Risks to the planet and societies: climate, biodiversity, resources, debt. With evidence, not panic.
Isaias struck Florida as a Category 2 hurricane, leaving at least four dead, hundreds of thousands without power and widespread flooding. It is now moving inland, bringing a risk of tornadoes.
The autumn departure of house martins from Derbyshire highlights how much remains unknown about their journey to Africa. Their declining population and the discovery of microplastics in their feathers add to concerns about these migratory birds.
More than three-quarters of the surf breaks examined in an international study face a high risk from changes in the sea and coastal construction. The effects also extend to communities that rely economically on surf tourism.
Studies and accounts from experts describe high levels of psychological distress among Latino youth, with fear of parents being detained and discrimination making the situation worse. Community organizations are working to improve access to care and ease pressures on families.
Paraguay met UNESCO's deadline for submitting updated information on the Chaco Biosphere Reserve, where deforestation threatens Indigenous communities. The details have not been made public, and the effectiveness of protection remains under review.
An analysis of 20,736 scientific publications shows that climate systems with low estimated tipping thresholds do not necessarily attract more research. Only 8.1% of studies explicitly examined features such as abrupt change, self-reinforcement and irreversibility.
An antioxidant reduced fires in fishmeal cargoes, but findings on potential risks led to its ban in several countries. Its residues continue to be detected in seafood, while concerns also surround a major substitute.
Approval of a new fishmeal factory in Goa has reignited opposition over the industry's environmental and social costs. An investigation by the Outlaw Ocean Project documents violations, fatal accidents and pressure on fish stocks, alongside the jobs and revenue the industry provides.
Fish that once supplied Senegal's local markets is increasingly ending up in factories producing animal feed for export. An investigation by the Outlaw Ocean Project documents pressures on the diets and incomes of coastal communities, alongside allegations of pollution and health problems.
The Turkish minister who will chair COP31 called on wealthy countries to spend far more on climate than the 5% of GDP NATO members have pledged for defence. However, he remains cautious about a new agreement on transitioning away from fossil fuels, while Pacific countries call for urgent action.
Eight bridges connecting sections of forest above a road in Alta Floresta, Brazil, recorded 15,000 animal crossings in 15 months, with no recorded deaths from vehicles at that location. The initiative is expanding, offering a practical solution to habitat fragmentation and the protection of threatened primates.
Researchers have described a new, nonvenomous snake species in the forested mountains of southern Ethiopia, Dasypeltis albigularis. The discovery adds a species to the region's recorded biodiversity, where the killing of snakes by people remains its main threat.
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