Climate Change

Japan's government plans to temporarily lift restrictions on coal-fired power plants to address an energy crunch from the Middle East war. Officials presented the plan to a panel of experts, who approved it, the industry ministry said. The measure allows full operation of older, less efficient coal plants for a year starting in the new fiscal year from April.

March 26, 2026 Reported by AI

A new study published earlier this month in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems has uncovered a gap between advocacy and empirical evidence for scaling indigenous farming systems to counter climate change impacts on agriculture. Researchers led by Kamaljit Sangha at Charles Darwin University reviewed 49 articles on practices by Indigenous peoples and local communities, or IPLCs. The findings highlight benefits like soil protection and biodiversity support, but call for more data on productivity and economic value.

The Trump administration has opposed several international efforts to address climate change, including a proposed carbon tax on shipping emissions, a plastics production treaty, a UN resolution from Vanuatu, and IEA energy forecasts. These actions involved withdrawing from negotiations, issuing threats, and pressuring diplomatic partners. While some efforts faced delays, global renewable investments reached $2.3 trillion last year.

March 13, 2026 Reported by AI

The National Meteorological Service anticipates three to five heat waves in central Mexico from March to May 2026, with temperatures up to 4 degrees Celsius above average. The Megalopolis Environmental Commission estimates this could trigger up to 15 days of ozone contingency, imposing stricter vehicle restrictions in Mexico City and the State of Mexico.

King penguins on Possession Island are breeding earlier due to rising temperatures, leading to higher chick survival rates. While this has boosted chick numbers from 44 percent in 2000 to 62 percent in 2023, researchers warn that shifting food sources could threaten the population in the future. The changes highlight rapid environmental shifts in the Southern Ocean.

March 11, 2026 Reported by AI

New research indicates that rising ocean temperatures may benefit Nitrosopumilus maritimus, a microbe essential for marine nutrient cycles. This archaea adapts by using iron more efficiently in warmer, nutrient-poor conditions, potentially sustaining ocean productivity. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest these microbes could play a larger role in ocean chemistry amid climate change.