AGP Executive Report

Climate Policy & Approvals: Canada’s new Building Canada Strong Act would fast-track major projects by creating “regions of national interest” and shifting reviews away from the Impact Assessment Agency for pipelines, transmission lines and offshore renewables—raising alarms about weaker oversight. UN Climate Diplomacy: As UNGA and Climate Week run in New York, Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif arrives to spotlight climate change alongside security priorities, while Türkiye ramps up COP31 messaging and zero-waste calls from Emine Erdogan. Extreme Weather Readiness: California declares a state of emergency ahead of potentially historic El Niño storms, aiming to pre-position flood response tools. Pacific Climate Finance & Accountability: Fiji urges climate finance to move faster from pledges to delivery for water systems and oceans, while Pacific journalists and UNODC push disaster planning that includes anti-corruption safeguards and inclusion. Nature Under Pressure: WA’s ecological thinning trial shows more than half the harvested trees are chipped or burned, with critics questioning whether the program serves ecology or profit. Local Environmental Health: Ontario’s Grassy Narrows mercury contamination protest highlights ongoing pressure for compensation. Art as Climate Signal: David Suzuki reflects on Vancouver and the state of the world, while a new exhibition by Taro Takizawa links art to climate and conservation.

UN Climate & Diplomacy: World leaders head to UNGA in New York amid wars, AI and climate pressure, with UN chief António Guterres warning trust is fraying as delegations chase influence. AI Meets Climate Politics: Trump’s proposed “AI Force” and “AI czar” plan lands as US-China talks spotlight AI risks and competition, while climate communicators push for everyday-life framing to keep public attention on warming. Extreme Weather Reality Check: A strengthening El Niño is driving typhoons and hurricanes across the Pacific, while Europe faces a future of sharply higher extreme fire weather for today’s children. Health & Climate Spillover: Florida’s dengue outbreak hit 134 people with a first confirmed death, underscoring how warming expands mosquito-borne risk. Data Centers, Power, and Pollution: A diesel spill from an AI data center in New Jersey raises local environmental alarms, and Ohio’s AI-driven push for fossil gas plants fuels new environmental injustice concerns. Adaptation on the Ground: Honolulu’s tree canopy losses after storms may take decades to recover, and Andalucía forecasts warmer autumns with higher heavy-rain risk after a record-hot summer. Nature Tech for Adaptation: The UK’s ARIA backs £30m for “accelerated adaptation” projects, including biotech approaches to help wildlife cope with climate and disease.

Climate Adaptation & Workers: A Cornell study finds Bangladesh garment factories can recoup heat-cooling investments within four years, after extreme indoor temperatures erased about 4.1% of annual revenue on average—urging brands to share the cost. Energy & Emissions Policy: The US EPA moved to repeal coal and gas carbon limits, arguing plant CO2 has “no material impact” on global climate—an abrupt rollback that could reshape pollution rules for communities near power stations. Food Systems Under Heat: Nigeria’s First Lady urged households to cut food waste ahead of World Cleanup Day, linking waste reduction to climate, conflict and supply disruptions. Water, Drought & Livelihoods: In Fiji’s Rakiraki, El Niño-driven dry spells are forcing cattle farmers to give up animals as communal water tanks run short. Nature, Culture & Biodiversity: The Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines face biodiversity loss as youth abandon farming; a GEF-backed plan aims to fold conservation into ancestral domain economic plans. Global Governance & Climate Finance: Pacific delegations pressed FAO fisheries priorities in Rome, tying science-based tuna management to food security and climate-linked resilience. Local Resilience: A Missouri community held a climate action 5K and pushed for updated building codes to speed the clean energy transition.

