EU plans to offset Iran war's energy impact, and other climate and nature news

The European Union (EU) has drafted plans to cut electricity taxes and accelerate clean energy deployment, aiming to shield consumers from volatile oil and gas prices.

The proposal is in response to recent geopolitical shocks, including disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, which exposed Europe’s heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The EU's proposed rules would ensure electricity is taxed less than fossil fuels and allow governments to reduce levies for energy-intensive industries, helping lower costs and support electrification.

The plan also promotes faster adoption of low-carbon technologies, smart grids and energy efficiency, alongside coordinated gas storage measures to avoid price spikes during supply crunches.

"The benefits of this transition clearly outweigh its ​costs. Europe cannot afford to remain exposed to increasingly frequent energy shocks," the plans state. "Every delayed investment in the energy transition risks greater cost for society at a later stage."

Corporate climate action is accelerating, with a 40% rise in companies setting science-based targets in 2025 and nearly 10,000 firms globally now aligned with emissions reduction pathways.

Data from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) shows an even faster growth in net-zero commitments, increasing 61% year-on-year as climate strategy becomes embedded in core business planning.

"There is clear evidence about the business benefits of science-based target-setting. This is a key lever for companies to manage transition risk and strengthen business resilience, remaining competitive now and in the future," said David Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer, SBTi.

Asia is emerging as a major hub for climate ambition, with a 53% increase in target-setting companies, matching Europe’s growth and expanding rapidly across both developed and emerging markets.

Europe still leads overall, accounting for nearly half of all companies with validated targets, while countries like Japan, the UK and the US rank highest individually.

Momentum is spreading across sectors, particularly healthcare, IT and materials, signalling that climate targets are becoming mainstream despite political and economic headwinds.

Tuvalu to set the stage for COP31 negotiations: The Pacific nation will host a special pre-COP31 leaders’ meeting ahead of the Antalya summit, as Australia’s Chris Bowen prepares to lead negotiations amid expectations of tougher global emissions talks.

Canada to double its protected land size by 2030: Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled plans to nearly double protected land and ocean areas by the end of the decade under a $2.78bn strategy, expanding national parks, marine reserves and urban green spaces across the country.

Over half of the US faces drought: More than 60% of the US is in drought after near-record March heat and low rainfall, with snowpack - accumulated snow that acts as a crucial water reserve - collapsing and raising risks of water shortages, wildfires and agricultural losses across key farming regions.

Heatwaves are creating "non-survivable" conditions: Multiple recent heatwaves have already reached critical conditions for older people when temperature and humidity are combined, with thousands of deaths likely undercounted globally.

World Bank launches global water security push: The World Bank and partners have launched 'Water Forward', to improve water access for up to one billion people, focusing on investment in infrastructure, irrigation, reuse and water management. The initiative commits to deliver water security to 400 million ​people by 2030.

Earth Day 2026: What is it, when is it and why is it important?

Each year on 22 April, around one billion people around the world take action to raise awareness of the climate crisis and bring about behavioural change to protect the environment. This year’s returning theme, ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, puts human agency front and centre. What was a push for clean energy in 2025 has evolved into a bold reminder: even as policies waver, communities hold the power to innovate and solve problems where they live. Discover the history of Earth Day and its achievements in this explainer from the Forum's Akanksha Khatri below.

These ventures have scalable coastal restoration solutions.

Blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses and tidal wetlands are some of the most powerful natural climate solutions in the world. However, despite their essential environmental, social and economic value, these ecosystems remain vastly underfunded thanks to a blue finance gap. To help close this gap, the Blue Carbon Action Partnership (BCAP) is working with public, private and civil society partners to support a cohort of ventures at a critical stage of development. Discover how six promising ventures are being supported by the BCAP to translate national priorities into investable coastal solutions in this article.

Why climate action matters for healthy longevity.

Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It is increasingly shaping how long and how well people live. From heat and air pollution to food insecurity and disease, climate risks are interacting with existing pressures on health systems and widening longevity gaps across regions. The World Health Organization estimates that, between 2030 and 2050, climate change could cause about 250,000 additional deaths every year. As societies age, there is a growing focus on how climate action, from resilient health systems to cleaner cities, can support healthier, longer lives. Learn more about why climate and longevity need to be part of the same conversation in this article.