Sixteen provincial-level regions, including Xinjiang, Jiangxi and Hubei, recorded their highest temperatures on record since 1961, the agency said, reflecting the extent of the warming across the country.

Summer conditions were particularly severe. From June to August, the national average temperature stood at 22.3°C, also 1.1°C above normal and tied with 2024 as the hottest summer China has experienced in more than 60 years.

Alongside the rising heat, Beijing also logged its highest annual rainfall since 1961. Both the duration and total precipitation of the rainy season in northern China reached historic highs, highlighting the growing volatility of the country’s climate.

Emissions

The record warmth comes as China remains the world’s largest annual greenhouse gas emitter . In 2020, it released 12.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, accounting for 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to data from the World Resources Institute’s CAIT database.

Despite its emissions profile, China continues to frame itself as “the world’s largest developing country” in international climate negotiations. 

Under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, China committed to cut its carbon intensity by 40-45% from 2005 levels by 2020 and to source 15% of its energy from low-carbon sources. Its former climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, has said carbon intensity fell by 48.4% by 2020, with non-fossil fuels accounting for 15.9% of primary energy consumption.

Countries including the United States have called for a reassessment of responsibilities between developed and developing nations, arguing that China’s status as an upper middle-income, and soon potentially high-income, economy should be reflected in its climate ambitions.

Officials in Delhi have been accused of spraying water directly around air-quality monitoring stations to suppress pollution readings and even switching off equipment during peak pollution hours. This includes the Diwali festival in October, when firecracker smoke pushes air readings to hazardous levels. 

India’s Air Quality Index (AQI) labels readings between 400 and 500 as “severe,” the worst category, while “good” air falls between 0 and 50. Environmental groups argue that lowering reported levels encourages complacency and hides policy failures. 

Reports from Singaporean paper Straits Times said they witnessed a sprinkler truck repeatedly circling a monitoring station on a college campus in Jahangirpuri on November 21, directing jets of water around and towards the equipment. 

Staff operating the vehicle said they had worked at the site for more than a month, spraying nearly 28,000 litres of water daily. Analysts say this can wash particles from the air, increase humidity and cause pollutants to fall faster, thereby lowering recorded readings.

On Diwali night, The Times of India reported that over half of the city’s monitoring stations were switched off as pollution surged, with only 12 of 39 stations operating by 3 a.m. Much of the missing data—163 monitoring hours in total—covered the most polluted period and was reinstated only after levels dropped later in the morning.

Delhi officials deny data manipulation, calling the accusations politically motivated, but the issue has reached India’s Supreme Court. 

On November 17, judges ordered the city government to submit an affidavit explaining the performance of its monitoring system. The government has since claimed that the first half of November was the cleanest in three years, reporting an average AQI of 348.

Public anger is growing, with at least three protests held this month. 

At one demonstration, a hand-held device measured an AQI of 377—worse than official figures—and protesters demanded truthful data to guide public health decisions.

The study, published in World Development, examined US$163 billion in climate adaptation funding and US$91 billion in biodiversity investments and found that Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), often described as the “ground zero” of global warming, lags far behind other regions in both the amount of money received and the likelihood of being selected for funding.

The researchers, Charissa Bosma, Lars Hein and Daniel C. Miller, found a paradox that countries that are most exposed to rising temperatures, drought, and floods are less likely to be chosen for climate adaptation projects than those with lower levels of vulnerability.

“Sub-Saharan Africa makes up for a bit more than one-third of funding flows for both objectives (37 and 35 percent, respectively). Roughly 40 percent of climate adaptation and 35 percent of biodiversity funding was invested in South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific. Latin America received about one-quarter of the biodiversity funding, compared to 13 percent of the total climate adaptation funding. The Middle East and North Africa accounted for slightly less than 10 percent of adaptation funding and only 6 percent of the total biodiversity funding,” the study disclosed.

Even after accounting for regional and multi-country aid packages, Africa’s underfunding trend persisted. While regional programs exist, they have not been enough to offset the imbalance in country-level disbursements.

