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Tokyo: Planting more trees is often seen as a positive step for nature, but a new study from Japan suggests that tree planting projects can sometimes harm certain bird species, especially those that depend on open grasslands and wetlands. Researchers from Hiroshima University found that shelterbelts rows of trees planted along farmland to protect crops from strong winds create both winners and losers in bird populations. While some birds benefit from the additional trees, others suffer significant declines. The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Management focused on agricultural wetlands around Lake Kahokugata in central Japan, an area known for its rice paddies and importance as a stopover site for migratory birds. Scientists surveyed bird populations during differ...

A new global study published in the journal nature Climate Change has revealed that heat stress is intensifying across the planet at an alarming rate, exposing billions of people to increasingly dangerous conditions. Researchers found that both daytime and nighttime heat have become more severe since the 1970s, with the world hottest nights warming faster than the hottest days and dangerous heat now affecting regions that previously escaped such extremes. The study, led by researchers from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, analyzed global heat stress trends from 1950 to 2024 using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), a measure of "feels-like" temperature that considers humidity, wind, radiation, and the human body's response to heat. The findings paint a tro...

High in the Eastern Himalayas about 40 kilometers from Gangtok, lies Tsomgo Lake one of Sikkim’s most iconic tourist destinations. Surrounded by snow capped mountains and fluttering prayer flags, the glacial lake attracts thousands of visitors every year. Today, its crystal clear waters appear pristine but less than two decades ago, the future of this fragile ecosystem looked uncertain. By the early 2000s, Tsomgo Lake was struggling under the pressure of growing tourism. Plastic bottles, food wrappers, tetra packs, sewage and animal waste had begun accumulating around the lake. Shops lined the shoreline, and litter increasingly found its way into the water. While tourism brought income to local communities, it also threatened the very landscape that attracted visitors. Recognizing th...

FAO warns that a developing El Niño could trigger severe droughts across key farming regions, threatening crops, livestock, and millions of vulnerable people worldwide. A new El Niño climate pattern is expected to develop within weeks, prompting fresh concerns about agricultural production and food security across several regions of the world. According to an analysis by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, drought risks linked to El Niño are likely to intensify across parts of Africa, Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean, placing crops, pasturelands and rural livelihoods under significant pressure. Using 41 years of satellite observations from its Agricultural Stress Index System, FAO experts mapped areas most vulnerable to drought during strong and...

Paris, June 25: A powerful and rare heat dome has engulfed much of Europe, pushing temperatures to record-breaking levels, disrupting daily life, and causing dozens of deaths across the continent. Authorities in several countries have issued emergency alerts as the extreme heat continues to strain public health systems, energy infrastructure, agriculture, and transportation networks. France, Britain, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland have all been affected by the intense heatwave, with temperatures in some regions soaring up to 18°C above normal seasonal averages. Parts of southwestern France recorded temperatures as high as 44.3°C, marking the country's hottest day since modern weather records began nearly 80 years ago. French authorities placed more than 50 de...

New programme aims to protect expectant mothers from extreme heat through insurance payouts, cash support and early warning systems A groundbreaking insurance programme designed to protect pregnant women from the growing dangers of extreme heat has been launched, marking a first in climate adaptation and maternal health protection. Called HERA Materna the initiative has been introduced by the climate resilience organisation HERA and its partners to provide financial and practical support to expectant mothers facing increasing heat related risks. The programme is being described as the world's first heat pregnancy insurance scheme. The launch comes as scientific evidence continues to highlight the serious health threats posed by extreme heat during pregnancy. A 2023 study published...

Extreme weather is increasingly affecting some of the world’s biggest tennis tournaments with rising temperatures and heavier rainfall creating new challenges for players, spectators, and organizers according to a new analysis by Climate Central. The study examined temperature and rainfall trends at the four Grand Slam tournaments the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open between 1970 and 2025. Researchers found that climate change has significantly increased the number of hot days during these events and, in some locations, has also contributed to more frequent heavy rainfall. According to the analysis, the likelihood of experiencing a hot tournament day, defined as temperatures reaching 28°C or higher, has increased across all four Grand Slam venues over the past...

Microscopic marine organisms generate more oxygen than rainforests, highlighting the crucial role oceans play in sustaining life on Earth. When people think about the source of Earth's oxygen, vast rainforests such as the Amazon often come to mind. However, scientists say that nearly half of the oxygen humans breathe actually comes from the ocean, produced by trillions of microscopic organisms known as phytoplankton. According to scientific assessments cited by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these tiny marine organisms carry out photosynthesis on a massive scale across the world's oceans. Floating in the sunlit surface waters, phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide and use sunlight to produce energy, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. Despite ...

UNICEF's Children's Climate Risk Report 2026 reveals that 1.1 billion children face at least three overlapping climate hazards, putting their health education and survival at risk. Climate Crisis Putting Billions of Children at Risk Almost every child on Earth is now exposed to at least one major climate hazard, according to UNICEF Children Climate Risk Report 2026. The report warns that climate change is creating growing threats to children's health, education and overall well being. Using data from UNICEF Global Child Hazard Database, researchers found that nearly half of the world's children about 1.1 billion face at least three overlapping climate hazards. More than 4 million children are exposed to as many as six different climate-related threats. The report highlights a r...