UK & EU Climate News

• On 13th of December 2024, the UK government introduced a Clean Power Action Plan outlining steps for Great Britain to achieve a decarbonised power system, targeting 95% low-carbon electricity by 2030. The strategy includes reforms set for 2025, aimed at expanding renewable energy, revising the planning system, enhancing grid flexibility, and supporting energy storage projects. Among the key changes is the reclassification of large onshore wind projects in England, with those exceeding 100 megawatts (MW) moving under the nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) regime, granting the government, rather than local councils, authority over approvals. The plan also prioritises fast-tracking renewable energy projects for earlier grid connection and addressing the backlog of thousands of projects awaiting approval.

• The UK’s electricity was the cleanest ever in 2024, new Carbon Brief analysis shows, with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per unit falling by more than two-thirds in a decade. Wind and solar generation both hit all-time highs, with low-carbon power sources reaching a record 58% of generation in 2024. Simon Evans, the co-author of the analysis, has stated that 2025 is likely to be the first year that wind power overtakes gas generation. However, critics have said that despite the success of the UK’s electricity transition, the grid still falls short of the government’s target of achieving at least 95% clean power by 2030.

• According to the Environment Agency’s latest climate projections, flood risk will affect one in four English properties by mid-century. 6.3 million homes already face flood risk in England, with worsening climate risks set to push this to 8 million by 2050. The Guardian reports that flood protection plans have been cut by 40% in recent years, with a quarter of major projects abandoned.

• EU member states in the European Council announced on the 16th of December that they have adopted a series of new rules aimed at significantly reducing packaging waste in the EU, including a goal requiring all packaging placed on the market to be recyclable by 2030. The regulation introduces requirements for EU member states to reduce the amount of plastic packaging waste, and overall packaging reduction targets of 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040. The rules also ban certain types of single-use plastic packaging by 2030, including packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables, food and beverages filled and consumed in hotels, bars and restaurants, and small, single-use cosmetic and toiletry products, among others. Additional rules are introduced around the packaging used for takeaway food.

Global Climate News

• The world’s coal use is expected to reach a new high of 8.7bn tonnes this year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). There has been record production and trade of coal and power generation from coal since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine inflated global gas market prices. One of the largest consumers is China, which consumes 30% more coal than the rest of the world put together. The latest forecast from the IEA sees demand for coal rising to nearly 8.9bn tonnes by 2027, about 1% higher than 2024 levels. That overwrites last year’s estimate that coal demand would begin a steady decline this decade. The reality could surpass the current estimate, as demand has consistently eclipsed the IEA’s predictions in recent years.

• Health officials have raised concerns over a sharp rise in dengue fever deaths across the Caribbean and the Americas, driven by warmer temperatures linked to climate change, which have expanded the range of virus-carrying mosquitoes. The region has reported over 7,700 deaths so far in 2024, a dramatic increase from 2,467 deaths in 2023—marking a surge of more than 200%. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has described the outbreak as "the largest dengue epidemic ever recorded" in the Americas, with PAHO director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa reporting over 12.6 million cases this year, triple the number recorded in 2023.

• Former President Joe Biden has announced a permanent ban on new oil and gas drilling across more than 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters. The prohibition covers the entire Atlantic coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific waters off California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as part of the Bering Sea near Alaska. This protected area amounts to approximately 20% of the nearly 3.2 billion acres of U.S.-controlled seabed. Biden’s decision is based on the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, which grants the federal government authority over offshore resource management. Eight presidents, including Donald Trump, have previously restricted offshore drilling under the Act. Trump, who had blocked drilling off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina's coasts, recently claimed he could overturn Biden’s ban but may face legal hurdles requiring congressional approval.

President Trump pulls USA out of the Paris Agreement

Donald Trump has withdrawn the world’s largest economy out of the Paris Agreement for the second time. The United States is poised to join Iran, Yemen, and North Korea outside the 2015 agreement aimed at limiting global temperature rise to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, as defined by the average temperature in the half-century leading up to 1900. With global temperatures already nearing the aspirational limit of 1.5°C, following a record high last year, the target is at risk of being exceeded.

On his inauguration day, Trump signed an executive order calling for the US to withdraw from environmental agreements that allocate American taxpayer dollars to countries deemed undeserving of financial assistance. The order also seeks to end funding for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which oversees the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the annual COP summits.

