Union of Concerned Scientists

Hot Summer 2025 Could Be the Coolest for the Rest of Our Lives: 6 Things to Know It's hot and getting hotter. But climate action is cool.

"Summer 2025 is, has been, and will continue to be really hot. Lives have been lost, records have toppled, unprecedented conditions are appearing around the globe. But with global warming accelerating, this summer could very well be the coolest of the rest of our lives."

Five Reasons Why the ICJ Climate Advisory Opinion Matters  Climate inaction is not just a policy failure, it’s a legal breach. This ruling will shape international law, national policymaking, and courtroom strategy for years to come. 

On July 23, the International Court of Justice issued a historic advisory opinion on states’ legal duties to address climate change. Though not binding, it carries global weight and could influence law, policy, and climate justice efforts for years to come. Here’s why it matters:

We noticed something important when the administration was announcing they don’t want to regulate heat-trapping emissions. You can see more about the link between climate change and the extreme weather we see here:

➡️ dangerseason.ucs.org

This made us laugh… and cry. If you felt it too, here’s one way to help two agencies in the bunker 👇

What We’re Watching: Endangered in Danger Season This week, many of us are trying to avoid the health impacts of an extended heat dome while watching the craven and shameless efforts of the Trump administration.

This week in #DangerSeason: The Trump administration is trying to convince us that climate change isn’t a danger, by rolling back something literally called the Endangerment Finding. Learn what’s at stake in our weekly outlook:

A promotional graphic for "MindLab" weekly virtual mindfulness sessions, co-hosted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Protection Network. The background shows two people walking on a forest path surrounded by tall trees. Text reads: MindLab – Weekly Virtual Mindfulness Sessions. Open to all scientists, public servants, and science supporters. Facilitated by Dr. Lena Adams Kim. Wednesdays, 11:30am–12:00pm ET, through the end of October 2025.” A QR code in the bottom right corner invites people to scan to register.

🧘‍♀️ Struggling to find a moment of calm amidst all the bad news this summer? MindLab offers practical, science-based techniques to help science supporters manage stress, regulate emotions & navigate uncertainty.

Join us for free virtual sessions every Wednesday, 11:30 am ET.

➡️ act.ucsusa.org/45bB0wj

From the Courtroom to the Internet, the Fight Over Federal Science Is On It’s been six months since President Trump took the oath of office and his administration began its all-out effort to gut federal science—though it’s understandable if it feels like even longer. If yo...

"When people work together, there can still be wins for federal science, even with the unprecedented number and ferocity of attacks on science we’ve observed since Inauguration Day." Stay up to date on federal science wins and challenges in UCS's monthly round-up by @jbd-phd.bsky.social.

Science and Democracy Under Siege This administration's first 6 months have been characterized by destruction, division, and chaos.

Sidelining science-based safeguards harms our health and safety. Ignoring public input undermines our democracy. Learn more about these and other damaging actions by the Trump administration in our new report, Science and Democracy Under Siege.

Many more polluting facilities can request similar exemptions by sending a single email request to Trump's EPA. Our research shows that of the 532 facilities across the country eligible for the exemption, 9 out of 10 are within 5 miles of a school or daycare center.

These Companies Avoided Clean-Air Rules. It Took a Single Email.

Without any input from surrounding communities, Trump's EPA has exempted more than 100 polluting facilities from air pollution regulations, including coal plants, oil refineries, and sterilization facilities.

“You cannot change the science.” Yesterday, @markey.senate.gov spoke out against the Trump administration’s proposal to repeal the EPA’s finding that climate change is a real danger to our planet.

Last call to submit an abstract for this exciting session at AGU 2025 on climate attribution science and its applications to real-world issues like climate litigation or loss and damage!

agu.confex.com/agu/agu25/pr...

Railroads Are Running Dirty Diesel Trains Through Communities and No One Is Doing Anything About It The case for rail electrification is clear in the benefits to the economy, public health, and environment.

Think rail is a clean transportation source? Think again. 🤔 UCS Senior Vehicles Analyst explains why and how the rail industry has hindered progress in emission reduction over the past decade:

Sen. Markey, Rep. Deluzio Introduce Legislation to Transform U.S. Rail Network | U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts All Aboard Act dedicates $200 billion over five years to build transportation system of the...

🚂Yesterday, @markey.senate.gov and @deluzio.house.gov reintroduced the transformative All Aboard Act, which would dedicate billions of investments to modernize our nation’s rail, reducing locomotive emissions and securing critical labor protections:

Hot Summer 2025 Could Be the Coolest for the Rest of Our Lives: 6 Things to Know It's hot and getting hotter. But climate action is cool.

#KillerHeat is... killing us🌡️ 💀. The ocean is losing its cool🌊🥵. We're making a U-turn away from solutions. (!!!). BUT heat responds quickly to reduced emissions if we #ActOnClimate.

#DangerSeason is baking us. And this could be the coolest summer for the rest of our lives. This is #ClimateChange

Trump Administration Launches Broadside Attack on Science-Backed Endangerment Finding, Public Health Protections Trump Administration Launches Broadside Attack on Science-Backed Endangerment Finding, Climate and Public Health Protections

It's a sad day when our leaders turn their back on long established science to try and roll back public health protections while the dangers of climate change are palpable on a daily basis. We cannot let this stand. www.ucs.org/about/news/t...

