In the wake of weeks of poor air quality, grape and cannabis growers are trying to assess the impacts—to product quality as well as to human health—of ash and smoke on their crops.
The year 2025 is expected to bring pivotal developments for climate policy with Donald Trump’s return to the White House, new national climate targets and a potentially influential court ruling on global climate obligations.
Trump’s plans to withdraw the U.S. from key climate agreements may impact international climate efforts, though domestic clean energy growth could remain strong due to bipartisan investments.
February marks the deadline for updated national climate goals under the Paris Agreement, with a focus on deeper emissions cuts amid rising global temperatures.
A critical climate ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected, which could strengthen accountability for state-level emissions reductions.
Key quote:
“This [ICJ] advisory opinion has the potential to establish a global benchmark for climate accountability and reinforce the connection between human rights, sustainability and environmental protection.”
— Joana Setzer, associate professor at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
Why this matters:
Extreme weather, record-breaking temperatures and rising emissions in 2024 highlight the urgency of climate action. Court rulings, policy shifts and new agreements in 2025 could determine the pace of the transition to renewables and the enforcement of international climate commitments.
Global temperatures in 2024 exceeded the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold above preindustrial levels, raising urgent concerns about the effectiveness of current climate policies.
Last year marked the hottest on record, with global temperatures averaging 1.6 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
Despite international agreements like the Paris accord, carbon dioxide emissions hit record highs in 2024.
Experts warn that achieving the 1.5-degree goal may no longer be feasible without extreme emission cuts.
Key quote:
“Even if the world overshoots 1.5 degrees, and the chances of this happening are increasing every day, we must keep striving” to bring emissions to zero as soon as possible.
— Inger Anderson, executive director of the United Nations Environment Program
Why this matters:
Exceeding 1.5 degrees could lead to more devastating heat waves, water shortages and sea-level rise. Continued warming raises the stakes for vulnerable communities and ecosystems, making climate adaptation and mitigation more urgent than ever.
Massive wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles' affluent neighborhoods could result in economic losses of up to $150 billion, surpassing previous wildfire records in the U.S.
The Palisades Fire has destroyed more than 1,000 structures and forced 180,000 residents to evacuate, with another 200,000 on alert.
Analysts project insured losses to top $20 billion, with total economic losses ranging from $50 billion to $150 billion due to damage in high-value areas like Malibu.
Experts warn of long-term impacts on infrastructure, water contamination and health costs related to smoke exposure.
Key quote:
“These fast-moving, wind-driven infernos have created one of the costliest wildfire disasters in modern U.S. history.”
— Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather chief meteorologist
Why this matters:
Wildfires increasingly strain California's economy and resources, driven by climate-related drought and heat. The rising frequency and intensity of fires also impact public health, housing and long-term recovery efforts in vulnerable areas.
Donald Trump’s history of politicizing disaster relief has sparked concerns that he may withhold aid from states led by political opponents during his upcoming term, particularly in light of his previous threats regarding California wildfires.
In past disasters, Trump has made inaccurate claims and blamed Democrats, including President Biden, for mismanagement.
Reports suggest Trump considered political loyalty when approving federal aid, such as with Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
Republican leaders have at times urged Trump to set aside partisan politics when responding to natural disasters.
Key quote:
“Trump absolutely didn’t want to give aid to California or Puerto Rico purely for partisan politics — because they didn’t vote for him.”
— Kevin Carroll, former senior counselor to former Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly
Why this matters:
Disaster relief decisions significantly impact vulnerable communities in crisis. If partisan considerations influence aid distribution, some regions may face delays in critical support during emergencies, exacerbating harm and deepening political divides.
Planes dropping fire retardant are a critical wildfire defense, but new research highlights concerns about the chemical’s environmental impact due to heavy metals and other pollutants.
Fire retardant, often made from salts like ammonium polyphosphate, helps suppress wildfires by coating vegetation to block oxygen.
A study found that common fire retardants used in California exceeded state hazardous waste limits for heavy metals.
Federal agencies and manufacturers dispute the findings, citing extensive safety tests, but legal and environmental scrutiny continues.
Why this matters:
As wildfires increase due to climate change, the growing reliance on chemical retardants may worsen air and water pollution. Health risks from exposure to heavy metals and wildfire smoke add to the burden, raising questions about balancing fire suppression with environmental safety.
Developers in South Lanarkshire are building one of Europe’s largest battery farms to store excess wind energy, aiming to stabilize the UK’s renewable power grid.
The Coalburn site will store enough electricity to power 3 million homes and will be constructed in two phases.
Excess power from wind farms will charge the batteries, which will discharge during high demand or when renewable generation is low.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners is also developing a similar battery project in Fife, aiming for a total capacity of 1.5 gigawatts by 2027.
Key quote:
"By helping to supply reliable and secure power to our homes and businesses, well-located storage systems, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, can move us closer to net zero and directly support the communities around them."
— John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland
Why this matters:
Renewable energy sources like wind are intermittent, making large-scale battery storage essential to balancing supply and demand. The shift from coal to battery storage underscores the broader transition to cleaner energy systems as the UK pushes for a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.
The U.S. has significantly increased domestic production of solar panels and batteries over the past four years, but crucial supply chain gaps in raw materials and key components remain as demand surges.
The U.S. solar panel manufacturing capacity has nearly quintupled since 2022, though domestic production of solar cells and precursor materials remains minimal.
Battery factory construction is accelerating, with expected capacity to exceed demand for lithium-ion batteries by 2030, though the U.S. still imports most raw materials.
Policy support, including tax incentives, has spurred $95 billion in battery-related investments since 2022, though concerns remain about potential political disruptions.
Key quote:
“This production of battery cells is nominally sufficient to meet the demand for a rapidly electrifying economy.”
— David Gohlke, Argonne National Laboratory
Why this matters:
Expanding domestic clean energy manufacturing strengthens economic security, reduces reliance on foreign supply chains and supports the transition to renewables. However, without investment in upstream mining and processing, the U.S. remains dependent on imports, especially from China.
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.
