Environment | The Guardian

Australians produced 3.2m tonnes of plastic waste in 2023-24, up from 3m tonnes the previous year

The close call in Tracy Arm 50 miles south of Juneau on 10 August is the latest sign that as glaciers melt, risks may riseThe landslide that triggered a powerful tsunami in Alaska's Inside Passage early on 10 August was a close call, say scientists, tour operators and agency officials, with the risk of such events apparently increasing as glaciers retreat because of climate change.It's a historic event," said scientist Dennis Staley from the US Geological Survey of the slide, which occurred in the Tracy Arm fjord 50 miles (80km) south of Juneau. Continue reading...

Toxic forever chemicals' were found at a level 10 times higher than people who did not work in contaminated zoneNew research shows alarming levels of Pfas in the blood of people living or working near a US air force base responsible for polluting drinking water with high levels of the dangerous forever chemicals", a new state regulatory report has found.The levels are high enough in those who lived and worked near the Cannon air force base in Curry county to raise health concerns - about 10 times above the levels of those in the region who did not work in the contaminated zone. The pollution stems from a type of Pfas-laden firefighting foam the military has used across the nation, and the types of compounds found at high levels in participants' blood were also commonly used in foam. Continue reading...

Leading researcher forecasts beginning of the age of non-tourism' despite industry returning to pre-pandemic highsIt was a prediction nobody wanted to hear. On the main stage of the world's biggest tourism fair, Stefan Gossling, a leading researcher in sustainable transport, had just calmly announced the looming death of the holiday industry.We have already entered the beginning of the age of non-tourism," said Gossling, to an uneasy audience of travel agencies, car rental companies, cruise operators and hoteliers. Continue reading...

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More than 20 places across New South Wales have already surpassed their highest August rain on record

Flames and a tower of smoke rose above an automotive supply company 50 miles north-east of Baton RougeAn explosion and fire Friday at an automotive supply company in southeast Louisiana sent flames into the air and a tower of thick black smoke billowing above rural communities, forcing nearby residents and an elementary school to evacuate.Officials said no injuries had been reported in the fire at Smitty's Supply just north of the town of Roseland, but that everyone living within a one-mile (1.6km) radius must evacuate. Roseland, which is home to about 1,100 people, is roughly 50 miles (80km) north-east of Baton Rouge. Continue reading...

Multiple fires have ignited this week with searing heat expected to last days and extend to Pacific north-westMultiple wildfires have ignited across California as the state continues to scorch in a multi-day heatwave that is expected to last through the weekend.The largest this week, named the Pickett fire, exploded in size on Thursday as it burned in a remote area of Napa county, and covered more than 3,200 acres (850 hectares) by Friday afternoon. Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued on Thursday for hundreds of residents around Calistoga, a small city in the region known for its wine, as firefighters faced challenging conditions, working through dangerously high temperatures and rugged terrain. The fire's perimeter is just 5% contained. Continue reading...

Lawsuit brought by two non-profit law firms have had previous wins in Montana and WisconsinFifteen young climate advocates, aged eight to 17, on Friday sued the state of Wisconsin over its pro-fossil fuel policies.The case provides the opportunity for state officials to make the correct step to decarbonize Wisconsin" because of the climate harms they've caused youth", said Kaarina, 17, who is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Continue reading...

Study analyzed health impacts of fossil fuels from exploration to end use, and found communities of color bear brunt of harmAir pollution from oil and gas causes more than 90,000 premature deaths and sickens hundreds of thousands of people across the US each year, a new study shows, with disproportionately high impacts on communities of color.More than 10,000 annual pre-term births are attributable to fine particulate matter from oil and gas, the authors found, also linking 216,000 annual childhood-onset asthma cases to the sector's nitrogen dioxide emissions and 1,610 annual lifetime cancer cases to its hazardous air pollutants. Continue reading...

Erin went from a tropical storm to a category 5 in about 24 hours, underscoring the danger of hurricane season amid a diminished Fema and National Weather ServiceThis season's first hurricane - and the first of the Trump administration's new era of meteorological austerity - has been making its closest pass to the US this week.On Friday morning, weaker than days earlier, it was still a large storm, heading north-east, and affecting the US east coast with threats of coastal flooding. Continue reading...

Analysis of legal hunting in Montana and Idaho shows that eliminating one wolf protected just 7% of a single cowLegalized wolf hunting in the western US has had only a minimal impact on preventing livestock loss, a new study led by the University of Michigan suggests.The research, published in Science Advances, compared data from Montana and Idaho, two states where public wolf hunts have been permitted, with Oregon and Washington, where hunting remains illegal. Continue reading...

Experts call change likely to pose problems for Americans with limited internet access troubling to say the least'Current and former Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) officials are concerned over a new agency rule requiring disaster victims to have an email address in order to apply for federal aid.The policy change, first reported by Wired and confirmed by a Fema official to the Guardian, was troubling to say the least", said Jeremy Edwards, former spokesperson for Fema and the White House under Joe Biden's presidency. Continue reading...

More than 300 dead after downpours in mountainous regions and several killed in Indian city of MumbaiHeavy monsoon rains have continued to pummel the Indian subcontinent over the past week, bringing devastating flooding and landslides and leaving hundreds of people dead in what has already been one of the deadliest monsoon seasons in recent years.Moist air surging inland from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea was driven into Pakistan and north-west India late last week by strong southwesterly monsoon winds. Combined with developing areas of low pressure, this triggered a succession of torrential downpours. Continue reading...

The best of this week's wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Central Coast council says residents should not touch the balls and avoid beaches where they wash ashore

Corridors of nectar-rich plants encourage pollination and brighten up city streets at the same timeTake a closer look at the colourful plants dotted along an initially unassuming Bristol alleyway and you'll see them teeming with insects. Bumblebees, hoverflies and ladybirds throng around a mixture of catmint, yarrow, geraniums and anemones. It's buzzing with pollinators now," Flora Beverley says.Just over a year ago, the alley we are walking down was a dreary, litter-strewn dumping ground. Now, thanks to the pollinator pathways project, it is filled with nectar-rich plants and bee hotels. Colourful murals line the walls. A neighbour and her son passing by stop to tell Beverley they watered the plants yesterday. The local people who helped to transform the pathways continue to maintain them too. Continue reading...

Almost 200 endangered southern right wales have been spotted off state's coastline this year, amid concerns about impact of algal bloom

Farmers that supply supermarket are already harvesting wheat, oilseed rape and oats amid dry conditionsHarvests are coming two weeks early because of drought, Waitrose has said, as it prepares to stock autumnal fruit in summer.Farmers that supply the supermarket are harvesting wheat, oilseed rape, oats and malting barley a fortnight before they generally would, according to the supermarket. A lack of rainfall coupled with the hot weather has caused the crops to race through their growing stages and mature early. Continue reading...

Sponsorship of News Corp's event series has given Australia's richest person a vehicle for her anti-net zero crusade

Eucalyptus regnans - which regularly reach 60 to 80m tall - lose about 9% of their trees for every degree of warming, research finds

Changing weather patterns are affecting planting and pose a threat to a variety of species, says head of developmentRising temperatures in the spring and unpredictable autumns are making the huge task of restoring the UK's lost meadows even more challenging, the National Wildflower Centre (NWC) has warned.The centre, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary next month, champions projects aimed at reviving wildflower-rich meadows, 97% of which have been lost in the past 80 years. Continue reading...

Suspension of soy moratorium could open up area of rainforest the size of Portugal to destructionOne of the key agreements for Amazon rainforest protection - the soy moratorium - has been suspended by Brazilian authorities, potentially opening up an area the size of Portugal to destruction by farmers.Coming less than three months before Brazil hosts the Cop30 climate summit in Belem, the news has shocked conservation groups, who say it is now more important than ever that consumers, supermarkets and traders stand up against Brazilian agribusiness groups that are using their growing political power to reverse past environmental gains. Continue reading...

In Glass Mountain, Michael Lundgren captures remote American landscapes with a haunting stillness, revealing the hidden rhythms and enthralling mystery of the natural world Continue reading...

The demilitarised zone between North and South Korea has become an ecological oasis with nearly 6,000 species documented, including rare cranes, deer and bearsStanding on top of a small mountain, Kim Seung-ho gazes out over an expanse of paddy fields glowing in their autumn gold, the ripening grains swaying gently in the wind. In the distance, North Korea stretches beyond the horizon.It's so peaceful," says the director of the DMZ Ecology Research Institute. Over there, it used to be an artillery range, but since they stopped firing, the nature has become so beautiful." Continue reading...

Helen Pidd grew up in Morecambe, and life in seaside towns has only got harder since she was a teenager. She went back to find out whyAs a teenager, the Today in Focus presenter Helen Pidd could not wait to leave her home town on the Lancashire coast. But today she looks back with fondness at her time spent at the fairground or misbehaving on the beachfront, and watching bands at the local music venue.She returned this summer to find out what life was like for young people today - and found things were not as she remembered. All of her old haunts had shut down and young people spoke about a town in which they had nothing to do. Continue reading...

Temperatures are expected to spike with a trio of heat, thunderstorms and fire risks compounding dangersCalifornians are bracing for the first major heatwave of the year, a multiday scorcher that could bring triple-digit temperatures, pose significant threats to public health and sharply heighten wildfire risks.After a notably cooler summer, temperatures are expected to spike across the American south-west starting on Wednesday and extending through the weekend, as severe conditions expand north along the coast into British Columbia by the end of the week. Continue reading...

North Carolina anticipates the most brutal surf conditions after storm reportedly rebuilds inner eye wallHurricane Erin's arrival is being felt all along the east coast, where higher tides and powerful surf have triggered expanded warnings for flooding and tropical storm conditions.Coastal residents are bracing for the possibility of a dangerous storm surge reaching up to 4ft (1.2 metres), along with severe beach erosion. The hurricane is expected to generate life-threatening" waves ranging from 15 to 20ft, with North Carolina beaches anticipating the most brutal waves. Continue reading...

Shut the System says its supporters carried out actions at offices of JP Morgan Chase, Allianz and BarclaycardThe City of London police are investigating claims by environmental activists to have carried out acts of sabotage on the offices of major insurers and financial institutions.Activist group Shut the System said its supporters had cut cables and glued electrical service cabinets at JP Morgan Chase and Allianz, in what it described as the start of a period of sustained sabotage" against fossil fuel finance. Continue reading...

Residents cite pollution, loss of fishing and diminished tax revenue as liquefied natural gas production for export acceleratesThis story was originally published by Floodlight, a non-profit newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action*** Continue reading...

The Guardian's former north of England editor returned to Morecambe after 25 years to discover the place where she grew up has even fewer amenities for young people - and the feeling of being left behind' is stronger than ever

Research shows steep increases over past 30 years, after summer of strandings across EuropeThe number of marine mammals stranded in Scotland has risen dramatically in the past 30 years, a study has found.From 1992 to 2022, 5,147 cetaceans died on Scottish shores, and a new paper shows steep increases in the rate of strandings of up to 800% in some species, continuing exponentially every year. Continue reading...

Natural climate variation is most likely reason as global heating due to fossil fuel burning has continuedThe melting of sea ice in the Arctic has slowed dramatically in the past 20 years, scientists have reported, with no statistically significant decline in its extent since 2005.The finding is surprising, the researchers say, given that carbon emissions from fossil fuel burning have continued to rise and trap ever more heat over that time. Continue reading...

The scourges of picnics have arrived early and in greater numbers amid ideal conditions for colonies to thriveIf dodging swooping gulls trying to steal your chips wasn't already enough, you might be spending your bank holiday trying to keep wasps away from your ice cream too.Britain is in the middle of a wasp boom. Not only have they arrived earlier than expected, but there are more of them than in recent summers. Experts say 2025 is an excellent year for them. Continue reading...

Optimism may be hard to come by but the evidence shows some progress on emissions is not just possible - it's happening before our eyes

Only 28 countries have submitted carbon-cutting proposals to the UN, with some of the biggest emitters yet to produce plansBrazil has issued an urgent call for all countries to come forward with strengthened national plans on the climate, in a last-ditch attempt to meet a key September deadline.Only 28 countries have so far submitted carbon-cutting proposals to the UN, with some of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases - including China and the EU - still to produce their plans. Continue reading...

Scientist warns long suspension poses potential risks to some wetland areas and native species of fish and birds

PM says wildfires are proof climate emergency is getting worse, and that sustained non-partisan effort is neededThe wildfires that have devoured 382,000 hectares of land in Spain and killed four people underscore the need to readjust and recalibrate" the country's preparation and response capacities as part of a non-partisan effort to tackle the impacts of the climate emergency, the prime minister has warned.Speaking during a visit to the south-western region of Extremadura on Tuesday, Pedro Sanchez said that while the record-breaking 16-day heatwave that had fanned the flames was over, difficult hours" lay ahead as firefighters continued to battle huge blazes across parts of the country. Continue reading...

