AGP Executive Report

Heat Death Forecast: A “super El Niño” could add about 451,000 heat-related deaths worldwide through February, with developing countries hit hardest as hotter land conditions mirror what climate change is expected to deliver decades from now. Extreme Rain & Flooding: Rio de Janeiro is seeing its wettest September on record as El Niño drives heavy rain, while the MTA is moving to protect the Hudson Line from flooding and mudslides with drainage upgrades and reinforced walls. Climate Risk at Home: B.C. approved a 10-fold expansion of Tilbury LNG just before a snap election, drawing backlash over emissions, air quality, and tanker traffic. Local Climate Governance: Whakatāne is consulting on a possible multi-council water services model, and Nanaimo candidates faced questions on responding to a worsening climate emergency. Biodiversity & Nature Solutions: A new study finds it takes about seven years on average for ecological concepts to reach international policy, while Guyana reported mangrove gains as coastal protection. Pacific Voices for COP31: Pacific leaders and media urged sharper scrutiny of COP promises and stronger inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and local solutions.

UN Climate Warning: UN chief António Guterres told the General Assembly that Nepal’s glacier-melt alarm is now arriving “sooner” and “hitting harder,” after deadly Himalayan flooding tied to warming. Heat Deaths & El Niño: A new study warns a very strong El Niño could drive hundreds of thousands of extra heat-related deaths worldwide, with calls for heat-warning systems, cooling centres and anticipatory funding. Water Stress in Central Asia: Kyrgyz President Zhaparov says Issyk-Kul is under severe climate strain—water levels down nearly 14 meters in 170 years—and urges a UN-backed trust fund to preserve the lake. Local Adaptation That Works: Tamil Nadu’s environment minister V.K. Rajeev says sustainability must deliver measurable outcomes, highlighting coastal resilience and ecosystem restoration. Farming for a Hotter World: An EU project is building climate-resilience training for farmers and vets, aiming to improve adaptation and animal health. Cities Cooling Down: New York says it planted 18,261 trees to cut heat, improve air quality and reduce flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods. Maritime Rules: Spain’s Trasmed urges the IMO to lead on shipping regulation, warning that fragmented local rules can disrupt competition and slow climate progress.

UN Climate Push: Outgoing UN chief António Guterres used his final UNGA speech to slam fossil fuels, calling the atmosphere an “open sewer” and urging governments to adopt 1.5°C-aligned fossil-fuel phaseout plans with timelines and worker protections. AI vs Climate Politics: At the same UNGA, leaders jostled over AI “killer robots” vs “super intelligence,” with Trump renaming AI in official use while critics warn the debate is crowding out real governance. Methane Crackdown: Colorado regulators approved stronger rules to cut methane from oil and gas, tightening monitoring and maintenance for equipment that captures or burns off emissions. Energy Transition Backlash: California and New York sued to block Trump-era deals buying back offshore wind leases, arguing taxpayer buyouts are steering investment back toward fossil fuels. Heat, Liability, and Fossil Pollution: Campaigners renewed pressure on the UK government and Shell after claims Shell pollution made a large share of recent heatwaves more likely, fueling calls for polluter compensation. Biodiversity & Preparedness: Qatar recorded a rare “coral shrimp” during marine surveys, while Australia upgraded Christmas Island seabird H5 bird-flu facilities to boost holding and recovery capacity. Water Quality Wins: A report says Long Island Sound water quality is steadily improving after major wastewater upgrades, though climate-driven coastal stress remains.

