World:
¶ “Middle East Tensions Drives Global Food Prices Higher For Second Month” • The UN reported a second monthly rise in global food prices. Data from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation shows the Middle East conflict is driving up energy and fertilizer costs, threatening future harvests and yields despite currently stable market supplies. [Euronews]
Austrian farmland (Chris Linnett, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Five EU Ministers Call For New Windfall Tax On Energy Profits Amid Price Surge” • Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria asked the EU for energy companies to help alleviate the burden on consumers and taxpayers triggered by the war in the Middle East, using the extra profits that companies are getting thanks to higher fuel prices. [Euronews]
¶ “Climate Degradation Will Have Effects For ‘Hundreds And Thousands Of Years'” • The World Meteorological Organization published its annual State Of The Global Climate report. World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said. “We will live with these consequences for hundreds and thousands of years.” [CleanTechnica]
Greenhouse gas effects (WMO image)
¶ “Car Yards Empty As EV Sales Surge In Australia” • With rising petrol and diesel costs and uncertainty about where they will peak, March has seen a surge in EV sales in Australia and New Zealand. Car sale yards are being emptied of any sort of EV and waiting lists growing longer. Prices for second hand EVs have also increased. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Microsoft Is Buying Solar Power In Singapore For Its First Renewable Deal In Asia” • Microsoft said it will purchase 100% of the electricity generated from Sunseap’s 60-MW solar project over 20 years for its Singapore data operations. Sunseap’s project consists of an array of solar panels on hundreds of rooftops across the city-state. [AOL.com]
Singapore (Mike Enerio, Unsplash)
¶ “Expert Debunks Claims That Renewable Energy Is Too Expensive” • Renewable energy is being developed around the world at an astounding rate, yet some critics seem oblivious. Former US climate negotiator and TikTok creator Lia Newman debunked detractors’ claims by showing that solar and wind are cheaper than coal, oil, and gas. [MSN]
¶ “IAEA Sounds Alarm On US-Israeli Strike Near Iran Nuclear Plant” • The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, demanded “maximum military restraint” from the US and Israel as it confirmed that strikes had targeted a location close to Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, killing at least one person. [Truthout]
Rafael Mariano Grossi (IAEA Imagebank, CC BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Iran Warns Of ‘Radioactive Fallout’ In Gulf Nations After The Fourth US-Israeli Attack On Bushehr Nuclear Plant” • Iranian leader Araghchi called out “western hypocrisy,” over Russia’s attacks near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, while bombing a nuclear plant in Iran. “Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran.” [Hindustan Times]
US:
¶ “Trump Says US Can Open Hormuz With ‘A Little More Time'” • President Trump said that the US could “open” the Strait of Hormuz and “take the oil” if it has more time. The message, on his Truth Social platform, did not explain how the US could end Iranian control over the Hormuz waterway or what oil Trump was referring to. [Euronews]
Oil tanker (Dušan veverkolog, Unsplash)
¶ “What’s Going On With Hyundai?” • Hyundai is focusing its products on what American “customers want.” In terms of fuel, it is scaling back battery EV plans and introducing more hybrids. The 2026 World Performance Car IONIQ 6 N is still offered, but the regular IONIQ 6 has been discontinued. Over all, Hyundai is investing in the US. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Hyundai IONIQ 5 Sales Actually Up This Year!” • While other EV sales languish, Hyundai IONIQ 5 rocked it in the first quarter! IONIQ 5 deliveries totaled 4,425 in March, up from 3,919 year-on-year. That’s a 13% increase. And in the first quarter of 2026, the IONIQ 5 had 9,790 sales, up 14% from the 8,611 sales of Q1 2025. This EV had increased sales! [CleanTechnica]
Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Hyundai image)
¶ “Superfund Site Still On Track For Solar Power And Green Hydrogen” • Too bad Trump ripped up the plan for the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program when he took office last year. Be that as it may, a trickle of activity continues to stir in the area of green hydrogen produced from water. New Mexico is among the states in play. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Experts Predict 2026 To Be A ‘Big Year’ For Solar Throughout America’s Energy Grid” • Although it may seem like clean energy projects in the US have slowed, recently released data from the US EIA predicts 93% of the new utility-scale electric generating capacity installed this year will come from solar, batteries, and wind power. [The Cool Down]
Have a cleverly innovational day.
geoharvey 