Climate News November 2025

UK & EU Climate News

• The UK government have chosen Rolls-Royce to build the country's first small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Wylfa, North Wales, investing £2.5 billion in the project. The decision drew criticism from the US, whose ambassador stated that Britain should have chosen a US manufacturer, Westinghouse, instead. The Labour government sees SMRs as a way to provide low-carbon energy and create a new export industry, but the plan has strained relations with crucial partners. SMRs are a new technology that aims to make nuclear power cheaper and faster to deploy. Each Rolls-Royce reactor will produce 470 megawatts, with the company hoping to export the technology worldwide.

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to “double down” on net zero at COP30 in Brazil, acknowledging that global consensus on climate action has fractured since the Paris Agreement. He stated that the green transition represents an economic opportunity for the UK, offering jobs and lower bills, and that the UK will take the lead on climate change despite resistance from the US, China, and India, who did not attend the summit. Starmer highlighted new renewable energy investment plans in the UK, including £100 million for offshore wind in Belfast, but faced criticism for failing to commit public funds to Brazil's Tropical Forest Forever Fund. Environmental groups urged the UK to provide more financial assistance for global climate projects.
   
• Storm Claudia brought extensive heavy rainfall across England and Wales on 14 November. Some areas received a full month’s worth of rain in just six days, with South Wales and Monmouth hit hardest. A major incident was declared in Monmouth, due to flooding from the River Monnow - a tributary of the River Wye. Several severe flood warnings were issued and more than 50 properties were reported to be flooded. The storm’s unusual south-easterly airflow led to extreme rainfall in the Black Mountains, with Tafolog station recording its highest two-day total since 2007. Herefordshire saw its wettest six-day spell since the July 2007 floods, with rainfall exceeding 112% of the November average. Emergency services, including firefighters and the British Red Cross, worked tirelessly to support affected communities.

Global Climate News

• Australian households in New South Wales, south-east Queensland, and South Australia will get three hours of free electricity each day under the new Solar Sharer scheme, starting July next year. ABC News notes the program requires retailers to offer free power during midday hours when solar generation is highest, helping shift energy use away from peak times and lowering grid costs. Households with smart meters can run appliances for free, even if they don’t have solar panels. Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen says the scheme will share solar benefits with renters and non-owners, and help cut bills. Some energy retailers have raised concerns about the lack of consultation, but the government insists consumers come first.

• Brazil recorded its biggest annual fall in greenhouse gas emissions last year since 2009. The reduction in emissions is mainly due to the success of Lula's government in fighting deforestation, reversing the surge in forest clearance seen under his predecessor. Despite the positive news on emissions, the observatory warned that Brazil's economy caused concern about the government's commitment to its climate targets. It drew attention to Lula's contentious support for a vast offshore oil project near the mouth of the Amazon River.

• At least 90 people have died and 12 are missing after days of heavy rain triggered severe flooding and landslides across Vietnam in November. More than 186,000 homes and three million livestock were damaged, with hundreds of millions of pounds in losses. Dak Lak province was hit hardest, recording over 60 deaths. Power outages affected 258,000 people, and major roads and railways were blocked. Scientists warn that climate change is making extreme weather events like these more frequent and intense in Vietnam.

• Iran has begun cloud seeding operations to induce rain as the country faces its worst drought in 50 years. Water levels in Tehran’s Amirkabir dam have dropped to just 8% of capacity, and rainfall is down 89% compared to the long-term average. Officials warn that water rationing and even evacuation of the capital may be needed if conditions do not improve. The government is also planning penalties for excessive water use, while residents have gathered to pray for rain.

• Australia is set for its biggest overhaul of environment laws in decades, after the Labor government reached a deal with the Greens to pass major reforms. The changes will create the country’s first independent environment regulator, strengthen protections for native forests, tighten land clearing rules, and limit fast-tracking of coal and gas projects. Critics say the reforms fall short, as new fossil fuel projects will still be allowed if they report emissions and plan for net zero by 2050. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the laws will protect nature and speed up priority projects in housing, renewables, and critical minerals. The overhaul comes after an independent review found the old laws were no longer fit for purpose.

Greenhouse gas emissions head for a record in 2025

Global fossil fuel emissions are set to reach a new record in 2025, according to the Global Carbon Project. This year, the world is projected to emit about 38.1 billion tons of carbon dioxide from burning oil, gas, coal, and cement production. This is roughly 1.1 percent more than the world emitted in 2024. While emissions have flattened in China and Europe, they have risen in the United States and much of the rest of the world, making it harder to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of peaking and then sharply reducing emissions.

The report points to a significant shift in China, where emissions have plateaued after decades of strong growth. China's increased adoption of wind, solar, and electric vehicles has helped to reduce emissions, which are projected to climb by only 0.4 percent this year. However, scientists warn that it is too early to declare a peak, as future policy changes and greater coal use for chemical production could drive emissions higher. In the United States, emissions climbed by 1.9 percent, partly due to a cold winter and increased coal use. The report did find some evidence of progress on climate change. 35 countries had steady decreases in emissions over the last decade, up from 21 the previous decade.

COP30 Key Takeaways

COP30 was one of the most divisive climate summits in the history of these negotiations. Nearly 60,000 delegates gathered in Belém, Brazil, hoping to shift the focus from negotiation to real-world action. The summit unfolded during a year of record heat and climate disasters, with the US again withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and global tensions running high. While there was progress on climate finance, adaptation, and the just transition, the meeting exposed a widening gap between what science demands and what governments are willing to deliver, particularly on phasing out fossil fuels.

