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2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39

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2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39

Posted on 28 September 2025 by BaerbelW, John Hartz, Doug Bostrom

A listing of 27 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sunday, September 21, 2025 thru Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Stories We Promoted This Week, by Category:

Climate Change Impacts

Has the IPCC overestimated climate change impacts?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change compiles the consensus of thousands of models, and many independent lines of research suggest its estimates were more conservative than what was subsequently observed.
Skeptical Science, Sue Bin Park, Sep 23, 2025
Trump delivers dumbest climate speech of all time
The president’s easily-debunked 10-minute climate tirade at the U.N. was so stupid and unoriginal, it was actually kind of funny.
HEATED, Emily Atkin, Sep 24, 2025
Tackling Climate Change Helps Every Human on the Planet, Says Scientist
Newsweek, Gemma Watson, Sep 25, 2025
News roundup: Scientists challenge misleading Department of Energy climate report
“The report received nearly 60,000 comments, some of which were written by climate scientists whose work was misrepresented.”
News Roundup, Yale Climate Connections, SueEllen Campbell, Sep 25, 2025

Miscellaneous

Relaunching the Climate Litigation Database: Tracking the Law in a New Era
Climate Law Blog, Maria Antonia Tigre and Margaret Barry, Sep 25, 2025
Nations deliver new climate targets ahead of climate summit
With just weeks to go until the international climate conference, nations are stepping up to submit new climate targets for 2035. But will they be enough to prevent a climate catastrophe?
Climate, Deutsche Welle
Why we must reframe climate change as a human problem, not a planetary one
World Economic Forum (WEF), Gaurav Sharma & Avi Aggarwal, Sep 25, 2025

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https://skepticalscience.com/2025-SkS-Weekly-News-Roundup_39.html

Covering the basics

Thousands of residents of Farash Town and James Town in the twin cities are celebrating as they now have access to clean drinking water. Alongside this vital resource, they have also learned useful skills such as reusing water and recharging the water table through rainwater harvesting techniques. This transformation is the result of a megaproject focused on water security.

The project was a collaborative initiative between the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Pakistan and the Australia-Pakistan Water Security Initiative, an Australian Aid-funded program aimed at strengthening cooperation between Australia and Pakistan on urban water resources management. The megaproject consists of a series of smaller projects, all scheduled to be operational by the end of December, with community participation playing a key role in their ongoing maintenance.

The primary goal of the initiative was to tailor, adopt, and demonstrate the Water Sensitive Cities approach in Pakistan, especially as Islamabad and Rawalpindi are among the cities forecasted to face water scarcity in the coming years.

### Focus on Two Neighbourhoods

The pilot project targeted two neighborhoods: James Town in Rawalpindi and Farash Town in Islamabad.

James Town is home to over 450 Christian households and has faced an acute water shortage. Farash Town, with a population exceeding 20,000, has similarly suffered from severe water scarcity and a declining water table.

Yasmin Bibi, a resident of Farash Town, shared her experience:
“Our area had a severe water shortage. The water table had also gone down. With the help of these projects, we were able to recharge the aquifer and get water from filtration plants installed at various places in the town.”

### Clean Water Access and Community Engagement

WWF installed seven water filtration plants — five throughout the locality and two in larger schools. These filtration plants now provide clean drinking water to approximately 24,500 people and are maintained by the community itself.

Imran Ali, another Farash Town resident, expressed his relief:
“This is a blessing for us. Earlier, many families would travel to the Chak Shahzad government filtration plant to get water, often hiring rickshaws to fetch it. Now, we have clean drinking water right at our doorstep.”

Before this intervention, water scarcity was so severe that those who could afford to were selling their properties and relocating. Imran adds,
“Now, with this project, our lives and priorities have changed. It is such a relief that we don’t have to go out of our way to get something as basic as water.”

