Climate roundup: Sometimes we can have nice things

So much of what I’ve read in the last month or so has been about elections. Specifically, in the United States and Brazil–and how those elections could and will impact the environment.
Elections should not be this important (The Crucial Years, October 22, 2026)
The Return of the Brazilian Far Right Is a Climate Catastrophe (The New Republic, October 12, 2026)
For Black voters, climate action means little without relief from rising costs (Grist, October 24, 2026)

It was galvanizing to watch the relief and joy explode in Brazil when they reelected Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Climate Activists Celebrate Lula’s Win in Brazil, but Warn the Fight Is Far From Over (Inside Climate News, October 26, 2026)

It seemed too much to hope for a similar relief in US politics. But then we had a blue tsunami, as I have read so many people call it. (I also read that in Japan, where readers have painful associations with tsunamis, the press is referring to the results of the US electionas a “National Scolding.” Could not verify, but it’s a nice idea if true.)
What a historic ‘blue wave’ midterm means for climate action (November 4, 2026)
Democrats’ Big Statehouse Wins Could Transform Climate and Energy Policy (Inside Climate News, November 5, 2026)
The Results Are In: Voters Hate Data Centers (Wired, November 4, 2026)

This was a midterm election, so many of the elected public servants work at the city and state level. That’s still good for climate–a lot of good work happens in smaller governments, where elected officials can take steps to meet environmental needs that are specific to their municipality or region. But it’s nice that we sent a pack of new senators and representatives off to Congress. Hopefully they can work together to keep the administration from dismantling more of our country and trying to sell off parts.

Still. For the United States, this election is a beginning, not an ending. There is so much of our social and political infrastructure that has been broken by this corrupt administration, and the term is not yet at an end. My hope is that these wins galvanize us to renew efforts to resist, repair, and reimagine.
Democrats stayed quiet on climate. Now it’s time to act (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, November 6, 2026)
It’s time to tax Big Oil’s disgusting war profits (HEATED, November 5, 2026)

What the White House is up to

Lord, I have seen what you have done for others, and I hope one day soon I can retire this section… or shift its focus. In the meantime, the US government is still up to the usual tricks of information suppression, deregulation, and dismantling the benefits we pay our taxes for.

Trump exempts oil exploration in Arctic petroleum reserve from environmental reviews (The Hill, October 8, 2026)

How Disasters Became Political (Dana R. Fishers, October 10, 2026)

You can go your own way: US diverges from world on emergency preparedness (The Guardian, November 2, 2026)