US leads record global surge in gas-fired power driven by AI demands, with big costs for the climate
Projects in development expected to grow global capacity by nearly 50% amid growing concern over impact on planet (date: 29/01/2026)
My Climate Change bookmarks
The following Pinboard feed contains links to climate change news items, scientific articles and other information that I have bookmarked recently.
Objectives should, at a minimum, prepare the country for the weather extremes that will be experienced if global warming levels reach 2°C above preindustrial levels by 2050. (date: 29/01/2026)
Progress in adapting to climate change: 2025 report to Parliament - Climate Change Committee
key messages of our assessment are: The UK’s preparations for climate change are inadequate. Delivery of effective adaptation remains limited and, despite some progress, planning for adaptation continues to be piecemeal and disjointed. The vast majority of our assessment outcomes have the same low scores as in 2023. In terms of adaptation delivery, we do not find evidence to score a single outcome as ‘good’. Adaptation progress is either too slow, has stalled, or is heading in the wrong direction. Whilst there is some evidence of policies and plans improving, it is clear that NAP3 has been ineffective in driving the critical shift towards effective delivery of adaptation highlighted in our previous progress report in 2023. The Government has yet to change the UK’s inadequate approach to tackling climate risks. The current government’s manifesto promised to ‘improve resilience and preparation across central government, local authorities, local communities, and emergency services’. It inherited a NAP that fell short of the task of preparing the UK for the climate change we are experiencing today, let alone that coming in the future. Our assessment finds little evidence of a change of course. The slow pace of change indicates that adaptation is not yet a top priority across government. The Government must act without further delay to improve the national approach to climate resilience. A new approach is still possible. We recommend four key areas of action to raise the profile of adaptation across government and drive a more effective response to the UK’s changing climate. (date: 29/01/2026)
The Cost of Water Scarcity Research Report from Public First
"...In areas of the country, we are already seeing the limiting impacts of water scarcity on development; and commercial growth in water intensive industries, rising temperatures and population increase mean problem is only growing. Insufficient headroom will generate a cost by putting breaks on the development that is so desperately needed for growth. This points to the need for more immediate regulatory and policy change to come alongside longer-term strategies to boost capacity at the major projects level..." (date: 27/01/2026)
However, even if the UK manages its domestic resources efficiently, it will still face the knock-on effects of international water bankruptcy on trade, migration and geopolitics. The UK may: need to provide more aid to especially water-scare countries find that the prices of water-intensive goods (such as food, clothes and cars) go up find that some water-intensive goods are no longer accessible (date: 27/01/2026)
World enters era of ‘global water bankruptcy’ UN Report (pdf)
The world has moved beyond a water crisis and into a state of global water bankruptcy, says a new flagship report released on Tuesday by UN researchers. World enters era of ‘global water bankruptcy’ | UN News >> https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/01/1166800 (date: 27/01/2026)
In this article, we give a sense of perspective on how much land is used to produce biofuels, and what the potential of that land could be if we used it for other forms of energy. We’ll focus on what would happen if we used that land for solar panels, and then how many electric vehicles could be powered as a result. (date: 22/01/2026)
Nearly 400 millionaires and billionaires call for higher taxes on super-rich
Mark Ruffalo, Brian Eno and Abigail Disney sign letter timed for WEF in Davos saying wealthy are buying political influence (date: 21/01/2026)
Greenland: new shipping routes, hidden minerals – and a frontline between the US and Russia?
Key maps show the growing strategic importance of Greenland as Arctic ice melts under global heating (date: 15/01/2026)
How a billionaire with interests in Greenland encouraged Trump to acquire the territory
US president’s friend Ronald Lauder – who first proposed Arctic expansion – is now making deals in the island (date: 15/01/2026)
How ‘day zero’ water shortages in Iran are fuelling protests
Supply failures are dramatic example of way climate crisis threatens basic human needs â and with it political stability (date: 15/01/2026)
Human activity helped make 2025 third-hottest year on record, experts say
Data leads scientists to declare 2015 Paris agreement to keep global heating below 1.5C ‘dead in the water’ (date: 15/01/2026)
The hottest summer in human history – a visual timeline
From June to August 2023, a series of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate breakdown caused death and destruction across the globe (date: 13/01/2026)
The world's largest carbon capture and storage complex planned for northern Alberta could use most of the surplus water in the giant Cold Lake-Beaver River basin, potentially forcing water rationing in the province. The $16.5-billion megaproject is a linchpin of the “grand bargain” energy deal signed by the Canadian government with Alberta last month. Many question marks hang over the project though, including how much water Pathways CCS — or any next generation carbon capture initiative — will actually consume. (date: 07/01/2026)
Revealed: Europe’s water reserves drying up due to climate breakdown | Water | The Guardian
Vast swathes of Europe’s water reserves are drying up, a new analysis using two decades of satellite data reveals, with freshwater storage shrinking across southern and central Europe, from Spain and Italy to Poland and parts of the UK. (date: 11/12/2025)
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating Oliver Milman and Damian Carrington Thu 13 Nov 2025 00.01 GMT (date: 09/12/2025)
Scientists warn of severe climate-related risks to UK economy and security
Experts lay out scale of changes needed in ‘first-of-its-kind national emergency briefing’ in Westminster (date: 27/11/2025)
Flooded UK coalmines could provide low-carbon cheap heat ‘for generations’
Report says proven technology could benefit thousands in poor quality housing and help UK meet carbon reduction targets (date: 06/11/2025)
Climate crisis means super-strength Hurricane Melissa is ‘dangerous new reality’
Winds of Melissaâs strength are now five times more frequent due to the climate crisis, research says (date: 06/11/2025)
Landmark global shipping deal abandoned under US threats - BBC News
A landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions has been abandoned after Saudi Arabia and the US succeeded in ending the talks. (date: 24/10/2025)
Global Tipping Points | understanding risks & their potential impact
As COP30 approaches, we’ve synthesised the latest research on tipping points – both positive and negative – into the Global Tipping Points Report 2025. A total of 160 authors, from 23 countries and 87 institutions contributed. Together, we’ve consolidated knowledge on how to govern Earth system tipping points, the risks they pose, and the opportunities presented by understanding and acting on positive tipping points. (date: 19/10/2025)
Nature groups rebuke Reeves for ‘cynical’ 11th-hour planning bill changes
Chancellor accused of removing environmental protections to win short-term growth and save her budget (date: 15/10/2025)
The flood-prone Worcestershire town being abandoned by insurers
One more deluge could bankrupt Tenbury Wells yet its application for flood defence funding has been rejected (date: 14/10/2025)
EU 'on course to achieve 2030 emissions target' - Global Government Forum
The European Union is “well on track” to meet its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by the end of the decade. (date: 03/10/2025)
Weak adaptation plans, undefined roles and responsibilities, and a lack of systems thinking are among the challenges preventing governments from delivering climate-resilient infrastructure, according to a new report. (date: 03/10/2025)
Water scarcity could undermine UK’s low-carbon industrial revolution - edie
Water availability will be a “key challenge” to the development of a low-carbon industrial cluster on the Humber estuary, and could be “a limiting factor” near the planned HyNet Cluster on the England-Wales border. (date: 03/10/2025)
The Guardian view on climate policy: Britain needs clean power, not culture wars | Editorial
Editorial: Kemi Badenoch’s plan to scrap the Climate Change Act is reckless. Ed Miliband offers a bolder, fairer vision. The future must be built on renewables (date: 02/10/2025)
