Grist

Michigan winemakers are increasingly concerned about wildfire smoke affecting grape quality due to climate change, with experts noting the challenge of detecting smoke taint in wines. Despite recent smoke events, current grape development stages suggest minimal immediate impact, but long-term adaptation may be necessary.

Wildfires in Spokane, Washington, have displaced over 65,000 residents and destroyed more than 700 buildings, with the Red Cross operating emergency shelters. The fires, linked to extreme drought and heat, highlight worsening wildfire conditions in the Pacific Northwest, where Washington and Oregon face record-breaking destruction.

The Michigan Supreme Court vacated a key permit for Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 pipeline replacement project, ruling the state commission failed to fully assess environmental harms and public trust impacts. The decision requires a remand for a more thorough review, delaying the project further.

A second major flood in Texas Hill Country highlighted improvements in the state’s warning system, which reduced fatalities compared to the previous year’s disaster. While new tracking tools and public awareness saved lives, residents still faced significant property loss and ongoing vulnerabilities.

A federal judge blocked California's SB 343, a law restricting the use of the recycling symbol to products that meet specific recyclability criteria, ruling it likely violates the First Amendment. The judge found the law's requirements were 'unconstitutionally vague' and would suppress commercial speech by discouraging the symbol's use altogether.

Panamint Capital is constructing a $1.7 billion 1.2GW solar farm and battery storage project on a Texas coal mine site, leveraging existing infrastructure from the Twin Oaks coal plant and Calvert mine. The project, named Big Rooter Power, is set to become one of the largest solar arrays in North America at a brownfield site and will include 1.6 GWh of battery storage and new transmission lines.

Wildfire smoke in Montana is altering children's summer routines, with parents checking air quality before outdoor activities. A 2024 UNICEF report highlights that repeated smoke exposure harms children's respiratory health, learning, and mental well-being, reshaping childhood experiences in the American West.

A fourth heat wave in Western Europe intensified wildfires in Spain and France, displacing over 300,000 people and causing widespread destruction. A study by World Weather Attribution linked the increased fire risk to human-induced climate change, which made fire-prone conditions at least 20 times more likely in central Spain and twice as likely in France. The Red Cross is coordinating disaster response as the region faces one of its most destructive wildfire seasons on record.

El Niño weather patterns and the climate crisis are causing extreme dry, hot conditions that could lead to a significant drop in global rice production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a decline in rice yields for the first time in over a decade, with U.S. production expected to fall to its lowest level in 40 years. Investments in agricultural technologies like irrigation and drought-resistant rice strains may help mitigate the impact.

Wildfire prevention in the West faces challenges due to hotter, drier weather. The Cottonwood Fire in Utah burned over 97,000 acres and is 95% contained. Officials blame poor forestry management, while researchers warn climate change may render traditional methods ineffective.

A professor uses a Flir camera to demonstrate how artificial turf and urban infrastructure like highways absorb and radiate heat, creating hotter microclimates than natural surfaces. The study highlights health risks for athletes and pedestrians due to extreme surface temperatures.

The FDA initially identified cyclospora on Taylor Farms' shredded iceberg lettuce, leading to a voluntary recall, but later retracted the finding as a false positive. The CDC linked the outbreak to nine U.S. states with nearly 2,000 cases, noting challenges in tracking due to home-managed symptoms and inconsistent public health communication. Climate change's potential role in the outbreak remains debated among experts.

A report from the Energy Information Administration found that carbon emissions from the U.S. power sector rose by 4% last year, driven in part by a 13% increase in coal power generation linked to the proliferation of large-scale data centers. The rise in emissions reverses a decades-long decline, as data centers consume more electricity and extend the life of aging coal plants, slowing the transition to cleaner energy sources.

The European Union's cap-and-trade system, a key climate policy, faces proposed changes that could slow emissions reductions and provide leniency for major polluters. Critics argue these updates weaken the ETS's effectiveness and may embolden industry groups to oppose similar policies globally.

A New York City elementary teacher described challenges with a malfunctioning air conditioner and lack of plans during a summer school program amid 100-degree temperatures. Climate change is straining the ability of summer programs to balance academic needs with student safety, as excessive heat impairs cognitive performance and forces improvised solutions like indoor activities and hydration breaks.

China's solar industry faces financial losses due to oversupply and price wars, with manufacturers building more production capacity than the market can absorb. Despite these challenges, the government continues to invest in solar as a strategic industry, even as companies like JinkoSolar and Longi struggle with falling prices and global trade barriers.

Bassirou Sani Boubacar Gaoh, a Niger-based plant breeder, leads a program to combat pests like the millet head miner threatening staple crops in the Sahel. Funded by USAID's Feed the Future Innovation Labs and partnered with Pennsylvania State University, the initiative trains farmers in pest surveillance and AI-powered tools like PlantVillage to reduce crop losses.

California’s high-speed rail project, previously reliant on taxpayer funding, now seeks private investors. A $25 million agreement with a consortium of companies aims to explore funding strategies to expand the project beyond the Central Valley, with plans to eventually connect San Francisco and Los Angeles by 2040.

A 'climate hush' has emerged in the Democratic Party, with politicians avoiding climate change as a campaign topic. New polling by the 2035 Initiative suggests emphasizing climate change could be neutral or beneficial for Democratic candidates, challenging the strategy. The findings come ahead of key state primaries that may influence congressional control.

Offshore wind farms in New England provided significant electricity during a recent heatwave, reducing reliance on oil-burning peaker plants. Data shows oil generation during peak demand dropped over a gigawatt compared to a similar event in 2025, with offshore wind and hydropower from Canada playing key roles. The 806-MW Vineyard Wind project and rooftop solar also contributed to easing demand.