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Southern Ocean Carbon Sink May Become CO2 Emitter After Net Zero, Prolonging Global Warming

Southern Ocean Carbon Sink May Become CO2 Emitter After Net Zero, Prolonging Global Warming

The Southern Ocean, currently the world's largest carbon sink, absorbing approximately 10% of human emissions, is projected to begin emitting more carbon than it absorbs if atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations decline after reaching net-zero emissions. This shift would prolong global warming for centuries, even with significant artificial carbon dioxide removal efforts. Researchers modeled scenarios where the world reaches net zero by 2125, with atmospheric CO2 gradually declining or drastically reduced through carbon removal technologies. In both cases, the Southern Ocean transitions from absorbing about 3 grams of carbon per square meter per year to emitting 8 to 9 grams by 2400. This release would cause atmospheric CO2 levels to level off or even rise again for a period, making it more challenging to reverse climate change. This phenomenon is attributed to the ocean's physical and chemical properties, where warmer water holds less gas, and reduced mixing with alkaline deep water diminishes its capa...

Global heat stuck on high. Scientists say August was Earth's hottest month they've measured.

Global heat stuck on high. Scientists say August was Earth's hottest month they've measured.

The European climate service Copernicus said the Earth just sweltered through its hottest month on record in August

UN Report Warns World Nearing Critical 1.5°C Global Warming Limit

UN Report Warns World Nearing Critical 1.5°C Global Warming Limit

A new report detailed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) indicates that the world is on track to soon exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) global warming limit established by the 2015 Paris Agreement. This agreement, signed by 196 nations and territories, aimed to restrict the average rise of global temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an ideal target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres stated that recent extreme weather events, including scorching heat, wildfires, and floods, serve as a warning of future consequences. The report emphasizes the need to make any overshoot of the 1.5°C limit as small and short as possible, requiring an increase in ambition to address climate change. The primary drivers of climate change are human activities such as transportation, industrial manufacturing, and agriculture.

Climate Change Accelerates Wildfire Severity, Threatening North American Forests

Climate Change Accelerates Wildfire Severity, Threatening North American Forests

Wildfires across North America are becoming faster and more destructive due to climate change and other contributing factors, posing a significant long-term threat to forested ecosystems. A new paper published in the journal Science Advances, co-authored by Jonathan Coop, highlights that the increased speed of these fires directly correlates with more severe ecological impacts. Coop notes that these intense fires are setting the stage for long-term ecosystem transitions, potentially converting forests into non-forest conditions. A separate paper by Coop and his colleagues indicates that current high-severity fire regimes are incompatible with the persistence of dry-conifer forests, contrasting with the lower-intensity fires of past centuries. As climate change progresses, species are expected to shift their distributions, and wildfires are acting as a powerful accelerant to this process, particularly in regions like the Southwestern U.S., parts of the Sierras in California, and portions of the interior Wes...

UN Warns of Intensified Drought Risk in Sahel Region Due to Strong El Niño

UN Warns of Intensified Drought Risk in Sahel Region Due to Strong El Niño

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has issued a warning regarding a high probability of agricultural drought across major regions, including the Sahel, due to the intensifying El Niño phenomenon. This climate pattern, which typically occurs every two to seven years, involves rising sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, altering weather conditions globally. The current El Niño is strengthening rapidly, leading to a prospect of extreme heat, floods, drought, and disruptive weather. The FAO's analysis indicates that the Sahel region, along with Southern Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Central America's dry corridor and the Caribbean, faces a significant risk of drought in the coming months, with some areas having over a 50% chance. Jorge Alvar-Beltrán, FAO's natural resources officer, emphasized that the planet's current warmer state, coupled with widespread conflict and food insecurity, means these impacts will disproportionately affe...

