Heat waves, floods and wildfires dominated the news cycle this year with climate-change related disasters, and global average temperatures, on the rise.
Why it matters: Every month since June has been the hottest such month on record, and the rapid warming is playing out in the form of deadly extreme events worldwide.
With November ranking as the warmest such month on record, NOAA is projecting greater than 99.5% odds that this year will be the world's warmest since instrument records began in the 19th century.
Why it matters: The record, a result of both human-caused climate change and an El Niño event in the tropical Pacific, demonstrates how quickly and significantly the world is heating up.
The dwindlingdiversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) movement appears to be slowing the diversifying of environmental organizations and foundations, according to an analysis of a new report.
Why it matters: People of color in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by climate change and more likely to live in areas with higher pollution, yet white people lead most major non-governmental organizations and foundations focused on solving these issues.
Climactic, a seed venture firm founded by Freestyle Capital's Josh Felser and ex-Lyft executive, Raj Kapoor, has raised $65 million for its first fund.
Why it matters: A growing number of investors have jumped into climate tech investing in recent years as the urgency of climate change has become increasingly mainstream.
Boston Consulting Group will buy 80,000 metric tons of removal services from the direct air capture firm Climeworks as part of a 15-year "strategic partnership" announced Thursday.
Why it matters: It is the single largest purchase by one of Climeworks' corporate customers thus far, the companies said, and expands their existing collaboration.
The historic climate agreement reached at COP28 in Dubai will have ripple effects throughout the global economy, but they are unlikely to play out quickly, or be immediately obvious.
The big picture: The non-binding climate deal is part of the broader 2015 Paris Agreement. It exists in a zone of international law where its obligations are enforced via peer pressure, national laws and political and social movements.
Much of the U.S. is likely to see temperatures of 10 to 20°F above average for the time of year during the last two weeks of December — including Christmas.
The big picture: The expected above-average winter temperatures come in a week when Spain recorded its highest daily December temperature, when Malaga reached 85.8°F on Tuesday, and on the heels of Australia experiencing its hottest winter on record.
Two men were charged in Montana for allegedly killing 3,600 birds, including eagles, and selling them on the black market, per court documents.
Driving the news: Simon Paul of Montana and Travis John Branson of Washington were indicted last week on one count of conspiracy, 13 counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and one count of violating the Lacey Act – a federal law that combats trafficking of illegally taken wildlife.
An inflection point in U.S. energy looks imminent.
Driving the news: Combined power generated by wind and solar is slated to eclipse coal-fired electricity next year, as the sources move in opposite directions.
The COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ended Wednesday after nearly 200 nations adopted a deal that calls for "transitioning away" from fossil fuels.
Why it matters: This is the first COP agreement to mention moving away from fossil fuels to avoid the worst impacts of climate change — though it still does not include the term "phase out."
