Climate News October 2025

UK & EU Climate News

• England has recorded its second worst harvest on record, driven by extreme weather linked to climate change. According to Defra's provisional figures, crop yields fell short of expert projections and five-year norms, with wheat, barley, oats, and oilseed rape all underperforming. The poor outcomes follow a record-breaking hot and dry spring and summer, with five regions still experiencing drought. This is the third major harvest failure in the previous five years. Analysts are concerned that climatic impacts are worsening food security and profitability for agriculture. Farmers and campaigners are asking for urgent investment in climate adaptation, resilient crop types, and sustainable agriculture. The government claims to be assisting farmers with new initiatives and resilience taskforces, but domestic long-term food supply remains an issue.
   
• Chinese energy firm Ming Yang plans to develop the UK’s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility at the Ardersier green freeport site in Scotland, investing £1.5 billion and creating up to 1,500 jobs by 2028. The first phase will cost £750 million to establish production, followed by growth into a full offshore wind industry hub. The corporation has been in talks with the UK and Scottish governments for two years and claims the project will help the UK achieve its sustainable energy ambitions. On the other hand, conservative MP Nick Timothy has raised concerns about national security and Chinese subsidies.

• At the Labour Party conference, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated that the government plans to permanently ban fracking in England through new legislation. Fracking is currently suspended but not prohibited and Labour intends to bridge that gap by starting a nationwide campaign against shale gas. The move is part of a larger climate strategy that includes expanding solar installations and creating more renewable energy jobs. Labour is positioning itself in direct opposition to Reform UK, which has pledged to revive fracking and abandon net zero targets. Ministers are also evaluating energy bill costs with the goal of shifting policy charges from electricity to gas to lower household bills.
   
• EU countries have struck a deal watering down a proposed 2040 target for reducing emissions and have set a new 2035 climate plan. The plan which is a requirement under the Paris Agreement sets a new goal to cut emissions between 66.25% and 72.5% below 1990 levels until 2035. That plan is not legally binding but sets the direction of EU climate policy for the coming five years. Ministers also adopted a legally-binding target for cutting emissions in the EU by 85% by 2040. The deal mandates that another 5% reduction be achieved by outsourcing pollution cuts abroad through the purchase of international carbon credits. In addition, governments would be allowed to use credits to outsource another 5 percentage points of their national emissions reduction goals. Ministers also backed a wide-ranging review clause that allows the EU to adjust its 2040 target in the future if climate policy proves to have negative impacts on the EU’s economy. The deal also foresees a one-year delay to the implementation of the EU's new carbon market for heating and car emissions, which is set to start in 2027. Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland did not support the 2040 deal, while Bulgaria and Belgium abstained. The rest of the EU27 countries backed it. Lawmakers in the European Parliament now have to agree on their own position on the 2040 climate target and negotiate with the Council of the EU before the target becomes law. 

Global Climate News

• In mid-October, rescue workers in Mexico searched for at least 65 people who went missing after heavy flooding swept through five states, killing 64 people. Floods caused by two tropical storms resulted in landslides and river overflows, destroying homes, roads, and vehicles. In Huauchinango, one of the worst-hit towns, many residents were displaced, with shelters housing thousands. President Claudia Sheinbaum offered support and visited devastated areas, pledging to help restore homes. Access to many regions was limited, with over 100 small communities cut off due to destroyed infrastructure and power outages.
   
• New Zealand pledged to reduce biogenic methane emissions by 14-24% from 2017 levels by 2050, a considerable decrease from the previous aim of 24-47%. The new range balances climate goals with protecting food production and follows advice from the methane science review. Critics, including Greenpeace, say the lower aim sets a dangerous precedent and shows a shift away from climate ambition. The policy change abandons proposals for taxes on methane emissions, in favour of industry partnerships and incentives. Climate experts warn the new approach only aims to prevent additional warming, not reduce methane’s impact. The target will be reviewed by the government in 2040, with farmers have welcomed the change.
   
