With global energy turmoil unfolding after the US–Israel attack on Iran, the UN this week published its latest State of the Global Climate report – and the message is not exactly comforting. Rising temperatures, overheated oceans and a climate system increasingly out of balance remind us that physics does not negotiate. And that it would help if world leaders spent more time looking up… and less time at each other.
But not everything is doom and gloom. Around the world, cities are cutting air pollution, communities are restoring rivers, and stronger rules on harmful chemicals are slowly moving forward.
It’s Roi holding the pen this week – and with spring in the air, here’s what happened:
In this edition:
- New State of the Global Climate report
- Water Wars
- Cities combat air pollution
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📊 NEW STATE OF THE GLOBAL CLIMATE REPORT
Earth in the red – This week, the World Meteorological Organisation’s latest State of the Global Climate report did not just confirm what we already knew – that the planet is warming. The reality check is this: the Earth’s climate system is now more out of balance than at any point in recorded history.
Out of whack – As the Guardian put it, the burning of fossil fuels “constipates the Earth system’s ability to excrete heat out into space,” creating a growing energy surplus that is heating the oceans, melting ice sheets and locking in changes that will last hundreds – possibly thousands – of years. This is not only about rising temperatures now and in the near future. It’s about the stability of the Earth system itself.
Sea change needed – The past 11 years have been the hottest on record, but air temperature only tells part of the story. Around 90% of the excess heat is absorbed by the oceans, which act as the planet’s shock absorber – until they can’t. Warmer oceans mean disrupted marine ecosystems, rising sea levels, and more intense storms and floods. What happens in the ocean doesn’t stay in the ocean.
Fossil fuel fiends – The report lands as geopolitical tensions once again shake global oil and gas markets, pushing up energy prices and reminding everyone that fossil fuels are not only a climate problem – they are a cost-of-living and security risk too. A reminder that climate action was never only about polar bears and future generations, but also about energy bills, stability and resilience today.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned (again) this week that our fossil fuel addiction is destabilising both the climate and global security, urging governments to accelerate the shift to renewable energy.
Yihaawww – And yet, in the middle of another energy shock and overwhelming scientific evidence, some EU leaders are still flirting with fossil fuels. At a major oil and gas gathering in Texas, German Energy Minister Katherina Reiche suggested the EU should relax its climate targets and that Germany should start drilling in the North Sea.
PSA – Read the room, Frau Reiche. But if the room is at an oil and gas conference in Texas, you’re in the wrong room.
🚰 WATER WARS
Nestlé on trial – The food giant is on trial before a criminal court in France, accused of illegally dumping hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of bottled water over at least a decade. Prosecutors say the dumping contaminated soil and water resources at “exorbitant” levels, with serious consequences for the environment and human health. Not a great look for a company built on selling water.
A step forward, with a catch – On a more positive note, the EU Parliament has approved new rules to limit water pollution, meaning member states will have to track and reduce harmful substances like PFAS, pesticides and medicines in rivers, lakes and groundwater.
It’s an important step, but there’s a catch: countries won’t have to fully comply until 2039, with some allowed even later. Loopholes in the law also mean many rivers and lakes could remain at risk. In EU policymaking, deadlines are sometimes measured in decades. Our full reaction here.
Romanians race ahead – In Romania, creeks and rivers that were straightened, paved over and polluted for decades are now being restored by local communities reconnecting waterways with nature. While “simplification” for polluters can often dominate Brussels debates, people on the ground are already trying to bring Europe’s rivers back to life. A reminder that Europe doesn’t have a water law problem – it has an implementation and timeline problem.
💪 FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT
Gone with the wind – Across the globe, cities like Beijing, Warsaw and Paris are proving that cutting air pollution at scale is possible. A global study of major urban hubs found that the biggest improvements came from a familiar recipe: more cycling and pedestrian zones, electrification of vehicles and heating, and stricter rules on major pollution sources like dirty vehicles, coal heating and wood burning. Turns out, environmental policy works.
We love to see it – If you’ve ever sat next to us at a dinner party, you’ll have heard us raving on about the health, climate and economic benefits of cutting air pollution. We hope seeing these results will inspire other cities to do the same.
Happy birthdayyyy, dear… Ecolabel – Celebrating 34 years of fighting greenwashing, the EU Ecolabel remains one of Europe’s most trusted success stories. From cosmetics to cleaning products to tourist accommodation, it helps consumers spot products with lower environmental impacts and fewer harmful ingredients – and actively pushes companies to raise their standards. Not flashy, but effective. See which products made the (clean conscious) cut.
🗞 IN OTHER NEWS
United in toxicity – After three years of assessment, the European Chemicals Agency has published its expert opinion on a universal PFAS restriction. Both scientific committees concluded that PFAS are not adequately controlled and recommend a strong, enforceable EU-wide restriction under REACH to protect human health and the environment. A 60-day public consultation opened on 26 March for evidence on alternatives and socio-economic impacts. The science is increasingly clear. The politics, less so.
Czech yourself before you wreck yourself – The Czech government is proposing a law forcing organisations receiving foreign funding to register as an “entity with foreign ties,” a move reminiscent of Russia’s foreign agents law and similar developments in Hungary and Serbia. If passed, it could seriously restrict NGOs, universities and independent media. Large protests in Prague this week suggest many people understand what is at stake.
Prison break – This week marked World Cage Free Day, a reminder that billions of animals across Europe are still kept in cages. Beyond the obvious animal welfare issues, industrial livestock systems are also major sources of water and air pollution and increase the risk of disease outbreaks. The EU Commission promised to phase out cages years ago. We’re still waiting. Check our photo exhibition.
🧠✨ DOPAMINE HIT
As ever, here are a few happy updates to get your weekend off to a perky start:
- Chile’s endemic seals gain protection with a new marine park – read more here.
- Return of Sardinia’s griffon vultures hailed as one of Italy’s greatest conservation success stories – read more here.
- For the first time in over 40 years, rhinos have returned to the wild in Uganda after being wiped out by poaching in the 1980s – read more here.
- Eurovision for Trees: Lithuania wins Tree of the Year 2026 – read more here.
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By: Roi Gomez. Special thanks to the EEB’s editorial team: Ben Snelson, Alberto Vela and Ruby Silk. Editor: Christian Skrivervik.