Global Scans · Climate Action · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

• [New] Climate change could reshape forests across Mexico, the United States and Canada over the coming decades. EurekAlert!
• [New] 216 million people worldwide are at risk of displacement from climate change. ASLA
• [New] The World Meteorological Organization forecasts an overheating Arctic that warms nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit between now and 2030 and a dangerous drought with potential wildfires for the Amazon, a crucial part of Earth's natural defences to lessen human-caused climate change. Orlando Sentinel
• [New] The Climate Change Committee advised government last week not to allow domestic food production to drop below 60% of the UK's food needs, and said the damages inflicted by climate change on food production could reach more than £2bn a year in the 2030s, from about £200m today. The Guardian
• [New] The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) formally identifies climate change as a critical national security threat and a threat multiplier, as it exacerbates existing stresses like poverty, political instability, and resource scarcity. CODEPINK - Women for Peace
• [New] Climate change, together with intensifying human activities, is reshaping global plant invasion dynamics and increasingly threatening ecosystem stability and biodiversity. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Climate-related risks and global supply chain disruptions further affect price stability and availability, limiting scalability and slowing product innovation in emerging markets. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Climate models are converging: El Nino is likely to return by mid-2026 and could be strong. ESCAP
• [New] As the climate crisis persists, the US could see more intense swings in hurricane activity, from quiet seasons to above-average ones, from year to year. The Guardian
• [New] A report from the UK Parliament warns of a 1.3 billion gallon daily water shortage in England if action is not taken to address climate change and industrial growth. Circle of Blue
• [New] El Nino: The potential for a rare super El Nino event later in 2026 could alter weather patterns around the world and, combined with fossil fuel-caused climate change, push global temperatures to record-high levels. Union of Concerned Scientists
• [New] 2026's Danger Season follows three years of the hottest global temperatures in recorded history and dozens of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters across the United States as climate change boosts the frequency and severity of extreme weather. Union of Concerned Scientists
• [New] There is a serious risk that the combination of climate change and El Nino could result in unprecedented weather extremes in 2026. ST
• [New] Tighter fiscal positions have reduced the financial headroom for public climate investment, and the rapid growth of generative AI has simultaneously increased global energy demand and diverted capital from climate transition opportunities. OneStop ESG
• [New] Climate change poses risks that can affect Singapore in many ways. Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment
• [New] According to the World Health Organization, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Russia is actively engaged in the international climate agenda, taking account of both the challenges and the economic opportunities emerging in its northern regions - including expanded access to the northern sea route and mineral resources in permafrost zones. The Guardian
• [New] Due to the climate crisis, by 2050, annual adaptation costs could reach US$ 565 billion, coral reefs could virtually disappear, 90% of coastal cities could be hit by sea level rise, and up to 70 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa will be forced to migrate. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• [New] By limiting global average temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius from the 2.7 degrees we are now tracking towards, the number of global climate migrants could be reduced by half, and the number exposed to extreme heat can reduce fivefold, from 22% to just 5% of people on the planet. Next Big Idea Club
• [New] The combination of climate change and a strengthening El Nino could intensify floods, droughts, and wildfires later in 2026 and into 2027. Yeni Safak
• [New] As of early 2026, federal projections show Canada falls short of its 2030 climate goals. Climate Scorecard
• [New] Brazil occupies a pivotal position in the global climate agenda, combining significant transition risks with unique opportunities linked to its natural capital and emerging carbon markets. Industry Link

Last updated: 31 May 2026