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“Record-breaking heatwave continues… Today, Friday, is the 21st consecutive day when temperatures have exceeded 30 degrees Celsius [86F] somewhere in Finland [and consistently over 25C for three weeks even in Arctic Circle]…
“Before this summer, the record for a heatwave above 30 degrees was from June-July 1972, when there were 13 consecutive days with temperatures above 30 degrees.”
“Lapland’s record-breaking heatwave is already threatening the lives of reindeer.
“Now they are really in trouble. We are on the verge of them dying,” says Janne Mustonen, reindeer herder at the Poikajärvi reindeer herding community in northern Rovaniemi… Here are the beginnings of a disaster, Mustonen says.”
“The Isle of Wight has been hit by unexpected flash flooding following heavy rainfall.
“Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said it received multiple calls from across the island… Images from East Cowes showed large amounts of water in the roads and residents in Cowes could be seen putting sandbags outside their properties.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3r4q4lvg9jo
“How Britain’s ‘paradise’ islands are at risk from climate change.
“ITV Weather presenter Alex Beresford heads to the beautiful Isles of Scilly off the Cornish coast, to see how climate change is impacting the archipelago.”
https://www.itv.com/watch/news/how-britains-paradise-islands-are-at-risk-from-climate-change/yf6lbt6
“France braces for heatwave next week: 40°C [104F] forecast near Pyrénées.
“A new heatwave is expected to hit France at the end of next week, bringing temperatures of up to 40C to the south-west. Caused by a rush of hot anticyclone wind pushing into France from the Iberian peninsula, temperatures will start climbing midweek on Tuesday-Wednesday (August 5-6) before rising considerably on Thursday.”
“Soon, the Pyrenees lighthouse [meaning snow/ice cover] will cease to shine and will no longer light up the night!
“The Aneto glacier (right) is the largest in the range (0.34 km²) and is less than 11 m thick. It will be gone in less than 9 yrs!” [Melaine Le Roy]
https://x.com/subfossilguy/status/1951271877374005578
““Worst yet to come [for fires in Portugal]. Heat could reach 45ºC [113F].
“Fires are still blazing in northern Portugal. Between Monday and yesterday, more than 15,000 hectares of forestlands were burnt black, adding to the 14,500 registered between January 1 and July 27, making this year ‘three times worse’ for fire damage than last.”
https://www.portugalresident.com/worst-yet-to-come-heat-could-reach-45oc/
“Spain is battling three major wildfires with thousands of hectares burned and hundreds evacuated.
“Spain is facing a critical situation with several active wildfires keeping authorities and affected communities on high alert… control and stabilisation efforts may continue for several days…”
“Severe weather in Veneto [Italy], with heavy rains and hailstorms in Padua, flooding roads and falling trees.
“A supercell of thunderstorms affected the entire region starting at 2:00 PM, but it quickly moved from west to east, bringing heavy hail, downpours, and violent gusts of wind. Crop damage, flooding, and uprooted trees were reported.”
“HISTORIC HEAT ON THE BLACK SEA.
“Hottest nights in history from Turkey to Russia Also Minimum 27.2 [81F] Trabzon, 26.7 Rize. Turkey has smashed over 1000 records in every region in the past 2 weeks [including a national heat record]. Absolutely extraordinary.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1951001746253422930
“Mudflow Nightmare: [southern] Russian Town on Edge as Homes Evacuated and Services Collapse.
“A state of emergency has been declared in the Elbrus district of Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria Republic after a powerful mudflow struck the town of Tyrnyauz, prompting the evacuation of several residential areas and leaving parts of the city without basic services.”
“Syria’s environmental crisis: How women are bearing the brunt of climate change.
“The environmental catastrophe is inextricably intertwined with the violent conflict that the country has endured. As a consequence, Syria has been grappling with a host of environmental challenges including scorching temperatures, raging wild fires and most importantly debilitating droughts”
“MIDDLE EAST HISTORIC HEAT WAVE:
“51.8C [125F] Sweihan EMIRATES HOTTEST DAY IN HISTORY. Also record August hottest night at Al Ain MIn 36.4C. In Turkish highlands Min 27.2 Tunceli Record hottest night (23 consecutive days breaking records in Turkey)!”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1951342650780688658
“Iraq holds Turkiye ‘fully responsible’ for water shortage.
