Two of the cities around the world where people are most at risk from rising global temperatures are in Iraq, new research has shown. Basra and Baghdad were once kept cool by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (which meet in Basra to form the Shatt Al Arab) and surrounding palm tree orchards. But now their residents face […]
I moved to Sicily from the UK – here’s what I’ve learnt about keeping your home cool during a heatwave. Lost sleep. Low motivation. Feeling irritated. If you had to work indoors or be at home with small children during the record-breaking May heatwave, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Homes in northern Europe, where the […]
Mangroves are among the world’s most effective natural carbon stores, but new research suggests their ability to lock away carbon could weaken as sea levels continue to rise. These salt-tolerant coastal forests occupy less than 1% of Earth’s surface, yet they hold roughly 15% of all carbon stored in ocean ecosystems. Most of that carbon […]
A report warns that the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico could produce twice the emissions of previous editions. The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico, could become the most polluting tournament in football history. That is the warning from FIFA’s Climate Blind Spot, a report outlining how the […]
For centuries, forests have followed a remarkably consistent rhythm. Beneath the trees, roots and microscopic organisms steadily release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as they break down organic material and fuel plant growth. Scientists call this process soil respiration, and it represents one of the largest carbon flows on Earth. New research suggests that this […]
El Niño is a naturally occurring weather phenomenon but its effects are worse because of climate change. El Niño will hit this summer with 80 per cent certainty, according to the latest forecast by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) – and Europe should brace for more extreme heat, with some areas at heightened risk of […]
For some 300 kilometres, groundwater flows underground between France, Germany and Switzerland. It is Europe’s largest groundwater reserve, yet a new study reveals it is heavily polluted. From Frankfurt to Basel, deep underground lies a treasure that supplies more than five million people in the region with drinking water. It is Europe’s largest groundwater reserve. […]
Lithuania’s rapid deployment of wind and solar power is helping the country strengthen its energy resilience and end its reliance on Russian fossil fuels. Lithuania has rapidly become a renewables powerhouse after drastically reducing its reliance on polluting fossil fuels. The country’s domestic consumption of renewable electricity jumped from 15 per cent five years ago […]
Cattle facial recognition and AI generated soil analysis to drive up crop yields are being used by farmers to head off Africa’s looming food crisis. As Africa’s annual spending on imported food edges closer to $100 billion, farmers are increasingly turning to technology to solve shortages driven by a population explosion and shifting diets that […]
Scientists warn that solar capacity is being damaged, as the world clings to polluting coal power. Solar has been described as a “shining star” of the EU’s clean transition, but scientists warn that coal pollution is damaging renewables’ capacity to slash emissions. New research led by the University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) […]