### Project Components and Impact

Since its inception in April 2021, the WWF has implemented multiple measures in both neighborhoods:

– **James Town:**
– 275 rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS)
– 6 water recharge interventions
– 2 green spaces
– 2 large and 1 small filtration plants
– 15 solid waste skips
– 2 rain gardens
– Sewerage system for 450 houses

– **Farash Town:**
– 375 rainwater harvesting system interventions
– 4 ablution water reuse systems
– 31 recharge interventions
– 3 green spaces
– 3 communal RWHS
– 5 large and 2 small filtration plants
– 4 solid waste skips
– 2 rain gardens

Farah Nadeem, the project lead, highlights the importance of such initiatives:
“These projects are significant demonstrations of models creating awareness about water security. We have even incorporated water security issues into the curriculum of local schools as part of this initiative.”

Nadeem further comments,
“Through this project, WWF-Pakistan helped improve access to safe water and sanitation services for two disadvantaged communities, ensured community resilience to climate change and other water-related challenges, and built the capacity of key stakeholders regarding water use and conservation.”

### Addressing Pakistan’s Water Crisis

Pakistan is among the most water-stressed countries in the world, with an average per capita water availability of 964 cubic meters per year. Scientific studies indicate significant depletion of groundwater resources, exacerbating vulnerabilities caused by climate change. This situation impacts millions of people already struggling with shortages of water, food, health services, and energy security.

Projects like this megaproject are crucial steps toward securing sustainable water resources for vulnerable communities and ensuring a resilient future.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1346830-covering-the-basics

9/27: CBS Weekend News

Deadly Flooding in Arizona and Intense Weather Threats Across the U.S.

Arizona is currently facing deadly flooding that has put communities on high alert. The severe weather conditions have caused significant damage and pose ongoing risks to residents in affected areas.

Across the United States, intense weather threats continue to challenge preparedness efforts. Meteorologists warn of potential storms and hazardous conditions that could impact multiple regions in the coming days.

California Neighbors Contend with Aggressive Squirrels

In an unusual development, residents in California are dealing with aggressive squirrel behavior. These typically harmless creatures have become a source of concern due to increased aggressiveness, prompting calls for awareness and caution among local communities.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/092725-cbs-weekend-news/

Navi Mumbai News: NMMC Launches Mega ‘Highway Cleanliness Drive’ On Sept 28 Under ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Campaign

**Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation to Launch Major ‘Highway Cleanliness Drive’ on September 28**

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has called upon citizens, institutions, and organizations to actively participate in a significant ‘Highway Cleanliness Drive’ scheduled for Sunday, September 28, at 7 am. This initiative is part of the nationwide ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign, launched under the Swachh Bharat Mission, aimed at promoting cleanliness across the country.

### Focus on Key Arterial Roads

The drive will focus on two of Navi Mumbai’s busiest arterial roads—the Sion-Panvel Highway and the Thane-Belapur Road. Both roads will undergo intensive cleaning efforts to enhance the city’s environment. Although the Sion-Panvel Highway falls under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department (PWD), the NMMC is proactively undertaking this effort to uphold Navi Mumbai’s reputation for cleanliness.

### Volunteer Participation

A large number of volunteers from Dr. Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan in Revdanda, Alibaug, will be joining the campaign. Alongside them, local civic staff, NGOs, students, and cleanliness enthusiasts will contribute to making this drive a success.

### Building on Previous Success

This upcoming drive follows the success of NMMC’s recent ‘Ek Divas, Ek Saath, Ek Tas’ (One Day, One Together, One Hour) campaign held on September 25. That event saw enthusiastic participation from over two lakh students and 25,000 citizens across all eight ward offices, underscoring the city’s collective commitment to cleanliness.

### Message from the Municipal Commissioner

Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde stated,
“Cleanliness has always been Navi Mumbai’s identity. With the upcoming mega drive, we want to involve citizens, organisations, and youth groups in reinforcing the city’s commitment to sustainable cleanliness.”

