Climate

Exclusive: Friends of the Earth tells Keir Starmer any major green cuts by Rachel Reeves will be challenged

• UK politics live – latest updates

If the decisions the UK government makes in its upcoming spending review are not in line with the net zero climate target it risks being taken to court again, campaigners have said.

Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, will set out her spending review for the rest of this parliament on Wednesday. Amid continuing economic uncertainty and Labour’s promise to boost defence spending, many departments are facing deep cuts to dearly held commitments.

Continue reading...

Plans for Sizewell C and other coastal sites continue even as existing defences become more vulnerable to storm surges

There seems to be an inability among politicians to take in what scientists are telling us about the consequences of the climate crisis. Perhaps the most glaring example relates to the Guardian’s latest report on sea level rise, which said that whatever we do now, the rise will have devastating consequences for coastal communities, causing millions of people to migrate to higher ground. Greenland and the west Antarctic ice caps are doomed to melt.

Even in countries that do take cutting carbon emissions seriously, such as the UK, governments do not seem to have accepted that the prediction about sea level rise means policies must adapt to damage that has already been done. The coastline of the North Sea is a classic example. Stretches of England’s east coast both in and south of Yorkshire are eroding, and large areas are close to or at sea level already. A storm surge coinciding with a high tide, like the one that killed hundreds in 1953, may be a rarity, but each year a similar event becomes more likely to overwhelm the existing sea defences. And yet the government is still talking about building nuclear power stations with a 150-year lifespan on this coast, notably Sizewell C, and small modular reactors on other sites. Future generations may wonder why scientists’ warnings were so easily ignored.

Continue reading...

Tess McClure reports on a landslide in Switzerland that left one person missing and destroyed a village

The Swiss village of Blatten was wiped out in seconds. A glacier collapsed above the village on 28 May, triggering a landslide. The 300 residents had been evacuated a week earlier, but a 64-year-old man who is believed to have stayed is missing.

Tess McClure, the Guardian’s commissioning editor for the Age of Extinction, reported on the aftermath.

Continue reading...

A plume of dust is affecting air quality in Florida and may reach other Southern states soon. Here’s what we know about the potential health effects.

Poaching rates dropped by more than half in African reserves where veterinarians removed the animals’ horns, which are in high demand in some parts of Asia.

Region is experiencing an unusually warm spring, raising concerns of fierce wildfire season amid limited resources

Unusually warm springtime temperatures have contributed to rapid reductions in snowpacks across the western US that rival the fastest rates on record, increasing concerns around wildfire season.

The rapid snowmelt, in addition to reduced staffing and budget constraints initiated by the Trump administration, has set the stage for a particularly dangerous season across the west, according to an analysis of publicly available data by the Guardian and interviews with experts in the region.

Continue reading...

It was a nice summer day in June—hot, but that’s to be expected—and my nieces were in town, so we were planning to go to the waterpark. It felt normal to check the weather app on my phone, but something new for me was also checking the air quality. I was pregnant at the time, which meant I was more vulnerable to heat and air pollution. That particular day the AQI (air quality index) where I live was dangerous because of smoke that came from hundreds of wildfires burning across Canada. While I wanted nothing more than to spend the day relaxing by a pool with the kids, I had to make the best decision for my health, and the health of my baby, and stay home.

For me, I had an easy choice—a few hours of recreation or my health? Simple. But for many pregnant people, these decisions are not easy. For example, many pregnant farmworkers must go to work when it is dangerously hot outside and wildfire smoke makes the air even more dangerous to breathe. And not everyone has reliable access to affordable, cool, and safe indoor spaces.

Danger Season is twice as dangerous this year

Danger Season, the months of May through October when extreme heat, hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding converge, presents more challenges for sensitive populations, including pregnant people. During the pregnancy, postpartum, and nursing periods, people are at an increased risk of adverse health effects to certain weather and environmental conditions (see more below on vulnerability). Climate change makes people even more vulnerable because events like wildfires and extreme heat are linked to health issues like anemia and preeclampsia for pregnant people and low birth weight for their babies.

The UCS Danger Season map shows where there are active heat, storm, flood, wildfire, and air quality alerts and tracks the percentage of the US population exposed to these hazards daily. This tool provides a snapshot of areas at risk on a given day. May, the first month of Danger Season, just ended and 69 percent of people living in the US have already been under at least one warning for weather extremes.

