Here’s a brand new update in our Sustainability in the News updates, on critical developments in science, climate policy, and research from the past week.

These updates serve as a quick-read supplement to our in-depth articles, ensuring you stay informed about the latest breakthroughs, policy shifts, and discussions around the future. While our longer articles provide comprehensive analysis and context, these telex updates will focus on key headlines, emerging trends, and essential insights – delivered in a clear and easily digestible format.

Whether it’s a groundbreaking study, a pivotal climate agreement, or an integrity issue in research, we’ll bring you the most relevant updates every week.

So here are the latest news items that passed by related to current events. Again, as you will see, the Summer also means less activity.

Latest Developments in Sustainability
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Latest Developments in Sustainability

IRENA report shows renewables out‑compete fossil fuels

A report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) showed that 582 GW of new renewable power capacity was added worldwide in 2024 and around 91 % of utility‑scale renewable projects commissioned were cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. Solar photovoltaic projects were 41 % cheaper and onshore wind projects 53 % cheaper than the lowest‑cost fossil fuel options. The cost of battery energy storage fell 93 % since 2010. IRENA calculated that avoided fossil‑fuel costs in 2024 reached US$467 billion. These figures illustrate clearly how renewables are now mainstream and cheaper than fossil fuels, strengthening the economic case for decarbonisation.

World court issues landmark climate opinion

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a historic advisory opinion stating that countries must comply with international agreements to reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions and can be held liable for failure to curb climate pollution. Judge Yuji Iwasawa said countries must cooperate to achieve concrete emission‑reduction targets and that failure to meet “stringent obligations” constitutes a breach of international law. The court noted that states are also responsible for the actions of companies under their jurisdiction. Small island states hailed the opinion as a step towards holding major emitters accountable.

UN Secretary‑General António Guterres welcomed the decision, noting that it confirms that the Paris Agreement must guide all climate policies. Civil society groups called it a turning point for climate justice.

Africa set to miss 2030 clean‑cooking goal

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that sub‑Saharan Africa is not on track to provide clean cooking for all by 2030; universal access is now more realistic by 2040 due to funding gaps, infrastructure deficits and rapid population growth. Around 1 billion people in the region still rely on polluting cooking fuels such as charcoal and firewood. The IEA estimated that achieving universal access would require US$37 billion of cumulative investment by 2040, roughly US$2 billion per year. Only US$470 million of the US$2.2 billion pledged at a Paris summit has been delivered so far. The report labels the lack of progress a “deep political failure” and calls for coordinated action to accelerate clean‑cooking access.

Earth Overshoot Day 2025 arrives earlier

The Global Footprint Network announced that Earth Overshoot Day 2025 fell on 24 July, meaning humanity apparently consumed the planet’s annual ecological budget within seven months. People are using nature 80 % faster than Earth’s ecosystems can regenerate, equivalent to using 1.8 Earths. The organization noted that overshoot has accumulated a debt equal to 22 years of the planet’s full biological productivity. The date moved eight days earlier than in 2024 due largely to revisions in global biocapacity data. The announcement calls for reducing consumption and increasing ecological regeneration.

EU and China reaffirm climate leadership

During a summit in Beijing, the European Union and China issued a joint climate statement pledging to lead a “global just transition” and describing the “defining colour” of their cooperation as green. Both sides agreed to submit updated national climate plans covering all sectors and greenhouse gases with targets through 2035 ahead of COP30. They pledged to align the plans with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global warming well below 2 °C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 °C. Analysts said the statement sends a stabilising signal amid the United States’ withdrawal from international climate diplomacy and urged both parties to strengthen ambition before COP30.

WHO hosts climate‑and‑health conference in Brasília

The World Health Organization, the Brazilian government and the Pan American Health Organization convened the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health in Brasília from 29–31 July. The conference, an official pre‑COP30 event, aims to integrate health into global climate policy through a Belém Health Action Plan and national commitments under the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH). WHO officials warned that climate change is fuelling a growing health crisis that threatens decades of progress. The meeting sought to chart pathways for resilient and low‑carbon health systems and emphasized that vulnerable populations should be at the centre of climate‑health responses.