Trump dealt with fossil fuels in a separate executive order on “unleashing” America’s enormous oil and gas reserves, which he described during his inaugural speech as “liquid gold” that he would use to bring energy prices down at home and export “all over the world”. In yet another, he banned issuing of new permits for onshore and offshore wind farms.

Catastrophic LA Wildfires Leave 25 Dead and Thousands Displaced as Strong Winds Fuel Destruction

Los Angeles has been grappling with a series of devastating wildfires that have resulted in at least 25 fatalities, the destruction or damage of over 12,000 structures, and the evacuation of more than 200,000 residents. The major fires were:

• Palisades Fire: Originating in Pacific Palisades, this blaze has consumed approximately 24,000 acres, leading to significant property loss and mandatory evacuations.
• Eaton Fire: Centred in the Altadena and Pasadena regions, it has scorched around 14,000 acres, causing extensive damage and displacing thousands.
• Hurst Fire: Located north of San Fernando, this fire has burned through 800 acres.

The severity of these wildfires is attributed to several factors:

• Santa Ana Winds: These hurricane-force winds, reaching up to 100 mph, have intensified the fires' spread and hindered containment efforts.
• Drought Conditions: Prolonged dry spells have left vegetation parched and highly flammable, creating ideal conditions for wildfires.
• Climate Change: Experts suggest that climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events, contributing to the current crisis.

The financial toll is staggering, with estimates suggesting damages could reach up to $275 billion, potentially surpassing the costs of previous natural disasters in the region.

Over 8,500 firefighters have been battling the blazes, employing both ground and aerial strategies at the time of writing. However, containment efforts have been challenged by the relentless winds and dry conditions. Evacuation orders were issued for approximately 88,000 residents, with an additional 84,000 under evacuation warnings.

The wildfires have also led to significant air quality deterioration, posing health risks to the broader Southern California population. Authorities have issued advisories, urging residents to limit outdoor activities and use masks to mitigate exposure to harmful particulates.

Cyclone Chido Devastates Mayotte

Cyclone Chido, described as the most powerful storm to hit Mayotte in nearly a century, caused catastrophic damage to the French Indian Ocean archipelago when it hit on the 14th of December. The Category 4 storm, with winds exceeding 220 kph (136 mph), resulted in widespread destruction, flattening large parts of the capital, Mamoudzou, and damaging the island’s only airport, significantly hindering rescue efforts. Official death toll figures remain unclear, but local authorities fear that several hundred, possibly even thousands, may have perished, particularly in vulnerable slum areas. Over 35,000 homes were reported destroyed, leaving tens of thousands without shelter, electricity, or access to clean water.

The cyclone also hit Mozambique and Malawi. French officials have faced mounting criticism for the slow pace of aid distribution, with local residents expressing frustration and feeling "completely abandoned." Crowds in Mayotte even heckled French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit, highlighting public anger over the delayed response. Macron declared a national day of mourning and announced a special "exceptional natural disaster" law, allowing for faster financial aid and reconstruction efforts. However, only 10% of properties in Mayotte are covered by insurance, further complicating the recovery process.

Climate change has been widely cited as a key factor in Cyclone Chido's severity. Studies show that rising ocean temperatures significantly intensified the storm’s strength, pushing it from a Category 3 to a Category 4 cyclone. Hot sea temperatures, amplified by human-driven climate change, made such a powerful storm over 50 times more likely, while maximum wind speeds were elevated by 11 kph.

In response to the disaster, France has deployed military ships and aircraft to provide humanitarian aid, yet many communities remain cut off from essential supplies. Health workers are concerned about the rising risk of disease due to water shortages and damaged infrastructure. Tensions have also surfaced between Mayotte’s residents and its large migrant population, with reports that some migrants avoided shelters out of fear of deportation.

2024: The Hottest Year on Record

In his annual New Year message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the world has experienced a “decade of deadly heat,” with the 10 hottest years on record, including 2024, occurring within the past decade. Guterres urged immediate action, stating: “We must exit this road to ruin and have no time to lose. In 2025, countries must take bold steps to cut emissions and accelerate the shift to renewable energy. It is both essential and achievable.”

Separately, Australia recorded its second-hottest year on record in 2024, with temperatures averaging 1.46C above the long-term norm (based on 1961-90 data), second only to 2019, when temperatures were 1.51C above average.

