Axios

Lab-grown chicken got U.S. Department of Agriculture approval Wednesday — a major breakthrough for "cell-cultivated" meats.

Why it matters: Lab-grown foods could be inching closer to restaurants and eventually to markets with the first U.S. regulator approval.

Crux, a new startup aiming to remove friction from the use of hundreds of billions of dollars worth of climate law tax incentives, just landed another $4.25 million in seed financing.

The big picture: It's initially focused on a key piece of the law called "transferability."

AmeriCorps is allocating more than $7 million to tribal nations and Indigenous-led nonprofits working to address needs related to climate change, food security and conservation.

Why it matters: From Alaska to New Mexico, Indigenous communities are confronting severe climate-fueled challenges as increasing volatility in food systems spurs escalating food insecurity.

Texans are used to hot weather, but the combination of tropical-level humidity with triple-digit high temperatures is making for a dangerous, precedent-busting extreme heat event.

Why it matters: On average, extreme heat is the biggest annual weather-related killer in the U.S., per the National Weather Service (NWS).

In Arizona's perpetual quest to alleviate its water shortage, the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) is expected to start considering innovative proposals next year to keep the desert state hydrated.

Catch up quick: Lawmakers and former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey last year established a plan to provide WIFA with $1 billion over three years for a long-term water augmentation fund that  would finance a desalination plant or other major project.

Tropical Storm Bret formed Monday afternoon in the Central Atlantic, after emerging off the west coast of Africa and tracking over record warm ocean waters for this time of year.

Why it matters: This storm shows what can happen when the tropical North Atlantic Ocean features temperatures more typical of September than June, defying seasonal norms.

Human-caused climate change is poised to heavily strain the U.S. power grid in the coming decades, and vast improvements are needed to enhance its reliability and ability to meet increasing electricity demands, experts say.

Why it matters: The effects of new weather extremes on the grid may be seen throughout the summer if intense heat waves trigger energy demand spikes that test the limits of power infrastructures nationwide, officials have warned.

The United Nations adopted a landmark international treaty to govern the high seas on Monday after nearly two decades of negotiations.

Why it matters: The first-ever legally binding global agreement of its kind, known as the Treaty of the High Seas, provides framework for environmental protections to biodiversity in international waters — which cover over 60% of the Earth’s surface. Only 1.2% of the world's ocean areas are currently protected.