Powerful thunderstorms likely to sweep through Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and AlabamaSevere thunderstorms are forecast to batter the southern and central United States on Tuesday, with a threat of tornadoes, damaging winds, blizzards, flash flooding and dust storms possible from the southern Plains into the lower Mississippi Valley and south-east.Meteorologists warn that a line of powerful thunderstorms will probably sweep through Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and could include destructive tornadoes. The main threats are strong destructive gales, tornadoes and at least some areas of large hail. Continue reading...
Ruling by the court, which has a Republican super majority, undermines the 1972 Clean Water ActThe US supreme court has weakened rules on the discharge of raw sewage into water supplies in a 5-4 ruling that undermines the 1972 Clean Water Act.The CWA is the principle law governing pollution control and water quality of the nation's waterways. Continue reading...
How do you stop people worrying about the climate emergency? By sacking anyone whose job it is to keep an eye on it. Chalk up another win for Project 2025Some politicians go whichever way the wind blows. Not, however, the US's esteemed leader, Donald Trump. He is such a force of nature that he can dictate the direction of the wind. During his first term, he suggested nuking hurricanes" to stop them from hitting the country. A few weeks after that, Trump seemed to think he could alter the course of Hurricane Dorian with a black marker, scribbling over an official map to change its anticipated trajectory in an incident now known as Sharpiegate. Weirdly, Dorian did not end up following Trump's orders. Hurricanes can be uncooperative like that.Six weeks into Trump's second term, the president hasn't bombed any hurricanes, but he has nuked the US's weather-forecasting capabilities. Last week, hundreds of workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), the US's pre-eminent climate research agency, were abruptly fired.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...
Researchers at University of Exeter warn many of the hunted species are important crop pollinatorsInvasive Asian hornets are eating hundreds of different species of insects in Europe, including many which are important pollinators, researchers have warned.The findings, from tests of the guts of more than 1,500 larvae, raise new concerns over the extra threat" the hornet poses to native insects already under pressure from farming, changes in land use and chemical pollution. Continue reading...
As layoffs under Trump bleed out, workers in the Mountain West fear devastating consequences for their communitiesRepublican representative McKay Erickson walked through the halls of the Wyoming capitol with a Trump 2024 pin on the front of his suit jacket. Much of Erickson's home district in Lincoln county falls under the jurisdiction of the Bridger-Teton national forest and Grand Teton national park.With that federal land, comes federal workers. While it appears districts in Wyoming crucial to US energy dominance have been spared the brunt of the layoffs, McKay said his forest-heavy district has not been so fortunate. He's hearing from his constituents about the layoffs, and he's troubled about the implications for his district's future. Continue reading...
The highly concentrated egg market may be contributing to soaring consumer prices - and the spread of the virus, data shared exclusively with the Guardian showsMajor egg corporations may be using avian flu as a ruse to hike up prices, generating record profits while hurting American consumers, new research suggests.The cost of a dozen large eggs hit almost $5 in January - a record high in the US and more than two and a half times the average price three years ago before the avian flu outbreak. This signifies a 157% inflation rate for eggs - a previously go-to affordable protein source for many American families. Continue reading...
Gasps from dockside crowd watching Bigg's orca pod in event described as once-in-a-lifetime experience'A pod of orcas swam close to shore and amazed onlookers in Seattle by treating the whale watchers to the rare sight of the apex predators hunting a bird.The pod of Bigg's killer whales visited Elliott Bay and were seemingly on a hunt underwater just off Seattle's maritime industrial docks. The pod exited the bay close to the West Seattle neighborhood across from downtown, where people were waiting to catch sight of them. Continue reading...
President's move to expand tree cutting across 280m acres evades rules to protect endangered speciesDonald Trump has ordered that swathes of America's forests be felled for timber, evading rules to protect endangered species while doing so and raising the prospect of chainsaws razing some of the most ecologically important trees in the US.The president, in an executive order, has demanded an expansion in tree cutting across 280m acres (113m hectares) of national forests and other public lands, claiming that heavy-handed federal policies" have made America reliant on foreign imports of timber. Continue reading...
Regional governments bow to pressure from agricultural industry, often amplified by far-right Vox partyOnly last year it was hailed as a conservation success story: the Iberian lynx, which had been close to extinction, had sprung back to life thanks to a two-decade-long effort to expand the population.Now, however, that progress is at risk after several regional governments in Spain acceded to pressure from farmers and hunters to block the reintroduction of the species into the wild. Continue reading...
Sudden stratospheric warming event expected to develop in next two weeks and will probably weaken the jet streamA sudden stratospheric warming event is expected to develop over the next two weeks, leading to a rapid collapse of the polar vortex.This will be the second and probably final disruption of the polar vortex this winter in the northern hemisphere, the first having taken place earlier last month, which was associated with a severe cold spell across much of the eastern half of the US. Continue reading...
