The New Climate

Italy's parliament has approved a move toward restarting nuclear power, reversing a stance the country has held since abandoning nuclear energy after referendums following the Chernobyl disaster. The vote opens the way for new nuclear technology, including small modular reactors, as Italy seeks stable low-carbon energy supplies. Supporters frame it as energy security and climate policy; critics recall Italy's long-standing public opposition to nuclear power.

New attention is being drawn to the pace of global warming: the world's oceans and atmosphere are absorbing heat equivalent to roughly four Hiroshima atomic bombs every second. The figure, popularised by climate scientists to make ocean heat uptake tangible, is resurfacing as a striking illustration of how much excess energy greenhouse gases are trapping in the climate system.

Public health advocates in New Mexico are urging state lawmakers to adopt new measures addressing extreme heat and climate change. The proposals focus on protecting residents from rising temperatures and related health risks as the state faces hotter conditions. The push comes as legislators weigh priorities for upcoming sessions, with health groups seeking concrete policy action on climate-driven threats.

A new commentary argues that symbolic climate policies—measures with limited direct emissions impact—can still shape climate politics significantly by signalling government commitment, shifting public norms, and building support for stronger action. The piece suggests small policy signals can produce large political effects, influencing how citizens and businesses perceive the credibility of climate ambition.

A new book by scholar Monroe, 'Heritage and Hate: Old South Rhetoric at Southern Universities,' analyzes how Old South and Confederate rhetoric persists on Southern US campuses. Drawing on rhetoric, history, sociology, Southern studies and African American studies, it develops the concept of 'confederate rhetoric' to explain how heritage-based language functions amid ongoing debates over campus symbols and race.

New reporting by Mongabay outlines a growing body of research suggesting climate change may be intensifying El Niño events, the periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that drives droughts, floods and heatwaves worldwide. Scientists are examining whether warmer ocean temperatures are making these episodes more frequent or more extreme, with major implications for global weather patterns.

The UK government says half a million trees will be planted in England over the next three years. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle is set to announce the pledge, presenting it as part of efforts to protect communities against extreme weather such as flooding. The commitment adds to ongoing debate about whether England is planting enough trees to meet its climate and nature targets.

A new report finds climate change is worsening skin disease in 42% of countries worldwide. Rising temperatures, pollution, and extreme weather are being linked to increased rates of dermatological conditions such as eczema, infections, and skin cancers, with the burden falling unevenly across regions. Health commentators say the findings add skin health to the growing list of medical impacts attributed to global warming.

Food industry news roundup covering how major food companies are acting on climate, nutrition and technology. The item gathers recent corporate developments across these three areas, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of Big Food's role in sustainability, public health and innovation.

As climate warming pushes lone star ticks into new regions, more people are developing alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat triggered by tick bites. A proposed bill would require alpha-gal warnings on food and drug packaging so affected consumers know which products could trigger reactions, drawing attention to the health consequences of shifting tick habitats.

New reporting states that the world's oceans absorbed a record amount of heat in the past year, equivalent to roughly 40 times humanity's total annual energy use. Ocean heat content is a key indicator of climate change, as seas store most of the excess warmth trapped by greenhouse gases. The finding underscores accelerating global warming and its consequences for sea levels, marine life and extreme weather.

The Scottish Government has launched a new Public Engagement Strategy for Climate and Nature, aiming to give communities a greater role in tackling the climate and nature crisis. The strategy seeks to help people understand how climate change affects their lives, support local action and ensure wider public involvement in Scotland's response to the crisis.

The head of EDF's UK business has described new gas and oil projects in the United Kingdom as a 'no-brainer', arguing the case for further fossil fuel extraction. The remarks, reported by the Guardian, are likely to fuel debate over the Labour government's energy strategy, its climate commitments, and figures such as Andy Burnham who have pushed for a more interventionist industrial policy.

US states are pursuing lawsuits to hold major oil companies financially responsible for climate-related damage, and courts are now beginning to weigh the claims. The cases argue fossil fuel producers should compensate states for costs of extreme weather, sea-level rise and adaptation. Outcomes could set precedents for climate liability litigation nationwide and reshape accountability for emissions.

A new book argues that Northern Michigan could become a refuge for people seeking safer places to live as climate change intensifies elsewhere in the United States. Regional outlets in Michigan are covering the idea, weighing the area's water resources and milder projected impacts against concerns about attracting large numbers of climate migrants to the Great Lakes region.

A new commentary argues that environmental legal frameworks must be updated to account for Earth system dynamics, treating the planet's interconnected climate, ecological and geological processes as a whole rather than in isolation. The authors contend that existing laws, drafted around separate resources and local impacts, are inadequate for addressing global environmental change.

New analysis maps how climate extremes are threatening dietary quality and nutrition worldwide, highlighting the risks extreme weather poses to food systems and human health beyond simple food supply. The research points to growing concern that floods, droughts and heat events are degrading the nutritional value and diversity of diets globally, with consequences for public health policy and climate adaptation planning.

New research reported by Phys.org suggests climate refuges — areas where conditions remain stable as the climate changes — could play a central role in restoring amphibian populations threatened worldwide. Conservationists say identifying and protecting these refuges may offer the best hope for species hit hardest by habitat loss, disease and warming temperatures.

The head of EDF's UK operations has described new gas and oil projects in the North Sea as a 'no-brainer', arguing domestic production makes sense. The remarks put the energy company's leadership at odds with climate campaigners and add fuel to the ongoing debate over Britain's licensing of new fossil fuel developments amid net zero targets.

BirdLife International, representing a global partnership of conservation organisations, is calling for urgent government action in response to a UN climate warning, rejecting any notion that damage to nature can be temporarily 'overshot' or reversed. The partnership argues that ecosystems cannot absorb delayed climate action and is pressing leaders to treat the latest scientific warnings as a mandate for immediate emissions cuts and stronger protections for biodiversity.

A newly published study reports that climate change is affecting skin health worldwide, according to coverage in cosmetics and skincare industry media. The findings point to connections between changing environmental conditions and dermatological health across global populations. Details of the study's methods and specific effects have not been widely reported yet.

The UK government has announced plans to plant half a million trees in England over the next three years, according to The Guardian. The pledge forms part of efforts to expand tree cover and woodland, and is likely to draw scrutiny over whether planting targets will actually be met and how the scheme will be funded and managed.