UN Climate Diplomacy: World leaders are gathering at the UN General Assembly as wars, AI risks and climate change dominate the agenda, with renewed pressure to make UN reforms real. Climate Justice as Law: A push argues climate justice should be treated as a legal right, not charity. Extreme Weather & Health: Japan’s Typhoon Dujuan killed at least four and left tens of thousands without power, while Indonesia’s haze from fires drove more than 170,000 respiratory cases. Water & Flood Risk: In the Philippines, flooding is being linked not just to climate, but also to land subsidence from groundwater extraction—raising the stakes for resilience planning. Renewables Record: Australia hit a milestone with solar and wind supplying about 80% of main-grid demand on consecutive days. Marine Protection: Scotland has launched a long consultation on inshore marine protected areas and sensitive marine features, running to January 2027. Food & Climate: UMass Amherst unveiled a $120M “Future of Food” push to tackle climate, food safety and nutrition. Policy & Accountability: A legal fight in India targets a coastal secretariat project over environmental and traffic concerns.

Climate Policy & Approvals: Canada’s new Building Canada Strong Act would fast-track major projects by creating “regions of national interest” and shifting reviews away from the Impact Assessment Agency for pipelines, transmission lines and offshore renewables—raising alarms about weaker oversight. UN Climate Diplomacy: As UNGA and Climate Week run in New York, Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif arrives to spotlight climate change alongside security priorities, while Türkiye ramps up COP31 messaging and zero-waste calls from Emine Erdogan. Extreme Weather Readiness: California declares a state of emergency ahead of potentially historic El Niño storms, aiming to pre-position flood response tools. Pacific Climate Finance & Accountability: Fiji urges climate finance to move faster from pledges to delivery for water systems and oceans, while Pacific journalists and UNODC push disaster planning that includes anti-corruption safeguards and inclusion. Nature Under Pressure: WA’s ecological thinning trial shows more than half the harvested trees are chipped or burned, with critics questioning whether the program serves ecology or profit. Local Environmental Health: Ontario’s Grassy Narrows mercury contamination protest highlights ongoing pressure for compensation. Art as Climate Signal: David Suzuki reflects on Vancouver and the state of the world, while a new exhibition by Taro Takizawa links art to climate and conservation.

UN Climate & Diplomacy: World leaders head to UNGA in New York amid wars, AI and climate pressure, with UN chief António Guterres warning trust is fraying as delegations chase influence. AI Meets Climate Politics: Trump’s proposed “AI Force” and “AI czar” plan lands as US-China talks spotlight AI risks and competition, while climate communicators push for everyday-life framing to keep public attention on warming. Extreme Weather Reality Check: A strengthening El Niño is driving typhoons and hurricanes across the Pacific, while Europe faces a future of sharply higher extreme fire weather for today’s children. Health & Climate Spillover: Florida’s dengue outbreak hit 134 people with a first confirmed death, underscoring how warming expands mosquito-borne risk. Data Centers, Power, and Pollution: A diesel spill from an AI data center in New Jersey raises local environmental alarms, and Ohio’s AI-driven push for fossil gas plants fuels new environmental injustice concerns. Adaptation on the Ground: Honolulu’s tree canopy losses after storms may take decades to recover, and Andalucía forecasts warmer autumns with higher heavy-rain risk after a record-hot summer. Nature Tech for Adaptation: The UK’s ARIA backs £30m for “accelerated adaptation” projects, including biotech approaches to help wildlife cope with climate and disease.

Climate Adaptation & Workers: A Cornell study finds Bangladesh garment factories can recoup heat-cooling investments within four years, after extreme indoor temperatures erased about 4.1% of annual revenue on average—urging brands to share the cost. Energy & Emissions Policy: The US EPA moved to repeal coal and gas carbon limits, arguing plant CO2 has “no material impact” on global climate—an abrupt rollback that could reshape pollution rules for communities near power stations. Food Systems Under Heat: Nigeria’s First Lady urged households to cut food waste ahead of World Cleanup Day, linking waste reduction to climate, conflict and supply disruptions. Water, Drought & Livelihoods: In Fiji’s Rakiraki, El Niño-driven dry spells are forcing cattle farmers to give up animals as communal water tanks run short. Nature, Culture & Biodiversity: The Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines face biodiversity loss as youth abandon farming; a GEF-backed plan aims to fold conservation into ancestral domain economic plans. Global Governance & Climate Finance: Pacific delegations pressed FAO fisheries priorities in Rome, tying science-based tuna management to food security and climate-linked resilience. Local Resilience: A Missouri community held a climate action 5K and pushed for updated building codes to speed the clean energy transition.

