16 April 2018
On the ground during Cape Town's water crisis
Amid the worst drought on record, the city has threatened to turn off the taps on its nearly 4 million residents. Our correspondent spent a week there while he could still get a shower.
Twenty-five years ago, a landmark paper warned that the world’s coral reefs could vanish by 2050. Now, halfway to that projected date (and amid ever more frequent coral bleaching events), that grim prediction feels increasingly close to reality.
New research shows that Greenland is slowly “shrinking” and shifting northwest as melting ice reduces pressure on the land beneath it, causing the island’s bedrock to twist, stretch, and rise.
Scientists are using drones and photogrammetry to track how climate change is affecting whales’ health, growth, and reproduction. By analyzing aerial images, researchers can spot pregnancy trends and size changes in right whales and orcas, providing critical early insights into population declines.
Donald Trump’s use of the phrase “Green New Scam” has evolved from a rally insult to a central talking point in his administration’s efforts to dismantle climate science and erode public trust in environmental policy. Experts say the slogan is part of a propaganda strategy linking language to pro-fossil fuel policies.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has rejected legislation that would have restricted local air regulators’ authority over pollution at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, citing the need to preserve tools for combating air and climate impacts.
A UK charity that portrays itself as a climate leader facilitated a £830,000 donation to the Mercatus Center, a conservative think tank heavily funded by U.S. oil billionaire Charles Koch.
The Energy Department offices impacted by Trump administration layoffs include those focused on climate-friendly energy sources amid the administration’s broader crackdown on renewables.
One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.
“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”
"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”
A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations
“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”
“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.