Sam's News — climate-change — 2026-08-15¶
Environment¶
7 Lawsuit Challenges Colorado River Dam Expansion Over Climate Concerns¶
Environmental groups are suing to block Denver Water's Gross Reservoir expansion, arguing the Colorado River has no remaining water to allocate and that climate change should disqualify the project. The case centers on whether federal regulators must consider climate impacts when approving infrastructure that increases water withdrawals from the dwindling river.
- Denver Water seeks to nearly triple Gross Reservoir capacity
- Army Corps of Engineers argues it needn't consider climate change in expansion decisions
- Lawsuit filed in 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Has potential implications for Western water management negotiations
Sources: Inside Climate News AI Web Searched
7 NextEra Energy Mutes Renewable Energy Messaging Under Trump Administration¶
NextEra Energy, the world's largest publicly traded electricity company, has systematically removed clean energy messaging from its communications and filings since the president of the United States returned to office. The company now emphasizes a "diverse" energy portfolio including gas and adoption of "American energy dominance" language, reflecting the energy industry's broader retreat from environmental positioning.
- Stopped describing itself as renewable energy company to regulators in 2025
- Overhauled subsidiary's website to deemphasize clean energy
- Shifted messaging to emphasize fossil fuels and "American energy dominance"
- Reflects broader industry retreat from environmental positioning
Sources: Inside Climate News AI Web Searched
6.5 Brazilian Indigenous Leaders Warn Against Colonial Energy Transition¶
Brazilian Indigenous leaders have called on the UN to ensure that the global energy transition does not become a new form of colonial exploitation.
Sources: Inside Climate News RSS
Policy/Environment¶
6.5 California Pesticide Regulators Accused of Industry Capture, Farmworker Safety Neglect¶
Farmworker advocates charge that California's pesticide regulatory agency has been captured by industry interests and is failing to protect workers from hazardous chemicals.
Sources: Inside Climate News RSS
Policy¶
6.5 President Expands Hunting and Fishing Access on 92 Million Acres of Wildlife Refuges¶
The Department of the Interior has announced the largest expansion of hunting and fishing access in U.S. history, opening over 95 percent of national wildlife refuge land to public use.
Sources: Inside Climate News RSS
5.5 UK Prime Minister Announces £65 Million Drought Relief for Farmers¶
The UK Prime Minister has announced £65 million in funding to help drought-affected farmers build reservoirs and access better water supplies following pressure from Labour.
Sources: The Guardian — Climate Crisis RSS
5.5 Over 100 royal estate homes fail UK energy efficiency standards¶
More than 100 homes on King Charles and Prince William's inherited estates have EPC ratings of F or G, falling below required energy efficiency standards.
Sources: The Guardian — Climate Crisis RSS
Conservation¶
6 Colombian village learns coexistence with Andean condors¶
A remote Colombian Andean village is transitioning from persecuting condors to coexisting with the endangered birds through changed attitudes toward livestock losses.
Sources: Mongabay RSS
5.5 John Salehe advances Tanzania's community-based conservation model¶
Conservation leader John Salehe helped establish Tanzania's community conservation movement to maintain wildlife corridors across pastoralist and farming lands.
Sources: Mongabay RSS
Climate¶
6 AI systems risk accelerating fossil fuel emissions instead of reducing them¶
Analysis suggests that artificial intelligence could help fossil fuel companies increase their greenhouse gas emissions rather than decrease them.
Sources: Grist RSS