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Lead poisoning causes far more death, IQ loss than thought: study
Lead poisoning has a far greater impact on global health than previously thought, potentially contributing to over five million deaths a year and posing a similar threat to air pollution, modelling research suggested Tuesday.
Cyclone upturns Venezuelans' dreams of better life in Brazil
When Ani Aponte fled Venezuela with her family four years ago to escape her home country's economic collapse, she dreamed of a better future in Brazil.
French Pacific archipelago divided over shark hunt
After killing seven people in the past five years, sharks are enemy number one in France's Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia where the authorities have declared open season on the species in the hope of making beaches safe again.
On Brazilian island, revered Asian buffalo claims its place
An incongruous sight meets visitors to the northern Brazilian island of Marajo: thousands and thousands of water buffalo, animals endemic to India and Southeast Asia that have found a new home in South America.
Ecuador to reintroduce species on Galapagos island
Ecuador's government has announced it will spend $3.4 million on reintroducing 12 endemic bird and turtle species that have disappeared from an island in the Galapagos archipelago where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution.
Oil permits and wind crisis threaten UK net zero pledge
With the provision of a swathe of new oil and gas exploration licences and a crisis in offshore wind energy, clouds are gathering over the UK's net zero promises.
Minnows blamed for algae-filled French, Spanish lakes
Perched 1,800 metres (about 6,000 feet) near France's border with Spain lies the emerald Areau lake -- whose colour experts blame on minnows used by anglers as live bait.
Heat records topple across sweltering Asia
Temperature records are being toppled across Asia, from India's summer to Australia's winter, authorities said Friday, in fresh evidence of the impact of climate change.
Mont Blanc: The Holy Grail of ultra-trail running
More than 2,000 runners will on Friday set off for the 20th edition of the Mont Blanc Ultra Trail, a hellish 170-kilometre trail run in weather that is already turning wintry.
Brazil high court resumes key Indigenous lands case
Brazil's Supreme Court resumed hearings Wednesday in a closely watched case on whether to restrict native peoples' rights to claim their ancestral lands, a key buffer against climate change.
Climate change boosts risk of extreme wildfires 25%: study
Climate change has sharply boosted the risk of fast-spreading wildfires, according to a Californian study published Wednesday that offers lessons for prevention after recent disasters in Canada, Greece and Hawaii.
IMF warns climate shocks may increase conflict deaths
Climate change threatens to exacerbate conflict in fragile nations across the globe and lead to increased deaths, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a report published Wednesday.
Oil firms pay Insta, TikTok influencers for ads
Oil companies are paying popular influencers to pump their gas on social media, sparking a backlash from some climate-conscious fans for promoting planet-warming fossil fuels among young people.
Voluntary deforestation carbon credits failing: study
Only a small fraction of private sector forest-based carbon credits available for purchase to offset greenhouse gas emissions actually help prevent deforestation, according to new research.
Tears as Malaysia-born panda cubs head to China
Tearful Malaysians said goodbye to two panda cubs Tuesday as authorities prepared to send them to China after years of delays because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Air pollution greatest global threat to human health, says benchmark study
Air pollution is more dangerous to the health of the average person on planet Earth than smoking or alcohol, with the threat worsening in its global epicenter South Asia even as China fast improves, a study showed Tuesday.
'Like an urban dumpster': rare corpse flower stinks out California
A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but with a corpse flower -- well, tinkering around the edges isn't going to help.
Comeback king Lula gets delayed honeymoon in Brazil
Economic growth is up, Amazon deforestation is down and he's scored some key wins in Congress: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva finally appears to be getting a delayed honeymoon in his third-term comeback.
Japan PM condemns China over stone-throwing at embassy, schools
Japan's prime minister hit out at Beijing on Monday over what he said were instances of stones being thrown at diplomatic missions and schools in China, following the release of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Squeezed out: Bulgaria lavender oil makers fear EU laws
As a successful harvesting season yielding several hundred tonnes of lavender oil wraps up in Bulgaria -- the world's top producer -- the industry's future looks more grey than purple.
Acai berry craze: boon or threat for the Amazon?
Working in the sweltering heat of the Brazilian Amazon, Jose Diogo scales a tree and harvests a cluster of black berries: acai, the trendy "superfood" reshaping the world's biggest rainforest -- for better and worse.
Hawaii county sues power company over deadly wildfires
Maui County is suing Hawaii's electricity company over the deadly fire that levelled Lahaina, alleging the destruction could have been avoided if power lines had been shut off.
In Colombia, a community wins fight to protect a slice of paradise
In the remote west of Colombia, where virgin rainforest and pristine beaches collide, a group of politicians and businessmen dreamed of building a massive port on the Pacific.
Greek fires continue to rage, as toll rises to 21
Greek firefighters struggled Friday to contain scores of wildfires stretching nationwide, as the week's death toll from the raging blazes rose to 21.
'Citizen scientists' battle to save historic UK river
On the banks of the River Wye on the border between England and Wales, Pat Stirling flings a plastic measuring jug tied to a rope into the water.
'Animals are thirsty': Dust and bones on Turkey's shrinking lake
Shepherd Ibrahim Koc recalls his youth with fondness as he grazes cattle on a barren field that was once lush with vegetation on the edge of Turkey's largest lake.
US Republican positions on climate change shock environmentalists
US environmental groups and experts expressed anger Thursday at positions on climate change expressed by Republican presidential hopefuls during their first televised debate the day before.
Ecuador says vote to halt Amazon oil drilling a 'terrible precedent'
Ecuador's energy minister said Wednesday that a vote to halt drilling in an Amazon oil block set a "terrible precedent" and it would be a long and complex task to dismantle the installation.
Top science publisher withdraws flawed climate study
Top science publisher Springer Nature said it has withdrawn a study that presented misleading conclusions on climate change impacts after an investigation prompted by an AFP inquiry.
Beijing fishmongers worry as Japan begins Fukushima water release
Seafood sellers in Beijing expressed consternation Thursday over Japan's gradual release of wastewater from the disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean.
Japan begins release of water from Fukushima nuclear plant
Japan began releasing wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant on Thursday in an operation it insists is safe but has generated a fierce backlash from China.
Brazil experiencing winter heat wave
Brazil is enduring a heat wave in the middle of the southern hemisphere's winter, with the metropolis of Sao Paulo close to breaking records for August and for the year 2023.