—

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https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/navi-mumbai-news-nmmc-launches-mega-highway-cleanliness-drive-on-sept-28-under-swachhata-hi-seva-campaign

Tokyo Consumer Prices Rise 2.5% In September, Rice Surges Nearly 47%

While corporate profits in Japan continue to reach record highs, employee wages remain stagnant, leaving a growing segment of the workforce struggling. Since the collapse of the bubble economy, non-regular employment has steadily increased, creating a widening gap between regular and non-regular workers.

Today, 15.4% of the population earns less than half the median standard of living, marking the second-highest proportion among G7 countries after the United States. Meanwhile, Tokyo consumer prices rose 2.5% in September compared with a year earlier. The index excluding fresh food—often subject to sharp fluctuations—reached 110.0 across the capital’s wards, with the pace of growth remaining unchanged from the previous month.

In the corporate sector, Panasonic Holdings will begin soliciting early retirement applications next month at one of its core operating companies as part of broader restructuring efforts. Meanwhile, Toyota has started demonstration trials at its experimental city project known as Woven City. As of September 25th, several employee households have moved in to test how AI and autonomous driving technologies can be integrated into everyday life.

Japan currently counts only eight unicorns—unlisted startups valued at over 150 billion yen—compared with 690 in the United States. It has yet to produce a single “hectocorn,” a term used for companies worth more than 100 billion dollars, such as ByteDance’s TikTok, OpenAI, or SpaceX.

On the international front, Japan and Saudi Arabia announced a new memorandum of understanding for economic cooperation on September 24th at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The agreement places strong emphasis on expanding the entertainment and content industries.

In local news, residents of Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, have decided to file for pollution mediation against chemical manufacturer Daikin Industries. This action follows the discovery of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the groundwater near the plant, some of which are suspected to be carcinogenic.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147032.php

Plastic bags can be turned into sensors for safe drinking water

Researchers in Indonesia have developed an innovative method to transform plastic waste into glowing nanomaterials capable of sensing harmful substances in water. At the core of this breakthrough are carbon quantum dots (CQDs), nanoparticles that emit light when exposed to ultraviolet light.

CQDs have the unique ability to act as sensors, detecting pollutants at the molecular level. Traditionally, producing CQDs has required expensive or toxic raw materials. However, the Indonesian research team used waste plastic bags as their starting material, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective approach.

The process involved combining modified pyrolysis with hydrothermal treatment. Using less than 7 percent hydrogen peroxide, they successfully transformed polyethylene from plastic bags into functional CQDs in just 10 hours.

One of the most remarkable features of these plastic-derived CQDs is their ability to detect metal ions, particularly iron ions, in water. This capability presents promising applications for monitoring water quality and detecting harmful contaminants.

*Note*: This article is sourced from a third-party syndicated feed. Mid-day does not accept responsibility or liability for the dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, or accuracy of the content. Mid-day management reserves the right to alter, delete, or remove content at its discretion without notice.

Help us improve further by providing detailed feedback and stand a chance to win a 3-month e-paper subscription!
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/plastic-bags-can-be-turned-into-sensors-for-safe-drinking-water-23595854

EAM S Jaishankar Slams Double Standards At UNGA, Calls For Stronger Global Cooperation Amid Trump’s Russian Oil Threat – VIDEO

