Global temperatures hit record highs in 2023 and are on track to be even higher in 2024.
Oceans, which absorb most of the planet’s heat, remain unusually warm, delaying expected cooling patterns.
Cleaner air from reduced pollution may contribute to rising temperatures by allowing more solar radiation to reach Earth.
Key quote:
“The global ocean is warming relentlessly year after year and is the best single indicator that the planet is warming.”
— Kevin Trenberth, distinguished scholar with the National Center for Atmospheric Research
Why this matters:
Persistent high ocean temperatures can drive extreme weather, like heat waves, storms and droughts. If this trend continues, climate models may underestimate future warming, posing challenges for mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Americans living in high-risk areas are facing soaring home insurance costs due to increasing floods, storms and wildfires driven by the climate crisis.
Insurance premiums in counties most vulnerable to climate disasters rose 22% from 2020 to 2023, compared to a 13% overall average increase.
Florida faces some of the steepest hikes, with average annual home insurance costs surpassing $11,000 due to repeated storms and insurer exits.
Many homeowners lack flood insurance, leaving them exposed to massive financial losses after disasters like hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Key quote:
“This has been the canary in the climate coalmine, and it’s now hitting households’ pocketbooks.”
— Ben Keys, economist at the Wharton School and co-author of the research
Why this matters:
Climate-driven disasters are straining the insurance market, making coverage unaffordable or unavailable for many. Rising premiums threaten homeownership, especially in vulnerable regions like Florida, where insurers are abandoning the market, exposing more people to financial peril.
Renters often face challenges getting FEMA aid, needing documentation like leases or landlord statements.
A proposed bill aims to expand acceptable proof of residence and allow self-certification for aid eligibility.
The bill could reopen past denied applications for disasters since 2017.
Key quote:
“Disasters themselves maybe don’t discriminate, but our infrastructure does, which means that the people that have the least are also the ones that get hit the worst.”
— Kathryn Gaasch, MDC program director
Why this matters:
Renters are often the most vulnerable after disasters but face systemic barriers in obtaining aid. Simplifying access could help address inequities in disaster recovery and ensure all affected communities receive support.
The poverty rate in Lahaina has more than doubled since the August 2023 wildfire, with unemployment rising from 2% to 14%.
Displaced residents face soaring rents, long commutes and persistent inflation, making rebuilding homes unaffordable.
Tourism decline has led to job losses, while emergency housing programs have enabled landlords to price gouge.
Key quote:
“There are many people who have multiple jobs but are barely making it. It’s very hard to make sound long term choices for yourself when you’re in survival mode.”
— Nicole Huguenin, director of Maui Rapid Response
Why this matters:
As Lahaina residents attempt to piece their lives back together, the broader picture reveals an island grappling not just with recovery, but with systemic vulnerabilities exacerbated by the fire. The wildfire has laid bare deep economic precarity that, for many, has now become an inescapable reality.
Donald Trump’s return to the White House could restart oil drilling efforts in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but companies face challenges from regulations, climate change and litigation risks.
Trump plans to prioritize Arctic drilling, contingent on reversing Biden-era regulations that restrict oil exploration.
The Arctic refuge holds an estimated 10 billion barrels of oil, but drilling faces high costs and environmental opposition.
Alaska Natives are divided: some support drilling for economic growth, while others fear damage to traditional lands.
Key quote:
“There are billions and billions of barrels of oil recoverable in ANWR. The main problem is the permitting and litigation risk.”
— Randy Ruaro, executive director of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority
Why this matters:
Drilling in the Arctic refuge could have significant environmental consequences for wildlife and contribute to climate change. The issue pits economic interests against the protection of one of America’s last wild landscapes, influencing energy policy and Indigenous rights debates.
The Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office has $400 billion to fund clean energy projects, with $54 billion in loans announced under Biden, but only $13.5 billion finalized.
Concerns about potential cuts under a Trump administration have accelerated efforts to finalize loan agreements for EVs, nuclear and geothermal projects.
Companies like EVgo and Rivian worry their projects will be delayed or canceled if deals aren't closed before the administration changes.
Key quote:
“They want to get out as much money as possible just to safeguard as much progress as they can.”
— Kennedy Nickerson, former policy adviser to the loan programs office and now a vice president for energy at Capstone, a research firm
Why this matters:
These loans support technologies that reduce carbon emissions and boost energy security. If the program slows or is dismantled, the U.S. may lose ground to competitors like China in critical energy sectors such as electric vehicles and battery production.
California farmers are optimistic that a new Trump administration will increase water allocations, easing long-standing restrictions that have limited supplies for agricultural use.
California's Central Valley farmers rely on federally managed water supplies, which have faced cutbacks due to environmental concerns and drought.
The prior Trump administration eased restrictions, but Biden’s administration sought to balance farming needs with protections for endangered fish species.
Competing demands from agriculture, environmental groups and fisheries continue to drive debates over water management in the state.
Key quote:
“Math is a brutal master, and we’ve hit physical limits on the amount of water we can take from the Bay delta, and the sign of that is the collapse of the ecosystem.”
— Barry Nelson, policy advisor to the Golden State Salmon Association
Why this matters:
California’s Central Valley produces much of the nation’s food, but water scarcity affects planting and yields. Balancing agricultural needs with ecosystem health is critical for both food security and environmental sustainability.
Legal and industry experts say there are uncertainties about the future of hydrogen hubs, a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s clean energy push.
A massive push for hydrogen energy is one of the first test cases of new federal environmental justice initiatives. Communities and advocates so far give the feds a failing grade.
