March - A study from the National Academy of Sciences shows that microplastics inhibit photosynthesis in plants and algae worldwide, likely affecting crop production.

March - Good news: the eastern monarch butterfly population has increased in the forests in Mexico occupying over 4 acres, up from 2 acres last year. Forest conservation efforts in Central Mexico contributed to this winter's improvement. However, the long-term trend has been a decline in the population.

February - France bans forever chemicals known as PFAS or per-and polyfluoroalkyl. These chemicals do not break down in nature. Ill effects include higher risk of cancers, low birth weights, high cholesterol, and other negative effects on the human body. PFAS are not illegal in the United States, but in 2024 the EPA set guidelines for acceptable levels of PFAS in drinking water.

February - Heavy rains cause flooding in eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, and southwest Virginia. 14 confirmed deaths and widespread damage to bridges, roads, and structures. The same area in Kentucky was hit with a so-called 1000 year flood in July 2022.

February - Sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic is at record low levels this year, using data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Sea ice reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere rather than absorbing the energy.

February - Scientists say cities throughout the world have an increasing rat population because of climate change. In reviewing 200 global cities, the vast majority have an increasing rat population. Warmer weather extends the breeding season and allows more time for foraging. Rats carry pathogens that can infect humans, including leptospirosis.

February - Record-breaking rainfall in northern Queensland Australia is causing flooding. Meteorologists attribute the rains to higher water temperatures in the Coral Sea. The same area was affected by "100 year" floods in 2019.

January 2025 was the hottest globally on record, .09 Celsius (0.16 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than January 2024, which held the previous record.

January - The largest Tuberculosis outbreak in US history is underway in Kansas.

January - Scientists document the largest annual coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef, both from coral bleaching and a flesh-eating disease called black band. It is the largest annual die off since the 1980s. Coral reefs are home to diverse species and protect coasts from storms.

January - Bloomberg Philanthropies announces that it will meet the US financial obligations for the UNFCCC.

January - President Trump withdraws the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, joining Iran, Libya, and Yemen. This eliminates US funding for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

January - Los Angeles had the second driest summer (May-December) in history, setting conditions for the Palisades and other fires. The January fires were exacerbated by the unseasonal hot and dry conditions combined with unusually high winds.