Cambodia’s reefs thrive as rest of the world’s corals bleach
Marine biologists have just announced the fourth planet-wide coral bleaching event. Despite this devastating news, scientists are pleased to witness reefs off the coast of Cambodia thriving in warmer waters. Coral reefs are often considered one of nature’s most magnificent creations. They are colourful ecosystems bustling with life, leading...
Current in Planet
Everest’s towering trash has become a serious problem
Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, and is now the highest garbage dump on Earth. As the climbing craze continues, this environmental problem demands urgent attention and action. Mount Everest, a natural wonder that has captured the world's imagination, has become a victim of its own popularity. With an estimated 140,000...
Plant diseases are increasingly destroying EU trees and crops
While farmers and conservationists struggle to contain previously introduced pathogens, new outbreaks are being detected. According to scientists, the problem will only get worse as temperatures rise. Infectious diseases don’t just threaten the health of humans and animals. Plants are also susceptible to new pathogens, and scientists are concerned that...
Africa is witnessing a huge electronic waste problem
Africa is increasingly becoming a dumping ground for electronic waste from developed nations. Despite having the lowest annual e-waste production per capita, UN agencies project a growth rate of 3 to 5 percent annually - a trend likely to continue with further technology integration. The African continent has emerged...
Reforesting with the wrong trees could be worsening the climate crisis
Tree planting has been heralded as a saving grace in the face of a warming planet, but projects that use the wrong plant species are contributing further to the climate crisis and worsening biodiversity loss. By now, we are all aware of just how vital trees are to our...
Is cloud seeding to blame for the Dubai floods?
Last week, approximately 25cm of rain – roughly twice the UAE’s yearly average – fell in a single day, leaving much of the city’s outdoor infrastructure under water. This has sparked a debate about weather modification. In parts of the Northern Hemisphere, April is known as the month of showers. This...
South Sudan schools continue to close amid heatwaves
In a bid to safeguard the health and well-being of students, educational authorities in South Sudan have taken the unprecedented decision to close schools across the nation in preparation for a 45C heatwave. South Sudan, already known for its scorching temperatures, has experienced an unprecedented rise in mercury levels over the past weeks. According to the country’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry advisory, temperatures have been soaring well above 40C...
The importance of World Water Day
Though access to water is often taken for granted in many parts of the world, every continent faces unique challenges when it comes to securing this precious resource in the future. On World Water Day, let's explore them. Today is World Water Day, an observance held each year on March 22nd to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and the sustainable management of our planet’s water reserves. It is an...
An in-depth look at the ‘triple planetary crisis’
Beyond the headlines of rising temperatures and extreme weather, the United Nations sounds the alarm on a broader environmental threat: the triple planetary crisis. In the age of climate change, where rising temperatures and extreme weather events dominate headlines, the environmental challenges we face extend far beyond a warming planet. The United Nations has identified a more comprehensive threat: the ‘triple planetary crisis.’ The dangers associated with this, though often overlooked,...
Great Barrier Reef hit by fifth mass coral bleaching event in eight years
Australia's Great Barrier Reef faces a dire threat as officials confirm a mass bleaching event caused by climate change, marking the fifth occurrence of significant damage in just eight years. The Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's most iconic natural wonders, is under major threat as officials confirm a mass bleaching event wreaking havoc on its delicate ecosystem. In a grim announcement on Friday, the Australian Institute of Marine Science...