“These variations suggest that regional funding influences the magnitude of some estimates, but does not fundamentally alter the overall pattern of underfunding observed for Sub-Saharan Africa,” the study further stated.

However, the study further noted that one major factor shaping where the money goes is governance quality. Countries with stronger institutions, political stability, and regulatory quality were more likely to attract both climate and biodiversity funding, regardless of their vulnerability levels.

That means well-governed middle-income nations, such as Vietnam or Colombia, often attract more financing than poorer but highly vulnerable African countries. 

“We are here at the port of Santarem, at this exact moment, about to depart for Belem, to COP30. We are participating in a caravan with the peoples of the territory. The importance of this is surreal, because people are joining forces, connecting with others who already live the reality of the territories,” said Silvia Rocha, a Brazilian activist.

During the voyage, participants discussed strategies to present their local struggles and environmental challenges to world leaders. They see their participation as an opportunity to push for genuine representation and stronger climate financing commitments.

The caravan’s arrival in Belém marks a symbolic moment for civil society . With COP30 expected to bring together 60,000 participants from more than 160 countries between November 10 and 21, the Amazon’s residents are determined to make their voices central to the global climate conversation.

September 21 will also mark the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law, a period marked by corruption and human rights abuses under the dictatorship of Marcos’s father and namesake.

''Do you blame them for going out to the street? If I wasn't President, I might be out in the streets with them,” Marcos said at a September 15 press briefing. “Of course they are enraged, they are angry. I'm angry. We should all be angry because what's happening is not right.” 

Corruption surrounding flood-control projects has dominated national discourse this month in the Philippines, widely regarded as the world’s most disaster-prone country because of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, where most of the world’s typhoons form.

Greenpeace Philippines estimated that as much as P1.089 trillion ($18.9 billion) in climate-related spending has been lost to corruption since 2023, including ₱173 million ($3 million) meant for flood-control projects.

The scandal has led to the ouster of Senate President Francis Escudero, whose top campaign donor was a construction magnate whose firm had secured P5.16 billion ($90 million) worth of flood-control contracts. The revelations followed Marcos’s decision to release a list of the top 15 contractors awarded such projects.

“To show that you are enraged, to show that you are angry, to show that you are disappointed, to show that you want justice, to show that you want fairness, what's wrong with that?” Marcos said.  

“I want to show that there is justice. I want to show that there is fairness. I want to hold these people accountable. So, I don't blame them, not one bit.” 

Marcos had said he was “very upset” about the corruption scandal — not disheartened, not just disappointed, but “very, very angry.” 

Fears of Nepal-like protests

Some 267 groups and public figures are expected to gather on Sunday at the EDSA People Power Monument, a historic uprising site where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos massed in 1986 to force the Marcos family into exile.

Another large demonstration is planned for Luneta Park on the same day.

Asked whether he feared the protests might swell to the scale of recent uprisings in Nepal or Indonesia, Marcos said such a scenario would only occur if the government failed to address the root cause.

“You have to remember I brought this up and it is my interest that we find a solution to what has become very egregious problem,” he said. “Since this has all been exposed, well it's actually known to many people but it has now been exposed to the general public.” 

“Just keep it peace ful. It’ll be difficult if it’s not peaceful. We will have to, the police will have to do its duty to maintain peace and order.” 

For some time, the Philippines served as the world’s blueprint for a peaceful uprising. The 1986 People Power Revolution ended the first Marcos presidency, sending the family packing into exile in Hawaii.

Now president, Marcos — who has spent much of his political career attempting to rehabilitate his family’s name — faces a corruption scandal threatening to trigger a mass uprising of his own.

The Philippine president has appointed an independent commission to investigate a decade’s worth of flood-control projects, spanning three presidencies.

