Los Angeles, a city of promise and peril, grapples with its fiery past and its hotter, more flammable future as climate change intensifies wildfires and forces residents to reckon with the risks of living in paradise.
Los Angeles has long been a city of contrasts, balancing natural beauty with persistent hazards like wildfires, heat and rising housing costs.
Recent fires highlight the increasing risks of climate change, raising questions about rebuilding homes in fire-prone areas and designing safer infrastructure.
Scientists and psychologists suggest resilience lies in learning from trauma and focusing on solvable problems, essential for cities facing climate challenges.
Key quote:
“This is happening a lot sooner than I ever thought.”
— A Hollywood Hills resident reflecting on the speed and severity of recent wildfires
Why this matters:
Experts say climate survival will require a mindset adjustment. Facing trauma and loss can teach communities how to adapt, even in the face of seemingly unstoppable challenges. For Los Angeles, a city that thrives on reinvention, this reckoning may be the ultimate test of its character and its climate resilience efforts.
Zain Haq, a 24-year-old climate activist from Pakistan, is facing deportation due to revoked immigration status tied to criminal convictions for non-violent protests.
Federal Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and over 2,600 petitioners are urging officials to stop the deportation, citing human rights and climate justice concerns.
If deported, Haq will lose his chance to secure permanent residency through spousal sponsorship and face years-long delays to reapply.
Key quote:
“It’s globally precedent-setting. No climate activist has been deported for so-called crimes that amount to non-violent civil disobedience in defence of the climate.”
— Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader
Why this matters:
Deporting Haq would send a discouraging message to climate activists about their safety and support within democratic nations. It raises broader questions about the interplay between civil disobedience, immigration policy and government accountability in addressing the climate crisis.
An executive order from Donald Trump has paused disbursements for infrastructure and climate initiatives launched under Joe Biden, threatening ongoing projects across the U.S.
Trump’s order directs federal agencies to stop disbursing funds from Biden’s 2021 infrastructure law and 2022 climate statute, affecting transportation, energy and broadband projects.
Legal and policy experts warn this move could breach contracts and violate the Impoundment Control Act, with projects in progress left unfunded or stalled.
Some Republicans express concern over the impacts, while others frame the pause as a review of spending priorities.
Key quote:
“It’s certainly even a step further than we thought the administration would go. Now they’re violating contract laws as well as the Constitution.”
— Charlie Ellsworth, senior adviser to the Checks and Balances War Room of the Congressional Integrity Project
Why this matters:
Halting infrastructure and climate funding disrupts critical projects meant to address decaying transportation systems, expand renewable energy and boost economic resilience. This decision, which many regard as illegal, could lead to delays, lawsuits and financial strain on states, especially those reliant on federal reimbursements.
Methane emissions from oil and gas operations in West Texas fell by 25% in 2023, according to an industry-backed report, though environmentalists question the data's scope and accuracy.
A report by S&P Global claims methane leaks from oil wells and equipment in West Texas dropped by 25% in 2023, focusing on the upstream phase of production.
Environmentalists argue the findings exclude smaller emissions and may underestimate total methane pollution, which is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.
Regulators and companies use various tools like satellites, aerial sensors and handheld devices to track emissions, but inconsistencies in reporting and enforcement remain a challenge.
Key quote:
"Regardless of cost-effectiveness, the public is harmed when scarce natural resources are wasted or when methane warms the climate."
— Virginia Palacios, executive director of Commission Shift, an oil and gas watchdog group
Why this matters:
Methane is a significant contributor to climate change, and reducing leaks is essential to slowing global warming. While industry efforts to cut emissions are promising, inconsistent regulation and gaps in monitoring mean the true scale of methane pollution may be underestimated.
Extreme cold has gripped the US this winter, with rare snow in the Gulf Coast and Florida.
Scientists suggest Arctic warming weakens the polar vortex and jet stream, allowing cold air to spill south.
While winters overall are warming, dangerous cold snaps still occur, exacerbated by limited preparedness in some regions.
Key quote:
“Even though the Arctic is warming, it will still be frigid during winter for a very long time because it has no sunshine for six months straight. There will still be plenty of cold air there to feed into cold spells when the jet stream takes a big dip southward.”
— Jennifer Francis, senior scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center
Why this matters:
As the Arctic warms four times faster than the rest of the planet, the effects disrupt weather systems far beyond the poles. Extreme winter storms can strain infrastructure, endanger lives and take a significant economic toll — underscoring the importance of climate adaptation and forecasting tools.
The U.S. generates as much food waste per person as it did in 2016, leaving the country far from its 2030 target to halve food waste, according to researchers at the University of California, Davis.
Americans waste an estimated 328 pounds of food per person annually, unchanged since the 2016 launch of a federal reduction initiative.
Federal inaction leaves states unable to meet food waste goals despite composting and other strategies, researchers say.
Experts emphasize preventing waste at its source, such as improving food labeling and reducing overproduction, over relying on composting alone.
Key quote:
“It’s really thinking about the best use of food, which is to eat it.”
— Sarah Kakadellis, lead author of the study
Why this matters:
Food waste in landfills contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change. Preventing waste at the source can conserve resources, reduce emissions and improve food security. Without stronger federal leadership, current efforts may fall short.
Brazil has named André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, a seasoned climate negotiator, as president of Cop30, sidelining Environment Minister Marina Silva in preparation for the critical UN climate summit in Belém.
André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, Brazil's secretary for climate, energy and environment, will preside over Cop30, set to focus on updating global climate targets under the Paris agreement.
Civil society groups praised the choice, noting his diplomatic expertise amid growing challenges, including countries failing to meet or set adequate emissions goals.
Critics remain concerned about logistical readiness in Belém, where the summit will highlight the Amazon’s role in climate discussions.
Key quote:
“Cop30 cannot be just another conference – it must be a turning point.”
— Natalie Unterstell, president of Instituto Talanoa
Why this matters:
Cop30 could be pivotal in securing commitments to curb global warming as rising temperatures outpace international goals. Brazil’s leadership will be tested, especially in balancing international cooperation, Indigenous inclusion and logistical challenges.
Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.
Legal and industry experts say there are uncertainties about the future of hydrogen hubs, a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s clean energy push.
