Jonathan Watts

Permafrost across the Arctic stores about 1,500 gigatons of carbon, and rising temperatures, heatwaves and wildfires are accelerating its thaw. Gustaf Hugelius explains that thawing can permanently transform frozen ground into lakes, wetlands and other thermokarst landscapes, creating local tipping points that continue releasing carbon dioxide and methane for decades or centuries. The release could reach 200–300 gigatons of CO2 equivalent this century under moderate warming scenarios, while economic damage to infrastructure and resource extraction—especially in Russia—is expected to outweigh any limited benefits. Rapid emissions reductions are the only practical way to limit the loss, with every degree of avoided warming potentially preserving about 4 million square kilometres of permafrost.

Extreme heat, wildfires and unprecedented rainfall across Europe and Asia are being intensified by human-caused climate change. The journalists explain that wildfire smoke poses a major health threat, while deaths from floods and fires also depend heavily on evacuation systems, building codes, infrastructure and firefighting resources. They argue that cutting fossil-fuel emissions must be paired with adaptation, individual action and political pressure. The discussion rejects perpetual GDP growth on a finite planet and supports degrowth, ecological restoration, greater recognition of nature’s value and more equitable economic systems. Although crossing 1.5C of warming appears increasingly likely, limiting warming below 2C remains possible. Sources of hope include the rapid expansion of renewable energy and electric vehicles, rights-for-nature movements, indigenous knowledge, possible population stabilization and continued international cooperation.

Extreme rainfall, flash floods, landslides and typhoons have devastated communities across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan. At least 31 people died and hundreds were missing in Afghanistan, while floods in Bangladesh destroyed homes, crops and possessions. China recorded hundreds of rivers above warning levels, deadly landslides and major evacuations ahead of further storms. Scientists attribute the increasingly intense rainfall to human-caused climate change, warning that warmer air holds more moisture and produces heavier downpours. Aid agencies are urging governments to invest in locally led disaster preparedness and mitigation before extreme events strike.

Indigenous leaders on the Brazil-Peru border say organised criminal groups are increasingly invading Amazon communities, threatening leaders, trafficking drugs, conducting illegal mining and logging, and building unauthorised roads. After masked gunmen entered homes in the Asháninka village of Apiwtxa, a delegation travelled to Brasília seeking permanent border security, protection for community leaders and stronger operations against criminal networks. Leaders warn that without coordinated action by Brazil and Peru, communities may be forced to defend themselves, escalating violence and threatening one of the Amazon’s remaining barriers to illegal occupation.

Greenpeace has petitioned Dutch courts to require JBS to disclose how its planned $6bn global expansion aligns with climate, nature and human-rights obligations. The challenge focuses especially on a proposed $2.5bn investment in six meat-processing plants in Nigeria, which civil society groups fear could harm smallholder farmers, food security, land-use priorities and the climate through increased methane emissions. The case could establish a precedent for holding major agricultural companies legally accountable for the environmental consequences of expansion. Critics also point to JBS’s record in Brazil, including missed supply-chain commitments, the abandonment of its net-zero pledge and the exclusion of indirect cattle emissions from its latest sustainability reporting. JBS declined to comment on proceedings of which it had not been notified.

Scientific evidence shows that human activity is causing more intense and frequent heatwaves, with greenhouse gas emissions driving rapid warming beyond natural variability. Expert analysis rebuts common misconceptions, explaining that natural cycles, orbital changes and El Niño cannot account for current extremes. Vulnerable populations face heightened risks, and existing infrastructure, particularly in the UK, remains ill‑adapted to rising temperatures. Improved heat‑warning systems have reduced excess deaths, but escalating impacts on health, agriculture and infrastructure underscore the need for urgent emissions cuts and long‑term adaptation to stabilise future climate conditions.

Major oil companies plan significant production increases despite escalating global heat and overwhelming scientific evidence linking fossil fuel use to dangerous climate impacts. High oil prices driven by geopolitical conflict have boosted profits and spurred investments in new extraction, while many firms have reversed earlier climate pledges. European and US petroleum giants are expanding output far beyond levels compatible with the Paris agreement, aided by political support, investor pressure and far‑right campaigns against net zero policies. The resulting surge in fossil fuel production heightens the risk of catastrophic climate tipping points as El Niño intensifies and vulnerable regions such as the Amazon face renewed threats. The text calls for shifting incentives, ending subsidies, imposing windfall taxes, and holding oil companies accountable for prioritising shareholder returns over planetary stability.

Global ocean surface temperatures set a new June record, surpassing highs from 2023 and 2024 and raising concerns about intensified extreme heat as a strong El Niño develops. Scientists warn of significant effects on weather patterns, the climate system and marine ecosystems as oceans absorb record levels of excess heat linked to fossil fuel emissions. European climate agencies report accelerating ocean warming and caution that additional temperature records are likely in the coming months.

