Global Scans · Climate · Weekly Summary

• [New] The Australian Marine Conservation Society fears the mainland arrival of H5 bird flu could pose a real extinction risk for the endangered Australian sea lion, with only 12,000 remaining along the coasts of South Australia and WA. The Guardian
• [New] Fertilizer firms could be among the biggest beneficiaries of El Nino if the weather pattern tightens global crop supplies, supporting demand for key nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. financialpost
• [New] Air pollution is responsible for approximately 6.7 million premature deaths annually, making it one of the leading environmental risk factors for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. MarkNtel Advisors
• [New] NASA and its European partners are tracking a major buildup of warm water in the Pacific Ocean that could signal the arrival of El Nino later in 2026. ScienceDaily
• [New] The environmental organization Ecologistas en Accion is challenging the European Commission's decision to grant strategic project status to all six Spanish mines, arguing that it failed to properly consider risks to water resources, biodiversity and protected areas. The Guardian
• [New] The European Commission plans to rewrite the EU's flagship water protection law to speed up the development of critical minerals mines, despite many being located in drying and water-stressed regions, analysis has found. The Guardian
• [New] Sensitive data such as ocean current dynamics, water temperature characteristics, temperature distribution, and seabed topography, if stolen by foreign intelligence agencies, will seriously endanger China's national security, military security, and economic security. Gizmodo
• [New] More than half of France's population is under a severe weather warning as large swathes of western Europe endure the second extreme heat event of the year, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 C (104 F). The Guardian
• [New] The approximately 500 TWh of energy and 560 billion liters of water consumed by data centers in 2025 is expected to double by 2030. Travers Smith
• [New] With hurricane season approaching and the National Weather Service's announcement this month that El Nino conditions are likely to strengthen in 2027, withdrawing the ocean sensors had worried observers. Scientific American
• [New] Changing rainfall patterns associated with El Nino are expected to bring drought to some regions and severe flooding to others, threatening harvests, livestock, water supplies and food production across Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean. UN News
• [New] A potentially strong El Nino weather pattern expected to intensify through late 2026 and into 2027 could trigger another wave of climate-related disruption. UN News
• [New] Energy used to power artificial intelligence could jump to 3% of global electricity demand by 2030, guzzling as much water as the 1.3 billion people in sub-Saharan Africa consume in one year to meet their domestic water needs. Live Science
• [New] NOAA has tracked a large marine heatwave for a year now, and last week announced that a separate strong El Nino has been building and is expected to peak in the coming winter of 2026-2027. / USA SeafoodNews
• [New] The whole U.S. will be impacted by El Nino, though specific weather events differ by region. Prism
• [New] Global demand for animal-based foods is projected to increase by nearly 70% by 2050 due to population growth and rising incomes, placing immense pressure on land and water resources. Market Data Forecast
• [New] There were developing signs that an El Nino weather system could be developing over the tropical Pacific Ocean, which pushes Australia's east and south towards drier and hotter conditions in winter and spring. The Guardian
• [New] The last ice area is projected to be the last place on Earth to retain year-round sea ice by 2040. The Conversation
• [New] A key ice shelf is about to disintegrate from Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier - nicknamed the Doomsday Glacier because its collapse could raise sea levels by 2.1 feet in the coming centuries, flooding coastal communities worldwide. Live Science
• [New] A colossal chunk of sea ice roughly the size of Texas is missing from the west coast of Antarctica, and scientists fear it might never form again. Live Science
• [New] Several proactive pre-disaster mitigation initiatives have been cut, including the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and standard Flood Mitigation Assistance grants, leaving many communities at greater baseline risk. / USA Magazine
• [New] Antarctica's west coast is missing an area of winter sea ice the size of France, sparking concerns for threatened penguins other marine life and global sea levels. The Guardian
• [New] Amazon has set a target of becoming water positive by 2030, meaning it would return more water to communities than it consumes. Crypto Briefing

Last updated: 22 June 2026