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According to the US Drought Monitor, every US state except Alaska and Kentucky is experiencing drought conditions, marking an unprecedented moment. This week, over 45% of the US and Puerto Rico and 54% of land in the 48 contiguous states are under drought, impacting more than 150 million people and 318 million acres of crops. These figures represent 34% and 57% dramatic increases, respectively, from just a week ago.

Despite the arrival of autumn, drought conditions persist, fueled by record summer heat and the ongoing climate crisis driven by human-induced global warming. High temperatures reduce rainfall and intensify droughts by rapidly extracting moisture from the air and soil. Compounding the issue, erratic rainfall patterns—where heavy rains come in short bursts—fail to replenish the soil effectively, leaving the land parched.

This crisis is part of a broader global water imbalance, with nearly 3 billion people worldwide facing water scarcity. Droughts disrupt ecosystems and threaten agriculture, starkly reminding us of the urgent need to address the root causes of climate change, primarily the burning of fossil fuels. Read More

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Newly unearthed documents show major oil companies, including Shell and precursors to Chevron, ExxonMobil, and BP, were warned about the climate impacts of fossil fuels as early as 1954. The revelation comes from memos by the Air Pollution Foundation, an industry group founded in 1953 to address public concerns over Los Angeles smog but also to counter pollution regulations.

Researchers had already linked hydrocarbon pollution from cars and refineries to smog, prompting calls for stricter controls. Despite public claims to address the crisis, the foundation’s memos reveal efforts to downplay fossil fuel harm—a tactic still seen today, says climate disinformation expert Geoffrey Supran. This evidence underscores decades of oil industry denial and deflection during crucial moments for climate action. Read More

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Global carbon emissions are set to rise by 0.8% in 2024, according to new data revealed at the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan. This increase comes despite pledges made at COP28 to “transition away” from fossil fuels. Emissions need to fall by 43% by 2030 to meet the 1.5°C target and avoid worsening climate impacts.

While the rollout of renewables and electric vehicles has slowed emissions growth, the continued reliance on coal, oil, and gas underscores the challenge ahead. COP29 mobilises $1 trillion annually for developing nations to curb emissions, adapt to climate chaos, and improve livelihoods. It also aims to strengthen emissions-cutting pledges due in February as pressure mounts for decisive action. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 president, reminded delegates, “History will judge us by our actions, not words.” Read More

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Extreme weather events have cost the global economy a staggering $2 trillion over the past decade, according to a new report by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). As diplomats gather for the COP29 climate summit, the report underscores the urgent financial toll of climate-related disasters, ranging from flash floods to prolonged droughts.

Analyzing 4,000 extreme weather events between 2014 and 2023, the report found that damages reached $451 billion in just the last two years. The U.S. bore the brunt, suffering $935 billion in economic losses, followed by China at $268 billion and India at $112 billion. Smaller nations, such as Saint Martin and the Bahamas, experienced the most significant losses per capita, highlighting the disproportionate impact on vulnerable regions.

The study also identified an upward trend in the costs of extreme weather, with a significant spike in 2017 when North America faced a particularly active hurricane season. “The data from the past decade shows definitively that climate change is not a future problem,” said John Denton, ICC Secretary-General. “The real economy is feeling major productivity losses from extreme weather events in the here and now.”

The rising costs are attributed to increased wealth and development in disaster-prone regions, escalating fossil fuel emissions driving planetary heating, and the expanding intensity of extreme weather. While scientists historically struggled to quantify the human role in amplifying such events, recent advancements have made it clear that climate breakdown is a critical factor.

As world leaders at COP29 debate how much wealthier nations should contribute to helping poorer countries adapt and recover, this report serves as a stark reminder of the financial urgency of addressing the climate crisis and its devastating impact on economies worldwide. Read More

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The year has been marked by intense heatwaves, extreme storms, and devastating floods, like those in eastern Spain that claimed hundreds of lives. Scientists warn these disasters are becoming more frequent as fossil fuel emissions drive major climate shifts. With 2024 projected to be the warmest year on record—surpassing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels—global temperatures show no sign of stabilizing.

Global carbon emissions hit a record 40.6 billion tonnes in 2023 and are expected to climb further by the end of 2024. Atmospheric carbon levels now exceed 50% of pre-industrial levels, but global action remains slow. While COP28 in Dubai marked the first international commitment to “transition away” from fossil fuels, it falls short of the complete phase-out demanded by many. Donald Trump’s return adds uncertainty to the progress of these critical discussions. COP29 delegates face an urgent need to accelerate meaningful climate action. Read More

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Faced with worsening climate-driven disasters and the increasing reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources, the United States is rapidly expanding its large-scale battery storage to stabilize the electricity grid and prevent power blackouts. In just four years, the US has added more than 20 gigawatts (GW) of battery capacity—equivalent to the output of 20 nuclear reactors—with 5 GW installed in the first seven months of this year alone, according to the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). This surge in battery deployment is projected to double again, reaching 40 GW by 2025 if planned expansions proceed.

Leading this transformative growth are California and Texas, states that have embraced clean energy sources like solar and wind. These states have achieved record highs in battery-discharged grid power, with the newly installed systems playing a pivotal role in maintaining grid stability. Battery storage has become a critical tool in California, where wildfires and extreme heatwaves have previously led to blackouts and electricity rationing. “We can leverage that stored energy and dispatch it when we need it,” said Patti Poppe, CEO of PG&E, California’s largest utility, highlighting how batteries helped avoid outages during this summer’s intense heatwaves.