An international marine research team operating off Brazil identified 31 new species in two weeks, aided by advanced imaging technologies including a spinning wheel confocal microscope nicknamed the Squid. The expedition, conducted aboard the research vessel Falkor (too), focused on the largely unexplored midwater zone and revealed new crustaceans, worms, jellyfish, siphonophores, comb jellies, larvaceans and rhizarians. The findings highlight the importance of deep‑sea research and collaboration, underscored by concerns raised when the Trump administration attempted to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative before reversing course. The discoveries reinforce the vast, underexplored biodiversity of the oceans and the scientific value of continued exploration.

High humidity during the UK’s record June heatwave is causing temperatures to feel significantly hotter, raising health risks, especially at night. Meteorologists note unusually high dew point levels compared with the dry 2022 heatwave, contributing to oppressive conditions and increasing the likelihood of dehydration and heat-related illness. The warming climate is enabling the atmosphere to hold more moisture, intensifying heatwaves across northern Europe. Experts advise limiting exposure to peak heat, keeping indoor spaces cool and maintaining hydration to cope with the combined effects of heat and humidity.

The highest-consuming 10% of the global population generate up to $5.7tn in annual environmental damage, primarily through food consumption and fossil fuel-based energy use. Concentrated largely in the global north, these mega-consumers drive significant biodiversity loss and climate impacts, with damage levels surpassing those caused by most national economies. The study emphasizes the disproportionate influence of wealthy households, including the environmental effects of their investments, and suggests targeted taxes on luxury goods, wealth, and carbon to reduce emissions, fund sustainability transitions, and address inequality.

Record winter temperatures exceeding 15C were recorded at Antarctica’s Esperanza base during a prolonged heatwave far above seasonal norms, revealing widespread melting and rainfall on glaciers. Researchers described significant anomalies across the peninsula and surrounding islands, with unusual warm winds driving the shift. The extreme event underscores accelerating climate trends, raising concerns about the stability of major glaciers such as Thwaites and Pine Island and their long‑term implications for sea‑level rise and global ocean circulation.

The Global Justice Report outlines a vision for a prosperous and equitable future within planetary limits, proposing reduced working hours, higher wages, and a redefined concept of prosperity based on sufficiency rather than material expansion. Advocates including Thomas Piketty argue that radical financial reforms and wealth taxes are necessary to counter a far‑right, techno‑extractivist model that prioritizes fossil fuels and AI infrastructure, worsening inequality and climate risks. The report seeks to integrate social science insights into climate strategy, challenge traditional economic assumptions across the political spectrum, and initiate broader cultural and political shifts to prepare societies for inevitable crises and transformative change.

A global report by the World Inequality Lab outlines a comprehensive plan to improve living standards, drastically reduce inequality and keep global heating below 2C by 2100. The proposals call for steep wealth taxes, reduced working hours, dietary shifts and major investment in education, healthcare and renewable energy. The report argues that sufficiency-focused policies can deliver prosperity for the majority while cutting emissions, countering the vision promoted by far‑right and extractivist movements. Authors highlight the political challenge of building a coalition for reform but maintain that a fair and habitable world remains materially achievable if governments prioritise redistribution and sustainability.

The live coverage reports that New South Wales’s police watchdog received at least 800 complaints—its largest number on one topic—about alleged police brutality during a February protest against Israeli president Isaac Herzog. The watchdog’s chief commissioner said NSW Police had become overly defensive and difficult to deal with, while Greens representatives called for full access to evidence. Other major developments included warnings that petrol prices could rise sharply if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed; the identification of Victorian police sergeant Matt Paton, who died while hiking in Peru; a major diphtheria outbreak affecting several Australian states; and an audit finding that Defence is poorly placed to extend the service life of its Collins-class submarines. The coverage also reports Guzman y Gomez’s withdrawal from the US, the cancellation of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, political disputes involving Israel and Australia, and debate over tax, housing and migration policy.

A WHO-led study projects a rise in snakebite risk as venomous snakes shift their ranges in response to climate change and habitat loss. Several dangerous species are expected to expand into new regions, increasing contact with unprepared human populations. While many snake species will lose habitat or face possible extinction, others such as black mambas, cottonmouths, kraits and European vipers may move into more populated areas. The study maps current and future risk through 2050 and 2090 and highlights the need for targeted health planning, antivenom stockpiling and improved access to care, especially in vulnerable regions.

Colombia’s 31 May presidential election is framed as a choice between continuing Gustavo Petro’s climate-focused agenda under Pacto Histórico candidate Iván Cepeda and returning to a more extractive model backed by right-wing candidates Paloma Valencia and Abelardo de la Espriella. Environmentalists credit Petro’s government with elevating fossil-fuel phaseout and climate diplomacy internationally, while critics point to continued deforestation, illegal mining, armed-group control and inconsistent domestic action. The outcome could also determine whether Colombia resists or aligns with Donald Trump’s influence in Latin America, with polls indicating Cepeda may lead the first round but likely require a runoff.

