Environment | The Guardian

Residents worry new developments - including a sea wall planned to shield the city's historic center - could push floodwaters into their communitiesThis story is from Floodlight, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate actionOn a quiet street near the marsh in Charleston, South Carolina's Rosemont neighborhood, Luvenia Brown watches the weather reports more than she used to. She's lost lawn mowers, bikes and outdoor furniture to the rising waters that have repeatedly crept into her yard. Continue reading...

Garnet fire threatens historic grove in Sierra national forest as it moves through Fresno county at 14% containmentFirefighters in California are racing to protect a historic grove of ancient giant sequoia trees in the Sierra national forest as the Garnet fire continues to spread through Fresno county.The Garnet fire, which began on 24 August and was caused by lightning, reached McKinley Grove on Monday, the US Forest Service said. The grove is home to about 170 giant sequoia trees, some estimated to be 2,000 years old, according to the non-profit Save the Redwoods. Continue reading...

Figure calculated by Oil Change International has more than doubled since 2017 but is likely a vast understatementThe US currently subsidizes the fossil-fuel industry to the tune of nearly $31bn per year, according to a new analysis.That figure, calculated by the environmental campaign group Oil Change International, has more than doubled since 2017. And it is likely a vast understatement, due to the difficulty of quantifying the financial gains from some government supports, and to a lack of transparency and reliable data from government sources, the group says. Continue reading...

New rules come into force from 30 September in order to restore habitats and reduce floodingBurning on England's deep peat will be banned in order to restore habitats for rare wildlife and reduce air pollution and flooding, the government has said.England's peatlands are in poor shape due to having been burned, intensively drained and used as grouse moors. They naturally act like a sponge, with layers of moss and other vegetation, and store vast amounts of carbon: an estimated 3.2bn tonnes in the UK alone. Continue reading...

MPs criticise inconsistent' climate policy that includes grants of up to 3,750 for supersized status symbols'Ed Miliband has been accused by MPs of subsidising dangerous and polluting supersized status symbols" as his department hands grants to people who buy electric SUVs.The Labour government is giving discounts of up to 3,750 on new electric cars, but Guardian analysis reveals 12 of the 37 eligible models are SUVs. Continue reading...

The faded resorts and coastal towns of Tendring in Essex offer few job opportunities but many of its 20-somethings are set on finding their way in an area with one of England's oldest populations

Sea levels are rising in New England at some of the fastest rates in the world. On a quiet ribbon of saltmarsh in Rhode Island, septuagenarian Deirdre isn't prepared to accept the loss of her beloved saltmarsh sparrow, which risks becoming extinct by 2050 due to elevated high tides inundating nests and drowning fledgling birds. Leading a team of citizen scientists, Deirdre unravels the secret to finding delicate nests amid thick marsh grass, while they design and deploy a low-cost 'ark' to try to raise vulnerable sparrow nests to safety. Will this be the year they manage to save them? Continue reading...

Sea levels are rising in New England at some of the fastest rates in the world. On a quiet ribbon of saltmarsh in Rhode Island, septuagenarian Deirdre isn't prepared to accept the loss of her beloved saltmarsh sparrow - the species is facing extinction before 2050 due to elevated high tides inundating nests and drowning fledgling birds. Leading a team of citizen scientists, Deirdre unravels the secret to finding delicate nests amid thick marsh grass, while they design and deploy a low-cost ark' to try to raise the sparrow nests to safety. Continue reading...

In Rhode Island, a small team of researchers and volunteers is fighting, against the odds, to save saltmarsh sparrows from extinction as their chicks drown in ever higher tides Photographs by Jason JaacksKnee-deep in water, the young man lifts his arms. His wrists are grabbed, next his ankles, then he feels himself flying through the air, nearly horizontal, before plunging into New England's pungent tidal waters.Grinning and still dripping, he receives a homemade certificate documenting his induction into the Needle in a Haystack Society. Continue reading...

Climate research group says such ideas are diverting attention from cutting fossil fuel useProposals to fight the impact of the climate crisis at the poles, from giant underwater curtains to scattering glass beads across the ice, have been dismissed by a group of scientists as an unimaginably expensive" and dangerous" distraction.Geoengineering, which includes blocking sunlight with airborne particles and thickening ice with pumped seawater, has become highly divisive among scientists. Its proponents argue that, with cuts in carbon emissions going far too slowly, exploring options for emergency brakes" would be valuable. Continue reading...

