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Mary Hui, Bloomberg
Main production regions of China’s corn, rice and cotton are expected to experience heatwaves that will push temperatures up into the high-30C range, and in some cases as high as 50C, reports Bloomberg. Reuters reports that China has allocated 2.2bn yuan ($319m) to help prevent agricultural disasters. State broadcaster CCTV reports that “tropical nights” have appeared in north-east China recently, with overnight minimum temperatures exceeding 25C. China Environment News says that “hot and humid conditions” continue across many parts of China and that the area of heatwaves is expected to expand in the northern and eastern parts of the country. Another CCTV report says “high humidity and intense sunshine” have pushed the current heatwave into the ranks of China’s “most severe and long-lasting” in recent years. [The outlet does not mention climate change.]
Meanwhile, China has evacuated residents in some regions of the north-western Shaanxi and south-western Sichuan provinces ahead of expected heavy rainfall, according to Reuters. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reports that “China has raised the death toll from last week’s flash floods in the north-western province of Gansu as large parts of the country continue to battle the impact of heavy rainfall and swollen rivers”. Longnan in Gansu has intensified flood-control emergency response measures due to “widespread heavy rainfall” since last week, according to state news agency Xinhua. The South China Morning Post examines commentaries saying that wetter weather could lead to a return to the “prosperous Tang dynasty ‘warm period’”. It adds: “Climate scientists warn that romanticised narratives ignore the volatile reality of modern climate change.”
MORE ON CHINA
China’s “five-year plan” for its new power system aims to build 140 gigawatts (GW) of “standalone new energy storage” to support peak demand and supply security by 2030, reports BJX News. China calls for greater use of NEVs by public institutions and control over their coal consumption in a new action plan for the five-year period, reports BJX News. Outlook publishes an article bylined by MEE leaders Sun Jinlong and Huang Runqiu saying China has become a “pragmatic contributor” and “important leader” in global climate governance. Since the start of 2026, 1,266 “zombie” solar projects that had not started or completed on schedule have been cancelled, says BJX News. China’s State Council has approved eight new nuclear power units in 2026, with total investment exceeding 170bn yuan ($25.2bn), according to the Paper. The South China Morning Post: “Why US, EU curbs on Chinese power inverters risk upending green supply chains.”
Lorenzo Tondo and agencies, The Guardian
The Guardian reports that Romanian naval forces have carried out a controlled explosion to help redirect water from the drought-hit Danube to the country’s last working nuclear reactor. It adds that both Hungary and Romania have been forced to shut down nuclear reactors cooled by the river for the first time, “as record-low water levels deepen fears of an energy crisis across the region”. Bloomberg adds that the Romanian government has asked the country to lower electricity consumption. Reuters reports that in neighbouring Hungary, authorities have said they may be able to “eke out two more days of power” from their only nuclear power plant. Sky News reports that river levels in the Hungarian capital of Budapest have fallen to around 10cm, well below the previous all-time low of 33cm in 2018. The Associated Press adds that water levels are not expected to rise for “days or even weeks as no significant rainfall is forecast”.
Relatedly, BBC News reports that the Rhine river has fallen to record-low levels at several locations in Germany and the Netherlands. Bloomberg reports that the Rhine has hit its lowest point in nearly 150 years, “threatening to disrupt a crucial route for transporting coal, fuel and industrial commodities across a large swath of the continent”.
MORE ON EUROPE
Reuters reports that hundreds of Greek firefighters are battling a wildfire north-west of Athens for the fourth day. A frontpage article in the Guardian includes pictures of efforts to tackle the blazes as they are fed by gale-force winds. The Guardian covers warnings from farmers that high temperatures, drought and wildfires will lead to a slump in food production and a rise in prices. Al Jazeera looks at how heatwaves and wildfires are changing life across Europe as climate change continues to make summers hotter. The Financial Times calls Hungary a “wetland paradise lost”, where “climate change is drying out a European nation long celebrated for rivers, lakes and fertile fields”. The Irish Times: “Irish officials proposed scrapping ‘linchpin’ of climate legislation.”
Muvija M, Reuters
England and Wales experienced their driest July since records began in 1836 according to the Met Office, reports Reuters. BBC News adds that England had just 6.5mm of rainfall and Wales had 9.3mm, both less than half the previous low-rain records for the nations. In an article trailed on its frontpage, the Times reports that the “truly remarkable” conditions meant some areas had recorded no rain at all, according to the Met Office. The Guardian adds that July is the sixth consecutive month with above-average temperatures. It quotes Dr Amy Doherty, a science manager at the Met Office, who said: “The combination of record-breaking dryness, exceptional warmth and unprecedented sunshine has delivered one of the most notable summer months in our historical records.” The Independent says “increasingly extreme conditions are becoming the new norm as records continue to tumble amid climate change”, according to the Met Office. The news is on the frontpage of the i newspaper.
In other UK heatwave coverage, the Financial Times reports that a “severe wildfire” in Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park has prompted calls for national access to aerial firefighting support “as climate change increases the risk of serious rural blazes”. Additionally, in a piece featured on its frontpage, the Daily Telegraph reports that “Britain’s potato crop is under threat from heatwaves”. [It does not mention climate change.]
MORE ON UK
Citing New Automotive, Reuters says electric vehicle (EV) sales rose 49% year-on-year in July, “running ahead of the zero-emission vehicle mandate path for a second straight month”. The Guardian reports that the number of EVs being leased has doubled in the last year. The Times covers evidence-free claims by US president Donald Trump that the UK is “sitting on top of gold”, as he once again calls for more North Sea oil and gas drilling. The Daily Express covers criticism by Conservative shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho of new energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh. BusinessGreen covers a warning from consultancy EY that the UK is at risk of recession if the strait of Hormuz remains closed. BusinessGreen reports that National Grid has laid out a plan for a new £5m jobs programme to help young people into careers in energy and infrastructure.
Emily Gosden, The Times
The Times covers oil and gas group Shell’s announcement that it is selling its European onshore wind and solar business to France’s TotalEnergies as “it continues its retreat from renewable energy”. The Press Association adds that the deal will include assets in the UK, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, including over 500 megawatts (MW) of renewables in operation or under construction. Axios adds that the sale also includes a pipeline of 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar, wind and battery storage projects in Europe. Reuters notes that since taking over as CEO of Shell in 2023, Wael Sawan has “shifted focus away from renewables, seeking better returns in oil and gas projects”. The Daily Telegraph adds that as part of the “wider retreat”, Shell also pulled out of projects to build two offshore windfarms in the North Sea last year.
Akshat Rathi, Bloomberg
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