Weather Warnings and Green Energy: What's Really Happening?
This year, there's been a noticeable quiet in the news about extreme weather. No scary headlines about the "worst ever" storms or urgent warnings from the United Nations about saving the planet. Why? Maybe because the news hasn't been as dramatic as expected.
Hurricane Season: A Calmer Year
Remember all those predictions about hurricanes becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change? Well, the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season just ended with no major storms hitting the U. S. mainland. That's the quietest year since 2015.
- Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica was notable, but most storms stayed away from the East Coast.
- The New York Times mentioned this but didn't make a big deal out of it.
Expert Opinions and ACE Index
Experts like Bjorn Lomborg point out that scientists often link bad weather to climate change but rarely give credit when things go well. For example, they might not mention how weather patterns steer hurricanes away from land.
A better way to understand hurricane activity is by looking at the total energy of all storms, called ACE (Accumulated Cyclone Energy).
- This year, the North Atlantic had a bit more energy than average.
- Other ocean basins had less.
United Nations and Climate Summits
At COP 30 in Brazil, more than half of the nations opposed even non-binding agreements to move away from fossil fuels. This is a big change from previous summits.
Rising Sea Levels and the Maldives
The Maldives, a country very close to sea level, is actually expanding its airport. Doesn't sound like they're worried about flooding, does it?
Economic Impact Studies
A study predicting a huge drop in world economic output due to climate change was found to be way off. The real estimate is much lower. But the study didn't even consider the benefits of fossil fuels or the costs of unreliable energy.
Europe's Carbon Emissions and Electricity Prices
In Europe, they've cut carbon emissions but at a high cost.
- Electricity prices have skyrocketed.
- Germany has the highest rates in the world, and the U. K. isn't far behind.
U. S. Policy Changes
In the U. S., there's talk about rolling back fuel-economy rules. This could make cars more affordable and save buyers a lot of money. The Trump administration is also looking to rescind the "endangerment finding," which has been used to impose strict regulations on carbon emissions.