United Nations: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that terrorism remains a “persistent threat” to development and stressed that the world must show neither tolerance nor accommodation to terrorist activities. Addressing the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting here, Jaishankar said those who act against terrorists on any front render a “larger service to the international community as a whole”. Speaking on the correlation between international peace and global development, he said that in recent times, both deteriorated in parallel. “A persistent threat to development is that perennial disruptor of peace – terrorism,” he said, adding, “It is imperative that the world display neither tolerance nor accommodation to terrorist activities.” As the world confronts conflict, economic pressures and terrorism, the limitations of multilateralism and the United Nations are visible, Jaishankar said. “The need for reforming multilateralism has never been greater,” he said, adding that today, the international situation is both politically and economically volatile. “We as members of G20 have a particular responsibility to strengthen its stability and give it a more positive direction that is best done by undertaking dialogue and diplomacy, by firmly combating terrorism, and by appreciating the need for stronger energy and economic security.” Speaking on peace and global development, he said ongoing conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza, have starkly demonstrated the costs, especially to the Global South, in terms of energy, food and fertiliser security. “Apart from jeopardising supplies and logistics, access and cost themselves became pressure points on nations. Double standards are clearly in evidence,” he said. Jaishankar stressed that while peace enables development, threatening development cannot facilitate peace. He said that making energy and other essentials more uncertain in an economically fragile situation helps no one, and called for moving the needle towards dialogue and diplomacy, “not in the opposite direction towards further complications”. In any conflict situation, there will be a few who have the ability to engage both sides and such countries can be utilised by the international community, both to achieve peace and to maintain it thereafter, he said. “So even as we attempt to address complex threats to peace, the value of encouraging a buy-in from those supportive of such goals should be appreciated,” he said. (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/eam-s-jaishankar-slams-double-standards-at-unga-calls-for-stronger-global-cooperation-amid-trumps-russian-oil-threat-video

City of Fremantle falls aggressively behind on canopy cover target, set for boost in tree planting to keep up

The City of Fremantle has fallen significantly behind its targets to boost canopy cover, and it will now need to plant trees for an additional four years just to meet 80 per cent of its original goal. However, Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge emphasized that several mitigating factors contributed to the shortfall, including reduced budgets during the COVID years, and stressed that the issue has not been ignored.

Fremantle councillors adopted the Urban Forest Plan in 2017, which outlined the number of trees the council needed to plant over the following decade to achieve its ambitious goal: increasing canopy cover from 13 per cent to 20 per cent. Despite a 2021 decision to revise targets downward by 20 per cent, tree plantings have continued to lag further behind.

In 2023, the council resolved to plant just 600 trees annually in 2024 and 2025 as part of a budget-constrained reset. The city successfully planted 600 trees this year, but this was 838 fewer than the revised target of 1,438, and a substantial 1,198 short of the initial goal of 1,798. The previous year’s planting numbers were also below target, with 533 trees planted—687 fewer than the revised target of 1,220 and 992 fewer than the initial goal of 1,525.

Over the eight years since the program began, the city has planted 5,519 trees. This represents a 33 per cent shortfall compared to its revised target of 8,264 and nearly 50 per cent less than the original goal of 10,330 trees.

Earlier this year, the council requested the chief executive to present a revised target, data on the cumulative shortfall, and a timeline for delivery. All figures are to be published on the city’s website and updated annually. To support this initiative, a budget of almost $700,000 and a full-time staff member have been allocated for 2025-26 to help manage the project.

Last week, the council voted to aim for planting 900 trees annually over the next six years. This plan is set to surpass the revised target of 10,804 trees by 2031, although this will be four years later than initially scheduled.

At the meeting, Councillor Adin Lang acknowledged criticisms from residents and the Fremantle Environmental Network regarding missed targets but described the initial goal as very ambitious.

“I guess you can have a crazy, ambitious goal, but not all of them may be achievable,” he said. “Acknowledging that and extending it by a few years is pretty sensible.”

Mayor Fitzhardinge also highlighted other contributing factors to the shortfall, introducing an amendment noting that it was caused by a lack of initial resourcing, reduced budgets during COVID-affected years, and the unavailability of high-quality planting stock.

“I wanted to just make it clear that we didn’t sort of have an ‘oops’ moment that we had a shortfall of trees,” she said. “There were fairly considered and extensive discussions of trees at every budget that we’ve considered together. It seems a bit rough to read back and just say we had a target and we missed it; there were some factors that contributed to that—it wasn’t just a blind error.”

Councillor Ben Lawver welcomed the renewed investment in tree planting, emphasizing that it forms part of a broader push to increase canopy cover.

“We also have a policy that will be coming back to a future council and other items that could potentially help us grow our urban canopy,” he said. “While it is very important that we plant street trees, and plant trees in our parks and reserves, it is the loss of trees on private property that is really dragging our canopy coverage down.”

