Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Huge thanks to all of you who contributed to my fundraiser, which has now reached its target. I was very touched by the generosity. And thank you, as ever, to all those who subscribe and donate. I couldn’t do this without you.


“My new State of the Climate report at Carbon Brief finds that 2025 had the:

“Warmest ocean heat content
“Tied as second warmest surface temps
“Second warmest troposphere
“Record high sea level and GHGs
“Record low winter Arctic ice.” [Zeke Hausfather]

https://www.carbonbrief.org/state-of-the-climate-2025-in-top-three-hottest-years-on-record-as-ocean-heat-surges/


“Reaching net zero won’t be enough to limit global temperatures to 1.5°C, according to research from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and the University of Exeter.

“The latest paper by the two organisations claims that the planet is more sensitive to the level of greenhouse gases being emitted than the accepted science suggests.”

https://www.ipe.com/news/reaching-net-zero-wont-keep-climate-change-in-check-warn-actuaries-academics/10134578.article


“Signs of El Niño as La Niña starts to fade.

“Before we’re even done with this current La Niña episode, we’re already seeing some signs of El Niño developing in a few months… The latest ENSO outlook from the Climate Prediction Center suggests a likely shift to ENSO Neutral by the end of this winter or early in the spring.”

https://fox40.com/news/national-and-world-news/signs-of-el-nino-as-la-nina-starts-to-fade/?nxsparam=10


“NASA reports record heat but omits reference to climate change.

“Global temperatures soared in 2025, but a NASA statement published Wednesday alongside its latest benchmark annual report makes no reference to climate change, in line with President Donald Trump’s push to deny the reality of planetary heating as a result of human activities.”

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260114-nasa-acknowledges-record-heat-but-avoids-referencing-climate-change


“Why Greenland Matters for a Warming World…

““[Trump’s] fixation on Greenland is an admission that climate change is real,” said John Conger, a former Pentagon official in the Obama administration who is now an adviser to the Center for Climate and Security, a research institute.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/world/europe/greenland-climate.html


“Storm Goretti was one of the most impactful storms to hit Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the last 30 to 35 years, according to the Met Office.

“Met Office climate expert Professor Elizabeth Kendon said the strong winds during Goretti could have been due to a meteorological feature known as a sting jet – which are very rare in the UK…”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3r192gg9n5o


“‘People don’t even know if help is coming’: Cornish villagers frustrated by lack of help after Storm Goretti…

“Almost a week on, trees still block roads and scores of people remain without power, water or phone connections. The feeling is growing that Cornwall has been left to cope on its own, leading an increasing number of people to call for the UK government to step in to help.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/13/cornwall-storm-goretti-power-water-trees-roads


“Europe’s crop droughts to worsen despite rising rainfall, study shows.

“Recent research indicates that rising temperatures will intensify severe crop droughts in Europe and western North America, even as annual rainfall increases, thereby posing a threat to food security.”

https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/europes-crop-droughts-to-worsen-despite-rising-rainfall-study-shows/203709/


““Ecocide” Project: Biodiversity in Tunisia Falls Victim to European Oil Companies.

“Data from the “Ecocide” project show that more than 3,100 oil and gas licenses overlap with over 7,000 protected areas in 99 countries worldwide, covering a total overlapping area of 690,000 square kilometers, despite existing laws and ongoing efforts to protect key biodiversity areas.”

https://daraj.media/en/ecocide-project-biodiversity-in-tunisia-falls-victim-to-european-oil-companies/


“Wildfires threaten wildlife in South Africa’s Western Cape.

“The fires have had severe consequences for wildlife across the province. Media reports said a wildfire devastated Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary near Stanford in the Western Cape, forcing the relocation of 18 predators to other facilities.”

https://english.news.cn/20260113/7cfe6686dc1e4f41ae997604a0137bc7/c.html


“Severe flooding in Kruger National Park forces closures, relocations.

