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The climate crisis and invasive species are often studied as two independent threats to global biodiversity. However, analyzing the relationships and feedback loops between them creates a more complete picture of how Earth’s natural systems are being changed and shaped by anthropogenic forces. — An invasive species is defined as a population of species that have become established, permanent residents, in an environment that is not their native one, causing ecological and economic harm. S

Extreme heat, a direct cause of climate change, is spreading rapidly across the world, affecting billions of people. With scientists warning that further warming will increase the intensity, frequency and duration of heatwaves, cities have begun testing warning systems and other adaptive measures to keep individuals safe, with mixed results. — This article is part of an explainer series on extreme heat. Check out the other articles: Why Is Extreme Heat So Deadly? and How to Stay Safe

This weekly round-up brings you key climate news from the past seven days, including Europe’s record heatwave and an update on the US National Science Foundation’s dismantling of a key ocean observation system in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. — 1. Ongoing European Heatwave, Most Severe Ever Recorded, ‘Virtually Impossible’ 50 Years Ago: Study A record-shattering, ongoing heatwave affecting much of Europe would have been virtually impossible just decades ago

Thursday’s ruling marked a partial victory for campaigners and the City of Paris in their attempt to hold TotalEnergies responsible for global warming. — A French court on Thursday found fossil fuel giant TotalEnergies liable for failing to fulfill its climate vigilance obligations. The case was brought by a coalition of French local authorities, alongside five local civil society organizations, who challenged TotalEnergies’ continued expansion of oil and gas producti

In 1976, when some of the previous European records were set, this heatwave would have been “virtually impossible,” researchers at World Weather Attribution concluded. — A record-shattering, ongoing heatwave affecting much of Europe would have been virtually impossible just decades ago, proof that human-caused climate change is “unequivocally” to blame, a new analysis has concluded. Much of northern, western and central Europe is sweltering under a heatwave

Western Europe is sweltering under record heat this week, with red alerts in place in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and France. — France saw its hottest day ever recorded on Wednesday as the national average temperature, which averages day and night temperatures, reached 30C. It broke the record set only a day earlier. Temperatures climbed as high as 42C in Nantes, a major metropolitan city in western France, as millions of people across the country continue to gra

2026 marks 11 years since the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 17 goals and 169 targets to ensure human well-being, economic prosperity and environmental protection simultaneously. — More than a decade after world nations agreed on a set of goals to guide global sustainable development, progress remains “significantly off track,” according to a new analysis. Compiled by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and now

Investments in the blue economy are lagging behind despite ocean health underpinning food security, climate resilience, and billion of lives. — This article is part of a three-part series on the blue economy. Check out part 1 – Mapping the Blue Economy: Sectors, Policies, and Challenges Amid Climate Change and part 2 – Why Unchecked Growth Threatens to Collapse Our Marine Ecosystems. The ocean sustains life on Earth, yet when it comes to global finance, it remains the wo

Producing electricity from wind turbines and solar panels is cheaper than ever before. So why are households across Europe seeing record amounts on their electricity bills?  — Over the past decade, the levelised cost of solar power has fallen by roughly 90%, while onshore wind is now the cheapest source of electricity. Auction prices for new renewable projects frequently undercut fossil fuel generation: according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, approximately 91% of newly comm

On Wednesday, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill establishing that no federal funds shall be used to “decommission or descope” the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) system, a $368 million network critical to understanding climate change and marine ecosystems. — The Trump administration has abandoned plans to dimantle a decade-old, deep-ocean observation network that scientists have used to track changes in the ocean and monitor marine heatwaves and coastal flooding. On

The analysis revealed 165,922 square kilometers (64,000 square miles) of potentially climate-resilient reef locations spanning 71 countries and 100 territories and jurisdictions. — Scientists have mapped the “widespread” distribution of coral reefs believed to be capable of surviving ​and even recovering from climate change – an amount three times higher than previous estimates. In recent years, corals globally have suffered greatly from the impacts of climate change. Betwe

The National Science Foundation announced last month that the recovery of over 900 in-water instruments in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans has already begun. Scientists used them to monitor and understand marine heatwaves and coastal flooding, assess ocean acidification, measure carbon sequestration and study deep-ocean ecosystems. — Dozens of Democratic Senators and one Republican sent letters to the National Science Foundation (NSF) on Monday, urging it to “reverse course” on

The powerful shifts in Pacific winds and water temperatures frequently push global temperatures to record-breaking levels. They can also transform global weather patterns, increasing the likelihood of severe droughts in places like Australia and Southeast Asia and heavy floods in parts of the US and East Africa.  — By Martina Igini El Niño has developed in the tropical Pacific and it is predicted to intensify to a “moderate or strong level” this fall, the National Oceanic an

Heatwaves are the deadliest type of natural hazards, but their impact on human lives and the environment is both underestimated and underreported. Climate change, caused by greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, is poised to make heatwaves longer, more intense, and more frequent. — Additional reporting: Martina Igini A heatwave is a prolonged period of extremely hot weather, both during the day and at night. While extreme heat may not appear as visually striking as hurricanes or fl

This weekly round-up brings you key climate news from the past seven days, including protests in Albania against the construction of a luxury resort backed by investor Jared Kushner in a protected area and new, worrying data on the state of the global climate. — Listen to Earth.Org’s new podcast, Earth Radio. Join our host Rebekah Hendricks every week for a 5-minute, ad-free roundup of the world’s most important climate stories. New episodes available every Sunday. Subscribe he

At the current rate, global warming is projected to surpass 1.5C in about four years’ time, a new study compiled by an international team of more than 70 scientists concluded. — By Martina Igini Human activities pushed global warming to 1.37C in 2025 as the entire climate system is continuing to heat at an accelerating rate, a new study has found. The study, published Thursday, tracked 12 key sets of indicators of the state of the climate system. Among them was the presenc

As geoengineering moves from science fiction to reality, ecocide law offers a credible legal framework to protect the Earth and outer space from unpredictable climate technologies presented as solutions. — By Anna F. Maddrick Not long ago, the idea of humanity manipulating the planetary systems that regulate life on Earth belonged largely to science fiction. Today, it is the subject of serious policy debate. Geoengineering proposals vary widely. Marine cloud brightening would spray s

May continued the streak of extreme global warmth seen in recent months, with December, January, and February each ranking as the fifth-warmest for their respective months, March as the fourth-warmest March globally, and April as the third-warmest April on record. — By Martina Igini Last month was the joint second-warmest May on record, with temperatures 1.42C above pre-industrial levels, the European Union’s Earth Observation program Copernicus has said. An exceptionally strong hea

The ocean economy is expanding at a breakneck pace, but failing to respect natural boundaries puts million of jobs and vital habitats at immediate risk. — This article is part of a three-part series on the blue economy. Check out part 1 – Mapping the Blue Economy: Sectors, Policies, and Challenges Amid Climate Change – and stay tuned for part 3, coming in July. The blue economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and ecosystem healt

Construction of the resort, which is backed by investor Jared Kushner and will include up to 10,000 hotel rooms and villas, began in April after the government fast-tracked its approval and updated environmental laws to allow five-star hotels in protected zones. — By Martina Igini Protests continued in Albania on Monday against an elite tourism project backed by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in a protected wildlide zone. Every day for more than a week, thousa