AGP Executive Report

Climate diplomacy & COP31: Türkiye is using UN General Assembly week in New York to spotlight its COP31 preparations, with Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan pushing a climate agenda and zero-waste messaging. UN climate costs: Leaders at Climate Week are tying climate impacts to energy prices, AI-driven power demand, and the human toll of disasters, including Nepal’s deadly flood. Pacific finance push: Fiji is urging climate finance to shift from pledges to fast, scaled delivery for water systems and oceans, while Pacific journalists press for stronger scrutiny of climate funding. Data centers, power, and pollution: California Gov. Newsom signed laws requiring data centers to cover grid connection, generation, and a bigger share of wildfire costs; environmental groups also sued over San Antonio data centers and gas power plants. Water resilience: California declared a state of emergency to prepare for severe El Niño flooding, and New York awarded wastewater planning grants to Southern Tier towns. Nature & wildlife: A study suggests black-browed albatrosses may adapt too slowly in a warming Southern Ocean, and researchers found long-lived sea cucumbers face overfishing risks. Local conservation: A conservation easement permanently protected 121 acres near Chimney Rock State Park, safeguarding streams and rare plants.

Extreme Fire Weather for Europe’s Young: A new study in Environmental Research Letters warns children born in Europe in 2025 will face about 84% more extreme fire-weather exposure than people born in 1950, with the Mediterranean hit hardest. AI Meets Climate Regulation: Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez says AI can’t be self-regulated by tech firms, and calls for tougher rules plus environmental standards for data centres. Data Centres, Local Impacts: In Ohio, critics say AI-driven power demand is pushing fossil gas plants that could worsen pollution and health burdens; in Virginia, voter opposition to data centres has surged. Heat Deaths Undercounted: Research finds Missouri’s heat-related deaths are far higher than official records suggest, pointing to gaps in how causes of death are logged. Nature-Based Resilience in Practice: Scotland’s Loch Lomond & The Trossachs is piloting integrated land-use planning to tackle housing, climate and biodiversity together. Reuse Over Waste: Wales’ new community reuse shop “The Big Den” has diverted 23 tonnes of household goods from landfill in three months. Himalayan Climate Loss: A Nepali short documentary on climate change in Nepal’s Himalayas won an award in Italy, dedicated to victims of the Bhotekoshi floods.

EPA Rollback: The Trump administration moved to repeal power-plant carbon limits, arguing CO2 from coal and gas has “no material impact,” drawing fresh lawsuits from environmental and health groups. Climate Finance & Diplomacy: Nepal is pushing “Mountain Diplomacy for Socially Just Climate Finance” as Himalayan disasters worsen, while it also sets up a dedicated climate diplomacy division ahead of UNGA. Biodiversity Under Pressure: In the Philippines, Ifugao rice terraces face biodiversity loss as youth leave farming; a GEF-backed plan aims to link conservation with ancestral-domain economic plans. Ocean Protection: The Bezos Earth Fund announced $25M in grants to protect the tropical Pacific, supporting marine protected areas across multiple island nations. Data Matters for Pollution: A new push highlights how faulty environmental data can derail pollution and climate policy, from international reporting to green finance decisions. Wildlife & Cleanup: Qatar honored cleanup workers on World Cleanup Day, and Nigeria’s First Lady urged action to cut food waste. Local Climate Risk: Richmond’s fast-tracked solar deal faces concerns over long-term financial and legal risk. Environmental Defenders: A Global Witness report says 124 land and environmental defenders were killed in 2025, with Latin America accounting for 85%.

Heat & health impacts: Europe’s extreme heatwaves are driving about €180bn in losses and roughly 35,000 deaths, with knock-on strain on grids, agriculture, transport and worker productivity. Food security & resilience planning: Malaysia is urging a whole-of-nation climate response, warning floods, droughts and haze threaten rice, livestock and fisheries unless climate-resilient farming, water management and food storage are scaled fast. Transboundary haze response: Malaysia is offering Indonesia firefighting help—an aircraft, helicopters and disaster teams—as unhealthy air spreads and regional forest fires cross borders. Climate-smart agriculture: France is testing African sorghum to cope with heat, while Jordan’s Jerash governorate is using field schools and smart irrigation to raise returns per drop. Early warning upgrades: Nepal’s Himalayan flash floods are pushing calls to expand early warning beyond rainfall to other triggers like ice/rock collapse. Air pollution beyond CO₂: NASA-linked monitoring in Addis Ababa finds black carbon far above health thresholds, highlighting a soot public-health crisis. Policy & diplomacy: Nepal is setting up an environment diplomacy unit, while India’s PM renews climate-inequality arguments at a tribunal-linked conference. Nature & adaptation in cities: London’s parks may shift to drought-tougher planting as water limits tighten.