This rapid growth in battery deployment is reshaping the energy landscape. “It’s been extraordinary growth,” remarked John Moura, director of reliability assessment at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. While the grid wasn’t originally designed to accommodate such technology, Moura emphasized the immense potential of batteries to revolutionize electricity production, delivery, and consumption. “Storage gives us a bit of a time machine to deliver energy when we need it,” he added, underlining the paradigm shift batteries bring to the energy sector.

As the US accelerates its battery deployment, this technology emerges as a cornerstone of a more resilient, reliable, and renewable-powered grid—offering hope in the face of intensifying climate challenges. Read More

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The European Union’s space programme has found it is “virtually certain” that 2024 will be the hottest year on record, marking a sobering milestone in the fight against climate change.

The report comes just days before the COP29 climate summit and follows the U.S. presidential election, where Donald Trump, a climate change sceptic, was chosen by voters to lead the country once again. Trump has previously called climate change a “hoax” and pledged to reverse policies aimed at reducing emissions.

According to the findings, 2024 is likely to be the first year global temperatures exceed 1.5°C (2.7°F) above pre-industrial levels—a critical threshold that has alarmed scientists worldwide. Global temperatures over the past 12 months were found to be 1.62°C above the 1850-1900 average, when industrial activity began releasing massive amounts of coal, oil, and gas emissions into the atmosphere.

“This marks a new milestone in global temperature records and should serve as a catalyst to raise ambition for the upcoming climate change conference,” said Dr Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

The findings underscore the urgent need for more decisive climate action as the world grapples with global warming’s intensifying impacts. Read More

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Imagine the vast Alaskan tundra, home to migrating caribou and polar bears, carved up by oil and gas infrastructure. Picture copper-nickel mines infringing on one of the largest wilderness areas east of the Rockies, a 1.1 million-acre expanse of pristine lakes and forests teeming with loons, wolves, and moose. Envision uranium and coal exploration inching closer to once-protected landscapes, including areas bordering the Grand Canyon. This could become a reality if Donald Trump wins the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

With a renewed focus on energy dominance, Trump has vowed to “drill, baby, drill,” laying the groundwork for aggressive resource extraction projects. Early plans indicate a radical overhaul of the Department of the Interior, which manages over 500 million acres of public lands, national parks, and wildlife refuges while protecting endangered species. In stark contrast to Joe Biden’s emphasis on safeguarding public lands and transitioning to green energy, Trump’s administration would likely slash regulations, weaken environmental protections, and expand oil and gas development across the American West.

A senior leader at the far-right advocacy group Citizens United, Jorjani is reportedly instrumental in crafting a strategy to reverse Biden-era policies. With a focus on dismantling environmental safeguards and prioritizing resource extraction, Trump’s energy-dominance agenda could reshape some of America’s most iconic landscapes, leaving lasting environmental consequences. Read More

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Nature campaigners are urging UK taxpayers to take an active stake in forest and peatland projects intended to capture and store carbon, opposing the current system in which private investors reap the majority of profits from carbon credits. The Revive Coalition, a consortium of Scottish land reform and conservation charities, has issued a report highlighting the need for substantial improvements in the UK’s carbon market to drive greater demand and help meet the UK’s net zero targets.

The report argues that present policies aren’t restoring nature quickly enough. Due to overgrazing and deforestation, many upland areas are severely degraded, making Scotland one of the most nature-depleted regions globally. To address this, the coalition recommends stronger regulation of the carbon market and urges state-owned banks to participate, ensuring that carbon credit profits are shared somewhat with the public.

Currently, corporations, investment firms, and pension funds leverage carbon credits—compensating each tonne of CO₂ absorbed by forested or peat moorlands—to offset emissions and provide investment returns. This demand has driven up land prices across Scottish uplands and Highlands, with prominent firms like BrewDog, Standard Life, Gresham House, and Aviva acquiring land for forest planting to offset carbon emissions. However, the market’s growth has slowed as investors question the financial viability of UK-based carbon projects compared to other investment options, citing concerns that current offsetting projects in the UK are too small to attract major players.

Despite the rising interest in carbon credits, only 124,000 hectares of UK land is dedicated to woodland and peatland under carbon certification (with 103,300 ha in Scotland), representing a small portion of the nation’s land area. The coalition’s call for reform aims to broaden access to the carbon market and ensure it aligns with both environmental and public benefit goals. Read More

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A heatwave warning remains in effect for large parts of Queensland, with temperatures soaring up to 42°C in several regions. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe heatwave warnings, particularly impacting the northwest and inland areas of the state. By midday, Mount Isa recorded a scorching 40°C, Longreach reached 41°C, and Richmond topped out at 42°C. Meanwhile, Brisbane recorded a high of 31°C.

The extreme weather intensified on Tuesday night, prompting over 500 residents to evacuate the small border town of Dirranbandi, situated six hours west of Brisbane. Two rapidly advancing grassfires threatened the community. Despite an urgent “leave immediately” warning issued around 8 p.m. AEST, about 45 residents chose to stay behind.

By Wednesday morning, approximately 80 people had arrived at an evacuation centre set up in nearby St George. Queensland Police declared an emergency under the Public Safety Preservation Act, coordinating the evacuation and providing assistance throughout the night to ensure residents’ safety. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

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