• The Trump administration has cancelled the Esmeralda 7 solar project, which would have been North America's largest, citing issues over land use and energy reliability. The Nevada proposal called for seven solar plants that would cover 63,000 acres and generate 5,350 MW, enough to power nearly 2 million homes. Critics say the decision is part of a larger campaign to prevent sustainable energy development on public lands, with dozens of other solar projects currently put on hold. Conservation organisations praised the decision as there were concerns about hazards to wildlife and cultural sites.

Hurricane Melissa: One of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded

Hurricane Melissa struck the Caribbean as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, with winds reaching 185mph. The storm ranks among the top three most intense Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, tied with Hurricane Dorian and the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. Experts say Melissa’s rapid intensification was driven by unusually warm sea temperatures.  Melissa developed from a tropical wave that was initially monitored on the 16th of October. The wave originated in West Africa, travelled from the central Atlantic to the Windward Islands, and then headed westward into the Caribbean Sea, where it slowed and formed Tropical Storm Melissa on October 21.

More than 25 million people in the region have been affected. It tore through Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas, and Bermuda, leaving 67 confirmed dead and causing widespread destruction. Jamaica's prime minister described it as the "disaster of the century," with western Jamaica sustaining the worst damage. Over 70% of the country lost electricity, thousands remain in shelters, and the damage is estimated to be $7.7 billion in Jamaica alone. Cuba and Haiti also experienced widespread evacuations, power outages, and significant agricultural losses. The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility will pay Jamaica $70.8 million, its largest payout in history. Damage assessments are still underway, with many areas across Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Bahamas remaining inaccessible due to flooding, debris, and collapsed infrastructure.

International relief has arrived from countries including the US, UK, Canada, and UN agencies. Food, medical kits, sanitary supplies, and housing assistance are all part of the relief effort. The United Nations has set aside millions of dollars in emergency funds, and thousands of kits and food packs have already been issued. The Jamaican government says restoring electricity and stabilising hospitals are top priorities. Officials warn that the death toll might grow as rescue crews reach isolated locations.

Global renewable energy generation surpasses coal for first time

Global renewable energy generation has surpassed coal for the first time, driven by record solar expansion and steady wind growth. In the first half of 2025, solar power rose by nearly a third compared to 2024, meeting 83% of the increase in global electricity demand. Wind power increased by 7%, helping renewables surpass fossil fuels. China and India led the way, with China building more renewable capacity than the rest of the world combined, and India substantially decreasing fossil fuel consumption. In contrast, fossil fuel consumption increased in the United States and the European Union as renewable growth slowed, and wind and hydro output decreased due to weather conditions.

The International Energy Agency predicts that global renewable capacity will more than double by 2030, with solar accounting for the majority of new installations. Emerging markets such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are also quickly expanding solar capacity. Pakistan doubled its solar imports in 2024, however, this growth brings new challenges. In Afghanistan, widespread use of solar-powered water pumps is depleting groundwater reserves and experts warn that some regions could run dry within a decade. Despite setbacks in the United States and Europe, the worldwide trend indicates that sustainable energy is currently developing rapidly enough to fulfil rising electricity demand.

The UK Government’s Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan

The UK government has released its latest "Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan" to achieve its legally binding climate goals. The strategy details how the UK plans to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035, in line with its sixth carbon budget. This is the third version of the UK's sixth carbon budget delivery plan, following two High Court rulings that deemed previous versions unlawful. The court found that earlier plans lacked transparency, failed to clarify how individual policies would reduce emissions and did not allow for sufficient scrutiny by Parliament or the public. The most recent plan responds to legal demands for evidence-based policy and more transparency. It encompasses policies in energy, transportation, agriculture, and industry, with a major emphasis on increasing renewables, electrifying transportation, and improving household energy efficiency. The government claims the plan would achieve 100% of the required emissions reductions while also supporting economic growth.

