Arctic tundra now emits planet-warming pollution, federal report finds
Arctic tundra, which has stored carbon for thousands of years, has now become a source of planet-warming pollution.
Peru has lost more than half its water reserves as glaciers rapidly melt
Peru has lost 56% of its tropical glaciers in the last six decades due to climate change, according to a new government inventory released on Wednesday.
Sewage Discharge Emerges as Dominant Threat to River Ecosystems, Oxford Study Urges Immediate Action
Rivers are the lifeblood of the planet. Essential for plants, animals and humans, clean water is increasingly being contaminated with agricultural runoff containing toxic pesticides and other contaminants.
Rivers are rapidly warming, losing oxygen: Aquatic life at risk, study finds
Rivers are warming and losing oxygen faster than oceans, according to a Penn State-led study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
A Quarter of the Global Population Is Facing ‘Extremely High Water Stress’
“Living with this level of water stress jeopardizes people’s lives, jobs, food, and energy security,” warns a new report from the World Resources Institute. A report published Wednesday by the World Resources Institute estimates that roughly two billion people around…
‘An utter disgrace’: 90% of England’s most precious river habitats blighted by raw sewage and farming pollution
More than 90% of freshwater habitats on England’s most precious rivers are in unfavourable condition, blighted by farming pollution, raw sewage and water abstraction, an Observer investigation reveals.
Biodiversity Group Wins Deal With Biden Admin to Protect Wildlife From Pesticides
The Center for Biological Diversity said Tuesday that a legal agreement it has reached with two federal agencies will help mitigate damage done to wildlife in United States waterways, where endangered species have been harmed over the past decade by the government’s failure to assess the environmental impact of pesticide applications.
Could predatory bacteria replace chlorine as an effective water purifier?
Chlorine has long been used as an effective way of removing microorganisms, including bacteria, from drinking water but it has been linked to health problems.
We’ve pumped so much groundwater that we’ve nudged the Earth’s spin, says new study
By pumping water out of the ground and moving it elsewhere, humans have shifted such a large mass of water that the Earth tilted nearly 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) east between 1993 and 2010 alone, according to a new study published in Geophysical Research Letters.
Slowly Vanishing – Over 50% of the World’s Largest Lakes Are Losing Water
A revolutionary evaluation recently published in the journal Science reveals that over half of the world’s biggest lakes are experiencing water depletion.
UN Urges Global Cooperation as Quarter of Humanity Lacks Safe Drinking Water
“Water is our common future and we need to act together to share it equitably and manage it sustainably,” said the director-general of UNESCO.
South African scientists use bugs in war against water hyacinth weed
The Hartbeespoort dam in South Africa used to be brimming with people enjoying scenic landscapes and recreational water sports. Now, the visitors are greeted to the sight of boats stuck in a sea of invasive green water hyacinth weed.
How Floating Wetlands Are Helping to Clean Up Urban Waters
As cities around the world look to rid their waterways of remaining pollution, researchers are installing artificial islands brimming with grasses and sedges.
Bumblebee population increases 116 times over in ‘remarkable’ Scotland rewilding project
‘The sound of traffic and a uniform sea of barley have been replaced by the most beautiful meadows, full of wildflowers, young saplings and the buzz of bees’
Barbados Completes World’s First ‘Debt-for-Climate’ Swap
Barbados has secured the world’s first “debt-for-climate” swap to finance crucial water and sewage projects that will help the island cope with the destructive impacts of climate change.
Killer whales have found new homes in the Arctic Ocean, potentially reshaping marine ecology
The vast ice sheets that historically kept killer whales out of the Arctic Ocean are melting as the region rapidly warms.
Pollution in Delhi hits record high, cloaking city in smog
India’s capital, Delhi, imposes emergency measures including closing schools and offices and barring heavy vehicles.
Denmark will plant 1 billion trees and convert 10 per cent of farmland into forest
Danish lawmakers on Monday agreed on a deal to plant one billion trees and convert 10 per cent of farmland into forest and natural habitats over the next two decades in an effort to reduce fertilizer usage.