CLIMATE
Australia won't pull its weight on climate change, despite a population embracing solar power
Sep 24, 2021
Written by
Matthew Brace
Australia has the highest per-capita use of rooftop solar power in the world and some of its states and territories are striding ahead with clean-energy initiatives, yet the federal government still keenly supports fossil fuels. So what’s up Down Under?
Can fossil-fuel companies be held accountable for climate change?
Sep 01, 2021
Written by
Jacob Dykes
A growing tide of legal action is increasing pressure on fossil fuel companies
Pest explosions could follow in the wake of climate change
Aug 11, 2021
Written by
Jacob Dykes
As climate change dysregulates weather patterns, cases of pest explosions could increase
The solar farms that also boost wildlife
Aug 06, 2021
Written by
Jacob Dykes
Combining solar farms with biodiversity-boosting plants could result in a win–win situation for the environment
ReconAfrica's plan to drill for oil in the Okavango draws the ire of environmentalists
Jun 09, 2021
Written by
Jacob Dykes
One company’s plan to drill for oil in the Okavango Delta is raising the ire of environmentalists. As we find out, the promises of community uplift through oil extraction is not always a pathway to prosperity
Understanding how trees die is difficult, but critical for climate research
Jun 03, 2021
Written by
Jacob Dykes
It’s surprisingly difficult to know why trees die, but understanding this natural process is critical for climate research
As the world warms, the seasons are shifting
May 07, 2021
Written by
Jacob Dykes
Climate change is bringing earlier, dangerous 'false springs', longer summers and shorter winters
FROM THE ARCHIVE: Meet Denis Hayes, the founder of Earth Day
Apr 22, 2021
Written by
Nic Davies
Founded in the USA by Denis Hayes, Earth Day became a global initiative in 1990 when it extended its activities to 141 countries. Today it’s claimed to reach an estimated one billion people across more than 190 countries. Nic Davies…
Mycoremediation: the under-utilised art of fungi clean-ups
Feb 26, 2021
Written by
Jacob Dykes
History is littered with examples of fungi helping to digest the detritus and contaminants left by humans. New challenges could reinvigorate the field
Return of the dustbowl: why the Great Plains are in trouble
Jan 12, 2021
Written by
Jacob Dykes
The Great Plains of the USA are once again getting dustier, highlighting the complicated nature of environmental policies
The EU announces plans to build Destination Earth, a digital twin of our planet
Jan 04, 2021
Written by
Jacob Dykes
Attempts to build a digital twin of the Earth could lead to the democratisation of climate and environmental data
Microplastics at the summit of Everest underscore humanity’s growing influence in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Nov 27, 2020
Written by
Jacob Dykes
Researchers have identified the extent of microplastic contamination throughout the Everest region. Their expedition charts the extent of environmental change and pollution in one of the world’s most sensitive and remote places
New methods of measuring storms result in the discovery of vast 'megaflashes'
Sep 17, 2020
Written by
Jacob Dykes
Advances in space-based lightning mapping have allowed scientists to measure flash extent and duration over broader ranges. The development has led to the discovery of 'megaflashes' – vast electrical surges that discharge over long distances and durations
Engineering the climate: the controversial science that could cool our atmosphere
Aug 06, 2020
Written by
Katie Burton
Katie Burton explores the practicalities and ethics of geoengineering, the controversial science that could quickly cool the atmosphere. Is it the last ditch climate solution that nobody wants? Or are appetites for geoengineering solutions growing with our warming climate?
Dossier: carbon offsetting
Jul 24, 2020
Written by
Mark Rowe
The IPCC embraced the notion of carbon offset schemes in the landmark Paris Agreement, but projects have faced criticism that they lack effectiveness and transparency. Mark Rowe investigates the world of carbon offsetting to determine the role it really plays…
As China and UK fall out, millions are displaced in devastating China floods
Jul 20, 2020
Written by
Katie Burton
Millions have been displaced due to severe floods in central and southern China
Geo explainer: carbon emissions
Jul 15, 2020
Written by
Geographical
A handy gathering of facts about carbon emissions with graphs by Our World in Data
![Conceptual image showing ozone-depleting chemicals moving from the equator to the poles. The chemicals become trapped by the winds of the polar vortex, a ring of fast moving air that circles the South Pole [NASA]](/media/k2/items/cache/8272a40ed0c2b743fb18f5ed4322ba21_S.jpg)
Geo explainer: What is the ozone layer and what’s happening to it?
Jun 03, 2020
Written by
Geographical
Concerns about the ozone hole have diminished as levels of ozone-depleting man-made chemicals have fallen – but research is still ongoing
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