SA Health says people should avoid discoloured foam but not avoid the beach because of the benefits to mental and physical health

The results of Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count are in, and while the numbers are a vast improvement on 2024's record lows, the charity has warned that urgent measures are still needed to reverse long-term decline

Biggest insect survey in world finds UK's hot summer led to increase in numbers of many species, but overall trends are still concerning

The Greens senator says the fact South Australia's algal bloom is yet to be declared a national disaster reflects the need for a new set of criteria for climate disasters, as the Senate begins an inquiry into the toxic event.'If this had been on the northern beaches of Sydney or on Bondi, would it have taken so long for the government to respond?', Hanson-Young said. 'Frankly, I think it probably wouldn't have'

Defra says blanket ban on destructive' fishing practice disproportionate as MPs urge minister to reconsiderSeabed bottom trawling, described by the chair of a Commons committee as a destructive" fishing practice, will continue in English marine protected areas (MPAs), the government has announced.Despite having official designation as protected areas for creatures including dolphins, puffins and seahorses, damaging industrial methods are still allowed to take place. Continue reading...

Researchers studying the phenomenon found in 2024 there were between 14 to 17 coyotes on Angel islandFor nearly a decade, Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay has been home to what the state parks describes as a budding population" of coyotes. Late last month park workers got a fascinating glimpse at the animal's journey to the island.Angel Island staffers traveling by boat saw a coyote swimming along Raccoon Strait, and filmed it paddling across the deep waterway between the island and mainland Marin county. The coyote was about a quarter mile from shore and safely returned to the island, the park posted online. Continue reading...

An estimated 129bn were being used every month around the world at height of pandemic, with no recycling streamThe surge in the use of disposable face masks during the Covid pandemic has left a chemical timebomb that could harm humans, animals and the environment, research suggests.Billions of tonnes of plastic face masks created to protect people from the spread of the virus are now breaking down, releasing microplastics and chemical additives including endocrine disruptors, the research found. Continue reading...

Downpours threatening lives and property this autumn will not provide respite from months of dry weatherFloods could hit England while the country is still in drought, forecasters have said.Heavy downpours threatening lives and property could hit this autumn, with the rain devastating some areas but still not providing respite from months of dry weather that have left rivers, groundwater and reservoirs drained. Continue reading...

Renewables are thriving, with Africa breaking solar energy records - but action is needed to plug financing gapThe first signs of a takeoff of Africa's green economy are raising hopes that a transformation of the continent's fortunes may be under way, driven by solar power and an increase in low-carbon investment.African leaders are meeting this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the Africa Climate Summit, a precursor to the global UN Cop30 in November. They will call for an increase in support from rich countries for Africa's green resurgence, without which they will warn it could be fragile and spread unevenly. Continue reading...

The only other option was to go back in time and do something about climate change but time travel hasn't been invented yet

Exclusive: stroke risk is 7% higher and heart failure risk increases by 27% in areas with worst level of pollution, research showsMillions of Britons face a higher risk of stroke or heart failure because of dirty air where they live.People living in areas of the UK with the worst levels of air pollution are 27% more likely to develop heart failure, compared with people in areas with the cleanest air, a study suggests. Continue reading...

Concerns abandoned coal boreholes in Queensland and NSW could be emitting equivalent of 65m cars' worth of methane

Labor's koala strategy doesn't go far enough, Coalition says, but environmentalists hail park a once-in-a-lifetime' decision

Sam Shoemaker's record-setting voyage shows the promise - and limits - of fungi as a plastic alternativeOn a clear, still morning in early August, Sam Shoemaker launched his kayak into the waters off Catalina Island and began paddling. His goal: to traverse the open ocean to San Pedro, just south of Los Angeles, some 26.4 miles away.But upon a closer look, Shoemaker's kayak was no ordinary kayak. Brown-ish yellow and bumpy in texture, it had been made - or rather, grown - entirely from mushrooms. His journey, if successful, would mark the world's longest open-water journey in a kayak built from this unique material. Continue reading...

We're beyond Mel Gibson's Mad Max era. We no longer need oil to make it through the apocalypseAs I write these words, the No 1 trending story on the Guardian is titled: The history and future of societal collapse". It is an account of a study by a Cambridge expert who works at something ominously called the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk; he concludes that we can't put a date on Doomsday, but by looking at the 5,000 years of [civilisation], we can understand the trajectories we face today - and self-termination is most likely".I can't claim to have done a study, though I have been at work on climate change for almost 40 years and I gotta say: seems about right. So it's maybe not the worst moment for a bit of worry about how you would fare in the case of a temporary breakdown of our civilization. Perhaps you have noticed that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and violent. Or you read the stories that Donald Trump was shutting down the Federal Emergency Management Agency and surmised you'll have to take care of yourself going forward. Or hey, maybe you think a cabal of pedophiles might try and use black helicopters to herd you into a 15-minute city where a communist mayor will make you spend the rest of your life riding a scary subway. Continue reading...

