Climate Diet July 2026 Newsletter

The U.S. government continues to scale back offshore wind projects. The Trump administration agreed to pay Duke Energy $129 million to cancel a planned North Carolina offshore wind farm, marking the fourth federal buyout of a wind lease. Scientists say offshore wind is vital for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding clean energy, while critics argue the cancellations could cost jobs and slow climate progress.

A Canadian town has become the first to recognize the rights of trees. Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Quebec, adopted the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Trees, granting trees legal recognition as living beings with the right to exist, thrive, and be protected. Leaders say healthy trees are essential for community health, climate resilience, and quality of life.

Europe’s glaciers are melting alarmingly early. After two intense early-summer heat waves, the snow covering Switzerland’s glaciers disappeared about a month ahead of schedule, exposing ice to rapid melting. The Alps provide vital water for drinking, agriculture, hydropower, and cooling nuclear plants across Europe, making this an urgent warning about future water security.

A solar-powered cleanup system is stopping ocean plastic before it spreads. At the mouth of Los Angeles’ Ballona Creek, The Ocean Cleanup’s automated Interceptor uses floating barriers and conveyor belts to collect river trash before it reaches the Pacific. Powered by solar energy, it has already captured more than 143,000 pounds of waste, helping protect marine ecosystems.

France has been preparing for climate-fueled heat waves for more than two decades. In 2003, more than 14,800 people died as summer temperatures hovered above 95 degrees Fahrenheit for two weeks. The devastating event led French policymakers to build one of the world’s most comprehensive heat-resilience programs.