Heat & Health Toll: Europe’s extreme heatwaves are driving an estimated €180B in losses and around 35,000 deaths, with droughts and wildfires adding pressure on farms, power grids, transport and healthcare. Desertification Warning: Iraq’s Green Iraqi Observatory warns climate change and desertification could bring up to 300 sand and dust storms a year by the next decade, with hotspots mainly in the south and impacts spreading across the region. Coral Restoration Tech: Irish and French scientists are testing 3D-printed, deep-sea artificial reefs to speed coral recovery after decades of trawling damage, placing 23 structures on the seabed at about 1,000m. Food Security Under Stress: Malaysia is urged to adopt a whole-of-nation climate plan focused on disaster preparedness and climate-resilient food systems as floods, heat, drought and haze threaten rice, vegetables, livestock and fisheries. Himalayan Risk & Early Warnings: Nepal’s flash-flood disaster is renewing calls to expand early warning systems beyond rainfall to other triggers, so downstream communities get minutes—not hours—to prepare. Climate-Adapted Farming: French farmers are experimenting with heat-tolerant sorghum as repeated heatwaves strain traditional crops and livestock. Wildfire Preparedness: A UK fire commander says moor fires are now far more frequent and larger due to climate change, calling for more funding to keep crews equipped. El Niño Readiness: Faith leaders in Kenya urge early, coordinated action ahead of anticipated El Niño rains, pushing churches to link up with emergency responders and plan shelters.

Climate Restoration in Qatar: Qatar’s environment ministry is restoring the “Houtan” meadow, planting 300 native seedlings and sowing about 5,000 seeds to boost vegetation density and biodiversity. Water Infrastructure in Jamaica: A new 0.8-kilometre pipeline under the Rosemount water scheme will improve supply for Discovery Point and Mount Boon, with $200M+ already invested and this phase worth $50M+. Legal Climate Governance (India): India’s CJI Surya Kant says courts must harmonise conservation and development, calling the Supreme Court a “banyan tree” for environmental justice and stressing conditions, oversight and accountability. Urban Heat Adaptation (Uruguay): Paysandú will plant 10,000–12,000 trees to cut heat-island impacts and expand green infrastructure as warming intensifies. Biodiversity Protection (Goa): Goa’s forest department logged 29 mangrove offences (18 still under inquiry), including illegal cutting and canal-blocking debris. AI vs Climate Politics (US): Trump announced an “AI Force” and an “AI czar,” dismissing AI safety fears as hoaxes and comparing them to past climate-change backlash. Coastal Heritage Under Threat (Alaska): Archaeologists in western Alaska are racing to recover Yup’ik artefacts after storms accelerated erosion at Nunalleq. Climate Protest (Switzerland): Thousands marched in Geneva and Lausanne demanding stronger action against global warming, citing drought and the “No to 50-degree summers!” message. Extreme Heat Reality Check (Europe): Europe’s summer records include unprecedented heat in Germany, with heat-related deaths reaching record levels.**

Climate & Food Security: A prolonged dry spell is parching Sissala farmlands in Ghana, with maize and soy turning yellow as irregular rains threaten harvests and livelihoods. Green Revolution Debate: New research questions AGRA’s “Green Revolution” model, arguing it pushed commercial monocultures and inputs while local, resilient crops lost ground—despite rising hunger pressures. Wildfire Policy Push: In the UK, Stafford Borough Council is calling for tougher wildfire penalties after fires destroyed homes and heathland, including stronger rules on deliberate burning and waste fires. Reforestation in Drought Zones: In California’s Altadena, one man’s “10,000 oaks” effort is rebuilding canopy after drought, insects, and fire. Cross-Border Wildfire Response: Malaysia has approved sending aircraft and firefighters to help Indonesia fight major blazes and haze. UN Climate Diplomacy: Nepal’s political leaders urge the country to bring climate cases to the UN with evidence, as Himalayan disasters intensify. Global Climate Governance: India’s PM Modi opened an international environment and climate conference, stressing Paris COP21 progress and climate inequality. Water Stress & Heat: UN-linked reporting warns El Niño-driven extremes are threatening Asia’s sugar output, raising the risk of price volatility.