Heat & Health Toll: Europe’s extreme heatwaves are driving an estimated €180B in losses and around 35,000 deaths, with droughts and wildfires adding pressure on farms, power grids, transport and healthcare. Desertification Warning: Iraq’s Green Iraqi Observatory warns climate change and desertification could bring up to 300 sand and dust storms a year by the next decade, with hotspots mainly in the south and impacts spreading across the region. Coral Restoration Tech: Irish and French scientists are testing 3D-printed, deep-sea artificial reefs to speed coral recovery after decades of trawling damage, placing 23 structures on the seabed at about 1,000m. Food Security Under Stress: Malaysia is urged to adopt a whole-of-nation climate plan focused on disaster preparedness and climate-resilient food systems as floods, heat, drought and haze threaten rice, vegetables, livestock and fisheries. Himalayan Risk & Early Warnings: Nepal’s flash-flood disaster is renewing calls to expand early warning systems beyond rainfall to other triggers, so downstream communities get minutes—not hours—to prepare. Climate-Adapted Farming: French farmers are experimenting with heat-tolerant sorghum as repeated heatwaves strain traditional crops and livestock. Wildfire Preparedness: A UK fire commander says moor fires are now far more frequent and larger due to climate change, calling for more funding to keep crews equipped. El Niño Readiness: Faith leaders in Kenya urge early, coordinated action ahead of anticipated El Niño rains, pushing churches to link up with emergency responders and plan shelters.

Climate Restoration in Qatar: Qatar’s environment ministry is restoring the “Houtan” meadow, planting 300 native seedlings and sowing about 5,000 seeds to boost vegetation density and biodiversity. Water Infrastructure in Jamaica: A new 0.8-kilometre pipeline under the Rosemount water scheme will improve supply for Discovery Point and Mount Boon, with $200M+ already invested and this phase worth $50M+. Legal Climate Governance (India): India’s CJI Surya Kant says courts must harmonise conservation and development, calling the Supreme Court a “banyan tree” for environmental justice and stressing conditions, oversight and accountability. Urban Heat Adaptation (Uruguay): Paysandú will plant 10,000–12,000 trees to cut heat-island impacts and expand green infrastructure as warming intensifies. Biodiversity Protection (Goa): Goa’s forest department logged 29 mangrove offences (18 still under inquiry), including illegal cutting and canal-blocking debris. AI vs Climate Politics (US): Trump announced an “AI Force” and an “AI czar,” dismissing AI safety fears as hoaxes and comparing them to past climate-change backlash. Coastal Heritage Under Threat (Alaska): Archaeologists in western Alaska are racing to recover Yup’ik artefacts after storms accelerated erosion at Nunalleq. Climate Protest (Switzerland): Thousands marched in Geneva and Lausanne demanding stronger action against global warming, citing drought and the “No to 50-degree summers!” message. Extreme Heat Reality Check (Europe): Europe’s summer records include unprecedented heat in Germany, with heat-related deaths reaching record levels.**

