We Live in Exciting Times.

Don't waste yours.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, known globally as an actor, former bodybuilder, and Governor of California, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Hertie School in Berlin. This accolade recognizes his dedication to environmental protection and his influential role in advocating for climate action. Schwarzenegger, a native Austrian, has significantly contributed to the fight against climate change through various initiatives, including the founding of the R20 Regions of Climate Action and support..

Wildfires in Brasilia National Park have devastated 2,000 hectares, exacerbated by a historic drought affecting much of Brazil. Human activity ignited the flames, which have spread to other regions like the Amazon and Pantanal. Firefighters are actively combating the blazes using helicopters and water, while residents resort to buckets to assist in firefighting efforts. Recent data reveals alarming fire statistics for September, prompting government intervention and a Supreme Court ruling that..

A diverse coalition of organizations is calling on the people of Germany to join the global climate strike this Friday. According to Lisa Sagner, the coordinator of the alliance, over 100 demonstrations are planned nationwide, with major rallies expected in Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. Key groups such as Fridays for Future, Greenpeace, Attac, and BUND are spearheading the events, supported by numerous other organizations including Brot für die Welt and the German Cultural Council. The alliance..

In a landmark decision, the UK Supreme Court has overturned the approval for a new coal mine in Cumbria, the first to be proposed in 30 years. The court ruled that the assumption of a neutral effect on greenhouse gas emissions was legally incorrect. This decision followed a legal challenge by environmental groups, who argued the mine would have severe climate impacts. Niall Toru of Friends of the Earth celebrated the ruling as a significant victory, emphasizing the mine's potential environmental..

Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir, along with the forest owners' association AGDW, has called for a postponement of the EU deforestation regulation. This regulation aims to curb rainforest deforestation by requiring companies to submit due diligence declarations for products like coffee, wood, soy, cocoa, and palm oil. Non-compliance could result in penalties of at least four percent of annual turnover in the EU. FDP parliamentary vice-president Carina Konrad supports the postponement,..

A report by Global Witness reveals that almost 200 environmental activists were murdered worldwide in 2023. Latin America remains the most dangerous region for those advocating for environmental protection and land rights, with 85% of the 196 murders occurring there. Colombia, Brazil, Honduras, and Mexico are the most dangerous countries for activists. The report highlights the increasing surveillance and punishment of environmental protests in the EU, UK, and USA. Global Witness calls on gove..

Escobar's hippos, initially brought in for his private zoo, have multiplied in Colombia, posing a severe threat to the ecological balance. A Colombian court has ordered the hunting of these invasive animals, descendants of the drug lord's original herd, as they endanger local wildlife and communities along the Magdalena River. Despite failed attempts at relocation, authorities now face the challenge of controlling the escalating hippo population to protect the region's biodiversity.

The Nabu in Thuringia is demanding at least 10 million euros per year for nature and species protection projects. They also want to preserve and expand the state program for nature conservation and landscape management. The organization calls for action programs to revive floodplains, rivers, and to plant trees, hedges, and flower-rich roadsides. Nabu President Krüger warns of global warming and species extinction. The Nabu wants to provide technical advice to owners, land users, and municipal..

The reemergence of the submerged village of Kallio in Greece due to the receding Mornos Reservoir has raised alarm. The drought-induced low water levels not seen in 33 years pose forest fire risks, necessitating water-saving measures. Experts warn of further water scarcity. The situation, triggering a state of emergency in parts of Greece, highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts. Rain is forecasted for the coming days but the region faces imminent water challenges, reminiscent of the..

Germany's glaciers, including Nördliche Schneeferner and Watzmanngletscher, are rapidly vanishing, impacting Zugspitze and the region. The only glimmer of hope lies with Höllentalferner, predicted to endure until 2035. The loss of these glaciers affects water resources, with implications for the Rhine and Inn rivers. Glaciologists warn of the alarming melt in France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland, emphasizing its broader consequences. Record temperatures at Zugspitze exacerbate the situation,..

A thin layer of oil on the Danube near Deggendorf prompted a temporary closure of the waterway for about seven hours. Firefighters worked to contain the oil film with a barrier, allowing navigation to resume. The source of the pollution remains unknown as authorities investigate. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges in protecting water ecosystems from environmental hazards.