“Ankara has yet to respond to Baghdad’s offer of major economic incentives… in exchange for increased water releases… Al-Khazali cautioned of “grave consequences” if water shortages persist, saying the crisis could threaten social stability in central and southern provinces, while holding Turkiye “fully responsible” if it fails to raise water flows.”
https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraq-holds-Turkiye-fully-responsible-for-water-shortage
“Iranian president says country is on brink of dire water crisis.
“Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned against excessive water consumption which he said was untenable for the country and could leave Tehran facing severe shortages by September, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.”
“More cloudburst-induced floods hit Ghizer and Hunza districts on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction [Pakistan].
“According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), the heavy rainfall led to flooding in Khatam village in Ghizer’s Gupis Valley… Pakistan has been grappling with severe flooding caused by cloudbursts, glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs) and intense monsoon rains since June.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1927955/cloudburst-causes-floods-in-ghizer-hunz
“How climate change is changing mountaineering… Olympian Laura Dahlmeier’s fatal mountain accident in Pakistan proved once again that the dangers of mountaineering are increasing…
“…In the small town of Chilas, located at 1265 meters above sea level on the southern edge of the Karakoram, the thermometer rose to a record 48.5 degrees Celsius (119 Farenheit) in July.”
https://www.dw.com/en/how-climate-change-is-changing-mountaineering/a-73493383
“Army called in Dholpur [NW India] due to heavy rain, record of last 69 years broken.
“Rajasthan Monsoon Update: Even today, the Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain alert in six districts of Rajasthan. So far in the month of July, 285 MM rain has occurred in the state, which is the highest rainfall in the last 69 years.”
https://www.sangritoday.com/army-called-in-dholpur-due-to-heavy-rain-record-of-last-69-years-broken
“China flooding kills dozens, including 31 trapped at elderly care home.
“Torrential rains and flooding across northern China have killed dozens of people, authorities say, including more than 30 elderly residents who were trapped at a care facility in a suburb of the capital Beijing.”
“China’s average temperature in July was 23.64°C, the hottest July and the hottest month on record!
“Nine provinces broke their July record, with five provinces recording their second-highest average temperature for the month, and three provinces their third-highest.” [Jim Yang]
https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/1951258933756305491
“Chongqing residents seek shelter as heatwave hits China’s southwest…
“After daily peaks exceeding 40 C for a week, Chongqing elevated its heat-wave warning to the highest level – a red alert – on Thursday, with 21 out of its 38 districts forecast to hit up to 43 C. A peak of 44 C is projected for Sunday.”
“Japan’s weather officials say the country had its hottest July on record this year.
“The agency says the average is the highest for July since such data began to be collected in 1898 and broke previous records for the third straight year. Officials say this year’s deviation from normal is much larger than past figures.”
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250801_28/
“Japan, South Korea Issue Alerts Amid Historic Temperature Highs: ‘Not A One-Off Anomaly’.
“Authorities in Japan and South Korea issued urgent warnings as record-breaking heatwaves sweep across the region, pushing hospitals to capacity, claiming dozens of lives and setting new temperature milestones with alarming frequency.”
“In parts of the planet August has already started and HEAT RECORDS (Highest minimums for now of course) ARE ALREADY FALLING LIKE DOMINOS.
“NORTH KOREA RECORD HIGHEST MINIMUMS at: 25.9 [78.6F] Senbong, 25.6 Chongjin. Expect THOUSANDS of records all over East Asia…”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1951104533393784999
“Heavy downpour triggers widespread flooding in Tainan [Taiwan].
“The downpour occurred from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., with Yongkang recording the highest hourly accumulated rainfall at 103.5 mm [4.1 inches], followed by 90.5 mm on a section of National Freeway No. 1 in Xinshi District, and 83 mm in Anding District, the center said.”
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202508020003
“In Myanmar, conflict and floods collide as UN warns of deepening crisis.