Climate Policy Rollback: Illinois EPA released a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan saying the state is down 32% since 2005 but still not on track for net-zero by 2050, calling for major changes across transport, buildings, industry, agriculture and waste. Heat Impacts on Health: A new U.S. study estimates human-caused climate change contributed to about 27% of heat-related ER visits from 2018–2025. Extreme Weather in the Spotlight: Hawaiʻi researchers say this hurricane season is showing how warming is reshaping coastal risk and resilience needs. Energy & Emissions: The Trump administration is rolling back Biden-era power-plant emissions limits, drawing sharp backlash from health and climate advocates. Carbon Capture Milestone: Denmark officially opened the EU’s first full-scale permanent CO₂ storage facility, marking commercial CCS momentum. Water & Pollution: Trump’s new Chesapeake Bay cleanup order narrows federal priorities, raising fears key habitat and climate-related goals could be sidelined. Biodiversity & Conflict: India’s environment ministry ordered studies on four bear species as human-bear conflicts rise, including climate-linked changes to hibernation. Agriculture Adaptation: Pakistan’s improved Environmental Performance Index ranking points to tougher air-pollution enforcement in Punjab and more monitoring.

Community Energy Push (UK): Andy Burnham backed a £30m tranche for community renewables, aiming to let local groups build and control clean power and cut the climate crisis into everyday action. Water Resilience (UK): A new take on UK water planning warns drought and downpours are linked, urging smarter management as heavier rain threatens runoff, pollution, and flooding. Clean Cooking vs Deforestation (Tanzania): Oryx Gas Tanzania handed out 600 LPG cylinders in Namtumbo to curb firewood use and protect forests while cutting climate pressure. Hazardous Waste Infrastructure (Bangladesh): Bangladesh moved toward its first hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility, a key step for safer ship recycling. Earthshot Prize (Global): Prince William named finalists including Indigenous desert rangers using cultural burning to restore biodiversity and reduce wildfire risk. Climate Disaster Preparedness (Nepal): A lawmaker urged stronger early warning and cross-government planning as glacier and flood risks grow. Heat & Food Stress (PNG): El Niño-linked dry weather and frost are already destroying crops and shrinking water supplies in Papua New Guinea. Wildlife Recovery (Australia): Bilby reintroduction on predator-free Thistle Island succeeded, with the population spreading across the island a decade later.

Climate Adaptation & Risk: Colorado’s St. Mary’s Glacier has melted out for what appears to be the first time on record, a stark sign of a record-hot summer and weak snowpack. Extreme Weather & Disruption: Japan’s Asian Games are bracing for a typhoon after record deluges already forced evacuations and exposed fragile housing for thousands of athletes. Water & Ecosystems: England’s Atlantic salmon are at record lows, with most rivers below sustainable levels as pollution, water scarcity, and harsher seas intensify. Policy & Pollution: Trump’s repeal of a 2009 Chesapeake Bay restoration order has alarmed Maryland advocates who warn it could roll back progress on pollution and flooding. Pesticide & Public Safety: Nova Scotia residents in Bear River are challenging planned aerial glyphosate spraying, alleging inadequate 30-day notice and asking for a pause pending investigation. Clean Energy & Land Use: The Vatican is planning an 80–90MW agrivoltaic solar project on Vatican-owned land outside Rome to cut emissions and move toward carbon neutrality. Food Waste & Emissions: Vermont launches a Food Waste Prevention Week challenge to keep scraps out of trash and reduce greenhouse gases.

Energy Policy Shake-Up: The Trump EPA move to repeal most 2024 power-plant carbon standards is drawing fresh backlash in West Virginia, where officials and health advocates warn the rollback will worsen respiratory harm and raise costs. Climate & Water Stress: The WMO says fossil-fuel pollution is throwing the planet’s freshwater cycle “off balance,” with shrinking land water storage and more erratic drought-flood swings. Heat Hits Food: Europe faces a potato shortage after brutal heatwaves cut yields and quality, threatening higher prices for fries. Clean Power Push (UK): The UK is funding community-led clean energy as forecasts project energy bills rising more than 25% next January. International Climate Finance: The Novo Nordisk Foundation is backing WFP anticipatory action for El Niño-linked food shocks, targeting 22 high-risk countries. Biodiversity & Farming: Malaysia’s LKIM is funding fishermen with new gear to boost catches, while Europe’s heat stress shows how climate shocks ripple through food systems.