The plans to redesign Görlitzer Park, including fencing, lighting, and vegetation interventions, have come under criticism from the BUND. While the Berlin Senate states that these measures are aimed at combating crime, the BUND argues that they would have a negative impact on nature conservation and the quality of stay in the park. The Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district is taking legal action against these plans, and left-wing initiatives are protesting through various actions. Despite the pres..

Summer 2024 marked the hottest on record globally, with soaring temperatures highlighting the escalating climate crisis. The Copernicus Climate Change Service's data points towards 2024 potentially becoming the hottest year recorded. Despite some regions experiencing cooler weather in August, the majority faced extreme heat, further exacerbated by climate change. The world is failing emission reduction targets, with current warming surpassing pre-industrial levels by 1.2C and breaching the cri..

European Parliament members advocate for the release of activist Paul Watson, arrested in Denmark at Japan's behest for opposing whaling. Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd, faces extradition to Japan and potential 15-year imprisonment. Lawmakers condemn environmental activism suppression and urge Denmark to act against Watson's extradition. Japan-Denmark relations are under scrutiny amidst the clash over Watson's anti-whaling efforts in 2010.

Air pollution, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), greenhouse gases, forest fires, and various compounds like nitrogen and sulfur, burdens both people and ecosystems. It affects agriculture through reduced sunlight, burning of fields, and air pollution from fertilizers and manure. This pollution causes over 4.5 million deaths annually, with Europe and China showing improvement but North America facing deterioration due to forest fires. Fine particulate matter penetrates deep into the re..

US Climate Envoy John Podesta meets with Chinese counterpart Liu Zhenmin for intensive discussions on climate cooperation and global climate negotiations. With COP29 approaching, the world's top CO2 emitters, China and the US, aim to tackle the pressing issue of climate change. Podesta's trip seeks to push for more ambitious emission reduction plans from China, breaking the current climate engagement deadlock. The meeting follows their initial agreement to collaborate on reducing methane emiss..

In Sweden, the trial of 11 individuals, including the ex-CEO Bella Nilsson, unfolds as they face allegations of illegally dumping over 200,000 tonnes of toxic waste across multiple municipalities. The accused were part of the prestigious waste firm Think Pink, now infamous for causing 260 million SEK in damages, notably in Botkyrka where waste piles burned for months. Prosecutors aim for a 10-year business ban against them. The company's collapse in 2020 coincided with the owners' arrests, mar..

Greek authorities unveil a relief package for Volos following the arrival of over 100 tons of dead fish due to flooding from Lake Karla. The plan includes subsidies, tax suspensions, and activating the 'Thessaly Pass' to aid affected businesses. The lack of a net at the mouth of the lake caused the fish deaths, prompting a state of emergency declaration. Commercial activity plummeted by 80%, urging Chamber of Commerce actions. The situation poses a risk of a potential disaster, with concerns o..

Volos, Greece is in a state of emergency as over 100 tonnes of dead freshwater fish from Lake Karla have surged into the port due to a storm, low rainfall, and heatwaves. Efforts are underway to clear the fish, with authorities criticized for delays impacting local tourism. The crisis stems from flooding that led to mass fish breeding on land, followed by their oxygen-deprived deaths as the water was diverted to the sea. The situation, described as an environmental catastrophe, poses health and..

Large forest fires have broken out in various regions of Germany, including Rietzneuendorf, Ravensbergen, and Jüterbog. The fires have posed significant challenges for the firefighters due to the high summer temperatures and the presence of old ammunition in some areas. Despite a decrease in forest fires compared to the previous year, the 2022 forest fire season has been the most intense since 1976. The risk of forest fires remains high in Hessen, Nord- und Ostthüringen, and Sachsen, where low..

The effects of climate change have significantly impacted German agriculture this year, with changing weather conditions affecting crop yields and endangering entire harvests. Grain production, for example, decreased by 9.1% compared to the previous year. Issues began with difficult sowing due to regional rainfall, resulting in a 5.7% reduction in grain cultivation area. Rapeseed cultivation also decreased by 7.3%, and preliminary data shows a 14.3% decline in harvest volume compared to the pr..

The harbor town of Volos in Greece is facing a devastating situation as thousands of tons of dead fish flood the area. The problem arose after historic floods refilled a previously drained lake for malaria control, pushing freshwater fish into the saltwater of the Pagasetic Gulf and Aegean Sea where they could not survive. Experts believe that the fish died due to the high salt content of the water. The floods, caused by storms Daniel and Elias, also flooded 20,000 hectares of lowland, exacerb..

