Renewables & Land Use: Minnesota’s solar farms seeded native grasses and wildflowers under panels, and five years later federal researchers say the biodiversity results changed how the U.S. thinks about solar on “exhausted” cropland. Grid & Storage: England’s planning inspectorate overturned most standalone BESS refusals, with green belt arguments losing ground. Solar Project Momentum: Cebu’s 150MW solar farm cleared key land approvals for construction later in 2026, despite ongoing land-price court fights. Clean Transport: India launched its first indigenous hydrogen-powered train on an 89-km Haryana route, while Cambodia set a target of 720,000 electric motorcycles by 2030. Climate Risk & Water: Latin America is ramping up El Niño preparations as drought, floods, heat and wildfire risk rise. Public Health & Pollution: Lake Okeechobee’s blue-green algae bloom is “close to the worst,” driven by heat and nutrient runoff. Energy Security: Kuwait says an Iranian strike damaged a power and desalination plant, highlighting the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. EU Climate Policy: The EU proposed easing its Emissions Trading System rules for industry, allowing longer, cheaper emissions compliance if firms invest in decarbonisation. Waste & Circularity: A Philippines plastics series highlights the “plastic paradox” of low consumption but high leakage into rivers and oceans.