Two weeks after Hurricane Helene significantly damaged U.S. communities, such as Ashville and North Carolina, the state of Florida was hit by another catastrophic weather event in Hurricane Milton.

Within the span of a few weeks, both hurricanes wreaked havoc across the US, with Hurricane Helene killing more than 225 people and destroying both infrastructure and roads across North Carolina. Hurricane Milton was reported as the third-most rapidly intensifying Atlantic hurricane on record, estimated to have caused $50bn in damage.

Scientists have found higher ocean temperatures, caused by global warming, are intensifying hurricanes by allowing storms to pick up more moisture, and release more rain when they move over land. The Gulf of Mexico’s abnormally warm weather this year caused hurricanes to grow stronger quicker before reaching the coastlines. According to the World Weather Attribution, global warming caused Hurricane Milton’s winds speeds to be 10% stronger and rainfall greater by between 20% and 30%. The scientist group has warned that rainfall storms are now about twice as likely, due to human-induced global warming.

Following months of climate change taking a back seat in the U.S election, the catastrophic hurricanes have thrusted climate to the forefront with less than a month to go. Trump attacked President Biden and VP Harris for their response to the disasters, spreading misinformation that the disaster relief is being directed to migrants. Meanwhile, Harris has hit back at Trump’s claims, accusing him of “playing politics” with disaster relief, while noting the importance that “leadership recognises the dignity” of those affected. Along with President Biden, Harris is spending time in situation rooms discussing hurricane preparedness, response and relief.

With storm Helene having hit two of the major swing states, Georgia and North Carolina, the response to the hurricanes in the coming weeks will play a major role in the outcome of the election in November.

In Irish news:

• The Climate Change Advisory Council says that funding for nature conservation and restoration is inadequate and warns that further climate change will destroy ecosystems essential to Ireland’s health.
• RTÉ were speaking with the Joint Committee on the Environment and Climate Action to review the media’s role in climate change, with particular attention pointed to fossil fuel advertisements.
• Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo has spoken out against the Green Party, criticising their support for legislation which accepts the building for liquified natural gas (LNG) plants in Ireland.

In other world news:

• Global renewable energy sources are set to fall short of the UN goal to triple capacity by 2030 but will still account for nearly half of all electricity demand.
• 112 CEO’s from global companies, such as Ikea and Volvo Cars, call for governments to boost the business case for green investment, even as there is an emerging divide on corporate climate action.
• A United Nations trade agency is launching an online platform to support small farmers in developing countries to maintain access to the EU once the deforestation legislation takes effect.