage at local US newspapers, though no further details about her background or plans for the beat were provided.

New research suggests climate change could significantly alter the future of Chinese milk vetch, a legume widely grown as green manure in southern China's rice paddies. Shifting temperatures and rainfall patterns may affect where and how well the plant grows, with implications for soil fertility and sustainable rice farming in the region.