Climate News Today — October 2, 2026
US states and cities sue over Trump EPA’s repeal of emissions rules and more — today's climate signal.
As the climate crisis deepens, governments and communities around the world are grappling with the consequences of inaction and the urgent need for change. In the United States, a group of states and cities are taking the Trump administration to court over its decision to repeal emissions rules, highlighting the ongoing battle between those pushing for progress on climate and those seeking to roll back regulations. Meanwhile, in Australia, the approval of a massive new coal project in New South Wales has sparked warnings that the climate crisis is a domestic issue that requires immediate attention.
The consequences of climate inaction are already being felt, from the rising floodwaters in Juneau, Alaska, where residents are seeing their homes and livelihoods threatened, to the fragile state of the global energy system, which was exposed by recent tensions in the Middle East. Even the Trump administration, often at odds with environmental concerns, has inadvertently highlighted the vulnerabilities of a fossil fuel-based energy system. As these stories demonstrate, the climate crisis is a pressing issue that demands collective action and cooperation - and it's clear that waiting for someone else to take the lead is no longer an option.
Today's signal:
• US states and cities sue over Trump EPA’s repeal of emissions rules (theguardian.com)
• Matt Kean warns climate crisis ‘isn’t someone else’s problem’ as largest coal project in NSW history greenlit (theguardian.com)
• Trump the environmentalist? How his Iran war exposed the fragility of dirty energy (theguardian.com)
• ‘We’ve given up half our home’: Major floods on the rise in Juneau, Alaska (yaleclimateconnections.org)