As ferocious heat sweeps across Europe, Asia and North America, a ‘new normal’ of climate chaos is upon us. Will we adapt – and at what cost?
From a looming hunger crisis to wildlife-harming TikTok stunts, here are your climate and environment headlines from a planet at breaking point.
LANDSCAPE NEWS
GLF Live is now available as a podcast. Listen to our first two episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or Stitcher.
Current climate, pandemic and war challenges are possibly driving investment in sustainable finance, as the need for green energy and climate solutions becomes ever more apparent.
Bioluminescence is otherworldly and fascinating – and so too is Edith Widder, a marine biologist who’s one of the top explorers of life in the depths. Read our exclusive Q&A with the legend, accompanied by her photos of these incredible creatures.
Lastly, here’s a lovely poem about Mother Nature. Enjoy!
CLIMATE
Five separate high-pressure systems are shattering temperature records and sparking wildfires across the Northern Hemisphere. The brutal heat has claimed almost 2,000 lives in Spain and Portugal.
The top five greenhouse gas emitters – the U.S., China, Russia, India and Brazil – have caused USD 6 trillion in global economic damage through their emissions.
The climate crisis is drastically increasing the risk of conflict in Africa. So, too, could high energy prices in Europe.
PEOPLE
Russia’s war in Ukraine threatens to unleash a “hunger catastrophe” across dozens of countries, says the head of the UN World Food Programme.
With that in mind, could offshore fish farming be a solution, or could it create new problems for marine life?
Iraq used to produce most of the world’s dates – that is, until millions of palm trees were destroyed by war. Now, this startup is bringing them back.
And in Bangladesh, this army of female volunteers is defending the country’s women from mounting climate disasters.
PLANET
Around half of humanity depends on wild species for food, energy, medicine, materials and other uses, but experts say many of these species are threatened by overexploitation.
To prevent that, we must account for the value of nature rather than focusing solely on profits and economic growth, another report suggests.
Conservation is cool in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, where wildlife numbers are mushrooming thanks to a massive urban sanctuary for native species.
Don’t try this viral TikTok stunt, which scientists say can be extremely harmful to biodiversity.
BUSINESS
Could we solve the climate crisis by genetically modifying trees to grow faster? This startup thinks so.
Meanwhile, this nuclear fusion startup has raised USD 1.2 billion, with Google and Chevron among its latest investors.
East African countries are turning to private investors to fund ocean conservation, while European banks have been told to start taking climate risks more seriously.
Shortages of copper and sustainable fuels could thwart the world’s net zero ambitions. High energy prices, too, are making it harder for poorer countries to slash emissions.
POLICY
The U.S. Supreme Court has given states the power to prosecute crimes on tribal lands, overturning almost 200 years of Native legal sovereignty.
China is approving coal power plants faster than ever, while Ukraine has witnessed a coal mining revival since Russia’s invasion.
Spain will make trains free for four months by taxing banks and energy companies. Here’s what it can learn from Luxembourg, where public transport has been free since 2020.
And as the seas rise around the Maldives, the island nation is building the world’s first floating city.
