https://degreesnow.com/2026-08-18https://degreesnow.com/share-home.svg https://degreesnow.com/news/legal-fiction-hindering-climate/2026-08-18https://degreesnow.com/share-legal-fiction-hindering-climate.svgLegal Fiction Hindering Climate Finance Faces Challenge at UN Tax TalksA longstanding legal assumption in corporate taxation, which allows multinationals to shift profits to low-tax jurisdictions, is being challenged at UN negotiations. Reform could unlock billions for... https://degreesnow.com/news/santa-marta-coalition-tested/2026-08-18https://degreesnow.com/share-santa-marta-coalition-tested.svgSanta Marta Coalition Tested as Colombia Turns Back to Fossil FuelsThe Santa Marta coalition, a group of governments, businesses, and civil society organisations seeking to transition away from fossil fuels, faces a challenge as Colombia's new government turns back... https://degreesnow.com/news/southeast-asia-fragile-grids/2026-08-18https://degreesnow.com/share-southeast-asia-fragile-grids.svgSoutheast Asia's fragile grids threaten billions in clean energy investmentSoutheast Asia's energy transition is being hindered by inadequate grid capacity and maintenance, threatening billions of dollars in planned clean power investments. (Source: Climate Home News) https://degreesnow.com/news/fear-missing-out-undermines/2026-08-18https://degreesnow.com/share-fear-missing-out-undermines.svgFear of Missing Out Undermines Climate DiplomacyThe annual UN climate conference has grown to tens of thousands of participants, but the fear of missing out (FOMO) may be hindering effective international climate cooperation. https://degreesnow.com/news/china-coal-power-rebounds/2026-08-17https://degreesnow.com/share-china-coal-power-rebounds.svgChina's coal power rebounds as record clean energy goes to wasteChina's use of coal for electricity has grown in the first half of 2026, despite a record amount of wind and solar power being wasted through curtailment. (Source: Climate Home News) https://degreesnow.com/news/big-tech-climate-blind/2026-08-17https://degreesnow.com/share-big-tech-climate-blind.svgBig Tech's Climate Blind Spot: AI's Hidden Emissions ThreatA recent study reveals that the true climate danger of AI lies not in its power-hungry data centres, but in its unchecked use across the fossil fuel industry. (Source: Climate Home News) https://degreesnow.com/news/us-largest-reservoirs-hit/2026-08-17https://degreesnow.com/share-us-largest-reservoirs-hit.svgUS's Largest Reservoirs Hit Record-Low Water LevelsThe country's largest reservoir, Lake Mead, and the second-largest, Lake Powell, have reached record-low water levels due to climate change, population growth, and over-consumption. https://degreesnow.com/news/land-use-emissions-fall/2026-08-17https://degreesnow.com/share-land-use-emissions-fall.svgLand-use Emissions Fall by a Third This Century, Despite Fossil Fuel Emissions RiseA recent report by the Global Carbon Budget notes a significant decrease in land-use change emissions since the late 1990s, with a steep drop in emissions after 2015. (Source: Carbon Brief) https://degreesnow.com/news/plastics-treaty-text-sparks-e7dad8/2026-08-17https://degreesnow.com/share-plastics-treaty-text-sparks-e7dad8.svgNew Plastics Treaty Text Sparks Concerns Over Production CurbsA new draft text for the UN plastics treaty has been released, sparking concerns that ambition for the global pact is shrinking. The text does not include specific measures to manage runaway plastic... https://degreesnow.com/news/rethinking-economic-success-face-7255ac/2026-08-17https://degreesnow.com/share-rethinking-economic-success-face-7255ac.svgRethinking Economic Success in the Face of Climate CrisisAs the world grapples with the devastating effects of climate change, experts are calling for a shift in how we measure economic success. The traditional metric of gross domestic product (GDP) has... https://degreesnow.com/news/caribbean-faces-escalating-drought-4b090c/2026-08-17https://degreesnow.com/share-caribbean-faces-escalating-drought-4b090c.svgCaribbean