“As Myanmar reels from deadly floods, renewed fighting and widespread displacement, the United Nations warned on Thursday that urgent humanitarian needs are going unmet due to escalating violence and blocked access.”
https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/07/1165549
“SOUTHEAST ASIA & OCEANIA RECORD HEAT:
“Unbelievable 39.2 [102.6F] Sukang is BRUNEI HOTTEST DAY IN HISTORY again! July Hottest nights: PHILIPPINES: Min 28.4 Aparri; AUSTRALIA Min 23.5 Middle Point… MINIMUM 28.3 [82.9F] Babelthuap PALAU HOTTEST NIGHT EVER.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1951283782100603231
“Rare Sandstorm Turns Southern Peru Skies Orange, Stuns Tourists.
“A powerful sand and dust storm swept through southern Peru on Thursday, triggered by strong winds linked to a South Pacific anticyclone, according to national authorities. The unexpected weather event caused major disruptions across coastal regions.”
“40 DEGREES IN WINTER IN SOUTH AMERICA:
“Exceptional 39.8C [103.6F] at Puerto Suarez in BOLIVIA today, absolutely unprecedented for this time of the year and 2nd hottest August day on record (record set in 2024) ,but recorded on the 1st.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1951415962479042572
“Amazon deforestation surges in Colombia, reversing historic gains.
“Colombia’s government reported on Thursday a sharp overall rise in deforestation in the country’s Amazon rainforest for last year, reversing much of the progress made during a historic low in 2023.”
“HISTORIC – 40.3C [104.5F] Choluteca on 31 July is HONDURAS HOTTEST JULY DAY IN HISTORY.
“100% of all tropical countries are pulverizing every record, everywhere, every day like never before, much worse than during the past Nino.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1951186328546169069
“Both the Pacific and the Tropical Atlantic are showing relative La Niña signs.
“Because of the accelerated ocean warming, the difference between the uncorrected and the relative El Niño indexes are likely increasing.” [Leon Simons]
https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/1950883063694585948
“It’s official: June was the rainiest month ever recorded in Mexico…
“The SMN, part of the National Water Commission (Conagua), reported that average accumulated rainfall across Mexico in June was 155.5 millimeters (6.12 inches). That is the highest average national total for any month since Conagua began recording monthly rainfall totals in 1941.”
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/june-rainiest-month-ever-mexico/
“The Secretariat for Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection has issued a Red Alert in the Álvaro Obregón municipality, due to the expectation of heavy rainfall of 50 to 70 millimeters and hail between 4:40 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
“The first flooding has been recorded on the high-tension avenues of Río Mixcoac , Insurgentes Sur and Miguel Ángel de Quevedo.”
“The month is almost over, and the stats are staggering: 18 Central and Eastern [US] states — from Arkansas to New Jersey — and D.C. have experienced a record-muggy July.
“Another eight states experienced their second- or third-most-humid July on record… Excessive atmospheric moisture pulsing around the country, exacerbated by corn sweat, has also fueled a deadly, flood-filled month, with over 2,000 reports of flooding.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/07/31/record-humidity-july-maps/
“Heavy rain and flash floods batter US east coast with emergency declared in New York.
“Heavy rain and floods are hitting parts of the US east coast, causing flight cancellations and leaving drivers stranded in cities including New York. A total of almost 50 million people in the US are under flood watches, and states of emergency have been declared in New Jersey and New York City…”
“Severe turbulence forces Delta plane to make emergency landing after 25 passengers injured.
“At least 25 people were injured in a severe case of turbulence that forced a Delta Air Lines jet flying to Amsterdam into an emergency landing in Minneapolis, the airline said in a statement. The flight had taken off from Salt Lake City in Utah but landed at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul…”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/severe-turbulence-delta-25-passengers-injured
“US lightning flash was longest on record at 515 miles, scientists say.
“A 515-mile (829km) lightning flash has set a new record as the longest ever identified. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed the new world record for the flash registered on 22 October 2017 over the Great Plains in the US.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/31/us-lightning-flash-longest-on-record-515-miles
“‘Fire clouds’ over Arizona and Utah wildfires are creating their own erratic climate.
“Two wildfires burning in the western United States — including one that has become a “megafire” on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon — are so hot that they’re spurring the formation of “fire clouds” that can create their own erratic weather systems.”
“Ghostly silence from blue whales is an ominous sign for the world.