Scottish Wildlife Trust plans to create rainforest, restore peatland and end deer stalking on Highland sporting estateScottish conservationists hope to convert a Highland sporting estate into a rewilding showcase after a mystery benefactor gave them more than 17.5m to buy it.The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), best known for its small nature reserves, has bought Inverbroom estate near Ullapool in north-west Scotland, complete with an 11-bedroom lodge that boasts an indoor swimming pool. Continue reading...
Bold pledges to fund climate projects now appear under threat, exposing deeper fiscal constraints and policy dilemmas within the governmentIn October, the prime minister, chancellor and energy secretary pledged billions to kickstart the UK's first carbon capture projects - one of the biggest green spending promises of the parliament. By December, EdMiliband was signing contracts, Sir Keir Starmer vowed to reignite our industrial heartlands" and Rachel Reeves warned that without bold action, Britainwould be stuck with low growth and falling living standards. More importantly, net zero targets wouldn't be met without removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.Fast forward and the Treasury is, reportedly, preparing to scrap the 22bn plan, after economic growth failed to materialise. What a difference a fewweeks make. Continue reading...
Inaugural Tune into Nature prize is aiming to highlight how the natural world is central to creative lifeOne is a dreamy soundscape collected from the peaks of the Dolomites. The other is a drum'n'bass track that samples a nightingale's quickfire song.These contrasting tunes have won the inaugural Tune into Nature music prize, a contest that seeks to showcase new music by upcoming artists that is inspired by the natural world. Continue reading...
With a beauty that belies its name, the sea slug is an invertebrate that reminds me of a happy Scottish summerIt has been a long time since I've thought about nudibranchs, let alone spotted one. But a lifetime ago, as a zoology undergraduate at Glasgow University, I spent hours underwater, swimming through kelp forests, corals and shipwrecks, looking out for the tiny, colourful creatures.Diving on the west coast of Scotland is spectacular for all the reasons you might expect: the drama of the islands, bays and meandering sea lochs against the mountains, the rugged rocky shores, the awe-inspiring wildness. Continue reading...
Self-denial will save the Earth, we're told. But big emitters seemingly haven't had the memoThat I fully expect to be dead by the time the UK achieves net zero is, of course, no reason to dodge interim advice from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the UK's official climate authority. Its latest report to government is of particular interest to the public, in arguing that a third of the emissions cuts required to achieve net zero by 2050 will have to come from consumers themselves.Unless we - individual households - accept heat pumps and electric cars and deterrents to flying and less meat (skipping two kebabs per week), the CCC explains, the target cannot be met. And assuming the introduction of a selective news blackout that reduces public awareness of UK plutocrats, celebrities and influencers with colossal carbon footprints, such a behavioural transformation may not be impossible. Continue reading...
The cute rodent helps combat drought and boosts biodiversity. Its rewilding is welcome and long overdueThe first time I laid eyes on a beaver was a couple of years ago on the Devon farm of Derek Gow, the farmer turned rewilder, who brought the furry rodents back to the UK 30 years ago.It was magical. Sitting in the June dusk, thepink-and-purple sky was reflected in the still ponds of the beaver habitat. Suddenly, ripples emerged from the lodge and the head of a kit - a baby beaver - popped up from underwater. Continue reading...
by Josephine Moulds, Stefano Valentino, Giorgio Micha on (#6VM58)
Backing of Glencore angers campaigners who have highlighted firm's environmental breaches in South AfricaOne of the world's biggest banks, JP Morgan, has promoted environmental and sustainable" funds to customers which have invested more than 200m in the mining giant Glencore, it can be revealed.Ethical investing has become big business for JP Morgan and other financial giants, with worldwide sustainable" investing expected to surpass $40tn by 2030. But the industry now faces scrutiny over the rules around investments focusing on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Continue reading...
In February, thousands of civil servants were fired from agencies that study the country's soils, seas and skiesIt's become known as the Valentine's Day massacre.On 14 February, tens of thousands of civil servants were fired, as the Trump administration hacked away indiscriminately at the federal government. Continue reading...
More than a thousand people have been evacuated near forest of Ofunato in northern region of IwateMore than a thousand people have been evacuated as Japan battles its largest wildfire in more than three decades.The flames are estimated to have spread over about 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) in the forest of Ofunato in the northern region of Iwate since a fire broke out on Wednesday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Continue reading...
by Robyn Vinter North of England correspondent on (#6VKXX)
Despite wet weather hitting yields, supermarkets are reporting a doubling in rhubarb sales compared to last yearIt takes a while for the eyes to adjust to the darkness inside the shed. Slowly, the shapes of hundreds of pale stalks emerge from the gloom like an alien species, visible only by the glow cast by a handful of candles.This candlelit ritual is the harvest of Yorkshire forced rhubarb, being carried out by growers Robert and Paula Tomlinson. Continue reading...
