2026 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #16

Stories we promoted this week, by category:

Climate Change Impacts (7 articles)

• Climate change is outpacing evolution. Scientists are using DNA to catch up Phys.org, Annika Hammerschlag, Apr 10, 2026.
• Marine heatwaves `nearly double` the economic damage caused by tropical cyclones Tropical cyclones that rapidly intensify when passing over marine heatwaves can become “supercharged”, increasing the likelihood of high economic losses, a new study finds. Carbon Brief, Giuliana Viglione, Apr 10, 2026.
• ‘Heat Batteries’ Leave Some City Blocks Scorched "Even measures designed to help, like air conditioning, can create vicious cycles that lead to hotter temps." Inside Climate News, Lauren Dalban, Apr 14, 2026.
• ‘Nothing but tree skeletons’: record-breaking wildfires devastate US cattle country "Rising temperatures and extreme drought are driving more destructive spring fires across the American Great Plains. This year, forces aligned to create the perfect storm in Nebraska" The Guardian, Gabrielle Canon, Apr 14, 2026.
• Critical Atlantic current significantly more likely to collapse than thought Scientists say finding is ‘very concerning’ as collapse would be catastrophic for Europe, Africa and the Americas The Guardian, Damian Carrington, Apr 15, 2026.
• Global warming is making the strongest hurricanes stronger Recent studies link human-caused warming to more powerful, more destructive storms worldwide. Yale Climate Connections, Jeff Masters, Apr 15, 2026.
• Wildfires used to 'go to sleep' at night. Climate change has them burning overtime The number of hours in North America when the weather is favorable for wildfires is 36% higher than 50 years ago. The Independent News, Seth Borenstein, Apr 17, 2026.

Climate Policy and Politics (6 articles)

• How the Trump administration`s climate math doesn`t add up There's an old argument that protecting the environment hurts the economy. It's wrong for a lot of reasons. Grist, Kate Yoder, Apr 10, 2026.
• Who Loses in the Trump Administration’s $1 Billion ‘Deal’ to Abandon Offshore Wind? "That would be American ratepayers—i.e., you." Inside Climate News, Jenni Doering, Apr 11, 2026.
• Don’t mention the climate: Trump creates ‘beyond absurd’ situation at global finance talks "Developing countries face possible shelving of crucial green action plan at IMF and World Bank spring meetings" The Guardian, Fiona Harvey, Apr 13, 2026.
• The Treasury Secretary vs. Climate Science In comments on Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the scientific consensus on the causes of climate change. New York Times, Lisa Friedman, Apr 14, 2026.
• Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2026 This week's Skeptical Science research scan included 107 new reports by 763 contributing investigators, as well as 11 government/NGO items related to matters of climate change. Skeptical Science, Doug Bostrom & Marc Kodack, Apr 16, 2026.
• US pressure puts World Bank`s climate plan at risk Assiduously working on behalf of Big Oil and not the citizens who elected it, the Trump administration pressures the World Bank to play dumb on climate. Climate Home News, Matteo Civillini, Apr 16, 2026.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (5 articles)

• Texas Data Center Developers Play Offense on Water, Claiming Huge Cuts in Usage "Ahead of next year’s legislative session, lawmakers probe regulators and industry leaders about how data centers operate." Inside Climate News, Arcelia Martin, Apr 10, 2026.
• To Battle Climate Change, a Baltimore Church Turns to Nature Rising sea level and aging infrastructure pose serious flood risks for coastal US city Baltimore, prompting cooperative efforts by church congregations to help stem the tide. Inside Climate News, Tierra Stone, Apr 17, 2026.
• ‘We are not going back’: Iran war forces global energy shift "Nations split over doubling down on fossil fuels or accelerating renewables." Politico, Sara Schonhardt & Zack Colman, Apr 17, 2026.
• Rainwater harvesting and eco-gardens: how one Colombian neighbourhood helped a whole city plan for climate change From rainwater harvesting to tree nurseries, communities in Medellín are taking steps to increase their landslide and flooding resilience The Guardian, Suzanne Bearne, Apr 17, 2026.
• Thousands of electric vehicles recalled in Australia due to battery fire risk "Hyundai issues local recall due to a fault with battery management software that could cause a fire while car is recharging or parked" The Guardian, Australian AP, Apr 9, 2029.

Climate Law and Justice (2 articles)

• Court Rejects Trump Administration Climate Lawsuit Against Hawaii In a setback for federal efforts to thwart climate litigation, the judge ruled that the suit, which tried to block the state from suing oil companies, was too speculative. New York Times, Karen Zraick, Apr 16, 2026.
• Judge Dismisses Trump Administration’s Bid to Block Hawaii Climate Lawsuit "It was the second defeat for the Trump administration’s unusual litigation to stop states from acting on climate change." Inside Climate News, Marianne Lavelle, Apr 17, 2026.

International Climate Conferences and Agreements (2 articles)

• India walked away from its bid to host COP33 — here's why "India has quietly abandoned its bid to host the UN's top-tier climate conference COP33, marking a shift from PM Narendra Modi's pledge in 2023. Experts and analysts explore what's behind the decision." Deutsche Welle (DW), Murali Krishnan, Apr 14, 2026.
• Tuvalu, tiny Pacific nation at the forefront of climate crisis, to host world leaders before Cop31 summit "Conference president expresses ‘complete faith’ in Chris Bowen to lead tough negotiations" The Guardian, Tom McIlroy, Apr 14, 2026.

Miscellaneous (2 articles)

• 2026 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15 A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 5, 2026 thru Sat, April 11, 2026. Skeptical Science, Bärbel Winkler, John Hartz, Doug Bostrom, Apr 12, 2026.
• The problem with cars in six books "A special selection of books to help you learn everything you need to know about cars and climate change" Yale Climate Connections, Michael Svoboda,, Apr 14, 2026.

Health Aspects of Climate Change (1 article)

• How many people does heat actually kill? You have likely seen a headline like this: 62,000 people died from record-breaking heat in Europe. The Climate Brink, Andrew Dessler, Apr 13, 2026.

Public Misunderstandings about Climate Science (1 article)

• A reflection on reflection Confirmation bias and a profound lack of curiosity mark the latest ABC (Anything But Carbon) contrapalooza in DC this week and a decade-old albedo error trips them up. RealClimate, Gavin Schmidt, Apr 13, 2026.

Posted by BaerbelW on Sunday, 19 April, 2026

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