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The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) guide outlines four policy priorities for the August 2026 congressional recess: supporting the Scientific Integrity Act, funding climate-disaster agencies (NOAA and FEMA), opposing legal immunity for fossil fuel companies via the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026, and addressing the energy affordability crisis. It provides tactical instructions for delivering petitions, using social media, and questioning representatives at town halls to counter perceived attacks on science by the Trump administration.

The document highlights the disproportionate risk extreme heat poses to the global workforce, noting that over 70% of workers are at risk and 19,000 die annually. In the US, outdoor workers—primarily Black and Latino—face a death rate 35 times higher than the general population, yet 43 states lack comprehensive heat standards and federal rules have stalled. The guide suggests investigating local heat action plans and interviewing affected workers, while referencing specific risks like chronic kidney disease in India and the use of wet bulb temperature for monitoring.

A coalition of organizations warns that the EU's upcoming Livestock Strategy may fail to address the scale of animal farming's contribution to global warming. The letter argues that methane from agriculture is a critical driver of near-term warming and calls for the EU to set Paris Agreement-aligned targets, support herd size rebalancing through an Agri-food Just Transition Fund, and avoid treating biogenic methane differently from fossil methane.

The Institute for Policy Integrity warns that the EPA is implementing unsupported changes to its toxic chemicals risk evaluation framework and specific assessments, such as for formaldehyde, which may lead to flawed decisions and inadequate safety standards.

The Clean Air Task Force asserts that the EU ETS review is critical for bridging the cost gap between conventional jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). While ReFuelEU Aviation established demand, the author notes that no large-scale e-SAF project in the EU had reached a final investment decision as of mid-2026. The document recommends extending the SAF allowance mechanism beyond 2030, mandating the reinvestment of ETS aviation revenues into sector decarbonisation, and carefully integrating high-quality carbon removals into the long-term strategy.

Madagascar has implemented a National Strategy for Organic Agriculture and Law No. 2020-003 to transition traditional farming into a certified organic sector. Supported by IISD, the government is piloting "organic territories" (TVABs) in the Diana, Sava, and Analanjirofo regions to achieve economies of scale and protect crops from contamination. Between 2020 and 2024, organic farmland increased from 103,817 to 169,893 hectares, and the number of organic producers grew to 62,000. Key priorities include strengthening internal control systems for certification and navigating new regulations like the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) condemns violence, hate speech, and vigilante attacks against foreign nationals, refugees, and asylum seekers in South Africa. While acknowledging the anger of economically marginalised citizens, PARI asserts that these grievances are being weaponised by opportunistic forces to distract from the state's failure to provide essential services, jobs, and security. The organization calls for state leaders to unequivocally condemn anti-migrant rhetoric and for the implementation of a democracy that delivers a better life for all residents regardless of nationality.

The report examines the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle environmental justice initiatives, arguing that the legal justifications for these rollbacks are weak. It specifically addresses the impact of Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action, asserting that while such decisions impose constraints, they do not make environmental justice initiatives categorically unlawful nor prevent the government from considering the historical legacies of racism.

The report highlights a critical shortage of holistic, AI-ready biological data in the US, which limits the potential of AI/ML in biotechnology and biodefense. It argues that the US government should transition from merely curating data to actively creating high-quality, standardized data sets. The authors emphasize that without rigorous benchmarks and standards to address biological variability, AI-driven discoveries face significant translational risks. The document also discusses the tension between open data sharing and the need to secure data to prevent the creation of enhanced bioweapons, calling for updated Dual Use of Research Concern (DURC) guidelines. Finally, it reviews recent US policy momentum, including the Genesis Mission and various cloud laboratory legislative efforts, as essential steps toward a secure bioeconomy.

Netflix is implementing a three-step 'optimize, electrify and decarbonize' strategy to reduce the environmental impact of its productions, which account for over half of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The company is upgrading facilities like Longcross Studios in the U.K. with energy-efficient insulation, LED lighting, and renewable electricity, while replacing diesel generators on location with grid tie-ins, batteries, and hydrogen power units. These efforts, combined with the use of solar-powered trailers and electric vehicles, have led to significant fuel reductions in specific productions, such as The Witcher and The Boroughs, and serve as pilots for wider industry adoption of clean mobile power.