“Heavy rainfall in Limpopo and Mpumalanga has caused flooding, leading to the closure of several gates and roads in the Kruger National Park. Guests have been urged to revise travel plans. SANParks has relocated campers, and is actively rescheduling arrivals to ensure safety.”

https://www.news24.com/southafrica/weather/severe-flooding-in-kruger-national-park-forces-closures-relocations-20260112-0966


“Landslide in eastern Congo kills at least 13, leaves over 30 missing.

“The landslide occurred at around 1 a.m. in the village of Burutsi in North Kivu province. Witnesses say that the landslide followed several hours of intense rainfall and has cut off the main road between the major city of Goma and the provincial capital, Walikale.”

https://www.africanews.com/2026/01/13/landslide-in-eastern-congo-kills-at-least-13-leaves-over-30-missing/


“Six dead as Gaza’s displaced struggle to hold ground in torrential rain.

“A rainstorm swept across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, flooding hundreds of tents, collapsing homes sheltering families displaced by two years of war and killing at least six people, local health officials said.”

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/six-dead-gazas-displaced-struggle-hold-ground-torrential-rain-2026-01-13/


“Istanbul sets all-time water use record as water stress increases.

“Istanbul is consuming water at a pace never before recorded, setting a historic annual usage record in 2025 as climate pressures, rapid urban growth and structural supply vulnerabilities converge to push Türkiye toward internationally defined water-poverty conditions.”

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/istanbul/istanbul-sets-all-time-water-use-record-as-water-stress-increases/amp


“The Middle East’s Next War Will Be Over Water.

“The Middle East is not running out of slogans. It is running out of water. And while pundits remain hypnotized by manifestos, missiles, and terrorist groups the region’s real balance of power is being rewritten quietly, mechanically, and without drama—behind concrete dams, desiccated riverbeds, and rationed taps.”

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-middle-easts-next-war-will-be-over-water/


“Kazakhstan Warns of Severe Water Shortages as Syr Darya Levels Drop…

“Equally alarming for Kazakhstan, Nurzhigitov noted that in the mountains of upstream neighboring countries, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, where the Syr Darya originates, officials are also reporting low levels in reservoirs.”

https://timesca.com/kazakhstan-warns-of-severe-water-shortages-as-syr-darya-levels-drop/


“EXTRAORDINARY EVENT – SUMMER temperatures up to 23C [73.4F] in the middle of the night in the former USSR [central Asia].

“Nothing ever seen anywhere in the world in the past 2+ centuries gets close. Expect dozens of thousands of records from Middle East to Japan.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2011260582130073910


“Uttarakhand faces snow drought and forest fires as lack of rain hits crops.

“Uttarakhand and the wider Central Himalayan region are experiencing an unusually dry winter marked by a near absence of rain and snowfall, triggering crop losses, forest fires and concerns about long-term impacts on glaciers.”

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/uttarakhand-faces-snow-drought-and-forest-fires-as-lack-of-rain-hits-crops


“Search for single-tusked elephant after 22 killed in India rampage…

“The rampage comes as deadly human-elephant conflict is on the rise in India, attributed to rising deforestation, food and water scarcity and increased residential encroachment in areas that were once elephant corridors.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/13/search-elephant-people-killed-india-jharkand


“EXTRAORDINARY EVENT – WORLD CLIMATIC HISTORY REWRITTEN. Records brutalized with world record margins all over Asia.

“Insane records in MONGOLIA, locally broken by 8C+: 7.5 Bulgan, 5.7 Bogd, 5.0 Ekhingool, 4.4 Gurvanbulag, 4.1 Bayantoorai… Temperatures in The Erdeni Region of Mongolia reached almost +5C at 2500m asl in MID JANUARY.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2011064860277424337


“Temperatures in China have soared today, with 46 stations breaking &tying their January warmest records, and 19 stations breaking their January highest Tmin records!

“Tomorrow, the range of record-breaking activity in China will continue to expand!”