Rise in cases south of the border prompts concern over US livestock as Trump budget cuts hit research and foreign aidA patient in Maryland was diagnosed in August with New World screwworm, a parasitic fly, after traveling to El Salvador. Doctors and veterinarians say the case poses very low risks for human health in the US, but it comes after an increase of cases in South and Central America and the Caribbean in recent years. It also highlights the importance of international cooperation on research and prevention.For decades, the fight against the screwworm was a success story of scientific innovation and collaboration with other countries. There were devastating outbreaks of the parasite in the US in the first half of the 20th century until an ambitious program pushed it south, all the way to Panama. Continue reading...

More habitat has been given up legally in 2025 so far than any other year since the animals were listed as threatened, analysis shows

Minns government to create one of the largest national parks in the state as forest advocates welcome historic' victory

Samuel McLennan has spent two years salvaging fish farm waste and other marine debris from Tasmanian shores for his oceangoing vessel. McLennan's boat, which he named Heart, has slowly made its way across the Bass Strait to Victoria. Otis Filley joined McLennan aboard for part of the journey Continue reading...

After a years-long battle, organic dairy ranches are being expelled from Point Reyes national seashore to revitalize the ecosystemRodd Kelsey gazed out on the golden slopes of Point Reyes national seashore sweeping down to the rugged California coastline, pointing to the patches laden with invasive stalks of prickly thistle and browning sod. These are some of the hallmarks of the region's recent history, he said - but they also showcase the opportunities for its future.A new chapter is unfolding on the striking landscape located some 70 miles (113km) north of San Francisco. The unique patchwork of wild and pastoral ranges operated by the National Park Service (NPS) has spent decades mired in battles between local ranchers operating on the lands and environmentalists who see their presence as a blight. Continue reading...

Livestream of voyage to bottom of one of country's deepest lakes draws thousands - but no sign of Tahoe Tessie yetThe cobalt waters of Lake Tahoe have long captivated the public, helping drive the area's massive tourism industry and even attracting urban legends about what lies in the cold, shadowy depths.Theories have ranged from an aquatic creature named Tessie to perfectly preserved bodies dumped by the mafia decades ago. Continue reading...

These wildfires tend to burn in more remote areas and grow larger faster, posing a higher risk to public safety and healthThe climate crisis will continue making lightning-sparked wildfires more frequent for decades to come, which could produce cascading effects and worsen public safety and public health, experts and new research suggest.Lightning-caused fires tend to burn in more remote areas and therefore usually grow into larger fires than human-caused fires. That means a trend toward more lightning-caused fires is also probably making wildfires more deadly by producing more wildfire smoke and helping to drive a surge in air quality issues from coast to coast, especially over the past several years. Continue reading...

Beaches from Manly to Narrabeen closed after death of 57-year-old who leaves behind wife and child

Flooding in northern India and Pakistan has destroyed homes - and hundreds of thousands of acres of cropsFor days, farmers in the Indian state of Punjab watched the pounding monsoon rains fall and the rivers rise with mounting apprehension. By Wednesday, many woke to find their fears realised as the worst floods in more than three decades ravaged their farms and decimated their livelihoods.Hundreds of thousands of acres of bright green rice paddies - due to be harvested imminently - as well as crops of cotton and sugar cane were left destroyed as they became fully submerged in more than five feet of muddy brown flood waters. The bodies of drowned cattle littered the ground. Continue reading...

Maureen Gilbert, 83, was discovered drowned in her home after river in Chesterfield overflowedThe son of an 83-year-old woman who died during Storm Babet has called for more money to be invested in protecting homes from flooding.An inquest at Chesterfield coroner's court heard on Friday that Maureen Gilbert drowned in her home in Chesterfield after the River Rother overflowed on 21 October 2023 during the storm. Continue reading...

Fragmented' policies leading councils to prioritise approval of housebuilding over parks, study findsChildren in cities across England face barriers to playing outside because urban planners are prioritising housebuilding over parks, a study has found.The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Cities and Health, found that planners were prioritising the approval of new homes ahead of outdoor play spaces due to a combination of policy misalignment, financial constraints and pressures stemming from a lack of housing. Continue reading...

