climate

Scientists and commentators are highlighting an El Niño event described as unlike any previously recorded. The claim, widely shared online, points to abnormal ocean temperature patterns and associated extreme weather, from heatwaves to storms, affecting regions worldwide. Discussions focus on how climate change may be intensifying El Niño cycles and what this means for global weather in the months ahead.

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.

Hurricane Polo has intensified to become one of the strongest storms ever recorded, with forecasters linking its unusual strength to El Niño conditions in the Pacific. Warm ocean waters associated with the climate pattern are seen as a key driver behind the storm's rapid strengthening, drawing widespread attention to El Niño's role in extreme weather this season.

A new report says global temperatures have reached record highs as the El Niño climate pattern strengthens in the Pacific. El Niño, which warms ocean surface waters and alters weather worldwide, is adding to the underlying warming trend driven by greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists warn the combination could push average temperatures to new extremes in the coming months, with implications for heatwaves, droughts and storms across many regions.

World leaders continued addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the sixth day of the annual high-level debate. The sessions, broadcast live, feature speeches from heads of state and government on topics ranging from conflict and security to climate and development, drawing international attention to the diplomatic calendar's most prominent gathering.

Small island nations, facing existential threats from rising seas and intensifying storms, are pressing bigger economies for stronger climate action, casting themselves as the moral conscience of a warming world. The AP-reported story, syndicated widely across US and international outlets, stresses their defiant message that they are not giving up despite slow global progress on emissions cuts and climate financing.

UN News has published a feature looking at how the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is changing the idea of energy security. The piece argues that the recent global energy crisis pushed countries to rethink dependence on imported fuels, and that expanding wind, solar and other renewables can reduce exposure to price shocks and supply disruptions while supporting climate goals.

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 shift in the country's climate policy and aligns with its existing goal of climate neutrality by 2045. Observers are weighing how Germany plans to replace gas and coal while maintaining industrial output.

The European Union plans to delay its methane emissions rules following opposition from member governments, according to Reuters. The postponement affects measures targeting methane leaks, a potent greenhouse gas, and highlights resistance within the bloc to parts of its climate agenda. The move is likely to draw criticism from environmental groups and scrutiny of the EU's commitment to its emissions reduction targets.

The UN General Assembly's general debate continued into its fifth day in New York, with world leaders and foreign ministers taking the rostrum to lay out their governments' positions on conflicts, climate and development. UN News is summarising the day's key speeches and moments for audiences following the annual high-level week.

The 2023-24 El Niño is described as record-shattering, with analysis of its wide-ranging effects on global temperatures, weather patterns and ecosystems. The event has driven exceptional ocean warming in the tropical Pacific, contributing to record global heat, shifts in rainfall, droughts and flooding in various regions, and stress on fisheries and agriculture. Commentators are weighing how much of the recent temperature surge should be attributed to El Niño versus longer-term climate change.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres used his final address to the UN General Assembly to warn that superpowers alone cannot solve the world's problems, touching on climate change and global cooperation. The speech, covered by The Guardian, is being shared widely as it marks the end of his tenure and delivers a pointed message to major powers about shared responsibility.

The United Nations has declared that solving climate change is a 'decisive test of global solidarity', framing collective action on emissions and adaptation as the defining challenge for international cooperation. The statement underscores growing pressure on governments to deliver coordinated commitments, with the UN urging countries to set aside divisions and treat the climate crisis as a shared responsibility requiring joint effort.

Leaders of Pacific island nations used their addresses at the UN General Assembly to highlight the existential threats climate change poses to their countries, including rising sea levels and extreme weather. They urged the international community to take stronger action on emissions and to support vulnerable states facing displacement and loss of land.

The United States is set to finalize vehicle fuel economy standards that are sharply lower than previously planned, according to Reuters. The rollback would ease efficiency requirements for automakers, reversing stricter targets and easing pressure on manufacturers of gasoline-powered vehicles while drawing criticism from climate and environmental advocates.

The United States has finalized new, lower fuel economy standards, easing requirements on automakers in a move that supports continued production and sale of gas-powered vehicles. The rollback of stricter efficiency targets is drawing attention for its implications for the auto industry, fuel costs, and US climate policy.

World leaders, citing climate change as an existential threat, are demanding that the United Nations function effectively on the issue. The call reflects frustration among governments over stalled international climate action and the UN's struggles to deliver coordinated global responses to warming, extreme weather and rising sea levels affecting member states.

Powerful storms are striking opposite sides of the United States at the same time, and meteorologists point to El Niño as the driving force. The climate pattern, marked by warmer Pacific waters, is reshaping jet streams and fueling severe weather on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, drawing wide attention to its growing impact.

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.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back clean car regulations that were designed to reduce climate-warming emissions from vehicles. The plan would weaken emissions standards for cars and light trucks, reversing one of the flagship US climate policies of recent years. Environmental groups are expected to oppose the move, while automakers face uncertainty over which rules will apply.