The European Union is likely to propose the most ambitious acceleration of its 2030 emissions target as as it ramps up efforts to slash pollution in the bloc through its Green Deal.
The Supreme Court rejected requests to hear cases on climate lawsuits against oil companies, federal land control in Utah, offshore wind farm impacts and interstate air pollution rules.
The Supreme Court will not review a Hawaii ruling that allows state-level lawsuits holding oil companies accountable for climate impacts, opening the door for dozens of similar cases to proceed.
Utah’s bid to take control of millions of acres of federal land was denied, maintaining the Bureau of Land Management's authority.
Efforts to halt the Vineyard Wind project over endangered whale concerns were dismissed, enabling continued offshore wind development along the East Coast.
Key quote:
The justices’ move “upholds our right to enforce Hawaiʻi laws in Hawaiʻi courts, ensuring the protection of Hawaiʻi taxpayers and communities from the immense costs and consequences of the climate crisis caused by the defendants’ misconduct.”
— Ben Sullivan, executive director and chief resilience officer for Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency
Why this matters:
By rejecting these cases, the court has left states and localities free to pursue legal actions against major polluters. These disputes could reshape accountability for climate damages, determine land use rights and influence the future of renewable energy projects.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has expanded a special legislative session to include $2.5 billion in wildfire aid as Los Angeles County faces devastating fires and potential federal relief delays under the incoming Trump administration.
Newsom’s wildfire package includes $1 billion in emergency aid and $1.5 billion for wildfire preparedness, with the potential for FEMA reimbursement.
Democrats criticized Trump’s threats to withhold federal disaster relief, while Republicans opposed tying wildfire aid to legal defenses against the White House.
The proposal also allocates $50 million to fund legal defenses for immigrants and support local legal services ahead of Trump’s inauguration.
Key quote:
“California is organizing a Marshall Plan to help Los Angeles rebuild faster and stronger.”
— Gavin Newsom, California governor
Why this matters:
Intense wildfires and political tensions over disaster aid could leave vulnerable communities in California without essential recovery funds. The situation also reflects broader conflicts over federal-state cooperation on climate-related disasters and immigration policies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said discussions are underway to make California wildfire relief conditional on a debt ceiling agreement, a move that has sparked Democratic opposition but gained traction among some Republicans facing disaster recovery pressure.
Johnson acknowledged that GOP members have discussed tying wildfire relief to a debt ceiling increase, following meetings with Donald Trump.
California Republicans, including Rep. Doug LaMalfa, say urgent wildfire recovery needs may necessitate linking the issues despite potential political risks.
Fiscal conservatives remain wary of any debt ceiling increase without significant budget cuts, while Trump appeared open to negotiation during a recent dinner at Mar-a-Lago.
Key quote:
“We’ll see where it goes,” acknowledging that he, personally, supported putting “conditions” on California wildfire aid.
— Mike Johnson, House Speaker
Why this matters:
With the U.S. nearing its borrowing limit, failure to raise the debt ceiling could lead to economic turmoil. Tying disaster relief to fiscal negotiations could delay recovery funds and deepen political divisions, particularly as natural disasters escalate.
Record global heat in 2024 fueled longer heat waves, worsening air quality and public health in regions from India to Nigeria to Brazil, where extreme weather compounded pollution and respiratory disease risks.
India faced record summer heat in 2024, intensifying air pollution in Delhi, with ozone levels above safe limits for 102 days.
Wildfires in Brazil’s Amazon produced dangerous smoke that impacted Indigenous communities already vulnerable due to limited healthcare access.
In Nigeria’s arid north, rising temperatures and dust storms fueled a meningitis surge, straining under-resourced hospitals.
Key quote:
“You can’t breathe properly anymore, you can’t sleep properly, you can’t see properly — that’s what I felt when we had the forest fires.”
— Takumã Kuikuro, filmmaker and president of the Alto Xingu Family Institute
Why this matters:
The Global South is experiencing deadly heat waves and pollution that disproportionately affect low-income communities, outdoor workers and vulnerable populations. As climate change accelerates, addressing the links between heat, air quality and disease is crucial for public health and environmental justice.
Over 150 Nobel and World Food prize winners are calling for urgent global action to boost agricultural innovation, warning that failing to address food shortages could create an unstable future for billions.
Scientists, economists and global leaders stress the need for "planet-friendly" approaches to increase food production by 50-70% by 2050.
Climate change, soil degradation and water shortages are cited as key barriers, particularly in Africa, where population growth and maize yield declines pose significant risks.
The open letter highlights breakthroughs like nitrogen-efficient crops and extended produce shelf life as key targets for international funding and research.
Key quote:
"If we can put a man on the moon, we can surely rally the funding, resources and collaboration needed to put enough food on plates here on Earth."
— Mashal Husain, incoming World Food Prize Foundation president
Why this matters: Global food production is failing to meet future demand as environmental pressures intensify. Without immediate innovation, food insecurity could deepen, leading to conflict, economic instability and widespread hunger, particularly in vulnerable regions.
An island-wide blackout on New Year’s Eve left Puerto Ricans navigating darkness, highlighting ongoing issues with a privatized, fragile energy grid that has yet to recover from Hurricane Maria’s devastation.
Puerto Rico experienced a massive blackout on December 31, affecting over 1.2 million households, with some areas left without power for most of the day.
Privatized energy operators LUMA Energy and New Fortress Energy have raised prices despite frequent outages, sparking public frustration and protest movements.
Governor Jenniffer González-Colón acknowledged the grid’s fragile state as another rate hike took effect on January 1, 2025.
Key quote:
“Our electrical system is in such a precarious situation that anything can cause the power to go out.”
— Jenniffer González-Colón, Puerto Rico governor
Why this matters:
Years after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico’s unreliable grid continues to disrupt daily life and economic recovery. Privatization efforts have led to higher costs without improving service, leaving residents vulnerable to power failures and extreme weather.
Climate change is amplifying extreme rainfall and devastating floods across the Mediterranean, with deadly storms now striking with increasing frequency and severity.
Autumn storms killed hundreds, with unprecedented rainfall affecting areas from Spain to Libya.
The Mediterranean Sea, warming 20% faster than the global average, fuels stronger weather systems.
Urbanization along vulnerable coastlines has increased the population exposed to flash floods.
Why this matters:
As warming oceans feed severe weather, regions like the Mediterranean face an escalating flood crisis that threatens lives, infrastructure and ecosystems. With populations growing in flood-prone areas, the risk of large-scale disaster is mounting despite improved early warning systems.
Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.
Legal and industry experts say there are uncertainties about the future of hydrogen hubs, a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s clean energy push.
