Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a strategic framework agreement for up to $5 billion in joint investments between 2025 and 2030. The partnership aims to boost renewable energy, water security, and power generation across Africa, with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
Icelandic industry groups, led by the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (SFS), have voiced significant disappointment regarding a new mackerel agreement signed by Iceland, Norway, the UK, and the Faroe Islands. The deal, effective until 2028, reduces Iceland's effective share to 10.5% from a previous 16.5% and includes controversial provisions for sales in Norway, while also exceeding scientific advice for total allowable catch.
Mexico has agreed to release 202,000 acre-feet of water to the United States, fulfilling obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty and averting threatened tariffs from President Donald Trump. Deliveries are expected to begin mid-December 2025, with a broader plan to be finalized by January 2026.
A new rapid attribution study by Maynooth University and Met Éireann reveals human-caused climate change doubled the likelihood and increased the magnitude of heavy rainfall, like that during Storm Claudia in November 2025, contributing to recent flooding in southeast Ireland. Rainfall magnitude increased by up to 12%.
Ethiopia has accused Egypt of escalating tensions in the long-running Nile dispute, following recent comments by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. Abdelatty declared negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) had reached a 'dead end' and labeled the project 'illegal.' Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered, accusing Cairo of clinging to a 'colonial-era mentality' and rejecting dialogue.
The World Food Programme has issued an urgent warning that hunger and malnutrition are escalating at an alarming rate in Afghanistan, with aid slashed by 80% due to severe funding shortages. Millions, especially children and women, face unprecedented levels of malnutrition as winter sets in.
The United Nations and its partners have launched a $5.1 billion humanitarian aid appeal for West and Central Africa, targeting 24 million vulnerable people in 2026. The appeal, launched on December 8, 2025, addresses the severe impact of violence, climate change, and other crises across eight countries, including Burkina Faso, where millions are displaced and in urgent need.
The United Nations and its partners have launched a $5.1 billion humanitarian aid appeal for West and Central Africa to assist 24 million vulnerable people in 2026. The region faces severe challenges from escalating violence, including in Burkina Faso, and the profound impacts of climate change, which have left over 42 million people in need.
Iran faces its most severe water crisis in over six decades, escalating into a profound political and security issue. Tehran is grappling with critical water shortages, with reservoirs at alarmingly low levels, leading to rationing and warnings of potential evacuation. Mismanagement, climate change, and inefficient agricultural practices are cited as primary causes.
Experts at the recent Pakistan Population Summit issued a stark warning, stating that the country's rapid population growth is outstripping available resources, creating an 'existential crisis.' The two-day event highlighted severe strains on healthcare, food, water, education, and employment, urging immediate, unified action to avert a demographic disaster.
A recent two-year study by the French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) revealed that PFAS 'forever chemicals' were present in over 90% of French drinking water samples. The findings, published in December 2025, highlight the widespread presence of these persistent substances, particularly Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), across France's water supply.
A severe air pollution crisis has led to extensive school and university closures across numerous Iranian cities, including Tehran, in late November 2025. Officials have acknowledged the problem as unmanageable, with air quality reaching 'very unhealthy' to 'extremely hazardous' levels and a Vice President warning the smog 'will kill'.
A Panama-flagged merchant vessel, the 'Marine I', carrying 17 crewmembers, was successfully towed to the port of Málaga on Thursday night after being adrift for over ten days in the Strait of Gibraltar. The ship was reportedly abandoned by its Dubai-based owner, leaving the crew without fuel, water, or food.
Iranian authorities ceased electricity production at the Karkheh Dam on November 30, 2025, due to critically low water levels caused by a decades-long drought. The dam's reservoir is 40 meters below operational height, impacting power supply and downstream water needs.
Greece has formally declared a state of emergency for Attica, Leros, and Patmos due to severe water shortages, driven by climate change, dwindling reserves, and infrastructure issues. The government is fast-tracking a €5.9 billion investment plan, including the 'Evrytos' project and desalination efforts, to secure water supply.
Syria faces a severe humanitarian crisis with 16.5 million people requiring aid and 7.4 million internally displaced. Critical sectors like water, health, and education are severely impacted by damaged infrastructure, economic collapse, and significant funding gaps, exacerbating the suffering of millions.
Scientists are intensifying studies on Greenland's accelerating ice melt and its critical influence on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key ocean current. Research indicates that freshwater influx could significantly alter global weather patterns, leading to colder European winters and rising sea levels.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has cautioned UK ministers about an emerging gas supply crisis by the 2030s. This risk, particularly during severe cold spells combined with infrastructure failure, could leave homes and businesses without gas. The government has pledged action to bolster energy security.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning that nearly 35 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity by 2026, marking the highest number ever recorded in the country. Escalating militant attacks, economic hardship, and critical funding shortfalls are driving the unprecedented crisis, particularly in northern regions.
Tunisia has experienced a dramatic and rare climatic shift, with temperatures plummeting from 37°C on October 26 to between 0-3°C in less than 48 hours. This 'Tunisian climatic oscillation' is a phenomenon not observed in 33 years, according to expert Hussein Rahili, highlighting the country's increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events.
