PRISM Weekly Digest: Second Week of January 2026

PRISM Weekly Digest

Week 2, January 2026 (Jan 6–12)

"The planet burns, America turns away, and Las Vegas fills with robots"

📌 EDITOR'S PICK

1. Trump Signs Withdrawal from 66 International Organizations — "Energy First" Era Begins

On January 7, President Trump signed an executive memorandum withdrawing the United States from the UNFCCC, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and 65 other international organizations. This move goes far beyond the Paris Agreement withdrawal, signaling a fundamental shift in American foreign policy.

The GCF withdrawal is particularly symbolic. Headquartered in Incheon, South Korea, the fund served as a critical financing mechanism for developing nations' climate adaptation efforts. America's exit is expected to create a multi-billion-dollar annual funding gap.

2. Australia Declares State of Disaster as 40°C Heat Fuels Devastating Bushfires

Australian authorities declared a state of disaster on January 10 as record-breaking heat and bushfires swept through the country's southeast. Temperatures exceeding 40°C combined with high winds created what officials described as "catastrophic fire conditions."

Hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and vast swaths of forest have been reduced to ash. Wildlife habitat losses remain incalculable. Insurance claims are projected to reach millions of dollars.

🌐 THE BIG PICTURE

"The Earth Warns, Great Powers Turn Away"

This week starkly illustrated the polarized reality of climate change.

On one front, Australia burned while Europe was battered by Storm Goretti. Winds reaching 160 km/h and temperatures plunging to -20°C paralyzed transportation and industry across the continent. Climate crisis is no longer a future concern—it is present tense.

On another front, one of the world's largest carbon emitters withdrew from global climate cooperation frameworks. The U.S. exit from the UNFCCC and GCF effectively closes critical funding channels for developing nations' climate efforts.

Meanwhile,China quietly advances its "green leadership" credentials. Bio-geoengineering projects using cyanobacteria to transform deserts into arable land and new technology extracting gold from e-waste at one-third market cost demonstrate tangible progress.

⚡ QUICK HITS

👀 WEEK AHEAD

Key Events to Watch

1. CES 2026 Post-Analysis — Detailed pricing and launch timelines for unveiled products expected
2. Australia Bushfire Developments — Weather pattern shifts may impact containment efforts
3. Trump Administration Energy Policy — Additional deregulation and fossil fuel investment announcements anticipated
4. Davos Forum Opens (Jan 20) — Global leaders to debate climate and AI governance frameworks
5. Korean Peninsula Tensions — Monitor for potential further North Korean provocations

"Books build depth, PRISM captures speed."

PRISM Weekly Digest is published every Monday.