Wildfire Risk & Climate Costs: A new study says 2025 wildfires were the costliest on record even when burned area was smaller, with higher heat and dry vegetation making small fires more likely to explode into mega-blazes—so 2026 could still be brutal. Water & Earth Stability: Seoul National University researchers report that decades of excessive groundwater extraction shifted Earth’s axis by about 31.5 inches, raising concerns for sea-level impacts and coastal risk. Biodiversity & Heritage: UNESCO is expected to add South Korea’s tidal flats to the World Heritage list, with more sites likely to follow—good news for protecting coastal ecosystems. Local Climate Anxiety: Young South Koreans are turning “plogging” into a coping habit for climate anxiety, mixing litter pickup with daily exercise. Seoul Energy Innovation: EcoSimplex launched a biogas hydrogen station in Seoul, pointing to cleaner fuel options for the city’s energy mix. Global Climate Diplomacy: The Maldives won its first UN ECOSOC seat, framing it as leverage for climate policy and sea-level survival for small island states. Food Safety & Trade: Japan suspended Indian mango imports over biosecurity failures at a VHT facility, a reminder that climate and quarantine rules can quickly reshape agricultural trade.