'...A Climate of Truth, with its second heading, Why We Need It and How to Get It, is also meant as a practical guide and inspiration, predicated on a warning. It opens by putting climate in the context of what Berners-Lee identifies as a ‘polycrisis’ of problems ... But climate is the focus ... “If you look at how the global energy supply has changed since COP 1 in 1995, we have grown the non-fossil fuel energy supply by 75%. That sounds good, until you understand that, over the same period, we have grown the fossil fuel energy supply by 66%.” Mike’s solution to these failings is a “system reset” in society, which reconfigures the way we make decisions and “our relationship with truth”. He believes that a respect for truth in politics, business and the media – truly holding people to account for lies or their support of lies – is “our point of maximum leverage”. ...' (date: 03/09/2025)
Drax’s shares plunge as City watchdog investigates sourcing of wood pellets | Drax | The Guardian
Drax’s shares plunge as City watchdog investigates sourcing of wood pellets FCA inquiry into biomass power station relates to disclosures and transparency over two-year period Analysis: Latest Drax inquiry will raise fresh questions about its billions in subsidies Kalyeena Makortoff and Jillian Ambrose Thu 28 Aug 2025 16.15 BST Share The power generator Drax has revealed it is under investigation by the City watchdog over “historical statements” made about the sourcing of wood pellets for its biomass power station. (date: 02/09/2025)
The Quaternary glaciation, also known as the Pleistocene glaciation, is an alternating series of glacial and interglacial periods during the Quaternary period that began 2.58 Ma (million years ago) and is ongoing.[1][2][3] Although geologists describe this entire period up to the present as an "ice age", in popular culture this term usually refers to the most recent glacial period, or to the Pleistocene epoch in general.[4] Since Earth still has polar ice sheets, geologists consider the Quaternary glaciation to be ongoing, though currently in an interglacial period. (date: 31/08/2025)
Clean-up after flash-flooding on the Isle of Wight
Sudden heavy rain left streets under water and threatened properties in Cowes and Ryde. (date: 02/08/2025)
Trump bids to scrap almost all pollution regulations – can anything stop this?
EPA tries to rescind ‘endangerment finding’ – part of ‘drill, baby, drill’ agenda that experts say poses grave threat (date: 01/08/2025)
Greece enlists help from European allies to tackle raging wildfires
Czech firefighters and Italian aircraft join fight against blazes that have ravaged homes and forced evacuations (date: 27/07/2025)
Thames Water - Climate Change Adaptation Report 2024
Nice glossy report, showing the challenges TW faces and modelling used. References to the Water Resources Management Plan. Note they need an extra billion litres water per day by 2050 (460Ml/d of which due to climate change + preparing for 1-in-500-year drought resilience). From ARP4: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/climate-adaption-reporting-fourth-round-water (date: 24/07/2025)
NHS England » 4th Health and climate adaptation report
"Our climate is rapidly changing. With 6 of the last 10 years (2014-2023) ranking among the warmest on record since 1884, the impacts are already proving costly to both society and the NHS, with future costs expected to rise. ... While estimating the full extent is challenging, heat-related mortality in England alone costs £6.8 billion annually, likely to increase to £14.7 billion per year by the 2050s. These figures underscore the urgent need for action...." See embedded: https://www.ukclimaterisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CCRA3-Chapter-5-FINAL.pdf (date: 24/07/2025)
This report highlights the risks we face in the Environment Agency, in protecting the environment, water users and other sectors. In many of the sectors we cover, the risks are notably high. Adding the impacts of Climate Change, some of these reach the highest levels of Impact and Likelihood (e.g. for our assets). (date: 24/07/2025)
‘Broken’ water industry in England and Wales faces tighter controls under new watchdog
EA water regulation functions to be merged with Offwat and others. Big changes in my world… (date: 22/07/2025)
‘Keeping us hooked on fossil fuels’: how can we negotiate with autocracies on the climate crisis?
The bulk of global greenhouse gas emissions come from countries that are not democratic, and many big oil and gas exporters are also authoritarian (date: 18/07/2025)
In its refusal to nationalise water, itâs clear the government operates in the interests of private capital and not of the country, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot (date: 17/07/2025)
China’s coal heartland fighting for a greener future
Shanxi produces more coal than India. How will it survive in Chinaâs clean energy future? (date: 09/07/2025)
Climate breakdown tripled death toll in Europe’s June heatwave, study finds
Heat caused 2,300 deaths across 12 cities, of which 1,500 were down to climate crisis, scientists say (date: 09/07/2025)
Dhaka builds for a wetter future – in pictures
(date: 07/07/2025)
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