Climate policy & courts: India’s CJI Surya Kant urged courts to harmonise conservation and development, calling the Supreme Court a “banyan tree” of environmental justice and pushing “eco-centric proportionality” in climate disputes. US power plant rollback: Environmental groups and agencies sued after the EPA moved to repeal key power-plant climate rules, shifting impacts to states and communities. AI, energy and risk: Trump announced an “AI Force” while dismissing superintelligence fears; meanwhile, new reporting highlights growing concerns about data-center buildout and its climate footprint. Extreme heat: Europe’s summer broke records, with Germany reporting unprecedented heat and heat-related deaths. Water & restoration: Jamaica commissioned a $50M pipeline phase to expand water access; Qatar is rehabilitating meadows by planting native seedlings and sowing seeds. Coasts & biodiversity: Alaska archaeologists raced to recover Yup’ik artefacts after storm-driven erosion; Baja’s “Guardianas del Conchalito” women restored mangroves and revived sustainable oyster fishing. Local action: Uruguay plans 10,000–12,000 trees to cut heat-island impacts; Goa logged 29 mangrove offences with 18 still under inquiry.

Climate Justice & Accountability: India’s PM Narendra Modi told an international environment conference that developing countries are unfairly blamed for emissions, pointing to developed nations’ roughly six-times-higher per-capita carbon output and urging stronger climate responsibility. Environmental Governance: The National Green Tribunal convened judges and experts to tackle gaps in policy, implementation, and enforcement on climate and environment. Wildfire & Cross-Border Haze: Malaysia approved help for Indonesia’s wildfires, sending aircraft and firefighters to curb smoke spreading across borders. Food Systems Under Pressure: New reporting warns Africa’s “Green Revolution” push is squeezing traditional, resilient crops like millet as monocultures expand, raising hunger risks amid climate stress. Local Climate Action: A California man’s oak-planting effort—10,000 seedlings—targets canopy loss after drought and fire. Community Pushback: Residents in West Virginia plan a meeting over a proposed “advanced recycling” plant that would burn plastic feedstock, with critics calling it rebranded incineration. Nature-Based Innovation: Researchers in China highlight a Yangtze grass-to-bioresins push to cut reliance on petroleum and lower warming impacts.

Climate Policy: Illinois released a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan aiming for net-zero by 2050, calling for major changes in transport, buildings, industry, agriculture and waste, with an estimated $21B a year in net benefits. Climate Accountability & Health: A new study estimates human-caused climate change contributed to about 27% of U.S. heat-related ER visits (2018-2025), underscoring mounting health costs. EPA Rollbacks: Multiple reports highlight the Trump EPA’s move to repeal Biden-era power-plant climate rules, drawing warnings that it will shift pollution burdens onto communities. Extreme Heat & Disasters: Coverage points to record-breaking heat and climate-linked flooding risks, as the UN warns current policies put the world on track for at least 1.8°C. Biodiversity & Wildlife: India’s environment ministry ordered studies for four bear species amid rising human-bear conflicts, including climate impacts on hibernation. Ocean Conservation: Niue Ocean Wide Trust was named an Earthshot Prize finalist for a plan to fund long-term Pacific ocean protection. Energy & Infrastructure: Battery fires returned to California’s Moss Landing power plant, while gas prices climbed toward record territory.

Climate & Jobs in Ghana: Green Prosperity Africa Foundation argues climate action can also drive entrepreneurship, clean energy, climate-smart farming, recycling and circular livelihoods as heat and rainfall shifts threaten incomes and food security. Policy & Power Plant Climate Rules: The U.S. EPA moves to repeal key power-plant greenhouse-gas limits, triggering lawsuits and raising environmental-justice and air-pollution concerns. Great Lakes Pipeline Scrutiny: Line 5 returns to service after a massive spill, but Indigenous and environmental groups warn the aging pipeline plan still risks another disaster. Earthshot Prize Finalists: Prince William’s 2026 Earthshot finalists include conservation and Indigenous-led efforts, highlighting practical solutions for habitat loss, pollution and climate threats. Clean Cooking in Tanzania: Oryx Gas Tanzania hands out LPG cylinders in Namtumbo to cut firewood-driven deforestation. Water Resilience (UK): A new push reframes drought and flooding as one volatile-climate water-management challenge. Data Centers & Grid Pressure (Finland): A citizens’ initiative seeks tighter rules on data-center grid connections, backup power and waste-heat use. Coal Phase-Out (South Korea): South Korea plans early retirement of 21 coal units by 2040 while keeping some as reserve capacity.

