Climate Archives - EcoWatch (original) (raw)

Methane 101: Understanding the Second Most Important Greenhouse Gas Methane 101: Understanding the Second Most Important Greenhouse Gas

By Olivia Rosane and Cristen Hemingway Jaynes Quick Key Facts What Is Methane? What has no color or smell and is found in wetlands, cow burps and your basement furnace? The answer is methane — a powerful greenhouse gas that is the second most important contributor to the climate crisis after carbon dioxide (CO2). It […]

Earth’s Underground Fungi Networks Need Urgent Protection: Study Earth’s Underground Fungi Networks Need Urgent Protection: Study

The underground fungi networks that help sustain Earth’s ecosystems are in need of urgent conservation action, according to researchers from the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN). The scientists found that 90 percent of mycorrhizal fungi biodiversity hotspots were located in unprotected ecosystems, the loss of which could lead to lower carbon emissions […]

UN’s Top Court Rules That ‘Clean, Healthy’ Environment Is a Human Right UN’s Top Court Rules That ‘Clean, Healthy’ Environment Is a Human Right

In a landmark finding, the United Nations’ top court on Wednesday issued an advisory opinion stating that a “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” is a human right. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling supports the obligation of UN member states to tackle the climate crisis and outlines the consequences they could face if they […]

Firefighter Shortage Across U.S. Poses ‘Dangerous’ Risks as Peak Wildfire Season Ramps Up Firefighter Shortage Across U.S. Poses ‘Dangerous’ Risks as Peak Wildfire Season Ramps Up

More than one-quarter of United States Forest Service (USFS) firefighting positions are vacant, creating shortages as extreme conditions lead to wildfires across the country, internal data reviewed by The Guardian has revealed. USFS Chief Tom Schultz has repeatedly reassured the public and lawmakers that the agency is prepared for the high amount of wildfire activity […]

Renewables Helped Prevent Blackouts on New England’s Hottest Day This Summer Renewables Helped Prevent Blackouts on New England’s Hottest Day This Summer

Renewable energy sources, such as solar power and battery storage, have helped keep power on in New England, even during peak demand on the hottest day of summer. According to a recent report from the nonprofit Acadia Center, more than 5 gigawatts of behind-the-meter solar provided additional support during peak demand times, despite the temperature […]

20 States Sue Trump Administration for Slashing FEMA Disaster Mitigation Program 20 States Sue Trump Administration for Slashing FEMA Disaster Mitigation Program

A group of 20 states sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over the shutting down of a multibillion-dollar grant program with the purpose of strengthening natural disaster preparation and mitigation. The lawsuit filed in a Boston federal court contends that the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) unlawfully eliminated its Building Resilient Infrastructures and […]

What Mountains Provide and Why They Need Protection What Mountains Provide and Why They Need Protection

While mountains are formed by geologic forces deep underground, they create space for unique ecosystems to form high above the Earth. Mountains’ harsh conditions and relative isolation have encouraged and sheltered varied biodiversity.

Extreme Weather Is Now Normal Weather in the UK: Met Office Report Extreme Weather Is Now Normal Weather in the UK: Met Office Report

Extreme heat, excessive rainfall, ongoing droughts — these conditions are now considered the new normal, according to the latest State of the UK Climate report from the UK Met Office. The report highlights several alarming trends, including warming at the rate of 0.25°C per decade in the UK. The past three consecutive years have ranked […]

Climate Change Degrades Nutritional Value of Crops, Study Finds Climate Change Degrades Nutritional Value of Crops, Study Finds

Climate change is bad for food production in more ways than one. Aside from stress from extreme heat, drought and flooding, climate change is also decreasing the nutrient value in crops, according to a new study. The preliminary research, presented this week at the Society for Experimental Biology’s Annual Conference Antwerp 2025, has revealed that […]