Climate

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday rolled back limits on mercury and other hazardous emissions from coal-fired power plants, marking the Trump administration’s latest move to support the fossil fuel sector by scaling back air and water regulations. Pollution from coal- and oil-burning plants can interfere with brain development in children and is linked to heart attacks and other serious health issues in adults. These facilities are also among the leading

Record Snow Shortage and Unseasonal Heat Impact Western U.S. A historic shortage of snow, coupled with exceptionally warm winter temperatures, is sweeping across much of the western United States. This unusual weather is straining future water resources, increasing wildfire risks, and negatively affecting winter tourism and recreational industries. Experts report that both the extent and depth of snow are at historic lows. At least 67 weather stations in the region have recorded their warmest

Clean Energy in 2025: A Year of Setbacks and Progress Despite numerous setbacks, clean energy experienced a few notable advancements in a year marked by profound shifts. Former President Donald Trump pushed policies favoring fossil fuels and hindered support for renewable energy sources, say many in the industry, ranging from developers to policymakers. A poll conducted by The Associated Press revealed that 2025 was a year of instability for renewable energy. However, progress did occur as

Tea Plantation Workers Devastated by Cyclone in Sri Lanka CRAIGHEAD ESTATE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Arumugam Manikavalli woke to deafening rain and quaking ground and ran from her home to a nearby temple on the tea estate where she works. That same November night, a landslide crushed Kumaran Elumugam’s modest dwelling, taking the lives of six of his relatives. Elumugam only survived because he and one of his daughters were away at work when the disaster struck. “I’ve lost my wife, daughter,

People from across the globe are making their way to Belem, Brazil — the gateway to the Amazon — to attend the 30th annual United Nations climate summit, known as COP30. The conference aims to unite countries in their efforts to combat the harmful effects of climate change caused by human activity. Experts warn that achieving this goal is becoming increasingly difficult, but the urgency remains clear. Climate change is already contributing to deadly natural disasters, and any further delay in

EMINENCE, Ky. (AP) — Allan Bryant keeps a close watch overhead while tending to a newborn calf resting beneath the trees beside its mother. After a few shaky attempts, the calf rises to its feet, beginning its first steps as it looks to nurse. In the sky, two birds glide in slow circles. Bryant, hoping they’re not black vultures, breathes a sigh of relief when he realizes they’re only turkey vultures — distinguishable by their red heads and less threatening demeanor. “Honestly, black vultures

GETTING READY: The hurricane season can be overwhelming for those located near projected storm paths. Fierce winds and intense rain can destroy property, leave communities without power for extended periods, and significantly disrupt daily life. However, emergency planning can help reduce anxiety, according to disaster preparedness specialists. Hurricane Melissa, which slammed into Jamaica on Tuesday with sustained winds of 185 mph, stood out even among an era of increasingly intense storms

SEATTLE (AP) — For years, scientists believed that Prochlorococcus — the tiniest and most plentiful phytoplankton in the ocean — would flourish as global temperatures climbed. But recent findings show these microscopic organisms, which play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems and climate regulation, could drastically decline in warmer seas. A new report in the journal Nature Microbiology warns that Prochlorococcus populations could drop by up to 50% in tropical waters within the next 75 years

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A newly released study highlights how rising global temperatures and a decline in rainfall intensified the devastating wildfires that swept through Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus this past summer. According to research by World Weather Attribution, the wildfires — which led to 20 deaths, forced 80,000 people to leave their homes, and charred over 1 million hectares (approximately 2.47 million acres) — were approximately 22% more severe in 2025, marking it as the most severe

The renowned Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina, once considered remarkably stable, is now experiencing its most significant retreat in at least a hundred years, according to newly published findings. Located within the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the glacier has long remained anchored within a mountain valley. However, recent observations reveal that it is now detaching from the bedrock beneath, accelerating the loss of ice as it gradually recedes. Time-lapse imagery captured over the last

Renewable Energy Growth Marks Turning Point NEW YORK (AP) — The transition to cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind has reached a crucial milestone, suggesting continued price drops and increased adoption, according to two new reports from the United Nations released Tuesday. These findings provide a glimmer of hope amid the broader challenges of reducing global emissions. In 2023, renewable sources like wind and solar made up 74% of the increase in global electricity production, the

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (AP) — A decade ago, when John Warmington first explored the reef near his home in Havannah Harbor, Vanuatu, it was teeming with life. Corals stretched upward like an underwater forest, with branching staghorns in golden hues, sprawling plate corals, and schools of vibrant fish weaving through the maze. “We knew every corner of that reef. It was like family to us,” Warmington recalled. John Warmington, who has dived more than a thousand times in the same section of reef off

For years, Erin McGuire applied her scientific expertise to grow crops like tomatoes, onions, and peppers at the University of California, Davis. Leading a laboratory dedicated to agricultural advancement, she worked alongside a global network to cultivate drought-tolerant plants, improve produce storage techniques, and help increase income for farmers locally and abroad. But then, the funding dried up. Her lab, previously supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development, faced

Maiduguri’s Recovery from Historic Flooding ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At the heart of Maiduguri’s busy central market, Elizabeth Felix takes in the familiar chaos — vendors arranging their goods, shoppers bargaining energetically, and vibrant fabrics flapping beside rows of fresh vegetables and salted fish emitting a pungent scent. Just half a year earlier, none of this was possible. Heavy rainfall submerged the market in water, part of widespread flooding across Central and West Africa. Experts

Agavedzi Coastal Erosion AGAVEDZI, Ghana (AP) — The shoreline of this seaside town in Ghana is being steadily consumed by the ocean. Violent tides gnaw away at Agavedzi, toppling homes, claiming land, and even threatening gravesites where families have buried their loved ones for generations. Residents say climate change is fueling these harsher tidal patterns and sea level rise, drastically shifting the coastline inward. They’ve repeatedly appealed to the government for protective sea walls —

KABAENA, Indonesia (AP) — Once pristine, the waters surrounding Kabaena Island shimmered in hues of crystal blue. But now, they have turned a cloudy shade of brown. The octopus and vibrant fish that sustained the local population have vanished, while lush seaweed beds once integral to their livelihood have disappeared. Parents who grew up swimming joyfully in the Flores Sea now steer their children away, fearful of itchy skin rashes or lesions caused by contact with the water. The island's

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on Saturday, closing a period marked by heightened activity. This year witnessed 11 hurricanes—well above the typical average of seven—along with devastation and loss far from where the storms originally made landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Meteorologists described the season as “exceptionally intense,” attributing the surge in storm activity to unusually high ocean temperatures. Across the Atlantic, eight hurricanes impacted regions

Azerbaijan finds itself in the global spotlight as the South Caucasus nation, rich in oil reserves, prepares to host the U.N.’s largest climate conference. Diplomats from around the world will converge on the capital city, Baku, for the annual COP29 summit to deliberate on solutions to the worsening climate crisis. This place holds unique significance, as Baku is where the world’s first oil fields were drilled in 1846. By 1899, Azerbaijan was globally recognized as a leader in oil production.