Climate Warnings, Trade Shifts, and Global Animal-Rights Updates
Global climate agencies warned in early November that the last three years may mark the hottest period ever recorded, intensifying concerns about irreversible environmental damage as extreme storms continue to hit multiple regions. Meanwhile, U.S. food-purchasing data shows federal dollars still heavily concentrated in meat and dairy, and global vegan initiatives are underway for World Vegan Month.
WMO: Past Three Years Likely the Hottest in Recorded History
The World Meteorological Organization reported that 2023–2025 is set to become the warmest three-year period in the 176-year global record. The agency said the world is now “perilously close” to exceeding the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C threshold, citing accelerating ice loss, sea-level rise, and persistent extreme heat.
At the COP30 climate summit, Germanwatch released its Climate Risk Index 2026, which found that extreme weather from 1995 to 2024 caused more than 800,000 deaths and trillions in global economic losses, with low-income countries absorbing the most severe impacts.
Severe November Storms Highlight Climate-Driven Extremes
Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic storms of 2025, caused widespread destruction across the Caribbean, leaving extensive damage to homes, hospitals, and farmland. A rapid-attribution analysis found that human-driven warming likely increased the storm’s peak winds and rainfall.
In East Asia, Typhoon Fung-wong produced record rainfall in Taiwan, forcing thousands to evacuate and flooding more than 1,000 homes. Meteorologists said the storm was intensified by unusually warm ocean temperatures and interacted with seasonal weather patterns to produce extreme precipitation.
Report Finds USDA Purchasing Still Dominated by Industrial Animal Agriculture
A new analysis from Friends of the Earth found that the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service spent roughly $4.7 billion on food purchasing in FY 2024, with about 46% directed toward meat, dairy, eggs, and fish. The report concluded that AMS’s lowest-cost contracting model continues to favor large industrial producers, limiting opportunities for smaller or plant-forward suppliers.
The report also noted that a small number of major corporations captured most of the agency’s beef and pork contracts, further concentrating the U.S. meat sector.
U.S. Updates Tariffs and Launches Federal Meatpacking Investigation
On November 14, President Trump signed an executive order removing hundreds of agricultural products—including fertilizers, tropical fruits, coffee, cocoa, and certain meats—from the reciprocal tariff list first created in April. The administration said the exemptions apply to goods not produced domestically in sufficient supply.
Earlier in the month, the Department of Justice opened an antitrust investigation into major U.S. meatpacking companies, citing beef prices rising at rates several times higher than overall inflation. The probe is expected to focus on concentration and potential price-setting behavior in the industry.
World Vegan Month Marked by Global Campaigns and Outreach Events
Organizations worldwide are holding public events throughout November for World Vegan Month, highlighting plant-based food systems, animal protection, and environmental impacts tied to industrial livestock production. Advocacy groups are hosting expert talks linking vegan diets to climate and public-health outcomes.
Several companies introduced promotions during the observance, including national discounts on plant-based products and Thanksgiving outreach campaigns distributing vegan holiday meals.
Animal-Cruelty Prosecutors Convene for National Training Conference
The Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Animal Legal Defense Fund held the 14th National Animal Cruelty Prosecution Conference in Pittsburgh from November 5–7. The event brought together prosecutors, law-enforcement personnel, and legal specialists to discuss investigation strategies, evidence collection, and cross-reporting practices in cruelty and neglect cases.
The Humane Herald 