Sam's News — climate-change — 2026-09-15¶
Climate Policy¶
8.5 Trump Administration Repeals Biden-Era Power Plant Emissions Rule¶
The president of the United States' administration repealed most of the Biden-era 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards for power plants, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions regulations. The EPA claims control technologies are "not adequately demonstrated" and asserts power plant emissions have no material climate impact, despite record summer temperatures and UN warnings of increasingly dangerous climate risks.
- EPA repealed most Biden-era Carbon Pollution Standards for power plants
- Power plants identified as second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions
- EPA proposes revoking all remaining GHG emissions requirements for power plants
- Announced September 14, 2026
- Comes amid record summer temperatures and UN climate warnings
Sources: Inside Climate News AI Web Searched, Le Monde.fr RSS, Engadget RSS
8.5 Trump Administration Repeals Federal Limits on Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions¶
The president of the United States administration has rescinded rules that previously capped greenhouse gas emissions from electric power plants.
Sources: Al Jazeera RSS
Climate¶
8 Incoming 'Super' El Niño Poses Global Climate Chaos Risk¶
A 'super' El Niño event is strengthening in the equatorial Pacific, forecast to peak at 4°C warming later in 2026, potentially causing one of the largest global weather upheavals in a millennium. The phenomenon is intensified by rapid climate change, with both El Niño and La Niña phases increasing in frequency and duration as atmospheric CO2 rises.
- 'Super' El Niño peak warming forecast at 4°C later in 2026
- Defined as 'super' at equatorial Pacific heating ≥2°C; this event significantly exceeds threshold
- Potentially one of largest global weather disruptions in a millennium
- Global preparedness for event described as lagging
- Stronger El Niños becoming more frequent as CO2 increases
Sources: The Guardian AI Web Searched, The Guardian — Climate Crisis RSS
8 Right-Wing Leaders Could Control 95% of Amazon by 2027, Experts Warn¶
Climate experts warn that right-wing leaders could control up to 95% of the Amazon rainforest by 2027, with Brazil's October 2026 election as the deciding factor. Four Amazonian nations already have right-wing administrations favoring resource extraction, and similar outcomes in Brazil and Venezuela could push the rainforest toward an ecological tipping point.
- 95% of Amazon could be under right-wing control by January 2027
- Brazil's October 2026 election is pivotal; contains over 60% of Amazon
- Four nations—Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador—already under right-wing leadership
- Right-wing leaders explicitly campaigning for mining, agribusiness expansion, and environmental agency downgrades
Sources: Mongabay AI Web Searched
Policy¶
8 Trump administration rule weakens Endangered Species Act protections¶
A rule by the president of the United States rescinding habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act took effect September 15, 2026, eliminating a definition of 'harm' that had protected species' habitats for 50 years. The change allows development on private land even where endangered species depend on that habitat for survival.
- Removes habitat-modification definition of 'harm' from Endangered Species Act
- 21 state attorneys general filed lawsuit challenging rescission
- Seven former Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA leaders urged restoration in August letter
Sources: Inside Climate News AI Web Searched
Policy & Environment¶
7.5 USAID's dismantling eroded global environmental and conservation funding¶
USAID's dismantling by the Trump administration approximately 1.5 years before September 2026 (early 2025) eliminated a major global environmental funder that provided approximately $1 billion annually for climate and conservation. The abrupt closure has disrupted deforestation prevention, climate resilience programs, and U.S. intelligence capabilities, with few funders replacing its support.
- USAID dismantled ~early 2025, one of world's largest environmental funders
- Provided ~$1 billion annually for climate and conservation
- Global impacts include spike in deforestation and illicit activity
- Reduced civil society resources and government environmental commitment
- Few or no funders have filled the funding gap
Sources: Inside Climate News AI Web Searched
Climate-Resilience¶
7 Indigenous lawyers invoke climate change as human rights violation at International Court of Justice¶
Human rights lawyer Julian Aguon secured a unanimous 2025 International Court of Justice ruling establishing that countries must legally limit greenhouse gas emissions. Arguing that climate change violates fundamental human rights—including the right to life, culture, and self-determination—Aguon gathered testimony from Indigenous communities across Melanesia and Micronesia documenting how climate impacts destroy homes, traditions, and livelihoods. The ruling provides legal tools for communities to pursue climate action or seek damages in national courts.
- ICJ ruling (2025): countries have legal obligation to limit greenhouse gas emissions
- Climate change framed as violation of right to life, culture, and self-determination
- Yakel village, Vanuatu: yam crop ceremonies not performed in years due to climate impacts
- Lawyer: Julian Aguon, Indigenous Chamorro from Guam, founder of Blue Ocean Law
Sources: Yale Environment 360 AI Web Searched
Climate & Conservation¶
6.5 Arctic warming drives gray whale starvation; U.S. protection status questioned¶
As Arctic warming reduces food sources, gray whales face starvation, raising debate over whether additional U.S. protections should be implemented.
Sources: Grist RSS
Sustainability¶
6.5 Bristol Becomes First UK City to Ban Fast Fashion Advertising¶
Bristol's green-run council has imposed the UK's first citywide ban on fast fashion advertising, along with restrictions on airline, cruise, and SUV ads.
Sources: The Guardian — Climate Crisis RSS
Science¶
6.5 Marine heatwave linked to sharp decline in Hawaiian humpback whales¶
A marine heatwave in the northeastern Pacific Ocean reduced krill and forage fish populations, causing a subsequent sharp decline in Hawaiian humpback whale numbers.
Sources: Mongabay RSS