Climate & Energy Policy: President Trump repealed a 2009 Chesapeake Bay restoration order, raising alarms that progress on pollution and flooding could stall. Air & Health: Maine launched near real-time pollen dashboards using AI-powered monitoring, aiming to help residents reduce exposure as pollen seasons intensify. Biodiversity Under Pressure: England’s Atlantic salmon stocks hit record lows, with most rivers falling below levels needed to sustain populations as freshwater and marine conditions worsen. Water & Community: A Nova Scotia community is urging a pause on planned aerial glyphosate spraying, alleging inadequate public notice. Wildfire & Land Management: An Idaho wildfire investigation links prescribed burns on state-leased grazing land to a top Trump appointee’s family ties. Renewables & Industry: South Africa’s Green Methanol Corridor plans wastewater-to-green-methanol production in a Vaal SEZ using solar and wind. Coastal Resilience: Canada’s Comox Valley and K’ómoks First Nation won a climate adaptation award for sea-level and flooding planning. Nature & Culture: Big Basin Redwoods State Park received a $6M donation for a new ecology interpretive center after major fires.

Climate Rollbacks & Health Costs: West Virginia’s coal-heavy power model is colliding with EPA moves to repeal power-plant carbon standards, raising alarms about higher pollution and respiratory harm. Heat & Buildings: Europe’s construction playbook is being stress-tested by longer, hotter heatwaves, pushing cities toward new cooling and design priorities. Flood Preparedness: New York launches FloodSafe NY, expanding hydrologic monitoring to spot flood patterns earlier and improve drought and clean-water planning. El Niño & Dengue: An IITM study links El Niño-linked Pacific warming to higher dengue risk in Kerala, offering warning signals months ahead. Water Stress: Colorado weighs a voluntary, state-run conservation program tied to federal requests, while farmers want clearer rules as the Colorado River crunch deepens. Data Centers, Power & Policy: South Korea proposes “virtual power lines” and a resilient grid partnership to handle AI-driven demand; meanwhile South Africa faces protests over hyperscaler data-center expansion. Carbon Markets & Farms: DR Congo enacts a carbon market law with an agentic-AI national sovereign registry, while India pays farmers for regenerative practices via verified carbon credits. Nature Restoration: Kuwait unveils mangrove restoration at Oman Climate Week, aiming to rebuild coastal protection and biodiversity. E-waste Push: Cartoon Network MENA and Dubai Media City roll out character-themed recycling bins to boost e-waste sorting in business hubs.

PFAS & AI infrastructure: Campaigners warn the AI data-center boom could trigger a “tidal wave” of expanded forever-chemicals production, as major PFAS makers link growth to chipmaking and data-center cooling. Climate rollback & air quality: The U.S. EPA moves to eliminate power-plant limits on climate pollution, raising alarms about worse smog and asthma impacts—especially in places like Pima County. Ozone progress: New reporting marks signs the ozone layer is recovering after the Montreal Protocol, while India reiterates its ozone protection and climate commitments. Water & resilience on the ground: Lagos launches a Water Ambassadors Initiative to push conservation and hygiene, while Iloilo lawmakers back climate-resilient housing plans for 2027. Coasts & ecosystems: Kuwait highlights mangrove cultivation to restore coastal biodiversity and strengthen climate adaptation. Forests & funding: Uganda secures $31M via a results-based REDD+ program to support forest restoration and climate-smart rural livelihoods. Energy transition debate: Travel expert Simon Calder warns UK net-zero aviation costs could mean higher flight prices. Data centers meet local pushback: Orange County advances a temporary moratorium on new data center development.

Wildfire Pressure: US firefighters say the federal government is failing them as extreme wildfire seasons intensify risk and staffing gaps. Climate-Resilient Housing: Philippines lawmakers push DHSUD to build disaster-ready, climate-resilient homes in 2027, including in low-lying and Project NOAH areas. Food & Farming Impacts: Vermont apple growers report warmer springs and heavier rain are boosting fire blight and apple scab, while Vermont’s orchard economy braces for more climate-driven pest pressure. Health & Air Quality: A South African study links air pollution to higher pneumococcal disease risk, urging stronger nationwide air-quality efforts. Desert Solar Farming: Egypt tests agrivoltaics—solar panels over crops—to cut evaporation and generate clean power in harsh desert conditions. Ozone & Cooling: Algeria marks World Ozone Day with “Global action for a cooler planet,” tying ozone protection to broader climate action. Extreme Flood Lessons: Nepal’s Bhotekoshi–Trishuli disaster highlights cascading Himalayan hazards and the need for preventive, basin-wide planning. Aviation Emissions Costs: UK advisers warn Heathrow’s third runway could raise long-term flight costs as emissions cuts and carbon removal are priced in. Biodiversity Data Push: Nepal launches a nationwide butterfly count to fill gaps in up-to-date ecosystem health data.

