Environmental

The popular ski resort of Zermatt is in the affected area.

New research documents accelerating plant growth on the Antarctic Peninsula and nearby islands.

The impact of climate change on human societies is now well recognised. However, little is known about how climate change alters health conditions over time. National level data around climate shocks and subsequent rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) could have relevance for resilience policy and programming. We hypothesise that climate shocks are associated with a higher national prevalence of IPV two years following a shock, and that this relationship persists for countries with different levels of economic development. We compiled national data for the prevalence of IPV from 363 nationally representative surveys from 1993 to 2019. These representative data from ever-partnered women defined IPV incidence as any past-year act of physical and/or sexual violence. We also compiled data from the Emergency Events Database (EM DAT) on the national frequency of eight climate shocks from 1920 to 2022 within 190 countries. Using exploratory factor analysis, we fit a three-factor latent variable composed of climate shock variables. We then fit a structural equation model from climate shocks (lagged by two years) and IPV incidence, controlling for (log) national gross domestic product (GDP). National data representing 156 countries suggest a significant relationship between IPV and a climate factor (Hydro-meteorological) composed of storms, landslides and floods (standardised estimate = 0·32; SE = 0·128; p = 0·012). GDP has a moderately large cross-sectional association with IPV (estimate = -0·529; SE = 0·047; p = 0·0001). Other climate shocks (Geological: earthquakes/volcanos; Atmospheric: wildfire/droughts/extreme temperature) had no measurable association with IPV. Model fit overall was satisfactory (RMSEA = 0·064 (95%CI: 0·044–0·084); CFI = 0·91; SRMR = 0·063). Climate shocks have a longitudinal association with IPV incidence in global population-based data. This suggests an urgent need to address the higher prevalence of IPV likely to come about through climate shocks due to climate change. Our analysis offers one way policy makers could track national progress using existing data.

With electricity scarce, Africa’s most populated country struggles to provide lifesaving cooling without worsening the very crisis causing the heat.

The harm to babies and mothers is one of the warnings being sent to Cop29 decision-makers by leading scientists

In this report, GIC and S&P Global Sustainable1 analyses the escalating risk that physical climate hazards will bring, and explores investment opportunities in climate adaptation.

