Mongabay
Santa Marta report by 57 nations defines rapid fossil fuel transition path
Global leaders from 57 nations have released the Santa Marta report, laying out a concrete roadmap for accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels. The findings arrive against a backdrop of record-breaking heat across Europe, underscoring the urgency of the transition. UN Secretary-General António Guterres framed the moment bluntly, noting that the world has just endured the eleven hottest years ever recorded — with worse still ahead.
Read article →Guardian Environment
Forecasters warn of record-breaking US summer heat amid intense El Niño
Over 100 million Americans face potentially record-breaking heat in the lead-up to Independence Day, driven by an intensifying El Niño pattern. The first half of the year already set temperature records across eight western states, signaling what meteorologists believe could be one of the hottest summers in US history. Elevated risks of droughts and wildfires compound the threat, putting enormous strain on infrastructure and vulnerable communities.
Read article →Guardian Environment
Scientists fear seabird die-off as El Niño looms: ‘We don’t know how bad this is will get’
A prolonged marine heat wave off the California coast is driving fish into deeper, cooler waters, leaving seabirds without accessible food and triggering a mass die-off along beaches. Marine ornithologist Tammy Russell documented carcass after carcass during a single San Diego beach walk, underscoring the scale of the crisis. With El Niño conditions on the horizon, scientists warn the situation could deteriorate further before it improves.
Read article →Grist
Urban trees aren’t just nice, scientists say — they’re mandatory
Cities have long treated urban trees as aesthetic amenities, but scientists are now making a harder case: they are essential infrastructure. Research shows that tree canopy meaningfully reduces heat, manages stormwater, improves air quality, and supports mental health — functions no engineered system replicates as cheaply. The call to expand urban forestry is less an environmental appeal than a public health and fiscal imperative.
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