WHO urged countries to scale up investments in climate‑health mitigation, adaptation and resilience. Brazilian Health Minister Alexandre Padilha said the conference responds to COP30’s call for a global task force on health and climate.

U.S. EPA moves to overturn its climate authority

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposal to rescind its own “endangerment finding,” a scientific determination that greenhouse‑gas emissions endanger public health and therefore require regulation. Critics warned that repealing the finding would limit the EPA’s ability to regulate emissions, making it harder to address rising energy bills and health impacts from extreme heat. The World Resources Institute described the proposal as alarming and said repealing the endangerment provision would undermine efforts to protect Americans from climate pollution.

WMO warns of extreme heat

The World Meteorological Organization and partners highlighted extreme heat events across multiple continents. As of 31 July 2025, Japan recorded its highest temperature on record (41.2 °C) amid a heatwave that also affected South Korea. The United States faced a prolonged heatwave with “feel‑like” heat index values between 110 °F and 115 °F (43–46 °C) in the Southeast. Severe heat also gripped North Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, fuelling destructive wildfires. These events coincided with the first anniversary of the UN Secretary‑General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat and underscored the need for heat‑health action plans.

Study finds EU forests absorbing less carbon

Scientists from the EU’s Joint Research Centre warned that European forests’ carbon‑absorption capacity declined by nearly one‑third between 2010–2014 and 2020–2022. On average, forests absorbed around 332 million tonnes of CO₂ per year in 2020–2022. Damage from logging, wildfires, drought and pests reduced forest health, putting EU net‑zero targets at risk. The study recommends less intensive logging and more diverse tree species to bolster forests’ resilience.

Heat and hunger updates

A UN food‑security report found that hunger declined in most regions but remained high in Africa and western Asia. Around 673 million people experienced hunger in 2024. The report said food price inflation outpaced general inflation due to climate‑related shocks. Experts noted that progress on hunger is “encouraging” but uneven.

Marine heatwaves

New research published in Science concluded that more than 95 % of the world’s oceans experienced a marine heatwave in 2023. The findings underscore the scale of ocean warming and its implications for marine ecosystems.

Climate impacts intensify

Severe drought in central Hungary has left soil “critically dry” and cut crop yields, prompting some farmers to consider relocating. Rising temperatures and lack of rainfall threaten the region’s agricultural viability. Farmers reported moving beehives up to 80 km to find pollen due to drought‑induced forage loss.

A heatwave pushed temperatures in Chongqing, China, above 40 °C, with forecasts of up to 44 °C, leading residents to seek refuge in air‑conditioned shelters. Power demand surged to record levels exceeding 1.5 billion kW as air‑conditioner use spiked.

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone closed its doors to tourists to protest rampant deforestation and land grabbing around the reserve. Founder Bala Amarasekaran said the encroachment threatens the sanctuary’s survival. Sierra Leone lost 2.17 million hectares of forest from 2001–2024, and the Western Area Peninsula, which includes the sanctuary, lost more than 10,000 hectares.

New Zealand opens conservation areas to business

Policy shift. New Zealand’s government announced plans to amend its Conservation Act to make it easier to run businesses in conservation zones and introduce entrance fees for foreign tourists in popular sites. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the reforms aim to “unleash economic growth” on one‑third of the country’s land by allowing concessions for tourism, agriculture and infrastructure. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka argued that tourists should pay because they currently visit many scenic areas for free. Environmental groups warned that increased development could threaten biodiversity.

Rare snow blankets eastern Australia

A cold front deposited up to 40 cm (16 inches) of snow across parts of northern New South Wales and neighbouring Queensland, the heaviest snowfall since the mid‑1980s. The storm caused floods, stranded over 100 vehicles, damaged buildings and left tens of thousands of homes without power. Meteorologists noted that climate change has made Australia’s weather more volatile, though similar events have occurred historically.

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Figen Sekin

I specialize in sustainability education, curriculum co-creation, and early-stage project strategy. At WINSS, I craft articles on sustainability, transformative AI, and related topics. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me chasing the perfect sushi roll, exploring cities around the globe, or unwinding with my dog Puffy — the world’s most loyal sidekick.

Tags: sustainability