Axios

A new assessment from the World Meteorological Organization finds that the ongoing El Niño peaked in the top 5 on record, even as it wanes.

Why it matters: The weakening climate cycle, plus other factors, sets the stage for powder keg-like conditions during the Atlantic hurricane season.

A Californian man pleaded not guilty on Monday after being arrested and charged for allegedly smuggling greenhouse gases from Mexico into the U.S. and selling them for profit, prosecutors said.

Why it matters: Michael Hart, 58, of San Diego, faces the first-ever prosecution in the U.S. to include charges related to the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act) for allegedly smuggling hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent greenhouse gas used in refrigeration and air conditioning.