Displaying items by tag: Environment

A German court has dismissed a lawsuit by Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya against energy giant RWE, rejecting his claim for damages over flood risks in his hometown linked to climate change. Lliuya argued that RWE’s historic carbon emissions contributed to the melting of Andean glaciers threatening his town of Huaraz. Though the court found no immediate threat to his property, it acknowledged that major emitters may bear proportional costs for preventative climate measures. This ruling, while unfavourable to Lliuya, is seen as a landmark in climate litigation, particularly as it came from a plaintiff in the global south against a global north corporation. The court also said that RWE should have foreseen the effects of its emissions. Although RWE argues that climate change cannot be blamed on a single emitter, legal observers view the case as a potential turning point for holding polluters accountable globally.

At least five people were killed and six remain missing after a powerful explosion rocked the Shandong Youdao Chemical plant in Gaomi, eastern China. Occurring just before noon, the blast sent a massive plume of grey and orange smoke into the sky, shattered nearby windows, and triggered a major rescue operation. Nineteen others sustained minor injuries. Emergency teams dispatched 55 vehicles and over 230 personnel to the scene, while the ministry of emergency management sent reinforcements. Social media videos showed smoke blanketing the area, with some structures visibly damaged. Witnesses from nearby businesses reported hearing a loud bang and experiencing a strong gust of wind, which caused structural damage and panic. The cause of the explosion has not been released. Shandong Youdao Chemical, founded in 2019 and employing over 300 people, produces pesticides and pharmaceutical chemicals. The tragedy, reminiscent of the deadly 2015 Tianjin warehouse explosions which killed over 100 people, has revived concerns over industrial safety in China.

Hundreds of residents in Panama’s Indio River region are opposing a proposed dam project that threatens to flood their homes. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) plans to build a 4,600-hectare reservoir to supply water to the drought-affected canal, a key passage for 6% of global maritime trade. The $1.6 billion project, slated for completion by 2032, aims to stabilise water levels amid declining rainfall. While ACP pledges $400 million for compensating and relocating roughly 2,500 residents, groups warn that up to 12,000 people may be affected. Many villagers, dependent on farming and fishing, feel their livelihoods are being sacrificed for international shipping interests. Recent protests on the river reflect deep opposition, despite ACP’s commitment to dialogue. President Jose Raul Mulino supports the initiative, which has also stirred geopolitical tensions.

In Malaysia, invasive fish species like the suckermouth catfish are threatening the nation’s rivers and native aquatic life. Originally introduced for aquariums, the hardy suckermouth has proliferated in polluted rivers, outcompeting local species, spreading disease, and causing environmental damage such as riverbank erosion. The Klang Valley, along with many other waterways, is now overrun by these aggressive invaders. Alarmed, Mohamad Haziq founded a volunteer group during the Covid lockdowns to combat the ecological threat. Dubbed Malaysia’s ‘foreign fish hunter squad’, the group now boasts over 1,000 members and meets weekly to catch and remove invasive fish. While suckermouths are largely considered undesirable, their eggs are used for bait, and researchers are exploring potential uses for the fish - including biochar, leather, fertiliser, and pharmaceutical collagen. Despite acknowledging the fight may never be fully won, the group remains committed to raising awareness and protecting Malaysia’s fragile river ecosystems, one net at a time.

A scathing new report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) warns that government efforts to protect people and infrastructure from the impacts of climate change are dangerously inadequate. The report found that of 46 key adaptation measures, none are rated ‘good’, and progress has been glacial or even regressive. Despite climate threats already affecting homes, farmland, railways, schools, and hospitals, adaptation remains a low priority. Forecasts show that by 2050, over half of England’s best farmland and critical infrastructure will be at flood risk, while heat-related deaths could exceed 10,000 annually. Businesses, farmers, and scientists are calling for urgent action, stressing that ignoring adaptation now will bring national security risks and economic costs. The Government may claim that it is prioritising climate resilience, but budget cuts - including to flood defences - cast doubt. Experts, pointing to successful models abroad, are urging clearer targets, better planning, and private sector engagement to prevent worsening climate disasters.

