Displaying items by tag: Environment

There is growing pressure on the Government to reconsider its ban on new North Sea oil and gas exploration as energy prices rise and concerns increase over supply security. Recent polling indicates that around half of Britons support lifting the ban, particularly amid fears that international conflict, including tensions involving Iran, could disrupt energy supplies and drive up household costs. Public opinion also reflects strong backing for government intervention if energy bills continue to rise, with many calling for subsidies or increased taxation on energy companies to ease the burden on households. However, others warn that such measures could increase national debt and place further strain on public finances. Some argue that expanding domestic oil and gas production would strengthen economic resilience and reduce reliance on imports, while others maintain that new drilling would not significantly lower prices. Environmental groups continue to advocate for long-term investment in cleaner energy solutions instead. See

In rural areas of Nepal, families living near protected forests face growing danger as tiger populations increase. Pushpa Tamang, a survivor of a brutal tiger attack in 2019, lives with severe disabilities and ongoing medical needs which her family cannot afford. Like others in neighbouring districts, her household struggles under heavy debt from treatment costs while navigating slow and inadequate government relief systems. Although Nepal has been praised internationally for its conservation efforts which have successfully expanded tiger numbers, local communities bear the consequences through injury, trauma, and financial hardship. Many rely on the forests for daily survival, increasing their exposure to risk. While some local authorities offer limited support, gaps remain significant. The situation highlights a deep tension between conservation success and human vulnerability.

On 22 March, World Water Day, thousands of people marched in Santiago and many other cities across Chile, protesting the rollback of environmental protections by newly-elected president José Antonio Kast. His administration quickly halted 43 regulations introduced under former president Gabriel Boric, including measures safeguarding endangered species, creating national parks, regulating emissions, and addressing pollution. Protesters, organised by environmental groups, warned that these changes could deepen inequality, noting that around 1.4 million Chileans still lack access to safe drinking water. Critics argue the policy shift prioritises economic deregulation over environmental care, raising concerns about long-term ecological damage and public health. The demonstrations reflect growing unease about the country’s direction and the balance between development and stewardship of natural resources. The new president has also taken speedy action to start building a barrier between Chile and its northern neighbour Peru: see

While Donald Trump’s administration is pedalling back on American commitment to green energy, China is rapidly expanding renewable energy across its vast landscapes, building huge solar and wind installations to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In some desert regions, solar panels are not only providing shade but also slowing land degradation, giving farmers renewed hope. The country now produces more solar panels than the rest of the world combined and aims to peak emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060. Yet the transition brings tensions. Oversupply has hurt manufacturers, while some rural communities lose farmland or feel excluded from decisions. Concerns also remain about labour practices and environmental impacts linked to mining and construction. At the same time, coal still supplies much of the nation’s electricity, meaning the shift must balance economic growth with environmental responsibility. The changes show both promise and hardship as society adapts to a new energy future.

For reporter Haru Mutasa, covering climate change stories was not part of the plan, yet one assignment led relentlessly to another. A routine trip to Kenya’s Mandera County revealed a devastating drought along the Kenya–Somalia border. Dry riverbeds, starving camels and burned livestock graves told a grim story. Communities depended on infrequent water deliveries, sharing muddy water with animals. Pastoralists like Mohamed Hussein had lost most of their livestock, struggling to keep families alive. After leaving Kenya, Haru thought the story was over. Instead, heavy rains and floods swept across southern Africa. Soon she was deployed again, this time to Mozambique. In Maputo, neighbourhoods lay submerged in filthy floodwaters. Further south, highways had disappeared underwater and farmland had vanished beneath rising rivers. With dams upstream full, more flooding threatens. While the world looks elsewhere, these communities remain, facing a climate crisis that refuses to pause.

Once homeless and living on the streets, Rodgers Oloo Magutha now shares his modest home with rescued birds in Kenya. Growing up near Lake Nakuru, surrounded by rich birdlife, he found his childhood curiosity growing into a lifelong calling. Over the years, he has rescued and cared for more than twenty bird species, including kites, owls, storks, crows and pigeons. Many arrive injured, starving or trapped, and he nurses them back to health before releasing them into the wild. His work fills a critical gap in a country with few wildlife rehabilitation centres. The challenges are constant: limited space, lack of veterinary training, scarce food and public misunderstanding, with some even accusing him of witchcraft because of his close bond with the birds. Yet Rodgers continues, motivated by compassion and wonder. His dream is to establish a legal, well-equipped bird rescue shelter, so that more vulnerable creatures can be healed and returned to freedom.

A national disaster has been declared in South Africa after weeks of torrential rain and severe flooding killed at least thirty people in the country’s north and caused widespread destruction. In Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the worst-hit provinces, homes, roads, and bridges have been washed away, leaving many families displaced. Heavy rains have also affected other provinces, while neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe also suffered deadly floods, bringing the regional death toll to more than a hundred In Limpopo alone, damage is estimated at around £180 million. Rescue teams are still searching for missing people, including a five-year-old child believed to have been swept away when his home flooded. Hundreds of tourists and staff were evacuated from Kruger National Park during the crisis, highlighting the scale of disruption. As recovery efforts continue, communities face deep loss and an uncertain road ahead.

South East Water is under investigation by regulator Ofwat after repeated outages since November left tens of thousands of households and businesses across Kent and Sussex without drinking water. Some properties have endured up to six days without supply, with around 8,500 addresses still affected. The watchdog is examining whether the company breached licence conditions by failing to meet customer service standards or provide adequate support. This follows earlier prolonged outages in Tunbridge Wells, where 24,000 properties lacked drinkable water for nearly two weeks. Ofwat is also reviewing the firm’s supply resilience, while the government has asked for a wider licence review. A major incident has been declared, schools have closed, and ministers are holding daily emergency meetings. South East Water has blamed storm-related power cuts and burst pipes, but frustration remains high as recovery plans continue amid slow refilling of storage tanks.

New data from European and American scientists shows the planet endured its third-warmest year on record in 2025, with little expectation of cooling ahead. According to them, global temperatures averaged 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels, meaning the past eleven years are now the warmest ever recorded. For the first time, the three-year average from 2023 to 2025 exceeded the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement, raising serious doubts about the world’s ability to meet its climate goals (especially since the USA, one of the main emitters of greenhouse gases, withdrew from the agreement a year ago). The UK Met Office confirmed similar findings, pointing to rising greenhouse gas concentrations as the main driver. While some countries have announced emissions targets, scientists warn these remain insufficient. In October, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres stressed the need for early warning systems to protect communities across the globe.

Across the UK and Europe, cars are steadily growing longer, wider, and heavier - a trend critics have nicknamed ‘carspreading’. SUVs in particular have surged in popularity, with their market share rising from 13% in 2011 to nearly 60% by 2025. Buyers praise them for visibility, practicality, comfort, and a sense of safety, and carmakers favour them for higher profit margins. But cities like Paris and Cardiff are pushing back, arguing that larger vehicles worsen pollution, increase road wear, and heighten risks in collisions. In Paris, after parking fees for heavy vehicles were tripled, the authorities have reported a two-thirds reduction in their numbers. Cardiff plans similar measures, gradually lowering weight thresholds for higher permit costs. Supporters say cities are too constrained to accommodate ever-bigger cars, while critics argue families rely on them for space, mobility, and accessibility. With many European roads narrower than modern vehicles, the debate highlights a growing tension between personal convenience, environmental responsibility, and urban safety.