August 2026 Confirmed as Earth's Hottest Month on Record

August 2026 Confirmed as Earth's Hottest Month on Record

August 2026 has been confirmed as the hottest month ever recorded on Earth, according to the European climate service Copernicus. The global average temperature reached 62.53°F (16.96°C), narrowly surpassing the previous record set in July 2023. This milestone is attributed to the combined effects of human-induced climate change and a strong El Niño event. The month also marked the hottest Northern Hemisphere summer on record, with global temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.65°C (nearly 3°F). Ocean temperatures also hit unprecedented highs, with August 22 setting a record for the hottest day in the world's seas. Scientists warn that these trends are consistent with long-term climate forecasts and are expected to continue unless significant action is taken to reduce fossil fuel emissions.

Amazon Rainforest Experiences Rapid Increase in Climate Extremes, New Region of Concern Identified

Amazon Rainforest Experiences Rapid Increase in Climate Extremes, New Region of Concern Identified

The Amazon rainforest is undergoing a rapid increase in climate extremes, with a new region in the central-northern Amazon identified as experiencing the greatest rates of increase in extreme temperature and vapor-pressure deficit (VPD). While the southern Amazon has been recognized as the fastest-warming region on average, this central-northern area, rich in forest cover, native savannas, and indigenous territories, is now showing alarming rates of change in extreme conditions. Over the past 43 years (1981-2023), the 95th percentile of mean temperatures in the Amazon increased by at least 0.30 °C per decade, totaling 1.29 °C. During the driest periods, the maximum temperature at the 95th percentile increased by 0.49 °C per decade, a 2.11 °C rise over 43 years, which is 2.34 times higher than the annual mean central trend. VPD also saw significant increases, with the 95th percentiles rising about one-third higher than the central trend. These changes are driving significant reductions in maximum cumulative...

UNEP Warns World Likely to Breach 1.5°C Global Warming Threshold Soon

UNEP Warns World Likely to Breach 1.5°C Global Warming Threshold Soon

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has issued a warning that the world is projected to exceed the 1.5°C global warming threshold within the next few years. This projection indicates a temporary breach, meaning temperatures will likely rise above this critical limit before potentially declining as greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The UNEP report outlines a pathway described as 'overshoot, peak, and decline,' where global temperatures temporarily surpass 1.5°C. This scenario emphasizes the urgent need for immediate and coordinated global actions to mitigate further warming. The report suggests that implementing clean air and climate change initiatives could significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, cut methane emissions by 60%, and decrease major air pollutants by approximately 70%. Such measures could prevent about 0.34°C of global warming by 2050 and a more substantial 1.4°C by 2100.

August 2026: Warmest Month on Record for the Contiguous U.S.

August 2026: Warmest Month on Record for the Contiguous U.S.

The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) has reported that August 2026 was the warmest month on record for the contiguous United States. The average temperature for the month was 76.89°F (24.94°C), which is 3.30°F (1.83°C) above the historical average of 73.59°F (23.10°C). This significant departure from the norm highlights ongoing climate variability and the potential for extreme weather patterns. The data was released on September 9, 2026, as part of the NCEI's Climate at a Glance National Mapping initiative.

Ireland Faces Significant Failure in Meeting Tree Planting Targets, Climate Watchdog Warns

Ireland Faces Significant Failure in Meeting Tree Planting Targets, Climate Watchdog Warns

A climate watchdog has issued a warning that Ireland is set to 'grossly fail' in achieving its annual target of planting 22 million trees, which translates to 8,000 hectares. A climate action plan established by the government in 2019 aimed for an 18% increase in forest cover by mid-century. However, the government missed its 2025 target by a substantial 68%, planting only 2,527 hectares, or approximately 6.9 million trees. The situation has worsened, with only 1,573 hectares planted in 2024, following 1,652 hectares in 2023 and 2,273 hectares in 2022. As of June this year, only 777 hectares (about 2.1 million trees) have been planted, a significant decrease compared to 1,513 hectares (about 4.2 million trees) by the same time last year. The Climate Change Advisory Council's latest annual review indicates that the commitment to 18% tree cover is becoming 'increasingly unrealistic' and highlights the forestry sector as a 'particular concern'. The council also noted that the agricultural sector failed to mee...