A report warns that rising global demand for minerals, biofuels, pulp, and other commodities is compounding long‑standing pressures such as cattle ranching, monocrops, oil extraction, and logging, pushing major rainforest regions toward ecological collapse. Mining’s impact is found to be far greater than previously understood due to deforestation, pollution, and expanded infrastructure. The Amazon, Congo basin, and south‑east Asia face accelerating threats from gold mining, fossil fuels, biofuel crop expansion, and processed‑food supply chains. Additional pressures from critical mineral extraction, viscose production, and e‑commerce packaging are expected to intensify forest loss. Solutions proposed include improved supply‑chain transparency, stronger regulation, expanded recycling, and significant reductions in resource consumption in wealthier countries.

The global energy balance is shifting from a US-led oil order toward a China-led clean-energy economy. China’s large investments in solar, wind power, batteries and electric vehicles have reduced its dependence on imported fuels and positioned it to dominate renewable-technology markets. By contrast, the Trump administration is portrayed as using subsidies, deregulation, military power and political pressure to preserve fossil-fuel markets while withdrawing from climate commitments and weakening US renewable industries. The conflict with Iran has temporarily enriched oil companies and encouraged new fossil-fuel production, but it may also accelerate countries’ pursuit of energy independence through renewables. The transition is likely to intensify geopolitical competition and political violence, although resistance from governments, courts, activists and voters suggests that the long-term shift toward clean energy will be difficult to reverse.

David Attenborough’s 100th birthday is being marked by a BBC event at the Royal Albert Hall and tributes from scientists, broadcasters, actors and cultural institutions worldwide. He is celebrated for transforming wildlife television through programmes including Life on Earth and Blue Planet, inspiring public concern for ecosystems and helping drive campaigns against plastic pollution. The article also recalls criticism from George Monbiot that Attenborough was too cautious in confronting climate breakdown, although Attenborough has increasingly issued warnings about climate change and biodiversity loss. Museums and gardens are commemorating his legacy, including by naming a newly discovered parasitic wasp after him.

Madeleine Finlay speaks with Guardian global environment editor Jon Watts about a landmark climate meeting in Santa Marta, Colombia, attended by representatives from 57 countries and focused on ending the fossil fuel era. They examine how the conference came about, which countries were absent, and whether its optimism can lead to concrete real-world action.

Nearly 60 countries met in Santa Marta, Colombia, for the first global conference focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels amid surging energy prices and geopolitical tensions. Participants emphasized that repeated oil shocks and current crises have accelerated the shift toward renewables, with experts predicting permanent changes to global energy markets. The talks highlighted growing divides between democracies pursuing electrification and petrostates resisting change. Although the gathering was viewed as historic, significant challenges remain, including political shifts, continued fossil fuel expansion plans, and the need for financing mechanisms to support producer nations. Countries will now begin drafting national phaseout roadmaps intended to feed into broader UN climate processes and strengthen global momentum toward a fair, renewable-based energy future.

Delegates from nearly 60 countries met in Santa Marta, Colombia, to concentrate on practical strategies for phasing out fossil fuels, generating an unusually optimistic atmosphere compared with past climate summits. Discussions emphasized science-based policymaking, the need to target fossil fuel production as well as consumption, and the importance of resolving global south debt constraints to enable renewable investment. Participants highlighted legal and financial barriers such as investor-state dispute settlement, called for fair regulation of critical mineral supply chains, and advanced Indigenous participation and rights. The meeting set the stage for the next conference in Tuvalu in 2027 to develop concrete proposals for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Almost 60 countries agreed to draft voluntary national roadmaps to phase out fossil fuel production and use during climate talks in Santa Marta, marking a new initiative outside the UN negotiation process. Colombia and the Netherlands led discussions on transitioning away from coal, oil, and gas, with France presenting the first developed-country roadmap. Participants committed to helping poorer countries develop plans, scrutinizing subsidies, and collaborating on trade and financial reforms. A follow‑up conference is planned in Tuvalu, with advocates describing the meeting as a historic step toward breaking deadlock in global climate negotiations.

Global leaders meeting in Santa Marta warned that fossil fuel dependence and debt burdens threaten progress on a just energy transition, with Colombia’s president Gustavo Petro calling the current capitalist model suicidal and linked to rising conflict and extremism. Delegates from developing nations emphasized that high debt repayments constrain their ability to shift away from fossil fuels, while civil society groups called for debt relief. France released a national roadmap to phase out fossil fuels, and climate policy experts urged financial reforms to cut support for fossil fuel industries and redirect subsidies toward clean energy.