Climate Policy Rollback: The U.S. EPA finalized rules gutting carbon emissions requirements for coal- and gas-fired power plants, arguing Biden-era standards overstepped Clean Air Act authority. Extreme Heat Impacts: A Climate Central analysis says 117 million people in India faced dangerous heat for over 30 days this summer, with cities like Srinagar and Chennai among the hardest hit. Ozone Layer Update: Scientists say the ozone hole over Antarctica is shrinking overall in the long run, but monitoring shows it can still surge year to year; the Montreal Protocol’s 16 September anniversary is spotlighting recovery progress. EU-Canada Green Security Push: Ursula von der Leyen proposed Canada become the EU’s first “associate member,” expanding cooperation on climate resilience, heatwaves, critical minerals, energy, AI, and Arctic work. Coastal Restoration in Kuwait: Kuwait’s mangrove cultivation project aims to restore coastal ecosystems, boost biodiversity, and strengthen climate adaptation. Local Adaptation Funding (Canada): Hamilton, Ontario received federal Green Municipal Fund money for updated climate risk planning and a nature-based “sponge plaza” pilot to cut flood risk. Wildfire Health Warning (Canada): A child-protection series highlights how wildfire smoke is increasingly tied to climate-driven fire seasons and serious health risks for kids. Community Water Action (Nigeria): Lagos Water Corporation launched a Water Ambassadors Initiative to spread conservation and responsible water use. Extreme Weather Research (Earth history): New work on the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum explores how past greenhouse gas releases drove long-lasting warming—useful for modeling today’s emissions.

Climate & Policy: The EU’s von der Leyen used her State of the Union to push a tougher line on climate and AI, while also “opening the door” for Canada to become the bloc’s first associate member—a move aimed at deeper cooperation on energy, critical minerals, batteries and supply chains. Aviation Emissions: UK climate advisers say Heathrow’s third runway should only proceed if airlines cut emissions fast enough to stay within carbon budgets, warning ticket costs could rise as decarbonisation is passed on. Disaster Risk in the Himalaya: Nepal’s Bhote Koshi–Trishuli catastrophe is being framed as a warning about cascading hazards, with calls for basin-wide, science-based prevention and stronger early warning. Water & Heat Stress: Jordan faces worsening heat and shifting rainfall that could intensify drought and flash-flood risk, according to a UN-backed regional assessment. Nature & Food Security: Vermont apple growers report climate-driven spikes in fire blight and apple scab, while experts warn that ecosystem collapse can ripple into food prices and instability. Local Resilience: In the Yorkshire Dales, woodland creation grants are being used to boost drought resilience and habitat connectivity. Biodiversity Data: Nepal launched a nationwide butterfly count to fill gaps in up-to-date species and habitat information.

Climate Tech in Orbit: Europe put two Earth-observing satellites into space to track heatwaves’ impact on vegetation and monitor ocean conditions that affect agriculture and food security. Climate Diplomacy & Resilience: Oman Climate Week opened with calls for stronger global action, framing climate change as both an environmental and economic development challenge. Water, Food, and Risk: A study links human-caused warming to worse western U.S. snow drought, raising alarms for Nevada’s snowmelt-dependent water supply. Extreme Weather Disrupts Life: Hurricane Marie’s damage forced the cancellation of a major Ocean Way festival, underscoring how “super” El Niño conditions are reshaping everyday plans. Nature Finance: A Pakistan-focused explainer argues biodiversity financing is becoming “productive infrastructure” for economies, not just environmental spending. Local Climate Delivery: Niagara Region received over $89K to plant 7,125 native trees to boost canopy, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Policy Pushback: Australia’s doctors urge phasing out gas, citing health risks tied to gas cooking and asthma. Energy & Regulation: Indiana moves to take over coal ash permitting and oversight from the EPA, aiming for more state control. AI vs Climate Politics: U.S. officials trade barbs over AI “hoax” claims and regulation—while climate rule rollbacks keep climate policy in the spotlight.

