Arctic land and ice on a sunny day.

Arctic temperatures spike far beyond normal, nearing melting point

Temperatures at the North Pole soared more than 20° Celsius above average, briefly nearing the melting point in the dead of winter and alarming climate scientists.

Ajit Niranjan reports for The Guardian.


In short:

  • A deep low-pressure system over Iceland directed warm air toward the Arctic, pushing temperatures above -1°C (30.2° Fahrenheit) as far north as 87°N.
  • Arctic temperatures have risen nearly four times faster than the global average since 1979, making extreme heat events more frequent and severe.
  • Scientists predict the Arctic Ocean will lose its summer sea ice cover within the next two decades, even with drastic pollution cuts.

Key quote:

“There is no negotiating with this fact, and no negotiating with the fact that the ice will disappear more and more as long as temperatures keep rising.”

— Dirk Notz, climate scientist at the University of Hamburg

Why this matters:

The Arctic, often referred to as the planet’s natural air conditioner, plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate. However, it is warming at an alarming pace — about four times faster than the global average — triggering a cascade of consequences that extend far beyond the polar region. Melting sea ice, a visible indicator of this warming, reduces the Earth’s ability to reflect sunlight, leading to further heat absorption and amplifying global warming.

Learn more: Arctic heat surges to unprecedented levels

body of water near green mountain under white clouds during daytime.

NOAA scaled back major CO2 report as Earth’s carbon sinks weaken

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) quietly released data showing a record-breaking surge in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in 2024, raising fears that Earth's natural ability to absorb carbon is faltering.

Chelsea Harvey reports for E&E News.

Keep reading...Show less
Sunrise in the woods

Get our Good News newsletter

Get the best positive, solutions-oriented stories we've seen on the intersection of our health and environment, FREE every Tuesday in your inbox. Subscribe here today. Keep the change tomorrow.

A row of wind turbines stretching into the distance with mountains in the background.

Trump’s push to sway Europe on fossil fuels clashes with clean energy momentum

The Trump administration’s attempt to position fossil fuels as Europe’s best bet for energy security landed flat at a major summit in London, where most leaders emphasized a future rooted in clean energy.

Karl Mathiesen reports for POLITICO.

Keep reading...Show less
Brown mosquito on blue fabric

Climate change drives infectious disease shifts through air, water, and mosquitoes

As the planet warms, infectious diseases transmitted through air, water, and vectors like mosquitoes are expanding into new regions, complicating public health responses worldwide.

Bhabna Banerjee reports for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
aerial view photography of large conference room

At UN forum, Indigenous women call for climate justice as U.S. touts economic policies

Indigenous leaders at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues pushed for the recognition of traditional knowledge and land rights while a U.S. representative’s pro-Trump remarks were met with silence.

B. ‘Toastie’ Oaster reports for Grist.

Keep reading...Show less
A piece of wood with green leaves in the shape of the world's continents on it.

Trump administration’s shutdown of USAID devastates global conservation efforts

After a sweeping dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, conservation projects protecting wildlife, forests, and ecosystems across dozens of countries are collapsing due to funding cuts.

Adam Welz reports for Yale Environment 360.

Keep reading...Show less
High rise buildings in Belem Brazil.

Construction for Cop30 in Belém sparks controversy

As Belém prepares to host the Cop30 climate summit this November, critics warn that new development projects meant to welcome 50,000 visitors are deepening environmental and social divides in the Amazon’s gateway city.

Jonathan Watts reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
Mining equipment with a mountain in the background.

Trump leans on coal revival promises to energize West Virginia communities

President Donald Trump's latest push to revive the coal industry by loosening regulations and encouraging new mining projects has sparked hope among many West Virginians, though experts caution the industry's economic decline may be irreversible.

Leah Willingham and John Raby report for The Associated Press.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

People  sitting in an outdoors table working on a big sign.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

joe biden

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.