In May 2025, measurements at Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory revealed a record-high average atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration of 430.2 ppm, a 3.5 ppm increase from the previous year. This surpasses the 400 ppm threshold, previously considered unimaginable, and signifies the highest level in millions of years, attributed to human fossil fuel consumption. The data, collected by Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NOAA, continues a long-term record illustrating the escalating impact of greenhouse gases on the planet’s climate and ecosystems. These measurements, integrated into the Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network, provide crucial information for policymakers addressing climate change.
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Kabul faces an impending water crisis, with aquifers depleted by up to 30 meters in a decade due to rapid urbanization and climate change. Nearly half of the city’s boreholes have dried up, and current extraction rates far exceed natural replenishment, potentially leading to a complete water shortage by 2030. This crisis is exacerbated by water contamination and lack of governance, forcing residents to spend a significant portion of their income on increasingly expensive water. International aid shortfalls and political complexities hinder the implementation of long-term solutions, despite the urgent need for action.
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Unprecedented marine heatwaves, beginning in August 2024, have caused widespread coral bleaching and death across Western Australia’s reefs, from Ningaloo to the Rowley Shoals. Scientists report this as the worst bleaching event in the state’s history, with vast areas of once-vibrant coral now dead and covered in algae. While some coral may recover, the scale of mortality is devastating, impacting crucial ecosystems and fisheries. This event highlights the accelerating effects of climate change on marine environments, with temperatures reaching unprecedented levels across multiple reef systems simultaneously.
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A proposed rollback of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, requiring large polluters to publicly report emissions, threatens to significantly increase emissions and hinder climate change mitigation efforts. The program’s data, crucial for tracking emissions reductions (over 75% of the overall U.S. decline since 2010), is now at risk, coinciding with EPA cuts to air quality monitoring. This lack of accountability and data, particularly in already underserved communities, makes it harder to address the health impacts of air pollution. Simultaneous funding cuts for air monitoring programs further exacerbate this issue, highlighting the urgent need for continued emission reporting and robust air quality monitoring nationwide.
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A decades-long study in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste conservation area reveals a dramatic decline in insect populations, particularly moths, as evidenced by significantly reduced numbers in light trap surveys conducted over the same period and location. This alarming trend, also observed globally, affects even protected areas, suggesting a “new era” of ecological collapse driven by factors beyond localized human impact. Scientists attribute these declines, in part, to climate change disrupting the finely tuned synchronicity of the forest ecosystem, impacting insect life cycles and causing widespread desynchronization among species. The resulting loss of insects has cascading effects throughout the food web, impacting insectivorous birds and other animals, and highlighting climate change as an increasingly dominant force in biodiversity loss.
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Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, erupted on Monday, producing a significant plume of ash, gas, and rock from a pyroclastic flow originating from the south-east crater’s collapse. While the eruption initially involved a lava fountain and a substantial ash cloud reaching 6.5 kilometers, authorities reported no immediate danger to the public. Although a red alert was issued for aviation, Catania airport remained open, and officials continue to monitor the situation. Tourists are advised to avoid the area.
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Devastating wildfires across Canada have led to over 21,000 evacuations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, prompting both provinces to declare states of emergency. The Canadian military is assisting with evacuations and firefighting efforts, as the situation is described as unprecedentedly severe. With no rain predicted and a dry summer expected, conditions are expected to worsen, potentially impacting air quality in neighboring US states. The increased frequency and intensity of these fires are linked to climate change, highlighting the growing threat to both human populations and natural resources.
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A joint forecast from the World Meteorological Organization and the U.K. Meteorological Office predicts a high likelihood (80%) of another record-breaking global temperature within the next five years, exceeding the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. There’s even a chance, albeit small, of exceeding the 2°C warming limit before the end of the decade. This increased warming translates to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires, and stronger hurricanes, resulting in significant risks to human health and life. The forecasts are based on multiple climate models and indicate a continuing trend of escalating global temperatures.
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The Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which aids 6.2 million Americans with heating and cooling costs, faces potential elimination. Despite Congress allocating $4.1 billion this fiscal year, the Trump administration dismissed the program’s staff, leaving $378 million undistributed. This jeopardizes vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, who face increased health risks from extreme temperatures due to unaffordable energy costs. Eliminating LIHEAP would exacerbate this problem, potentially leading to increased heat-related deaths and hospitalizations.
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India’s monsoon rains, a lifeline for the nation’s agriculture and economy, arrived eight days early this year—the earliest arrival in sixteen years. This unprecedented timing has sparked both excitement and concern, highlighting the increasing unpredictability of global weather patterns and the challenges posed by climate change.
The early arrival, while initially welcomed, raises questions about the long-term implications for India’s agricultural sector. Many summer crops don’t require as much water as they’ll now receive, risking potential damage or even crop failure from over-saturation. This early deluge could lead to a cascade of negative consequences, affecting not only farmers’ yields but also impacting the overall economy and potentially global food supplies.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood