Climate and extinction crises move too slowly for us to pay attention – here’s the answer: Derren / shutterstock It seems we are having a hard time paying sufficient attention to the climate and extinction crises. This is because the causes for the most part move slowly, without the flashy drama that can focus our minds …
Methane in the atmosphere is at an all-time high – here’s what it means for climate change: Sunrise over a bog in Eastern Europe. Adamikarl/Shutterstock Methane recently reached 1,900 parts per billion (ppb) of Earth’s atmosphere according to measurements taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US. This compares with about …
Net zero: UK government sued for weak strategy – so here’s what makes a good climate change plan: Roserunn/Shutterstock Two-thirds of countries have now committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions at some point this century. During 2021, the share of large companies with net zero commitments jumped from one in five to one …
Four surprising ways climate change is affecting people’s health in England and Wales: Jevanto Productions/Shutterstock When you take age out of the equation, temperature-related deaths are on the decline in England and Wales. That’s according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). But more people are going to hospital, compared with …
African cities, COVID and climate: public knowledge on urban planning is needed: A crowded marketplace amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Accra, Ghana. CHRISTIAN THOMPSON/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images African cities are rapidly urbanising and already experiencing considerable negative impacts of urbanisation. The production of urban spaces in African cities is frequently characterised as unsustainable. This …
Climate change is creating security threats around the world – and militaries are responding: The British military is currently “too slow and resistant to change”, according to Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the UK’s chief of defence staff. The urgent always takes priority over the important. But in the context of one of the world’s biggest …
Africa faces an uphill battle against western emissions to combat climate change: Although African nations contribute the least to climate change, many are bearing its worst burdens. Omoeko Media/Wikimedia The UN climate summit COP26, held in November 2021, focused the world’s attention on the urgent need to tackle climate change and concluded with 197 countries …
Polar bears eating reindeer: normal behaviour or result of climate change?: Alexey Seafarer/shutterstock Recently, scientists in Hornsund, Svalbard – a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic ocean – witnessed a polar bear pursuing a reindeer into the sea before killing it, dragging it ashore and eating it. The video that they captured was widely shared on …
Carbon colonialism must be challenged if we want to make climate progress: The UK has set ambitious net zero targets, but is overlooking its imported emissions. Digifly840/Pixabay Assessments of the UN climate conference COP26’s success have been mixed, but none have been entirely positive. Achieving the Paris agreement’s target of limiting global warming to 1.5? …
Wheel of Time is set thousands of years from now, yet it’s still burdened with today’s climate change: The epic fantasy series has been turned into a tv show on Amazon. JAN THIJS/AMAZON STUDIOS Wheel of Time, the 14-book epic fantasy now turned into an Amazon Prime TV series, is a medieval-style adventure set in …
Here’s why we need climate protests: even if some think they’re annoying: Protestors march in Glasgow during the UN climate conference COP26. TheLeft_EU/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA The last few years have seen a surge in climate protests. From Turkey and Germany to the US, Australia and countries across Africa, local activists have fought corporate actions that …
How climate change and extreme weather may lead to food shortages and escalating prices: The world may soon see more food shortages because of climate change, says an expert. InkDrop/Shutterstock In a world with an increasing human population, climate change may have a serious impact on our ability to grow enough food. Research from as …
Climate anxiety is real. Why talking about it matters: Carla, a climate researcher photographed for one of the projects, says: “No, I don’t feel hope. I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel." Neal Haddaway As the climate changes, negative environmental effects are being felt and seen around the world. The effect …
The UK’s policing bill will make climate activism almost illegal – just when it’s most needed: The UK government has proposed some worrying amendments to its already draconian policing bill. The amendments will directly target environmental activists and are a response to direct action protests from groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, and protests …
Climate change is making monogamous albatrosses divorce – new research: Changing environmental conditions can put stress on coupled-up animals. Natasha Gillies, Author provided Not all relationships end in “happily ever after”, and birds are no exception. While more than 90% of bird species form monogamous couples, many of these will end in divorce. The reasons …
COP26 is over – here’s how the UK can keep up momentum on climate action: Toby Parkes/Shutterstock The Glasgow climate pact is sealed and COP26 is fading into memory. The UK’s presidency of the 26th UN climate change summit yielded mixed results, from the first mention of fossil fuels in a UN climate declaration and …
Climate transition delay could cost the UK trillions: Mark Burrows (Nottingham, UK) / shutterstock From power plants to coffee cups or your childhood home, everything that makes up the economy has a life expectancy. Much of what we make and consume lasts just weeks, months or years. However, lots of infrastructure instead lasts lifetimes, binding …
One in four UK birds now on endangered species red list due to habitat loss and climate change: A pair of nesting house martin chicks. Paulpixs/Shutterstock The red list of Britain’s most endangered birds now stands at 70 species – virtually double the number it held in 1996. This means one in four of the …