In the state of São Paulo, 2,700 fire outbreaks ravaged about 200,000 acres of land, causing damage that could exceed one billion reais. The fires have been brought under control with the help of rain, but the fire department remains vigilant. Environment Minister Marina Silva declared that Brazil is in a state of 'war' due to the alarming number of fire outbreaks, with 3,483 detected in August alone. These fires, along with those in the Amazon, which are the largest in nearly two decades, have..

The fishing industry's lack of caution and prudence has led to the overfishing of cod and herring stocks in the Baltic Sea, with uncertain prospects for their recovery. The EU plans to significantly reduce catch quotas for cod and herring in the western Baltic Sea, in an effort to protect these threatened stocks from pollution and overfishing. Small coastal fishermen will not receive any exceptions, leading to concerns that the quotas will not allow for sustainable fishing. The proposals are b..

Activists have been protesting against the expansion of Tesla's factory in Grünheide for six months. The protest camp, which started as a few tents and treehouses, has now become a full-fledged settlement with around 20 treehouses, workshops, toilets, and a marketplace. Despite the lack of contact with Tesla, the activists see the company as weakened due to revenue developments and the temporary halt in factory expansion. The plant manager emphasizes that Tesla builds electric cars, not oil re..

Endangered bird populations on Marion Island in South Africa are under threat from mouse attacks due to climate change. A $29 million eradication project aims to combat the issue by spreading rodenticide-laced cereal pellets via helicopters in 2027. The proliferation of cats, introduced and eradicated to control the mice, poses an additional challenge amidst global warming concerns. BirdLife South Africa and the Mouse-Free Marion Project plan extensive measures to protect the island's 29 seabird..

A large wildfire on the Portuguese island of Madeira has been brought under control with the help of Spanish firefighting planes. The fire, which started on August 14, has destroyed over 5,500 hectares of nature, including the highest mountain on the island, Pico Ruivo. Experts warn of significant environmental damage. The only helicopter on the island was unsuccessful in containing the fire. Portugal requested assistance from the EU, and Spain responded by sending two Canadair planes, each ca..

The German government, led by Robert Habeck, has allocated 3.3 billion euros until 2030 to support the transition to more climate-friendly production methods and CO2 storage. Small and medium-sized enterprises can apply for funding starting from 500,000 euros, while large companies can apply starting from 1 million euros. Federal states will participate with 30 percent for projects with a volume of 15 million euros or more. The funding primarily targets energy-intensive industries such as steel,..

Many weakened, dehydrated and injured bats, including young ones, have been found in Rhineland-Palatinate due to extreme weather events such as heavy rain and heat. The bats, unable to flee or find food, are being cared for by the NABU in 20 care stations. The Mayener Grubenfeld, a former mining area, is a bat hotspot with an estimated 100,000 animals of 22 species. The loss of habitat in forests and buildings, as well as the loss of winter quarters, are threats to bats. In Sachsen-Anhalt, bats..

A court in Australia has ruled that the killing of wild horses, known as brumbies, in the Kosciuszko National Park is legitimate. Animal welfare activists failed to win their lawsuit after a three-day hearing. The court has ordered the Ministry of the Environment to reduce the population of brumbies to 3,000 by 2027. The court's decision highlights that animal welfare is not the sole consideration for the minister. The brumbies, descendants of European settler horses, are disrupting the park's..

Heavy rainfall triggers a massive fish kill in rivers across Ammerland and East Frisia, resulting in the recovery of 6 tons of dead fish by fishing associations. Biologist Jens Salva attributes the tragedy to oxygen deprivation, exacerbated by rising temperatures. A similar incident occurred in 2023 in neighboring districts. The rivers Leda, Aper Tief, and Jümme are affected, with catfish, eels, bream, and zander among the casualties. Oxygen levels as low as 2mg/l were recorded, with relief ex..

Bird islands like Norderoog, Trischen, Scharhörn, Memmert, and Langenwerder are dedicated to bird protection and closed to visitors, except during the non-breeding season. Norderoog, belonging to the Jordsand Bird and Nature Conservation Association since 1909, is only about 10 hectares in size. Bird wardens, such as Nele Waltering, come from Aachen and study in Rostock. These islands serve as important habitats for various bird species, and their protection is a priority. The bird observatories..