This year it is especially important for each of us and our families to be prepared because President Trump is making Danger Season worse. Every pregnant person deserves access to the best medical care and information, and politicians who continue to roll back reproductive care and research are making pregnancy less safe and putting peoples’ lives needlessly at risk.

Here are a few things you can do to make sure that you, or the pregnant folks you know, are prepared to be safe this Danger Season:

Understand the risks

The weather where I live—and in most places around the US—is not the same as it was when I grew up. Specifically, and unfortunately, my city has more frequent tornadoes and more dangerously hot days before and after summer (note that Danger Season includes spring, summer, and fall). With these changes happening across the US, it’s vital for people who are pregnant to understand the health risks of climate-fueled extremes.

Heat can be deadly

Heat is the leading weather-related cause of death and must be taken seriously. A new report by Climate Central summarizes the risks of heat to pregnant people:

“Extreme heat poses dangerous risks to global maternal health and birth outcomes. During pregnancy, heat exposure has been linked to higher risks of complications like hypertension, gestational diabetes, maternal hospitalizations, and severe maternal morbidity. It’s also associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes such as stillbirth and preterm birth (before 37 weeks), the latter of which can have lasting health effects on the baby. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even a single day of extreme heat exposure during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications.”

The report finds that “pregnancy heat-risk days” have increased due to climate change across the globe, putting more people at risk. Places across the US are expected to experience more frequent extreme heat days due to climate change. Use the UCS Killer Heat tool to see projections for extreme heat where you live so you can be prepared now and in the coming years.

Moreover, not only did higher rates of preterm births occur during higher temperatures, but the risk for Black mothers “was 2.5 times higher than for white populations,” according to researcher Dr. Rupa Basu. In our warming world, there is a desperate need for health professionals and policymakers to act on the best available science, with attention to racial disparities, to keep people and their babies safe.

If you’re pregnant or in a high risk category, make it a daily habit to check the National Weather Service (NWS) HeatRisk map. It is critical for folks to talk to their doctor about staying safe from the heat because there are many underlying conditions and medications that could make someone more vulnerable to heat illness.

People can be at risk of heat illness at lower temperatures if they’re exerting themselves working or exercising, and/or if they’re wearing equipment like personal protective gear. Be aware of how to stay cool on dangerously hot days, and know where you can go to access safe air conditioning if it is not available where you live—whether that is a family or friend’s house, a library, or cooling center.

Check the Air Quality Index (AQI)

Everyone, but especially pregnant folks, will want to get familiar with the AQI—the Environmental Protection Agency’s index for reporting air quality—and what the different color categories mean. They range from green (good) to maroon (hazardous) and represent different values from 0 to 500. Any other color besides green (0-50) means that you may need to take precautions based on your individual health risks. When the AQI is yellow, (values from 51-100) and of “moderate” concern, some pregnant people may need to limit their time outdoors. Red, purple, and maroon air quality categories are concerning for the public—meaning we all should take actions to be safe.

Make it a daily habit to check the AQI. Click here for the AirNow webpage and type in your zip code. I bookmarked this website on my phone so I could easily access it and check the AQI each day. You can also subscribe for email alerts. Talk to your doctor or a trusted health professional about your personal risk and what you may need to do at different levels of concern.

Wildfire smoke

It’s the first week of June and we’re seeing the first widespread air quality alerts this Danger Season in the US from Minnesota to Florida due to wildfires burning in Canada.

I had no idea that wildfire smoke from thousands of miles away could affect the air quality where I live. I know I’m not the only one who wasn’t aware of this information.

“I’ve realized how little information I received about the impacts of wildfire smoke on me or my baby. The smoke index, the air quality index. I didn’t know what that was. I didn’t know how to read it,” Sarah Johnson, a nurse, said in News Lines Magazine.

Wildfire smoke can be associated with preterm birth, which presents risks to both parent and child. It is important for people who are pregnant and their health care professionals to better understand the risks of wildfire smoke so that they can work together for the best health outcome. Like the AQI, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking the smoke risk from wildfires. You can go to the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map, insert your location, and check to see if there are any wildfire risks or air quality alerts near you.

