Amazon Tree‑Ring Study Links Record Droughts to Accelerating Climate Change
A new dendrochronology study released in May 2026 examines tree rings from across the Amazon basin to trace moisture patterns over the past century. The research highlights that the 2024 drought, which forced the Manaus ...
TotalEnergies Discovers Nearly 100 Million Barrels Offshore Congo Amid Global Oil Tensions
On April 13, 2026, TotalEnergies EP Congo announced a new hydrocarbon discovery on the Moho offshore permit in the Republic of Congo. The company estimates the find contains roughly 100 million barrels of recoverable oil...
New study links certain climate shocks to higher risk of armed conflict
Researchers analysing recent climate events conclude that while the relationship between climate change and war is complex, specific shocks such as extreme heatwaves and prolonged drought can increase the likelihood of v...
April 2026 ranks as Earth’s fourth‑warmest on record, sea temps hit second‑highest
Global climate data show that April 2026 was the fourth‑warmest April since records began, with sea surface temperatures registering the second‑highest level ever recorded for that month. The warming trend underscores ac...
Bolivia’s new land‑reform law sparks protests over fears of increased land grabbing
Bolivia’s April‑passed legislation allowing small farmers to reclassify land as collateral aims to improve credit access, but critics warn it could facilitate large‑scale agribusiness expansion and dispossess Indigenous ...
First International Fossil‑Fuel Transition Summit held in Santa Marta, Colombia
The inaugural Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels convened in Santa Marta, marking what organizers call a historic step beyond stalled COP negotiations. Delegates highlighted the need for concrete pathways...
Sacred bodhi sapling travels from Sri Lanka to Texas as symbol of peace
Buddhist monks participating in the “Walk for Peace” initiative have escorted a sapling of the ancient pipal (bodhi) tree from Sri Lanka to the United States, echoing the historic 3rd‑century journey of a sapling brought...
Golden‑headed lion tamarin captured in striking photo of the week
A vivid photograph highlights the endangered golden‑headed lion tamarin, a small primate endemic to Brazil’s Bahia state. The species, known for its bright reddish‑golden mane and solitary tree‑hole sleeping habits, cont...
EU deforestation law may sideline Honduran small‑scale coffee growers
Honduran coffee farmer Reinerio Zepeda, who has cultivated shade‑grown arabica for nearly a century, warns that the European Union’s new deforestation regulation could exclude tiny producers from export markets. With mos...
Arabian Gulf’s seagrass meadows and marine life threatened by ongoing crisis
The Arabian Gulf’s rich marine ecosystem—home to thousands of dugongs, nesting sea turtles, and migratory birds—faces mounting pressures from habitat degradation and over‑exploitation. A commentary warns that without urg...
Asia’s mainland leopard cat abundant yet remains understudied
The mainland leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) ranks among the world’s most widespread wildcats, spanning from India to the Russian Far East and classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN. Despite its abundance, rese...
Scientists warn diverted ships around Cape of Good Hope may harm whales
Since 2023, vessels have been rerouted around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to avoid conflict zones in the Middle East. Researchers caution that the increased maritime traffic in this region could pose threats to whale popu...
Nigeria’s solar market growth hampered by high upfront costs and policy uncertainty
Nigeria is seeing a surge in solar panel imports as households and businesses seek alternatives to unreliable grid power and costly fuel. However, steep initial investment requirements, limited financing options and uncl...
Santa Marta Conference Highlights Inclusive Strategies for a Just Fossil‑Fuel Transition
The first Global Conference on Transitioning away from Fossil Fuels, held in Santa Marta, Colombia, brought together nearly 60 nations, Indigenous groups, NGOs and business leaders. Organisers from Colombia and the Nethe...
European wildcat makes rare comeback in Czech Republic’s Lusatian Mountains
Conservation teams have documented a male and female European wildcat—the first in the Lusatian Mountains in nearly a century—suggesting a tentative recovery for the species in the region. While populations thrive in par...
Hundreds of Asiatic Wild Ass Return to Eastern Mongolia After 65‑Year Absence
A recent study shows hundreds of khulan have crossed a gap in the Trans‑Mongolian Railway, re‑establishing a population in eastern Mongolia for the first time since the mid‑20th century. The railway had acted as a barrie...
Laser‑Equipped Aircraft Reveal Critical Snowpack Loss Across U.S. West
Specialized aircraft equipped with lidar and other remote‑sensing instruments flew over the Sierra Nevada and other western mountain ranges, measuring unprecedented declines in snowpack. The data show that snow depth is ...
Amazon Watch Study Finds Crime Impacts 32% of Indigenous Territories in the Amazon
An Amazon Watch report titled “The Amazon Under Siege” reveals that criminal activity and related militarized state responses affect 32% of Indigenous lands across five countries—Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Venez...
Study finds 40% of soil‑dependent species threatened or data deficient
For the first time, researchers have assessed extinction risk for soil‑dwelling animals, invertebrates and fungi, revealing that roughly 40% are either threatened or lack sufficient data on the IUCN Red List. Soil suppor...
Berlin citizens launch petition for car‑free city centre
A grassroots campaign in Germany’s capital is gathering signatures to ban cars from the city centre and create pedestrian‑friendly streets. The story highlights similar initiatives in other European cities that have re‑d...