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A "depressing" milestone in the atmosphere has been reported: What risk does it pose?

RT, 05/06/2026

Synopsis: Synopsis: Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached a record high in April, averaging around 431 parts per million (ppm), according to data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), are measured as the number of molecules of a gas per million total molecules, i.e., ppm.

Climate scientist Zachary Labe of Climate Central explained that CO2 tends to peak in April each year because, after winter, the decomposition of plant matter releases greenhouse gases. However, NOAA data shows a sustained increase in the monthly average, and that before the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was 280 ppm or less. Even during interglacial periods, when Earth's temperature was warmer and CO2 levels were higher, the gas had reached a maximum of approximately 300 ppm.

The Caspian Sea is dying: the sea that is disappearing in real time

Cortesia: pexels

DW, 05/13/2026

Synopsis: The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, bordered by Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and other countries, is shrinking rapidly. Scientists warn of a potential point of no return for coastal ecosystems and cities.

Predictions point to an even greater retreat this century, with some models indicating possible drops of up to 21 meters.

Simon Goodman, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Leeds in the UK, comments, "Such a decline would have a considerable impact on ecosystems, as well as on people's health, well-being, and economic activity." He adds, "Projections for the rest of this century suggest that the current retreat will have a much more pronounced climate change component."

The rise in global temperatures, linked to planet-warming emissions from the burning of oil, gas, and coal, is increasing evaporation from the sea surface. Along with lower levels of rainfall and runoff into the Volga basin, more water is ultimately flowing out of the Caspian than in.

Fishing communities are also under pressure. In the shallow northern basin, the continued decline could make fishing increasingly unsustainable.

They are building an artificial river over 100 km long in South America: the mega-project that promises to transform the water map of a key region

CANAL 26, 05/11/2026

Synopsis: Brazil is seeking to transform its water supply in the Northeast by constructing a 145-kilometer "artificial river" that will redistribute water resources to areas most affected by drought.

The Water Belt project was designed to transport water from the Jati Dam to various regions in the interior of Ceará. This infrastructure includes canals, tunnels, and control structures that take advantage of the natural slope of the land to move the flow without relying on energy-intensive pumping systems.

According to data from the Brazilian Secretariat of Water Resources, the system will supply water to 24 municipalities and directly benefit more than 561,000 people in the Cariri region.

According to technical estimates, the regularization of the water supply could increase the efficiency of agricultural irrigation by up to 30% and significantly reduce losses caused by the lack of rain.

Mexico presents Olinia: the first national electric car

Ultimas Noticias, 05/13/2026

Synopsis: The Mexican government unveiled the prototype of "Olinia," the first domestically manufactured electric mini-vehicle designed to offer affordable, safe, and sustainable transportation solutions tailored to the realities of communities across the Latin American country.

President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo explained that the central objective is to consolidate a sovereign technology that responds to the needs of the population. "The goal is to have our own brand. An accessible vehicle for the Mexican people, a more affordable vehicle, an electric vehicle that doesn't pollute, and a vehicle that can navigate any town with narrow streets," the mayor elaborated.

The development of Olinia is the result of collaborative work by a team of more than 80 specialists, including academics, technicians, and scientists from institutions such as the National Technological Institute of Mexico and the National Polytechnic Institute.

The Olinia mini-vehicle will operate with a 100% electric system and can be charged using any standard household outlet in Mexico. According to the technical specifications provided by the government, the car will have a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour and will be able to carry everyday items, packages, and wheelchairs.

Formal production of this vehicle is scheduled to begin in 2027.

The UN praises China's climate leadership: the energy transition has been breathtaking

Noticias ONU, 05/14/2026

Synopsis: Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN Climate Change, highlighted that the Asian country's "wise long-term vision" has protected its population from the worst effects of volatility, and emphasized that Chinese electric vehicles will save the economy more than $28 billion in oil imports this year alone.

While the war in the Middle East drives crude oil above $100 a barrel and the world's economies falter, China views the crisis from a different perspective. Not because it is safe, but because it made a decision years ago.