“Heatwave killed krill, favoured prey of blue whales. The primary reason for this, according to the study, is the change in their diet and the availability of kill triggered by climate change and the warming oceans.”
“Business backs away from UN climate talks on edge of the Amazon.
“A host of businesses and consultants are backing away from the UN climate summit at the city of Belém, known as the gateway to the Amazon, deterred by a difficult political backdrop, up to $2,000-a-night for hotel rooms and lengthy travel.”
https://www.ft.com/content/863f8259-576d-46ad-b708-357bab961792
“New Zealand government votes to bring back fossil fuel exploration in major reversal.
“New Zealand’s government has voted to resume oil and gas exploration despite an outcry from the opposition and environmental groups who argue the reversal will lay waste to the country’s climate credentials.”
“Trump Energy Department Blasted for ‘Unhinged’ Pro-Coal X Post…
“On X—the platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk, who left the Trump administration earlier this year—the department shared an image of coal with the message, “She’s an icon. She’s a legend. And she is the moment.”“
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-coal
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Hello Pan
Trump Is Back — and So Is King Coal (Supposedly)
Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has once again turned energy policy into political theatre. This week, the Department of Energy posted a gleaming lump of coal on X with the caption: “She’s an icon. She’s a legend. And she is the moment.”
But in the real world, coal is anything but the moment:
U.S. coal use has dropped by over 50% since 2007
More than 300 coal plants have shut down
Utilities overwhelmingly choose gas, solar, and wind
New coal plants? Economically unviable in most cases
Still, Trump is reviving coal as a patriotic symbol. He’s rolling back environmental rules, reopening federal mining leases, and selling nostalgia as strategy.
The reality?
The American coal sector survives in speeches and social media memes. Economically, it’s a zombie — but politically, it still marches on. Coal as icon. Not a power source, but a campy cultural relic for the new era.
“She’s not the moment — she’s a memory with a smoke plume.”
Humans are a disgrace.
zip:This week, the Department of Energy posted a gleaming lump of coal on X with the caption: “She’s an icon. She’s a legend. And she is the moment.”
James: Oh, man. SMH. This reminds me of when our ex-PM in Australia (2018-2022), Scott Morrison, brought a lump of coal into parliament (2017) back when he was Treasurer and said:
“Don’t be afraid, don’t be scared, it won’t hurt you. It’s coal.” With these words Australia’s Treasurer Scott Morrison taunted the Opposition, attempting to ridicule its commitment to renewable energy.
He handed the lump of Hunter Valley coal to a delighted Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and it was then passed, to much hilarity, along the front bench and over to the back benches. (source 1) and (source 2)
It can be both. Coal is not a bad option to have. Okay it’s extremely bad for the climate but who cares about that right. I meant it’s not a bad secondary source of electric, esp with renewables in the mix. Gas is king right now but US production/consumption is very close iirc and it’ll likely go from net exporter to importer sooner rather than later.
Anyway, so how do we sell more investment in coal without acknowledging material limits? The Right (TM) paints a bright picture of potential renaissance whereas the Left (TM) agrees with the Right on the premise that renewed production up to 20th c levels is possible but characterises it as a bad thing that “we” have to stop (mostly by holding up signs). Meanwhile, perhaps all the ruckus attracts some capital into the few actually viable projects and then everybody moves on with their lives.
Thank you, all, for your thoughts on this.
It was the jarringly bizarre language, as much as the promotion of coal itself, which caught my attention. I mean, to personify and fetishize a lump of coal in this manner is pretty weird.
“She’s an icon. She’s a legend.” These are statements we might apply to, say, Madonna or Whitney Houston, RIP. And, OK, coal has been foundational to modern industrial civilisation, and you can make a case that most of us wouldn’t exist without it, so perhaps some eulogising is understandable…
But “…she is the moment,” reads like apotheosis. The eternal moment of now is the light of consciousness itself; not a lump of coal. 😂
I guess they could be meaning “of the moment,” but it is not at all clear. The very fact that a formerly staid government department is waxing lyrical like this is just further evidence to me that we are losing our minds under duress.
Trump is a bigger Queen than Liza Minnelli.