New American Climate Corps partnership between AmeriCorps and EPA will advance environmental justice while preparing young people for good-paying environmental justice careers.WASHINGTON, D.C. - AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, today joined the Environmental Protection Agency in announcing Environmental Justice Climate Corps – a new partnership to engage hundreds of young Americans in helping communities across the country develop and carry out pollution reduction and climate resilience projects as they gain skills and experience for good paying clean energy and climate careers.This new American Climate Corps program – the largest environmental partnership in AmeriCorps’ history and EPA’s first nationwide service effort – represents the Biden-Harris Administration’s latest commitment to taking historic action to address climate change and advance environmental justice. Announced one year ago and launched in June, the American Climate Corps has already engaged more than 15,000 young people – putting the program on a path to meet President Biden’s goal of engaging 20,000 members in the first year, several months ahead of schedule. The Environmental Justice Climate Corps will engage more than 250 AmeriCorps members serving with VISTA over the next three years in full-time, yearlong service terms supporting EPA’s goals to cut pollution, create jobs, and lower energy costs. Members will serve across the country, helping organizations in disadvantaged and other low-income communities access federal resources to carry out locally driven projects to reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, improve public health and safety, and build community capacity to address environmental justice and climate challenges. Projects will include providing technical assistance to organizations seeking federal funding, as well as helping communities invest new funds into community-based projects.“Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the most severe harms of climate change – whether that’s air pollution, extreme temperatures, or flooding,” said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps. “Through this groundbreaking partnership with EPA, we will target resources to underserved communities where they are needed most, while putting hundreds of young people from those communities on a path to environmental justice careers.”“Our partnership is a first-of-its-kind effort within the federal government to expand pathways into environmental justice careers,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This program will create opportunities for young people through President Biden’s American Climate Corps that will help folks in overburdened communities access and benefit from historic funding secured under the President’s Investing in America agenda.”This new program is the latest and largest partnership developed under the American Climate Corps - a groundbreaking initiative to put a new, diverse generation of young Americans to work fighting the impacts of climate change today while gaining the skills they need to join the growing clean energy and climate-resilience workforce of tomorrow. 15,000 American Climate Corps members are serving across the country - conserving and restoring public lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, deploying clean energy, implementing energy efficient technologies, advancing environmental justice and more. Recognizing that environmental justice and poverty reduction are closely intertwined and that low-income communities are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, this partnership advances the mission and statutory purpose of the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Established in 1964 as Volunteers in Service to America and now part of AmeriCorps, the VISTA program builds capacity in nonprofit organizations and public agencies to empower individuals and communities in overcoming poverty. Consistent with the Administration’s goal of ensuring American Climate Corps opportunities are accessible to people of any socio-economic background, members will receive an enhanced living allowance, alongside a comprehensive set of benefits including: health care, childcare, student loan forbearance and interest repayment, relocation expenses, training and professional development, non-competitive eligibility for federal service, and a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award currently valued at $7,395 that can be used to pay down student loans or tuition for higher education, or a cash award after service. In total, this living allowance is equivalent to receiving more than $25 per hour throughout the term of service. This initiative builds on the success of three other AmeriCorps partnerships developed over the past year as part of the American Climate Corps: the AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps partnership with the USDA Forest Service, the Working Lands Climate Corps partnership with the USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service, and Energy Communities AmeriCorps partnership funded by the Department of Interior, the Department of Commerce, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and private philanthropy. Altogether these initiatives represent a $33 million investment that will support more than 500 new ACC positions over the coming years in addition to the Environmental Justice Climate Corps. AmeriCorps serves as the coordinating hub of the American Climate Corps – partnering with other federal agencies; tribal, state, and local governments, and nonprofits around the country to engage Americans to mitigate the impacts of climate change, build climate resilience in communities across the country, while building the clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience workforce of tomorrow. Applications for the Environmental Justice Climate Corps will open in early 2025, with the first cohort of members starting later that year. This program will aim to recruit members from communities overburdened impacts of climate change. To sign up for updates on the program, visit EPA’s website. To learn more about AmeriCorps VISTA, or to view other service opportunities, visit the VISTA website.EDITORS NOTE: AmeriCorps CEO Smith and EPA Administrator Regan will share more information about the Environmental Justice Climate Corps during NYC Climate Week at the Solutions House “Answers Only” session on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 9 a.m. ET. Refer to the White House Fact Sheet for more information.

To provide novel quantification and advanced measurements of surface temperatures (Ts) in playgrounds, employing multiple scales of data, and provide …

An underfunded agency is up against the agriculture industry’s unstoppable expansion of cash crops — and humanity’s heritage hangs in the balance.

Soms moeten vissen lang wachten bij de Weerdsluis, omdat de sluisdeuren in het voorjaar niet vaak open gaan. Daar hebben we iets op bedacht.

Stadiums and venues provide a central and accessible location to help communities respond to extreme weather crises, providing safe storage and shelter in times of need. With these events becoming more frequent, severe and expensive, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier today announced that FEMA and the NFL are launching a new strategy to build resilience in communities through a program that will designate NFL stadiums and fields as mission capable venues that can be used during response and recovery missions. Through Mission Ready Venues, a public-private partnership, NFL stadiums are recognized for their capabilities to better sustain public safety and be a source of support for the communities they serve. The designation identifies the ways the stadium or venue could be used for response and recovery activities during declared emergencies or disasters.

Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa want international criminal court to class environmental destruction as crime alongside genocide

