We all know about carbon dioxide and its role as a greenhouse gas trapping heat in the atmosphere. And you’ve probably read that methane, the main component of natural gas, is a climate change problem as well. But did you know that nitrous oxide—commonly called “laughing gas”—is the third-worst greenhouse gas? Nitrous oxide is a potent heat-trapping gas, and a new study shows that emissions have been rising even faster than scientists had earlier projected. Most of it comes from agriculture, where the massive application of chemical nitrogen fertilizer causes nitrous oxide emissions as well as nutrient runoff that pollutes lakes and rivers. Better Planet spoke with officials at a Brazilian farming company that’s found out how to cut its use of nitrogen fertilizer, reducing emissions while saving money.  

Our Newsweek colleagues reported on research out of Alaska showing how sea level rise and storms could flood parts of the coast by the end of the century. About a fifth of the buildings in the coastal communities measured face flooding as the rate of sea level rise increases by 30 to 37 percent by 2100. Researchers hope their work will encourage community planning to protect homes, businesses and infrastructure.  

In climate news elsewhere, Reuters reported that international talks in Bonn, Germany, last week exposed the deep rifts over climate change funding as diplomats hope for a breakthrough at the next major climate negotiations in November. Rich countries pledged more than a decade ago to assist developing nations to build clean energy and deal with climate impacts, but they have not fulfilled those funding pledges. The United Nations said it could take more than $2 trillion a year to meet climate goals. The U.S. and EU nations argued that the list of countries that should come up with the funding should be expanded beyond those in the initial agreement because countries such as China have grown their economies dramatically in the intervening years. Climate financing is expected to be a major topic at the annual U.N. climate conference, COP29, taking place this year in Baku, Azerbaijan.  

And this week’s forecast for much of the U.S. calls for a heat wave expected to topple high temperature records from New England to the Midwest. Tens of millions will experience heat more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit for much of the week, CNN reported. The U.S. heat follows record-smashing heat waves in Mexico, parts of the Caribbean and Mediterranean earlier this month. Scientists said the globe has recorded 12 straight months of record warmth, with each month from May 2023 to May 2024 eclipsing anything on the instrument records.