Climate & Food Security: A prolonged dry spell is parching Sissala farmlands in Ghana, with maize and soy turning yellow as irregular rains threaten harvests and livelihoods. Green Revolution Debate: New research questions AGRA’s “Green Revolution” model, arguing it pushed commercial monocultures and inputs while local, resilient crops lost ground—despite rising hunger pressures. Wildfire Policy Push: In the UK, Stafford Borough Council is calling for tougher wildfire penalties after fires destroyed homes and heathland, including stronger rules on deliberate burning and waste fires. Reforestation in Drought Zones: In California’s Altadena, one man’s “10,000 oaks” effort is rebuilding canopy after drought, insects, and fire. Cross-Border Wildfire Response: Malaysia has approved sending aircraft and firefighters to help Indonesia fight major blazes and haze. UN Climate Diplomacy: Nepal’s political leaders urge the country to bring climate cases to the UN with evidence, as Himalayan disasters intensify. Global Climate Governance: India’s PM Modi opened an international environment and climate conference, stressing Paris COP21 progress and climate inequality. Water Stress & Heat: UN-linked reporting warns El Niño-driven extremes are threatening Asia’s sugar output, raising the risk of price volatility.

Climate Policy Rollback: Illinois EPA released a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan saying the state is down 32% since 2005 but still not on track for net-zero by 2050, calling for major changes across transport, buildings, industry, agriculture and waste. Heat Impacts on Health: A new U.S. study estimates human-caused climate change contributed to about 27% of heat-related ER visits from 2018–2025. Extreme Weather in the Spotlight: Hawaiʻi researchers say this hurricane season is showing how warming is reshaping coastal risk and resilience needs. Energy & Emissions: The Trump administration is rolling back Biden-era power-plant emissions limits, drawing sharp backlash from health and climate advocates. Carbon Capture Milestone: Denmark officially opened the EU’s first full-scale permanent CO₂ storage facility, marking commercial CCS momentum. Water & Pollution: Trump’s new Chesapeake Bay cleanup order narrows federal priorities, raising fears key habitat and climate-related goals could be sidelined. Biodiversity & Conflict: India’s environment ministry ordered studies on four bear species as human-bear conflicts rise, including climate-linked changes to hibernation. Agriculture Adaptation: Pakistan’s improved Environmental Performance Index ranking points to tougher air-pollution enforcement in Punjab and more monitoring.

Community Energy Push (UK): Andy Burnham backed a £30m tranche for community renewables, aiming to let local groups build and control clean power and cut the climate crisis into everyday action. Water Resilience (UK): A new take on UK water planning warns drought and downpours are linked, urging smarter management as heavier rain threatens runoff, pollution, and flooding. Clean Cooking vs Deforestation (Tanzania): Oryx Gas Tanzania handed out 600 LPG cylinders in Namtumbo to curb firewood use and protect forests while cutting climate pressure. Hazardous Waste Infrastructure (Bangladesh): Bangladesh moved toward its first hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility, a key step for safer ship recycling. Earthshot Prize (Global): Prince William named finalists including Indigenous desert rangers using cultural burning to restore biodiversity and reduce wildfire risk. Climate Disaster Preparedness (Nepal): A lawmaker urged stronger early warning and cross-government planning as glacier and flood risks grow. Heat & Food Stress (PNG): El Niño-linked dry weather and frost are already destroying crops and shrinking water supplies in Papua New Guinea. Wildlife Recovery (Australia): Bilby reintroduction on predator-free Thistle Island succeeded, with the population spreading across the island a decade later.

Climate Adaptation & Risk: Colorado’s St. Mary’s Glacier has melted out for what appears to be the first time on record, a stark sign of a record-hot summer and weak snowpack. Extreme Weather & Disruption: Japan’s Asian Games are bracing for a typhoon after record deluges already forced evacuations and exposed fragile housing for thousands of athletes. Water & Ecosystems: England’s Atlantic salmon are at record lows, with most rivers below sustainable levels as pollution, water scarcity, and harsher seas intensify. Policy & Pollution: Trump’s repeal of a 2009 Chesapeake Bay restoration order has alarmed Maryland advocates who warn it could roll back progress on pollution and flooding. Pesticide & Public Safety: Nova Scotia residents in Bear River are challenging planned aerial glyphosate spraying, alleging inadequate 30-day notice and asking for a pause pending investigation. Clean Energy & Land Use: The Vatican is planning an 80–90MW agrivoltaic solar project on Vatican-owned land outside Rome to cut emissions and move toward carbon neutrality. Food Waste & Emissions: Vermont launches a Food Waste Prevention Week challenge to keep scraps out of trash and reduce greenhouse gases.