Today, the EPA released a proposal that would gut the 2009 Endangerment Finding. “These actions by Lee Zeldin are anti-science and backed by the fossil fuel industry, said Chitra Kumar, Managing Director, UCS Climate & Energy campaign.

Trump Administration Launches Broadside Attack on Science-Backed Endangerment Finding, Public Health Protections Trump Administration Launches Broadside Attack on Science-Backed Endangerment Finding, Climate and Public Health Protections

Read UCS statement:

" Their rationales are nonsensical on all fronts and are blatantly aimed at shredding regulations to prop up the fortunes of the polluting fossil fuel industry while the public foots the bill. " Statement by UCS President Gretchen Goldman

🚨The EPA released a proposal that would gut the 2009 Endangerment Finding & undermine the foundational scientific finding that global warming pollution endangers public health & the environment. At the same time, it’s repealing strong car & truck pollution limits & threatening other vital standards.

Trump's EPA just proposed a plan making climate denial official U.S. policy, claiming climate change and the pollution that causes it pose no threat to public health or the environment as a favor to Big Polluters. Tell them the public isn't on board: actonclimate.now/stopclimatec...

YouTube video by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock LIVE: Senator Warnock Reintroduces the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

LIVE: Senator Warnock introduces the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the 119th Congress. 🗳️

Timed with the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (August 6), this bill renews the fight to protect and strengthen our democracy.

#VotingRights #JohnLewisAct #VRA6

Who Really Pays for Data Centers Powered By Fossil Fuels?  Data centers—the places used to host servers and computers that are needed to process various IT tasks like AI queries —are booming. And the corporations that build them want a lot more land and a lot more power to make them run. These plans continue to grow in scale and there are no signs of a slow

Data centers are booming. And the corporations that build them want a lot more land and a lot more power to make them run, with no signs of slowing down. So, how much energy will data centers need in the future, and who will pay the costs? UCS analyst Maria Chavez explores this in her latest blog.

📣 HAPPENING TOMORROW: Know #NOAA and #FEMA budget cuts are bad and wanna do something about it? Join us! 🔗 bit.ly/41bwhtf

What Will It Cost to Renovate the ‘Free’ Air Force One? Don’t Ask.

@nytimes.com semi-deep dive on reports the Trump team has taken hundreds of millions of $$$ from the deeply troubled, wildly over-budget, & hugely delayed Sentinel ICBM program to fund Trump' gold-plated Qatari jet that _might_ become Air Force One. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/u...

Uber Just Reinvented the Bus … Again Beyond the jokes about its new shuttle service are serious questions about what it will mean for struggling transit systems, air quality, and congestion.

Learn more at @wired.com

A person leans into the back seat of a black Uber car, seen from the outside. Overlaid on the image is a quote in white text: “Everybody will say, ‘Silicon Valley’s reinventing the bus again,’ but it’s more like [Uber is] reinventing a worse bus.” —Kevin Shen, Transportation Policy Analyst. At the bottom is the logo for the Union of Concerned Scientists. The image is credited to Mario Tama/Getty Images

Uber’s new Route Share shows people want affordable, flexible options—but it falls short and worsens climate impacts. What if we met that demand sustainably, by investing in public transit🚍, safe bike lanes, and walkable routes to get where we need to go?

The Great American Engine Stall: Science Budget Cuts Threaten US Innovation The biggest casualty? Climate science.

Federal investments in science have been an engine driving the development of life-saving technologies such as early warning systems for tsunamis & storms, diagnostic tests and vaccines, the early internet & cell phones. But the Trump admin’s budget proposal could take this engine out of commission.

Six Months in, UCS Is in the Fight for the Long Haul Six months into the second Trump administration, what's UCS doing to fight attacks on science?

UCS recently released a report documenting the Trump administration’s attacks on and abuses of science. In her new blog, UCS @gretchentg.bsky.social describes how we’re fighting back—and fighting smart!—with the goal of minimizing the damage and continuing to make progress on our issues.

Science and Democracy Under Siege This administration's first 6 months have been characterized by destruction, division, and chaos.

ICYMI: On Monday, we released a new report highlighting how, over the past six months, the Trump administration has systematically and recklessly undermined federal science.

Read our report, Science and Democracy Under Siege, here:

A graphic from the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition. The background shows a pair of hands holding coal. Overlaid text reads: “Bills are SKYROCKETING due to coal, data centers, and slow grid connections.” The word “skyrocketing” is in bold orange text. On the right side, there's an illustration of a light bulb with a chart inside it, and a bar graph with an orange arrow pointing sharply upward. At the bottom, it says: “TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO TAKE ACTION!” in all caps. The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition logo appears at the bottom center.

While energy bills soar, Illinois legislators went home this spring without passing a bill to protect consumers and build more clean energy. Urge them to pass the CRGA Act this fall!

➡️ win.newmode.net/icjc/crgaact