Shifting seasons expose how climate change and pollution are rewriting nature’s calendar

Human-driven changes in climate and land use are erasing familiar seasonal cycles and creating new ones defined by haze, trash, and disrupted rhythms.

Felicia Liu and Thomas Smith write for The Conversation.

In short:

• Researchers describe emergent “haze” and “trash” seasons caused by deforestation fires and plastic tides in Southeast Asia.
• Long-standing seasonal markers, like seabird breeding in northern England or predictable snowfall in alpine ski resorts, are vanishing or shifting.
• These changes unsettle ecosystems and communities that rely on predictable cycles for food, water and cultural traditions.

Why this matters:

The concept of seasons has shaped human life for millennia, from planting crops to celebrating cultural festivals. As climate change disrupts temperature and rainfall cycles, new “seasons” defined by wildfire smoke, flooding, or plastic waste are emerging, while traditional ones fade. This shift destabilizes ecosystems and the people who depend on them for food, water, and livelihood, particularly in regions already vulnerable to environmental stress. It also challenges how societies measure time and respond to crises: Short-term fixes like air filters may help individuals, but they mask the deeper drivers of deforestation, fossil fuel use, and global warming.

Read more: UK scientists warn rising temperatures and rainfall now define the country's climate