US Climate Rollback: The Trump EPA finalized repeals of Biden-era greenhouse gas limits for power plants, a move Maine conservation groups say will raise health and air-pollution risks. AI Data Centers & Power Demand: Trump mocked opposition to AI data centers, but a Gallup poll found 71% of Americans disagree—many citing water/energy use and pollution concerns; meanwhile Iowa scientists warn data centers are driving a major electricity-demand surge. Climate Monitoring From Space: ESA launched two Earth-observation satellites—FLEX to track heatwave impacts on vegetation and Sentinel-3C to monitor oceans and land use for climate and food resilience. PFAS Fallout: North Carolina and local governments reached a $455M settlement with Chemours over PFAS contamination. Coastal Resilience: Hawaiʻi deployed a living seawall hybrid reef at Kalaeloa, using engineered porous structures with coral to blunt waves and protect rising-tide shorelines. Regional Climate Diplomacy: Oman Climate Week opened with calls for stronger regional cooperation, including Bahrain’s push for shared climate action. Biodiversity Finance: A Pakistan-focused piece argues biodiversity funding is “productive infrastructure,” not an environmental expense.

US Climate Rollback: The Trump EPA is erasing Biden-era limits on greenhouse gas pollution from coal and gas power plants, and also moves to block future administrations from regulating plant emissions—sparking warnings about higher health costs and more warming. Heat and Air Quality: Record summer heat continues to bite, with San Antonio under heat advisories after the hottest US summer in 132 years, while Malaysia faces a fresh haze surge tied to fires in Indonesia. Extreme Weather Prep: Kenya’s Mombasa plans to hire youth to clear blocked drainage ahead of El Niño rains, and the West Midlands highlights nature-based resilience as drought and flooding risks grow. Monitoring and Data: The US embassy air-monitoring program that helped make pollution visible was shut by the Trump administration, and Europe just launched two Earth-observation satellites to track heatwaves and ocean conditions. Biodiversity Under Pressure: Gray whales are dying in alarming numbers along the US West Coast as climate-linked food shortages worsen. Policy and Justice: Niger tightens media rules, raising fears of deeper control as climate and environmental harm cross borders.

US Climate Rollback: The Trump EPA finalized the repeal of Biden-era carbon pollution limits for coal and gas power plants, undoing rules that pushed plants toward cutting emissions or using carbon capture, and setting up fresh legal fights over the agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act. Health & Cost Fallout: Critics warn the move will worsen air quality and climate impacts while shifting costs to families and communities, as EPA says it will save industry more than $300 billion. Local Climate Politics: In the run-up to elections, communities are weighing climate and infrastructure pressures—from data-center growth debates to climate-focused candidate forums. Arctic Security Meets Climate: EU leaders urged a stronger Arctic presence, citing climate-driven opening sea routes and security concerns. Wildlife at Risk: Canada’s northern spotted owl appears nearly gone in B.C., with conservation efforts racing against habitat loss and barred owl competition. Invasive Mosquito Alert: Iceland reported rare mosquito sightings, putting the country’s “mosquito-free” status under scrutiny.

US Climate Rollback: Trump’s EPA is expected to remove Biden-era limits on carbon pollution from coal and gas plants, keeping only some controls on other pollutants—another blow to efforts to curb greenhouse gases. Water Stress: Denver’s drought is worsening as climate change drives long-term drying and low snowpack, leaving reservoirs unlikely to refill soon. UK Pollution Alert: An Environment Agency “do not swim” warning was issued after a pollutant turned a river bright blue at Exmouth, with toxicity checks under way. Data Centers vs Climate: Protesters in Leeds rallied against Microsoft’s planned data centers over water use, energy demand, noise, and land impacts. Climate Extremes in the Himalayas: New research warns Himalayan glaciers are melting far faster than a decade ago, with weak monitoring raising risks from unstable glacial lakes. El Niño Dryness: Samoa faces another three months of below-normal rainfall, threatening crops, water supplies, and wildfire risk. Circular Economy Push: India will host the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar on Sept 15–16. Food-Water Tradeoffs: Jordanian experts urge “more water-efficient production,” rethinking crops and farming choices under severe water scarcity. AI for the Planet: Google picked four Indian startups for an AI accelerator focused on environmental solutions.