[Jim Yang]

https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/2011421619785507189


“Watch as snow ‘apocalypse’ hits Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, shatters 146-year record.

“The region, known for its active volcanoes and extreme weather, has received several months’ worth of snowfall within days… The relentless snowfall has brought the city to a standstill, with layers of white covering the landscape.”

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/trending/watch-as-snow-apocalypse-hits-russias-kamchatka-peninsula-shatters-146-year-record/


“Heavy Flood Hits Sekotong West Lombok, One Resident Dies [Indonesia]…

“Floods were recorded submerging dozens of villages in several villages. In Buwun Mas Village, Kemanuk Village was submerged in water up to the knees, while Bengkang Village became the worst area with puddles reaching the chest of adults.”

https://voi.id/en/amp/551157


“HISTORIC HEAT IN INDONESIA – extraordinary hot night in West Papua with a Minimum temperature of 28.5C [83.3F] at Biak, hottest night in history.

“The area has been with record heat for over 10 years, in some areas like the Molukkas zero colder than average months since early 2011!”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2011258007062257833


“‘Nothing Left’: Bushfires Tear Through Victoria’s Wine Regions.

“Bushfires in Australia’s state of Victoria have swept through multiple wine-producing areas, inflicting severe damage on local wineries. At one estate, flames destroyed not only the vineyard but also the owner’s family home, while a warehouse storing wine was also burned down.”

https://vino-joy.com/2026/01/15/nothing-left-bushfires-tear-through-victorias-wine-regions/amp/


“‘We’ve lost everything, you can see caravans floating away’: flash flooding hits Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.

“Hundreds of people have evacuated a major camping ground after a severe thunderstorm caused flash flooding at Wye River, closed a major scenic tourism road and washed cars out to sea.”

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/15/river-wye-flooding-victoria-great-ocean-road-cars-washed-away


“As global warming melts glaciers, a novel sanctuary in Antarctica is opening to preserve ice samples.

“Scientists on Wednesday inaugurated the first global repository of mountain ice cores, preserving the history of the Earth’s atmosphere in an Antarctic vault for future generations to study as global warming melts glaciers around the world.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/scientists-earth-antarctica-rome-france-b2900389.html


“We experienced the warming of the Antarctic Peninsula…

“The Antarctic Peninsula continues to be one of the regions of the Earth most strongly affected by global warming. Along its west coast, temperatures are rising significantly faster than the global average. Measurement data show an increase of up to 0.45 degrees Celsius per decade; overall, the region has warmed by more than three degrees since the 1950s…”

https://polarjournal.net/we-experienced-the-warming-of-the-antarctic-peninsula/


“Javier Milei’s budget cuts criticized after Patagonia fires.

“In just eight days, nearly 15,000 hectares of land on southern Argentina have been destroyed by flames, including 12,000 in Chubut Province. Environmental advocacy groups have condemned drastic budget cuts to the Federal Fire Management System.”

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2026/01/14/javier-milei-s-budget-cuts-criticized-after-patagonia-fires_6749395_114.html


“After 20 Years, A Deal to Protect Amazon Forests is Falling Apart.

“Nearly 20 years ago, a Brazilian lobbying group for soy trading and processing companies signed on to a historic conservation deal known as the Amazon soy moratorium. The voluntary agreement prohibits members from buying soybeans grown on lands deforested after July, 2008.”

https://www.theenergymix.com/after-20-years-a-deal-to-protect-amazon-forests-is-falling-apart/


“Chaos in Tarapoto due to rains: Indeci activates alert in 17 regions due to risk of new flooding [Peru].

“The city of Tarapoto , in the San Martín region , experienced hours of tension once again after torrential rain fell during the afternoon and evening, causing flooding , overflowing ravines, and a sudden rise in the Cumbaza River , one of the main tributaries that crosses this area of ​​the Peruvian Amazon.”

https://www.infobae.com/peru/2026/01/15/caos-en-tarapoto-por-lluvias-indeci-activa-alerta-en-17-regiones-ante-riesgo-de-nuevos-desbordes/


“A pretty unnerving stat:

“California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico just experienced their hottest December in recorded history.” [Colin McCarthy]

https://x.com/US_Stormwatch/status/2011246438555230619


“Shark Attacks Reach Record-Breaking High in California.