Hurricanes and flooding

Studies find that flooding increases the likelihood of preterm birth and low birth rate, and “one 2008 study looking at pre-term birth following Hurricane Katrina concluded that a flood had caused around a 230% increase in pre-term births.” Pregnant people need to be sure to plan for disasters, like hurricanes and tornadoes, to be safe during and after the event.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends asking your doctor how and where you can access medical care in an emergency, and to make an emergency kit. Flood waters can contain harmful bacteria and chemicals, so it is important to avoid contaminated waters if possible, which can be difficult during an emergency flood situation. The CDC also acknowledges the impact of emergency situations on people’s mental health and how pregnant people may be at risk of delivering the baby too early under stress. Taking care of your mental health is as important as your physical health.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting an above-average 2025 hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms—6 to 10 of which could become hurricanes, with 3 to 5 of those being major (Category 3-5). At the same time, President Trump has cut critical staff and funding to the federal agencies that keep us safe before, during, and after disasters. This Danger Season is doubly dangerous because the Trump administration is putting the lives and safety of people at risk to save a buck.

Here are some more tips for preparing for disasters while pregnant or in the postpartum period.

What you can do

During Danger Season, it is possible that many of these hazards will occur at once. For example, a hurricane could knock out power during the summer when it is dangerously hot. It will be vital to be prepared for the storm and to find safe, cool shelter from the heat. I hope that understanding the possible health impacts will help you feel empowered to plan for scenarios that may put you at risk so that you can be healthy and safe.

Make a plan

Talk to your doctor, your community, friends, and loved ones to identify the potential risks during your pregnancy and how you can stay safe. Plan for scenarios at home and work that may put your health and well-being at risk.

Advocate for protections

Y’all, pregnant people have enough to deal with! We need our elected officials to make it easier to stay safe during Danger Season, which is now doubly dangerous. Here are a few things you can ask your elected officials to do:
• Ensure that pregnant people are considered in local preparedness and emergency planning
• Stop utilities from disconnecting lifesaving access to power in general but especially when it is extremely hot or cold
• Ensure there are cooling or warming centers that are safe and accessible during extreme weather
• Listen to the best available science to protect pregnant folks from extreme weather and climate change, including equitable and just access to reproductive care

Take care of yourself

You matter, pregnancy is hard, and you’ve got this. People said this to me all the time, and even though sometimes I rolled my eyes… sometimes I really needed that bit of encouragement. When the presidential administration is hellbent on making us all less safe, we must support and lean on each other. If you don’t have a strong support system yet, reach out to folks who can be there for you—a local parents’ group, a faith group, birthing class, or other creative ideas to connect with people.

A note on vulnerability

When I was searching for a definition of vulnerability to help explain what it means for pregnant people, I found this comprehensive definition and analysis of vulnerabilities in pregnancy:

“For maternal health, this translates to inherent physical and physiological changes that make women’s bodies susceptible to certain health conditions (e.g., anaemia, gestational diabetes), the emotional and psychological challenges associated with pregnancy and transition to motherhood (e.g., anxiety, depression), and limited access to healthcare, education, and economic resources (e.g., among socially marginalised populations). This is in combination with a lack of appropriate strategies to mitigate the risk of adverse outcomes, including severe morbidities and death.”

I share this broader definition because there are so many socioeconomic and political factors in addition to climate change and extreme weather that put pregnant people at increased risk. Just because I’m talking about a few of the risks from weather-related events in this post it doesn’t mean there aren’t other factors that must be understood and addressed at the same time—like racism.

It is enraging and heartbreaking for me to know that the year I was pregnant “Black women in the US died at a rate nearly 3.5 times higher than white women around the time of childbirth.” And the mortality rate for Indigenous, Native American, and Alaskan Native people is rising. Overall, “The US maternal mortality rate continues to far exceed those of other high-income nations, despite a decline since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Furthermore, 80% of those deaths should have been preventable. This is morally unacceptable and our elected leaders across every level of government should be doing everything possible to ensure that no one dies from pregnancy and childbirth when it can be readily prevented, period. And, when working on intersectional policy issues—like disaster preparedness and response—leaders must do everything in their power to address racial inequities and center the most marginalized, vulnerable, and sensitive populations.

My hope with this blog post is that you will learn something new that will help keep you or someone you love safe. I am not a doctor, and this is not a complete list. Please talk about any concerns or questions you have with your doctor, midwife, doula, or trusted health professional, and work with them to make plans that are best for your health and well-being.

World Meteorological Organization report says record heat in 2024 was driven by climate crisis and intersected with extreme weather events

Almost 40 million sq kilometres of ocean around south-east Asia and the Pacific – an area five times the size of Australia – was engulfed in a marine heatwave in 2024, a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report has revealed.

WMO scientists said the record heat – on land and in the ocean – was mostly driven by the climate crisis and coincided with a string of extreme weather events, from deadly landslides in the Philippines to floods in Australia and rapid glacier loss in Indonesia.