The June 2026 heatwave in Western Europe is the most severe ever recorded for the region, with temperatures 5–12°C above seasonal averages. Analysis shows that such an event would have been virtually impossible in 1976 and significantly rarer in 2003, indicating that extreme heat is increasing rapidly due to global warming. The event caused widespread disruption to transport, energy systems, and health services, with 45% of European cities breaking indoor Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) thresholds.

The document argues that relying solely on landfill gas capture and flaring is insufficient for methane mitigation. It highlights that gas capture systems often have a default recovery rate of about 50% and can fail due to poor design or maintenance, with some sites with capture systems exhibiting higher average emission rates than those without. The brief promotes organic waste diversion as the primary strategy to prevent methane generation at the source and suggests complementary solutions such as microbial methane oxidation systems (biocovers, biofilters, and biowindows) and improved operational practices like minimizing active working faces and enhancing cover systems. It further notes that while enclosed flares can exceed 98% destruction efficiency, open flares are more variable, and neither can eliminate methane that bypasses the collection system.

The guide explains that climate change acts as a multiplier of existing vulnerabilities, driving both sudden and gradual displacement. It highlights that internal displacement is more common than cross-border migration and notes the lack of international legal recognition for 'climate refugees'.

Since the 1970s, the global average number of dangerous humid heat days—defined as those with a maximum wet-bulb temperature of 25°C or higher—has more than doubled, rising from 10 to 23 days per year. Climate Central's analysis indicates that human-caused climate change is now the primary driver of this trend, accounting for 64% of all such days since 1970 and 83% of the 23 dangerous days recorded in 2025. The most significant increases are observed in tropical humid regions, including Southeast Asia, coastal West Africa, and tropical South America, though increases are also noted in drier areas like the Arabian Peninsula and the southwestern United States.

The EU battery fleet is projected to grow fourfold from 37 GW in 2025 to 178 GW by 2030, significantly reducing the need for gas-based backup. By 2030, utility-scale batteries could provide short-term flexibility at 20% lower cost than new gas peakers. Additionally, the report highlights the role of demand flexibility: by 2030, 50% of electric vehicles (EVs) could use smart charging to absorb 7% of peak wind and solar generation, and 15% of heat pump demand could be shifted to high-renewable periods, reducing peak demand by 3%. The report recommends that policymakers avoid overbuilding gas capacity, set ambitious non-fossil flexibility targets by January 2027, and accelerate smart meter rollout to enable these technologies.

An analysis of 14 major economies outside the traditional UNFCCC contributors reveals that they provided approximately $102 billion in voluntary climate finance from 2013 to 2023. The study highlights a shift toward a multipolar finance reality, where emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) are increasingly active, though their contributions remain fragmented in official reporting. The report emphasizes the need for inclusive reporting frameworks and the scaling of triangular partnerships and de-risking mechanisms to mobilize further private capital to meet global climate goals.

The Clean Air Task Force recommends that the EU increase its 2029 public procurement mandates for low-carbon steel to 50% and low-carbon concrete and mortar to 10%. It argues that the current IAA proposal is insufficient to drive investment and suggests expanding mandates to 100% by 2040. The report also proposes extending these requirements to private construction projects over 1000 m2 and private automotive fleets by 2032, while broadening the scope to include low-carbon plastics and fertilisers.

The GCF Secretariat provides a detailed response to an independent evaluation of its gender approach, agreeing with several recommendations to shift from a compliance-driven model to one focused on meaningful implementation and results. While the Secretariat accepts the need for stronger institutional coherence, improved budget tracking, and enhanced capacity building, it disputes certain factual assumptions in the evaluation—specifically the reference to a non-existent 2018 GESI Policy—and rejects the introduction of mandatory mid-term Gender Action Plan updates due to the burden they would place on Accredited Entities.

The GCF Board approved 18 funding proposals totaling USD 960.3 million and accredited 10 new entities. A major outcome was the selection of host cities for regional presence: Panama City (Latin America and Caribbean), Amman (Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Middle East), Nairobi and Abidjan (Africa), and Suva (Pacific). The Board also restructured its committees, approved a training programme, and established a roadmap for the 2028–2031 Strategic Plan.

The document details how climate change intensifies droughts through higher temperatures and altered precipitation, leading to severe economic losses in agriculture and hydropower, increased wildfire risks, and public health threats in Canada.