Five Things We Learned This Week

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Week of November 8–14, 2025

This week the headlines were shaped by climate urgency, geopolitical shifts and a little cosmic wonder. Below are five carefully date-checked items from Saturday November 8 through Friday November 14, 2025, each with a short note on why it matters and links to the primary reporting.

🌡️ WMO warns that 2023–2025 may be the three hottest years on record

The World Meteorological Organization indicated that the period 2023 through 2025 is on track to be the hottest three-year run in recorded history, raising the risk of climate tipping points and long-term ecological harm. Why it matters: This milestone underlines how far emissions trajectories remain from the 1.5°C goal and increases pressure for urgent action at COP30.

Source: The Guardian coverage of WMO statements, November 6 2025. Read the report

💬 Guterres calls missing 1.5°C a “moral failure” at COP30

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres used the opening of COP30 in Belém to label the world’s shortfall on the 1.5°C target as a moral failure, urging leaders to treat climate targets as ethical obligations not just technical goals. Why it matters: Framing the target in moral terms aims to push diplomacy beyond incrementalism and into commitments that protect the most vulnerable.

Source: The Guardian reporting from COP30, November 6 2025. Read the coverage

🧲 Putin orders a roadmap to expand rare-earths extraction in Russia

President Vladimir Putin instructed his government to produce a roadmap by December 1 for ramping up rare-earth mineral extraction and building logistics hubs near the Chinese and North Korean borders. The order was reported in early November. Why it matters: Rare earths are essential for electric vehicles, batteries and advanced electronics, so this plan could reshape supply chains and geopolitical leverage.

Source: Reuters, November 4 2025. Read the report

🔭 Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS shows complex multi-jet activity

Astronomers released post-perihelion images showing that the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS displays multiple jets in its coma, offering detailed clues about the composition and behaviour of material from another star system. Why it matters: Detailed observations of an interstellar visitor provide rare insights into the make-up and dynamics of material formed around other stars.

Source: sci.news astronomy notes, November 2025. See the images and analysis

🧬 Small island states demand rich nations “honour” the 1.5°C limit

Leaders from small island and vulnerable states used COP30 platforms to urge wealthier nations to honour commitments around the 1.5°C goal, arguing that temporary overshoots could trigger irreversible harm for their communities. Why it matters: The equity argument is central to negotiations because the countries least responsible for emissions face the gravest consequences.

Source: The Guardian COP30 live reporting, November 11 2025. Follow the live coverage

Closing thoughts: Climate dominated this week in substance and tone. Scientific warnings, moral appeals, and equity demands were front and centre at COP30, while geopolitics and frontier astronomy added texture to the news. These five items remind us that the technical details of policy are inseparable from ethical and strategic choices.

Primary sources and further reading

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