Big Butterfly Count 2024 results reveal lowest numbers on recordWildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has today declared a national ‘Butterfly Emergency’, with results of this summer’s Big Butterfly Count showing a marked and hugely concerning decline in numbers.Overall, participants spotted just seven butterflies on average per 15-minute Count, a reduction of almost 50% on last year’s average of 12, and the lowest in the 14-year history of the Big Butterfly Count.It was the worst summer in the Count’s history for Common Blue, Holly Blue, Green-veined White, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Scotch Argus. And the majority of species (81%) showed declines in the number seen this year compared with 2023.In total, just over 935,000 butterflies and day-flying moths were recorded across the UK from 12 July - 4 August, down almost 600,000, equivalent to more than a third of 2023's total, and 9,000 Counts were logged as seeing zero butterflies, the highest in the citizen science programme’s history.These figures have alarmed scientists and resulted in the charity declaring a nationwide ‘Butterfly Emergency’.Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The previous lowest average number of butterflies per Count was nine in 2022, this latest figure is 22% lower than that, which is very disturbing. Not just that, but a third of the species recorded in the Big Butterfly Count have had their worst year on record, and no species had their best. The results are in line with wider evidence that the summer of 2024 has been very poor for butterflies.“Butterflies are a key indicator species; when they are in trouble we know that the wider environment is in trouble too. Nature is sounding the alarm call. We must act now if we are to turn the tide on these rapid declines and protect species for future generations."Butterfly Conservation is writing an open letter to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs calling for the Government to act now for nature by declaring a ‘Nature Emergency’ and banning butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides once and for all, with no exceptions, before it’s too late.Dr Fox explains: “When used on farmland, these chemicals make their way into the wild plants growing at field edges, resulting in adult butterflies and moths drinking contaminated nectar and caterpillars feeding on contaminated plants. Many European countries have already banned these chemicals, it’s time for the UK to follow suit and put the natural world first. If we don’t act now to finally address the long-term drivers of butterfly decline, we will face extinction events never before seen in our lifetime.”More than 85,000 citizen scientists took part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count this year, submitting 143,241 Counts. This is equivalent to 35,810 hours, or four years worth of time spent counting, in gardens, parks, school grounds and the countrysideDr Richard Fox concluded: “If every single person who helped with the Count this summer signs our letter to the Government, we could prevent the very real and pressing threat of species becoming extinct in our lifetime."To sign Butterfly Conservation’s letter to the Government asking them to declare a ‘Nature Emergency’ and ban butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides visit: https://butterfly-conservation.org/emergencyNext year’s Big Butterfly Count will take place from Friday 18th July – Sunday 10th August 2025.BIG BUTTERFLY RESULTS 2024Species results in the UK – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024UKAbundanceAverage per count% change from 202314 year trend (bold significant)1Gatekeeper190,4131.5-18-31.822Meadow Brown177,8441.46-15.413Large White138,4241.1-382.074Small White112,8140.9-46-18.725Peacock50,8470.4-67-30.396Red Admiral47,1090.4-8228.107Ringlet44,2780.385-47.068Speckled Wood30,1120.2-2-37.709Comma24,4980.2-52-20.2810Green-veined White18,9510.1-24-65.0111Six-spot Burnet18,1020.188-12Marbled White17,9220.1101-18.0413Small Copper13,9620.1-3048.0514Small Tortoiseshell12,4320.1-74-59.4415Common Blue9,7550.1-69-51.6716Brimstone8,6220.1-53-17.9917Holly Blue7,0900.1-8035.6318Painted Lady4,1700.03-669.2719Silver Y4,1010.03-30-20Jersey Tiger3,4960.03-29-21Scotch Argus4990.004-61- TOTAL935,4417-40 -Species results in England – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024EnglandAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Gatekeeper183,7971.55-172Meadow Brown164,6181.3963Large White126,9881.07-404Small White102,1590.86-475Peacock49,6220.42-666Red Admiral44,8130.38-827Ringlet35,3920.3778Speckled Wood26,7000.22-19Comma23,6870.2-5110Marbled White17,7880.1510011Green-veined White15,4400.13-2612Six-spot Burnet14,6620.129113Small Copper13,2240.11-2814Small Tortoiseshell10,8180.09-7215Brimstone8,4960.07-5316Common Blue8,3070.07-7117Holly Blue6,6230.06-8018Painted Lady3,8300.03-6619Silver Y3,5850.03-3120Jersey Tiger3,4480.03-29 TOTAL863,9977.28-41Species results in Scotland – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024ScotlandAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Ringlet4,6890.961232Small White4,1230.84-293Meadow Brown3,7780.77284Large White3,2990.68-115Green-veined White1,8500.38-166Speckled Wood1,0890.22677Common Blue7840.16758Small Tortoiseshell6880.14-799Red Admiral6090.12-7910Six-spot Burnet5590.113411Scotch Argus4810.10-6412Peacock2210.05-9413Small Copper1690.03-4614Silver Y1480.03-1815Holly Blue1320.03-4216Painted Lady1040.02-6217Comma950.02-74 TOTAL22,8184.67-26Species results in Wales – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024WalesAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Meadow Brown8,1131.43-232Large White7,1001.25-283Gatekeeper6,0421.06-384Small White5,4990.97-385Ringlet3,1850.561216Six-spot Burnet2,4880.441787Speckled Wood1,8100.32-268Red Admiral1,2760.22-869Green-veined White1,0310.18-810Peacock9020.16-8211Comma6870.12-7112Small Tortoiseshell6270.11-7813Small Copper4690.08-6514Common Blue3590.06-8215Silver Y2860.05-3916Holly Blue2140.04-8517Painted Lady1660.03-7318Marbled White1320.0213319Brimstone1210.02-3920Jersey Tiger280.00-47 TOTAL40,5357.12-42Species results in Northern Ireland – Big Butterfly Count 2024Big Butterfly Count 2024Northern IrelandAbundanceAverage per count% change from 20231Ringlet9820.772252Meadow Brown9290.731003Small White7810.61-534Large White6860.54-415Green-veined White5630.4426Six-spot Burnet3910.31-27Speckled Wood2970.23-308Small Tortoiseshell2640.21-849Common Blue1490.122810Red Admiral550.04-9611Peacock450.04-9712Small Copper440.03-7213Holly Blue370.03-8614Painted Lady350.03-7915Silver Y270.02-25 TOTAL5,2854.16-49

