Wildfires burning across Indonesia since July have blanketed West Kalimantan province on Borneo in thick smoke and ash, forcing schools to close and sending thousands of people to clinics with breathing problems. Residents in Kubu Raya say they have never seen a fire season this bad in 15 years. Health workers report a surge in bronchitis and other respiratory conditions, with pregnant women and children among the most vulnerable. The city of Pontianak is also facing a clean water crisis, with seawater being used for daily needs. Fire hot spots have nearly doubled overnight in some areas, and Indonesian authorities have charged 72 people in connection with the fires. The blazes have also threatened an orangutan rehabilitation center housing more than 60 critically endangered Bornean orangutans.
The world's oceans are warmer than ever recorded, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Daily global sea surface temperature has reached its highest level since records began, as a strong El Niño adds to long-term warming. The agency said the ocean is under unprecedented strain. Warmer oceans fuel stronger storms, bleach coral reefs, and speed up sea level rise. Marine heat waves have hit the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Mediterranean this year. Scientists say the combination of greenhouse gas emissions and El Niño is pushing the climate system into new territory. The record comes weeks after several countries reported their hottest months on land. Researchers warn that ocean heat is a warning signal for the whole planet, because the sea absorbs most of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service says the daily global sea surface temperature has reached its highest level since records began. El Nino conditions in the Pacific helped push ocean heat to new extremes. Scientists warn that warmer oceans fuel stronger storms, faster sea level rise and damage to coral reefs.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the daily global sea surface temperature has reached its highest level since records began. The announcement adds to growing evidence that the ocean is under unprecedented strain. Warmer seas fuel stronger storms, disrupt marine life, and speed up ice melt. Scientists said El Niño conditions helped supercharge the warming on top of the long-term trend driven by greenhouse gas emissions. Coral reefs, fish stocks, and coastal communities all face knock-on effects. Researchers said the record is another sign that the planet's heat is building up faster than expected. They called for faster cuts in emissions to slow the pace of ocean warming.
A Paris court ordered TotalEnergies to disclose the climate risks linked to the emissions of its products, the first ruling of its kind against a major French company. The energy giant must publish detailed information about scope 3 emissions, the largest share of an oil company's carbon footprint, and explain how they affect its business model and strategy. The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of cities and environmental groups. TotalEnergies said it will review the decision and may appeal. Legal experts say the ruling could set a precedent for other fossil fuel companies in Europe.
At least 145 gray whale carcasses have washed up on North American Pacific beaches so far in 2026, including 13 in Alaska, and experts warn the real death toll is higher because most dead whales sink at sea. NOAA Fisheries has documented 56 strandings in the United States, with the total across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada reaching 123 by late spring. Malnutrition is the most common finding among examined whales, pointing to food shortages in Arctic waters disrupted by warming. Researchers have declared an unusual mortality event. If the trend continues, 2026 could rank among the deadliest years for whales on the West Coast, second only to 2019, when 122 whales were reported dead in U.S. waters.
At least 145 gray whale carcasses have washed up on beaches from California to Alaska so far in 2026, a toll researchers say is only a fraction of the real death count. The die-off has been declared a catastrophic mortality event linked to warming oceans and shrinking food supplies. Malnutrition is the most common finding among examined whales, with some also showing injuries from vessel strikes. Alaska has recorded 13 strandings, and Washington state has seen a steady series of deaths since March. Last year, 179 gray whales were found dead along the coast. NOAA and stranding networks are tracking the losses.
A Paris court has ordered TotalEnergies to disclose the climate risks linked to emissions from its products. Environmental groups sued the French energy giant, arguing its reporting was incomplete. The court said the company must report on how its products contribute to climate change and how those risks affect its business. TotalEnergies says it will review the decision.
Utah generated more electricity from solar power than from any other source for the first time, according to new grid data. The milestone marks a turning point for a state long associated with coal and oil. Solar now leads the state's power mix, helped by falling costs and new large-scale projects. The shift reflects a broader trend across the American West, where solar and wind are growing quickly. Utah still relies on fossil fuels for part of its power, and grid planners are working to manage the change. Analysts say the trend is likely to continue as more projects come online.
The US Bureau of Reclamation has proposed forcing Arizona, California and Nevada to cut their Colorado River water use by up to 3 million acre-feet a year through 2036, in dry years. The amount is roughly equal to what Arizona and Nevada receive combined and enough to serve more than 25 million people for a year. The proposal, released Friday, spares the four Upper Basin states from mandatory cuts for now. Actual reductions would be set every two years based on conditions in the basin. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the plan aims to keep the river system reliable for the millions who depend on it. Arizona called the proposal flawed, Nevada called it devastating, and California called it a milestone but not the finish line.