In related findings, climate change contributed to 41 additional days of “dangerous heat” globally in 2024. An analysis by World Weather Attribution and Climate Central also concluded that climate change worsened much of the year’s extreme weather events.

Notably, 2024 was not only the hottest year on record but also the first to surpass the critical 1.5C warming threshold, highlighting a significant failure by countries to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rise.

UN Climate Summits

The COP16 UN summit on desertification held in Riyadh during the first two weeks in December ended without an agreement. The summit attempted to create strong global mandates to legally bind and require nations to fund early warning systems and build resilient infrastructure in poorer countries, particularly Africa. However, tensions reportedly rose over Saudi refusal to include any reference to climate in the agreement. The talks concluded with the decision to return to the subject at the next summit.

This summit on desertification came shortly before major criticism by experts of the ability of UN negotiations to tackle the world’s environmental issues. Disappointing results were recorded at UN climate, biodiversity, land and plastics talks in 2024. Many experts have labelled the UN summits as a broken system, whilst others say that it is the only way for developing countries to be able to negotiate alongside rich, developed nations.

New Research

• A new study reveals that greenhouse gas emissions from tourism expanded at twice the pace of the global economy between 2000 and 2019, with significant disparities between countries. In 2019, the top 20 emitting nations were responsible for 75% of the sector’s emissions. Per capita tourism emissions in high-income countries exceeded those of low-income nations by over two orders of magnitude. Tourism accounted for 8.8% of global emissions that year, driven by rising demand and limited progress in technological efficiency, with annual emissions growth averaging 3.5% over the previous decade.

• A recent paper argues that the EU's current climate targets—cutting emissions by 55% by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050—fall short of meeting its fair share of the global carbon budget for limiting warming to 2°C, let alone 1.5°C. The authors, who evaluated the EU's consumption-based emissions from 1850 to 2050, emphasized the challenge this shortfall presents for climate justice and equitable global atmospheric resource sharing.

• A study warns of an increased risk to offshore wind turbines in the U.S. due to more intense tropical cyclones driven by climate change. Using climate models and turbine fragility assessments, researchers project that turbine failures from yielding and buckling could rise by 37% and 13%, respectively, during such storms. A tropical cyclone intense enough to cause these damages, previously considered a 20-year event, could occur every 12.7 years on average in the future.

• The latest report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) warns that governments are neglecting the interconnectedness of biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate change. This issue stems partly from siloed government operations where departments fail to collaborate. The report estimates that up to $25 trillion is lost annually as sectors like agriculture, energy, and fishing overlook how their practices contribute to global crises. A coordinated approach could be critical to addressing the climate emergency.

• A study reveals that record-low Antarctic sea ice in 2023 intensified ocean heat loss and storm activity in regions previously shielded by ice. By analysing satellite data, researchers found that reduced sea ice significantly altered air-sea interactions in the Southern Ocean. The authors warn that consecutive years of low sea ice could amplify these impacts, potentially causing far-reaching climate changes across the tropics and Northern Hemisphere.

• New research indicates that nearly a quarter of freshwater animal species, such as fish, shrimp, and crabs, are at risk of extinction. Examining 23,496 species, the study found 24% threatened with extinction despite freshwater ecosystems making up only 1% of the planet's surface yet supporting 10% of known species. These critical ecosystems, which help mitigate flooding, recycle nutrients, and combat climate change, face threats from pollution, dam construction, and agricultural expansion.

• According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), frequent wildfires in the Arctic tundra have shifted the region from being a long-term carbon sink to a net emitter of greenhouse gases. The tundra, which had sequestered carbon for millennia, has become a carbon source over the past two decades due to fossil fuel-driven global warming. The report also highlights that the Arctic experienced above-average warming for the 11th consecutive year, with the Northwest Passage recording its lowest sea ice extent and parts of Arctic Canada seeing their shortest snow season on record.

• Research commissioned by Friends of the Earth reveals that the rapid expansion of the cloud storage industry in Ireland, led by companies such as Amazon and Meta, is jeopardizing the country’s legally binding climate goals. Since 2015, electricity demand from data centres has surged by 22.6%, compared to just 0.4% growth in other industrial sectors. Under high-demand projections, data centre energy consumption could surpass that of Ireland's entire industrial sector by 2030, driven by the rising needs of the internet and AI technologies.