Climate

The signs of climate change are evident in the extreme fire weather that fueled this week’s destructive wildfires in Spain and France, and have intensified Southern Europe’s fire seasons over the past eight years, according to two newly released studies. A rapid analysis published Thursday by scientists with World Weather Attribution found that human-driven climate change made the hot, dry conditions behind Spain’s record-breaking blaze 20 times more likely. In France, climate change doubled

BANTARGEBANG, Indonesia (AP) — Well before sunrise touches Indonesia’s largest landfill, Nur Wencih is already scaling heaps of refuse with thousands of other waste pickers, searching for items that can be sold. The 35-year-old widow has spent nearly 20 years working at the sprawling dump on Jakarta’s eastern fringe, following in the footsteps of her parents, who still depend on it for income. Earnings from Bantargebang have covered her rent and daily meals and helped support her two teenage

Wildfire smoke — increasingly common across the Northern Hemisphere as the planet heats up — affects nearly every organ in the human body and is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths each year, according to a growing body of medical research. Its impact can be swift. Within hours, asthma attacks rise and ambulance calls increase. Within a day or two, emergency departments fill with patients suffering from heart attacks, breathing difficulties, cardiovascular complications and even mental

KUBUQI DESERT, China (AP) — For five decades, millions of workers have carried out the same careful routine across the windswept deserts of northern China: pressing forearm-length sticks into loose sand in straight rows, then crossing them with another set to create a tight grid. In the middle of each small square, young saplings are planted. This approach, known as “straw checkerboards,” is a straightforward but effective way to anchor shifting dunes. The grids reduce wind speed at ground

FORMOSO DO ARAGUAIA, Brazil (AP) — On a vast river island in northern Brazil, a complex debate is unfolding over cattle ranching and environmental protection. Last year, federal authorities ordered the removal of livestock from protected Indigenous territory on Bananal Island, the largest river island on the planet. Officials argued that the land is designated for Indigenous communities and conservation, and that herds owned by non-Indigenous ranchers were illegal and damaging local ecosystems.

SEATTLE (AP) — Part of one of the most far-reaching ocean monitoring systems ever constructed will be taken offline this month as researchers sail off the coast of Oregon to retrieve a scientific buoy anchored deep in the Pacific Ocean. The buoy, positioned about 80 meters (260 feet) beneath the surface, is scheduled for removal on June 16 from the Ocean Observatories Initiative. This vast network, made up of more than 900 ocean sensors and built at a cost of $386 million, has delivered

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A persistent odor of rotten eggs hangs over Steve Egger’s home in Southern California, especially after dark when the nearby Tijuana River churns with sewage flowing north from Mexico before reaching the Pacific Ocean. Egger, 72, says he and his wife frequently suffer from headaches and often wake up congested, coughing up mucus. Their house is equipped with a hospital-grade air filtration system that circulates indoor air every 15 minutes. Even with those precautions, “most

When pollution levels rise in the rivers that supply drinking water to Iowa’s largest city, Des Moines must spend roughly $16,000 each day to operate a specialized system that removes hazardous nitrates. This recurring expense has become part of life in an agriculture-driven state — and climate change is intensifying the challenge. Nitrates originate from fertilizers and pesticides that seep into the soil and eventually flow into waterways such as the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. Typically,

NUEVA LOJA, Ecuador (AP) — Standing beside a stream darkened by crude in Ecuador’s northern Amazon, an Indigenous woman looked on in disbelief as an oily film drifted across the surface and damaged pipes cut through the surrounding forest. In the distance, gas flares blazed above the canopy. Julia Catalina Chumbi, a 76-year-old leader of the Shuar people from the southern Amazon province of Pastaza, had journeyed hundreds of miles to witness the environmental toll left by decades of oil and gas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday rolled back limits on mercury and other hazardous emissions from coal-fired power plants, marking the Trump administration’s latest move to support the fossil fuel sector by scaling back air and water regulations. Pollution from coal- and oil-burning plants can interfere with brain development in children and is linked to heart attacks and other serious health issues in adults. These facilities are also among the leading

Record Snow Shortage and Unseasonal Heat Impact Western U.S. A historic shortage of snow, coupled with exceptionally warm winter temperatures, is sweeping across much of the western United States. This unusual weather is straining future water resources, increasing wildfire risks, and negatively affecting winter tourism and recreational industries. Experts report that both the extent and depth of snow are at historic lows. At least 67 weather stations in the region have recorded their warmest

Clean Energy in 2025: A Year of Setbacks and Progress Despite numerous setbacks, clean energy experienced a few notable advancements in a year marked by profound shifts. Former President Donald Trump pushed policies favoring fossil fuels and hindered support for renewable energy sources, say many in the industry, ranging from developers to policymakers. A poll conducted by The Associated Press revealed that 2025 was a year of instability for renewable energy. However, progress did occur as

Tea Plantation Workers Devastated by Cyclone in Sri Lanka CRAIGHEAD ESTATE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Arumugam Manikavalli woke to deafening rain and quaking ground and ran from her home to a nearby temple on the tea estate where she works. That same November night, a landslide crushed Kumaran Elumugam’s modest dwelling, taking the lives of six of his relatives. Elumugam only survived because he and one of his daughters were away at work when the disaster struck. “I’ve lost my wife, daughter,

People from across the globe are making their way to Belem, Brazil — the gateway to the Amazon — to attend the 30th annual United Nations climate summit, known as COP30. The conference aims to unite countries in their efforts to combat the harmful effects of climate change caused by human activity. Experts warn that achieving this goal is becoming increasingly difficult, but the urgency remains clear. Climate change is already contributing to deadly natural disasters, and any further delay in

EMINENCE, Ky. (AP) — Allan Bryant keeps a close watch overhead while tending to a newborn calf resting beneath the trees beside its mother. After a few shaky attempts, the calf rises to its feet, beginning its first steps as it looks to nurse. In the sky, two birds glide in slow circles. Bryant, hoping they’re not black vultures, breathes a sigh of relief when he realizes they’re only turkey vultures — distinguishable by their red heads and less threatening demeanor. “Honestly, black vultures

GETTING READY: The hurricane season can be overwhelming for those located near projected storm paths. Fierce winds and intense rain can destroy property, leave communities without power for extended periods, and significantly disrupt daily life. However, emergency planning can help reduce anxiety, according to disaster preparedness specialists. Hurricane Melissa, which slammed into Jamaica on Tuesday with sustained winds of 185 mph, stood out even among an era of increasingly intense storms

SEATTLE (AP) — For years, scientists believed that Prochlorococcus — the tiniest and most plentiful phytoplankton in the ocean — would flourish as global temperatures climbed. But recent findings show these microscopic organisms, which play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems and climate regulation, could drastically decline in warmer seas. A new report in the journal Nature Microbiology warns that Prochlorococcus populations could drop by up to 50% in tropical waters within the next 75 years

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A newly released study highlights how rising global temperatures and a decline in rainfall intensified the devastating wildfires that swept through Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus this past summer. According to research by World Weather Attribution, the wildfires — which led to 20 deaths, forced 80,000 people to leave their homes, and charred over 1 million hectares (approximately 2.47 million acres) — were approximately 22% more severe in 2025, marking it as the most severe

The renowned Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina, once considered remarkably stable, is now experiencing its most significant retreat in at least a hundred years, according to newly published findings. Located within the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the glacier has long remained anchored within a mountain valley. However, recent observations reveal that it is now detaching from the bedrock beneath, accelerating the loss of ice as it gradually recedes. Time-lapse imagery captured over the last