The Lib Dem leader is seeking a review of the laws to prevent the en masse' arrestsParents in England are skipping meals and turning to buy-now-pay-later services such as Klarna in order to afford school uniforms before the autumn term, according to a survey.Almost half (47%) of the 2,000 parents who took part in the poll said they were worried about uniform costs, which can run into hundreds of pounds due to expensive branded items, while more than a quarter (29%) said they had forgone food or heating to pay for uniforms. Continue reading...

Before It's Gone is a series about the climate crisis and water scarcity in Morocco by photographer M'hammed Kilito, who highlights the degradation of countless oases Continue reading...

Exclusive: Concentrations of faecal bacteria in the lake were found to peak in summer but there were high levels throughout yearBathing water quality across most of Windermere is poor throughout the summer, indicating high levels of sewage pollution, according to a comprehensive analysis of water quality in England's largest lake.High levels of bacteria found in human faeces - Escherichia coli (E coli) and intestinal enterococci (IE) - indicating sewage pollution, were found to be highest in the summer months, when Windermere is used heavily by holidaymakers for swimming and watersports. Continue reading...

After three years of negotiating, talks over a global plastics treaty came to an end in Geneva last week with no agreement in place. So why has it been so difficult to get countries to agree to cut plastic production? Madeleine Finlay hears from Karen McVeigh, a senior reporter for Guardian Seascapes, about a particularly damaging form of plastic pollution causing devastation off the coast of Kerala, and where we go now that countries have failed to reach a dealClips: Fox News, BBC, 7News Australia, France 24, DW News, CNA Continue reading...

Herring gulls and kittiwakes have learned the easiest meal comes from robbing humans rather than at seaIn a flurry of wings, the predator was off with its prize: a steaming pasty snatched from the hands of a day tripper from Birmingham. What do you want me to do about it?" her unsympathetic husband said. I can't fly."Such a scene has become an almost daily spectacle on the Scarborough seafront, said Amy Watson, a supervisor at the Fishpan restaurant, where hungry herring gulls lurk for their quarry. Continue reading...

New trial for Mylene Vialard after Minnesota judges find pervasive' prosecutorial misconduct in Line 3 protest caseThe controversial felony conviction of a peaceful climate activist has been overturned by an appeals court due to pervasive" prosecutorial misconduct.Mylene Vialard, 56, was found guilty of felony obstruction in 2023 for her role in trying to halt construction of a fossil-fuel pipeline through Indigenous territory in Minnesota, in a trial beset by irregularities. Continue reading...

Last year's floods have been followed by heatwaves. Ministers must throw their weight behind resilient, adaptable agricultureBritish farmers are, of course, not the only people who are suffering from the effects of this summer's heatwaves. Across Europe and the Middle East, record-breaking temperatures are threatening lives as well as livelihoods. France has experienced its largest wildfire since 1949, while across Europe an estimated 500,000 hectares of land have burned.But farmers are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather, which has a direct impact on crop yields. So reports of a second consecutive year in which food growers in parts of the UK are seeing dramatic falls in production should concern the British public. Access to food is frequently taken for granted in the world's wealthiest nations. But increased food insecurity is among the dangerous effects of the climate crisis, as well as being worsened by Trump's tariffs, and geopolitical instability including the war in Ukraine.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

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Assessment suggests cost of project to store 700,000 cubic metres of radioactive waste could reach 54bnThe UK's proposal for a new underground nuclear waste dump has been described as unachievable" in a Treasury assessment of the project.Ministers have put new nuclear power at the centre of their green energy revolution. But the problem of what to do with 700,000 cubic metres of radioactive waste - roughly the volume of 6,000 doubledecker buses - from the country's past nuclear programme, as well as future waste from nuclear expansion, has yet to be solved. Continue reading...

Mike Wirth, CEO of company responsible for more greenhouse gases than any other independently owned entity, thinks Australia should adopt US policies to attract fossil fuel dollars

People returned to Palacios de Jamuz, a village in north-west Spain, after homes, crops and trees were badly burnt in recent blazes. Relentless heat and raging wildfires continue to ravage southern Europe, with a quarter of weather stations in Spain recording temperatures of 40C (104F) or above over the weekend

Fishing club chaired by singer threatens court action over abstraction it says is putting rare trout population at riskThe singer and environmentalist Feargal Sharkey is threatening to take the Environment Agency to court for draining a river that hosts the oldest fishing club in England and putting a rare population of brown trout at risk.The former Undertones frontman chairs the Amwell Magna Fishery, which has used the secluded stretch of the River Lea in Hertfordshire since 1841. Continue reading...