Survivalist, surely Liza Minnelli is a gay icon rather than a Queen?
Turning up the fabulousness to ten, here’s her Pet Shop Boys-produced cover of Yvonne Elliman’s disco classic, Love Pains:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ4MlKBFlvw
New article from Robert Hunziker.
Massive Ocean Regime Shift, Alarming
Thank you for that, Edward. Robert H puts together some good overviews.
Their key finding was that more species are living in the higher end of their temperature tolerances in the ocean than on land. This is likely early evidence of ocean warming, according to McCauley. “The species in the ocean appear to be much more sensitive to global warming as many are already sitting so close to the ceiling of the range of temperatures they can safely tolerate,” he said. This could explain why local extinctions are currently proceeding at twice the rate in the ocean as on land.
Marine animals more vulnerable to global warming than those on land, study says
April 29, 2019
Harrison Tasoff, UC Santa Barbara
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/marine-animals-more-vulnerable-global-warming-those-land-study-says
We are screwed blued and tattooed. 💀☠️⚰️🪦
Gobsmackingly crazy shit Edward. It’s so plainly obvious to this ancient surfer, the vitals for the whole planet warrant intensive care.
A couple of takeaways for me…
“I think almost all of the Earth system model projections are wrong… Record marine heatwaves may signal a permanent shift in the oceans.”
Or 400+ polar scientists…
“ They strongly suggest immediate halt to fossil fuels.”
Surely it’s beyond suggesting?
Too late really, nothing short of a revolution and complete collapse will suffice sadly.
Another interesting read
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/02/self-termination-history-and-future-of-societal-collapse
Thanks for that, Sean – fascinating stuff.
Although I tend to view our predicament as fundamentally a physics problem at this stage, because we have collectively created an energy dissipating superorganism that has irreversibly self-organised around a need for growth, understanding the human behaviours and personality types that led to this reality is certainly a worthwhile enterprise.
I’d argue that modern industrial civilisation is inherently self-terminating rather than just potentially so, but I have nothing against his rabble-rousing, and “Don’t be a dick” is, I’m sure, a sentiment we can all get behind.
Great article. Thanks for posting Sean!
On the lifting of oil and gas exploration in NZ – unlikely to be fulfilled (note that the folk in Government haven’t any clue about biophysical economics nor have they even heard of the term – complete muppets the lot of them and that’s offensive to muppets!).
Andarko drilled off my childhood hometown in Otago and in our legacy gas fields off Taranaki in the North Island. They drilled a couple of wells and went home. It’s possibly akin to the Rosebank(?) off Shetland where infrastructure and drilling costs will make it unprofitable for the volume of oil available (a few reports will be written by consultants to get the government excited but ultimately it will be shelved). Basically on and off Otago’s coast there is zero infrastructure so it would be a complete build of everything ($$$$$$). In Taranaki where there is existing infrastructure and expertise a report was released a few years back that basically said the field has about 10 years remaining life and they have already drilled as much as possible on-land and found a few small patches but ultimately uneconomic for the effort.
Just bluster from the NZ Government really and the politician in particular who pushed this through probably fancies himself as a bit of a Trump (and that would be offensive to Trump which gives you an idea of this individuals capability :-))
Craig, it does sound a bit like the UK’s situation, where a fierce national debate over whether or not to extract more oil mostly overlooks the fact that there is not much economically viable oil left to extract.
All together now – “It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights…”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd68vkkY0ng
I continue to watch for all the media, globally, to post front page headlines saying; We created this situation & there is nothing we can do to stop it. Like that’s going to happen.
I’m in awe of myself having this much pleasure at the suffering of this species. I need to get off my ego horse & realize that this is what the fools chose.
Anyone watched the flooding in China? Tofu dreg construction destruction videos are fun
Fan & Shit have come to an agreement, Shit says; “I’m going to hit you.” & Fan says;
“Great, I’ll throw it into the baboon brains’ faces. No one will notice, it’ll blend right in because they are a shitty species. “
To all the members of this species that a suffering because of their willful ignorance egos, Bless your hearts, Thoughts & Prayers.
Climate engineering / geoengineering atmospheric aerosol spraying operations are further fueling ALL of the weather cataclysms we are witnessing.