Climate change

Global temperatures have reached record highs as the El Niño climate pattern strengthens, according to a new report. El Niño, the periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters, is driving temperatures higher worldwide, adding to concerns about extreme weather, heatwaves and the accelerating effects of climate change. Meteorologists are watching the pattern closely for further impacts.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will not take part in a pending case concerning climate change, meaning the justices could deadlock or the decision may rest with the remaining eight members. The Wall Street Journal reported the recusal, which has drawn attention because Alito has not publicly explained his reason for stepping aside from the case.

Attention is turning to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, the ocean current system that helps regulate the climate of North America and Europe. New explainer coverage outlines the science behind a potential AMOC collapse, including warning signs from freshwater melt in the North Atlantic and the projected consequences for sea levels along the North American coast, which could rise sharply if the circulation weakens or shuts down. Scientists continue to debate how likely such a collapse is this century, but public concern about the tipping point is clearly growing.

BBC News examines history's deadliest El Niño, a climate event that caused mass famine and disease deaths in the late 19th century. The piece argues that lessons from that disaster, spanning India, China and Brazil, remain relevant as modern El Niño events intensify with climate change and test today's disaster preparedness.

A new Econews Report examines how climate change is expected to affect California's North Coast, a region that has so far seen milder warming impacts than much of the state. The report looks at local risks and what residents and policymakers may face as conditions shift, prompting discussion about the area's vulnerability and preparation.

A new study suggests that ecosystems are far less resilient to species extinction than previously believed, overturning assumptions that nature can easily rebound once species are lost. The research indicates that even when biodiversity appears to recover, key functions may remain permanently degraded. The findings are drawing attention among readers concerned about climate change, conservation policy, and how quickly ecosystems can genuinely recover from human-driven damage.

Climate change is dominating headlines across major outlets globally, with ABC News and The Daily Beast both leading coverage of the topic. No specific new event or finding is given beyond the topic itself, so the exact trigger for the surge in attention is not stated in the available reporting.

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a closely watched case over whether state tort lawsuits seeking to hold energy companies liable for climate change damages can proceed. Justices have sent mixed signals on their willingness to let the suits move forward, with observers noting the decision could reshape climate litigation across the United States. Separately, President Trump has asked the Court to revive a dismissed lawsuit related to Bill Clinton.

Attention is turning to COP31, the upcoming UN climate summit to be hosted in Türkiye, with a widespread call that 'it is time to change our planet.' The message is drawing millions of engagements globally, reflecting public pressure on world leaders ahead of the talks. Commenters are framing the summit as a decisive moment for stronger climate action and emissions commitments.

Hurricane Isaias, which battered the Caribbean and the US East Coast in 2020, is being examined as an example of how warming oceans intensify tropical storms. Analysts at Yale Climate Connections note that warmer sea surface temperatures and higher atmospheric moisture linked to climate change can make hurricanes stronger and wetter, increasing flooding and wind damage in affected regions.

Ethiopia is pursuing one of the world's largest reforestation efforts, aiming to plant fifty billion seedlings to restore forests devastated by deforestation, farming and climate pressures. The Grist report examines whether the massive planting campaign can actually revive degraded landscapes, and what obstacles stand in the way of turning seedlings into surviving forests.

Parts of the American Midwest have recorded their hottest October temperatures ever measured, with several cities breaking long-standing records. The unseasonal warmth is drawing attention from meteorologists and residents alike, many of whom are linking the anomaly to broader climate change trends and noting how far temperatures have climbed above seasonal norms.

The French environmental agency Ademe has published an analysis disputing common misconceptions about electric vehicles, covering their climate impact, purchase price and battery lifespan. The agency argues that despite higher upfront costs, electric cars prove more environmentally sound over their lifetime. Interest in the topic comes amid France's ongoing debate over the future of combustion-engine vehicles, including routine maintenance such as oil changes.

Météo-France placed the Aude, Hérault and Pyrénées-Orientales on yellow rain-flood and storm vigilance, with up to 200 mm of rain possible locally. A viral video showed a high school north of Montpellier flooded, while forecasters said a remarkable Mediterranean rain episode in the south-east was ending Thursday. Debate continues over whether climate change is altering the Mediterranean storm season.

A new respirometry method has been reported that could broaden research into insect thermal biology, the study of how insects' physiology responds to temperature. Researchers say the technique may make it easier to measure insect metabolism under varied thermal conditions, opening the door to more studies on how insect species cope with climate change and shifting environments.

Climate Central reports that human-caused climate change made the Gulf of Mexico waters unusually warm, providing extra energy for Hurricane Isaias as it moved toward the US coast. Scientists say warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions, allow storms to intensify faster and carry more moisture, making events like Isaias more damaging.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a climate change case linked to a Colorado wildfire that burned nearly five years ago. The case will examine questions of climate liability connected to the fire, and the announcement is drawing significant attention given the stakes for climate litigation in the United States.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has published a national-scale fluvial flood exposure dataset covering the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Hawaiʻi, made openly available via DOI. The dataset is aimed at helping researchers and planners assess which populations and assets lie in areas at risk of river flooding across the entire country.

Searches and coverage of the weather forecast for Guarulhos, in Greater São Paulo, are rising, with local outlets such as Terra publishing daily climate updates for nearby cities like Santo André. People want to know conditions for Wednesday, including rain chances and temperatures, as weather in the São Paulo metropolitan region shifts.

The BBC Weather team is examining whether El Niño and changes in the polar vortex could deliver snow to the UK this winter. The piece looks at how these large-scale climate patterns may shape the coming season's weather, as forecasters and the public weigh the chances of a colder, snowier few months ahead.

The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law is holding the Second Conference on Attribution Science and Climate Law, with day one's third session underway. The conference brings together legal scholars and scientists examining how climate attribution evidence, which links emissions to specific harms, is used in litigation and policy. Discussions focus on how advances in attribution science are shaping courts' ability to assign responsibility for climate damage.

A widely viewed explainer argues that large-scale solar farms in desert regions could be influencing local weather, potentially increasing rainfall. The idea is that dark panels change ground heat and airflow, shifting moisture patterns enough to trigger precipitation. It adds to the debate about whether giant renewable-energy projects in arid regions could reshape ecosystems as well as power grids.

Residents of Piracicaba, in São Paulo state, Brazil, are checking local weather forecasts for Wednesday, with outlets such as Terra publishing daily updates on conditions in the city. Interest focuses on temperature, rain chances and how the climate will behave through the day in the region.

Attention is turning to Jeff Bezos's Bezos Earth Fund, the $10 billion climate pledge he announced in 2020. Six years on, coverage is examining how the money is actually being spent and what the fund has achieved so far. Commenters are debating whether the massive commitment is delivering meaningful results against climate change or moving too slowly.