Energy Policy Shake-Up: The Trump EPA move to repeal most 2024 power-plant carbon standards is drawing fresh backlash in West Virginia, where officials and health advocates warn the rollback will worsen respiratory harm and raise costs. Climate & Water Stress: The WMO says fossil-fuel pollution is throwing the planet’s freshwater cycle “off balance,” with shrinking land water storage and more erratic drought-flood swings. Heat Hits Food: Europe faces a potato shortage after brutal heatwaves cut yields and quality, threatening higher prices for fries. Clean Power Push (UK): The UK is funding community-led clean energy as forecasts project energy bills rising more than 25% next January. International Climate Finance: The Novo Nordisk Foundation is backing WFP anticipatory action for El Niño-linked food shocks, targeting 22 high-risk countries. Biodiversity & Farming: Malaysia’s LKIM is funding fishermen with new gear to boost catches, while Europe’s heat stress shows how climate shocks ripple through food systems.

Climate Policy Rollback: The U.S. EPA finalized rules gutting carbon emissions requirements for coal- and gas-fired power plants, arguing Biden-era standards overstepped Clean Air Act authority. Extreme Heat Impacts: A Climate Central analysis says 117 million people in India faced dangerous heat for over 30 days this summer, with cities like Srinagar and Chennai among the hardest hit. Ozone Layer Update: Scientists say the ozone hole over Antarctica is shrinking overall in the long run, but monitoring shows it can still surge year to year; the Montreal Protocol’s 16 September anniversary is spotlighting recovery progress. EU-Canada Green Security Push: Ursula von der Leyen proposed Canada become the EU’s first “associate member,” expanding cooperation on climate resilience, heatwaves, critical minerals, energy, AI, and Arctic work. Coastal Restoration in Kuwait: Kuwait’s mangrove cultivation project aims to restore coastal ecosystems, boost biodiversity, and strengthen climate adaptation. Local Adaptation Funding (Canada): Hamilton, Ontario received federal Green Municipal Fund money for updated climate risk planning and a nature-based “sponge plaza” pilot to cut flood risk. Wildfire Health Warning (Canada): A child-protection series highlights how wildfire smoke is increasingly tied to climate-driven fire seasons and serious health risks for kids. Community Water Action (Nigeria): Lagos Water Corporation launched a Water Ambassadors Initiative to spread conservation and responsible water use. Extreme Weather Research (Earth history): New work on the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum explores how past greenhouse gas releases drove long-lasting warming—useful for modeling today’s emissions.

Climate & Policy: The EU’s von der Leyen used her State of the Union to push a tougher line on climate and AI, while also “opening the door” for Canada to become the bloc’s first associate member—a move aimed at deeper cooperation on energy, critical minerals, batteries and supply chains. Aviation Emissions: UK climate advisers say Heathrow’s third runway should only proceed if airlines cut emissions fast enough to stay within carbon budgets, warning ticket costs could rise as decarbonisation is passed on. Disaster Risk in the Himalaya: Nepal’s Bhote Koshi–Trishuli catastrophe is being framed as a warning about cascading hazards, with calls for basin-wide, science-based prevention and stronger early warning. Water & Heat Stress: Jordan faces worsening heat and shifting rainfall that could intensify drought and flash-flood risk, according to a UN-backed regional assessment. Nature & Food Security: Vermont apple growers report climate-driven spikes in fire blight and apple scab, while experts warn that ecosystem collapse can ripple into food prices and instability. Local Resilience: In the Yorkshire Dales, woodland creation grants are being used to boost drought resilience and habitat connectivity. Biodiversity Data: Nepal launched a nationwide butterfly count to fill gaps in up-to-date species and habitat information.