A report by the Centre for Public Integrity revealed that accommodating ruling Frelimo party politicians on boards of state-owned companies cost over 185 million meticais (USD 2.8 million) in 2023. The NGO noted that the spending on just 33 non-executive board members in seven enterprises surpassed what the state pays 1,760 low-tier public servants. “HCB had two non-executive members, to whom it paid a total of 77.2 million meticais per year,” the report said. “The amount refers to the non-executive members of seven public companies and institutions, namely Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), which operates the Cahora Bassa dam on the Zambezi River; the insurance company EMOSE; the rail and port company, CFM; the Matola Silos and Bulk Terminal (STEMA); the National Investment Bank (BNI); the Mozambique Stock Exchange (BVM), and the Mozambique national publishing house (Imprensa Nacional),” reads the report. For its part, the BNI had eight non-executive members up until 2023, earning a total of 16.8 million Meticais a year, Club of Mozambique reports.

Debt-for-climate swaps gaining

Mozambique is pursuing debt-for-climate swaps to redirect debt repayments into climate action. Finance Minister Carla Loveira explained, “We know how exposed our country is to climate change,” adding that there is “interest from some countries” in the swaps. “Mozambique is already designing a climate finance strategy,” she said at the UN’s Financing for Development conference in Spain, confirming that an agreement has been signed with Belgium. The minister added that “there is interest” from some countries in these debt-for-climate swaps, “There are interested countries, some of which have already expressed their interest, and we with which we have already reached an agreement, such as Belgium. And, therefore, this is a segment that we are working on,” Bulletin reports.

Insurgents preying on children in Cabo Delgado

Islamist insurgents in Cabo Delgado have been condemned for abducting over 120 children in recent days. “These armed groups are insurgents, they are terrorists, they are devils,” said Johan Viljoen of the Denis Hurley Peace Institute (DHPI). Human Rights Watch called on militants to release abductees immediately, warning that “the surge in abductions of children in Cabo Delgado adds to the horrors of the conflict.” Viljoen added, “It is their nature to terrorize civilian populations, to abduct children,” Catholic World Report quotes. According to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional Protocols, children are entitled to special respect and protection, including being shielded from hostilities, kept with their families, and receiving necessary care and aid. Viljoen, however, contends that insurgents abusing children, through actions like terrorizing civilians and abductions, demonstrate an inherent nature that defies this international legal standard. “Surely nobody would have been expecting them [the armed groups] to observe international law and to observe the Geneva Convention and all of that. It is their nature to terrorize civilian populations, to abduct children. They do it in whichever part of the world they operate,” Viljoen told CWR. The DHPI director decried the “terrible dangers” the children face, explaining that “the boys are forced to take up arms and to fight. The girls are either used for sex or to carry goods or to cook, or they are forced into marriage. So the children face huge dangers.”

TotalEnergies plans LNG project restart

TotalEnergies announced plans to resume its USD 20 billion Mozambique LNG project in 2025 after halting operations due to security threats. The project aims to produce 13 million tons of LNG per year, with expansion potential to 43 million tons. “This is a segment that we are working on,” the company said, positioning Mozambique as a major LNG exporter targeting Asia and the Middle East, Africa News reports. In 2024, TotalEnergies deployed two deepwater rigs in the country – one at the Moho permit and one at the Marine permit. The exploration phase has been completed, with drilling activities officially underway. Two wells have been drilled to date, with a third well in progress and a fourth being planned. Drilling activities come as TotalEnergies expands its presence in the country, increasing its stake in the Moho permit by an additional 10%. TotalEnergies is also accelerating the development of the Marine XX permit – a deepwater block currently in the exploration phase.

EU training boosts military capacity

The EU Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique trained over 450 Mozambican troops in the first half of 2025. Activities ranged from leadership and tactical driving to civil-military cooperation. “In a joint effort to contribute to the social and educational development of the local population,” the mission carried out solidarity initiatives benefiting children, including school supply donations and support for orphanages.

Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, chair of Uganda's Committee on Public Service and Local Government, has spotlighted significant irregularities in recruitment processes to address corruption and improve transparency in local government hiring. He has proposed implementing digital hiring systems to reduce human interactions, thereby aiming to restore public trust. This initiative comes after the Inspector General of Government suspended recruitment in various local governments due to corruption allegations. According to ITWeb , Mapenduzi's committee has uncovered evidence of political interference in hiring practices, contravening the Local Government Act, which has contributed to a staggering annual economic loss of USh9 trillion (approximately $2.4 billion) for Uganda, positioning the country 141st out of 180 on Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Climate action

Climate Rights International, a U.S.-based human rights watchdog, has raised alarm over the adverse effects of oil development activities by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) along Uganda's Lake Albert coast. Their report, derived from extensive interviews, indicates widespread suffering among local communities, marked by forced displacements and alleged human rights abuses attributed to Ugandan government forces. Key issues highlighted by ABC News include inadequate compensation and coercive land acquisition practices, painting a grim picture of a project intended to spur economic growth via the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline. Despite claims from Ugandan officials that the project will alleviate poverty, critics have branded it a "human rights disaster," fostering a climate of fear among local populations. Oil production is slated to commence by 2026, with an estimated investment of $15 billion.

New World Bank leader

In a notable appointment, the World Bank has named Mr. Qimiao Fan as the Country Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda, effective September 1, 2024. With an impressive tenure of over 35 years within the institution, Fan will oversee a robust portfolio of 102 projects valued at $17.2 billion, Mirage News reports. A Chinese national, Fan has held various leadership roles within the World Bank since 1991, also having acquired experience in Cambodia, Belarus, and South Asia, alongside capabilities developed through his private sector roles in China. Holding a PhD in Economics from the University of Birmingham, Fan will operate from Nairobi, Kenya, marking a significant step for the region's development agenda.

Anti-corruption protests

On Monday, Ugandan security officers arrested four female protesters who marched to parliament topless, protesting corruption and demanding the resignation of parliament speaker Anita Among. The protesters, part of the 'Uganda Freedom Activists,' carried anti-graft placards and painted their upper torsos in Ugandan flag colours. Citizen Digital reports they were intercepted by police and placed under custody. The protesters demanded a lifestyle audit of parliamentarians and accountability from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) following the August death of at least 35 people at a Kampala dumpsite.

Change in mobile money use

Uganda's inflation rate for August dropped to 3.5%, the lowest in 15 months, down from 4% in July, according to the Ugandan Bureau of Statistics as reported by The Monitor. The decrease was partly due to a reduction in mobile money-sending charges. Samuel Echoku, head of macroeconomics at the Bureau, noted that mobile money inflation fell from 13.4% in July to 10.8% in August. Despite this, Business Insider Africa reports service costs remained the largest contributor to inflation, decreasing slightly from 6.5% to 6.2%. While mobile money is an effective way to combat high transfer fees, it faces challenges from taxes and other fees.

Based on current emission rates and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) recommendations, the clock calculates how much time remains to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

As of Monday , July 22, the clock will read less than 5 years as projected by the clock's operators in New York, highlighting the critical need for immediate and collective action.

The 1.5°C limit is a key target set by the Paris Agreement, an international treaty adopted in 2015 to combat climate change. Scientists warn that exceeding this limit could lead to severe consequences, including more frequent and intense heatwaves, rising sea levels, and widespread disruption of ecosystems.

Additionally, The Climate Clock's operators have declared Monday "Climate Emergency Day" as a call to action to urge individuals and communities to demand scalable solutions and intensify efforts to address the climate crisis.

“Climate Emergency Day is our moment to unite with communities, influence policy and investments and hold governments and corporations accountable for their promises to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and finance climate solutions. This urgency is heightened as nearly half of the world goes to the polls this year. It is a decisive year for our planet and for our leaders to demonstrate their commitment to a sustainable future,” said Mahak Agrawal, the Global Campaign Lead at Climate Clock.

According to a 12th July publication by Reuters, The United Nations's climate summit in November this year will focus on finance, pressuring large economies like the EU to commit more funding to help developing nations address climate change.

The EU will also pressure countries at COP29 to follow through on their fossil fuel phase-out pledges, a draft negotiating position shows.