Investment in clean energy has doubled in a decade, exceeding $625 billion in 2024, and continues to grow. While other nations depend on fossil fuels whose prices skyrocket with every geopolitical crisis, China has built its own energy infrastructure-decentralized and, above all, resilient.

China has not only met its climate goals: it has broken all records. Its wind and solar capacity targets for 2030 were met six years ahead of schedule. The goal of having 20% of new car sales be electric by 2025 fell ridiculously short: the actual figure was 50%. And meanwhile, the technology continues to advance.

Stiell gave a concrete example: CATL's new battery that offers 1,500 kilometers of range with a six-minute charge. "That could change transportation forever," he said.

Deforestation is pushing the Amazon to collapse: scientists make a new appeal

El Espectador, 05/06/2026

Synopsis: According to a study published in the journal Nature and led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany, a group of scientists warns that if deforestation continues and at least 22% of the Amazon is lost, most of this rainforest could transform into a dry savanna with a global temperature increase of between 1.5°C and 1.9°C. They are calling for a halt to deforestation, as it makes forests more vulnerable to climate change.

The scenario of an Amazon transformed into degraded forests or an ecosystem similar to a dry savanna could be closer than we think. "Humanity is exerting unprecedented pressure on the Amazonian forest system through global warming and climate change."

South America registers the greatest loss of forests on the planet: 41 million hectares

IPS, 05/13/2026

Synopsis: South America saw 41 million hectares of forest disappear between 2015 and 2016, an average of 4.1 million hectares per year, more than any other region in the world. This represents 10% of the 414 million hectares of forest cover on the planet, according to a report by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) released on Tuesday, the 12th.

This loss includes more than 10 million hectares of primary forests: ancient, dense ecosystems that are difficult to replace and essential for biodiversity, carbon storage, and climate regulation. Africa also lost nearly 30 million hectares during the same period, while losses were limited in North and Central America and Oceania.

Europe (including Russia) saw a recovery of more than 14 million hectares, and Asia more than 16 million.

A primary forest is not simply a group of old trees. It is a living system that has evolved over centuries, capable of storing more carbon, supporting greater biodiversity, regulating water better, and resisting droughts, fires, and pests more strongly than many young forests or recent plantations.

Climate threat 2026: The "Super Niño" or "Godzilla Child" is coming, the phenomenon that will shake the planet

Aporrea, 05/14/2026

Synopsis: International agencies, such as NOAA and the World Meteorological Organization, have sounded global alarms for the second half of 2026 due to anomalous and accelerated warming in the central Pacific Ocean. This precedes a possible "Super Niño" phenomenon, a historically more intense version of the natural El Niño climate phenomenon.

For a regular El Niño to be declared, ocean temperatures only need to rise 0.5°C above average. In a Super Niño, ocean temperatures surge between 2°C and 3°C above normal, drastically altering the atmosphere and climate dynamics of the entire planet.

The phenomenon acts like a gigantic heat engine, throwing regions of the world into two absolute extremes: extreme rainfall and flooding, and prolonged droughts and wildfires.

Global Temperature Increase: By interacting with current climate change, a Super Niño raises the average global temperature to historic records, causing sweltering heat waves in major cities.

The Condor Dump: The world's largest methane emitter is in Chile

Cortesía Pexels

Ladera Sur, 04/29/2026

Synopsis: The Loma Los Colorados landfill in Tiltil has just landed on an unwelcome list. According to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme, through the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), this site-located about 60 kilometers from Santiago, Chile-tops the world ranking of human-caused methane emissions. This greenhouse gas has a warming potential up to 80 times greater than carbon dioxide in its first few decades.

The Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) uses 35 satellite instruments to detect super-emitters, human-caused methane sources so large they can be seen from space. Through MARS, IMEO directly notifies governments and companies so they can reduce emissions of this potent greenhouse gas.

Thanks to this, scientists have long known which industries emit the most methane, allowing experts to identify specific sources and propose solutions to address them.

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