Power Plant Rollback: The Trump EPA moved to erase limits on climate pollution from coal and gas power plants, arguing it lacks authority to regulate CO2—an abrupt shift that could stall future emissions rules and worsen extreme-weather risks. Climate Finance Gap: Malaysia’s climate adaptation needs could hit $852B–$1.1T by 2050, with the core problem described as “unbankable” projects that don’t generate revenue. Ocean Heat Impacts: Jeju Island’s “sea women” and marine scientists warn that record ocean temperatures are killing soft corals, threatening the island’s underwater nurseries and wider ecosystem. Conservation Wins: A North Carolina nonprofit protected 93 acres of Blue Ridge forest in Virginia via a conservation easement, aiming to connect and expand habitat for wildlife. Energy After Disasters: India approved 18-hour daily power exports to Nepal after deadly floods wiped out hydropower capacity, underscoring how climate shocks strain regional grids. AI vs Guardrails: Trump again dismissed AI safety calls as a “hoax,” while industry leaders push for slower development and stronger controls. Local Resilience: France saw protests from fishermen and police over costs and pay, highlighting how climate and policy pressures ripple into daily work and services. Biodiversity Discovery: Mizoram researchers announced two new-to-science frog species, including one spotted on a university campus for decades. Clean Tech Research: Chinese and Swiss teams reported underwater solar cells that can work at depths up to 10 metres, opening doors for sea-based sensors and communications.

US Climate Rollback: The EPA finalized the repeal of Biden-era carbon limits for coal and gas power plants and floated a move to block future greenhouse-gas rules, a shift critics say will raise emissions and health harms while supporters call it “energy abundance.” Political Pushback: Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and AG William Tong condemned the rollback, tying it to worsening extreme rainfall and higher costs. AI vs Climate Messaging: Trump doubled down on dismissing AI risk, calling it a “hoax” and lumping it with “the scam of global warming,” as a new poll found most Americans think he’s handling AI poorly. Arctic Security: EU leaders urged a stronger Arctic role as melting ice opens shipping routes and Russia-West tensions rise, including calls for more icebreakers. Wildlife at the Brink: Canada’s northern spotted owl in B.C. is effectively gone in the wild, with habitat loss and barred owls blamed. Coastal Flooding Pressure: Australia’s sea-level rise could damage hundreds of thousands of properties by 2100, with major economic losses already underway. Water Under Strain: Nevis commissioned a large drought-focused water storage tank, citing climate-driven water stress.

Climate Policy Rollback: The Trump administration is expected to remove Biden-era limits on carbon pollution from coal and gas power plants, though some controls on pollutants like mercury and arsenic would remain. Arctic Shipping & Security: European leaders meet in Finland as Arctic thaw opens new shipping routes and Russian military buildup raises security fears. Climate Disasters Hit Economies: Nepal’s BhoteKoshi–Trishuli floods are preliminarily estimated to cost about 6.69% of GDP, with thousands missing and billions needed for recovery. Water Under Strain: Denver’s drought is worsening under accelerated warming and drying, while Afghanistan’s UN-Habitat warns millions still lack safe drinking water amid drought and floods. Energy Cooperation After Floods: India approved power exports to Nepal for 18 hours a day through year-end to help cover shortages after hydropower losses. Local Climate Politics: Protesters in Leeds target Microsoft’s planned data centers over water use and energy impacts. Green Tech for Renters: Australia is moving toward plug-in solar and battery options for apartment dwellers and renters to cut bills. Circular Economy Push: India’s World Circular Economy Forum 2026 heads to Gandhinagar next week.