Our Scans · (LF.13) Climate Action · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

• [New] Climate scientists predict 2026's super El Nino, a label assigned when sea surface temperatures climb by at least 2 C, will be the strongest of the century. The Guardian
• [New] The German government has committed to phasing out coal-fired power by no later than 2038 - a timeline that disappointed many climate groups, who say it's too slow. Positive News
• [New] Climate change is driving more severe weather and increasing flood risks in urban areas, where a majority of people live worldwide, making an understanding of how storm type and city infrastructure intersect even more relevant. Scientific American
• [New] The sun-synchronous segment is projected to register the fastest growth at a CAGR of 19.5% during 2026-2034, supported by increasing deployment of Earth observation satellites and expanding climate monitoring programs. Straits Research
• [New] Parts of Central America and southern Africa are expected to bear the brunt of climate extremes, although significant impacts are also forecast in eastern Africa and South and Southeast Asia. UN News
• [New] By 2050, more than one billion people may be displaced due to climate-related impacts. American Planning Association
• [New] The pressing reality of climate change is rapidly altering global weather patterns, with the frequency and severity of extreme weather projected to escalate. IOSH
• [New] The World Health Organization recognises that climate-sensitive health risks are disproportionately felt by vulnerable groups, including women. IOSH
• [New] Global temperatures have risen by approximately 1.7 °C per century since 1970, and there is a greater than 50% chance that warming will reach or exceed 1.5 °C by 2040 (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate, 2021). PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Forecast models from leading global climate centers show strong agreement, giving scientists high confidence that El Nino will continue to strengthen through the Northern Hemisphere autumn. Khaleej Times
• [New] El Nino is the warm phase of a multiyear natural climate pattern, but models suggest 2026's cycle will be exceptionally intense. Live Science
• [New] Europe's escalating wildfires demonstrate how climate change and land abandonment combine to create dangerous environmental hazards. Insights IAS
• [New] As climate change worsens, one in three U.S. residents and buildings face wildfire risks. Scientific American
• [New] Though wildfires are often associated with the West Coast's dry summers, climate change is putting more and more places at risk of wildfires as increasingly hot air sucks moisture from forests. Scientific American
• [New] Climate risks are hurting the desire for property in once-popular coastal areas, such as in Florida. PVcase
• [New] Victoria's renewable energy transition is accelerating to meet ambitious climate targets, with renewable electricity expected to reach 95% by 2035 alongside significant growth in energy storage, electrification of transport, and increased electricity demand. Sustainability Victoria
• [New] Barring a major global intervention to curb climate change, European businesses can expect more record-breaking heat waves in the years ahead and, as a consequence, growing pressure for safe workspaces from regulators and workers alike. Fortune
• [New] The Centre for Research Studies, 84% of Spaniards see the climate emergency as a real threat to human wellbeing and to the health of the planet. The Guardian
• [New] Extreme heatwaves are becoming hotter, longer and more severe as climate change intensifies, putting lives, wildlife and ecosystems at severe risk. Friends of the Earth
• [New] 62% of home buyers were hesitant to move to an area because of its high risk of climate-related disasters. PVcase
• [New] Developing countries urgently need funding to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, address climate change, and protect biodiversity, with total annual requirements approaching USD 6 trillion by 2030. International Institute for Sustainable Development

Last updated: 10 August 2026