News
The “Old Ladies” Cleaning Up Cape Cod’s Ponds
A group of older women in Massachusetts is making a splash by diving into Cape Cod’s ponds to remove underwater garbage. “Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage” was founded in 2018 by 86-year-old Susan Bauer and now has about 30 members.…
China’s Coal Power Falls Below 50% for the First Time
For the first time in history, coal accounted for less than half of China’s electricity generation. In the first half of the year, coal-fired power generation fell to 49.7%. Renewables, meanwhile, surpassed 40% for the first time, with wind and…
EU Bans Large Companies from Destroying Unsold Clothing and Footwear
Since 19 July, large companies in the EU have been prohibited from destroying unsold clothing, accessories and footwear. Medium-sized companies will be subject to the same rules from 2030. The new requirements were introduced under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products…
Climate “Black Swans” Reach Pension Funds
Climate “Black Swans” have reached pension funds. Institutional investors are beginning to model what could happen to their portfolios if the Earth crosses irreversible climate tipping points. The term was coined by JPMorgan: the probability is low, but the consequences…
Heat Becomes the Economy’s New Leading Indicator
Economists have a new macroeconomic indicator to watch: heat. Bloomberg surveyed analysts from ING, Allianz, and other institutions, and they largely agree that the thermometer now deserves as much attention as inflation. One analyst put it bluntly: temperature has become…
Western Europe Shatters Temperature Records Again
Western Europe is rewriting temperature records for the second time this month. Tuesday became the hottest day ever recorded in France, with temperatures exceeding 44°C (111°F) in the country’s southwest, according to the national weather service. In the UK, temperatures…
2026 Environmental Performance Index Released
The 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) has been published. Compiled every two years by Yale University and Columbia University, the ranking evaluates 177 countries across 47 environmental indicators in 12 categories, including environmental health, ecosystem vitality, and climate change. Top…
Microsoft’s Data Center Expansion Drove a 25% Increase in Emissions in 2025
On Friday, Microsoft published its 2025 Environmental Sustainability Report, revealing that the company’s total greenhouse gas emissions increased by 25% during fiscal year 2025 compared with the previous year, largely due to the continued expansion of artificial intelligence technologies. The…
World’s Hottest Nights Are Warming Faster Than Hottest Days, Study Finds
The hottest nights of the year are warming faster than the hottest days—by 0.32°C per decade, compared with 0.27°C per decade. That is the key finding of a global study on heat stress covering the period since 1950, published in…
Singapore Sets New Legal Standard for Coastal Climate Protection
Owners of coastal land in Singapore will soon be legally required to prepare for a projected 2.15-meter sea level rise by 2150. The country’s new Coastal Protection Code will take effect in 2028, with non-compliance carrying penalties that include fines…