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.
Mexico is fighting a record surge of sargassum, the foul-smelling seaweed that has been swamping beaches along its Caribbean coast. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a $115 million cleanup plan that includes two large ships to capture the seaweed at sea, 30 miles of containment barriers installed by the navy, and hundreds of workers shoveling beaches. The brown algae, which smells like rotten eggs as it decomposes, has threatened tourism in Cancun, Tulum, and other resort towns. Officials now expect more than 119,000 tons to wash ashore this year, one of the worst seasons on record.
Global ocean temperatures are on track to break the all-time record this year, scientists warn. Sea surface readings are running above every previous year at the same point in the calendar, following two years of record ocean heat. Warmer seas fuel stronger hurricanes and typhoons, trigger coral bleaching and disrupt fisheries as fish move toward cooler waters. Marine heatwaves have already caused mass die-offs of seabirds and marine mammals in recent years. Scientists say short-term natural cycles can shift temperatures, but the long-term warming trend continues as oceans absorb most of the extra heat trapped by greenhouse gases. Researchers call for faster cuts in fossil fuel emissions and more investment in adapting coastal regions to rising ocean temperatures.
Officials in Belgium have called the wildfire burning through the High Fens National Park the country's worst ecological disaster. The blaze has scorched thousands of hectares of protected moorland and peat bogs near the German border, destroying habitat that will take decades to recover. Fire crews said the fire is partly contained and no longer spreading toward Germany, but evacuated residents have not yet been allowed home. The fire is the latest in a string of blazes across Europe this summer, as record heat dries out forests and moorlands. In neighboring France, the government has announced tax breaks for companies affected by wildfires. Climate researchers warn that Europe's fire season now starts earlier and lasts longer, and they call for more investment in prevention.
Global ocean temperatures are on track to break the all-time record this year, scientists warned this week, as marine heat waves spread across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. New data from climate monitoring agencies shows average sea surface temperatures running above the previous record set in 2023. Researchers said the warmth is already harming coral reefs, pushing fish populations toward cooler waters and adding energy to storms. The record heat comes even as the Pacific shifts away from El Nino conditions, which scientists said points to the growing role of greenhouse gas emissions in driving ocean warming. The findings add urgency to calls for stronger emissions cuts ahead of upcoming international climate talks.
Humanity exhausted Earth's entire ecological budget for 2026 on July 30, the Global Footprint Network announced, marking the highest level of global overshoot ever recorded. Humans are now using nature 73 percent faster than Earth can regenerate, the equivalent of consuming 1.73 planets. The date shifted from July 24 in 2025 due to updated data on ocean carbon absorption, not a real reduction in demand. After Earth Overshoot Day, humanity draws down resource stocks and accumulates carbon dioxide, deepening climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. The network says circular economy solutions could move the date back, and its #MoveTheDate campaign tracks projects working toward that goal. The calculation uses UN data and is an approximation.