In Brazil’s hottest region, the Maxakali indigenous people are restoring life to their ancestral land through an agroforestry project called Hāmhi Terra Viva. Amid soaring temperatures and rampant wildfires worsened by invasive guinea grass (introduced by cattle farmers) and widespread deforestation of the Atlantic Forest, the Maxakali are reviving traditional planting methods infused with ancestral songs. Once lush with biodiversity, the forest is now over 85% destroyed, leaving their territory dry, scorched, and vulnerable to climate extremes. In response, they have replanted over 215 hectares of fruit trees and native vegetation and formed fire brigades using traditional techniques. Music is central: songs, rich in ecological knowledge, guide daily work and honor the spiritual connections between people and nature. These songs contain forgotten names and behaviours of now-vanished species, serving as living archives of the forest’s past. By combining ritual, reforestation, and community effort, the Maxakali are resisting ecological collapse and calling on both nature and ancestors to help the land heal.

To celebrate Earth Day (22 April), environmental activists gathered at a beach in Cape Town to clean the coastline and raise awareness about plastic pollution. Organiser Lyniel Traut called for a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040, urging corporations to both act and educate. Another activist said she wanted her children and grandchildren to grow up in a safe, pollution free, environment. Earth Day also spotlighted hidden plastic pollution from synthetic clothing. Rachael Z Miller, founder of the Rozalia Project, explained how polyester garments shed microfibres which end up in oceans, harming marine life and potentially entering the human food chain. To combat this, she has developed the Cora Ball - a laundry tool which reduces fibre shedding and captures microplastics before they reach waterways. Though helpful, such tools are just a start: the UN has urged the textile industry to shift towards a more sustainable production model to reduce its climate impact. See

Former prime minister Theresa May has criticised Kemi Badenoch’s claim that achieving net zero by 2050 is impossible. Badenoch, the new Tory leader, argued that current environmental policies raise energy costs while failing to protect nature, suggesting the UK should rethink its approach. May said that net zero is challenging but achievable, and warned that delaying action would harm future generations and increase economic and social costs. Former Tory environment minister Chris Skidmore criticised Badenoch’s shifting stance, pointing out her past support for net zero policies as business and trade secretary. Business leaders, including the CBI, also voiced concerns, warning that retreating from net zero could damage economic growth and investor confidence. Environmental groups and opposition politicians condemned Badenoch’s remarks, arguing that fossil fuel dependency threatens both the economy and living standards. Badenoch insists she is not rejecting climate change science but believes net zero is unattainable under current policies.

Two beaches in South Australia have been closed after dead fish and an off-white foam appeared onshore, while surfers reported feeling unwell. Authorities suspect that a microalgal bloom, fuelled by unusual weather, has caused these problems. Environmental scientist Sam Gaylard called the event ‘concerning’ due to its scale. The two beaches, south of Adelaide, were shut down on 17 March. Surfers reported symptoms like sore eyes, throats, and coughing. Marine scientists have collected foam samples, though identifying the organism may take days. It is not certain how long this situation will last: the algae, probably triggered by extended hot, dry weather and calm seas, might be dispersed by increasing swells.

A Russian captain has been arrested following a catastrophic collision between the cargo ship Solong and the US-flagged tanker Stena Immaculate in the North Sea. The crash, which occurred while the tanker (which was anchored) was carrying jet fuel for the US military, resulted in fires on both vessels and emergency rescue operations. The UK has launched a   criminal investigation, arresting the 59-year-old captain on suspicion of gross negligence, and also manslaughter because one crew member from the Solong is presumed dead (thirteen others were rescued). Experts are baffled by how such an incident could happen with modern navigation technology, which should have detected the tanker. Environmental groups have warned of a potential ecological disaster to nearby rare bird colonies if jet fuel leaks into the sea. Concerns were raised about sodium cyanide on board, but the ship’s owners denied that there was any hazardous cargo. This tragic event highlights the need for maritime safety and environmental protection.