Month: August 2025

As a pall of poisonous smoke lingered over the Upper Midwest, politicians long oblivious to the danger of a global environmental catastrophe became suddenly “woke”.

Former Republican Congress person Candice Miller of Michigan had a lifetime League of Conservation Voters rating of 11%.

Continue reading “Republican Karen Notices Climate Catastrophe. Demands to See Manager”

Carbon Brief:

Renewable energy will overtake coal to become the world’s top source of electricity “by 2026 at the latest”, according to new forecasts from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The rise of renewables is being driven by extremely rapid growth in wind and solar output, which topped 4,000 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2024 and will pass 6,000TWh by 2026.

Wind and solar are increasingly under attack from populist politicians on the right, such as US president Donald Trump and Reform in the UK.

Nevertheless, they will together meet more than 90% of the increase in global electricity demand out to 2026, the IEA says, while modest growth for hydro power will add to renewables’ rise.

With nuclear and gas also reaching record highs by 2026, coal-fired generation is set to decline – driven by falls in China and the EU – meaning that power-sector emissions will decline, too.

The chart above illustrates these profound shifts in the global electricity mix – in particular, the meteoric rise of renewables, driven by wind and solar.

Minneapolis (Fox) TV Meteorologist discussing Canada’s wildfire smoke, which has been giving the Upper Midwest some of the world’s worst Air Quality for the last week or so.

Regrettably, and predictably, lots of discussion of the difficulty of fighting fires in remote parts of Canada’s boreal forest, talk of forest management, admission that this is happening more often, no mention of the “C” word.

Climate Central:

• Exceptionally warm temperatures in parts of Saskatchewan, where wildfires are actively burning, have climbed 6.6°C to 11.4°C (11.8°F to 20.4°F) above average, reaching highs up to 33°C (91°F) — well beyond the seasonal norms for late May. 
• In Manitoba, temperatures have exceeded the average by as much as 12.2°C to 13.5°C (22°F to 24.3°F), with highs also up to 33°C (91°F).
• This intense heat is tied to an unusually strong, stationary high-pressure system centered over central Canada.
  • The system is part of a weather pattern called an “Omega Block” — a pattern locked in place by low-pressure systems over Alaska and the Upper Midwest.
• Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where wildfires are burning, are currently experiencing drought conditions ranging from “Abnormally Dry” to “Moderate Drought,” further contributing to fire risk and intensity.
• Wildfire smoke is already degrading air quality in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. It is expected to drift into the Midwestern United States through the weekend, where smoke could impact respiratory health in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.
  • Forecast Air Quality Index levels range from “Moderate” to“Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” with cities like Milwaukee, Detroit, and Chicago likely to see reduced visibility in the afternoon and evening. 

Continue reading “Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Driven by Drought, Heat, Climate Change”