Faces Escalating Drought and Heat as Climate Change Amplifies El Niño EffectsThe Caribbean is grappling with severe drought and extreme heat as El Niño intensifies, worsened by climate change. Rising temperatures, water shortages, and economic disruptions highlight the urgent... https://degreesnow.com/news/quarter-countries-miss-un-56434c/2026-08-17https://degreesnow.com/share-quarter-countries-miss-un-56434c.svgQuarter of Countries Miss UN Climate Plan Deadline 18 Months OnA UN report reveals 45 countries have failed to submit new national climate plans, breaching Paris Agreement rules, 18 months after the deadline. (Source: Climate Home News) https://degreesnow.com/news/south-africa-top-court-3d6198/2026-08-16https://degreesnow.com/share-south-africa-top-court-3d6198.svgSouth Africa's Top Court Blocks Shell's Offshore Oil Exploration RightSouth Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled that Shell and its partner Impact Africa failed to consult affected communities and did not properly consider the environmental risks of offshore oil... https://degreesnow.com/news/cop17-summit-mongolia-address-b35ffd/2026-08-16https://degreesnow.com/share-cop17-summit-mongolia-address-b35ffd.svgCOP17 Summit in Mongolia to Address Desertification and Climate ChangeThe United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17 summit is set to take place in Mongolia, bringing together government negotiators, scientists, journalists, and campaigners to... https://degreesnow.com/news/advertising-hidden-role-fueling-f71961/2026-08-16https://degreesnow.com/share-advertising-hidden-role-fueling-f71961.svgAdvertising's Hidden Role in Fueling Climate CrisisA lack of regulation in the advertising industry is contributing to the climate crisis by promoting high-carbon lifestyles and activities, such as frequent flying and meat consumption. https://degreesnow.com/news/coal-mine-openings-slow-8fa6ce/2026-08-16https://degreesnow.com/share-coal-mine-openings-slow-8fa6ce.svgCoal Mine Openings Slow as East Asian Demand PlateausA report by Global Energy Monitor found that new coal mine capacity declined by nearly 40% in 2025, driven by China and Australia, where new additions fell by 44% and 96%, respectively. https://degreesnow.com/news/weaker-uk-ev-targets-c3e440/2026-08-16https://degreesnow.com/share-weaker-uk-ev-targets-c3e440.svgWeaker UK EV targets could raise consumer costs by £3bn annually by 2030A potential weakening of the UK's electric vehicle (EV) sales targets could cost consumers an additional £3bn per year by 2030, increase oil imports by 17 million barrels, and raise national... https://degreesnow.com/news/carbon-capture-storage-key-ae92fe/2026-08-16https://degreesnow.com/share-carbon-capture-storage-key-ae92fe.svgCarbon Capture and Storage: A Key Technology in the Quest for Net-Zero EmissionsThe role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in achieving net-zero emissions is a topic of ongoing debate. While some see it as a critical technology for cutting emissions from key sectors, others... https://degreesnow.com/news/heatwaves-impact-power-generation-b4d640/2026-08-16https://degreesnow.com/share-heatwaves-impact-power-generation-b4d640.svgHeatwaves Impact on Power Generation: Nuclear, Gas, Wind, and SolarHeatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change, affecting various sources of power generation worldwide. While all types of electricity generation are impacted, some... https://degreesnow.com/news/china-15th-five-year-04d0f1/2026-08-16https://degreesnow.com/share-china-15th-five-year-04d0f1.svgChina's 15th Five-Year Plan for Coal: A Mixed Message for Climate ActionChina's new five-year plan for coal emphasizes the importance of the fuel in the country's energy system, but also discusses the need for a 'green and low-carbon transition' of the industry. https://degreesnow.com/emissions/2026-08-18 https://degreesnow.com/about/ https://degreesnow.com/sources-and-methods/ https://degreesnow.com/corrections/