Kokichi Akuzawa climbed with 70-year-old daughter to break record for oldest person to make ascent - a second timeKokichi Akuzawa has become the oldest person to climb to the top of Mount Fuji at the age of 102 - despite almost giving up during his trek.I was really tempted to give up halfway through," Akuzawa said. Reaching the summit was tough, but my friends encouraged me, and it turned out well. I managed to get through it because so many people supported me." Continue reading...

Temperatures climb above 40C, while a powerful hailstorm in the US lashes Kansas and OklahomaA spate of extremely hot weather in British Columbia has broken Canada's national maximum temperature record for September.On Tuesday, it reached 40C (104F) in Lytton, matching the previous all-time high. That was only the third time that temperature has been recorded in the country in September. Continue reading...

Survey of eight countries finds 82% of people support 30x30 biodiversity target, as progress stalls on protected areasMuch of the world favours protecting 30% of the world's land and water for nature by 2030, according to new research that has found overwhelming public support for the goal across eight countries on five continents.Nearly 200 nations agreed in 2022 to set aside 30% of the world's land and 30% of marine areas for nature. But just 17.6% of the world's land and 8.6% of the seas are now under global protection, and more than 100 nations are less than halfway to meeting the target, which was established under the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Continue reading...

Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia are beautiful tourist destinations, but off their coasts is a darker hidden reality, where overfishing and unregulated catches are rife and fishers face exploitation and loss of income. The freelance photojournalist Nicole Tung spent nine months reporting in south-east Asia and was this week awarded laureate of the 15th edition of the Carmignac Photojournalism Awards Continue reading...

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

Exclusive: Analysis shows farmers ploughing to the edge of waterways, destroying crucial wildlife ecosystemsHuge tracts of precious riverside habitats for water voles and other wildlife in England are being lost as they are not covered by post-Brexit farming rules, campaigners warn.New analysis by the Wildlife Trusts found more than 400square km of riverside habitat in England may have been lost since the UK left the EU in 2020. Continue reading...

BCA member criticises climate modelling commissioned by lobby group that underplays' economic opportunities and does not factor in cost of inaction

States claim Revolution Wind project was stopped illegally, threatening jobs, clean energy and billions in investmentsRhode Island and Connecticut will sue the Trump administration over its decision to halt the huge Revolution Wind electricity project off the north-east coast of the US, the two announced on Thursday morning.This kind of erratic and reckless governing is blatantly illegal, and we're suing to stop it," said Connecticut attorney general, William Tong, in a statement. Continue reading...

Documents tabled in NSW parliament show state agency took four years to publish report and told miners it would be put online quietly' but EPA says it was released to community earlier

Scientists say old-school denier nonsense' isn't helpful as podcaster repeatedly airs false claim on his showFor months now, the popular comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan has been telling his vast audience of a study that shows Earth is cooling - even though this research states the complete opposite.Rogan's false claim about the climate crisis, which he has repeatedly aired on the Joe Rogan Experience, one of the world's most popular podcasts, has exasperated the scientists who authored the research. Continue reading...

Carcinogens entering waterways from 25,000 road outflows are not monitored or regulated by Environment Agency, committee hearsToxic, carcinogenic pollution that pours from 25,000 road outflows into rivers in England is being ignored by politicians and regulators, MPs have been told.Road runoff containing toxic particles from tyres and brakes, and pollution from fuel and oil spills - which washes into rivers after rainfall - can devastate aquatic life and, by increasing toxicity, reduce the overall health of waterways. It is responsible for 18% of the reason all rivers fail to meet good ecological and chemical standards. Continue reading...

As powerful forces push back against green forces, it is little surprise that many of us feel dismay. Climate scientists do, too. But together we can take action to challenge the prevailing apathySupport the Guardian's independent journalism today Last year, I stood in front of a black-clad skinhead as he shook a fist full of rings thick enough to double as a knuckle-duster. Flecks of spit flew into my face as he railed against the green agenda of the last German government.Until recently, it would have felt bizarre to talk to protesters at a neo-Nazi-linked rally about climate change or hear them rant unprompted about heat pumps. But far-right parties have entered the political mainstream, and their scathing tirades against woke" green rules are energising their base.Join George Monbiot and special guests on 16 September for a special climate assembly to discuss the growing and dramatic political and corporate threats to the planet. Book tickets - in person or livestream Continue reading...

The country's fisheries and the health of its seas still rely on a method practised for nearly 1,000 years - catching skipjack tuna one fish at a time