A major expectation was that COP30 would finally produce a global roadmap to phase out fossil fuels. Over eighty countries supported this idea, with strong backing from the hosts and many vulnerable nations. However, resistance from major oil producers and some emerging economies blocked any reference to fossil fuels in the final agreement. Despite intense negotiations, all language on a structured transition away from coal, oil, and gas was removed, leaving the world still unable to name the primary source of rising greenhouse gas emissions in an agreed UN text. To prevent a collapse of the talks, Brazil proposed voluntary roadmaps on fossil fuel transition and ending deforestation, to be developed outside the UN system. The absence of a fossil fuel roadmap overshadowed other achievements and highlighted the gulf between climate science and political reality.

There was progress on climate finance, with countries reaffirming a pathway to mobilise at least $300 billion annually for developing nations by 2035. Forest protection also received a boost of funds as the Tropical Forests Facility in Brazil has received more than $9 billion in support. While this represents a significant sum, it is still far below what rainforest countries have said is needed to halt deforestation and support the communities that depend on these ecosystems. Adaptation finance was also set to triple by 2035, though many vulnerable countries wanted faster action. The summit agreed to create a just transition mechanism to support workers and communities as economies shift away from fossil fuels.

The most difficult question raised in Belém was about the COP process itself. Several countries called for discussions on reforming COPs, including changes to voting rules, streamlined negotiation tracks, and greater reliance on coalitions of willing actors. These conversations were promising, but no major reforms were agreed. The need for change is clear, and Belém made that hard to ignore.

COP31 will be hosted by Türkiye, with Australia taking an unusual role in running the talks. This dual structure will add complexity, but might offer chances for new breakthroughs.

COP30 made progress in climate finance, adaptation, just transition, and forest protection. However, without meaningful commitments to phase out fossil fuels, the world will continue to face deeper climate instability.                                          

New 3p-a-mile charge for electric cars from 2028

The UK government has announced a new pay-per-mile tax for electric and hybrid vehicles beginning in April 2028. Electric car drivers will pay 3p per mile, while plug-in hybrid drivers would pay 1.5p per mile, with rates increasing annually in line with inflation. The charge will be collected using the existing Vehicle Excise Duty system, based on annual mileage checks, and is estimated to generate up to £1.9 billion per year by 2030-31. According to the government, this is roughly half of the fuel duty amount that petrol drivers pay.

Industry groups and drivers have criticised the new tax, arguing that it could reduce demand for electric vehicles just as the UK prepares to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030. The Office for Budget Responsibility expects the charge to lower electric car sales by approximately 440,000, however other policies may counteract some of this. Critics claim that the tax eliminates significant financial incentives for transitioning to electric vehicles, especially since EVs already cost more to purchase and depreciate quicker than petrol cars.

New Research

• A new article finds that converting municipal solid waste (MSW) into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could cut aviation emissions by up to 16%. SAF is a promising decarbonisation solution for aviation, but its adoption remains below 1% due to high cost.  As MSW grows and sustainable disposal remains a challenge, converting it into SAF offers an attractive solution to align the goals of zero-waste cities and carbon-neutral aviation, given its reliable availability, low emissions and low cost. MSW-based SAF reduces greenhouse gas intensity by 80-90% versus jet fuel. MSW-based SAF production could exceed 62.5 billion litres, offering a 16% reduction in aviation greenhouse gas emissions.

• A global satellite survey reveals “major uncertainties” in scientific understanding of methane emissions from waste disposal sites. Researchers surveyed 151 individual waste disposal sites across six continents using high-resolution satellite observations that can detect localised methane emissions above 100 kg h–1 and found no correlation between satellite-based estimates and modelled emission estimates at facility scale. They also observed that managed landfills show lower emission per area than dumping sites, and that detected emission sources often align with the open non-covered parts of the facility where waste is added. The results highlight the potential of high-resolution satellite observations to detect and monitor methane emissions from the waste sector globally.

• A new study finds that winter carbon dioxide outgassing from the Southern Ocean south of 50°S has been underestimated by up to 40% due to gaps in traditional observations. Using satellite light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and machine learning, researchers show that winter processes play a critical role in the region’s carbon cycle. The study proposes a new three-zone framework for understanding Southern Ocean carbon dynamics and highlights the need for year-round monitoring.

• A new study finds the most “climate-effective” applications for hydrogen include steel-making, biofuels and ammonia while “more favourable alternatives exist” for road transport, power generation and domestic heating. The study looks at approximately 2,000 (low carbon) hydrogen projects worldwide, encompassing operational and planned initiatives until 2043, quantifying their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation potential from a life cycle perspective. Planned projects could cut up to 1.1 gigatonnes of CO per year by 2043, but only if focused on the most climate-effective applications.
   
• New findings reveal that climate change will sharply reduce dissolved oxygen in rivers worldwide, leading to more frequent and severe hypoxia events. By 2100, rivers are projected to experience an average of 8.8 more hypoxia days per decade, threatening freshwater ecosystems and fish populations. The findings highlight a growing global risk to river health and biodiversity from warming and pollution.
   
• A new study reveals that climate change may increase the arsenic content of rice and exacerbate existing micronutrient deficiencies. Rising CO, ozone, and temperature increase arsenic mobility in paddy soils and rice, raising toxic arsenic levels in grains while reducing key nutrients. These changes could cut yields by up to 40% in affected areas and worsen health risks in Asia by 2050. Current findings highlight the urgent need for adaptive agronomic practices and the development of climate resilient rice cultivars with low grain arsenic accumulation traits.

• A new research article finds that the Nile basin could see a 63% increase in once-in-a-century high river flow rates under a scenario of moderate emissions. Using advanced hydrological modelling, researchers project that 100-year flood peaks could rise by up to 85% under high emissions, with such events occurring nearly every decade. The findings highlight urgent needs for coordinated water management, regional cooperation, and adaptive strategies to reduce flood risks and protect water security for millions.