“Shark attacks are extremely rare; however, following multiple encounters in Northern California, the Golden State hit record highs for shark incidents in 2025… And just two weeks into 2026, a surfer was attacked by a shark in Northern California.”~

https://www.surfer.com/news/shark-attacks-record-breaking-high-california


“Minimums in North Dakota and Canada. Some stations broke by 10/12F the record of warmest January night.

“Mins up to 53 in South Dakota TYPICAL OF JUNE. One of the most extreme events ever seen in North America. ND: 41 Beach B.Bowman, 39 Bismarck, Hattinger, Kilder, Mandam
38 Grand Forks.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2011138403451195552


“Record-heat to continue with highs in southern Alberta in the mid-teens Wednesday.

“A dominant ridge of high-pressure has been parked over the west – in part due to an anchoring trough situated over central Canada. This has allowed warmer air to funnel into communities as far north as Grande Prairie and as far east as Lloydminster this week.”

https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/record-heat-to-continue-with-highs-in-southern-alberta-in-the-mid-teens-wednesday/


“A 3,000-year high: Alaska’s Arctic is entering a dangerous new fire era.

“For thousands of years, wildfires on Alaska’s North Slope were rare. That changed sharply in the 20th century, when warming temperatures dried soils and fueled the spread of shrubs, setting the stage for intense fires. Peat cores and satellite data reveal that fire activity since the 1950s has reached record levels.”

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260114084119.htm


“Mapped: how the world is losing its forests to wildfires.

“Every single day in 2024, wildfires consumed more than 360 square kilometres of forest – an area larger than Malta. By the end of 2024, more than 134,000 square kilometres of forest had gone up in flames – an area greater than England.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/jan/13/mapped-how-the-world-is-losing-its-forests-to-wildfires


“Wildfires Transform Safe Soil Minerals Into Toxins…

“New research from the University of Oregon breaks down how chromium converts from a benign form in rocks and soil to a carcinogenic one in the presence of extreme heat during wildfires…  The location of soil – a summit or valley, for instance – influenced what temperature caused the most conversion.”

https://www.miragenews.com/wildfires-transform-safe-soil-minerals-into-1602356/


“Climate Change May Be Making Pain Harder To Manage…

“Reporting from Inside Climate News connects these extremes to more frequent pain flares. It also warns that dehydration can worsen gout as regions get hotter and drier. Penn Medicine notes that rising heat and extreme weather stress can trigger headaches and migraines.”

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/climate-change-may-be-making-pain-harder-to-manage/


“Mosquitoes’ thirst for human blood has increased as biodiversity loss worsens.

“In an ecosystem that’s losing much of its biodiversity, mosquitoes might be shifting to a new food source. Researchers analyzed blood meals of mosquitoes captured in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and found most meals contained human blood.”

https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2026/01/15/mosquitoes-human-blood-biodiversity-loss


“Climate and nature crises still ‘biggest’ long-term global risks, despite growing threat of conflict…

“While risks related to climate and nature are low on the near-term radar, with experts notably less concerned about the risks of pollution and biodiversity loss than last year, there is a growing acknowledgement that long-term risks here are being baked in.“

https://www.edie.net/climate-and-nature-crises-still-biggest-long-term-global-risks-despite-growing-threat-of-conflict/


“Breaking News! Code Yikes!

“The Earth energy data just came in from CERES for October, 2025, and guess what? Right. A new record low for the 36-month running average for Earth albedo, now down to 28.689%.

“The Climate 8-Ball says, “fewer clouds, less ice, more tequila.”” [Prof Eliot Jacobson]

https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2011594407880151092


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You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.