Our wildlife series Young Country Diary is looking for articles written by children, about their spring encounters with natureOnce again, the Young Country Diary series is open for submissions! Every three months, as the UK enters a new season, we ask you to send us an article written by a child aged 8-14.The article needs to be about a recent encounter they've had with nature - whether it's a field of early spring flowers, a nest-building bird or a pond full of frogspawn. Continue reading...
The nuclear plan handily leapfrogs the next 10 years - when a Dutton government might actually hold office - a critical time for emissions reduction Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastI don't often agree with Matt Canavan on matters to do with global heating. But when the senator labelled the Coalition's nuclear plan a political fix" last year, I think he was speaking the truth.For 15 gruelling years the Coalition has been trying to distract a voting public, ever more aware of the climate crisis, from its inability to get a credible climate and energy policy past the climate sceptics and do-nothing-much-to-reduce-emissions exponents in its own ranks (including the Queensland senator).Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Continue reading...
The World Nature Photography awards have announced their winners for 2025. From white-cheeked terns to a blue-tailed damselfly peeking through a daisy, the photographs are a stark reminder of the beauty and chaos of the natural world. The top award went to Marua Puhek's image of two deers running through a Slovenian vineyard Continue reading...
Chris Jones is behind change in law to release beavers in England after witnessing the incredible benefits on his land Beaver releases into wild to be allowed in England for first time in centuriesChris Jones, a beef farmer, is very proud of his beavers. They are just extraordinary," he says.Since releasing a couple into an enclosure on his Cornwall farm in 2017, he says they have saved it from drought, prevented flooding in the nearby village, boosted the local economy and even improved oyster beds in Falmouth Bay. Continue reading...
UN biodiversity conference in Rome ends with fragile accord but questions remain over whether funding will emergeThe task of halting nature loss by 2030 is slipping out of reach, ministers have warned, as countries from around the world came to a hard-won compromise on nature finance after marathon negotiations in Rome.Delegates at the UN biodiversity conference - known as Cop16 - broke into applause after finally reaching a deal in the Eternal City following a night of tense and painstaking discussions. Cop16 president Susana Muhamad wept as she brought down the gavel on the agreement outlining a roadmap for nature finance. The agreement broke a deadlock at UN talks seen as a test for international cooperation in the face of geopolitical tensions. Continue reading...
Floods, whale strandings and coral bleaching all more likely, say researchers, as 10% of ocean hits record high temperatures in 2023-24The world's oceans experienced three-and-a-half times as many marine heatwave days last year and in 2023 compared with any other year on record, a study has found.The sustained spike in ocean temperatures cost lives and caused billions of dollars in storm damage, increased whale and dolphin stranding risks, harmed commercial fishing and sparked a global coral bleaching, according to the paper published on Friday in Nature Climate Change. Continue reading...
For decades, the Swiss city has been transforming its skyline, and now boasts some of the greenest rooftops in EuropeSusanne Hablutzel breaks up her work day by staring out the window at a rooftop garden. The view is not spectacular: a pile of dead wood sits atop an untidy plot that houses chicory, toadflax, thistle and moss.But Hablutzel, a biologist in charge of nature projects in Basel, is enthralled by the plants and creatures the roof has brought in. Tree fungi have settled in the trunks, and they are great to see - I love mushrooms. You can also see birds now - that wasn't the case before." Continue reading...
The 1890 National Scholars program gives full rides to HBCU students in fields like botany, forestry and food safetyDr Marcus Bernard was shocked to learn last week that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had suspended the 1890 National Scholars program that funds undergraduate students' education in agriculture or related fields at about 20 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).Bernard is dean of the college of agriculture, health and natural resources at one of those institutions, Kentucky State University. At Kentucky State, close to 40 of the scholars have enrolled since the project's inception in 1992. Nationwide, the program has supported more than 800 students, according to the USDA. Continue reading...
by Rachel Leingang in Mandan, North Dakota on (#6VJK1)
Trial-monitoring committee in Dakota Access lawsuit have shared concerns of judicial bias and due-process violationsMore than half the jurors selected to hear a case brought by a major energy company against Greenpeace have ties to the fossil fuel industry, and most had negative views of anti-pipeline protests or groups that oppose the use of fossil fuels.The closely watched trial against Greenpeace in Mandan, North Dakota, showcased the difficulty in seating a jury in oil country, where many make their living in the industry. Greenpeace again on Wednesday sought to move the trial to another venue in the state. Continue reading...
