Desertification & COP prep: Mongolia is holding a Gobi regional consultation series ahead of COP17 under the UNCCD, gathering herders, youth, NGOs and private groups to shape national desertification talks. Plastic waste & circular economy: A Nigeria-focused World Environment Day piece spotlights how “pure water” sachets clog drains, worsen flooding and persist for decades, arguing for craft-based reuse and circular solutions. Climate adaptation funding: In the Philippines, a lawmaker urges LGUs to use the People’s Survival Fund for rainwater harvesting as El Niño threatens below-normal rainfall. Food prices & climate stress: Coffee costs are rising fast as erratic weather hits farms from Brazil to Guatemala, adding to labor and shipping pressures. Wetlands under threat: Tamil Nadu revoked environmental clearance for a Rs 2,000-crore housing project near Chennai’s Pallikaranai Ramsar wetland, citing missing required wetland approvals. AI’s energy footprint: Canada’s climate-and-energy debate over AI data centres is heating up, with critics warning AI is not “in the cloud” but depends on land, power and water. Environmental justice & pollution: Louisiana’s environmental justice groups keep pushing outreach and accountability amid rollbacks, while residents fight major pollution impacts. Data centres vs communities: Indiana and other places are debating data-centre incentives as residents warn of higher bills and worse air quality.