Sam's News — climate-change — 2026-09-16¶
Conservation¶
7.5 Global Witness reports 124 environmental defenders killed in 2025¶
Global Witness documented 124 environmental defenders killed worldwide in 2025, averaging one murder every three days. Victims included Indigenous people, farmers, and organizers protecting ecosystems from corporate, criminal, and government harm. Mining was the industry most frequently linked to killings, with Colombia accounting for 39 deaths.
- 124 environmental defenders killed in 2025
- One murder every three days on average
- Mining most frequently linked to killings
- Organized crime or contract killings identified in over one-third of cases
- Colombia deadliest country with 39 deaths, nearly half Indigenous people
Sources: Inside Climate News AI Web Searched
Policy¶
7 Congressional Republicans Push Bill to Shield Fossil Fuel Companies From Climate Lawsuits¶
House Republicans are advancing the 'Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026' to shield fossil fuel companies from climate-related lawsuits. The bill claims linking fossil fuel emissions to climate disasters lacks scientific credibility, contradicting decades of research. The Judiciary Committee was scheduled to debate the measure on September 16, 2026, as the Supreme Court prepared to hear a major climate liability case.
- Bill would prohibit liability for mining, extraction, production, refinement, transportation, distribution, marketing, manufacture, or sale of energy
- Introduced April 2026 by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.)
- Senate companion bill by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and three fellow Republicans
- Judiciary Committee vote scheduled September 16, 2026
- Aligns with Trump administration rollback of federal greenhouse gas limits
Sources: Inside Climate News AI Web Searched
6.5 Texas railroad commissioner defies state legislature on oil and gas regulation¶
Texas Railroad Commission chair Wayne Christian failed to appear for a House committee hearing on regulatory oversight.
Sources: Inside Climate News RSS
Climate Policy¶
7 UK Climate Change Committee warns Heathrow expansion could push aviation to 80% of emissions by 2050¶
The UK's Climate Change Committee warns aviation could account for 80% of the country's carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 if current trends continue. Heathrow expansion would add 2.4 megatonnes of CO2 by 2050, representing approximately 5% of all UK emissions. The CCC calls for revised aviation policy by 2027 based on a 'polluter pays' principle.
- Aviation emissions projected to reach 80% of UK's total CO2 by 2050 without intervention
- Heathrow expansion would add 2.4 MtCO2 by 2050, or 4.5 MtCO2 by 2054
- Without expansion, aviation emissions projected at 38 MtCO2 in 2050
- Aviation emissions doubled since 1990 while other sectors' fell
- Government decision on Heathrow expansion expected by 2029
Sources: Carbon Brief AI Web Searched
6.5 Senate bill would obstruct future energy efficiency standards and repeal existing rules¶
The Energy Efficiency Reform Act, heard by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, would make it harder for the Department of Energy to update appliance efficiency standards.
Sources: Inside Climate News RSS
Environment¶
7 EU plans new firefighting fleet in response to deadly summer heat waves¶
The European Union announced plans for a new firefighting fleet following a deadly summer with extreme heat waves that killed more than 35,000 additional deaths and severely impacted infrastructure. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted that Europe is warming at double the global rate and requested emergency responders design new capabilities.
- More than 35,000 additional deaths from heat waves across EU
- Major rivers dried: Danube, Rhine, La Garonne
- Hundreds of thousands fled homes in France and Spain
- Nuclear reactors shut down in Hungary and France
- EU warming at double the global average rate
Sources: Mongabay AI Web Searched
Climate¶
6.5 US Firefighters Say Federal Government Failing Amid Intense Wildfire Season¶
Firefighters battling severe US wildfires report they are spread thin and underfunded, claiming the federal government is failing to provide adequate resources.
Sources: The Guardian — Climate Crisis RSS
6.5 Venezuela's Historic US Oil Deal Stokes Environmental and Human Rights Alarms¶
A major oil agreement granting the US access to 65+ billion barrels of Venezuelan reserves and $100 billion in infrastructure investment raises concerns about environmental damage and human rights impacts.
Sources: Mongabay RSS
6 Record summer heat confirmed by meteorological data¶
Analysis confirms that the summer of 2026 was as hot as subjective experience suggested.
Sources: Grist RSS
Energy¶
6.5 Ukraine deploys solar power to build resilience against Russian grid attacks¶
Solar energy is being positioned as a path to infrastructure resilience as Russia continues targeting Ukraine's electrical grid.
Sources: Grist RSS