Continue reading...

Higher temperatures caused by climate change are driving complex processes that make droughts bigger and more severe, new research shows.

Groundwater levels are plunging in a rich agricultural region dubbed the Green Triangle. It’s a slowly unfolding disaster

Graham Kilsby, a fourth-generation farmer, is surveying the Kilsby sinkhole, a popular freshwater diving site on his property south of Mount Gambier.

The gin-clear waters provide visibility of up to 65 metres. But, as he inspects the sinkhole when Guardian Australia visits, alarm bells ring. Water levels dropped 1.5 metres between January and March 2025.

Lake George at Beachport. The drainage system that cuts through the region ends here, with flood water released into the sea. Here the drainage system is bone dry

Continue reading...

Senior Tory to give speech in which he will criticise ‘neo-luddites’ on right for failing to embrace green technology

James Cleverly has taken direct aim at Kemi Badenoch’s decision to ditch net zero targets by criticising what he called “neo-luddites” on the right who seem scared of using green technologies to protect the environment.

The senior Conservative MP, who lost to Badenoch in last year’s Tory leadership race, said it was a false choice to believe the UK had to choose between economic growth and protecting the environment. Badenoch has argued current net zero targets will harm the economy.

Continue reading...

El año pasado, según el gobierno saudí, murieron más de 1300 peregrinos, muchos de ellos procedentes de Egipto. Las autoridades dijeron que el calor sigue siendo el mayor problema de la temporada

Surely the Albo government won’t stand for this unfairness to battlers!

• Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are published

• Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints

Continue reading...

I was in anguish over the climate crisis, ecological devastation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But this almost indestructible little creature gave me a lesson in resilience

Less than a millimetre in length, the squishy, transparent animal was completely unaware of my presence, my entire existence, while I watched it in awe. On my computer screen, where I gazed at the image generated by a cheap USB microscope, the water bear stumbled over grains of eroded rock and plant matter, an assemblage of soil, and I felt amused by its bumbling nature. Like someone trying to move through a field of beach balls, I thought.

I had found this water bear, or tardigrade, in a clump of moss I collected during a wet and windy walk with our dog, Bernie, in late 2021. After changing into dry clothes, I rinsed the moss with water and removed the excess using coffee filter paper. Transferring the residue soil and stray moss leaves – known as phyllids – to a small glass bowl, I found the water bear within minutes, but I don’t know how long I then spent watching the little animal manoeuvre through its microscopic kingdom. Time seemed to stand still, my eyes glued to the screen.

Continue reading...

Exclusive: National Fire Chiefs Council warns of pressures, with callouts up 20% in a decade as firefighter numbers fall

Fire stations in England are “falling apart”, fire chiefs have warned, with funding plummeting by an estimated £1bn in the last decade as callouts have increased by a fifth.

Fire and rescue must not become the “forgotten emergency service”, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) urged, warning of mounting pressures that “risk undermining public and firefighter safety”, as it responds to more 999 calls with fewer firefighters.

Continue reading...

Millions will make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The kingdom faces scrutiny over safety after more than 1,300 people died last year.

Michael Boren, a tech company founder, has clashed with the agency for years over land he owns in Idaho.

Thousands of scientists, academics, physicians and researchers have responded to the administration’s executive order about “restoring a gold standard for science.”

The judge wanted us to show remorse, but I can’t apologise for fighting the climate disaster

Last week, at Minshull Street crown court in Manchester, I was sentenced to two and half years in prison for conspiring to intentionally cause a public nuisance. The prosecution’s case was that I intended to “obstruct the public or a section of the public in the exercise or enjoyment of a right that may be exercised or enjoyed by the public at large” – in other words, that I was part of Just Stop Oil’s plan to obstruct planes at Manchester airport. I did intend that – and I have a defence for my actions.

The offence of public nuisance – which falls under the Criminal Law Act 1977 and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 – was traditionally and frequently used to prosecute significant environmental offences. It punished big corporations causing real harm to the general public by poisoning water, polluting air, emitting dust and noise or dumping chemical waste. There is no irony lost in the fact that the same offence in statutory form is now being zealously deployed to prosecute environmental protesters.

Indigo Rumbelow is co-founder of Just Stop Oil. She is serving a sentence in HMP Styal

Continue reading...

Michael Boren, nominated by President Trump, is accused of threatening trail workers with a helicopter, building an airstrip without a permit and putting a cabin on federal property.