Extreme weather threatens global food security

Droughts and floods have rendered land in some of the world's poorest regions incapable of supporting crops, leading to "zero" harvests in these areas, according to the World Food Programme.

Aleks Phillips reports for the BBC.

In short:

The World Food Programme's Martin Frick warns that extreme weather has degraded land in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, leaving them dependent on aid.
The Global Environment Facility predicts that 95% of the world's land could become degraded by 2050; currently, 40% is already unusable for farming.
Soil degradation exacerbates climate change, as healthy soils are crucial for carbon absorption.

Key quote:

"There's too much carbon in the air and too little carbon in the soils."

— Martin Frick, director of the World Food Programme's global office

Why this matters:

Prolonged droughts lead to the drying out and erosion of topsoil, which is vital for growing crops. Without adequate moisture, the soil's structure breaks down, reducing its fertility and its ability to retain water. Floods, on the other hand, can wash away nutrient-rich topsoil, leaving behind less fertile ground and potentially depositing salts and contaminants that can inhibit plant growth.

www.bbc.com

Extreme weather threatens global food security

Judge allows Trump to cut more than $1bn in National Science Foundation grants

Wright and Burgum urge Europe to rethink methane curbs

Carbon capture – the get-out-of-jail-free card that does not actually work

In the Pacific, unkept U.S. promises on climate cut deep

Vanishing Bayous: On a boat at ground zero for sea level rise

Department of Energy allocates $134 million for fusion funding

Study finds Indigenous territories of Amazon rainforest can protect humans from disease

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.