Last year, the council found itself at the center of a saga over the protection of a century-old Moreton Bay fig tree on private land. Landowners requested the council to remove the fig from the significant tree list. Protection was stripped from the tree, then reinstated after public backlash, before being removed again.

Councillor Lang concluded by saying it was critical to deliver on targets, allocate budgets, and get trees in the ground. However, the next step would involve refining the work based on the data collected and published.

“We’re using the data and we’re going to get better,” he said. “Hopefully, we can hone in on locations we need to work on and maximize the value of what we’re planting.”
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/environment/city-of-fremantle-stumped-in-plans-to-boost-tree-canopy-cover-c-19835826

Snake Swims Through Kolkata Floodwaters With Fish In Its Mouth; Video Goes Viral

**Viral Video of Snake Swimming Through Floodwaters with Fish in Kolkata Amid Heavy Rains**

A fascinating video from Kolkata, West Bengal, is making rounds on social media, capturing the attention of many netizens. The clip shows a snake swimming through floodwaters in a backyard, firmly gripping a fish in its mouth.

The snake appears to be a Checkered Keelback, locally known as *Jol Dhora* in West Bengal. This non-venomous water snake is commonly found in freshwater habitats and is harmless to humans.

The video was originally shared on Instagram by user Atreyee Mitra, accompanied by the caption: “Kolkata and its little perks, right before Durga Pujo.” Since then, it has garnered widespread reactions and engagement online.

### Netizens React

Social media users responded to the video with humorous and relatable comments, such as:
– “Kisi ki toh ex jaa rhi hai.”
– “Snake is also bengalified.”
– “Bro proved that he is bangali…”
– “Even snakes also like fish…. specialty of Kolkata.”

The video has received over 362,000 likes on Instagram and continues to attract viewers.

### Context: Heavy Flooding in Kolkata

The viral video comes amid severe flooding in the City of Joy, caused by incessant rainfall in recent days. On Tuesday, September 23, a heavy downpour resulted in the deaths of at least 11 people and widespread disruption across the city and nearby areas.

A cloudburst triggered severe waterlogging, affecting traffic and daily activities. On Wednesday, heavy rains particularly impacted Northern Park and Bhawanipur, leading to significant waterlogging even around Durga Puja pandals.

According to news agency PTI, the city recorded 251.4 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hours—the highest since 1986 and the sixth-highest single-day rainfall in 137 years.

As Kolkata copes with the ongoing flood situation, this intriguing video of the local wildlife navigating the waters has become a unique symbol of resilience and local flavor ahead of the festive season.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/snake-swims-through-kolkata-floodwaters-with-fish-in-its-mouth-video-goes-viral

Western Railway’s Coach Care Depot, Mumbai Central Celebrates Swachhata Hi Seva 2025

In a remarkable display of innovation and environmental responsibility, the Coach Care Centre at Mumbai Central has launched a unique “Best from Waste” initiative. The team has successfully created an intricate model of a locomotive—crafted entirely from discarded and scrap materials.

According to a press release issued by Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, this inspiring initiative reflects not only the exceptional creativity and craftsmanship of the Mumbai Central team but also their strong commitment to sustainability. By repurposing unused items into a symbol of pride, the team has demonstrated the immense potential of recycling and resourcefulness.

The model now proudly stands at the Coach Care Centre as a testament to the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, encouraging others to adopt eco-friendly practices in their daily operations. Aligned with the Government of India’s “Swachhata Hi Seva” campaign, this effort underscores the powerful message that waste, when viewed through the lens of innovation, can be transformed into something meaningful and inspirational.

This initiative has garnered appreciation from across the board and serves as a motivating example of how small actions, driven by creativity and collective effort, can lead to impactful outcomes for both the environment and society.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/corporate-gallery/western-railways-coach-care-depot-mumbai-central-celebrates-swachhata-hi-seva-2025