Trial announced as Keir Starmer arrives in Washington to meet Donald Trump, a longtime critic of windfarmsOffshore windfarms are to be painted black in an effort to reduce the number of birds that die after flying into them.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has launched a four-year trial to paint the wind turbines after officials raised concerns that the government's plan to increase turbine numbers in the North Sea could spell danger for seabirds. Limited research has been conducted on the number of birds killed this way, but estimates range from four to 18 per turbine per year. Continue reading...
Snap helps more than 42 million people, and is considered the country's most effective tool to fight hungerDuring a recent grocery store visit, Audrey Gwenyth spent $159.01 on items such as eggs, Greek yogurt, edamame snaps, bagels, chia seeds, brownie mix, oatmeal, milk, cilantro rice and pork sausage. The entire bill was paid via her electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, card, which is how recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), pay for groceries at participating stores, farmers markets and restaurants.Because I'm a single mom and I don't receive child support, I don't have a lot of help in the world," said Gwenyth, a mother of two toddlers, whose food budget is around $100 per week. She shares many of her EBT purchases on social media to help others make the most of their benefits. I could not pay for food if it wasn't for EBT. It's been a lifesaver." Continue reading...
Seeds of 177 species from across Africa to be stored in Norway to preserve crop diversity in case of disasterMore than 100,000 seeds from across Africa have been deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the world's repository for specimens intended to preserve crop diversity in the event of disaster.Among the latest additions are seeds critical to building climate resilience, such as the tree Faidherbia albida, which turns nitrogen into ammonia and nitrates, and Cordia africana, the Sudan teak, a tree renowned for its strength and durability. Continue reading...
University announces new BA, after survey found most 14- to 18-year-olds want more rigorous climate change educationThe University of Sussex will introduce what it says is the UK's first undergraduate degree focused on climate justice.The BA course, called climate justice, sustainability and development", will begin in 2026. The university says it will equip students with a blend of expertise in climate politics, activism and environmental human rights. Continue reading...
by Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on (#6VHG4)
CEO Murray Auchincloss says fundamental reset' will mean cut of more than 4bn to low-carbon investment planBP has abandoned its green ambitions in favour of ramping up fossil fuel production as its boss claimed that optimism over the pace of the green transition had been misplaced".In a major strategy shift, the energy company will increase its investment in oil and gas to $10bn (7.9bn) a year while slashing more than $5bn from its previous green investment plan. Continue reading...
by Damian Carrington Environment editor on (#6VJ63)
Climate scientists caution, however, that even weakened currents would cause profound harm to humanityVital Atlantic Ocean currents are unlikely to completely collapse this century, according to a study, but scientists say a severe weakening remains probable and would still have disastrous impacts on billions of people.The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) is a system of currents that plays a crucial role in the global climate. The climate crisis is weakening the complex system, but determining if and when it will collapse is difficult. Continue reading...
It's chaos as small jobs become big jobs, tools disappear and distractions lead to furious frustration. Then you spot spring's first flower ...There's no such thing as gardener's block, I once read. This from, I believe, a famous writer who was making the point that if you've got writer's block, you should just go and do something else for a bit. Point taken. There is no such thing as gardener's block because if you get stuck doing one job, even in the smallest garden, there are roughly 10m other jobs you can be cracking on with. Which is quite right. And this is what makes gardening either the worst thing for you if - like me- you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or possibly the best.I stride into the garden full of purpose and ambition, with a smile on my face. Invariably, several hours later, I stagger out of there, aching all over, scratched, bloodied, filthy and demoralised, having dug, scraped, cursed and carried myself to physical and mental exhaustion. The clarity of purpose I have at the outset vanishes very quickly, along with my secateurs. In its place, as things that need doing proliferate around me like Japanese knotweed, there comes a confusion of purpose. Lots gets done alittle bit, but nothing gets done properly. Nothing isfinished. And it all looks a right bloody mess. Continue reading...
Analysts and investors have long trumpeted climate-proof' US communities, but recent disasters show the need for a different way of thinkingA few years ago, while visiting a tiny village, I toured a grand old community hall scheduled to be demolished after a historic flood. Across the street, a phantom row of eight buildings had already come down. Next to go was this beloved structure, built with local lumber by the craftsman grandfathers of the people who still lived there. One of the two local officials escorting me had been married here, she told me. There was a plan to repurpose the six soaring arches, the other official said, gazing towards the ceiling. The other part of it, knocking the rest of it down ..." he trailed off, emotionally. I won't be in town to see that."This village isn't located on the rapidly eroding Gulf coast, or any coast. It isn't on the edge of a drought-stricken wildland. It isn't anywhere typically named as existentially threatened due to the impacts of climate change. Forever altered by floods, the village of Rock Springs, in my home state of Wisconsin, is instead located smack in the middle of what's often been called a climate haven". Continue reading...