Climate change is overdue for a new narrative -- one that replaces outdated, inaccurate doomsday rhetoric with strategies that will drive meaningful change, asserts Bill Gates in a new memo. The new view of climate change should be rooted in three truths: the situation is serious and progress is being made, funding for health and development must continue, and climate strategy should be rooted in improving human welfare. Gates discusses how a doomsday perspective is detracting from long-term progress and why a people-first approach is needed.

Exceptionally warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures, fueled by climate change, have contributed to Hurricane Melissa's explosive growth. Scientists note that both surface and deep ocean layers in the hurricane's path are two to three degrees Celsius above normal, providing an unusually large reservoir of energy. This ocean warming, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, is making rapid and extreme hurricane development increasingly common and dangerous, especially for coastal and island communities.

EBay continues to accelerate its circular fashion initiatives through a broadened partnership with Condé Nast and recent investments in sustainable fashion startups. The company has rolled out features like click-to-resell, live shoppable runway events and expanded authentication services, to make pre-loved items central to the fashion ecosystem. These efforts reflect eBay's commitment to scaling circularity in the industry and inspiring consumers to adopt more sustainable shopping habits.

A growing number of breweries, including Guinness and New Belgium Brewing, are turning to heat pump technology to help meet their net-zero goals, by adopting heat pumps to either supplement or replace traditional gas boilers -- a move that reduces emissions and operational costs. Heineken's Manchester facility and Diageo's St. James's Gate Guinness site are also implementing heat pump systems as part of their decarbonization strategies.

Increasing renewable energy usage, particularly solar and wind, helped the Electric Reliability Council of Texas meet a 5% increase in electric power demand in the first three quarters of the year vs. the same period in 2024 -- the fastest growth for any US electricity grid. The US Energy Information Administration expects demand for that period to grow by 14% in 2026. 

Mazama Energy has achieved a breakthrough in geothermal technology by drilling into "superhot" rock near Oregon's Newberry Volcano, reaching 331°C using a proprietary hydraulic fracturing method. This marks the hottest rock accessed by an enhanced geothermal system, surpassing the usual temperature thresholds of under 300°C for similar projects. The approach, which creates an enhanced geothermal reservoir, aims to access more energy with fewer wells.

Researchers reported in the journal Liver International that exposure to tetrachloroethylene, a chemical used in dry cleaning and found in some adhesives and cleaners, could triple the risk of liver fibrosis. The analysis of data for more than 1,600 adults found more than 7% had detectable levels of tetrachloroethylene in their blood, and those who did were three times as likely to have significant liver scarring.

About 94% of buildings in New York City have taken steps to comply with Local Law 97, which aims to reduce carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050, the New York City Department of Buildings say. The law has faced legal challenges and concerns from property owners about the affordability of compliance, with the need for contractor support and potential fines for noncompliance being two of the biggest issues.

Lawmakers from both parties are resisting the Trump administration's proposal to allow new offshore drilling along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, with coastal Republicans from tourism-heavy states such as Florida to South Carolina joining Democrats in rejecting the plan and vowing legal challenges. A few GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, expressed conditional support if paired with offshore wind. The bipartisan backlash mirrors the widespread outcry that prompted President Donald Trump to withdraw a similar proposal in 2020.

The Utah Supreme Court has rejected a Water Horse Resources plan to pipe 55,000 acre-feet of water annually from the Green River in Utah to Colorado via Wyoming. The decision comes amid ongoing tensions between Western states over shrinking Colorado River water supplies, with the court arguing the project doesn't meet a "beneficial use" requirement. Environmental groups and state officials continue to scrutinize projects that propose new allocations, reflecting the broader regional struggle to balance water needs with sustainability.