Currently in Portland — October 5th, 2023: Summer's last gasp?

The weather, currently.

Is this summer’s last gasp? It’s too soon to say for sure. But the next few days are going to be warm and sunny, echoing our August temps. Thursday will be a mostly sunny day with temps reaching the high 70s, and for now, Friday and Saturday are likely to be even warmer. So if you’re not ready to embrace all things fall, now would be a great time to plan some outdoor activities and soak up some valuable fall sunshine (with sunscreen!) I’m hoping to take this opportunity to finish up some lingering garden tasks — including the continuing battle with raccoons in my backyard. My attempts to create a small “wildlife pond” were perhaps too successful, and they keep redecorating my attempts at a graceful setup. And since there’s no winning a fight with a raccoon, I’m going to attempt a raccoon-friendly compromise.

— Stella Harris

What you need to know, currently.

Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of more than a billion Christians worldwide, has issued a forceful new call for bold climate action.

The document is addressed specifically to the world’s wealthy and privileged, particularly in the US and Europe, to show compassion for people around the world who have done little to cause the climate emergency and who are already feeling its effects profoundly.

“Our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point,” he wrote.

The Pope called for a transition away from lifestyles of consumption and extraction and towards a more ecologically-focused society. His message is timely as the world prepares to gather in Dubai for the latest global climate negotiations next month.

In 2015, Pope Francis made a similar appeal in advance of the Paris climate accords, and was widely credited at helping steer the conversation away from the impersonal numbers and scientific debate towards justice and social progress.

— Eric Holthaus

What you can do, currently.

Currently Sponsorships are short messages we co-write with you to plug your org, event, or climate-friendly business with Currently subscribers. It’s a chance to boost your visibility with Currently — one of the world’s largest daily climate newsletters — and support independent climate journalism, all at the same time. Starting at just $105.

One of my favorite organizations, Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, serves as a hub of mutual aid efforts focused on climate action in emergencies — like hurricane season. Find mutual aid network near you and join, or donate to support existing networks: