Environment

Forest fires in Indonesia are sending smoke and haze toward Singapore just as the city prepares to host its Formula One Grand Prix. Race organisers are drawing up contingency plans in case air quality deteriorates further, with the regional haze posing a threat to one of the country's biggest sporting events, according to Al Jazeera reporting from the region.

The United States has revoked federal limits on climate pollution from power plants, removing restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector. The move, reported by Human Rights Watch, is drawing attention as a significant rollback of US climate policy, with critics likely to raise concerns about its impact on emissions goals and air quality.

The 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva is putting environmental issues on its agenda, with the Geneva Environment Network highlighting how the environment features in this round of discussions. The session continues the Council's growing focus on the right to a healthy environment and the links between human rights and climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Palm Beach County, Florida — Donald Trump's home county — has placed a moratorium on new data center projects, citing worries about environmental impacts and rising electricity bills for residents. The decision comes as communities across the United States grapple with the rapid growth of energy-hungry data centers fuelled by the AI boom, with local officials weighing economic benefits against costs to ratepayers and natural resources.

Germany has for the first time formally committed to phasing out fossil fuels, setting a target date of 2045. The pledge, reported by the Guardian, marks a significant step in the country's climate policy and signals a planned end to reliance on coal, oil and gas. Reaction online has been largely focused on the ambition of the timeline and what it means for Europe's largest economy.

Supporters of ending the US roadless rule argue it would let land managers build roads that help fight forest fires and improve wildlife access to habitats. Critics have long warned that opening protected roadless areas to development could harm ecosystems, making the proposal a flashpoint in forest policy debates.

Hurricane Nolo is bearing down on Hawaii, with forecasters warning of powerful winds and flash flooding as the storm approaches the islands. Residents are being told to prepare for dangerous conditions, including potential damage from high winds and rapid flooding in low-lying areas. The storm is drawing wide attention as Hawaii rarely faces direct hurricane threats.

Singapore recorded its joint-highest daily maximum temperature for September after the Woodlands Avenue 9 climate station reached 35.8°C at 3.27pm on Saturday, 26 September. The reading ties the national September record and adds to growing concern over heat extremes affecting the island, with unusually hot late-September weather drawing wide attention.

Climate rallies are being planned across France following a record-breaking summer. Organisers and supporters are mobilising demonstrations in multiple cities to press for stronger climate action, with the extreme heat and weather of recent months expected to feature prominently in the movement's demands.

Global energy analysis shows wind and solar power capacity and generation continuing to expand rapidly, yet fossil fuel use is rising at the same time rather than being displaced. Commentators note that growing overall energy demand means renewables are adding to supply instead of replacing coal, oil and gas, keeping emissions concerns alive despite record clean-energy investment.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after which Belgrade expressed hope that its gas supply agreement with Moscow will be extended. Serbia relies heavily on Russian gas, and the current arrangement faces pressure amid the war in Ukraine and EU sanctions that complicate energy ties with Russia.

A powerful storm system swept across parts of North America over the weekend, producing dangerous weather conditions and prompting photo coverage of the damage and dramatic skies. News outlets are sharing images showing the storm's impact on communities in the United States and Canada, as residents and officials assess the aftermath and responders deal with hazards left behind.

An environmental group is challenging air quality permits issued for a massive Amazon data center project in North Carolina, with Duke Energy also named in the challenge. The dispute centers on emissions linked to powering the facility. Data centers have drawn growing scrutiny over their electricity demands and pollution footprint.

Georgetown County officials are weighing a dredging project for Murrells Inlet in South Carolina that supporters say could deliver a significant economic boost by improving navigation for commercial fishing and recreational boating. County leaders are proceeding cautiously, first seeking a full assessment of the environmental cost to the inlet's ecosystem before committing to the work, leaving the project's fate undecided.

Virginia has introduced the first statewide environmental literacy plan covering all K-12 schools, aiming to give students a consistent foundation in environmental knowledge across grade levels. The plan makes Virginia the first state to adopt such a framework statewide, positioning environmental education as a standard part of the curriculum rather than an optional add-on.

Citizens in Bengaluru are calling for an environmental impact assessment of the proposed Hebbal tunnel project, according to the Deccan Herald. The residents' push highlights concerns that the large infrastructure plan, intended to ease congestion at the Hebbal junction, could proceed without a formal study of its ecological consequences. The report places the issue within ongoing public debate over the city's infrastructure expansion.

The Sindh Conference 2026 was held in Geneva, where participants called on the international community to pay greater attention to human rights, environmental concerns and self-determination for the Sindh region of Pakistan. According to The Tribune, organisers used the Swiss venue to press their case before international bodies and diplomats, framing rights and environmental degradation in Sindh as matters requiring global response rather than purely domestic ones.

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection has issued Chapter 105 permits for Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission's Piney-Seward and Erie South Piney transmission line project, a roughly 150-mile route crossing eight counties. The permits cover waterway and wetland impacts, a key regulatory step that moves the high-voltage power line project closer to construction.

An ozone pollution alert is in effect for North Texas on Sunday. Officials warn that elevated ground-level ozone can aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions, and residents are typically urged to limit outdoor exertion and reduce driving and other polluting activities during alert days.