The U.S. announced a plan to dramatically expand nuclear power during the next few decades, as electricity demands escalate.
Why it matters: The U.S. faces an increasing electricity demand amid the expansion of data centers used for artificial intelligence, growing use of electric vehicles, building of new manufacturing centers and other trends.
President-elect Trump's shadow looms large at the UN global climate summit that began Monday — but his second term seems to be more motivating than dispiriting for some countries.
Why it matters: Trump's reelection raises the stakes for the gathering, known as COP29, at which leaders must come up with funding that would help developing countries adapt to climate impacts and shift their economies to cleaner energy.
John Podesta, lead climate diplomat representing the U.S. at the UN climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday called the presidential election outcome "bitterly disappointing."
Why it matters: President-elect Donald Trump may make it harder for other nations to commit to making aggressive emissions cuts and climate finance commitments.
Climate-related extreme weather events cost the global economy more than $2 trillion over the past decade and the U.S. was the worst-affected nation, per a report published as leaders gather for the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan Monday.
Why it matters: The damage estimates in the Oxera report for the International Chamber of Commerce for 2014-2023 roughly equate to those of the 2008 global financial crisis and ICC secretary-general John Denton said "the economic impact of climate change" needs a "response of similar speed and decisiveness," per CNN.
Firefighters across the Northeastern U.S. are tackling a series of wildfires that are impacting air quality from New York City to Philadelphia during an abnormally dry fall.
The big picture: Much of the region is in drought and the National Weather Service warns dry and windy conditions "could lead to fires over portions of southern New England, upstate New York and northern New Jersey, where Red Flag Warnings and an Elevated Fire Weather Outlook" were in effect for Sunday.