New data from WRI finds that in most cities, the difference between 3 degrees C and 1.5 degrees C of warming is sizable.

Education systems can empower, equip, and skill young people for climate mitigation and adaptation. But there is also an urgent need to adapt education systems for climate change. This report explains how governments can take action.

This study examines trends in heat-related mortality rates in the US population from 1999 to 2023.

Design research agency FranklinTill has compiled a list of principles to help designers, makers and brands avoid greenwashing when sourcing textiles.

More than 1,200 hectares of Cumbrian forest will be transformed into England’s highest nature reserve

The asset management unit of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has walked away from the world’s biggest climate alliance for investors, marking the latest in a string of similar defections amid continued Republican Party attacks on green finance.

As the federal government pours billions into hydrogen production, critics worry water shortages in the Southwest could worsen.

Geographic designations have protected Europe’s greatest wines for over a century. A hotter planet means something has to change.

How many people don’t have access to clean water? The number is closer to 4 billion, versus 2 billion. Here’s how that estimate came to be.

Parts of the U.S. have experienced record-setting heat waves over the past few summers, which may have caused pharmaceutical ingredients to degrade while en route.

The row over air conditioning at the Paris 2024 Olympics higlights the challenge we face in gaining support for green technologies, writes Smith Mordak.

Chemical communication plays an essential role in ecosystems as it enables organisms to sense their environment, locate predators, food, habitats, or mates and interact with each other. We show that ...

Given health threats of climate change, a comprehensive review of the impacts of ambient temperature and ar pollution on suicide is needed. We performed systematic literature review and meta-analysis of suicide risks associated with short-term exposure to ambient temperature and air pollution. Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for English-language publications using relevant keywords. Observational studies assessing risks of daily suicide and suicide attempts associated with temperature, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM10) and ≤2.5 mm (PM2.5), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) were included. Data extraction was independently performed in duplicate. Random-effect meta-analysis was applied to pool risk ratios (RRs) for increases in daily suicide per interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure. Meta-regression analysis was applied to examine effect modification by income level based on gross national income (GNI) per capita, national suicide rates, and average level of exposure factors. In total 2274 articles were screened, with 18 studies meeting inclusion criteria for air pollution and 32 studies for temperature. RRs of suicide per 7.1 °C temperature was 1.09 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.13). RRs of suicide per IQR increase in PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 were 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.05), 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.03), and 1.03 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.07). O3, SO2, and CO were not associated with suicide. RR of suicide was significantly higher in higher-income than lower-income countries (1.09, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.11 and 1.20, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.26 per 7.1 °C increased temperature, respectively). Suicide risks associated with air pollution did not significantly differ by income level, national suicide rates, or average exposure levels. Research gaps were found for interactions between air pollution and temperature on suicide risks.

This article explores the relationship between temperature and intimate partner violence against women in 34 developing countries. Exploiting the variation in average temperatures across women's resi...

Our results highlight hate speech online as a potential channel through which temperature alters interpersonal conflict and societal aggression. We provide empirical evidence that hot and cold temperatures can aggravate aggressive tendencies online. The prevalence of the results across climatic and socioeconomic subgroups points to limitations in the ability of humans to adapt to temperature extremes.

Combining standardized achievement data for 58 countries and 12,000 US school districts with detailed weather and academic calendar information, Park et al. show that the rate of learning decreases as the number of hot school days goes up.