Policies include a national recruitment push for 400,000 renewable energy job opportunities, 5 million home improvements, and incentives for heat pumps and electric vehicles. The strategy does not prohibit gas boilers but instead encourages greener technologies through market incentives. The plan makes little mention of public transport, focussing on the adoption of electric vehicles rather than the development of new railways. According to climate experts, road use must be reduced to achieve net zero emissions, and motorist numbers are increasing year after year. Critics also argue that the plan lacks ambition in aviation and fails to address high agricultural emissions. Despite political pressure from Reform UK and some Conservatives to abandon net zero, Labour has increased its commitment to climate action.

Research

• A new research article finds that reallocating land in Great Britain may significantly increase carbon sequestration and biodiversity without compromising food production. The analysis concludes that existing land use is inefficient, with great room for improvement. Converting pasture to natural broadleaved woods, particularly in places with low arable yields, gives the greatest benefits for climate and wildlife. Only a few instances improve all three aims simultaneously, thus specific approaches are required. Protecting high-yield arable land and focussing woodland creation on low-yield grassland reduces trade-offs. Integrating land use policy with food system reform and sustainable consumption will help to achieve climate and biodiversity aims.
   
• A new study analysing 1,584 climate policies across EU member states finds that most efforts focus on improving efficiency, which accounts for 54% of measures. Only 14% of initiatives seek to transition to low-carbon alternatives, with only 2% aiming to reduce energy or service demand. The study found that economic and regulatory measures are the most widely used, whereas demand-side strategies are not as common. The authors argue that broadening the breadth of mitigation options, particularly increasing demand reduction and low-carbon shifts, is critical for the EU to reach its climate targets.
   
• A study reveals that mountain glaciers have been partly insulated from atmospheric warming by local cooling effects, but this protection is temporary. The study shows that glacier boundary layers currently warm less than the surrounding air, with the greatest cooling effect expected in the 2020s and 2030s. As glaciers retreat and fragment, this cooling effect fades, and glacier air temperatures become more closely related to ambient warming. By mid-century, glaciers will lose their ability to buffer themselves, making them more vulnerable to rising temperatures. This shift will increase glacier melt and impact water resources and hazards for billions of people who depend on mountain water supplies
   
• A new research article finds that world Heritage sites are facing increasing climate risks, but there is a persistent gap between climate awareness and local action. An analysis of 1,868 documents from 535 sites shows most attention goes to identifying vulnerabilities, while adaptation and resilience measures are less discussed. Local management and planning actions often focus on short-term risks, rarely addressing long-term resilience. Policy frameworks have the strongest positive impact on climate awareness, but actual implementation lags behind. Regional and language differences affect climate awareness, and international norms shape how sites express climate concerns more than national politics or economics. Cross-sector and cross-regional collaboration remains limited, highlighting the need for better integration of climate adaptation into heritage conservation.
   
• A new study finds that Australian tropical forests have shifted from being a net carbon sink to a net carbon source since around 2000. Long-term statistics reveal that rising temperatures and climate extremes have increased tree death and biomass losses, while gains from tree growth have lagged behind. Cyclones also increase mortality and inhibit growth, although the primary culprit is climate change, not storms alone. This trend is faster than in the Amazon and Africa, and it calls into question Earth System Models that anticipate long-term carbon sink capability. If comparable trends emerge in other tropical forests, global carbon budgets and climate targets will be more difficult to achieve.
   
• New findings reveal that the carbon footprint of meat consumed in American cities is determined by where and how livestock are raised. The study examines greenhouse gas emissions from beef, poultry, and pork in 3,531 cities, estimating a total "carbon hoofprint" of 329 million tonnes CO2e, comparable to emissions from all US household fossil fuel usage. Per capita hoofprints vary greatly between cities due to changes in sourcing and production processes, not just the amount of meat consumed. Beef produces the highest emissions, but switching to chicken or pig and reducing food waste could lower city-level emissions by up to half. Cities can reduce their environmental effect by targeting both consumption and production through policies such as promoting plant-based diets, reducing waste, and supporting sustainable agriculture.