Mediterranean storms grow more intense amid rapid climate shifts

Climate change is amplifying extreme rainfall and devastating floods across the Mediterranean, with deadly storms now striking with increasing frequency and severity.

Samuel Granados reports for The New York Times.

In short:

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.

The AI boom will increase US carbon emissions—but it doesn’t have to

A new analysis finds that data centers’ energy demands will drastically increase power plant emissions over the next decade. Renewables, though, could cut them while helping keep prices from rising.

Read the Full Article on

www.wired.com

A factory or power plant with smokestacks emitting pollution

Credit: Faux Toe/Big Stock Photo

Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from just 32 fossil fuel firms, study shows

Critics accuse leading firms of sabotaging climate action but say data increasingly being used to hold them to account.

Read the Full Article on

www.theguardian.com

Mediterranean storms grow more intense amid rapid climate shifts

The AI boom will increase US carbon emissions—but it doesn’t have to

Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from just 32 fossil fuel firms, study shows

Six years on, New Mexico still hasn’t codified governor’s climate goals

After Helene, rural North Carolina turns to solar and battery hubs

Patagonia is burning

A California climate expert is working to restore climate risk scores deleted by Zillow

Scientists set up camp on Thwaites glacier in Antarctica

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.